Facebook Was Late to Mobile. Now, Mobile Is Its Future

Gear Latest

Facebook Was Late to Mobile. Now, Mobile Is Its Future

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 12:00:00 +0000

With messaging apps and Stories, Facebook’s emphasis on mobile features also highlights some of the company’s greatest vulnerabilities as it looks ahead.

more info...

BBC News - Technology

Facebook ordered by Germany to gather less data

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 09:09:25 GMT

The social network says it intends to appeal against the German watchdog's ruling.

more info...

Screen time: Children advised not to use electronic devices at dinner

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 06:59:39 GMT

As concerns mount over how screen time and social media affect children, parents are given suggestions.

more info...

TechNewsWorld

Apple to Raise Barrier Against VR, AR Websites

The next upgrade of Apple's mobile operating system, iOS 12.2, will come with an annoying surprise for VR and AR developers. It reportedly will block Web access to the accelerometer and gyroscope in Apple mobile devices by default. That means users will have to grant permission to any Web apps or sites that need those components to function, including those with virtual reality and augmented reality components. Apple's move is designed to protect the privacy of its customers by giving them control over who has access to their location data.

more info...

New Android Apps Come to the Aid of Hearing-Impaired

TechNewsWorld

New Android Apps Come to the Aid of Hearing-Impaired

Google has announced two new Android applications designed to make life easier for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. One of the apps, Live Transcribe, turns live speech into real-time captions by using a phone's microphone; the other, Sound Amplifier, improves a phone's sound output. Live Transcribe, which works on Android 5.0 Lollipop and up, will be available in 70 languages and dialects. It has a type-back keyboard for users who can't or don't want to speak, and works with external microphones to improve transcription accuracy.

more info...

The Evolution of Software Security Best Practices

Independent software vendors, along with Internet of Things and cloud vendors, are involved in a market transformation that is making them look more alike. The similarities are evident in the way they approach software security initiatives, according to a report from Synopsys. Synopsys has released its ninth annual Building Security in Maturity Model, or BSIMM9. The BSIMM project provides a de facto standard for assessing and then improving software security initiatives, the company said.

more info...

Gear Latest

Facebook Messenger Lets You Unsend Now. Why Doesn't Every App?

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 00:15:20 +0000

Very few chat apps offer the unsend feature. As it turns out, that’s for a few very good, or at least understandable, reasons.

more info...

BBC News - Technology

Ocado warehouse fire: Sales warning as shares drop

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 11:31:29 GMT

The online grocer has seen shares slump after a fire tore through its Hampshire warehouse.

more info...

Instagram's most-liked egg is actually a mental health advert

BBC News - Technology

Instagram's most-liked egg is actually a mental health advert

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 07:30:13 GMT

The image of an egg, which is Instagram's most liked photo ever, is part of a mental health campaign.

more info...

Do money apps make us better or worse with our finances?

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 00:01:13 GMT

Apps that help us manage our money are proving increasingly popular, but how effective are they?

more info...

TechNewsWorld

FTC v. Qualcomm: What Really Is Going On

I've been watching antitrust cases actively since the 1980s. I had to study historical antitrust cases going back to Standard Oil and RCA, in order to ensure compliance with a related consent decree When I worked at IBM. Each of the other cases had one thing in common: Both of the companies being charged were massively and obviously monopolies. There were many questions about whether they were behaving badly or really had an adverse impact on competition, but there generally was no doubt they had monopoly power.

more info...

Gear Latest

Tokimeki Unfollow: A KonMari Tool for Decluttering Twitter

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 23:48:23 +0000

Designer Julius Tarng has created a web tool for unfollowing Twitter users that employs Marie Kondo's "KonMari" decision-making method.

more info...

A Practical Guide to Protecting Your Privacy Online

TechNewsWorld

A Practical Guide to Protecting Your Privacy Online

Do you take your online privacy seriously? Most people don't. They have an ideal scenario of just how private their online activities should be, but they rarely do anything to actually achieve it. The problem is that bad actors know and rely on this fact, and that's why there's been a steady rise in identity theft cases from 2013 to 2017. The victims of these cases often suffer a loss of reputation or financial woes. If you take your online privacy seriously, follow this 10-step guide to protect it.

more info...

Court: Cops Can't Compel the Use of Body Parts to Unlock Phones

Authorities can't force people to unlock their biometrically secured phones or other devices, according to a federal judge. "The Government may not compel or otherwise utilize fingers, thumbs, facial recognition, optical/iris, or any other biometric feature to unlock electronic devices," Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore wrote. An attempt by law enforcement authorities in Oakland, California, to force two suspected extortionists to unlock their mobile phones with biometrics violated Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination.

more info...

Gear Latest

Best TV and Soundbar Deals for the Super Bowl (2019)

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 16:00:00 +0000

TVs are on sale because of the Super Bowl, and we've rounded up our favorite discounted sets, soundbars, and devices.

more info...

7 Best TVs to Buy in 2019: 4K, OLED, Samsung, and More

Gear Latest

7 Best TVs to Buy in 2019: 4K, OLED, Samsung, and More

Sat, 02 Feb 2019 13:00:00 +0000

The best, boldest, and most budget friendly 4K TVs we've seen, including LG, Samsung, Vizio, TCL, and Sony.

more info...

Ban phones in schools, says minister Nick Gibb

BBC News - Technology

Ban phones in schools, says minister Nick Gibb

Sat, 02 Feb 2019 10:03:37 GMT

Nick Gibb says while it's a matter for heads, excessive social media leaves pupils unable to concentrate.

more info...

Apple Banishes Facebook Data Reaper From iPhones

TechNewsWorld

Apple Banishes Facebook Data Reaper From iPhones

Apple has blocked a Facebook app that paid users for total access to all network data passing through their mobile phones. Facebook had been paying users $20 a month for root network access to their phones. Facebook was on-boarding users of its Research program, which included teenagers, through Apple's Enterprise system, which Apple said was a violation of its policy. The Enterprise system is supposed to be used only for the distribution of internal corporate apps to employees, not to paid external testers.

more info...

Blue Collar Linux: Something Borrowed, Something New

Sometimes it takes more than a few tweaks to turn an old-style desktop design into a fresh new Linux distribution. That is the case with the public release of Blue Collar Linux. Blue Collar Linux has been under development for the last four years. Until its public release this week, it has circulated only through an invitation for private use by the developer's family, friends and associates looking for an alternative to the Windows nightmare. Another large part of his user base is the University of Wisconsin, where he engages with the math and computer science departments.

more info...

Gear Latest

Things We Loved in January, From Smart Glasses to Self-Lacing Shoes

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 18:00:00 +0000

Plus: Breville's $800 pizza oven, Fender's newest guitar, and a habit-breaking browser extension.

more info...

BBC News - Technology

Mail Online web browser warning reversed

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 10:15:08 GMT

A warning that the Daily Mail's website failed to maintain "basic standards of accuracy" is changed.

more info...

Haidilao: Robots staff China's top hotpot chain

BBC News - Technology

Haidilao: Robots staff China's top hotpot chain

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 00:21:42 GMT

Robot waiters and chefs form the future of hotpot chain Haidilao.

more info...

Apple Rumored Plotting a Game Subscription Service

TechNewsWorld

Apple Rumored Plotting a Game Subscription Service

A "Netflix for Games" type of service may be in Apple's future. Apple has been developing a subscription service that will function for games much like Netflix does for movies and TV series, according to a report. It's still unclear what the subscription fee would be or what kinds of games would be offered on the service. Whatever the fee for the offering, it could be tough for Apple to find an audience for a streaming service, maintained David Cole, an analyst at DFC Intelligence, a market research firm in San Diego.

more info...

BBC News - Technology

Children 'afterthought' for social media companies

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 09:48:32 GMT

England's children's commissioner writes to social media companies, urging them to tackle disturbing content.

more info...

Why Intel Is in Such Horrid Condition

TechNewsWorld

Why Intel Is in Such Horrid Condition

Intel released earnings last week. It beat expectations on the bottom line, but it missed big on the top line and the outlook was dismal. Looking under the covers, the company is a mess. The expected CEO announcement didn't occur. AMD's earnings are expected to be very strong, and AMD just made some organizational changes that suggest an increase in its competitive attack in view of Intel's weaknesses. I'll walk you through what is wrong with Intel -- why it missed, and why its outlook is so grim.

more info...

Google Assistant Gets More Features, Greater Reach

Google this week debuted a slew of new capabilities for Google Assistant at CES in Las Vegas. The new Connect platform lets device manufacturers incorporate Assistant into their products easily and cost-effectively. Connect uses Google's existing smart home platform to expand to new device types, while making device setup and discovery easy for consumers. A manufacturer could create a continuous e-ink display projecting weather or calendar information, for example, while using Connect to drive content from a linked smart speaker.

more info...

BBC News - Technology

Huawei denies wrongdoing after US criminal charges

The Chinese telecoms giant said it was "disappointed" by the US charges, which include theft and fraud.

more info...

Facebook's popularity dips with UK children, says Ofcom

Facebook's popularity among children fell during 2018, according to the media regulator Ofcom.

more info...

Gear Latest

HabitLab Browser Extension Curbs Your Time Wasted on the Web

A new Stanford University project turns your bad browsing habits into actionable advice—and precious data.

more info...

JLab Air True Wireless Review: Wirefree Buds for Under $50

Gear Latest

JLab Air True Wireless Review: Wirefree Buds for Under $50

JLab's wirefree, fully wireless earbuds sound fantastic and are cheap, too. They cost less than $50.

more info...

Best Sonos Setup: Which Speakers, Soundbars Should You Buy?

Gear Latest

Best Sonos Setup: Which Speakers, Soundbars Should You Buy?

We’ve tested every Sonos speaker and Soundbar at WIRED. We like them all, but which ones are worth buying?

more info...

14 Best Weekend Deals: Pixel 3, iPad Pro, and More

Now is a great time to pick up these Android phones, robot vacuums, videogames, and more.

more info...

BBC News - Technology

Google's Brain Team: What does it do?

Tech firms hope better artificial intelligence will mean more compelling products.

more info...

'I was groomed on Grindr when I was 15'

Greg wants other vulnerable teenagers to learn from his experience.

more info...

Gadget Lab Podcast: Amazon’s Delivery Robot, Scout, Is Here

Gear Latest

Gadget Lab Podcast: Amazon’s Delivery Robot, Scout, Is Here

When it comes to delivery robots, design is almost as important as function. Matt Simon and Arielle Pardes discuss Amazon’s new robot, Scout, on this week’s podcast.

more info...

Razer Phone 2 Review: Good for Games, but No Fun as a Phone

The second phone from the gaming hardware brand almost reaches the next level, but not quite.

more info...

BBC News - Technology

Facebook to integrate WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger

Facebook plans to integrate its messaging services on Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

more info...

Vodafone puts Huawei rollout in core networks on hold

The mobile operator "pauses' deployment of Huawei equipment in its core networks in Europe.

more info...

Thousands tell HMRC to delete voice data

The tax authority collected voice data over the phone and originally gave people no way to opt out.

more info...

YouTube TV Hits Screens Across Most of the US

TechNewsWorld

YouTube TV Hits Screens Across Most of the US

YouTube TV will be rolling out to an additional 95 markets in the U.S., almost doubling its coverage. The streaming video service already covers the top 100 markets in the country, and the expansion will enable it to reach more than 98 percent of households in the U.S., YouTube said. The rest will follow shortly thereafter. There are roughly 120 million TV households in the United States, but only about 108 million households have broadband, which is a prerequisite for YouTube TV, noted Michael Goodman, research director at Strategy Analytics.

more info...

Where Linux Went in 2018 - and Where It's Going

For those who try to keep their finger on the Linux community's pulse, 2018 was a surprisingly eventful year. Spread over the last 12 months, we've seen various projects in the Linux ecosystem make great strides, as well as suffer their share of stumbles. All told, the year wrapped up leaving plenty to be optimistic about in the year to come, but there is much more on which we can only speculate. In the interest of offering the clearest lens for a peek into Linux in 2019, here's a look back at the year gone by for all things Linux.

more info...

Gear Latest

Eufy SpaceView Baby Monitor Review: No Wi-Fi Needed

If you don't need a lot of bells and whistles (or Wi-Fi), this reliable, gorgeous baby monitor is a great option.

more info...

BBC News - Technology

Huawei confident in uncomfortable times

The Chinese telecoms company is facing a PR crisis, but its executives say it's business as usual.

more info...

Dutch Doc Wins 'Forget My Suspension' Case

TechNewsWorld

Dutch Doc Wins 'Forget My Suspension' Case

Google must remove search results about medical regulators' conditional suspension of a Dutch physician in the first "right to be forgotten" case of its kind in the European Union. After Google and Dutch data privacy watchdog Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens rebuffed the doctor's initial attempts to get disciplinary actions purged from online search results, a district court in Amsterdam sided with the surgeon. The physician had an interest in preventing her full name from appearing in Google search engine links connected to a blacklist of doctors, the court found.

more info...

Gear Latest

The Prime Challenges for Scout, Amazon’s New Delivery Robot

The company's new six-wheeled delivery bot is built to ferry Prime packages.

more info...

Facebook Adds Petition Feature to Global Community-Building Effort

TechNewsWorld

Facebook Adds Petition Feature to Global Community-Building Effort

Facebook has begun rolling out a new feature that's bound to charm the political activists among its users. Called "Community Actions," it lets Facebook members create an action page where they can describe what they'd like done, and set up a button that like-minded members can click to show their support. The page will show the government agencies and officials notified about the action, as well as the number of its supporters. When you support an action, you'll be able to see any of your friends who also support it.

more info...

BBC News - Technology

Social media stars agree to declare when they post ads

Vlogger Zoella and pop star Rita Ora were threatened with court action over social media ads.

more info...

Gear Latest

Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster: Pricing, Specs, Release Date

Fender's new American Acoustasonic Telecaster has a unique digital system onboard that gives it a tremendously varied sonic palette.

more info...

Jaguar I-Pace vs. Tesla Model 3: Which Is the Better Electric Car?

TechNewsWorld

Jaguar I-Pace vs. Tesla Model 3: Which Is the Better Electric Car?

To suggest that electric cars are having a painful birth would be a colossal understatement. Tesla clearly plowed this field and quickly recognized that the lack of a charging infrastructure was going to be a problem and, with reasonable effectiveness, dealt with it tactically. However, those "tactical" chickens are about to come home to roost and it probably won't be pretty. Jaguar, the first company to offer a true alternative to the Tesla, did some things very right and some very, very wrong.

more info...

Gear Latest

Slack Tips and Tricks: Notifications, Channels, Mute, Do Not Disturb

The deluge of notifications. The crowded list of channels. If it's all too much, follow our guide to Slack happiness.

more info...

BBC News - Technology

EasyJet says drone chaos was 'wake-up call' for airports

Airline says flight cancellations customers payments following Gatwick drone disruption cost it £15m.

more info...