SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Suppose your smartphone is clever enough to grasp your physical surroundings — the room’s size, the location of doors and windows and the presence of other people. What could it do with that info? We’re about to get our first look. On Thursday, Lenovo will give consumers their first chance to…
Apple’s Stores Getting New Look as Other Retailers Struggle
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple is getting ready to unveil a stylish new product that’s not for sale — a new look for its stores. The iPhone maker is overhauling its nearly 480 stores worldwide, starting with its new two-story location in San Francisco. Apple provided a glimpse of its revised approach to retailing on Thursday,…
Google Provides Early Peek at Next Android Operating System
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google is previewing the next version of its Android operating system two months ahead of schedule in an effort to get the upgraded software on more mobile devices. The upgraded software, known as “Android N” for now, offers a split-screen feature so users can toggle between apps more easily. Android N also enables…
Lockdown: Apple Could Make It Even Tougher to Hack Phones
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Suppose the FBI wins its court battle and forces Apple to help unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino killers. That could open all iPhones up to potential government scrutiny — but it’s not the end of the story. Turns out there’s a fair bit both individuals and…
Yahoo CEO Tries to Reassure Mobile Partners Amid Turmoil
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer found herself in an awkward situation Thursday at the struggling Internet company’s annual conference for the makers of mobile apps. She had to persuade an auditorium full of programmers and advertising partners that Yahoo will grow into an increasingly important player in the mobile market. This while the company is dramatically shrinking to appease restless shareholders threatening to…
Twitter Tweaks Its Timeline in Pursuit of More Users
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Twitter is tweaking the way that tweets appear in its users’ timelines in its latest attempt to broaden the appeal of its messaging service. The change announced Wednesday moves Twitter closer to a formula that Facebook uses to determine the order of posts appearing in its users’ news feeds. It’s a…
Facebook Posts Strong 4Q as Company Closes Gap with Google
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Facebook is growing at an exceptional pace as it enters adolescence, propelling it into a better position to challenge Google as the Internet’s most powerful company. Facebook’s fourth-quarter report Wednesday provided the latest gauge of the company’s impressive strides. It marked the first time that Facebook’s quarterly revenue has surpassed $5…
Twitter Appears Ready to Expand Beyond 140-Character Tweets
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Twitter appears ready to loosen its decade-old restriction on the length of messages in a bid to make its service more appealing to a wider audience accustomed to the greater freedom offered by Facebook and other forums. CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey telegraphed Twitter’s intentions in a tweet posted Tuesday after…
Facebook Expands Sharing Options to Include Live Video
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Get ready to start watching live video of your friends and family doing something fun, boring or even dumb on Facebook. The world’s largest social network is testing a new feature that will enable its 1.5 billion users to use their smartphones to shoot video so other people can see what they are doing as it happens.…
Twitter’s 3Q Report Illustrates Challenges Facing New CEO
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Twitter’s latest financial report conveyed a succinct message: CEO Jack Dorsey has his work cut out as he tries to attract more people to one of the Internet’s most influential means of communications. The challenges facing Dorsey came into sharper focus with Tuesday’s release of Twitter’s results for the three months ending…