IBM Hit by Rare Sales Decline in Software Units

IBM missed Wall Street estimates for quarterly revenue, hurt by a rare sales decline in its software unit as clients shied away from longer-term deals due to pandemic-induced economic uncertainty. https://ift.tt/3oh5IwM

Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google CEOs Invited to EU Hearing on February 1

EU lawmakers have invited the chief executives of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Facebook to a February 1 hearing in Brussels as they try to crack down on the powers of US tech giants. https://ift.tt/3pbOeTI

TikTok Asked to Block Users With Unverified Age in Italy

The Italian data privacy watchdog ordered video app TikTok to block the accounts of any users in Italy whose age it could not verify following the death of a 10-year-old girl who had been using the... https://ift.tt/39Z5DbB

Google Search gets a 'makeover' on iPhones, Android phones

​Google explained on its blog the five things that led to the redesign of Search. https://ift.tt/39b1XV8

Last day of Amazon Great Republic Day Sale: Refrigerator, TV, microwave and gadgets of AmazonBasics

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MoffettNathanson survey: 62% of Apple TV+ subscribers were on free offers in Q4 2020, only 30% said they plan to renew at the regular $4.99/month price (Todd Spangler/Variety)

Todd Spangler / Variety:
MoffettNathanson survey: 62% of Apple TV+ subscribers were on free offers in Q4 2020, only 30% said they plan to renew at the regular $4.99/month price  —  Apple has said it wants to bulk up revenue from services — including Apple TV Plus, which is just over one year old.

Activision Blizzard says that it is merging its Vicarious Visions studio, which Activision acquired in 2005, and its ~200 staff into Blizzard Entertainment (Brendan Sinclair/GamesIndustry.biz)

Brendan Sinclair / GamesIndustry.biz:
Activision Blizzard says that it is merging its Vicarious Visions studio, which Activision acquired in 2005, and its ~200 staff into Blizzard Entertainment  —  Long-time Activision Publishing studio will be “fully dedicated” to Blizzard titles going forward; former studio head Jen Oneal promoted to Blizzard leadership's team

Intel says an internal error caused a leak of an infographic related to its Q4 earnings report, which prompted its release ahead of stock market close on Thurs. (Associated Press)

Associated Press:
Intel says an internal error caused a leak of an infographic related to its Q4 earnings report, which prompted its release ahead of stock market close on Thurs.  —  BOSTON — The computer chipmaker Intel Corp. on Friday blamed an internal error for a data leak that prompted it to release a quarterly earnings report early.

Sources: Biden is looking to hire cybersecurity veterans for top roles, but some observers worry too much value is being placed on public sector experience (Reuters)

Reuters:
Sources: Biden is looking to hire cybersecurity veterans for top roles, but some observers worry too much value is being placed on public sector experience  —  WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - President Joe Biden is hiring a group of national security veterans with deep cyber expertise …

Amazon to open pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Seattle headquarters

Amazon Inc said it will open a pop-up clinic in its Seattle headquarters on Jan. 24 with an aim to vaccinate 2,000 eligible members of the public against COVID-19 on the first day. https://ift.tt/2MhroLB

Parler loses bid to have service restored by Amazon

A federal judge has rejected Parler's demand that Amazon.com Inc. restore web hosting services for the social media platform, which the company had cut off following the storming of the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. The judge said Parler failed to show it was likely to prevail on the merits of its claims, or that the public interest supported a preliminary injunction requiring the restoration of service. https://ift.tt/3iy48VY

Intel floats possibility of licensing deals but would TSMC and Samsung be interested?

Intel is one of the few remaining semiconductor firms that both designs and manufactures its own chips, but the business model has come into question in recent years as the company lost its manufacturing lead to the Taiwanese and Korean companies. https://ift.tt/3qzEGSK

Bitcoin Extends Slide, Heads for Worst Week Since March 2020

Bitcoin fell heavily on Friday and was heading toward its sharpest weekly drop since last March, as worries over its technology and regulation extended a pullback from recent record highs. https://ift.tt/3p8SFyD

Alphabet Shutting Down Loon, That Used Balloon Alternative to Cell Towers

Alphabet is shutting down its Internet balloon business, Loon, that aimed to provide a less expensive alternative to cell towers, saying that "the road to commercial viability has proven much longer... https://ift.tt/361XPF6

Google Says It Will Shut Search Engine in Australia Over News Payment Code

Google said it would block its search engine in Australia if the government proceeds with a new code that would force it and Facebook to pay media companies for the right to use their content. https://ift.tt/3sMvsV1