Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Quirky but Useful Gifts: Rob Enderle's 2018 Personal Tech Product Guide

TechNewsWorld
Quirky but Useful Gifts: Rob Enderle's 2018 Personal Tech Product Guide
This year I thought I'd list my favorite unusual products as gift ideas. I'm a big fan of products most people don't have that solve a specific work problem, as well as those that could make your life easier, more comfortable or more fun. I like to give gifts that people actually would use. In some cases, due to the cost, these may be things you'd buy only for yourself, a spouse, or a relative you really want to impress. So here is my guide to 2018's personal products that have a bit of wow associated with them.
Let's Create a TV Show to Fix Silicon Valley
Startups have been creating employee hell in Silicon Valley. That was on my mind as I read the book Lab Rats: How Silicon Valley Made Work Miserable for the Rest of Us. I think this book should be required reading for anybody who thinks working for a startup in Silicon Valley would be fun. Unless you are into humiliation and abuse you probably should avoid these startups like the plague. Yes, you could get rich, but you also could end up with a ruined life -- broke, divorced, homeless, or maybe even dead by your own hand.
BBC News - Technology
Are these robots the future of warfare?
Are these robots the future of warfare?
The Ministry of Defence is carrying out its biggest ever exercise using autonomous vehicles in battle scenarios.
Gear Latest
Lenovo Yoga Book C930 Review: E-Ink Just Isn't Our Type
Lenovo Yoga Book C930 Review: E-Ink Just Isn't Our Type
Lenovo's newest ultraportable Yoga Book replaces the traditional laptop keyboard with an E-Ink variant.

Monday, December 3, 2018

The ferry using Rolls-Royce technology that sails itself

BBC News - Technology
The ferry using Rolls-Royce technology that sails itself
The ferry using Rolls-Royce technology that sails itself
Sensors and cameras help this ferry in Finland navigate independently and it can even dock itself.
Gear Latest
The Best TVs to Buy for 2018: 4K, OLED, Samsung, and More
The Best TVs to Buy for 2018: 4K, OLED, Samsung, and More
The best, boldest, and most budget friendly 4K TVs we've seen this year, including LG, Samsung, Vizio, TCL, and Sony.

Sunday, December 2, 2018

TEDWomen: Why it's OK to be average

BBC News - Technology
TEDWomen: Why it's OK to be average
TEDWomen: Why it's OK to be average
What happens to the forgotten middle - those who get average grades and don't shine in the office?
Brexit: Sam Gyimah resigns over Theresa May's 'naive' deal
Brexit: Sam Gyimah resigns over Theresa May's 'naive' deal
Sam Gyimah says the row over the EU's Galileo system shows how the UK will be "hammered" in any deal.
Gear Latest
Gift Ideas for Dogs and Dog-Lovers: Chewy, Furbo, and More
Gift Ideas for Dogs and Dog-Lovers: Chewy, Furbo, and More
Treat your pup with one of these fetching presents, from treat dispensers to ball launchers.
Gift Ideas for Cats and Cat-Lovers: Litter Boxes, Toys, Grooming, Treats
Gift Ideas for Cats and Cat-Lovers: Litter Boxes, Toys, Grooming, Treats
Treat your own cat—or your cat-loving friend—with one of these presents from Chewy, Modkat, and more. Then maybe take a nap?

Saturday, December 1, 2018

Facebook Staffers Once Brainstormed Ways to Sell User Data: Report

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Facebook Staffers Once Brainstormed Ways to Sell User Data: Report
Facebook at one time considered charging companies for access to its user data, according to a report based on three pages of unredacted material from a document showing portions of some internal Facebook emails, mainly from 2012 to 2014. The documents are linked to a lawsuit, Six4Three LLC v. Facebook Inc., filed in California Superior Court. Six4Three, the developer of Pikini, a now-defunct app for locating photos of users' friends in swimsuits, filed a complaint in 2015 alleging that Facebook's data policies were anticompetitive.
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Apple Music Lands on Amazon Echo, as Apple Branches Out
Apple Music Lands on Amazon Echo, as Apple Branches Out
Two bitter tech rivals get along for a change, making your streaming life a lot less complicated.

Friday, November 30, 2018

Instagram 'Close Friends': What It Is and How to Use It

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Instagram 'Close Friends': What It Is and How to Use It
Instagram 'Close Friends': What It Is and How to Use It
The photo-sharing platform now offers the ability to post photos and stories that are only visible to a tight circle of followers of your choosing.
8 Best Cheap iPhones and Android Smartphones ($180-$550)
8 Best Cheap iPhones and Android Smartphones ($180-$550)
The absolute best Android and iOS phones you can buy for under $550.
BBC News - Technology
Ex-Autonomy boss Mike Lynch charged with fraud in the US
Ex-Autonomy boss Mike Lynch charged with fraud in the US
Founder of UK software giant is charged with fraud seven years after the firm's sale to Hewlett-Packard.
TechNewsWorld
Amazon Comprehend Medical Makes Sense of Scattered Healthcare Data
Amazon has announced Amazon Comprehend Medical, a language processing service that lets users gather information -- such as a patient's medical condition and medication dosage, strength and frequency -- from sources including doctors' notes, clinical trial reports, hospital admission notes and patient health records. Most health and patient data -- such as medical notes, prescriptions, audio interview transcripts, and pathology and radiology reports -- currently is stored as unstructured medical text.

Thursday, November 29, 2018

DJI Osmo Pocket Camera Gimbal: Price, Specs, Release Date

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DJI Osmo Pocket Camera Gimbal: Price, Specs, Release Date
DJI Osmo Pocket Camera Gimbal: Price, Specs, Release Date
For YouTubers and video influencers, this tiny face-tracking video camera might be the best thing since, well, the previous Osmo—and rival the GoPro.
BBC News - Technology
Serkis on Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle visual effects
Serkis on Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle visual effects
Andy Serkis has directed the new movie Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle using performance capture methods.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Massage app exposes 'sex pest' clients

BBC News - Technology
Massage app exposes 'sex pest' clients
Massage app exposes 'sex pest' clients
Urban Massage left thousands of customer records exposed, including complaints about its clients.
Huawei: NZ bars Chinese firm on national security fears
Huawei: NZ bars Chinese firm on national security fears
Concerns about espionage risks has sparked global scrutiny of telecoms gear made by China's Huawei.
Gear Latest
Cyber Monday 2018: 40 Extended Deals You Can Still Buy
Cyber Monday 2018: 40 Extended Deals You Can Still Buy
These are our favorite Cyber Monday deals that were extended, but they may go quick, including Roku, Echo Dot, and more.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Gifts for Apple Lovers: Headphones, Cases, and More

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Gifts for Apple Lovers: Headphones, Cases, and More
Gifts for Apple Lovers: Headphones, Cases, and More
Here’s what to get for that person who’s still casually throwing out Steve Jobs quotes on a regular basis.
TechNewsWorld
Tesla vs. Jaguar: The First Real Electric Car Track Shootout
I'm a longtime Jaguar fan. I've owned a ton of them over the years, and I've had both good and bad experiences with the cars. Currently I own two -- a 1970 XKE and a 2014 F-Type -- and they are about to get a sibling. I've ordered a new Jaguar I-Pace, which is the first legitimate challenger to Tesla, which surprised the automotive industry much like Apple surprised the mobile phone industry. Tesla was first to build a decent electric car for this century. Not only that -- its Model S set records in terms of safety and reliability.

Monday, November 26, 2018

Mars InSight: Inside Nasa's mission control

BBC News - Technology
Mars InSight: Inside Nasa's mission control
Mars InSight: Inside Nasa's mission control
As Nasa prepares to land on Mars, Victoria Gill has been to the centre of operations and found out about an unusual tradition.
Facebook documents seized by UK MPs
Facebook documents seized by UK MPs
Rarely used parliamentary powers were invoked to demand the documents from a US executive.
Gear Latest
Cyber Monday 2018: The Absolute Best Tech Deals Online
Cyber Monday 2018: The Absolute Best Tech Deals Online
Don't bother trudging to the store. We’ve gathered the best online Cyber Week tech deals for 2018, from smart speakers to fitness trackers and more.

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Residents revolt over Facebook group 'sale'

BBC News - Technology
Residents revolt over Facebook group 'sale'
Residents revolt over Facebook group 'sale'
A London community Facebook group is furious after the administration rights were sold on by one of its members.

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Best Amazon Black Friday Deals (2018): Echo, Kindle, Fire HD

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Best Amazon Black Friday Deals (2018): Echo, Kindle, Fire HD
Best Amazon Black Friday Deals (2018): Echo, Kindle, Fire HD
Kindles, Fire Tablets, Fire TVs, and Echo speakers are on sale for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Friday, November 23, 2018

D&G: China shopping sites pull products in ad backlash

BBC News - Technology
D&G: China shopping sites pull products in ad backlash
D&G: China shopping sites pull products in ad backlash
The controversy over an ad campaign risks alienating the firm from one of the world's biggest luxury markets.
Gear Latest
Black Friday 2018: Best Laptop, Tablet, and Phone Deals
Black Friday 2018: Best Laptop, Tablet, and Phone Deals
Our favorite deals on iPhones, Surface, and Chromebooks for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

15 Early Black Friday (2018) Tech Deals: Echo, Dyson, OLED

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15 Early Black Friday (2018) Tech Deals: Echo, Dyson, OLED
15 Early Black Friday (2018) Tech Deals: Echo, Dyson, OLED
Whet your appetite for holiday shopping with some of our favorite early Black Friday picks, from TVs and tablets to vacuums and more.
BBC News - Technology
Loot box spending 'creates problem gamblers'
Loot box spending 'creates problem gamblers'
'Loot-box' spending in video games creates problem gamblers, a study finds.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Human Rights Groups Sound Alarm Over 'Killer Robot' Threat

TechNewsWorld
Human Rights Groups Sound Alarm Over 'Killer Robot' Threat
Leaders from Human Rights Watch and Harvard Law School's International Human Rights Clinic have issued a dire warning that nations around the world haven't been doing enough to ban the development of autonomous weapons -- so-called "killer robots." The groups issued a joint report that calls for a complete ban on these systems before such weapons begin to make their way to military arsenals and it becomes too late to act. Other groups, including Amnesty International, joined in those urgent calls for a treaty to ban such weapons systems.
Overcoming Your Terror of Arch Linux
A recent episode of a Linux news podcast I keep up with featured an interview with a journalist who had written a piece for a non-Linux audience about giving it a try. It was surprisingly widely read. The writer's experience with some of the more popular desktop distributions had been overwhelmingly positive, and he said as much in his piece and during the interview. However, when the show's host asked whether he had tried Arch Linux, the journalist immediately and unequivocally dismissed the idea, as if it were obviously preposterous.
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How to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV and Online
How to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV and Online
Enjoy the Thanksgiving tradition from the comfort of your own home.
How to See How Much Time You Spend on Facebook and Instagram
How to See How Much Time You Spend on Facebook and Instagram
Facebook has released its "Your Time on Facebook" tool, which lets you see how much of your life is spent buried in the News Feed.
BBC News - Technology
The tech that could make water use sustainable
The tech that could make water use sustainable
Scientists in Finland and the UK have built a computer model that visualises groundwater levels in real time.

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Online Shopping: The Complete Wired Guide

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Online Shopping: The Complete Wired Guide
Online Shopping: The Complete Wired Guide
Everything you ever wanted to know about Amazon, data privacy, and those weird new register-free retail stores.
Gadget Lab Podcast: Can Magic Leap Stand Out from the AR Pack?
Gadget Lab Podcast: Can Magic Leap Stand Out from the AR Pack?
We sat down with Magic Leap's Brenda Freeman to discuss the future of immersive media when it means wearing AR goggles on your face.
BBC News - Technology
Airbnb removes Israeli West Bank settlement listings
Airbnb removes Israeli West Bank settlement listings
The US firm says it will take home rentals in Israeli settlements on occupied land off its website.
TechNewsWorld
10 Ways to Avoid Losing Your Retirement to a Scam
Several years ago, my wife and I invested in a project called "Sanctuary Belize" and, like many of the investors, we were incredibly excited about the prospect of retiring in paradise. After a time, things just weren't adding up. The company supposedly put controls in place to reverse course, but we exited the project. As it turned out, those controls either were not put in place or failed. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission last week announced that it had shut the thing down, and highlighted it as one of the largest scams in its history.

Monday, November 19, 2018

Energy firms likely to miss smart meter deadline, warns Which?

BBC News - Technology
Energy firms likely to miss smart meter deadline, warns Which?
Energy firms likely to miss smart meter deadline, warns Which?
Which? says suppliers would have to triple their installation rate to reach the 2020 deadline.
Parents struggle to handle children's tech habits
Parents struggle to handle children's tech habits
Curbing excessive gadget use among children is hard, say parents asked for survey.
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Best Cookbooks (Fall 2018): José Andrés, Anissa Helou, Simone Klabin
Best Cookbooks (Fall 2018): José Andrés, Anissa Helou, Simone Klabin
This year's best food books reflect the importance of community, whether it's about saving the world or just understanding it a little better.
Black Friday 2018: Best Gaming Deals on PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and More
Black Friday 2018: Best Gaming Deals on PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and More
The best deals on consoles, controllers, headsets, and other gaming gear for Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo fans.

Sunday, November 18, 2018

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds: Imams divided over video game fatwa

BBC News - Technology
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds: Imams divided over video game fatwa
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds: Imams divided over video game fatwa
Some imams in Kurdistan have officially banned a hugely popular video game – but others are hitting back.

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Amazon Is Just the Tip of the AI Bias Iceberg

TechNewsWorld
Amazon Is Just the Tip of the AI Bias Iceberg
Amazon recently disclosed its 2015 decision to scrap a recruitment tool used to hire talent, after finding that it had a bias against women. While this story has been covered sufficiently, there is a much greater story still to tell: A substantial amount of the artificial intelligence technology that currently is used for recruitment and human resources purposes has been acting independently, without any form of regulation, for some time. Before exploring this, it will be helpful to understand why this happened with Amazon's software.

Friday, November 16, 2018

Review: Battlefield V Mixes Fantastic Gameplay With Intense Realism

TechNewsWorld
Review: Battlefield V Mixes Fantastic Gameplay With Intense Realism
After taking the popular Battlefield series to "the beginning" with the First World War-based Battlefield 1, developers have returned the action to its World War II roots with Battlefield V. Anyone who's not familiar with this first-person shooter need know only that the original game, introduced in 2002 as Battlefield 1942, offers players the chance to control vehicles as well as soldiers. At the time of its introduction, that was a novel twist for the traditional FPS, and it helped propel the series to success.
BBC News - Technology
EE and Virgin Media fined £13.3m for overcharging customers
EE and Virgin Media fined £13.3m for overcharging customers
The companies overcharged phone and broadband customers leaving their contracts early, Ofcom says.
Gear Latest
Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Review: A Brawny, Shape-Shifting PC
Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Review: A Brawny, Shape-Shifting PC
Microsoft's new workstation has everything you ever wanted in a creative desktop, and costs more than you probably ever wanted to spend.