News

Digital-ad downturn may complicate life for Google, Facebook

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE and BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writers Demand for digital-ad is shriveling after a decade of explosive growth amid the pandemic-fueled downturn. That could complicate things for Google and Facebook, who for the first time may have to contend with revenues that are actually shrinking. With consumers mostly at home and unemployment soaring, […]

The Latest: Over 1 million Australians download virus app

By The Associated Press undefined The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. TOP OF THE HOUR: — More than 1 million Australians download coronavirus tracing app. […]

Low-tech Japan challenged in working from home amid pandemic

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — When the Japanese government declared an emergency to curb the spread of the coronavirus earlier this month and asked people to work from home, crowds rushed to electronics stores. So much for social distancing. Many Japanese lack the basic tools needed to work from home. Contrary […]

Virus dings AT&T results, telecom withdraws year guidance

By TALI ARBEL AP Technology Writer The effects of the coronavirus pandemic hurt AT&T‘s revenue and profit in the first quarter, and it withdrew its financial guidance for the year. Revenue fell 4.6% to $42.8 billion, with a $600 million impact from the virus thanks to lower wireless equipment sales and a hit to ad […]

Facebook to label national origin of popular posts

By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writer OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Facebook said Wednesday it will label posts from popular accounts with their geographic origin in an attempt to curb political misinformation by foreign-based pages that mimic legitimate groups and political parties. The new policy will apply to popular pages about elections, entertainment and other topics […]

Facebook invests in India telecom giant Jio for e-commerce

By RISHABH R. JAIN Associated Press NEW DELHI (AP) — Facebook says it plans to invest $5.7 billion in India’s telecom giant Reliance Jio. The investment will give Facebook a 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms, the digital technologies and app developing division of Reliance Industries. Reliance Jio has the highest number of customers in the […]

HBO Max set for May 27 launch, initial lineup announced

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The streaming service HBO Max will launch May 27, AT&T’s WarnerMedia announced Tuesday, signalling that the so-called streaming wars won’t subside because of the coronavirus pandemic. WarnerMedia had earlier said HBO Max would debut sometime in May, and it stuck to those plans Tuesday even […]

Pandemic and chill: Netflix adds a cool 16M subscribers

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Netflix picked up nearly 16 million global subscribers during the first three months of the year, helping cement its status as one of the world’s most essential services in times of isolation or crisis. The quarter spanned the beginning of stay-at-home orders in the U.S. […]

Public trust key, EU insists, in developing virus apps

By LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — As European countries develop coronavirus tracing apps, the European Union is urging its 27 member states them to make them voluntary and ensure that the many national systems can work together. The virus has infected more than 850,000 Europeans, killing some 90,000 people, according to the European […]

Australia to make Google and Facebook pay for news content

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Global digital platforms Google and Facebook will be forced to pay for news content in Australia, the government said Monday, as the coronavirus pandemic causes a collapse in advertising revenue. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission would release in late July draft […]