China’s Online Retailers Eye Global Markets; Chinese Firms So Far Pose Little Threat to U.S. Giants

China’s Online Retailers Eye Global Markets

Chinese Firms So Far Pose Little Threat to U.S. Giants

WEI GU

Updated Dec. 19, 2013 7:16 p.m. ET

Chinese Internet retailers serve what has become the world’s biggest e-commerce market. Their next target: the U.S., and the rest of the world. Jingdong Corp., a leading Chinese Internet retailer by sales, has logged millions of yuan in sales on its English-language site in the past year, despite almost no advertising, according to the firm. AliExpress, which Alibaba Group launched in 2010 as its overseas platform, is growing rapidly in emerging markets, reaching 700,000 registered users in Russia alone. Read more of this post

WhatsApp Hits 400 Million Users, Wants to ‘Stay Independent’

Dec 19, 2013

WhatsApp Hits 400 Million Users, Wants to ‘Stay Independent’

ROLFE WINKLER

Like clockwork, WhatsApp announced another milestone Thursday, claiming 400 million monthly active users. In April, the company said 200 million people were using its smartphone-messaging app. Every two months since, it has said another 50 million people were on board. Read more of this post

Vimeo Seen as Diller’s Next Bet as Match Exits IAC Orbit; Unlike YouTube, Vimeo makes money by charging for subscriptions to upload high-quality video, which customers can then sell or rent to viewers

Vimeo Seen as Diller’s Next Bet as Match Exits IAC Orbit

With his Match Group on course to become its own company, billionaire Barry Diller is turning his attention to video-streaming site Vimeo LLC to step up growth for his holding firm, IAC/InterActiveCorp. (IACI) Read more of this post

Traders Seek an Edge With High-Tech Snooping; A growing industry uses surveillance and data-crunching technology to supply traders with nonpublic information

Traders Seek an Edge With High-Tech Snooping

A growing industry uses surveillance and data-crunching technology to supply traders with nonpublic information.

MICHAEL ROTHFELD and SCOTT PATTERSON

Dec. 18, 2013 11:15 p.m. ET

Kentucky-based Genscape uses cutting-edge technology to generate its own sneak peek at U.S. oil production ahead of official government reports. WSJ’s Michael Rothfeld reports. Read more of this post

Oracle to Buy Responsys for $1.5 Billion for Cloud-Based Marketing Tools; Oracle is using acquisitions to embrace cloud computing and shift away from traditional software

Oracle to Buy Responsys for $1.5 Billion for Marketing Tools

Oracle Corp. (ORCL), the world’s largest seller of database software, agreed to buy Responsys Inc. (MKTG) for about $1.5 billion, gaining marketing software that helps businesses sell to consumers. Read more of this post

If a laptop has a built-in camera, then someone can access it to spy on the user at any time, and the user would never know. “The safest thing to do is to put a piece of tape on your camera”

Researchers activate Apple iSight webcams without warning light

December 19, 2013 – 2:48PM

Ashkan Soltani, Timothy B. Lee

Covering webcam a ‘bandaid solution’

Cautious users are covering their webcams for fear of computer hackers invading their privacy, but the real issue is the threat of malware says security expert Matthew Tett. The woman was shocked when she received two nude photos of herself by email. The photos had been taken over a period of several months – without her knowledge – by the built-in camera on her laptop. Read more of this post

Google is hoarding robots. Here’s what they may be planning.

Google is hoarding robots. Here’s what they may be planning.

By Dominic Basulto, Updated: December 19 at 8:53 am

Just when it seemed like Amazon’s concept for a drone-powered fleet of quadricopters for Amazon Prime Air was going to be the most outlandish idea of the year from the tech sector, along comes the news that Google just acquired Boston Dynamics, the company best known for creating DARPA Atlas robots and “creepy galloping robots” like the BigDog and the Wild Cat. What the heck is going on here? Read more of this post

Billion-Dollar Gains Reach 10 Venture Firms on IPO Boom

Billion-Dollar Gains Reach 10 Venture Firms on IPO Boom

Venture capitalists spent 2013 doing something they haven’t been able to for a while: reaping enormous returns.

At least 10 U.S. venture firms generated more than $1 billion each in returns from initial public offerings and acquisitions this year, according to filings and data compiled by Bloomberg. Consumer Internet, business software and e-commerce companies contributed to the gains. Read more of this post

Amazon vs. Google: It’s A War for the Shopping Search

Amazon vs. Google: It’s A War for the Shopping Search

Ads That Generate Product Photos, Prices Aim to Compete Against Amazon

ROLFE WINKLER

Dec. 19, 2013 1:51 p.m. ET

Fighting a battle with Amazon.com Inc. AMZN -0.19% to be the preferred entry point for Internet shopping, Google Inc. GOOG +0.14% last year retooled its lucrative search page. Its strategy is showing signs of progress. Read more of this post

Local smartphone brands gaining popularity in India

Local smartphone brands gaining popularity in India

By Anjali Mathai
POSTED: 19 Dec 2013 21:02
A new crop of smartphone-makers in India has emerged, making inroads into the market against international players like Samsung and Apple.

NEW DELHI: A new crop of smartphone-makers in India has emerged, making inroads into the market against international players like Samsung and Apple. Their success is catching a wave of technology adoption that has seen shipments of mobile devices to the country triple in a year to 9.3 million units between April and June in 2013, compared to the same period a year earlier. Read more of this post

Infosys Exodus: Head of Labs Subrahmanyam Goparaju resigns

Dec 19, 2013, 07.03 PM IST
Infosys Exodus: Head of Labs Subrahmanyam Goparaju resigns

Just a month after Stephen Pratt, member of executive council and head of utilities and resources in North America, resigned from Infosys, Subrahmanyam Goparaju has followed his lead.

Fondly referred to as Subu, Goparaju had been at Infosys since 25 years and was currently serving as the Head of Infosys Labs, responsible for the company’s research and development facilities and IP cell. While there is no clarity on the reason for his exit, Infosys has confirmed his departure. In its response to CNBC-TV18, Infosys said, “Subrahmanyam (Subu) Goparaju, Senior Vice President and Head of Infosys Labs has decided to leave the company. His last day with Infosys will be December 27, 2013. Subu has been with Infosys for 25 years. We would like to thank Subu for his contribution and leadership, especially in building Infosys Labs” . What is interesting is that after Subu’s exit, Infosys has split the functioning of its R&D arm. A spokesperson from Infosys said, “Savio D’Souza, will manage Infosys Labs’ Service Differentiation Platforms group and Dr Anindya Sircar will manage the IP Cell. Both, Savio and Dr. Sircar will report to Chandrashekar Kakal. Prasad Joshi will lead the Technology Centre of Excellence and report to Pravin Rao.” This is the seventh senior exit in 6 months.

There will be blood: WeChat’s payments prowess makes it a target for Alibaba

There will be blood: WeChat’s payments prowess makes it a target for Alibaba

BY HAMISH MCKENZIE 
ON DECEMBER 13, 2013

While people in the US laugh at how ugly QR codes are, WeChat is using them as a killer payments tool. And it’s starting to scare the world’s biggest ecommerce player: Alibaba. Read more of this post

The Battle Lines Are Drawn for Alibaba and Tencent

11.29.2013 15:30

Closer Look: The Battle Lines Are Drawn for Alibaba and Tencent

The Internet giants enter the mobile Internet industry with different strengths but a similar determination to come out on top

By staff reporter Zhu Yishi

(Beijing) – The war between the country’s two Internet giants, Tencent Holding and Alibaba Group, in the mobile Internet arena has escalated. Alibaba recently blocked WeChat’s access to two of its e-commerce apps. Users who click on links to products and shops on Taobao and Tmall through WeChat, Tencent’s popular messaging app, will be directed to the download page for the Alibaba apps. They are unable to browse or make purchases. Read more of this post

Tencent’s Ma Becomes China’s Second-Richest Man on WeChat Mania

Tencent’s Ma Becomes China’s Second-Richest Man on WeChat Mania

Ma Huateng, chairman of Asia’s largest Internet company Tencent (700) Holdings Ltd., overtook property tycoon Wang Jianlin to become China’s second-richest man, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Read more of this post

China’s New Breed of Gaming: A new generation of businesses has popped up around China and elsewhere in Asia in which players must escape by solving riddles and brain teasers

Chinese Pursuing Great Escapes Think Inside the Box

Players Pay to Sort Clues, Solve Riddles in Bid to Exit Locked Rooms; Skulls, Sewers, Keypads

WAYNE MA and YUKO TAKEO

Updated Dec. 17, 2013 10:38 p.m. ET

People in China are locking themselves in rooms, and they’re doing it for fun. Businesses inspired by an online game called Takagism have popped up around China and elsewhere in Asia in which players must escape locked rooms by solving riddles and brain teasers. Read more of this post

Baidu Forced to Add Warnings as Regulators Focus on China Stocks

Baidu Forced to Add Warnings as Regulators Focus on China Stocks

U.S. and Hong Kong stock market regulators are demanding that Chinese companies provide investors more warnings about the risks of a legal structure commonly used to list those shares overseas. Read more of this post

A Chinese Mobile Brand Rattles the Globe; Smartphone Maker Xiaomi Tries to Replicate Deep-Discount Model Abroad

A Chinese Mobile Brand Rattles the Globe

Smartphone Maker Xiaomi Tries to Replicate Deep-Discount Model Abroad

PAUL MOZUR

Updated Dec. 17, 2013 7:28 p.m. ET

BEIJING—Xiaomi Inc., the startup that has rattled China’s smartphone market with its fast-selling handsets, is looking to tap its international fan base for help as it tries to expand abroad, according to its new American executive. Read more of this post

China Billionaires Set to Shake Up Wireless Market: Tech

China Billionaires Set to Shake Up Wireless Market: Tech

Billionaires Jack Ma and electronics retailer Zhang Jindong may get licenses this month to start phone companies in China, fueling government efforts to cut prices and promote high-speed networks in the world’s largest wireless market. Read more of this post

Stratasys Primes Market for 3-D Revolution; Executive Jonathan Jaglom talks about demand for three-dimensional printing, and the company’s business in Asia

Stratasys Primes Market for 3-D Revolution

Executive Jonathan Jaglom talks about demand for three-dimensional printing, and the company’s business in Asia.

THOMAS DERPINGHAUS

Dec. 15, 2013 1:01 p.m. ET

Once confined to highly specialized applications, 3-D printing is making an impression on a wider market. Stratasys Ltd. SSYS -1.71% is one of the companies preparing for a jump in commercial and consumer demand. Read more of this post

Oracle: We’re Cloudier Than You Think; CEO Larry Ellison and other Oracle executives sought to counter fears that the company is falling behind to competitors in cloud-based products

Oracle: We’re Cloudier Than You Think

Company Touts Gains in Its Web-Delivered Software; Quarterly Revenue Rises 2%

CEO Larry Ellison and other Oracle executives sought to counter fears that the company is falling behind to competitors in cloud-based products. Reuters

SHIRA OVIDE

Updated Dec. 18, 2013 7:40 p.m. ET

Oracle Corp. ORCL +2.88% had a message Wednesday for Wall Street: We’re cloudier than you think. Investors have been antsy about missed revenue targets and competition from online rivals to Oracle, one of the world’s biggest sellers of software, computer servers and other back-end technologies for big businesses. Read more of this post

Jimmy Carter’s Costly Patent Mistake; His 1979 proposal has led to ill-conceived protection for software ideas and a tidal wave of litigation

Jimmy Carter’s Costly Patent Mistake

His 1979 proposal has led to ill-conceived protection for software ideas and a tidal wave of litigation.

L. GORDON CROVITZ

Dec. 15, 2013 6:31 p.m. ET

Washington doesn’t agree on much, but all three branches of government now have plans to reform the country’s patent system. What’s not widely understood is that this marks the failure of one of Washington’s most ambitious experiments in industrial policy. Read more of this post

It Seems Weird How Cheap Amazon Kindles Are — Until You See This Crazy Stat; During a single year, Kindle owners spend, on average, $443 more buying stuff from Amazon than the average Amazon shopper who does not own a Kindle

It Seems Weird How Cheap Amazon Kindles Are — Until You See This Crazy Stat

NICHOLAS CARLSON

DEC. 17, 2013, 10:46 AM 42,452 31

These days, you can buy a new Kindle e-reader from Amazon for $49. Meanwhile, Amazon’s Kindle Fire HDX with an 8.9 inch screen costs $379 – much cheaper than a comparable $499 iPad from Apple. How and why does Amazon charge so little for its gadgets? Both questions are answered with one single stat. During a single year, Kindle owners spend, on average, $443 more buying stuff from Amazon than the average Amazon shopper who does not own a Kindle. Consumer Intelligence Research Partners derived that stat from a survey of 300 subjects who made a purchase at Amazon.com in the three-month period ending Nov. 15, 2013. CIRP estimates that Amazon Kindle device owners spend approximately $1,233 per year buying stuff from Amazon, compared to $790 per year for other customers. “Another way to look at Kindle Fire and Kindle e-Reader is as a portal to Amazon.com,” said Mike Levin of CIRP, in a press release put out to announce the study results (.PDF). “Kindle Fire provides access to everything Amazon sells, while Kindle e-Reader has become the way that Amazon customers buy books, Amazon’s original product line.” Amazon sells Kindles cheap – perhaps at a loss – because it knows getting a device into a customer’s hands means that customer will spend an extra $4,500 at Amazon over the next 10 years.

Intel’s hidden ad gamble pays off in first game of deal with FC Barcelona

Intel’s hidden ad gamble pays off in first game of deal with FC Barcelona

By Matt McFarland, Updated: December 16 at 10:07 am

It didn’t take long for Intel to enjoy the effects of its new partnership with Spanish soccer team FC Barcelona. Forward Neymar lifted his jersey during Saturday’s match with Villarreal, revealing the Intel Inside logo. While the Intel portion of the logo was partially obscured, it appears the company’s hidden logo won’t lack for visibility during the five-year deal with FC Barcelona. Read more of this post

If YouTube Were A TV Channel, Its Revenues Would Terrify Its Broadcast Network Rivals

If YouTube Were A TV Channel, Its Revenues Would Terrify Its Broadcast Network Rivals

AARON TAUBE0DEC 14, 2013, 02.22 AM

A recent report from eMarketer says that YouTube is expected to earn more than $5.6 billion in gross revenue by the end of 2014. While that number is certainly impressive in its own right – it’s a 51% jump from last year – it’s especially so when matched up against the longstanding traditional TV networks YouTube is competing against for viewers and advertising dollars. Read more of this post

How products geared to women shaped the technology industry

You’ve Come a Long Way, Silicon Valley

How products geared to women shaped the technology industry

KATHERINE BOEHRET

Dec. 17, 2013 6:28 p.m. ET

From colorful cell phones and laptops to websites like Pinterest and Houzz, much of the recent digital revolution has been inspired by, and geared toward, women. In her final column for the Wall Street Journal, Katie Boehret looks at some of her favorite websites and digital innovations. Read more of this post

Google feeds India and China from new data centers next door

Updated: Thursday December 12, 2013 MYT 7:07:01 AM

Google feeds India and China from new data centers next door

CHANGHUA, Taiwan: Google Inc opened its first two data centres in Asia on Wednesday to cater to the world’s fastest growing consumer technology markets, but the company has no plans to open one in China or India. Read more of this post

Facebook’s Video Ads Risk Alienating Users

Facebook’s Video Ads Risk Alienating Users

Marketers Applaud Move, but Untested Advertising Presents Challenge

REED ALBERGOTTI, SUZANNE VRANICA and BEN FRITZ

Updated Dec. 17, 2013 8:12 p.m. ET

Facebook Inc. said it would begin selling video advertisements later this week, a move that may help the social-networking giant capture a share of the annual $66.4 billion TV advertising market. Reed Albergotti reports. Photo: Facebook.

Some advertisers rejoiced Tuesday when Facebook Inc. FB -0.75% introduced long-awaited video advertisements. A bigger question is how users will react. Read more of this post

Facebook’s big data glimpse at human migration and the growth of mega-cities

Facebook’s big data glimpse at human migration and the growth of mega-cities

By Adam Pasick @adampasick 8 hours ago

Facebook is so ubiquitous—it has 1.19 billion monthly active users, or more than 15% of the Earth’s population—that it’s possible to detect huge migration patterns from a few snippets buried in its users’ profiles, specifically the huge tide of people moving to mega-cities around world. Read more of this post

Facebook Is A Fundamentally Broken Product That Is Collapsing Under Its Own Weight

Facebook Is A Fundamentally Broken Product That Is Collapsing Under Its Own Weight

JAY YAROW

DEC. 17, 2013, 11:06 AM 336,857 102

In 2008, Mark Zuckerberg laid out his theory about people sharing content on Facebook. “I would expect that next year, people will share twice as much information as they share this year, and [the] next year, they will be sharing twice as much as they did the year before,” he said.  Read more of this post

Ex-Peoplesoft execs successfully founded Workday after Oracle’s hostile buyout. But can they successfully make a profit?

For Workday, payback comes at a price

By Kevin Kelleher December 16, 2013: 3:44 PM ET

Ex-Peoplesoft execs successfully founded Workday after Oracle’s hostile buyout. But can they successfully make a profit?

Dave Duffield, left, and Aneel Bhusri, right, co-founders and co-CEO’s of Workday.

FORTUNE — The technology industry loves an underdog, especially when a scrappy startup makes breakfast of a bloated incumbent. In enterprise software, Workday (WDAY) has emerged as just such an underdog, using a cloud-based business model to handle human-resources software and take on giants like Oracle (ORCL) and SAP (SAP). Read more of this post