Following Protests, Google Cuts Temps, Vendors, Contractors a Fairer Deal

Google has unveiled new minimum standards for temps, vendors and contractors in the United States, in response to demands from an employee coalition that included full-time Google staffers as well as temporary workers and contractors. "Yesterday, we shared an update on some new initiatives to support our extended U.S. workforce -- including comprehensive healthcare, 12 weeks parental leave, $15 an hour minimum wage, and $5,000 a year in tuition reimbursement," Google spokesperson Jenn Kaiser said Wednesday.

3 of the Best iPads Are on Sale Right Now

Amazon and Walmart have deals on the standard iPad, and two iPad Pro models.

Apple's Path to Destruction

One of the things I mention very infrequently is that I was groomed to be a CEO from a very early age. On top of my three management degrees and CMA certificate, I participated in two IBM programs that provided access to a massive amount of resources that detailed both the success and failure of companies at the time, giving me a unique view of what kills a company. One of the big company killers -- and Chrysler before Lee Iacocca is a leading example -- is excess product breadth. That is what we just saw from Apple last week.

UK gaming market worth record £5.7bn

Fortnite and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds contribute to another record-breaking year for UK gaming.

PewDiePie loses YouTube crown to T-Series

The Swedish gamer battled the Indian channel to remain the YouTuber with the most subscribers.

Mark Zuckerberg asks governments to help control internet content

Mark Zuckerberg writes an open letter calling for new laws to monitor internet content.

Tech Tent: Apple, Lyft and feel-good tech

Lyft shares, Apple TV+, and those times when tech gets it right.

AI judge to settle small claims disputes and other news

BBC Click's Dan Simmons looks at some the week's best technology stories.

Apple Wants Its Credit Card in Your Digital Wallet

Apple is getting into the credit card business. The company has announced a virtual payment card built into the wallet app on iPhones. Apple Card sports a number of features aimed at helping consumers lead a healthier financial life. "With our hardware, software and services, we think that Apple is uniquely positioned to make the most significant change in the credit card experience in 50 years," Apple CEO Tim Cook told the audience at an event held Monday at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California.

Article 13: Memes exempt as EU backs controversial copyright law

Sharing memes and GIFs is still allowed under the new laws, after tweaks to allow "parody".

Ready Player One: How we made the film's visual effects

Industrial Light and Magic explain the challenges involved in making the film.

10 years of Grindr: A rocky relationship

A look back at the highs and lows from the first 10 years of dating app Grindr.

Phishers Bait Hooks for Netflix, Amex Users

Cybersecurity experts at Microsoft's Windows Defender Security Intelligence Team this week reported their discovery of two new email-based phishing campaigns. One targets American Express users while the other targets Netflix customers. Both campaigns reportedly are very well-crafted, featuring legitimate logos and even fill-in forms that closely mimic those on the respective company's own websites. It isn't clear if these campaigns are being orchestrated by the same group, but each was launched last weekend, and each cast a wide net.

19 Best Tech Deals on PC Gaming, Camping Gear, and More

We found a handful of great tech and outdoor discounts to peruse if you didn't already order the new iPad or Kindle.

AI turns scribbles into masterpieces and other news

BBC Click's Omar Mehtab looks at some of the best tech news stories of the week.

Apple AirPods 2019: Price, Specs, Release Date

The new AirPods have better battery life, come with a wireless charging option, and ship next week for $159.

Apple Boosts Performance in New iPad Air and Mini

Apple has announced a new 10.5-inch iPad and a refresh of the iPad mini. The 10.5-inch iPad Air, which will sell for $499, provides 64 gigabytes of solid state storage and WiFi support. It has Apple's latest mobile processor, the A12 Bionic chip, and supports Apple Pencil and the company's smart keyboard. "The Bionic A12 is a cut above the processors used in all other tablets on the market," Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies. The new 7.9-inch iPad mini, which will sell at a base price of $399 with WiFi support also has an A12 chip.

Best iPads (2019): Which New iPad Should You Actually Buy?

Choosing an iPad is more complicated than it needs to be, but we're here to help with our complete guide to Apple's new and old models.

MySpace admits losing 12 years' worth of music uploads

The social network has apologised for losing the data during a server migration.

Corporations Are Co-Opting Right-to-Repair

Opinion: Manufacturers are offering more repair options than ever before. But they still aren’t giving people the true freedom to fix what they want when they want.

AR in Harry Potter Game Is Next Best Thing to Real Magic

Niantic last week offered a few members of the gaming press a chance to take in the magic of its upcoming Harry Potter: Wizards Unite augmented reality game. The game, which is being developed as part of a joint effort with WB Games San Francisco under the Portkey Games label, promises to build on Niantic's hugely popular Pokémon Go mobile phone game. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, first announced in 2017, will use a mobile phone to blend augmented reality with the real world, much like Pokémon Go.

Fitbit Versa Lite Review: More for Less

This pared-down smartwatch still has just about everything you need.

How to Use Twitter's New In-App Camera Feature

Starting today, users will be able to take photos straight from the native Twitter app.

The Best Samsung Galaxy S10 Deals (and Which Model to Choose)

So you want a new Galaxy. Do you get the S10, S10 Plus, or S10e? Here's the WIRED guide to choosing—and finding the best deal.

The Strange Tech Wars of 2019

The tech market is defined by its battles: Microsoft vs. IBM; Apple vs. Microsoft; Netscape vs. Microsoft; Google vs. Microsoft. If Microsoft were a person, it likely would have PTSD. Then there was Apple vs. Google, and now the big one is Apple vs. Qualcomm. The screwy thing for me is that Huawei represents a far greater threat to both companies than they represent to each other. In fact, I'm really starting to wonder if Qualcomm isn't a proxy for Google in this fight, with Apple changing dramatically what its own real goal is.

Structural Shifts in Semiconductor Industry Spawn New Trends

Long-term trends in the technology segment are often the result of structural change. One such change in the semiconductor space was the shift to outsourcing specialized functions, including technology development in the form of intellectual property, chip design, fabrication, and packaging and test. That change, along with the move to more specialized workloads and the need for original equipment manufacturers and service providers to differentiate, has sparked another trend, toward customized processors and System on Chip solutions.

Elizabeth Warren vows to break up tech giants if elected in 2020

The US Democratic presidential hopeful tells a rally she is "sick of freeloading billionaires".

Gadget Lab Podcast: Former Googler Jessica Powell On How to Quit Your Tech Job

Former Google communications exec Jessica Powell joins this week’s Gadget Lab podcast to talk about Facebook’s manifestos, quitting Google, and why she absolutely refuses to get a brand-new phone.

End of the Line for Windows 7: Open Road for Hackers

Microsoft has been urging customers to upgrade from its Windows 7 operating system, while attempting to ease the transition with several options for extended support. It will stop providing routine fixes and security patches effective January 2020. Regular support for Windows Server 2008 also is scheduled to end at that time. Windows 7 enterprise customers can subscribe to Extended Security Updates to receive security fixes for uncovered or reported vulnerabilities in the OS -- those rated "Critical" or "Important" by Microsoft.

Fitbit Versa Lite and Fitbit Inspire: Price, Specs, Release Date

Instead of competing with Cupertino on features, Fitbit competes on price with a new $160 smartwatch and several new wearable trackers under $100.

Uber 'not liable' for self-driving death

Prosecutors say Uber is not criminally liable for a crash involving one of its self-driving cars.

Apex Legends v Fortnite: The battle for battle royale

Battle Royale game Apex Legends reaches 50 million downloads in its first month - will it be a threat?

Best Cheap PS4 and PS4 Pro Deals and Bundles (Spring 2019)

No matter what game you want to play, these are the best PS4 and accessory deals around.

Dragon capsule heads for space station

The demonstration flight of America’s new astronaut capsule will see it dock with the lab.

Gadget Lab Podcast: A Deep Dive into Microsoft’s HoloLens 2

Microsoft's second-generation mixed reality headset has made a significant leap. Microsoft's Alex Kipman goes into details on the Gadget Lab podcast.

LG OLED TV Deal: LG's B8 Drops to the Lowest Price Ever

If you're looking for a killer TV deal, one of our favorite LG 4K televisions is $1,100 right now

Could 5G and mixed reality transform the catwalk?

A mixed reality fashion show including computer animated skulls, tigers and thunder has taken place.

Folding Screens, 5G Phones, and AR Advances Unveiled at MWC 2019

The mobile showcase in Spain set the table for this year's biggest phone trends.

Tesla's Elon Musk may be in contempt over tweet

The US financial regulator asks a judge to sanction the Tesla boss for breaking a deal over tweeting.

Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 Puts a Full-Fledged Computer on Your Face

Microsoft wants the $3,500 headset to be the most advanced mixed reality computer out there.

Gadget Lab Podcast: Samsung’s Foldable Phone Future

Samsung revealed not one, not two, but five new smartphones this week – including a folding phone. Axios’s Ina Fried joins on this week’s Gadget Lab podcast.

The 3D E-Commerce Revolution

We are now living in a time when customer expectations are changing particularly fast, and retailers that can't keep up get left behind. A consumer who enjoys the online shopping experience at an e-store automatically begins to expect the same level of service from every virtual point of sale. Thus, the expectation loop is born, and the only thing for retailers to do to get ahead of the curve is to innovate, innovate and innovate. Emerging 3D technologies are a force poised to drive the revolution in the online shopping experience.

Samsung Unveils New S10s, Pushes Envelope With Fold

Samsung held its annual Unpacked event in San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on Wednesday, presenting fans with a new product lineup that includes three versions of its flagship Galaxy S10, plus the Galaxy S10 5G, the Galaxy Fold, and several new wearables. It had been widely rumored well before the launch that Samsung "would adopt a similar strategy as Apple and launch three devices, with one being a cheaper model," noted Ville-Petteri Ukonaho, a senior analyst at Strategy Analytics.

Unpacked 2019: Every Galaxy Phone and Device Samsung Showed

The brand-new Galaxy S10 line, Galaxy Buds, and—wait—does that phone fold in half?!

Would You Pay $6,000 for Vision-Quality VR?

The VR-1, from Finnish company Varjo, isn't exactly cheap, but its resolution is so high that many companies are eager to get it.

38 Best President's Day Sales on Laptops, TVs, Gear (2019)

Gear Latest

38 Best President's Day Sales on Laptops, TVs, Gear (2019)

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 12:00:00 +0000

We found the best tech bargains for the long holiday weekend from Apple, Google, Amazon, Dyson, and more.

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10 Best Cheap Headphones and Earbuds for 2019 (Under $100)

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 12:00:00 +0000

We’ve picked the best affordable in-ear, over-ear, and on-ear headphones in every budget price bracket.

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TechNewsWorld

Wireless Charging and Our Autonomous Electric Future

One of the biggest problems for those of us who have electric cars is charging. Chargers that drop the charging time to a few minutes have been coming to market, but the cars that can use those chargers haven't yet begun to ship. What this means for most of us is that we are talking anywhere from 45 minutes to several days to fully charge our cars, depending on the charging system we have access to. Another problem is that it is still easy to forget to plug in our cars at night.

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Apple Squashes FaceTime Eavesdropping Bug

Apple has suspended its Group FaceTime application following reports that a bug in the software allowed callers to eavesdrop on the people they were calling. The flaw let a person making a FaceTime call listen through the phone of the person called before the call was accepted or rejected. It reportedly also allowed access to the front-facing camera in an iPhone. After making a FaceTime call from an iPhone X to an iPhone 8, a user could hear audio from the iPhone 8 before any action was taken on the call.

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BBC News - Technology

Rail firms say pre-paid ticket issue 'now resolved'

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 11:20:57 GMT

Passengers were not able to collect pre-paid tickets from machines across the country.

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Fossil Sport Smartwatch Review: A (Mostly) Solid WearOS Watch

Gear Latest

Fossil Sport Smartwatch Review: A (Mostly) Solid WearOS Watch

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Even with some flaws, it's almost certainly the best WearOS smartwatch you can buy.

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BBC News - Technology

Huawei risk can be managed, say UK cyber-security chiefs

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 09:47:12 GMT

UK intelligence chiefs reportedly conclude the Chinese tech giant Huawei can bid for telecoms projects.

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Australian political parties hit by 'state actor' hack, PM says

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 03:59:13 GMT

The "sophisticated" activity follows an intrusion on parliamentary servers, PM Scott Morrison says.

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How we made the effects on Solo: A Star Wars Story

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 01:01:17 GMT

Visual effects supervisor Julian Foddy explains how they helped make the film.

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Quadriga: The cryptocurrency exchange that lost $135m

BBC News - Technology

Quadriga: The cryptocurrency exchange that lost $135m

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 00:41:33 GMT

When Quadriga's founder died he left behind a mystery: what happened to millions in cryptocurrency?

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PewDiePie: Roblox lifts ban after social media backlash

BBC News - Technology

PewDiePie: Roblox lifts ban after social media backlash

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 16:30:17 GMT

Online multiplayer game Roblox has reinstated PewDiePie after banning the YouTuber for using his name.

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Ad code 'slows down' browsing speeds

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 12:42:48 GMT

The code putting ads on webpages can stop pages loading by seconds, finds analysis of millions of sites.

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Mobile networks call for 5G security inspector

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 12:33:59 GMT

The mobile network industry has called for a new security testing scheme to check 5G equipment.

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Gear Latest

Gadget Lab Podcast: The Allure of OG Usernames

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 20:24:00 +0000

Product designer Chris Messina snagged @chris as his Instagram name. It’s been awesome—and terrible. Plus: Amazon splits with NYC, on the Gadget Lab podcast.

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7 Best Cold-Brew Coffee Makers (2019)

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Learn how to make fantastic cold brew with our picks for the best cold-brew coffee makers, best cold-brew coffee grounds, and our advice.

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Made In Chelsea's Andy Jordan: Being an influencer made me 'a puppet'

BBC News - Technology

Made In Chelsea's Andy Jordan: Being an influencer made me 'a puppet'

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 07:03:24 GMT

Made In Chelsea's Andy Jordan has a warning about the realities of being a social media influencer.

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Ford puts bed hoggers in their place and other news

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 01:20:08 GMT

BBC Click's Jen Copestake looks at some of the best technology stories of the week.

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Gear Latest

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless Review: Not Your Best Buds

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 16:00:00 +0000

Sennheiser's high-end earbuds are completely wire-free, but they aren't completely hassle-free.

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TechNewsWorld

Apple's Plans for Subscription News Service Irk Publishers

Apple plans to launch a subscription news service at an event next month. The service has been described as "Netflix for news," because it would let customers access an unlimited amount of content from publishers for a single monthly fee. It will be based on a reworked version of Texture, the media subscription service Apple purchased last year. "Apple is targeting consumers who are serious about the news and willing to pay for it," said Michael Goodman, a research director at Strategy Analytics.

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