Alibaba to pay about $3.7 billion for ‘China’s YouTube’

It is also a vote of confidence in China's economy by Alibaba Chairman Jack Ma, who has said investors should not overreact to his country's slowing growth. Youku Tudou's American Depositary Shares rose 10 percent to $26.80 in premarket trading on Friday, below Alibaba's offer of $27.60 per ADS. Alibaba held 18.3 percent of Youku Tudou as of Oct

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YouTube to support virtual reality video on its app

By Deborah M. Todd SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – YouTube announced two new features Thursday for its Android app that expand the video site's use of virtual reality, giving the new technology its biggest platform yet. The app now supports VR video – a format that gives viewers what the company says are more realistic 360-degree perspectives of films.

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BlackBerry Priv wins plaudits, but price tag questioned

By Euan Rocha TORONTO (Reuters) – BlackBerry Ltd launched its first Android-based device on Friday, with the future of the company's hardware business riding on a slick smartphone called Priv that boasts an impressive array of features and a hefty price tag. The company is betting the Priv's large curved screen, full array of Android apps from the Google Play store and blend of productivity and security features will help it rebuild its share of the smartphone market, which has slid to under one percent. With hacking and data theft issues becoming a bigger concern these days, BlackBerry expects keen interest in its pre-loaded DTEK feature that alerts users every time any app attempts to access data, or turn on the phone's microphone or camera

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China’s JD.com says watchdog accepts request for probe into rival Alibaba’s practices

A Chinese regulator has formally accepted a request by JD.com, the country's second-biggest online retailer, to investigate its rival Alibaba Group Holding Ltd for possible unfair practices during promotions, JD.com's official microblog said on Thursday. Alibaba, China's biggest e-commerce firm, has previously denied accusations outlined in a JD.com letter to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) in the run-up to Nov

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