You don't have to wait until 2018 to get a good sense of what next year's smartphones will look like.
What to expect: Because the chips that power such phones have already been designed, we already know that high-definition displays, augmented reality capabilities and support for faster networks will be key among the key features. Also on tap for next year: more competition from Chinese brands and advances in facial recognition technologies.
SoftBank Group Corp. pulled off its bid to buy up to 20% of Uber at a steep discount, sources tell the WSJ. SoftBank will likely limit its stake to 15% in the tender offer, valuing the ride-hailing company at $48 billion — a roughly 30% discount from its recent $70 billion valuation.
Why it matters: This deal is vital to Uber because of associated governance changes, and a big bet on transportation for SoftBank, which already has stakes in Uber rivals in other countries. Uber will also get a $1 billion investment from SoftBank at the $70 billion valuation. The company plans to close the overall transaction in early 2018.
Mark Zuckerberg started 2017 scoffing at the idea of Russia election manipulation on Facebook, and looked like he was contemplating his own possible run for the presidency.
Facebook'sCEO ends 2017 a very changed man: scrambling to curtail (some of) the manipulation he now acknowledges exists, and to save the most powerful platform in human history.
