• WSJ: Comcast's NBCUniversal is in advanced talks to acquire Vudu
    Engadget

    WSJ: Comcast's NBCUniversal is in advanced talks to acquire Vudu

    Comcast-owned media company NBCUniversal is in "advanced talks" to acquire Vudu from Walmart, according to The Wall Street Journal. We're just a couple of months away from the launch of NBCUniversal's new streaming platform called Peacock, so the company's interest in another streaming

  • EBay Says It’s in Talks on Deal for Classifieds Business
    Bloomberg

    EBay Says It’s in Talks on Deal for Classifieds Business

    (Bloomberg) -- EBay Inc. said it’s in active talks with multiple parties about a potential transaction for its classified-ads business, responding to pressure from activist investors to improve its performance by focusing on its main online marketplace.The San Jose, California-based company, which has

  • Vinyl cover maker Slickwraps coughs up customer info in a data breach
    Engadget

    Vinyl cover maker Slickwraps coughs up customer info in a data breach

    If you have an account with Slickwraps, you'll want to change your password as soon as possible. The company, one of the more popular manufacturers of vinyl skins for phones, computers, tablets and game consoles, disclosed today that its website was hacked.

  • 'Friends' cast is locked in for a reunion special to launch HBO Max
    Engadget

    'Friends' cast is locked in for a reunion special to launch HBO Max

    Now that AT&T spent more than $400 million pulling Friends from Netflix to serve as one of the pillars for its HBO Max streaming service, the WarnerMedia company has also shelled out to get the original cast back together for a reunion special. Negotiations over the special have been rumored for

  • Investors in LatAm get bitten by the hotel investment bug as Ayenda raises $8.7 million
    TechCrunch

    Investors in LatAm get bitten by the hotel investment bug as Ayenda raises $8.7 million

    Some of Latin America's leading venture capital investors are now backing hotel chains. In fact, Ayenda, the largest hotel chain in Colombia, has raised $8.7 million in a new round of funding, according to the company. Led by Kaszek Ventures, the round will support the continued expansion of Ayenda

  • Netflix scam targets nearly 12 million Australians
    Yahoo Finance AU

    Netflix scam targets nearly 12 million Australians

    Got an email from 'Netflix' asking you to renew your membership? Don't click.

  • Amazon Seeks Internal Pentagon Documents in JEDI Cloud Case
    Bloomberg

    Amazon Seeks Internal Pentagon Documents in JEDI Cloud Case

    (Bloomberg) -- Amazon.com Inc. has asked a court to force the government to hand over documents related to Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s decision to recuse himself from making decisions on a $10 billion cloud-services contract.In a court filing made public on Friday, Amazon seeks a trove of documents

  • SpaceX said to be seeking around $250 million in funding, boosting valuation to roughly $36 billion
    TechCrunch

    SpaceX said to be seeking around $250 million in funding, boosting valuation to roughly $36 billion

    SpaceX is looking to raise around $250 million in new funding according to a new report from CNBC's Michael Sheetz. The additional cash would bring SpaceX's total valuation to around $36 billion, according to CNBC's sources -- an increase of more than $2.5 billion versus its most recently

  • Hot Wheels brings its NFC-enabled stat-tracker to even more toys this year
    Engadget

    Hot Wheels brings its NFC-enabled stat-tracker to even more toys this year

    For stats-obsessed kids, last year's release of Hot Wheels ID was a godsend. The NFC-based system let you scan your cars into the app to keep tabs on how fast and how far the cars in your collection had traveled. And it definitely solved the problem of figuring out who won a race. But it wasn'

  • Google search is showing invitations to private WhatsApp groups
    Engadget

    Google search is showing invitations to private WhatsApp groups

    Your private WhatsApp group might not be as private as you'd like. DW journalist Jordan Wildon has noticed that Google is indexing at least some WhatsApp group invitations in its search, making it possible to slip into groups that owners might not want to be public. While many of these are fairly

  • Trump's Election Day YouTube takeover plan feels very different in 2020
    TechCrunch

    Trump's Election Day YouTube takeover plan feels very different in 2020

    According to a report from Bloomberg, the Trump campaign called dibs on some of the most prized ad space online in the days leading up to the 2020 U.S. election. Starting in early November and continuing onto Election Day itself, the campaign will reportedly command YouTube's masthead, the space

  • Analytics firm exposed data for 120 million households
    Engadget

    Analytics firm exposed data for 120 million households

    Exposed databases are all too common, but this one may be more serious than most. Researchers at UpGuard discovered that the Australian market analysis firm Tetrad left data for 120 million households exposed in Amazon S3 storage. It appeared to be a blend of data from providers like Experian Mosaic

  • The Hot Wheels RC Cybertruck is a mini Tesla for $400
    Engadget

    The Hot Wheels RC Cybertruck is a mini Tesla for $400

    If you're feeling pretty hype about the Tesla Cybertruck but don't have $39,900 to spend on one, maybe Hot Wheels' newest RC vehicle is more your thing. Sure, it's only 1/10 the size and made out of plastic, but here it only takes $400 to live out your Tesla dreams.

  • Bloomberg

    DOJ Solicited Outside Law Firm for Help With Tech Antitrust Case

    (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Justice Department has sought outside legal help to bolster its antitrust investigations of large technology platforms, according to two people familiar with the matter, in a sign that the government may be preparing a lawsuit against one or more of the companies.The department

  • The first 'Apex Legends' map is returning for a weekend-long event

    The first 'Apex Legends' map is returning for a weekend-long event

    If it's been a while since you played Apex Legends, you may want to take some time to return to the game this weekend. Starting today through to February 24th, Respawn Entertainment is bringing back Kings Canyon, Apex's original map, as part of a separate playlist. What's more, the Kings

  • Dear Sophie: I need the latest details on the new H-1B registration process
    TechCrunch

    Dear Sophie: I need the latest details on the new H-1B registration process

    Today we bring you another edition of “Dear Sophie,” an advice column that answers readers’ questions about immigration for tech. “Your questions are vital to the spread of knowledge that allows people all over the world to rise above borders and pursue their dreams,” says Sophie Alcorn, Silicon Valley

  • iHeart will turn podcasts into books starting with ‘Stuff You Should know’
    Engadget

    iHeart will turn podcasts into books starting with ‘Stuff You Should know’

    Plenty of people listen to podcasts on their commute and during work, but iHeartMedia is hoping they can squeeze even more podcast consumption into their days -- possibly before they nod off. The company partnered with Flatiron Books to create a series of titles based on popular podcasts. The first iHeart

  • Minuscule ID chips could help spot even the smallest counterfeits
    Engadget

    Minuscule ID chips could help spot even the smallest counterfeits

    There are times when something is simply too small to tag it with existing technology, and that can be a serious problem when you're trying to fight counterfeits. MIT researchers might have a way to tag even the tiniest devices, though. They've created a very small (0.002 square inches) ID chip

  • Outdoor Voices founder Tyler Haney is stepping down as CEO as growth slows
    TechCrunch

    Outdoor Voices founder Tyler Haney is stepping down as CEO as growth slows

    Tyler Haney, the founder and chief executive of activewear label Outdoor Voices, has stepped down, the company confirmed for us this afternoon. The Business of Fashion, which first reported the news, said the transition follows a previously unreported capital injection from Outdoor Voices' investors

  • Facebook plans to clarify when pro-Bloomberg posts come from staffers
    Engadget

    Facebook plans to clarify when pro-Bloomberg posts come from staffers

    Thanks to Mike Bloomberg, Facebook wants to make it more obvious when paid campaign staffers share posts promoting candidates, CNBC reports. This is a direct response to Bloomberg paying organizers to post on social media, but it could apply to any campaign staffers sharing political views on Facebook