10 things in tech you need to know today (GOOG, AAPL, FB, SNAP)

pulse

September 15, 2017 7:56 AM

Alphabet wants to invest in Lyft, Softbank wants to invest in Uber, and Samsung is setting up an automotive tech investment fund.

Good morning! Here's the technology news you need to know this Friday.

1. Google parent company Alphabet is reportedly considering investing $1 billion (£743 million) in Lyft. Alphabet's self-driving car company Waymo already collaborates with Lyft.

2. Softbank reportedly wants to invest $10 billion (£7.4 billion) in Uber. The deal could give Softbank as much as a 22% stake in the ride-hailing company.

3. Three former Google employees have sued the company for allegedly paying women less than men. Google also faces a sex bias investigation by the US Department of Labor.

4. The price of bitcoin tumbled after Chinese regulators said an exchange ban is certain. Chinese regulators are reportedly moving to shut down exchanges.

5. Samsung is setting up a new automotive tech division and a $300 million (£223 million) fund. It doesn't plan to build its own cars, but it is looking at self-driving technology.

6. Nestlé is spending up to $500 million (£371 million) to buy a majority stake in the trendy coffee chain Blue Bottle. The chain is backed by investors including Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom and Twitter cofounder Evan Williams.

7. Google is going to announce its new high-end Pixel smartphones on October 4. The company erected a billboard in Boston announcing the news.

8. Apple said Face ID on the iPhone X did not actually fail to recognise Craig Federighi during Apple's presentation. The company said it did what it was supposed to do.

9. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said on stage in Germany yesterday that "we're the only company in Silicon Valley that's not building a car." The audience at the Frankfurt motor show laughed and applauded.

10. Snapchat is bringing virtual Bitmojis into the real world. It's introducing more augmented reality technology into its app.

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