Welcome to the Tech Meme Right Home for Tuesday, October 16th, 2018. I'm Brian McCullough.

Today, Uber is targeting a blockbuster IPO valuation.

Cops are told to stop looking at iPhones.

The Kindle Paperwhite is ready for the bath,

the Pixel reviews are in, and Remembering Paul Allen. Here's what you missed today in the world of tech.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Uber has received proposals from a variety of Wall Street banks to help them go public and the targeted valuation they're aiming for is as high as $120 billion.

The IPO is still reportedly on track for 2019.

Just two months ago, Uber was valued at just over half

that $120 billion amount during its most recent fundraising round.

At the new figure, Uber is valued at quoting the journal here, than General Motors Ford Motor Company and

Fiat Chrysler combined end quote. So what's driving this huge valuation push?

Well most likely the most recent investors.

Uber has backers who bought in over the years at valuations ranging from 50 million to

those more recent investors to make a decent return on their money

Uber had better darn well be worth a lot come IPO day

But then a hundred billion dollars has been the target for a long

long time now. Uber is also under pressure to go public by the end of 2019

due to an agreement with investor Soft Bank.

If it doesn't IPO by that date, Masa Son can sell his shares on the secondary market.

This would complicate Uber's ability to set its own IPO price.

Uber's side businesses and investments in ridehailing firms in China and India

help add to its valuation, and I found this tidbit from the journal, surprising, quote,

...