Amazon (AMZN) News

Leading urbanist Richard Florida is convinced Amazon HQ2 won’t go to a suburb

by Monica Nickelsburg on October 15, 2018October 15, 2018 at 1:36 pmComment

Oddsmakers and analysts are betting on Northern Virginia to take home the much-ballyhooed prize of Amazon HQ2. But Richard Florida, one of the world’s foremost urbanist scholars, thinks they may… Read More

Jeff Bezos defends big tech working with Department of Defense, one week after Google drops out of Pentagon contract

by Taylor Soper on October 15, 2018October 15, 2018 at 2:04 pmComment

Don’t expect Amazon to follow Google’s lead when it comes to working with the U.S. Department of Defense. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos made a surprise appearance at the Wired 25 conference… Read More

Sears files for bankruptcy, vows to emerge leaner to compete in the age of Amazon and e-commerce

by Nat Levy on October 15, 2018October 15, 2018 at 11:41 am 2 Comments

Sears, the department store giant that has been referred to as the “Amazon of its time” by many, declared bankruptcy Monday, the latest casualty of the changing retail landscape. A… Read More

Amazon launches new ‘As Seen on Shark Tank’ online store for 70+ shark-backed products

by Nat Levy on October 15, 2018October 15, 2018 at 8:41 amComment

Amazon has opened an online store specifically for products backed by investors from the CNBC show “Shark Tank,” through its Amazon Launchpad startup program. The Amazon Launchpad Shark Tank Collection… Read More

Amazon donates $2M to create fund to help immediate needs of Seattle school students

by Frank Catalano on October 15, 2018October 15, 2018 at 10:39 am1 Comment

Amazon is announcing a $2 million grant to help Seattle school students. But the focus isn’t the latest shiny education technology. Instead, it’s that missing raincoat, a weekend backpack full… Read More

Review: Amazon’s Twitch NFL live stream shows potential future of live sports online

by Taylor Soper on October 14, 2018October 15, 2018 at 10:46 amComment

Amazon is using Twitch and its Thursday Night Football live streams to test new gamification features that might change the way we watch live sports — particularly if legal sports… Read More

Video

Amazon hires top UW computer science prof as new robotics director, a year after he arrived from CMU

by Taylor Soper on October 12, 2018October 12, 2018 at 12:07 pmComment

Amazon is tapping one of the world’s leading human-robot interaction experts to help manage a robotics operation that has become an integral part of the company’s fulfillment centers. The Seattle… Read More

Video

TLDR: Microsoft partners with Indian cricket legend on smart bat

by Starla Sampaco on October 11, 2018October 11, 2018 at 4:23 pmComment

Today’s featured stories Microsoft partners with Indian cricket legend to develop a smart bat that tracks live analytics Alexa and Cortana can now control Xbox devices as new ‘skill’ for… Read More

USPS wants to raise rates for Amazon last-mile delivery 9-12% amid pressure from Trump to increase revenue

by Monica Nickelsburg on October 11, 2018October 12, 2018 at 10:38 am1 Comment

The United States Postal Service plans to raise rates for the Parcel Select service used by Amazon, FedEx, and UPS by 9.1 to 12.3 percent, according to a new filing… Read More

Alexa and Cortana can now control Xbox devices as new ‘skill’ for digital assistants rolls out broadly

by Nat Levy on October 11, 2018October 11, 2018 at 11:40 amComment

Amazon’s virtual brain Alexa and Microsoft’s Cortana can now turn on Xbox devices, launch games, take screenshots and more under an integration between the game console and digital assistants that… Read More

Plug-and-pray no more: Amazon’s new smart plug for Alexa is a gift from the smart-home gods

by Todd Bishop on October 11, 2018October 11, 2018 at 10:20 am 8 Comments

“New plug named First plug found. To control it, say ‘Alexa, turn on First plug.’ “ My jaw dropped when I saw that notification pop up on my iPhone lock… Read More

Video

TLDR: IRL Glasses block out TV & computer screens

by Starla Sampaco on October 10, 2018October 10, 2018 at 5:55 pmComment

Today’s featured stories Want to live ‘in real life’ and block out screens? These glasses on Kickstarter may do the trick Washington Gov. Inslee says state is ready for Trump… Read More

Amazon, Microsoft and Google stocks hammered in historically rough trading day

by Nat Levy on October 10, 2018October 11, 2018 at 10:38 am1 Comment

Tech stocks had their worst day in years, as a mass sell-off caused major drops for some of the world’s most valuable companies. Per Yahoo Finance, Amazon stock tumbled 6.15… Read More

Voice tech localization startup Jargon wins GeekWire-Ubiquity prize at Amazon’s Alexa Accelerator

by Taylor Soper on October 10, 2018October 11, 2018 at 11:08 amComment

It’s been a whirlwind past few months for the entrepreneurs behind Jargon, but Tuesday evening marked a high note after the Seattle startup won the first-ever Ubiquity-GeekWire Award at the Alexa… Read More

Amazon assures Bernie Sanders that warehouse worker pay will increase despite loss of stock awards and bonuses

by Monica Nickelsburg on October 10, 2018October 10, 2018 at 1:30 pmComment

Amazon sent a letter to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders assuring him that the company’s new $15 minimum wage and pay structure will result in increased compensation for all warehouse workers.… Read More

The top pitches from Amazon’s Alexa Accelerator as startups push boundaries of voice tech

by Taylor Soper on October 10, 2018October 12, 2018 at 10:30 am1 Comment

“Alexa, please ask the audience to take their seats.” Between bad Alexa jokes and innovative ideas pitched on stage, the rapid growth of voice-enabled technologies and companies was on full… Read More

Report: Amazon Web Services cuts deals with SAP, Symantec valued at a combined $1B

by Tom Krazit on October 10, 2018October 10, 2018 at 10:33 amComment

It’s become clear over the last several quarters that Amazon Web Services is signing longer-term cloud computing deals with big enterprise companies, and according to a report it just landed… Read More

Video

Watch: Google announces smart home-focused Home Hub, Pixel tablet and next-gen Pixel phone

by Nat Levy on October 9, 2018October 9, 2018 at 10:51 amComment

Google unveiled a new series of devices at an event New York City Tuesday, including the widely reported next generation of the Pixel smartphone, as well as a smart home… Read More

Video

TLDR: Microsoft unveils Project xCloud game streaming service

by Starla Sampaco on October 8, 2018October 8, 2018 at 4:33 pmComment

Today’s featured stories Microsoft will launch Project xCloud game streaming service in 2019, powered by custom servers built from Xbox components Facebook debuts new video chatting device Portal amid privacy… Read More

Amazon HQ2 officials reportedly visit Chicago and Miami, keeping speculation alive until the very end

by Monica Nickelsburg on October 8, 2018October 8, 2018 at 9:25 amComment

New reports about Amazon’s visits to two cities in the running for the company’s second headquarters are stirring up fresh speculation about the status of the company’s search. Anonymous sources… Read More

Second Amazon Go store opens in Chicago, with a third on the way

by Nat Levy on October 8, 2018October 8, 2018 at 8:28 amComment

The second Amazon Go location opened in Chicago today, and a third is coming soon, showing that the tech giant has targeted the Windy City as the second city for… Read More

Video

Amazon’s other brick-and-mortar move: Inside the growing network of ‘AWS Loft’ co-working spaces

by Todd Bishop on October 8, 2018October 8, 2018 at 10:20 amComment

SAN FRANCISCO — The co-working space at 525 Market St. looks, at first glance, like many others in this city and other tech hubs. Every weekday, startup founders and developers huddle… Read More

Podcast

Everything you need to know about Amazon’s $15 min. wage and the new app backed by Bill Gates

by Clare McGrane on October 6, 2018October 5, 2018 at 2:21 pmComment

In a surprise move, Amazon announced this week that it will raise its internal minimum wage to $15 an hour for all employees, including part-time and seasonal workers. It also… Read More

Video

Best burger in Seattle? In Amazon land, Shake Shack cooks up a winner with help from startup Crowd Cow

by Taylor Soper on October 5, 2018October 10, 2018 at 12:26 pm 4 Comments

Update, Wednesday, 12:25 p.m. PT: Shake Shack announced that the Seattle location will open Thursday, Oct. 11, at 11 a.m. Original story: Dick’s, Red Mill, Burgermaster, and others take note:… Read More

Video

TLDR: Amazon ends warehouse worker bonuses & stock awards

by Starla Sampaco on October 4, 2018October 4, 2018 at 3:47 pmComment

Today’s featured stories Amazon criticized for ending warehouse bonuses and stock awards in shift to $15/hour wage Nintendo plans new Switch hardware for 2019 release, report says Silicon Valley VC… Read More

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Amazon criticized for ending warehouse bonuses and stock awards in shift to $15/hour wage

by Monica Nickelsburg on October 4, 2018October 4, 2018 at 4:13 pmComment

Not all Amazon employees are happy with the company raising their wages to at least $15 an hour. That’s because the tech giant is phasing out stock options and monthly… Read More

Amazon Web Services, Apple dispute report that China placed spy chips in some of their servers

by Tom Krazit on October 4, 2018October 4, 2018 at 1:01 pm 4 Comments

A blockbuster Bloomberg report that Chinese spies infiltrated the networks of Amazon Web Services and Apple was met with unusually detailed pushback from two usually reticent companies Thursday. In the… Read More

Video

TLDR: GeekWire Summit Highlights — Nintendo, eBay, Boeing

by Starla Sampaco on October 3, 2018October 3, 2018 at 10:19 pmComment

Today’s featured stories How Nintendo learned from a Wii U disappointment to create the popular Switch console eBay CEO: ‘I want to get as far away from Amazon as I… Read More

Amazon investor and activist Nick Hanauer: ‘PR stunts are easy and cheap. Significantly raising wages for workers is not’

by Monica Nickelsburg on October 3, 2018October 3, 2018 at 2:38 pm 3 Comments

Just before Amazon announced it will raise employees’ minimum wage to $15 an hour, one of the company’s first investors made some prescient remarks about corporate social responsibility. Nick Hanauer,… Read More

eBay CEO: ‘I want to get as far away from Amazon as I can’ and stand for something different

by Nat Levy on October 3, 2018October 3, 2018 at 11:20 amComment

Amazon and eBay have been battling it out in e-commerce for years — for both buyers and sellers — though eBay CEO Devin Wenig doesn’t see it that way. Speaking… Read More

Amazon

Leading urbanist Richard Florida is convinced Amazon HQ2 won’t go to a suburb

Jeff Bezos defends big tech working with Department of Defense, one week after Google drops out of Pentagon contract

Sears files for bankruptcy, vows to emerge leaner to compete in the age of Amazon and e-commerce

Amazon launches new ‘As Seen on Shark Tank’ online store for 70+ shark-backed products

Amazon donates $2M to create fund to help immediate needs of Seattle school students

Review: Amazon’s Twitch NFL live stream shows potential future of live sports online

Amazon hires top UW computer science prof as new robotics director, a year after he arrived from CMU

TLDR: Microsoft partners with Indian cricket legend on smart bat

USPS wants to raise rates for Amazon last-mile delivery 9-12% amid pressure from Trump to increase revenue

Alexa and Cortana can now control Xbox devices as new ‘skill’ for digital assistants rolls out broadly

Plug-and-pray no more: Amazon’s new smart plug for Alexa is a gift from the smart-home gods

TLDR: IRL Glasses block out TV & computer screens

Amazon, Microsoft and Google stocks hammered in historically rough trading day

Voice tech localization startup Jargon wins GeekWire-Ubiquity prize at Amazon’s Alexa Accelerator

Amazon assures Bernie Sanders that warehouse worker pay will increase despite loss of stock awards and bonuses

The top pitches from Amazon’s Alexa Accelerator as startups push boundaries of voice tech

Report: Amazon Web Services cuts deals with SAP, Symantec valued at a combined $1B

Watch: Google announces smart home-focused Home Hub, Pixel tablet and next-gen Pixel phone

TLDR: Microsoft unveils Project xCloud game streaming service

Amazon HQ2 officials reportedly visit Chicago and Miami, keeping speculation alive until the very end

Second Amazon Go store opens in Chicago, with a third on the way

Amazon’s other brick-and-mortar move: Inside the growing network of ‘AWS Loft’ co-working spaces

Everything you need to know about Amazon’s $15 min. wage and the new app backed by Bill Gates

Best burger in Seattle? In Amazon land, Shake Shack cooks up a winner with help from startup Crowd Cow

TLDR: Amazon ends warehouse worker bonuses & stock awards

Amazon criticized for ending warehouse bonuses and stock awards in shift to $15/hour wage

Amazon Web Services, Apple dispute report that China placed spy chips in some of their servers

TLDR: GeekWire Summit Highlights — Nintendo, eBay, Boeing

Amazon investor and activist Nick Hanauer: ‘PR stunts are easy and cheap. Significantly raising wages for workers is not’

eBay CEO: ‘I want to get as far away from Amazon as I can’ and stand for something different

Facebook Community Boost Seattle

HIMSS WA Fall Conference – “Transforming the Experience for the Provider, Payer and Patient through Technology”

Beyond Ethereum: Demystifying DApps and mass adoption of blockchain