Technology news

• Updated: CES 2015: news and reviews from the biggest tech show of the year

  09-01-2015 23:59
  
  CES 2015: Final dayCatch the last flight out of Las Vegas, folks, because that's a wrap! Today is the final day of CES, and to find out the highs, lows and no-shows of the Vegas tech-festivus, read our Week in Tech breakdown. From LG to Kodak to HDR, there's plenty to digest.Before we completely close the books on CES 2015, catch up on more news and hands on reviews as well as our best videos from Sin City. And don't forget to check out our CES 2015 Staff Picks, what we (and you) deemed the top
  
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• Alleged Windows 10 'Spartan' screens show darker direction, Cortana

  09-01-2015 23:54
  
  This small batch of previously unseen screenshots allegedly show several new aspects coming in Windows 10, including its brand new "Spartan" browser, Cortana's integration in that browser, and a new darker visual theme.Microsoft is reportedly building the new browser from scratch to be more like Chrome and Firefox, though word is it will offer both Spartan and Internet Explorer in consumer versions of Windows 10.The Spartan browser in these images, from Chinese site cnBeta, has a clean
  
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• In pictures: Hi-tech fashion at CES

  09-01-2015 23:51 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Futuristic style hits the Las Vegas catwalk
  
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• Could Android Auto someday help you find that elusive open parking space?

  09-01-2015 23:19
  
  Google's impressive in-car operating system, Android Auto, can do a lot of cool things, but it can't help you find a parking space - not yet, at least.The company has filed a patent titled "systems, methods, and computer-readable media for determining a parking route near a user's destination."In other words, Google will find you a parking spot and tell you how to get there."Provided are systems, methods, and computer-readable media routing users for determining a parking route ne
  
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• Hands-on review: CES 2015: Samsung Onmi Directional Experience speakers

  09-01-2015 23:18
  
  Samsung has long focused on design. So it doesn't surprise me to see Samsung launch a series of stylish speakers with a look, and a technology, heretofore unseen. Called the Samsung Omni Directional Experience, there are three versions currently planned, including the WAM7500, also called the "Solo," a tabletop speaker that comes with a stand, and the WAM6500, a portable model with a six-hour battery. Another slightly larger so-called "Stand-type" model was shown at CES 2015
  
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• Hands-on review: CES 2015: Samsung Omni Directional Experience speakers

  09-01-2015 23:18 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Samsung has long focused on design. So it doesn't surprise me to see Samsung launch a series of stylish speakers with a look, and a technology, heretofore unseen. Called the Samsung Omni Directional Experience, there are three versions currently planned, including the WAM7500, also called the "Solo," a tabletop speaker that comes with a stand, and the WAM6500, a portable model with a six-hour battery. Another slightly larger so-called "Stand-type" model was shown at CES 2015 as w
  
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• Pay TV revamps clunky guides in battle with Internet services

  09-01-2015 22:35
  
  By Lisa Richwine LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - U.S. cable and satellite TV providers are rolling out new services to solve a problem that drives customers crazy - which channel is HBO? And how do I find the latest episode of "The Walking Dead?" Faced with competition from Internet upstarts with graphical guides that are relatively painless to use, traditional media companies are adding voice control to remotes, cutting the number of buttons, and reducing clutter from screens. ...
  
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• CES 2015: StoreDot has improved its impressive 30-seconds-to-charge phone battery

  09-01-2015 22:24
  
  StoreDot first introduced its amazing fast-charging battery in April 2014, and at the time it was a bulky gadget about the size of a laptop charger.Now the company is showing off a new and improved version of the battery, which uses synthesized organic molecules to move ions around with great speed, at CES 2015. And it actually looks like something you could stick in the back of a phone, with a smaller charging cradle to match.Not that you would; the StoreDot battery is only 900mAh, way lower th
  
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• Hands-on review: CES 2015: Philips Fidelio B5

  09-01-2015 20:30 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  OK, OK, so the Philips Fidelio B5 Soundbar isn't exactly a new product for CES 2015. It was announced to the public for the first time back in September at IFA 2014.That said, it wasn't until now that we could see the soundbar-to-surround sound transformation for our own eyes and hear the resulting audio quality with our own ears.For those who missed it the first time around, the B5 is a successor to the Philips Fidelio E5, a 4.1 channel speaker system that lets you detach the two front speakers
  
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• CES 2015 roundup: superchips, driverless cars and follow-me drones

  09-01-2015 20:18
  
  The latest gadgets, gizmos and tech trends were on show in Las Vegas this week at the annual Consumer Electronics Show Continue reading...
  
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• Fire extinguished at Amazon data centre under construction

  09-01-2015 20:08
  
  (Reuters) - A fire on Friday at an Amazon.com Inc data centre under construction in Virginia was quickly extinguished and all workers at the site left safely, the company and county officials said. The data centre was in the early phases of construction by a third-party contractor when roofing materials ignited. "It was a fire on the roof, involving the roof, roofing materials and construction materials. Workers who were on the roof when the fire broke out were able to extricate themselves
  
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• CES 2015: This is what the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format will look like

  09-01-2015 19:59
  
  The Blu-Ray Disc Association (BDA) used CES as its opportunity to expand on its previous announcement that 4K Blu-ray discs will be on shelves by Christmas 2015.The organization has revealed the format's official name will be Ultra HD Blu-ray, says The Hollywood Reporter, while tech site Hexus has the specifics.The BDA's board has defined Ultra HD Blu-ray as discs that can handle resolution up to 3849 x 2169 and frame rates up to 60fps.The new format will also feature a wider color range (to up
  
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• Amazon's data centre catches fire - Carolina's emergency network

  09-01-2015 19:31
  
  (Reuters) - An under-construction data centre of Amazon.com Inc in Loudoun County, Virginia, caught fire early on Friday, according to The Carolina's Emergency Incident Notification Network's page on Twitter. "It was a fire on the roof, involving the roof, roofing materials and construction materials. Workers who were on the roof when the fire broke out were able to extricate themselves safely," said Mary Maguire, a Loudoun County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management spokesw
  
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• Stray satellite signals help measure snowfall in arid West

  09-01-2015 18:45
  
  Climate scientists are gleaning valuable information about snowfall and droughts from errant satellite signals once considered a nuisance. The data comes from GPS receivers that earthquake scientists use ...
  
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• From quirky to revolutionary, the CES show has them all

  09-01-2015 18:15
  
  Some 160,000 people endured endless cab lines and traversed 2.2 million square feet of exhibit space across the Las Vegas Strip to take in the annual International CES gadget show, which closes Friday. ...
  
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• Sony Pictures CEO: call to Google got 'The Interview' out

  09-01-2015 18:04
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — The network was crippled. Days before Thanksgiving, Sony Pictures employees had logged onto computers that flashed a grim message from a hacker group calling itself Guardians of Peace. Soon personal information for tens of thousands of current and former workers was dumped online, including Social Security numbers and the purported salaries of top executives. Five Sony-produced movies, including the unreleased "Annie," appeared on file-sharing websites. Thousands o
  
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• In the Microsoft space, cloud and big data skills draw hefty premiums

  09-01-2015 17:47 via zdnet.com
  
  Redmond's latest salary survey shows employers paying 25 percent more and up for Azure and big data work.
  
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• Industry voice: How IT departments can help companies tap into marketing gold

  09-01-2015 17:40
  
  IntroductionThe marketing industry is beginning to understand the importance of big data, although a recent report from IDC highlighted the fact that 80% of customer data is being wasted as a result of poor data practices, suggesting that businesses are still not making the most of the data which is available to them.Many marketing professionals are already using structured data from CRM systems to gain insight into current and future customer behaviour, but are missing a trick when it comes to
  
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• Hacker demands money from Swiss bank BCGE

  09-01-2015 17:08
  
  ZURICH/GENEVA (Reuters) - A hacker claiming to be behind a cyber attack on Banque Cantonale de Geneve, or BCGE, used social media on Friday to threaten to leak confidential data on the Swiss bank's clients if its demands for payment weren't met. Judicial authorities said a Geneva prosecutor was handling a formal complaint lodged by the cantonal (state) bank on Jan. 6, but gave no details. "A criminal complaint has been received from the Banque Cantonale de Geneve. An investigation
  
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• Updated: iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus: Apple's two latest smartphones go head to head

  09-01-2015 17:00
  
  Design, screen and cameraIt's been a long time since Apple was under this much pressure to impress with a new iPhone. After 2013's rather straightforward upgrade, the Cupertino company needed something special, and something to fight back against the moves being made by its rivals.The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus are Apple's counter-punches to critics who said it hadn't innovated enough with the iPhone 5S, but how do they stack up against each other? And which one should you be spending your c
  
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• Is the Metal Gear Solid V chicken hat the greatest gaming aid ever?

  09-01-2015 16:50
  
  The latest instalment in Hideo Kojima’s stealth action series will allow novice players to don a chicken hat making them invisible to enemies
  Continue reading...
  
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• Microsoft will simplify OneDrive to fix synching headache

  09-01-2015 16:50
  
  Microsoft is taking steps to fix sync issues experienced by certain users of its OneDrive cloud storage service.There are currently three different "sync engines" that work with the various OneDrive clients - the first supporting Windows 7, 8 and Mac, and the second OneDrive for Business.In a company blog post, Windows VP Chris Jones writes that the third sync engine, which was introduced for Windows 8.1, has been causing problems due to support for placeholder files, which allows acce
  
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• Ageing-tech expert sought by DWP

  09-01-2015 16:45 via bbc.co.uk
  
  An expert in systems that are more than 40 years old to revamp technology used by the Department for Work and Pensions.
  
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• Uber setback as China bans private drivers from using ride-hailing apps

  09-01-2015 16:44
  
  Chinese ride-hailing market dominated by domestic competitors, with services used mostly by taxi companies Continue reading...
  
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• Microsoft ups ante with G-Series virtual machines on Azure

  09-01-2015 16:43
  
  Microsoft has debuted a new series of VM (virtual machines) in the cloud and it claims that its G-Series are the most powerful available – from any provider on the market - in the public cloud.They all use an unidentified member of the Intel Xeon E5 v3 family; one that is particularly popular in data centres and has been adopted by the likes of Lenovo, Oracle and Amazon already.The smallest available VM size is the Standard_G1 with two cores, 28GB of RAM and 412GB local storage while the Stand
  
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• Could big IBM layoffs be in the pipeline?

  09-01-2015 16:39
  
  IBM's CEO, Ginni Rometty, has begun what some experts have been calling, the biggest global reorganisation in the (long) history of Big Blue; at stake, the very future of the corporation.According to The Register, IBM will swap its current software/hardware/services structure into more granular units (Research, Sales & Delivery, Systems, Global Technology Services, Cloud, Watson, Security, Commerce, Analytics).The change, the online outlet reckons, is needed to make sure that the company rem
  
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• Britain's fashion pack targets tech-savvy men to lift sales

  09-01-2015 16:36
  By Li-mei Hoang LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's leading fashion brands are hoping to give menswear sales a lift by targeting younger, digitally savvy male shoppers with live streaming and social media to promote the twice-yearly mens fashion week that began on Friday. London is looking to establish itself as the leading menswear fashion capital over Paris, New York and Milan by dedicating four days to showcasing the latest trends - and designers and retailers are hoping to turn the catwalk buz
  
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• AWS makes it easier to link to virtual private clouds

  09-01-2015 16:36 via zdnet.com
  
  The web services giant introduces a new feature that could reduce the cost and security risks of linking virtual instances on its platform.
  
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• VIDEO: 'I built a Minecraft word processor'

  09-01-2015 16:21 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A Minecraft player has built a word processor, a project which took the player over two years.
  
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• Apple has raised the minimum price of iPhone apps

  09-01-2015 16:02
  
  It's confirmed - Apple has now increased the minimum price of its paid apps to £0.79 in the UK, not long after it informed developers about the change.From today, the pricing has changed in order to account for VAT and foreign exchange rates, bringing the minimum cost up by ten pence, while EU countires have seen prices rise to €0.99. It's not the first time Apple has pushed up the price. Back in 2011 it increased the minimum cost from 59p to 69p.However, Iceland will actually see prices decr
  
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• Download of the day: Personal Backup

  09-01-2015 16:00
  
  Keep your most important files secure without having to shell out a penny thanks to Personal Backup.Why you need itCreating backups is an essential part of good computer maintenance and can save your hide should something go wrong. While there are many paid-for options out there, Personal Backup is one of the few to offer you so much without asking for a fee in return.There are four different types of backup available: full, copy, differential (which compares two folders and then copies only the
  
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• Nordic countries point the way to cashless societies

  09-01-2015 15:08
  
  By Rebecka Roos and Alister Doyle STOCKHOLM/OSLO (Reuters) - Nordic countries are leading a shift by rich nations towards cashless societies, providing a test case for whether the lower cost and convenience of using cards and smartphones for payments outweigh the risks of fraud and some people being left behind. Helped by wide use of computers even among the elderly, broad trust in the state and big business and only small black economies, people in Sweden and neighbouring countries are fast emb
  
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• Why Netflix won't block VPN users – it has too many of them

  09-01-2015 14:40
  
  Millions of people watch Netflix through VPNs from countries where it hasn’t officially launched, new figures showMore than 30 million Netflix users live in countries where the service is unavailable without the use of location-masking software, giving the company a hefty financial incentive not to crack down on members who use the technological loophole to watch content not authorised for their country.The figures, which come from market research firm GlobalWebIndex, show that Netflix has mor
  
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• Top German court deals blow to Uber complaint

  09-01-2015 14:34
  
  KARLSRUHE, Germany (Reuters) - Germany's highest court has declined to hear a complaint brought by online taxi service Uber over a ban on its activity in the city of Hamburg, dealing a blow to the company. The Federal Constitutional Court said the complaint was "not accepted for a decision due to lack of admissibility," a spokesman for the court said on Friday, adding that the court had given no further justification for its position. Hamburg's transport office sent Uber an i
  
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• Interview: Is WordPress the way forward for enterprise content management?

  09-01-2015 14:28
  Automattic, the firm behind WordPress.com and WordPress.org, helps power nearly a quarter of all websites currently on the web, serving about 16 billion pages a month. Its open-source philosophy means that it has spawned a vibrant ecosystem of WordPress specialists of all forms and shape. One of them is Pressidium, a webhosting company, and we've interviewed its co-founder, Andrew Georges, to find out more about the company's philosophy and plans.TechRadar Pro What does Pressidium do?Andrew Geor
  
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• Sony: 'No playbook' for hack attack

  09-01-2015 14:19 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The firm says it was a "canary in the coalmine" after being hacked and was reacting to the situation as it unfolded.
  
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• Quiz: Can you guess the weird tech gadgets from the CES trade show?

  09-01-2015 14:15
  
  The Consumer Electronics Show is underway in Las Vegas, but can you guess what these debuted odd gadgets are? Continue reading...
  
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• Zero Day Weekly: Super cookies, Gogo Inflight fake certs, Microsoft security notice paywall

  09-01-2015 14:04 via zdnet.com
  
  A collection of notable security news items for the week ending January 9, 2015. Covers enterprise, controversies, reports and more.
  
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• Blip: Someone has invented the belfie stick - has science gone too far?

  09-01-2015 13:55
  
  At the turn of the twentieth century, US Commissioner of Patents Charles Holland Duell is quoted to have said, "Everything that can be invented has been invented". Whether or not he ever actually made this comment is heavily debated, but if he did, there'd be a whole lot of egg on that face right now.Because someone has come up with the belfie stick.For the sake of the uninitiated, let us explain: a belfie is a derivative of the 'selfie' whereby instead of taking a picture of your face
  
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• Canon EOS 80D rumor

  09-01-2015 13:46
  
  This was spotted by PetaPixel on Canon Austria's Facebook page, and speculation has been growing about what it could possibly be.The design is closest to Canon's double-digit enthusiasts cameras, currently topped by the EOS 70D. The AF-On button is missing, but the shaping of the rear cover is almost identical. You can clearly see an LCD status panel on the top plate, which shows it's not one of the more basic models ('Rebel' in the US), currently spearheaded by the EOS 700D. We think a replacem
  
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• 20 apps and games to download for the new year

  09-01-2015 13:30
  
  Ten of the best new smartphone apps to kickstart your year – and 10 of the best mobile games to help you start wasting it Continue reading...
  
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• The great white shark is in danger – but technology could save it

  09-01-2015 13:30
  
  Ocearch, a non-profit organisation, is tracking sharks and other predators to focus conservation efforts. You can keep tabs too Continue reading...
  
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• ​Nokia sells 20,000 N1 tablets in four minutes, with 500,000 more buyers lining up

  09-01-2015 13:30 via zdnet.com
  
  Nokia's N1 tablet, its first device to be released after the sale of its handset business, appears to be off to a strong start in China.
  
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• Healing the sick at CES 2015

  09-01-2015 13:19 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Feeling ill at CES? Help is at hand
  
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• Industry voice: Apple versus Google: who will win the smart home war?

  09-01-2015 13:05
  
  The home automation sector is a wide open market that is valued at billions by analysts. But unless the technology becomes more user friendly – and fast – there's a very real danger that it won't see the kind of widespread market penetration that businesses are hoping for.The potential for huge profits has led a large number of companies to enter the race at different levels of the supply chain, yet several years down the line we still don't have a dominant player on the field.Both Apple and
  
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• Mark Zuckerberg, Apple and Google respond to Charlie Hebdo attack

  09-01-2015 12:49
  
  Facebook CEO condemns attack while Google donates £195,000 to support satirical magazine and Apple displays Je Suis Charlie banner on French website
  Tech companies including Facebook, Google and Apple have condemned the attacks on the offices of the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, in which 12 people were killed, including eight journalists.Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, in a post published on his personal profile page on Friday morning, called for a rejection of “extremists tryi
  
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• ​Want money for that new project? Then it's time to go on a moose hunt

  09-01-2015 12:38 via zdnet.com
  
  New project spending in on the rise, but tech chiefs will still have to hunt down the funding.
  
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• Faulty ​MacBook logic board suit against Apple thrown out

  09-01-2015 12:27 via zdnet.com
  
  Apple has secured a dismissal in a suit brought against over allegedly faulty logic boards in its MacBooks.
  
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• Robox inventor hopes 3D printing will help everybody become a maker

  09-01-2015 12:22
  
  Minecraft-mad kids could be the next wave: ‘They all have lots of ideas about what they’d want to print, and none of the barriers of adults’ Continue reading...
  
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• Why £0.79 is the new £0.69 on Apple's App Store

  09-01-2015 12:18
  
  As promised, Apple raised prices on the App Store in Europe, which is now 20% more expensive than the US Continue reading...
  
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