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The Briefing

By Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

Get smarter about the day’s news in tech, media and finance by following Silicon Valley’s most-read executive newsletter.

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Recent Editions

Photo: Gareth Halfacree/Flickr
Exclusive

Google, Tesla Get Behind Challenge to Arm Chip Design

By Aaron Tilley · Mar 26, 2018 10:01am PDT · 10 comments
More than 80 tech companies including Google, Qualcomm and Samsung have joined together to develop a new open-source chip design that offers a much cheaper way to build chips for new technologies like autonomous vehicles. If the effort succeeds, it could seriously undercut SoftBank-owned Arm Holdings, which has been trying to extend its... More than 80 tech companies including Google, Qualcomm and Samsung have joined together to...
A Warby Parker store in New York. Photo by Mike Sullivan
Exclusive

Can Warby Parker Sustain Investors’ High Expectations?

By Alfred Lee and Serena Saitto · Mar 26, 2018 7:01am PDT
Warby Parker has become a major e-commerce success story since launching eight years ago. Investors seem to be banking on big growth from the trendy eyewear retailer, judging by a recent fundraising. But revenue figures suggest the company has its work cut out for it if it is going to continue to meet investors’ lofty expectations.The... Warby Parker has become a major e-commerce success story since launching eight years ago....
The Weekly Digest

The Information You Missed This Week

By The Information Staff · Mar 24, 2018 8:04am PDT
After a week of Facebook scandals, Mark Zuckerberg’s credibility is so damaged that we hear President Trump might consider adding him to his cabinet. After a week of Facebook scandals, Mark Zuckerberg’s credibility is so damaged that we hear...
The Information’s 411 — Ich Bin Ein Facebook Reporter
By Tom Dotan · Mar 23, 2018 3:25pm PDT
Podcast

The Information’s 411 — Ich Bin Ein Facebook Reporter

By Tom Dotan · Mar 23, 2018 3:25pm PDT
Jessica talks about how Facebook's 2007 decision to launch a developer platform led to its current crisis. Serena reflects on her conversation with Shawn Carolan of Menlo Ventures and why it was a rare candid interview in Silicon Valley. Jessica talks about how Facebook's 2007 decision to launch a developer platform led to its...
Photo: AP
Exclusive

Google to Expand Classroom Software to Business Customers

By Kevin McLaughlin · Mar 23, 2018 10:24am PDT · 1 comment
Google has established itself as a force in the education software market through its free Google Classroom app. Now, it is hoping to capitalize on the software’s popularity by offering a reconfigured version to business customers looking to train employees, said two people who have been briefed on the plans. The move could help Google... Google has established itself as a force in the education software market through its free Google...
Photo: Bloomberg.
The Takeaway

Facebook and Why the Walled Garden Won

By Jessica E. Lessin · Mar 23, 2018 7:01am PDT · 4 comments
In watching Facebook engulfed in crisis this week, I thought back to where it all began.It was 2007. The social network had gathered 750 developers and reporters in San Francisco to prove to the world it wasn’t MySpace. Its larger nemesis was getting buzz for its “widgets”—applets you could install on your MySpace profile... In watching Facebook engulfed in crisis this week, I thought back to where it all began.It was...
Subscriber Survey

Subscribers Say Tech Industry Should Address Housing Crisis

By Wendy Pollack and Mike Sullivan · Mar 22, 2018 2:35pm PDT · 5 comments
The tech industry has a responsibility to do something about the housing shortage affecting major metropolitan areas, nearly two-thirds of The Information subscribers say. That means taking such steps as investing in affordable housing projects or advocating for zoning changes to make housing easier to build, the survey found.The rapid growth of... The tech industry has a responsibility to do something about the housing shortage affecting major...
A pile of 1 bitcoin Casascius coins. Photo by Mike Caldwell via Wikimedia Commons
Crypto Coin Collectors Prize Bitcoin’s Old School Charm
By Sarah Kuranda · Mar 22, 2018 7:00am PDT · 7 comments
A pile of 1 bitcoin Casascius coins. Photo by Mike Caldwell via Wikimedia Commons

Crypto Coin Collectors Prize Bitcoin’s Old School Charm

By Sarah Kuranda · Mar 22, 2018 7:00am PDT · 7 comments
During a recent meeting in the lobby of the Hotel Nikko San Francisco, a tech executive unexpectedly leaned forward in a high-backed white chair, fished a single penny-sized coin out of his wallet and dropped it onto the stone table. It was a move meant to impress. This wasn’t loose change or a token—it was a physical bitcoin,... During a recent meeting in the lobby of the Hotel Nikko San Francisco, a tech executive...
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Photo by Bloomberg.
News Analysis

What Can Facebook Do Now?

By Tom Dotan · Mar 21, 2018 9:49am PDT · 16 comments
American and European lawmakers and regulators are ratcheting up pressure on Facebook to take action to better safeguard user data. The company changed its policies two years ago to prevent outsiders like Cambridge Analytica from easily gathering data on millions of Facebook users. But Facebook could take action in other areas—although... American and European lawmakers and regulators are ratcheting up pressure on Facebook to take...
Photo by Bloomberg.
Exclusive

Lyft Plans $150 Million Tender Offer as Interest in Stock Rises

By Amir Efrati and Alfred Lee · Mar 21, 2018 7:01am PDT · 3 comments
An unidentified investor is planning to buy around $150 million of shares in Lyft from employees in a tender offer, at just a 3% discount to the valuation put on Lyft in its recent fundraising. That’s a small discount for stock sold by employees in a tender and reflects investors’ intense interest right now in Lyft, which last year... An unidentified investor is planning to buy around $150 million of shares in Lyft from employees...
A DJI Phantom drone being flown in Texas last year. Photo by Bloomberg.
Exclusive

China’s DJI Raising Money at $15 Billion Valuation

By Yunan Zhang and Juro Osawa · Mar 20, 2018 8:31am PDT · 1 comment
China’s DJI, the world’s largest consumer drone maker, is in talks with investors to raise a new round of funding at a valuation of $15 billion, people familiar with the discussions said.The amount raised will likely range between $500 million and $1 billion, the people said, although the deal hasn’t been finalized. The... China’s DJI, the world’s largest consumer drone maker, is in talks with investors to...
Art by Mike Sullivan.
The Coaches Behind Startup Founders
By Cory Weinberg · Mar 20, 2018 7:01am PDT · 3 comments
Art by Mike Sullivan.

The Coaches Behind Startup Founders

By Cory Weinberg · Mar 20, 2018 7:01am PDT · 3 comments
Laura Behrens Wu, the 26-year-old co-founder and CEO of the shipping software startup Shippo, got some harsh criticism from an employee who quit about two years ago: She wasn’t an inspirational leader on par with Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs. “I wasn’t living up to the expectation,” Ms. Behrens Wu said. Then she learned... Laura Behrens Wu, the 26-year-old co-founder and CEO of the shipping software startup Shippo, got...
An attendee using the Oculus Rift VR headset at an event last October. Photo by Bloomberg.

A Shakeout Is Underway Among VR Startups

By Matt Pressberg and Tom Dotan · Mar 19, 2018 10:01am PDT · 32 comments
Independent virtual reality studio Future Lighthouse was flying high last year. The Spanish startup created a VR marketing trailer for the TV show Snatch on Sony’s Crackle platform. It did a six-minute, 50-actor promotional piece for spirits brand Beefeater. Then in January, the startup announced it was shutting down.A shakeout is underway... Independent virtual reality studio Future Lighthouse was flying high last year. The Spanish...
Shawn Carolan.
Q&A

For a Key Uber Investor, Lessons in Corporate Governance

By Serena Saitto · Mar 19, 2018 7:01am PDT · 9 comments
Shawn Carolan, who co-led Menlo Ventures’ investment in Uber, says his firm made $1 billion selling almost half of its stake in Uber to SoftBank. That eye-popping return, which Menlo hadn’t previously confirmed, on an original investment of $26 million in 2011, marks the firm’s largest redistribution of capital to its limited... Shawn Carolan, who co-led Menlo Ventures’ investment in Uber, says his firm made $1 billion...
The Weekly Digest

The Information You Missed This Week

By The Information Staff · Mar 17, 2018 8:02am PDT · 2 comments
Good morning!Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant walk into a bar. The bartender says, “What'll it be?”  Alexa laughs. Google reminds the bartender of which drink he was searching for. And Siri says it’s 52 degrees out. Good morning!Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant walk into a bar. The bartender says,...
The Information’s 411 — Why Does Siri Suck?
By Tom Dotan · Mar 16, 2018 11:24am PDT · 1 comment
Podcast

The Information’s 411 — Why Does Siri Suck?

By Tom Dotan · Mar 16, 2018 11:24am PDT · 1 comment
Aaron talks about the ballad of Siri within Apple and why it fell so far behind Google and Amazon. Amir talks about why self driving car technology is a long way away from being able to navigate cities. Aaron talks about the ballad of Siri within Apple and why it fell so far behind Google and...
A Chrysler Pacifica hybrid outfitted with Waymo's self-driving technology, in Tempe, Arizona. Photo by AP
Conference Call Transcript

What We Still Get Wrong About Self-Driving Cars

By Amir Efrati · Mar 16, 2018 10:02am PDT
There’s a lot of hype surrounding autonomous vehicles and when they’ll be ready for the real world. In many ways, the technology is further away from prime time than most people realize, especially in urban areas. On Tuesday, two industry veterans—Anne Widera, a former Google manager who also previously worked at... There’s a lot of hype surrounding autonomous vehicles and when they’ll be ready for...
The Takeaway

Subscriptions Are Taking Over News. What’s Next?

By Jessica E. Lessin · Mar 16, 2018 7:02am PDT · 3 comments
In case you haven’t noticed, digital paywalls are in vogue in the news industry. Wired, Business Insider and Bloomberg launched new ones recently. Jonah Peretti of BuzzFeed said “a partial paywall may make sense” for them. I’m going to spare you all what I think about this as Jessica the CEO of The Information.... In case you haven’t noticed, digital paywalls are in vogue in the news industry. Wired,...
Richard Liu. Art by Mike Sullivan
The Big Interview

For Xiaomi’s Earliest Backer, IPO Could Mark End of Era

By Shai Oster and Yunan Zhang · Mar 15, 2018 10:33am PDT
Chinese venture capitalist Liu Qin has made a lot of bets in his life. None is likely to pay off better than his investment in Xiaomi, the Chinese smartphone maker that is preparing for one of the most anticipated tech IPOs of this year. Mr. Liu is the co-founder of Morningside Venture Capital, the earliest backer and now largest institutional... Chinese venture capitalist Liu Qin has made a lot of bets in his life. None is likely to pay off...
FireEye CEO Kevin Mandia, against FireEye's stock since January, 2014. Art by Mike Sullivan. Photo by Bloomberg
Tech Industry Watches FireEye’s Turnaround Effort
By Sarah Kuranda · Mar 15, 2018 7:00am PDT
FireEye CEO Kevin Mandia, against FireEye's stock since January, 2014. Art by Mike Sullivan. Photo by Bloomberg

Tech Industry Watches FireEye’s Turnaround Effort

By Sarah Kuranda · Mar 15, 2018 7:00am PDT
FireEye has helped respond to some of the biggest security breaches of the past few years, including at Equifax and Sony. But for the past 18 months, CEO Kevin Mandia has been fighting a different threat, one facing FireEye itself. His progress is likely being watched by rival security firms and big tech companies like Cisco.One of the hottest... FireEye has helped respond to some of the biggest security breaches of the past few years,...