Technology

Bloomberg IRobot Corp, maker of the disc-shaped Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner, said it’s working on a household helper that will have arms that could load dishes, pick up clothes, or bring food from kitchen to table. The Bedford, Massachusetts-based company won’t start selling such a product for at least five years. But prototypes of the arms exist inside its research ...

Bloomberg Zagg Inc said it is developing a wireless charger with capabilities that Apple Inc has so far failed to master with its cancelled AirPower. The new accessory will power iPhones and other mobile devices regardless of where they are placed on the charging mat, Zagg said. This feature has been a challenging goal of several technology companies in recent ...

Bloomberg Apple Inc shares surpassed $300 amid predictions for a robust holiday quarter, demand for wearables such as AirPods and planned services including streaming TV. Shares of the iPhone maker rose 2.3% to close at a record $300.35, topping the $300 mark for the first time on a split-adjusted basis. The latest gain was in stark contrast to the dismal ...

Bloomberg The world’s biggest technology companies are heading to Las Vegas for the annual CES trade show next week, with even Apple Inc making a rare official appearance. But don’t expect any breakthrough new hardware. Amazon.com Inc and Google will promote existing digital-assistant technology through their own internet-connected gadgets and similar products made by other firms. There should also be ...

Bloomberg Netflix Inc, touting the success of its original programming, said the most popular releases on its streaming service this year were things it produced: the comedy movie “Murder Mystery” and the third season of its 1980s sci-fi show “Stranger Things.” The company disclosed lists of its top 10 programmes in 33 countries, offering the most expansive report to date ...

Bloomberg A consortium led by China’s Tencent Holdings Ltd agreed to buy 10% of the world’s biggest music company, Universal Music Group, from Vivendi SA, after months of talks. The deal values Universal Music at 30 billion euros ($33.6 billion) and allows Tencent and its partners to increase the stake to as much as 20% for the same price before ...

Bloomberg Uber Technologies Inc and Postmates Inc sued the state of California, alleging that a labour rights law set to go into effect this week is unconstitutional. The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles federal court is a preemptive strike against the state’s landmark measure designed to ensure gig workers receive employment protections. Uber and Postmates argue the legislative process around ...

Bloomberg YouTube spent 2019 answering critics with some of the most drastic changes in its 15-year history. With each step, it gave those activists, regulators and lawmakers more reasons to attack its free-wheeling, user-generated business model. Susan Wojcicki, YouTube’s chief executive officer, announced her goals in April. “My top priority,” she wrote, “is responsibility.” Her company spent the year trying ...

Bloomberg Sony Corp is working around the clock to manufacture its in-demand image sensors, but even a 24-hour operation hasn’t been enough. For the second straight year, the Japanese company will run its chip factories constantly through the holidays to try and keep up with demand for sensors used in mobile phone cameras, according to Terushi Shimizu, the head of ...

Bloomberg Dish Network Corp’s Sling TV is gearing up for a big election news cycle, with the addition of Fox News, MSNBC and CNN’s HLN to its live TV streaming service. But the change comes with a price increase, the second since its launch almost five years ago. Subscriptions to the multiscreen Blue plan will rise to $30 a month ...