Is New York giving Amazon too much?
Amazon is promising 3.5 acres of public green space, an esplanade, and a school. But some lawmakers say the city and state gave the tech giant way too much.
Amazon HQ2
The Wall Street Journal reported that the tech giant is considering splitting its second headquarters into two locations—one in New York and one in Virginia. The New York Times reported that this is virtually a done deal and that Amazon is nearing a deal to move to Long Island City in Queens and Arlington, Va., a Washington suburb.
Amazon 4-star store
Amazon is expanding its physical presence again, this time opening a 4,000-square-foot store that sells a wide range of products, including shower curtains, Hallmark cards and baby bottles.
Digital assistants and kids
Smart home devices with virtual assistants, such as Amazon Echo's Alexa and Google Home's Assistant, are creating challenges because some children are becoming too dependent on them. A wealth of information comes through a smart speaker that not only can answer questions and help with homework but can now make sure kids are polite and parents can control activities.
Replace libraries with Amazon?
A Long Island University economics professor argued in a Forbes.com opinion piece that the nation ought to replace public libraries with Amazon because people now study in Starbucks, get their books online, and his local library claims too many of his tax dollars.
July shopping deals
July is typically a really good month for sales, but this Fourth of July might disappoint, according to Trae Bodge, a smart shopping expert with Slickdeals. Because the holiday falls on a Wednesday this year, Trae isn't seeing a ton of impressive sale activity. Department stores like Macy's are offering some discounts, but don't expect anything spectacular this year besides the fireworks.
Amazon to fund delivery startups
The online retailer has been looking for a while to find a way to have more control over how its packages are delivered. With its new program rolling out Thursday, contractors around the country can launch businesses that deliver Amazon packages. The move gives Amazon more ways to ship its packages to shoppers without having to rely on UPS, FedEx and other package delivery services.
Amazon delivers to cars
Amazon latest perk ... free delivery to your car. The Seattle company said Tuesday that it has begun delivering packages in 37 cities to Prime members who own newer General Motors or Volvo vehicles.
Chatting digital assistants?
Ask Siri, the iPhone and now HomePod's digital assistant, if she knows Alexa, Amazon's competitor, and she'll respond with one of her pre-programmed responses. Often something like: "I'm sorry. I'm afraid I don't have an answer to that." That answer is a lie. And we can thank the YouTube user danrl, among others, for recording and uploading the proof to call shenanigans on Apple's duplicitous personal assistant, the first speaking machine many of us ever integrated into our lives.
Many Toys R Us stores closing
Toys R Us, a nostalgic favorite even as many shoppers moved to Amazon and huge chains like Walmart, plans to close up to 182 stores after struggling during the holiday season. The company that once dominated toy sales in the U.S. has been operating under bankruptcy protection since last fall when it filed for Chapter 11 under the weight of $5 billion in debt. Toys R Us operates about 900 stores in the U.S., including Babies R Us stores.
New way to offer medical care?
Amazon, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and the New York bank JPMorgan Chase are teaming up to create health care company "free from profit-making incentives and constraints." The business giants offered few details Tuesday and said that the project is in the early planning stage.
Retailers try new strategies to keep customers
With the holidays nipping at our heels, retail experts are analyzing this year's shopping trends. By some estimates, brick-and-mortar sales will suffer in favor of their sleeker, more convenient competitor, online shopping.
Amazon to Bayonne?
The competition is heating up for amazon's second headquarters. More than 50 cities across the country and Canada are fighting to be the new home of the internet giant. The latest on the map: Bayonne, New Jersey. Mayor James Davis says he has the perfect location: 200-plus acres of underdeveloped waterfront property.
Amazon facility coming to New York City
It doesn't look like much now but an Amazon building is already being built on Staten Island. Staten Island Borough President James Oddo said he hopes it'll be fully operational in about a year. The structure is only a concrete frame now but soon thousands of people will be working here. This West Shore site, in Bloomfield, will house Amazon's first facility in New York. The facility sits on Gulf Avenue at the Matrix Global Logistics Park.
What to buy in July
Smart shopping expert for SlickDeals.net Trae Bodge says this is a great time to shop, especially for athletic apparel. She expects good sales on sportswear and fitness at department stores like Macy's and also at Nike and Puma.
Amazon Prime Wardrobe
Amazon is increasingly claiming territory once held exclusively by department stores and it's doing so again, essentially placing a dressing room in your house. Amazon is testing a new service for Prime members that allows them to try on the latest styles before they buy at no upfront charge. Customers have seven days to decide what they like and only pay for what they keep. Shipments arrive in a re-sealable box with a pre-paid label for returns.
Amazon to buy Whole Foods
Online retail giant Amazon is making a bold expansion into physical stores with a $13.7 billion deal to buy Whole Foods, setting the stage for radical retail experiments that could revolutionize how people buy groceries and everything else.
Amazon bookstore opens in NYC
Amazon, the online behemoth that began as a virtual bookstore, has opened an actual bookstore in New York City that you can walk into and shop in. Why? Vice President of Amazon Books Jennifer Cast pitches the city's first physical Amazon store (and the country's sixth) as an extension of Amazon.com and (stop us if this sounds familiar) a revolution for the way we buy our books.
Amazon Echo Look
You can ask Amazon Echo's Alexa feature pretty much anything. But what about asking for help with your wardrobe? Amazon has introduced the Echo Look, the new Alexa-powered at-home wardrobe assistant, which draws us closer to total dependence on technology and decision making.
The Disruptors: Streaming television
Massive leaps in internet and cell phone technology have changed the TV industry more in the past 15 years, than in the previous 50. Disrupt means to interrupt the normal course or drastically alter a significant change. Disruptors are the ones responsible for making these changes. It is happening right in front our eyes in the television industry.