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Honda and General Motors are teaming up to create a new generation of fully autonomous vehicles. Honda will invest $2 billion over 12 years into GM’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Cruise.

GM and Cruise have been building and developing self-driving versions of GM’s Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car with plans to deploy a fleet of them for public use next year. With Honda’s engineering and financial assistance, Cruise will begin developing a new vehicle that is not based on any existing car, the companies said. It will represent the next step in autonomous driving, one in which controls for human operation are entirely absent.

“This is a purpose-built vehicle that will be the first vehicle produced at scale that is freed from the constraints of vehicle design and having a driver at the wheel,” said GM president Donald Amman.

Amman gave no precise timing on when Cruise Automation’s self-driving vehicles will be shuttling members of the general public, either in the Bolt EV or the new car. The cars will be deployed only when it has been decided they are safe enough, Amman enough.

The Japanese tech-focused investment bank Softbank recently invested $2.25 billion in Cruise, and Honda took a $750 million equity stake. Together, the Honda and Softbank investments give Cruise a total value of $14.6 billion.

“Autonomous vehicles are not simply a Silicon Valley-based dream,” said Zo Rahim, Research Manager at the automotive media company Cox Automotive. “Current auto manufacturers are primed to dictate the direction and growth of the future of mass mobility.”

GM’s stock rose 2% on Wednesday.

Honda and GM have been working together on electric car battery technology and hydrogen fuel cells, which extract energy electricity from hydrogen gas. The new partnership with Cruise Automation grew out of the two companies’ previous work.

GM (GM) boasts that, with the self-driving Bolt EV, it is currently the only company building autonomous vehicles on a production line. The companies would not say where or when the new vehicle will be produced.

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Fall is the season for new gadgets. Apple recently announced its latest iPhones, Amazon showed off new smart speakers and even an Alexa-activated microwave, and Google is hosting its own product launch event next week.

But Tuesday is all about Microsoft, which unveiled a slew of devices ahead of the holiday shopping season. Its lineup includes a new version of its desktop computer, called the Surface Studio 2, and its first pair of smart headphones. It also announced the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2.

The first Surface desktop, an iMac competitor focused on creativity, was introduced in October 2016. Its successor, the Surface Studio 2, offers improved graphics performance and Microsoft says it’s the fastest Surface device ever made. It has a 28-inch display and USB-C support. It’s available for pre-order on Tuesday starting at $3,499.

The Surface Headphones ($349) offer adjustable noise cancellation and automatic pause and play, which will stop the video you’re viewing when you take them off. Microsoft’s voice assistant Cortana is built in and can read your emails aloud or start a conference call. Surface Headphones will be available later this year.

Meanwhile, Microsoft says the Surface Pro 6 is 67% faster than its predecessor but with the same battery life (up to 13.5 hours). Microsoft also says it’s easy to toggle between laptop, studio and tablet mode. It comes in black and platinum and starts at $899.

The original Surface Pro in 2012 was marketed as a tablet. It looked kind of like an iPad, but with the addition of a keyboard cover. Microsoft (MSFT) has since shifted its pitch to a laptop with a touchscreen. This 2-in-1 format is aimed at people like doctors, pilots and students who need tablets for note-taking or reading, but a laptop for full functionality.

The Surface Laptop 2 (starting at $999) comes with faster and quieter typing and up to 14.5 hours of battery life, according to Microsoft. It’s 85% faster than its predecessor, and the Surface Laptop 2 comes in a new color (black), as well as the existing options burgundy, platinum and blue.

“More and more, devices are permeating your whole life. We build these things to appeal for your work and personal life,” Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s corporate VP of modern life and devices, told CNN.

The company also unveiled its next-generation Windows software – called Windows 10 October 2018 Update – which has a focus on productivity. For example, the Your Phone App brings texts and photos from your Android phone to your PC. (Apple allows such an integration for its iMessage service.) You can also integrate a To-Do list with Outlook.com, and drag an item into an open slot on your calendar to block time to finish it.

Microsoft’s main audience for these new devices is enterprise business professionals, according to Andrew Hewitt, an analyst at research firm Forrester. Ahead of Tuesday’s event, he noted Microsoft has heavily invested in productivity elements including Timeline, which lets you go back to where you left off on files and websites, and Focus Assistant, a feature that limits distractions like notifications.

“There is a sense that Microsoft is trying to compete with Apple on the creative front, with new capabilities for picture and movie editing,” Hewitt said. “But the other features are much more aligned with Microsoft’s mission to empower employees to be productive.”

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A massive Facebook breach may also have affected users of hundreds of other websites and apps. But three days after the public disclosure of the breach, it’s not clear that those companies know what, if anything, might have happened to their users.

A spokesperson for the dating app Tinder said Monday that Facebook has shared only “limited information” and called on Facebook to be “transparent” about which of Tinder’s users may have been affected.

In a statement Monday, Facebook said it was preparing more guidance for app developers.

A wide range of digital services, including big names like Tinder, Spotify and Airbnb, allow users to log in to accounts on their platforms using their Facebook credentials, a process known as Single Sign-On, or SSO.

The breach, which Facebook has said affected 50 million of its users, would have allowed hackers to log in as those people on Facebook and on apps and websites that allow SSO though Facebook.

CNN reached out to almost a dozen companies that offer the Facebook login capability. None of them would say if they had identified any overlap between their users who log in using Facebook and the 50 million Facebook users whose data was exposed.

Identifying that overlap could allow the companies to examine if affected Facebook users’ data was also compromised on their platforms.

Jason Polakis, an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said that single sign-on is a useful feature, but also a very risky one.

“The importance here is that since Facebook has become the most popular identity provider out there it’s not easy to evaluate how many accounts of yours hackers might have accessed,” said Polakis, who has studied the feature extensively.

In a statement to CNN on Monday, Tinder said it has done “a full forensic investigation” since Facebook’s “limited” disclosure and has found “no evidence to suggest accounts have been accessed.”

Tinder continued, “We will continue to investigate and be vigilant — as we always are — and if Facebook would be transparent and share the affected user lists, it would be very helpful in our investigation.”

A Tinder spokesperson pointed out that most of its new users sign up to the service without using a Facebook login.

Pinterest, another company that allows its users to log in using Facebook, told CNN that it was working with Facebook to determine if any Pinterest users were impacted.

Facebook said in a statement Monday that developers of apps that use Facebook login “can detect the forced logout actions we took on Friday and protect people using their apps.”

“We are preparing additional recommendations for all developers responding to this incident and to protect people going forward,” a Facebook spokesperson added.

Airbnb and GoFundMe, two major services that allow users to log in through Facebook, did not respond to CNN’s requests for comment.

Spotify told CNN it takes the security of its users’ privacy very seriously.

The company added that “as a precaution, concerned users can update their Spotify password, or if the account was created through Facebook, the Facebook login via their instructions.”

The precautionary advisory comes after Facebook told users that they didn’t need to change their passwords because the hackers did not have access to passwords.

No company that CNN reached out to explained what practical steps they were taking to ensure their users had not been affected by the attack on Facebook.

Headspace, a meditation and wellness app, told CNN, “We’ve investigated the matter and found no abnormalities, though we have initiated precautionary measures to protect our members and are continuing to monitor.”

The company did not detail what its investigation entailed nor what precautionary measures it took.

Other apps allow their users to log in through Facebook but have additional security measures on top of that login.

A spokesperson for Ancestry told CNN, “While Ancestry does support Facebook login for some functions, we always require an additional Ancestry username and password to access sensitive account functions such as downloading your DNA data, changing your password, changing your email address or accessing payment information. Our customers’ exposure is minimized by these additional controls.”

TransferWise, a money wire service that allows users to log in through Facebook, said its investigation was underway but that it had “no indication” that its customers had been affected.

The company said that in order for any money to be transferred users are asked to verify their identity through a second step that does not involve Facebook.

Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin rocket company just scored a major contract.

His company’s BE-4 engines will power United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur, a new suite of rockets that will aim to better compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX on price. Its first launch is slated for 2020.

The contract award with ULA marks a high-profile vote of confidence for Bezos’s space startup.

“We are very glad to have our BE-4 engine selected by United Launch Alliance. United Launch Alliance is the premier launch service provider for national security missions, and we’re thrilled to be part of their team and that mission,” Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith said in a statement announcing the award on Thursday.

ULA, a venture co-owned by longtime government contractors Boeing (BA) and Lockheed Martin (LMT), competes with SpaceX to launch sensitive national security satellites for the US government.

But the company had to rely on Russian made RD-180 engines to get its workhorse Atlas V rocket into orbit. That’s caused some political headaches for ULA.

Bezos, who has said he’s funding Blue Origin in part by selling about $1 billion worth of his own stake in Amazon (AMZN) each year, had competition for the contract: aerospace company Aeroject Rocketdyne (AJRD), which has a storied history of providing propulsion technology for NASA as well as existing ULA rockets, also competed for the ULA engine contract.

“ULA has chosen the best systems available to create the Vulcan Centaur,” ULA CEO Tory Bruno said in a statement Thursday.

Blue Origin’s win does not come as a huge surprise. The BE-4 is further along in development than the comparable Aerojet engine, dubbed the AR1, and is expected to be less expensive to make.

Bruno previously expressed his preference for Blue’s BE-4 over Aerojet’s AR1.

The announcement “is pretty significant nonetheless,” said Bill Ostrove, space analyst with Forecast International. “The fact that [Blue Origin] was able to defeat this established, storied company like Aerojet…it’s a major victory for a startup.”

Bezos founded Blue Origin in 2000. The company has only launched test flights of its suborbital New Shepard rocket, which the company plans to use to fly tourists on short, scenic trips.

It began developing the BE-4, a massive rocket engine intended for much more powerful launch vehicles, in 2011. The BE-4 completed its first test fire last year.

Blue Origin’s contract win means the company will move forward with plans to open a massive manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Alabama. The firm said in July last year that it would build a 200,000 square foot plant that will employ up to 400 new manufacturing jobs if it cinched the ULA deal.

It also puts Blue Origin in the enviable position of producing BE-4 engines for two different rockets that will ultimately compete against each other for launch contracts.

In addition to supplying ULA’s Vulcan, the BE-4 will power a Blue Origin’s own heavy-lift rocket, called New Glenn.

Those two rockets will also compete against companies like SpaceX and Northrop Grumman (NOC) to land lucrative military launch contracts.

Blue Origin’s victory marks a “major defeat” for Aerojet because it essentially leaves the company out of the market for developing main engines for any of those heavy-lift launch vehicles, Ostrove said.

SpaceX makes engines in-house for its Falcon rockets, and Northrop Grumman is expected to do the same for its OmegA rocket.

Nonetheless, Aerojet still has a solid book of business building smaller engines, including one that will power the Vulcan’s upper stage. It also produces engines for NASA’s Space Launch System.

Steve Warren, Aerojet’s vice president of communications, told CNN Thursday that Aerojet’s AR1 can still be used to power medium-lift launch vehicles.

“This could easily become the workhorse engine for America,” he said.

Ostrove is skeptical. “It’s hard to see a place for it in the market,” he said. “There’s not much activity going on in that medium-class launch market.”

CNNMoney (New York) First published September 27, 2018: 7:03 PM ET

Elon Musk agreed Saturday to step down as chairman of Tesla and pay a $20 million fine in a deal to settle charges brought this week by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Under the settlement, which requires court approval, Musk will be allowed to stay as CEO but must leave his role as chairman of the board within 45 days. He cannot seek reelection for three years, according to court filings.

He accepted the deal with the SEC “without admitting or denying the allegations of the complaint,” according to a court document.

Separately, Tesla agreed Saturday to pay $20 million to settle claims it failed to adequately police Musk’s tweet.

“The $40 million in penalties will be distributed to harmed investors under a court-approved process,” the SEC said in a press release.

The company also agreed to appoint two new independent directors to its board and establish a board committee to oversee Musk’s communications.

Tesla declined to comment. A spokesperson confirmed Musk will be permitted to remain a member of the board.

The announcement from the SEC comes two days after the agency filed a lawsuit against Musk, claiming he misled investors. The suit centers on tweets Musk sent on August 7 in which he said he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 a share, causing the company’s stock to soar. He had not secured the funding, the SEC said.

The lawsuit sought to ban Musk from serving as an officer or director of any publicly traded company.

Musk called the SEC’s suit “unjustified.”

“I have always taken action in the best interests of truth, transparency and investors,” he said. “Integrity is the most important value in my life and the facts will show I never compromised this in any way.”

CNBC, citing unnamed sources, reported that the agency filed the suit on Thursday after Musk refused an earlier settlement offer. Under that deal, Musk would have had to pay a “nominal fine” and leave his role as chairman for two years. He chose not to accept the terms because “because he felt that by settling he would not be truthful to himself,” according to the outlet.

A representative for Musk did not immediately reply to CNN’s request for comment Saturday.

Jay Dubow, a partner at Pepper Hamilton and a veteran of the SEC’s enforcement division, said it was “unusual” that the SEC agreed to let Musk stay on as chief executive but exit the chairman role.

It’s surprising considering “the conduct at issue, if [the SEC] really thought it was egregious,” Dubow said. “The CEO is certainly more involved than the chairman in day-to-day operations.”

He suggested the SEC may have determined that removing Musk as CEO would cause more harm to Tesla’s share price, and thus harm investors.

Barclays analyst Brian Johnson estimated in a recent note that Tesla’s stock has a $130 “Musk premium,” which could disappear if he leaves.

Still unclear is whether or not the Department of Justice will file criminal charges against Musk.

Tesla confirmed earlier this month that the DOJ was investigating whether Musk’s comments about taking his company private constituted criminal activity.

Dubow, the former SEC official, said he suspects nothing will come of it.

“My guess is that it’s still possible the DOJ will pursue something, but…it’s more likely than not that the DOJ chooses not to pursue this,” he said.

The settlement has likely assuaged the SEC, mitigating the DOJ’s incentive to act.

CNNMoney (New York) First published September 29, 2018: 5:46 PM ET

Can Tesla navigate through its many controversies and still meet its sales targets? We’re about to find out.

Early next week Tesla will report how many cars it made in the third quarter and how many it was actually able to deliver to customers.

Three months ago, investors and Tesla fans waited to see if the company could hit its long-promised target of building 5,000 Model 3 cars in a week. It just made that goal, building 5,031 in the last week of June.

Experts say the report on third quarter production is much more important to the company and its future. It’ll show whether the production level at the end of the second quarter was a blip or sustainable.

“The idea of having sustained production is so much more important than a production sprint during a week,” said Jeremy Acevedo manager of industry analysis at Edmunds. “The difference between 5,000 a week and 20,000 a month is huge.”

And even more importantly it’ll show whether Tesla (TSLA) is on track to meet CEO Elon Musk’s promises that the company would be profitable in the third and fourth quarters. The company had only two marginally profitable quarters in its history as a public company, and posted its largest loss ever in the second quarter as it rushed to ramp up production.

The losses, and more than $1 billion in debt that will be come due at Tesla by next spring, are why some experts are raising the possibility of a cash crunch at Tesla that could force it to sell more shares to raise cash. That could be more difficult as the stock loses value and Musk faces a federal lawsuit for misleading investors.

Musk has insisted that the company will not need to raise cash because it will generate more revenue with increased production. But he also has admitted that the company is having trouble delivering all the cars it is building.

“Sorry, we’ve gone from production hell to delivery logistics hell,” Musk tweeted two weeks ago, though he promised, “We’re making rapid progress. Should be solved shortly.”

Needless to say, its customers who are waiting for their Teslas aren’t paying for their long-anticipated cars until they actually get delivered. So the logistics problems could be its own red flag for the company revenue.

“The delivery scramble and chaos they’re going through right now, it’s disconcerting,” said Rebecca Lindland, analyst with Cox Automotive.

She said that while some fans of Tesla might want to focus on whatever production number is reported, it’s important to look at both production and deliveries.

Tesla’s most consequential report in its history has been overshadowed with controversy.

In August Musk announced via tweet that he was planning to take the company private at a price of $420 a share, and that he had “funding secured” to do so. Although he had some investors expressing interest in financing such a deal, there was nothing secured, according to the SEC. He dropped plans to go private by the end of the month. But by then he had already been sued by shareholders who charged that the tweet was a deceptive effort to manipulate the stock price. And Thursday the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a suit against Musk, seeking to have him removed as an officer at Tesla or any other public company.

Add in stories about Musk not getting any sleep and smoking pot during a podcast, and his other company SpaceX selling a trip to the moon for a billionaire tourist on his other company SpaceX, and its easy to forget that a good measure of success is actually how many cars you can build and sell.

CNNMoney (New York) First published September 28, 2018: 3:47 PM ET

The internet industry is suing the state of California over its days-old net neutrality law.

The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday by major trade groups representing broadband companies, is the second major lawsuit filed against the state over the law — the first was brought by the Justice Department.

On Sunday evening, California Governor Jerry Brown signed what is considered to be the strictest net neutrality law in the country. Under the law, internet service providers will not be allowed to block or slow specific types of content or applications, or charge apps or companies fees for faster access to customers.

Hours later, the federal government filed a lawsuit in which it alleged that California was “attempting to subvert the Federal Government’s deregulatory approach” to the internet. The DOJ argues states can’t pass their own laws governing internet companies, because broadband services cross state lines. It is fighting the state over a clause in the 2017 order repealing Obama-era federal net neutrality protections. In that order, the FCC said it could pre-empt state-level net neutrality laws.

The impending legal battle could drag on for many months if not longer, Daniel Lyons, an associate professor at Boston College Law School who specializes in telecommunications and Internet regulation, told CNN.

A lot is riding on the outcome. The California law is considered the most thorough state-level net neutrality legislation yet passed, and other states are expected to use it as a blueprint for their own laws.

If California wins in court, it would open the door for those other states to take similar actions. However, the FCC could try to come back with an order to block their efforts again, Lyons said.

California will likely claim that the pre-emption provision is invalid, Lyons said, while the federal government will attempt to get an injunction to stop the law from taking effect. in doing so, it will claim that the law will cause harm if allowed to take effect.

“These attempts at getting a preliminary injunction seem weak and are likely to fail for the same reasons that the Internet Service Provider [ISP] industry was unable to obtain a stay of the FCC’s former net neutrality rules in 2015,” said telecommunications attorney Pantelis Michalopoulos, a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP who has argued net neutrality cases. “The Internet Service Providers offer speculative theories about why they will suffer irreparable injury. These theories do not appear to satisfy the test for a preliminary injunction.”

The industry groups taking part in the new lawsuit represent major companies including AT&T, Comcast and Verizon, as well as other cable companies and wireless providers across the US. The groups had previously lobbied against the state law. (CNN is owned by AT&T.)

“We oppose California’s action to regulate internet access because it threatens to negatively affect services for millions of consumers and harm new investment and economic growth. Republican and Democratic administrations, time and again, have embraced the notion that actions like this are preempted by federal law,” the trade groups USTelecom, CTIA — The Wireless Association, The Internet & Television Association, and the American Cable Association said in a statement. “We will continue our work to ensure Congress adopts bipartisan legislation to create a permanent framework for protecting the open internet that consumers expect and deserve.”

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Attorney General Xavier Becerra indicated the state would fight to protect its new law.

“This suit was brought by power brokers who have an obvious financial interest in maintaining their stronghold on the public’s access to online content. California, the country’s economic engine, has the right to exercise its sovereign powers under the Constitution and we will do everything we can to protect the right of our 40 million consumers to access information by defending a free and open Internet,” Becerra said in a statement.

State Senator Scott Wiener, a co-author of the bill, previously told CNN he expected the ISPs to sue over the law.

“The internet service providers have every right to sue California, just like California has every right—indeed an obligation—to protect our residents’ access to an open internet,” Wiener said after the trade groups filed their suit.

CNNMoney (San Francisco) First published October 3, 2018: 5:46 PM ET

Editor’s Note: This story originally published on September 19, 2018

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Each year, Apple CEO Tim Cook calls the next-generation iPhones the best ever made.

The company’s 2018 lineup, specifically the iPhone XS and XS Max, delivers on that promise: They’re the smartest, fastest, best iPhones we’ve seen to date.

But at this point, buying an updated iPhone is like getting a new Ferrari – you’ll find a faster engine, a new coat of paint, and a few new bells and whistles, but beneath all that it’s still basically the same car you could have bought last year. And just like that new Ferrari, these new iPhones are going to cost you a lot of money.

The 5.8-inch iPhone XS, due in stores on Friday, starts at $999. Its 6.5-inch big sister, the iPhone XS Max, which launches on the same day, costs $100 more. Want the fully souped-up Max, with 512 GB of storage? That’ll cost you $1,449. The “affordable” iPhone XR ($749) ships next month.

All of this is a lot to pay for a mostly incremental upgrade, especially now that upgrading isn’t always necessary, since iPhones hold up so much better than they used to.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy one. The XS and XS Max are worthy upgrades with impressive features. Whether or not either model is for you is up to your needs – and, more importantly, your budget.

Note: If you’ve been reading this as the “X” S and “X” Max, tell your eyes to stop. It’s the iPhone 10S and 10S Max. Don’t worry, we’ve been saying it wrong all week, too.

What to expect with the iPhone XS and XS Max

The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max’s internals are nearly identical: With each, you get a 12 megapixel camera, better-sounding speakers and the ability to pack two SIM cards into one device – a solid perk for international travelers or people who have to switch between a device for work and one for personal use.

The phones come with Apple’s new A12 bionic chip, which helps power complex augmented reality apps and what makes Face ID and games load faster. Apple played up the speed of these new phones during its product announcement, and they are fast. But so were the models before them.

Both models feature gorgeous OLED screens that make watching videos, especially on the XS Max, totally immersive.

Battery life is also improved on both devices. Apple (AAPL) says you can squeeze about 30 minutes longer on the XS compared to last year’s X, and 90 minutes longer on the Max. It’s not a game changer, but we’ll take any extra minutes we can get.

There is one major difference between the iPhone XS and XS Max: size. The Max is unquestionably big, but it’s technically the same size as the iPhone 8 Plus. The edge-to-edge screen creates the illusion the device itself is 21% larger than its predecessor, but it’ll fit in your hands just as easily (or not) as older Plus models.

But it’s hard to shake the feeling that the device is big just to be big. Unlike the Samsung (SSNLF) Galaxy Note or the iPad, the XS Max doesn’t support many features tailored for bigger screens, such as another row of apps or a side-by-side display that lets you use two apps at once. It’s a missed opportunity.

The real star of the new models is the camera. A new feature called Smart HDR shoots a four-frame buffer taken at different exposures and settings and blends them together to create more detailed shots – similar to an existing feature on the Google Pixel 2.

But the likely fan favorite feature is a change to the iPhone’s Portrait Mode that lets you change the depth of a photo after you take it, allowing you to have more creative control. For example, you can snap a shot of a friend on a beach and blur the background for an artsy feel. If you decide later you want to see more of the ocean, you can adjust the background via the edit button.

It’s an impressively-executed feature, but the results also depend on your photo skills and the lighting. When it’s good, it’s really good. When it’s not, you’ll still get a decent-looking picture. The Pixel 2 and Samsung Galaxy S9 offer a similar feature, too.

The XS and XS Max come with headphones, but unlike last year, you won’t find an adapter included in the box. This means you’ll need to spend $9 more for a dongle if you want to use an old pair of headphones. It’s Apple’s way of saying it’s finally time to get over the fact there’s no longer a headphone jack.

It may be hard to wrap your mind around spending nearly a grand or more on a new iPhone. Although Apple quietly discontinued some of its lower-cost devices, including the iPhone 6S, iPhone SE and the iPhone X, it still sells two older models – iPhone 7 ($449) and the iPhone 8 ($599) – at cheaper price points, if you want a replacement device without splurging for the XS line.

If you’re not in the market for another iPhone, can’t afford one or just can’t bring yourself to spend the money, consider upgrading your existing software to iOS 12 to make it feel new again. Try the buzzy new Screen Time tool, which logs just how obsessed you are with your iPhone. (It took me less than two hours to realize I access apps like Instagram way too much.) The feature also lets you set timers for how long you want to use certain apps.

But not all iOS 12 features translate to older models. Memoji, an animated emoji cartoon you can customize to look like you, requires users to access an iPhone with Face ID to create and send one to a friend.

If you’re on the fence, consider the iPhone XS or XS Max as a several-year investment. After all, we’re moving away from the two-year replacement cycle as these devices get more durable. It’s a big reason why Apple can justify the higher price tags.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported the price of the iPhone XR.

BlackBerry’s transformation from struggling smartphone company into a burgeoning leader in cybersecurity software and connected cars is on track.

The company now generates more than 90% of its total revenue from software and services. And 81% of those sales are recurring. In other words, BlackBerry is no longer subject to the fickle tastes of consumers and has hitched its wagon to corporate customers.

BlackBerry (BB) reported profits and sales Friday morning for its latest quarter that topped Wall Street’s forecasts. The stock was up more than 15% in late morning trading on the news.

CEO John Chen, speaking to CNN Friday, said the company’s biggest successes this quarter were in the connected and autonomous car market, with revenue growth of about 30% for the business unit that includes the QNX software business for cars.

Chen said BlackBerry is working hard to win more customers in the automotive market, pointing to a deal it announced in January with Chinese search engine giant Baidu (BIDU) to jointly develop self-driving cars.

The company, under Chen, realized a few years ago that it was a losing battle making devices that generated razor-thin profit margins at a time when Apple (AAPL) and Samsung (SSNLF) dominate the smartphone race.

That’s why BlackBerry decided in 2016 to stop making its own phones and outsource the production of devices with the BlackBerry name on them to other manufacturers.

Since then, BlackBerry has gone all-in on software.

BlackBerry hoping for a new ‘Spark’

So what’s next? Chen said he’s hopeful that BlackBerry’s new Spark security platform, which is kind of like instant messaging on steroids, can make a bigger presence in the health care market. Spark integrates video chat, texts and other forms of media.

BlackBerry is targeting health to help the company expand beyond its core markets of transportation, governments and financial services companies.

Investors are pleased with the turnaround too. BlackBerry’s stock is up more than 60% since Chen took over nearly five years ago. That’s solid, but it has lagged the performance of Apple as well as the Nasdaq.

Still, Chen has cleaned up BlackBerry’s balance sheet. The company now has $2.4 billion in cash and just $740 million in long-term debt. Rumors about BlackBerry going out of business are no longer running rampant the way they were before Chen joined.

BlackBerry’s board is happy with Chen’s leadership as well. BlackBerry announced in March that it was extending Chen’s contract through November 2023.

That may also put to rest some of the rumors that Chen was only going to stick around long enough to sell BlackBerry to a larger rival.

CNNMoney (New York) First published September 28, 2018: 10:41 AM ET

CNN
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A rare spot of happy news: Apple is finally getting a llama emoji. And a raccoon, bagel, frisbee and mosquito emoji, too.

The company said it will likely add 70 new emoji for iPhone and iPad users later this month. Beta testers and developers who update to iOS 12.1 will see the new emoji starting Tuesday.

Beyond the new cute (and bloodsucking) animals, iOS 12.1 users will now be able to send a bagel, salt, luggage, compass, hiking boot, softball, frisbee, and an Asian-inspired Red Gift Envelope to friends and family.

On World Emoji Day in July, Apple previewed new options for bald and redheaded emoji characters, as well a lobster, cupcake and superheroes. These emoji will also roll out to iOS 12.1.

The Unicode Consortium, the nonprofit organization that manages the world’s emoji standards, unveiled its latest list in February. Each company that uses emoji in their products puts their own spin on the tiny cartoons and picks which options from the master list to include.

The interpretations can lead to controversy, such as Google’s misplacement of foam on its beer emoji, and the tragic jumbling of ingredients on its hamburger emoji. Both have since been corrected.