Get caught up on the latest technology and startup news from the past week. Here are the most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of June 21, 2020.
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Most popular stories on GeekWire
Microsoft to permanently close physical retail locations; will incur pre-tax charge of $450M
So long, Microsoft Stores. Microsoft is shutting down its entire physical retail operation and instead will focus on its digital storefronts via Microsoft.com, as well as stores in Xbox and Windows. … Read More
President Trump plans restrictions on skilled work visas used by tech and other industries
Update: President Donald Trump signed the temporary visa ban Monday afternoon and Amazon was quick to rebuke the policy. … Read More
Seattle area sees new spike in COVID-19 cases, weekly count up for 1st time in more than 2 months
More than 400 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Seattle and King County in the past week, up nearly 70% from the week before, according to GeekWire’s calculations from data reported by Public Health – Seattle & King County. … Read More
Amazon buys naming rights to KeyArena in Seattle, will call it Climate Pledge Arena as part of sustainability initiative
Amazon just took its climate change initiative to another level. … Read More
Bill Gates calls U.S. response to COVID-19 crisis ’embarrassing’ compared to other countries
Bill Gates warned of a big spike in COVID-19 cases across the U.S. … Read More
AWS ‘Honeycode’ makes Amazon a player in booming no-code software movement
A new Amazon service called Honeycode promises to let non-developers quickly create interactive web and mobile apps without knowing how to develop software. … Read More
Wyze launches $49.99 outdoor smart home camera, undercutting competitors on price
Wyze Labs will launch its first outdoor camera, meeting demand for its most-requested product since the Seattle company launched three years ago. … Read More
Amazon slams Trump’s new visa ban as ‘short-sighted’ risk to American competitiveness
President Donald Trump’s signature on an executive order further restricting immigration to the U.S. … Read More
Washington mandates masks in public statewide as COVID-19 cases rise
Washington state will require all residents to wear face coverings in public to slow the spread of COVID-19, Gov. … Read More
Confirmed: Amazon’s acquisition of robotaxi startup Zoox adds self-driving cars to its robotic fleet
Update: Amazon on Friday morning confirmed its agreement to acquire Zoox, which will continue operating as a standalone business. … Read More