This is global roundup, a summary of daily hot trending topics and news around the world.
Data, not oil, is the world’s most valuable resource. That means a new regulatory approach is needed for Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft.
The better to see you with. Amazon is expected on Tuesday to unveil a new version of its Echo speaker-slash-digital-assistant that will include a 7-inch touchscreen, a camera, and the ability to make telephone and video conference calls. Dubbed the Echo Show, the device will reportedly sell for $230, $50 more than the screen-less Echo model.
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Alipay struck a deal with US payments processor First Data. The deal will let Alipay users shop at 4 million US merchants and put China’s mobile-payments king in the same league as Apple Pay in terms of acceptance. If the deal encourages more US retailers to offer tap-and-go transactions to shoppers—whether they’re Chinese tourists or US consumers—Apple might actually benefit from it.
Schoolhouse Rock. Microsoft unveiled a new version of Windows and some Chromebook-like inexpensive laptops last week in an effort to claw back ground in the education market. A new survey by EdWeek shows Google is currently far ahead, with 68% of classrooms using the search giant’s productivity tools frequently, compared to 17% for Microsoft and 1% for Apple. Another 14% said they used none of the big three frequently.
A grammar-checking startup raised $110 million. Grammarly, based in San Francisco and founded by Ukrainian entrepreneurs, uses artificial intelligence to help users fix awkward phrases. Nearly 7 million people use its service daily, many through an extension of Google’s Chrome browser. Venture capital firm General Catalyst led the funding.
