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Art: Matt Vascellaro

YouTube Sets Sights on Kids

By Amir Efrati · Mar 17, 2014 3:32pm PDT

YouTube is going younger. Google’s online video destination, long a haven for teens, is now developing a version of the site for kids under 10 that would wall off racier videos and comments and be deemed a safe place by parents, according to three people who have been briefed about the move. YouTube is going younger. Google’s online video destination, long a haven for teens, is now...

Google CEO Larry Page (Art: Matt Vascellaro)

Google & Motorola: A Match Made in Purgatory

By Amir Efrati · Mar 14, 2014 7:07am PDT

During much of last year, Motorola’s top executives had one message for Google CEO Larry Page: If he didn’t go “all in” on Motorola, the Google-owned handset maker would barely make a dent against industry leaders Samsung Electronics and Apple. In monthly operating meetings with Mr. Page at Motorola’s Silicon Valley office, numerous Motorola... During much of last year, Motorola’s top executives had one message for Google CEO Larry Page: If...

Matt Vascellaro

Comcast Prepares New Fight Against YouTube

By Amir Efrati and Jessica E. Lessin · Mar 3, 2014 7:23am PST

In recent months, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and his father, Comcast co-founder Ralph Roberts, saw a demonstration of a new Comcast video service that aims to outflank Internet video rivals like Google’s YouTube. The offering combines the type of shorter Web video programming that YouTube is known for with live and on-demand... In recent months, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and his father, Comcast co-founder Ralph Roberts, saw...

Square CEO Jack Dorsey. Credit: TechCrunch.

In Crunch Time, Square Considers Giving Capital to Businesses

By Jessica E. Lessin · Feb 25, 2014 12:55pm PST

Square CEO Jack Dorsey. Credit: TechCrunch.

In Crunch Time, Square Considers Giving Capital to Businesses

By Jessica E. Lessin · Feb 25, 2014 12:55pm PST

Square is moving further beyond the swipe. The payments company has begun testing a way to give Square merchants thousands of dollars to help them grow, according to three people familiar with the effort. The early-stage test is part of the startup’s push to diversify beyond processing credit cards for small businesses, a competitive and... Square is moving further beyond the swipe. The payments company has begun testing a way to give...

Google’s Unusual Offer to WhatsApp

By Amir Efrati · Feb 19, 2014 7:43pm PST

More than six months ago, Google approached WhatsApp with an odd offer: It would pay the mobile messaging startup in exchange for the right to be notified if the messaging app entered into acquisition talks with other companies, according to a person involved in the process and two people briefed on it. WhatsApp rebuffed the offer, which could... More than six months ago, Google approached WhatsApp with an odd offer: It would pay the mobile...

Matt Vascellaro

Software Saps Samsung’s Might

By Jessica E. Lessin · Feb 10, 2014 1:37pm PST

The last week in January, Google chief executive Larry Page met with Samsung Electronics vice chairman and heir apparent Jay Y. Lee at Google's Mountain View campus to discuss the relationship between the technology giants, according to several people briefed on the meeting. The agenda for the conversations, which included other... The last week in January, Google chief executive Larry Page met with Samsung...

TechCrunch

Google Looks to Ads Executive Susan Wojcicki as Next YouTube Chief

By Jessica E. Lessin and Amir Efrati · Feb 4, 2014 11:27pm PST

Google is likely to tap longtime ad products head Susan Wojcicki as the new head of YouTube, according to two people briefed on the discussions, a surprising move that would place one of the company’s earliest employees at the helm of the video unit. The move would send a clear signal that Google CEO Larry Page wants to zero in on the site... Google is likely to tap longtime ad products head Susan Wojcicki as the new head of YouTube,...

NSA headquarters in Fort Meade, Md.

When Silicon Valley Met the NSA

By Amir Efrati · Feb 3, 2014 12:58pm PST

NSA headquarters in Fort Meade, Md.

When Silicon Valley Met the NSA

By Amir Efrati · Feb 3, 2014 12:58pm PST

In recent years, top executives from U.S. technology giants such as Google, Microsoft and Intel routinely filed into a secured room deep inside the bowels of the National Security Agency’s headquarters in Fort Meade, Md. During the visits, which continue today, the NSA and other U.S. government agencies provide classified, “top secret”... In recent years, top executives from U.S. technology giants such as Google, Microsoft and Intel...

Credit: Bill Grado via Flickr

Next on Google’s Shopping List: Wearables

By Jessica E. Lessin and Amir Efrati · Jan 30, 2014 4:02pm PST

Nest Labs for $3.2 billion. DeepMind Technologies for $550 million. Which company will Google buy next? The tech giant has been studying wearable technology companies to acquire, according to three people briefed on the internal discussions. It isn't clear whether the studying has led to formal talks and which companies Google is... Nest Labs for $3.2 billion. DeepMind Technologies for $550 million. Which company will Google buy...

Kampala, Uganda Credit: Todd Huffman

Google Goes Wireless in Race to Connect Africa

By Amir Efrati · Jan 15, 2014 5:11pm PST

Google is upping the ante in the race to deliver Internet to the developing world. In the process, it is vying with Facebook, Microsoft and others to strike partnerships with local telecom companies to try to bring new populations and revenue online. In a previously undisclosed move, Google has discussed plans to launch a wireless Internet... Google is upping the ante in the race to deliver Internet to the developing world. In the...

Bumps in the Road for Apple's iWatch

By Jessica E. Lessin · Jan 7, 2014 1:04pm PST

There’s been a parade of new smart TVs, toys and washing machines at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. But this year’s most anticipated gadget is still MIA. That’s Apple’s iWatch. When Apple plans to start selling the device remains unclear. But a look behind the scenes shows a few apparent... There’s been a parade of new smart TVs, toys and washing machines at this week’s...

Terry Myerson, who oversees Microsoft's Windows Phone software, in 2012. Credit: Microsoft

Inside Microsoft’s Android Battle Plan

By Amir Efrati · Jan 6, 2014 7:23am PST

Terry Myerson, who oversees Microsoft's Windows Phone software, in 2012. Credit: Microsoft

Inside Microsoft’s Android Battle Plan

By Amir Efrati · Jan 6, 2014 7:23am PST

Behind closed doors, Microsoft recently considered unconventional tactics to shrink the competitive gap between its Windows Phone software and Google’s Android, which powers the vast majority of smartphones in the world. In one scenario, a smartphone buyer would be able to walk into a wireless carrier store, find a phone they like and only... Behind closed doors, Microsoft recently considered unconventional tactics to shrink the...

Kārlis Dambrāns

Microsoft Phones Up Sony, ZTE For Mobile Boost

By Amir Efrati · Dec 31, 2013 8:30am PST

Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system has struggled to make gains against Google and Apple. But it may soon get a shot in the arm from an old partner and rival: Sony. Sony, whose mobile unit has exclusively made smartphones powered by Google’s Android software for nearly four years, has considered launching a Windows... Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system has struggled to make gains against...

An HP Palm Pre, circa 2011. Credit: Ken Hawkins

HP Makes Another Phone Call

By Amir Efrati · Dec 23, 2013 1:11pm PST

Hewlett-Packard is entering the consumer mobile-handset market, again. HP’s last two smartphone efforts flopped, first with its “iPaq” devices and more recently with phones made by Palm, the handset maker it acquired in 2010. Now CEO Meg Whitman is taking another stab at the crowded mobile-phone industry as she tries to turn... Hewlett-Packard is entering the consumer mobile-handset market, again. HP’s last two...

Jonas Bengtsson

Amid Ad Struggles, YouTube CEO Discussed Stepping Aside

By Amir Efrati · Dec 17, 2013 2:13pm PST

YouTube’s quest to lure more-lucrative videos and ads is struggling as a leadership change may be afoot. Recent initiatives such as the launch of new “channels” that YouTube helped fund have had mixed results for advertisers. Prices for premium ad space on the Google video site have been flat or falling this year, according to... YouTube’s quest to lure more-lucrative videos and ads is struggling as a leadership change...

Vernon Chan

Samsung Taps Apple Veterans for Retail Push

By Katie Benner and Jessica E. Lessin · Dec 17, 2013 7:29am PST

Vernon Chan

Samsung Taps Apple Veterans for Retail Push

By Katie Benner and Jessica E. Lessin · Dec 17, 2013 7:29am PST

Forget the floating Google showrooms. When it comes to retail, Samsung Electronics is contemplating a bigger plunge. The South Korean company's U.S. telecom unit recently hired a senior Apple store designer, Tim Gudgel, as it ponders a deeper investment in U.S. retail, according to two people close to the company. Mr. Gudgel specializes in... Forget the floating Google showrooms. When it comes to retail, Samsung Electronics is...

Laurence Tucker

Google Trials Smart-Thermostat Service

By Jessica E. Lessin and Amir Efrati · Dec 16, 2013 1:57pm PST

Google is eyeing energy-use data, again. The company has been running a trial of Internet-connected home thermostats to help consumers monitor and adjust their energy use, according to two people told about the project. The program has been referred to as EnergySense, according to a document reviewed by The Information. Google has been... Google is eyeing energy-use data, again. The company has been running a trial of...

Google's Trojan Horse in China: Android

By Amir Efrati · Dec 12, 2013 3:13pm PST

China has been viewed as a lost cause for Google ever since its services were hurt by government interference and strong domestic competitors. But Android is proving to be a significant backdoor into China for Google's Web services. The mobile software, which Google makes available to handset makers, powers the vast majority of... China has been viewed as a lost cause for Google ever since its services were hurt by government...

Facebook, Google in ‘Deep Learning’ Arms Race

By Amir Efrati · Dec 11, 2013 3:14pm PST

Facebook, Google, Microsoft and other tech giants are battling to acquire expertise in a once-obscure branch of artificial intelligence that’s improving speech recognition, online-ad targeting and other technologies. Their main problem: There isn’t enough talent. Only a handful of researchers can call themselves experts in the red-hot field... Facebook, Google, Microsoft and other tech giants are battling to acquire expertise in a...

Sam Churchill

Google’s Latest TV Takeover Attempt: ‘Nexus TV’

By Amir Efrati · Dec 6, 2013 1:20pm PST

Sam Churchill

Google’s Latest TV Takeover Attempt: ‘Nexus TV’

By Amir Efrati · Dec 6, 2013 1:20pm PST

The battle among technology companies to take over the living room is getting even more crowded. Google has been developing a “Nexus”-branded TV set-top box and could launch it in the first half of next year, according to people who have seen the device or were told about it. The battle among technology companies to take over the living room is getting even more crowded....