Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Japan bullet train stops 'scary' safety drills

BBC News - Technology
Japan bullet train stops 'scary' safety drills
Japan bullet train stops 'scary' safety drills
Workers at the Japanese company would crouch in trenches beside railway tracks as trains sped by.
Cardiff tech firm: 'We'll pay £100k, but can't get staff'
Cardiff tech firm: 'We'll pay £100k, but can't get staff'
A tech skills shortage means some Welsh workers receive daily job offers, and salaries are increasing.
Gear Latest
Apple's iPads Are Officially More Interesting Than Its MacBooks
Apple's iPads Are Officially More Interesting Than Its MacBooks
The MacBook Air looks like a great computer. But it's not what a great computer will look like in the future.
TechNewsWorld
Human Knowledge to Escape Earth's Boundaries
SpaceChain has entered a partnership with the Arch Mission Foundation to use open source technology to launch an ambitious project involving the storage of large data sets in spacecraft and on other planets. Arch Mission will load large quantities of data onto SpaceChain's satellite vehicles with the eventual aim of storing data on other planets. "The goal of archiving and preserving knowledge of future generations will advance archiving science and human knowledge by itself," SpaceChain cofounder Zheng Zuo said.

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Crisis in Tech: Who Can Save Companies When Execs Go Off the Rails?

TechNewsWorld
Crisis in Tech: Who Can Save Companies When Execs Go Off the Rails?
"Too many digital leaders have lost their minds," Kara Swisher recently wrote, citing some frightening examples of poor leadership. Swisher pointed to the solution adopted by Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, who hired a chief ethical officer -- but I think that would just repeat the mistake we made with chief risk officers around a decade ago. What happened was that the risk managers had responsibility but no real authority, so while they were viewed as some kind of shield, they were in effect more like sacrificial goats.
Podcasting for Fun and Profit
User engagement with podcasts has been steadily increasing, and many listeners actually prefer longer-format content, based on results of Apple's Podcast Analytics. The service, which Apple launched late last year, gives podcasters a way to track performance metrics including number of listeners, total time listened and time per device. The audience for podcasts has increased as content has become more specialized in nature, the analytics show. Listeners engage with podcasts for much longer periods than with other types of online content.
BBC News - Technology
Porn-loving US official spreads malware to government network
Porn-loving US official spreads malware to government network
The employee at the US Geological Survey had an "extensive history" of visiting adult websites.
Sony eyes record profit as gaming hits boost earnings
Sony eyes record profit as gaming hits boost earnings
Strong demand for Spider-Man and other games is helping drive earnings at the Japanese electronics giant.
Gear Latest
How to Watch Apple's (Second!) Fall Hardware Show
How to Watch Apple's (Second!) Fall Hardware Show
We're expecting new iPads and a new MacBook. Here’s how you can watch all the action, from wherever you are.

Monday, October 29, 2018

Are hydrogen trains the future of UK travel?

BBC News - Technology
Are hydrogen trains the future of UK travel?
Are hydrogen trains the future of UK travel?
Trains that emit pure water could be in the UK by the "early 2020s", according to the government.
Dad creates VR world to help daughter
Dad creates VR world to help daughter
Craig Chaytor's 360° videos were inspired by his daughter's learning difficulties.
The boss who tried to kill his business
The boss who tried to kill his business
Peter Reinhardt was initially unimpressed with the idea behind customer data tech firm Segment.
Gear Latest
25 Best Nintendo Switch Accessories (Holiday 2018): Controllers, Screen Protectors, Etc
25 Best Nintendo Switch Accessories (Holiday 2018): Controllers, Screen Protectors, Etc
Have a Nintendo Switch? You really should get some of these accoutrements. We list the best chargers, screen protectors, cases, stands, controllers, adapters, and more.
Halloween Tips and Tricks for Safer Trick-Or-Treating
Halloween Tips and Tricks for Safer Trick-Or-Treating
Download these apps and follow these tips to make sure your kid’s Halloween is all treat and no tricks.

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Best Weekend Tech Deals: Outdoor, Phones, and More

Gear Latest
Best Weekend Tech Deals: Outdoor, Phones, and More
Best Weekend Tech Deals: Outdoor, Phones, and More
Great pre-Halloween weekend deals on smartphones, tech, and outdoor gear.

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Former White House CIO Theresa Payton: 'There Are Grave Concerns About Election Interference'

TechNewsWorld
Former White House CIO Theresa Payton: 'There Are Grave Concerns About Election Interference'
Theresa Payton, CEO of Fortalice Solutions, is one of the most influential experts on cybersecurity and IT strategy in the United States. She is an authority on Internet security, data breaches and fraud mitigation. She served as the first female chief information officer at the White House, overseeing IT operations for President George W. Bush and his staff. With the U.S. midterm elections fast approaching, both Payton's observations about the current cybersecurity threat level and her advice about shoring up the nation's defenses carry special weight.
New Manjaro Beta Builds a Better Arch
Manjaro Linux offers the best of two worlds. It puts a user-friendly face on an Arch-based distro, and it gives you a choice of sensible and productive desktop interfaces. The Manjaro Linux team released its latest updates running the KDE, Xfce and GNOME desktops, Manjaro Linux 18.0 Beta 7, late last month. All three are solid performers and seem to be ready for final release. A key benefit of Manjaro Linux is the rolling release method to push new versions to users without the full reinstallation required with most other Linux distributions.
BBC News - Technology
The robot arm made for gentle undersea exploration
The robot arm made for gentle undersea exploration
A soft robotic arm which will allow underwater sea life to be studied in greater detail is created.
VR esports: Is it gaming for sporty people?
VR esports: Is it gaming for sporty people?
VR esport athlete Tim McGuinness says the technology lets him do things traditional sport competitors cannot.
Gear Latest
Learn the Simple New Way to Make Google Docs Using Your Browser Bar
Learn the Simple New Way to Make Google Docs Using Your Browser Bar
Welcome to doc.new. It's going to change your life.

Friday, October 26, 2018

Google sacks dozens over sexual harassment

BBC News - Technology
Google sacks dozens over sexual harassment
Google sacks dozens over sexual harassment
The tech giant says it dismissed 48 employees, including 13 senior managers, over the past two years.
Micro drones pull heavy objects and other tech news
Micro drones pull heavy objects and other tech news
BBC Click's Omar Mehtab looks at some of the best technology news stories of the week.
Gear Latest
How to Pick the Best Roku: A Buying Guide of All Rokus (2018)
How to Pick the Best Roku: A Buying Guide of All Rokus (2018)
There are 7 Rokus for sale, and the differences between them are confusing. We break down exactly which Roku is best for your TV.
TechNewsWorld
What Can We Expect From AI?
Fear mongering about killer robots and the recent deaths connected with Uber and Tesla autonomous vehicles have rekindled concerns about AI. We are well beyond answering Alan Turing's question, "can machines think?" There is now good reason to ask how we should think of AI, and what we should expect from it. There have been phenomenal advances in just the past few years. They are due in part to advances in processor technology. We now can train artificial neural networks in the time it would take to make a cup of coffee.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

The CLOUD Act's Privacy Repercussions for Global Businesses

TechNewsWorld
The CLOUD Act's Privacy Repercussions for Global Businesses
Just when the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, was about to go into effect, the United States Congress created the CLOUD Act. Without any public hearings, review or public comment, Congress passed the legislation as part of the $1.3 trillion government spending bill. The CLOUD Act changed the privacy provisions that were in effect under the 1986 Stored Communications Act. Needless to say, Internet privacy issues create headlines around the world every day.
BBC News - Technology
BT appoints Worldpay's Philip Jansen as new chief executive
BT appoints Worldpay's Philip Jansen as new chief executive
Philip Jansen takes the helm next year as Britain's biggest telecoms provider seeks to revive its fortunes.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

How to Stream the MLB 2018 World Series Without Cable

Gear Latest
How to Stream the MLB 2018 World Series Without Cable
How to Stream the MLB 2018 World Series Without Cable
You don’t need cable to watch America’s pastime.

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

London Uber drivers to charge electric car fee

BBC News - Technology
London Uber drivers to charge electric car fee
London Uber drivers to charge electric car fee
The 15p fee will be handed to drivers to help them pay for an all-electric car, says ride-hailing firm

Monday, October 22, 2018

Asteroid pioneers: The team who put rovers on a space rock

BBC News - Technology
Asteroid pioneers: The team who put rovers on a space rock
Asteroid pioneers: The team who put rovers on a space rock
Japan's space agency Hayabusa-2 spacecraft is the first one to place robot rovers on an asteroid's surface.
Addison Lee plans self-driving taxis by 2021
Addison Lee plans self-driving taxis by 2021
The taxi firm is pitting itself against rival Uber in a race to offer self-driving car services.
Gear Latest
Review: The Updated Fitbit Charge 3 is More of the Same, but Better
Review: The Updated Fitbit Charge 3 is More of the Same, but Better
If you're going to look at an advanced fitness tracker, why not just get a smartwatch?

Sunday, October 21, 2018

Mostly Hotly Sought-After Linux Skills

TechNewsWorld
Mostly Hotly Sought-After Linux Skills
The Linux Foundation's 2018 Open Source Technology Jobs Report shows rapid growth in the demand for open source technical talent, with Linux skills a must-have requirement for entry-level positions. Linux coding is the most sought-after open source skill. Linux-based container technology is a close second. The report provides an overview of open source career trends, factors motivating professionals in the industry, and ways employers attract and retain qualified talent. This year's report features data from more than 750 hiring managers.
How to Prevent the Internet From Ruining Your Company's Reputation
When it comes to business, you're only as good as your reputation. Indeed, your reputation is your brand. It is the substance your logo represents; it is the glue in customer brand loyalty. In a word, reputation is everything. Yet it's not entirely under your control. That doesn't mean you are helpless as a victim of false accusations, ratings, or wrongful attacks on your company's character, however. Following are some things you can do to manage your company's reputation when things go awry despite your best efforts.
The Future of Open Source
Linux and the open source business model are far different today than many of the early developers might have hoped. Neither can claim a rags-to-riches story. Rather, their growth cycles have been a series of hit-or-miss milestones. The Linux desktop has yet to find a home on the majority of consumer and enterprise computers. However, Linux-powered technology has long ruled the Internet and conquered the cloud and Internet of Things deployments. Both Linux and free open source licensing have dominated in other ways.
Gear Latest
14 Awesome Game, Console, Headset, and Controller Deals
14 Awesome Game, Console, Headset, and Controller Deals
New console bundles, discounted wireless headsets, and a bunch of game sales are happening now.
BBC News - Technology
Anonymous Pro-Brexit ads on Facebook say 'bin Chequers'
Anonymous Pro-Brexit ads on Facebook say 'bin Chequers'
A senior MP questions how a pro-Brexit website can run adverts without saying who has paid for them.

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Hi-tech glasses offer alternative to bifocals

BBC News - Technology
Hi-tech glasses offer alternative to bifocals
Hi-tech glasses offer alternative to bifocals
The regular prescription lenses can change to bifocals and back again at the touch of a button.
Online sellers 'pay for positive reviews'
Online sellers 'pay for positive reviews'
A Which? investigator was hired to write high-rated reviews online in return for free goods.
Gear Latest
Gadget Lab Podcast: Pinterest’s Evan Sharp on What Makes Good Software
Gadget Lab Podcast: Pinterest’s Evan Sharp on What Makes Good Software
The first installment of our podcast interviews taped at WIRED’s 25th anniversary festival.

Friday, October 19, 2018

3 Wine Aroma Kits Tested: Aromabar, Aromaster, and Le Nez du Vin

Gear Latest
3 Wine Aroma Kits Tested: Aromabar, Aromaster, and Le Nez du Vin
3 Wine Aroma Kits Tested: Aromabar, Aromaster, and Le Nez du Vin
Is your schnoz a schlub? Strengthen your sniffer by teaching it to discern common wine aromas with one of these training kits.
Roku Premiere Plus Review (2018): Affordable 4K HDR Streaming
Roku Premiere Plus Review (2018): Affordable 4K HDR Streaming
Roku brings the price of 4K TV streaming down to new lows, with a few caveats.
BBC News - Technology
Facebook sued over video viewing figures
Facebook sued over video viewing figures
Legal action brought by advertisers claims the social network knew about problems in metrics in 2015.
The story behind your PlayStation username
The story behind your PlayStation username
PlayStation's long-awaited new feature means weird and embarrassing names will be no more.
TechNewsWorld
6 Tips for Managing Data Before an Emergency Strikes
Think about planning for a natural disaster emergency that might affect your home. You'd likely store some water, flashlights, food, blankets and other essentials. The key element of your planning would be proactivity. You'd do all of the work before an emergency occurred, not during the actual crisis. If your supplies were used up after the emergency passed, then you would restock before the next disaster might strike. Protecting data requires a similar approach: putting in place as many safeguards as you can before anything bad happens.

Thursday, October 18, 2018

Building a Speed Bump for Tech Companies' Maniacal Data Race

TechNewsWorld
Building a Speed Bump for Tech Companies' Maniacal Data Race
Facebook has been in seriously hot water for its data monetization model almost from the firm's beginning. The Cambridge Analytica, election meddling and fake news scandals have turned up the heat. Facebook's problems aren't limited to the public and government backlash that spans several countries; the firm faces potentially devastating legal threats too. On the surface, it appears to be a clear-cut issue: Social media and other tech companies must be reined in. Certainly, the EU thinks so, as is evidenced by its new GDPR.
Gear Latest
Ember's Temperature-Regulating Mug Just Keeps Getting Better
Ember's Temperature-Regulating Mug Just Keeps Getting Better
Crowdfunding projects often crash and burn. But Ember's heated travel mug just keeps improving.

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2018): Specs, Price, Release Date

Gear Latest
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2018): Specs, Price, Release Date
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2018): Specs, Price, Release Date
Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite e-reader gets an update. You get more storage, better lighting, and still no Alexa.
TechNewsWorld
DevOps: Let's Talk About Security
In spite of all the high-profile breaches that seem to sweep the headlines with greater frequency, companies slowly but surely have been getting a handle on internal security practices. At this point, it's hard to imagine any employee, in or out of the tech sector, who hasn't been run through antiphishing training. However, security is only as strong as its weakest link, noted David Bryan, a penetration tester and senior managing consultant at IBM X-Force Red. The link that still needs reinforcing is also the most fundamental: developers.
BBC News - Technology
Children 'blackmailed' for sexual images in online video chats
Children 'blackmailed' for sexual images in online video chats
One in 10 children have been asked to remove their clothes over online video chats, says the NSPCC.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Review: Software Is Eating Your Phone

Gear Latest
Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Review: Software Is Eating Your Phone
Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Review: Software Is Eating Your Phone
Our favorite Android phone is back, and this time it’s loaded with even more AI smarts.
TechNewsWorld
Serious Efforts to Use Tech for Good Shine Through
For much of this year, technology companies have been showcased in a very poor light. Several firms have been moving aggressively to buck this trend, however. HP's latest effort, in conjunction with the Clooney Foundation for Justice, is a case in point: an impressive initiative to supply and fund schools in places like war-torn Syria. HP also has provided substantial support to the Girl Rising movement. One of its focuses is to share stories about people who use technology to make the world a better place for girls and women.
Voice Control for Connected Entertainment: Challenges and Opportunities
Smart speakers are becoming a more common platform for controlling connected entertainment due to a rapid increase in popularity and ease of use. Household penetration of smart speakers is expected to reach 47 percent among U.S. broadband households by 2022, based on Parks Associates estimates. New entrants in the connected consumer electronics market, including Samsung, Roku and Facebook, are likely to make announcements about new voice-controlled speakers at CES 2019 in order to claim a share of this new voice-first CE market.
BBC News - Technology
Lost passwords 'lead to lost savings'
Lost passwords 'lead to lost savings'
An estimated seven million people have lost savings and pensions, but there is help to track them down.
Sundar Pichai: Google 'exploring' censored China search app
Sundar Pichai: Google 'exploring' censored China search app
The firm's CEO defends a possible return to China, a market Google abandoned over censorship concerns.