Sonos buys an AI startup to improve voice control for its speakers

Posted on November 21, 2019November 21, 2019 by admin

Sonos might just be less reliant on third-party assistants for voice control. The company has bought Snips, a Paris startup that helps create "tailored voice experiences" through its AI voice platform and tools. No, Sonos isn't planning to take on…

HP rejects Xerox buyout offer, at least for now

Posted on November 18, 2019November 18, 2019 by admin

HP has been receiving buyout offers as of late, but it's not ready to lose its independence — at least, not yet. The tech pioneer has rejected a Xerox proposal to buy the company for $22 per share, arguing that the current offer "undervalues" HP an…

FCC formally approves the T-Mobile-Sprint merger

Posted on November 6, 2019November 6, 2019 by admin

Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) formally approved the T-Mobile-Sprint merger. The decision comes after a drawn-out, and at times contentious, review of T-Mobile's $26.5 billion bid to merge with Sprint.

TikTok’s parent company reportedly faces a national security review

Posted on November 2, 2019November 2, 2019 by admin

Recently TikTok's popularity has exploded worldwide, and so has scrutiny over the app's parent company ByteDance and its relationship to the Chinese government. Now Reuters reports that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)…

Roku spent $150 million so it can sell more ads

Posted on October 24, 2019October 24, 2019 by admin

Roku is no longer just a company making TV streaming boxes and dongles. It's become a powerful advertising company, too. By some estimates, it streams more ad-supported hours than any other over-the-top (OTT) platform. Today, it announced plans to do…

Tesla acquires battery expert in bid to make its own cells

Posted on October 7, 2019October 7, 2019 by admin

Tesla appears to be pushing forward with plans to make its own battery cells. Electric Autonomy has discovered that Tesla quietly acquired Hibar Systems, a Canadian company with expertise in automated battery manufacturing for electrified vehicles,…

Tesla reportedly buys AI startup that helps self-driving cars see

Posted on October 2, 2019October 2, 2019 by admin

It's safe to say that Tesla's self-driving efforts haven't gone smoothly. It took the better part of a year for Smart Summon to arrive, and there's not much time left to fulfill goals of full self-driving (on city streets) before the end of 2019. T…

Sphero acquires LittleBits and eyes international growth

Posted on August 24, 2019August 24, 2019 by admin

The popular STEAM education company Sphero announced today that it has acquired LittleBits. You may remember LittleBits as the company behind toys that teach kids about electronics, and Sphero has made a name for itself creating educational coding ro…

Apple buys the ‘majority’ of Intel’s smartphone modem business

Posted on July 26, 2019July 26, 2019 by admin

The rumors were (mostly) true — Apple is buying the "majority" of Intel's smartphone modem business for $1 billion. The deal will see Apple take on 2,200 Intel workers as well as equipment, intellectual property and leases. Apple expects the deal…

Apple confirms it acquired a self-driving car startup

Posted on June 26, 2019June 26, 2019 by admin

The latest self-driving firm to be consolidated is Drive.ai. The startup has been working on AI tech for autonomous vehicles for a few years, but found itself low on cash in an increasingly competitive market. Now, just as the San Francisco Chronicle…