Tuesday, January 15, 2019

CES 2019: A Tech Solution for a Standoff

TechNewsWorld
CES 2019: A Tech Solution for a Standoff
To say I'm typically not a fan of CES would be an understatement, but this year was very different. A combination of better logistics and fewer people at the show, coupled with some truly earth-shattering content, made CES a must-attend event this year. One of the things that jumped out at me is that IBM announced a compelling fix for the border wall controversy. It's a fix that actually could improve the U.S. government overall. In addition, I had an interesting chat that showcased the death of the tech market -- but that's a good thing.
'DNA Printing' in the Cloud, Part 2
In DNA printing, genetic code becomes computer code. This transformation occurs when the chemical bases adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine present in a chemical mix or gene sequence are translated by computer through gel electrophoresis technology into their representative letters: A/T, T/A, C/G, G/C. This alphabet code was formalized in 1970 by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry for integration into a text-based bioinformatics format, called "FASTA," in which nucleotides are represented symbolically using single letters.
Location Data Selling Threatens Consumer Privacy
Selling location data collected by mobile phones has become a lucrative business, according to a report that noted location advertising sales are expected to reach $21 billion this year. At least 75 companies receive anonymous, precise location data from applications with the location services feature activated. Several of those outfits claim to track 200 million mobile devices in the United States -- about half of all devices in the country. The data is very accurate, coming within a few yards of a person's whereabouts at a point in time.
Pantheon Desktop Makes Linux Elementary
Developers of U.S.-based Elementary OS recently released the community's annual major update, Juno 5. What makes this distro so nontraditional is its own desktop interface, called "Pantheon." This desktop interface is somewhat of a hybrid, inspired by Apple's Debian Ubuntu-based OS X. It combines some similarities of the GNOME 3 Shell with the visual finesse of the OS X dock. Its Ubuntu underpinnings are anchored under the hood. What you see and use on the screen gives Elementary OS a distinct look and feel.

Monday, January 14, 2019

The Rise of the Swiss Army Gadget

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The Rise of the Swiss Army Gadget
The Rise of the Swiss Army Gadget
From mirrors with speakers to picture frame wireless chargers, we're deep into the age of multi-function devices.
BBC News - Technology
Instagram egg: Kylie Jenner's most-liked record beaten
Instagram egg: Kylie Jenner's most-liked record beaten
A single speckled egg, sitting on a white background, has toppled reality television star Kylie Jenner for most-liked picture on Instagram - and we have questions.
CES 2019: The sat nav of the future has arrived
CES 2019: The sat nav of the future has arrived
A car dashboard that can display directions and points of interest as holograms has been developed.
Dating apps: What are they doing to our mental health?
Dating apps: What are they doing to our mental health?
Will's a serial swiper, Alvin's 'addicted' and Meggy's giving up. Do we know how dating apps affect us?
Poland spy arrest: China telecoms firm Huawei sacks employee
Poland spy arrest: China telecoms firm Huawei sacks employee
The Chinese telecoms firm says Wang Weijing acted on his own and brought the company into disrepute.

Sunday, January 13, 2019

6 Ways to Safeguard Data Before an Emergency Strikes

TechNewsWorld
6 Ways to Safeguard 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.
2018: The Year of Fighting for Positive Change
When I think of corporate responsibility, one company tends to float to the top, and that is Cisco. With massive efforts to train people all over the world in the critical networking skills needed to secure and expand global communications, Cisco has been taking a major chunk out of joblessness. It has invested millions to reduce homelessness near its headquarters -- something most of the tech firms seem to ignore -- and it has been aggressive in deploying crisis teams during disasters to ensure timely communications to first responders.
Who's Winning the Latest Tech Industry Battles?
December has become consistent with the Chinese curse, "May You Be Born In Interesting Times." We are up to our armpits in wars, and each is very different. Qualcomm and Intel are fighting for 5G control, and Intel is tearing itself apart. Microsoft passed Apple in valuation, largely because it has not been focusing on Apple. Canadian authorities just arrested the daughter of the Huawei founder, at the request of the United States, cratering the stock market again, and setting up a potentially costly chain of events.
Gear Latest
9 Best CES 2019 Devices You Can Buy Right Now: Suunto, Lenovo, Razer, and More
9 Best CES 2019 Devices You Can Buy Right Now: Suunto, Lenovo, Razer, and More
Has CES whet your appetite for gadgets? From Withings watches to Xbox keyboards, here are our favorite weekend picks.

Saturday, January 12, 2019

CES 2019: Hunting down the big beasts of tech

BBC News - Technology
CES 2019: Hunting down the big beasts of tech
CES 2019: Hunting down the big beasts of tech
Dave Lee goes on 'safari' in Las Vegas to find out what the tech giants are showing off.
CES 2019: Wristband 'can control' your body temperature
CES 2019: Wristband 'can control' your body temperature
BBC Click's Nick Kwek goes into sub-zero temperatures to test a wristband that can warm you up.
Google's parent company Alphabet sued over sexual misconduct policy
Google's parent company Alphabet sued over sexual misconduct policy
Google shareholders want the firm to change the way it deals with allegations of sexual misconduct.
Amazon and eBay evict sellers amid VAT crackdown
Amazon and eBay evict sellers amid VAT crackdown
Some overseas businesses were selling items - including British flags - but evading VAT.
Gear Latest
Gadget Lab Podcast: Robots, Smart Health, and Security Fails at CES
Gadget Lab Podcast: Robots, Smart Health, and Security Fails at CES
WIRED’s Gadget Lab team kicks off the new year with a wrap-up of the year’s biggest electronics show. Plus, an interview with Reddit’s Jen Wong.

Friday, January 11, 2019

CES 2019 Liveblog Day 4: Thursday’s News and Photos, Live From Las Vegas

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CES 2019 Liveblog Day 4: Thursday’s News and Photos, Live From Las Vegas
CES 2019 Liveblog Day 4: Thursday’s News and Photos, Live From Las Vegas
This year’s CES, one of the biggest consumer tech showcases in the world, continues Thursday. Join us for live updates from the show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
BBC News - Technology
CES 2019: 'Indestructible notepad' works underwater
CES 2019: 'Indestructible notepad' works underwater
A Ukrainian start-up has created a 'damage-proof' pad and a pencil that never goes blunt.

Thursday, January 10, 2019

CES 2019 Liveblog Day 3: Wednesday’s News and Photos, Live From Las Vegas

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CES 2019 Liveblog Day 3: Wednesday’s News and Photos, Live From Las Vegas
CES 2019 Liveblog Day 3: Wednesday’s News and Photos, Live From Las Vegas
This year’s CES, one of the biggest consumer tech showcases in the world, continues Wednesday. Join us for live updates from the show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ignore 5G, for Now
Ignore 5G, for Now
Want the super-fast mobile speeds promised by 5G technology? Come back in a year.
BBC News - Technology
CES 2019: The lightsaber you can strike with force
CES 2019: The lightsaber you can strike with force
The Star Wars inspired toy on show at CES can take a pounding but does not come cheap.
TechNewsWorld
IBM Chief Sounds Cautionary Note on Deep Data, AI, Quantum Computing
Powerful technologies like deep data, AI and quantum computing should be introduced into society carefully, IBM CEO Ginni Rometty declared in opening remarks at CES. "These tools are so powerful they will solve some of the most enduring problems -- like food safety, waste," she said, "but like all powerful tools, we've got to usher them in safely into society." In order for those technologies to thrive, trust and security will be necessary, Rometty observed. "A competitive differentiator for all ... will be trust."

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Apple, Samsung Buddy Up in Smart TV Deal

TechNewsWorld
Apple, Samsung Buddy Up in Smart TV Deal
Apple movies and music are coming to Samsung Smart TVs this spring. Samsung's 2019 Smart TVs will support iTunes Movies and TV Shows, and Apple AirPlay 2, Samsung said Sunday at CES. Smart TVs made in 2018 also will be able to play Apple content via a firmware update. Apple content can be accessed from the smart TVs via an exclusive app. Samsung customers will be able to use it to access their existing iTunes library, as well as browse the iTunes Store to buy or rent from a selection of hundreds of thousands of movies and TV episodes.
Gear Latest
CES 2019 Liveblog Day 2: Tuesday’s News and Photos, Live From Las Vegas
CES 2019 Liveblog Day 2: Tuesday’s News and Photos, Live From Las Vegas
This year’s CES, one of the biggest consumer tech showcases in the world, continues Tuesday. Join us for live updates from the show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Hyundai shows off 'walking car' at CES

BBC News - Technology
Hyundai shows off 'walking car' at CES
Hyundai shows off 'walking car' at CES
The concept car has wheels on robotic legs which can unfold in rough terrain.

Monday, January 7, 2019

Samsung TVs Score iTunes and a MicroLED Upgrade

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Samsung TVs Score iTunes and a MicroLED Upgrade
Samsung TVs Score iTunes and a MicroLED Upgrade
Samsung shows off new televisions at CES, and says iTunes will soon join its smart TV offerings.
BBC News - Technology
CES 2019: Samsung's new shape-shifting TVs revealed
CES 2019: Samsung's new shape-shifting TVs revealed
A 75in screen made up of tiny swappable panels is among those unveiled at the CES tech show.

Sunday, January 6, 2019

What Is XR, and How Do I Get It?

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What Is XR, and How Do I Get It?
What Is XR, and How Do I Get It?
A new shiny thing called XR—an umbrella term encompassing augmented, virtual, and mixed reality technologies—is the industry's new favorite buzz word.
14 Tech and Outdoors Deals: Mario Kart, Apple HomePod , Lift Tickets, Garmin
14 Tech and Outdoors Deals: Mario Kart, Apple HomePod , Lift Tickets, Garmin
From smart speakers to PopSockets, we have your weekend shopping covered.

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Time using landlines halves in five years, says Ofcom

BBC News - Technology
Time using landlines halves in five years, says Ofcom
Time using landlines halves in five years, says Ofcom
Younger people are reluctant to make phone calls, preferring to use messaging apps, study suggests.
Gear Latest
The Samsung Space Monitor Liberates Your Desk
The Samsung Space Monitor Liberates Your Desk
By sitting flush against the wall when you don't need it, and tilting any which way when you do, the Space Monitor adds some Marie Kondo to your workspace.
TechNewsWorld
Preventing 'Natural' Cybersecurity Erosion
Every child who's ever played a board game understands that the act of rolling dice yields an unpredictable result. In fact, that's why children's board games use dice in the first place: to ensure a random outcome that is -- from a macro point of view, at least -- about the same likelihood each time the die is thrown. Consider for a moment what would happen if someone replaced the dice used in one of those board games with weighted dice -- say dice that were 10 percent more likely to come up "6" than any other number. Would you notice?

Friday, January 4, 2019

German politicians targeted in 'mass hack attack'

BBC News - Technology
German politicians targeted in 'mass hack attack'
German politicians targeted in 'mass hack attack'
Chancellor Angela Merkel is among hundreds of MPs and others reportedly hit by a "serious attack".
Huawei staff punished after official tweet posted 'via iPhone'
Huawei staff punished after official tweet posted 'via iPhone'
Two employees are reportedly demoted over a social media post displaying "via Twitter for iPhone".
TechNewsWorld
Voice-Controlled Online Entertainment Is Gaining Traction
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.
Supermicro: Our Motherboards Are Clean
Supermicro CEO Charles Liang has informed the company's customers that a leading third-party investigations company found "absolutely no evidence of malicious hardware" on its motherboards. The investigation was undertaken in response to a recent claim that bad actors had inserted spy chips in the firm's motherboards on behalf of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, China's armed forces. The findings "were no surprise to us," Liang noted, because "our process is designed to protect the integrity and reliability of our products."
Gear Latest
8 Things to Expect From CES 2019: AI, 5G, 8K, and More
8 Things to Expect From CES 2019: AI, 5G, 8K, and More
When CES 2019 kicks off next week in Las Vegas, companies will be promising faster, smarter tech products. That's partly true.

Thursday, January 3, 2019

Where ordering cannabis is easy as booking a taxi

BBC News - Technology
Where ordering cannabis is easy as booking a taxi
Where ordering cannabis is easy as booking a taxi
Clicking on an app allows Los Angeles cannabis users to order supplies which are delivered to their door.
TechNewsWorld
'DNA Printing' in the Cloud, Part 3
DNA printing has given rise to the world's first "DNA printer" on the market, a claim advanced by the product's creators. The BioXp 3200 System is available from SGI-DNA, a division of Synthetic Genomics, a San Diego biotechnology company. The BioXp 3200 System is a DNA/RNA assembler and synthesizer made out of steel, glass, plastic, insulated wire, laboratory instruments and microprocessors. The system is about the size of a business office network laser printer, but instead of outputting printed hard copy, this device copies genes and outputs proteins.
Gear Latest
Roku Channel Streams Shows to Your Phone, No Box Required
Roku Channel Streams Shows to Your Phone, No Box Required
The Roku Channel will be available to stream from within the Roku app, and will add paid subscription options like Showtime.

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

New York new year drone plan scuppered by rain

BBC News - Technology
New York new year drone plan scuppered by rain
New York new year drone plan scuppered by rain
NYPD plans to use a camera-equipped drone in Times Square were spoiled by rain and wind.
Australian police Google Maps blunder 'missed location of body'
Australian police Google Maps blunder 'missed location of body'
Australian authorities should have used better tools when looking for a missing man, a coroner says.
Netflix removes comedy episode after Saudi complaint
Netflix removes comedy episode after Saudi complaint
The episode of Patriot Act, with US comedian Hasan Minhaj, was critical of Saudi Arabia's rulers.
The firm whose staff are all autistic
The firm whose staff are all autistic
A California father set up a company where his sons could work - and now employs more than 150 people.

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Big Tech Is Here to Help You Fight Excessive Phone Use—Kinda

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Big Tech Is Here to Help You Fight Excessive Phone Use—Kinda
Big Tech Is Here to Help You Fight Excessive Phone Use—Kinda
How Google, Apple, and Facebook turned "digital wellness" into a Goopified trend that gives them a new way to market themselves.
TechNewsWorld
The Smartest Tech Products of 2018
Picking a product of the year is anything but trivial because the products I cover every week range from headphones to laptops to books, cars and more. So, I thought I'd try something different this year and pick six products that each deserve the title and then name a winner that stands out from the rest. This allows me to simplify the task and get around a bit of a writer's block I've been having on this subject. The six products will be a book, a car, a laptop, a smart speaker, Security, and a component. Let's get to it.
Who's Winning the Latest Tech Industry Battles?
December has become consistent with the Chinese curse, "May You Be Born In Interesting Times." We are up to our armpits in wars, and each is very different. Qualcomm and Intel are fighting for 5G control, and Intel is tearing itself apart. Microsoft passed Apple in valuation, largely because it has not been focusing on Apple. Canadian authorities just arrested the daughter of the Huawei founder, at the request of the United States, cratering the stock market again, and setting up a potentially costly chain of events.
BBC News - Technology
Severn Bridge shuts as drone flown from tower
Severn Bridge shuts as drone flown from tower
A man was arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance after a 30-minute closure.

Monday, December 31, 2018

Amazon Fire HD and Echo Dot (Kids Editions): 5 Tips and Tricks

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Amazon Fire HD and Echo Dot (Kids Editions): 5 Tips and Tricks
Amazon Fire HD and Echo Dot (Kids Editions): 5 Tips and Tricks
Before you hand your kid an Amazon Fire tablet or Echo Dot, here are a few ways to make sure they enjoy it.
BBC News - Technology
'It's a presentation of people's lives - not reality'
'It's a presentation of people's lives - not reality'
Cardiff film-maker Paul Allen said "addictive" Facebook made his anxiety and panic attacks worse.