Apple iPhone, Amazon Alexa and Uber Movement: Tech News for Jan 9, 2017

morning tech report tech news 9 jan 9 2017
Written by Mike Olsen

Today in tech, Apple iPhone turns 10, Amazon Alexa beats Google Home, Uber unveils Uber Movement. Mike Olsen’s Morning Tech Report rounds up the tech news for January 9, 2017 …

aNewDomain — Good morning, everyone. Here are some of today’s top tech news developments in tech news.  It’s January 9, 2017.

tech news for january 9 2017First up, let’s give a nod to the Apple iPhone.

Were you in the room 10 years ago today when Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the first Apple iPhone? We were.

“Every once in awhile, a product comes along that just changes everything,” Jobs told the audience in his opening on-stage remarks.

“Today we are launching three revolutionary products,” Jobs told the crowd. “The first one is a wide-screen iPod with touch controls. The second is a revolutionary mobile phone. And the third is a breakthrough internet communications device … these are not three separate devices, this is one device. And we are calling it iPhone. Today Apple is going to reinvent the phone … ”

Jobs lived to see his device take over. By the time of his passing on Oct. 5, 2011, the smartphone revolution had tens of millions of Americans glued to their phones, where they remain.

WATCH: Won’t You Please Put Your Phone Down?

Watch Jobs’ entire announcement and presentation of that first Apple iPhone 3G below …

I also loved my iPhone 3G. It really was a truly magical device at the time.

CNET kicks off Apple iPhone tenth anniversary coverage with this great article that analyzes exactly how the Apple iPhone changed the world.

But can Apple keep the hits coming? Here’s the Los Angeles Times’ look at some of the challenges Apple will face this year. The big one will be keeping its loyal customers happy, as Dave Pell pointed out in his Open Letter to Apple a couple of days ago. Definitely worth a reread today.

Uber unveils Uber Movement

Uber took the wraps off its new Movement site today. It offers up access to its traffic flow data, Intended for city planners and others who work on reducing traffic snarls and traffic jams, it’s surprising — and good — that Uber would be so open with data most companies would hold close to the vest.

Alexa vs Home Round One: Amazon 1, Google 0

Amazon Alexa emerged the clear winner from last week’s CES 2013 show. Amazon took the opportunity to announce a number of integrations for the virtual assistant, including deals with the Ford Sync3, Huawei Mate 9, Lenovo Smart Assist speakers, an LG Refrigerator and Hyundai’s self-driving car.

It all seemed to catch Google off guard. The search giant released a strange, me-too blog post after Alexa had already stolen the show.

I’m all in on Google Home. But with Amazon Alexa in town, Google is going to need to move a lot faster. For more on Alexa’s CES 2017 domination, check out these headlines

Nokia! BlackBerry!

Both Nokia and BlackBerry announce new devices (well, technically the companies that are licensing the names and patents announced the phones, but still …

Both run Android and look like intriguing entries into the crowded smartphone field Apple pioneered exactly 10 years ago today.

For tech news throughout the day, follow me on Twitter. For aNewDomain, I’m Mike Olsen.

Cover image of Morning Tech Report with Mike Olsen: Tom Ewing for aNewDomain, All Rights Reserved