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From a business point of view Microsoft’s decision may well make sense. Google is so close to almost complete control of the infrastructure of our online lives that it may not be profitable to continue to fight this. The interests of Microsoft’s shareholders may well be served by giving up on the freedom and choice that the internet once offered us. Google is a fierce competitor with highly talented employees and a monopolistic hold on unique assets. Google’s dominance across search, advertising, smartphones, and data capture creates a vastly tilted playing field that works against the rest of us.

"On the concern side, Kronos needs to accelerate on the AI side, it is relatively late with Aimee and it needs to come up with a voice driven UI, which is key for end users. That is all not too far away for Kronos, but it needs to happen. Moving from Workforce Management to HCM means that vendors cannot hide under the complexity and compliance blanket but must show some style and appeal to motivate users… and we are not even talking Talent Management here. Kronos also needs to get their buying center to step up inside the HR buying center, quite a change for the current Kronos supporters."

Facebook unveiled an update today to its collection feature that lets people share groups of content they have saved directly with friends on the platform, according to details provided to Marketing Dive. 
Once shared, friends become contributors and can edit or add posts to the collection. For example, a user can create a collection of products serving as a holiday wish list, which can be shared with a selected group of friends or family to give them gift ideas. 
Collections could also be used for party planning by connecting a group of friends. Users could add holiday recipes that they’ve discovered on Facebook and share them in the collection.  

Walmart on Tuesday announced the rollout of a new app for store associates that allows customers to order and pay for items from the retailer's online shopping site while in brick-and-mortar stores, according to a Walmart press release.

Shoppers using the service (which is available in every store in the continental U.S.) can pay via any payment method, including cash. A store associate assists in the ordering process and prints off a receipt that the customer then takes to the checkout lane. Customers can chose to ship the purchased item directly to their home or opt to pick it up for free at a Walmart store. In part, the service is targeting shoppers who want to pay in cash and who may not have frequent access to the internet.

The report, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that if the test proves successful it would put retailers further on notice that they need to increase the convenience factor. According to the Wall Street Journal the system being tested tracks what shoppers pick up from store shelves and charges them as they exit the store. While the technology has worked well in a smaller store format, the paper reported it’s tougher to pull off in larger spaces that carry more products and have higher ceilings. That could mean it will take a while before Amazon could roll out the technology to larger format stores. What’s more, the paper said it’s not clear if the idea is to use the technology in Whole Foods. People familiar with the matter did tell the Wall Street Journal that executives within Amazon think having cashierless checkout in Whole Foods stores is the most likely place they can make it work. Amazon declined to comment, noted the WSJ.