by Glenn Chapman Agence France Presse SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — An appeals court on Tuesday gave Oracle another shot at wringing billions of dollars from Google in a keenly watched legal battle over the use of freely available Java software code. A federal appellate court revived Oracle’s case, ruling that the application programming interface (API) code at issue is protected by copyright law and sending the case back to the original judge to […]
Tag: google
Apple goes back to school with new iPad, apps
CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — Apple on Tuesday unveiled new applications and a discounted iPad tablet aimed at the education market as it tries to regain momentum lost to Google in the world of classroom technology. At an event in Chicago, the California-based Apple showcased a new, free curriculum called Everyone Can Create that enables teachers to integrate drawing, music, filmmaking or photography into their lessons. Apple also announced Schoolwork, a new app that helps […]
Taiwan’s HTC to get Google boost as it posts biggest loss
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwan’s struggling smartphone maker HTC posted its worst-ever quarterly loss on Monday, but said it expects a boost from the $1.1 billion deal with Google sealed earlier this year. The deal, completed in January, saw Google buy part of HTC’s smartphone business as the US giant looks to take greater control of its hardware business. HTC has suffered consecutive losses due to stiff competition in the smartphone sector from Apple, […]
Facebook, Google warn Singapore against ‘fake news’ law
SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — Internet giants Facebook and Google on Thursday warned Singapore against introducing new laws to combat “fake news,” saying that existing legislation is adequate to address the problem. Their warnings were made to a parliamentary committee which is examining possible measures, including legislation, to tackle false online information which the government says could threaten national security. Executives from Facebook, Google and Twitter appeared before the committee Thursday, and are among scores of […]
Google boosts efforts to help news organizations, with $300 mn
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Google on Tuesday launched a new initiative, committing $300 million to help news publishers get more paid subscribers while stemming the flow of misinformation. The internet giant described the Google News Initiative as part of an “effort to help journalism thrive in the digital age.” The announcement in New York followed a series of commitments to help the troubled sector by Google, which has been accused by some in […]
France to take legal action against Google, Apple for ‘abusive’ practices
PARIS, France (AFP) — France will take legal action against Google and Apple for “abusive business practices”, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Wednesday as transatlantic ties threaten to be riven by a trade war. “I believe in an economy based on justice and I will take Google and Apple before the Paris Commercial Court for abusive business practices” against French start-ups, Le Maire said on RTL radio. He said start-ups face conditions imposed […]
Waymo, Uber end trade secrets theft trial with settlement
by Julie CHARPENTRAT / with Rob Lever in Washington Agence France-Presse SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Waymo and Uber announced an agreement Friday in the blockbuster federal lawsuit over allegedly stolen trade secrets from the former Google self-driving car project. The surprise agreement ends a trial between the two Silicon Valley rivals competing in a race to develop autonomous cars, after four days of testimony before a federal judge in San Francisco. A source […]
Smart home unit Nest is spun back into Google
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Google is taking back Nest, the smart home unit of parent firm Alphabet, as part of an effort by the tech giant to battle rivals like Amazon and its Alexa digital assistant. Nest Labs, known for its smart home Wi-Fi thermostat, was acquired by Google in 2014 for $3.2 billion and later became an independent Alphabet “other bets” unit dedicated to connected devices. Wednesday’s announcement brings Google and Nest back together […]
In court clash, Waymo says Uber decided ‘to cheat’ to get ahead
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) – Two tech giants racing for a lead in autonomous driving clashed Monday in court as former Google car unit Waymo’s lawyer argued that Uber’s boss deliberately chose “to cheat” to get a leg up on competitors. The accusations flew in the opening day of a trial in which Google parent Alphabet’s Waymo division is seeking at least $1 billion over the theft of trade secrets from its self-driving car program. In opening remarks […]
Facebook to deliver more local news to US users
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Facebook said Monday it has decided to deliver more local news to US users, in its latest effort to manage the flow of information on the enormously-influential social network. Earlier this month, Facebook announced it will ask its two billion users to rank their trust in news sources as part of an effort to combat the spread of misinformation. The changes come as the online giant seeks to address […]
Take the next U-turn: US driver following GPS plunges into lake
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Technology won’t always save us. A man blindly following his GPS app has driven an SUV with two passengers on board into an icy lake in the northeastern state of Vermont, local police said. The trio — friends from out of state driving a borrowed car — escaped unharmed, local media and police in the city of Burlington said in their report of the January 12 incident. The unnamed driver […]
Macron hosts 140 CEOs in pre-Davos charm offensive
by Laurence Benhamou Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) – President Emmanuel Macron’s campaign for a “French Renaissance” kicks into overdrive Monday as he welcomes 140 multinational business leaders before this week’s jamboree of the rich and powerful in Davos. The business-friendly president will host executives at the grand Versailles chateau near Paris for an event billed as a warm-up for Tuesday’s opening of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss mountains. Several firms will use the conference […]





