If there’s one question that the top brass at Google are sick of being asked it’s this: How are you going to catch up in the cloud market to Amazon and Microsoft? Google’s answer is pretty straightforward: the old-fashioned way. It plans to build out its tech, making it reliable, affordable, with just enough differentiation to attract customers.
Category: Search Engines
Google’s Latest Cloud Event Suggests Its Enterprise Message is Gaining Traction
” has…the money, the means and the commitment to pull off a new platform of computation globally, for everybody who needs it.” One has to wonder if Schmidt read a morning Wall Street Journal column raising doubts about the company’s enterprise cloud bona fides.
Ever Want Image Search For Google Earth? This AI-Driven Tool Does That
There’s a single wind turbine near the intersection of 760th St. and Quincy Road in Massena, Iowa. It’s just one of thousands of them located around the country.
Amazon CEO Bezos’ Blue Origin Gets First Commercial Launch Customer
Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos’ space transportation company Blue Origin announced on Tuesday that it has booked its first commercial launch customer. The launch date is scheduled for 2021.
Amazon Is Pulling Out All the Stops Against Apple and Google in High-Stakes Voice Assistant Wars
Although Apple and Google’s voice assistants are shipped with far more devices, Amazon’s Alexa has become a formidable rival thanks to big investments and a swelling ecosystem. As much as Amazon’s Echo home speaker/voice assistant has turned into a surprise hit and yielded a blizzard of positive media attention, the Alexa voice assistant powering Echo hardware is still in key respects at a strategic disadvantage compared to rival offerings from Alphabet /Google , Apple , and Microsoft’s .
Korean Companies Face China Crisis as Missile Boycott Grows
Lotte Group , the Korean conglomerate that covers shopping malls to sweet chocolate, is under attack in China. It faces a consumer boycott that threatens to spill over and affect the products of other Korean companies.
Amazon is Pulling Out All the Stops Against Apple and Google in the Voice Assistant Wars
Echo home speaker/voice assistant has turned into a surprise hit and yielded a blizzard of positive media attention, the Alexa voice assistant powering Echo hardware is still in key respects at a strategic disadvantage relative to Alphabet /Google Google and Apple’s assistants each shipped with hundreds of millions of mobile devices last year, and Microsoft’s perhaps on close to 200 million PCs. By contrast, Echo sales were likely only in seven figures.
Snap Shows Investor Appetite to Again Bet on Young Companies
If there’s one lesson Silicon Valley can learn from Snap Inc.’s trading debut, it’s that investors in initial public offerings are again willing to stomach the uncertainty of betting on hopeful, young companies. While concerns still loom about growth and profitability at the maker of disappearing-photo app Snapchat, interest in the IPO is undeniable.
Snap IPO Shows Investor Appetite to Again Bet on Young Companies
If there’s one lesson Silicon Valley can learn from Snap Inc.’s trading debut, it’s that investors in initial public offerings are again willing to stomach the uncertainty of betting on hopeful, young companies. While concerns still loom about growth and profitability at the maker of disappearing-photo app Snapchat, interest in the IPO is undeniable.
Does Snap CEO Evan Spiegel Need Adult Supervision?
In this Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, file photo, Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel poses for a photo in Los Angeles. Snap Inc., owner of the ephemeral message service Snapchat, seeks to raise up to $3 billion in an initial public offering.
Does Snap CEO Evan Spiegel Need Adult Supervision?
In this Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, file photo, Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel poses for a photo in Los Angeles. Snap Inc., owner of the ephemeral message service Snapchat, seeks to raise up to $3 billion in an initial public offering.
Uber’s Engineering Head Departs After Harassment Claims Surface
Uber Technologies Inc. executive Amit Singhal resigned after the ride-hailing company learned of sexual harassment allegations from his previous job at Google. Uber said Singhal stepped down just a month after joining the company as senior vice president of engineering, where he oversaw software development.
Google brings Assistant to Android phones
Google’s voice-activated digital assistant will soon be available on smartphones running the latest versions of the Android operating system. LG was one of the first smartphone makers to reveal it would feature the assistant on its new device, the G6.
Here’s Why Alphabet May Be the Best FANG Stock to Own
The company’s rock-solid balance sheet, its stranglehold over a lion’s share of the digital advertising market, the possibility of rapid growth in the smartphone space, and the ever-widening Google ecosystem, makes Alphabet an unbeatable proposition . Without a doubt, Alphabet’s real cash-cow is its all-encompassing Internet search engine, Google.
Alphabet’s Google to Shut Down Messaging App ‘Spaces’
Alphabet’s Google will shut down its messaging app “Spaces” on April 17. “Spaces” was the company’s attempt to get in on the group messaging space, allowing users to join small groups to discuss various topics. Its key feature was that it allowed users to pull in Google’s search services and YouTube videos automatically.
Baidu Hits the Reset Button After Cleaning Up Online Advertising
Baidu Inc. is convinced it’s put the worst of a government-driven internet advertising crackdown behind it after posting quarterly revenue that beat estimates. Sales fell a less-than-projected 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter after China’s biggest search engine raised registration requirements for marketers and cut the number of ads it displays alongside results.
Baidu Needs to Speed Up the Future After That Uber Boost: Gadfly
If it weren’t for the CEO of Uber Technologies Inc. being pragmatic about his China business and selling to Didi Chuxing last year, Baidu wouldn’t have been able to swap its shares in Uber China for those of the nation’s dominant ride-hailing provider. That three-way trade and other income reaped 1.796 billion yuan for the search-engine giant in the fourth quarter and was the primary reason for Baidu beating earnings estimates.
Baidu’s Sales Tops Estimates as It Pushes New Businesses
Baidu Inc. posted quarterly results that topped analysts’ estimates, as China’s biggest search engine pushes into new businesses such as news aggregation to overcome government restrictions on web advertising. Revenue for the fourth quarter came to 18.21 billion yuan , compared with estimates for 18.17 billion yuan, Baidu said in a statement.
Baidu’s Quarterly Revenue Tops Estimates on New Business Push
Baidu Inc. posted quarterly revenue that topped analysts’ estimates as it pushes into new businesses such as news aggregation to overcome government restrictions on web advertising at China’s biggest search engine. Revenue for the fourth quarter was 18.21 billion yuan , compared with estimates for 18.17 billion yuan, Baidu said in a statement.
Baidu’s Quarterly Revenue Tops Estimates on New Business Push
Baidu Inc. posted quarterly revenue that topped analysts’ estimates as it pushes into new businesses such as news aggregation to overcome government restrictions on web advertising at China’s biggest search engine. Revenue for the fourth quarter was 18.21 billion yuan , compared with estimates for 18.17 billion yuan, Baidu said in a statement.
Republicans Are Trying to Let Internet Providers Sell Your Data
The Affordable Care Act is far from the only Obama-era policy Republicans want to take down now that they control the government. A set of internet privacy rules passed by the Federal Communications Commission last year has also become a target.
Verizon and Yahoo! Finally Have a New Deal in Place, But Now What?
To meet its ambitious digital media sales targets, the newly combined entity will have to make up some serious ground against Facebook and Google. Verizon is aiming to generate $20 billion in 2020 sales from the mobile media unit that draws on Yahoo, AOL and its other digital properties.
Wednesday’s ETF Movers: MCHI, GDX
In trading on Wednesday, the iShares MSCI China ETF is outperforming other ETFs, up about 0.9% on the day. Components of that ETF showing particular strength include shares of Netease , up about 3.4% and shares of Alibaba Group Holding , up about 2.8% on the day.
Chinese Streaming Giant iQiyi Raises $1.5B
The cash infusion will boost the Netflix-like streaming service in its ongoing battle for market share against Tencent and Alibaba. iQiyi, the Netflix-like streaming video subsidiary of Chinese search giant Baidu, has raised $1.53 billion in new funds to fuel its investments in original content and compete with rivals.
Google, Bing Agree to Help U.K. Creative Industries Fight Pirate Sites
A voluntary code of practice is designed to “kick-start collaboration between the parties to demote links to websites that are dedicated to infringing content for consumers in the U.K.” Google and Microsoft’s Bing are two big-name search engines that have voluntarily signed on to a first-of-its kind initiative in Britain aimed at “reducing the availability of infringing content accessed through online search.” The agreement between representatives of rights holders and major search engines was unveiled Monday following a government-chaired series of roundtables.
Why 2017 Could Be This Stock’s Best Year Yet
Investing in winning stocks is equal parts art and science. Making the endeavor harder is that finding stocks primed for a move higher often involves seeing something the rest of the market is missing.
Do Women Need Ivanka Trump to Break the Glass Ceiling?
Yesterday’s roundtable between President Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and nine top female executives was arranged by Ivanka Trump. The first daughter is rapidly emerging as a champion for women at work, particularly those of the entrepreneurial and leadership variety.
Amazon and Apple’s Payments Growth Shows PayPal Is Facing Stiffer Competition
Though its shares — and back when it was a part of eBay , eBay’s shares — have dipped a number of times on news that a tech giant is trying to muscle in on its turf, the company has kept delivering 20%-plus payment volume growth like clockwork. But while any talk of a would-be “PayPal-killer” merits skepticism, the company does arguably face a tougher competitive environment than any time in recent history.
Google Badly Needs to Swing a Deal for a Chinese App Store
Launching Google Play in China would let the search giant take part in a booming local app store market, and provide a means of distributing its apps. When it comes to mobile, China represents quite the paradox for Alphabet /Google .
Google Said to Fund Legal Brief Against Trump Immigration Order
Google parent Alphabet Inc. is footing the bill for the legal brief signed by more than 120 companies that oppose President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration, according to people familiar with the arrangement. While Alphabet is paying Washington, D.C.-based law firm Mayer Brown LLP to handle the friend-of-the-court brief, other companies have offered to fund a share of the fee, the people said.
As Rumors Persist, Google Badly Needs to Swing a Chinese App Store Deal
On the other, the vast majority of the Chinese devices running the OS don’t contain any of Google’s apps and services. That’s what makes a fresh report about talks to launch Google Play in China intriguing.
No, Google’s Brand Is Not More Valuable Than Apple’s
Last week, Brand Finance came out with its annual listing of brand valuations . In a somewhat shocking finding, the consulting group declared that Apple Alphabet is a phenomenal company with a long track record of innovation, and the Google brand is extremely powerful.
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Market-intelligence firm CB Insights has compiled a list of the major acquirers of private artificial-intelligence companies over the last five years. This list reveals well-known tech giants making large investments to increase their capabilities in AI.
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Market-intelligence firm CB Insights has compiled a list of the major acquirers of private artificial-intelligence companies over the last five years. This list reveals well-known tech giants making large investments to increase their capabilities in AI.
Why Self-Driving Cars Will Be Baidus Next Big Opportunity
Morgan Stanley analysts recently said that Baidu won’t be delivering much upside this year as its growth will be restricted by tight advertising laws in China. Also, as the likes of Tencent Holdings raise their content game by investing in online video, Baidu will find it difficult to boost revenue.
Facebook’s Earnings Reveal a Company That Won’t Take Its Foot Off the Pedal
The social networking giant’s aggressive spending plans have some investors on edge. But its sales growth and execution remain solid.
Facebook Carries ‘One Long-Term Concern,’ RBC’s Mahaney Says
Facebook, the social media giant that if it were a country would be the most populous in the world, will report its fourth quarter earnings results after the market close on Wednesday. “We like the setup with Facebook going into this print tonight,” RBC tech analyst Mark Mahaney said on CNBC’s “Halftime Report” Wednesday afternoon.
Is Voice Search an Opportunity or a Threat to Google?
Consumers are doing more and more web searches just by talking. And they’re not just asking the digital assistants on their smartphones; they’re also buying all-new devices, such as the Amazon.com , the new trend in search is a double-edged sword.
Diversity in tech: lots of attention, little progress
The tech industry brought us self-driving cars, artificial intelligence and 3-D printers. But when it comes to racial and gender diversity, its leading companies are no trailblazers.
Google Not Planning to Be Silenced by Amazon’s Echo
Amazon’s Echo may have the early edge, but Google CEO Sundar Pichai says the race to have the dominant voice assistant is at a ‘very early’ stage. The blowout success of the Amazon Echo has raised the stakes in the voice assistant space, but Google CEO Sundar Pichai doesn’t seem to be all that worried.