Technology news

• What happens to your Facebook when you die? You can finally decide

  12-02-2015 23:49
  
  It's a question that's been asked many times, including by TechRadar: what happens to your social media accounts when you die?Facebook's previous policy let deceased users' family members submit a request to have their pages "memorialized," but now the social network is finally giving users more control over their own postmortem profiles, the company has announced.Starting today - at least in the US - Facebook is letting users assign a "legacy contact" who will be given power
  
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• Wear your Fitbit too long and you may get a rash, admits Fitbit

  12-02-2015 23:24
  
  Fitbit Charge and Fitbit Force wearers have been reporting rashes seemingly caused by the wearables since last year, and now Fitbit is finally owning up to it.The company said in December that it wasn't to blame, but now it's issued a warning to Fitbit Charge and Fitbit Surge users, reports Digital Trends.2015 is the year of cool gadgets"Prolonged contact may contribute to skin irritation or allergies in some users," the disclaimer reads. "If you notice any signs of skin redness,
  
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• Browse, click, pay - African retail finds growing outlet online

  12-02-2015 23:14
  
  By Elias Biryabarema and Matthew Mpoke Bigg KAMPALA/ACCRA (Reuters) - Young Ghanaian entrepreneur Nana Tamakloe could hardly have a simpler business plan. "Most of the clothes sellers and tailors don't have a way to reach clients abroad, so I was like: 'Let's create an e-commerce platform,'" said Tamakloe, whose www.fashionghana.com website serves customers in the West and some in Africa. Tamakloe's business is small but he is tapping into a market manufacturer
  
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• Hands-on review: Asus Zenfone 2

  12-02-2015 23:09 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  When it comes to smartphones, all conversations should start with the HTC One M8 ($649, £549 and AU$899 off-contract) and the iPhone 6 (starting at $199 on-contract, £539 and AU$549 off-contract). Attempting to enter the arena of the big dogs, Asus' new Zenfone 2 (starting at $200, £120, AU$210 for 2GB RAM) is a handy device with a few neat tricks up its sleeve. The HTC One M8, which we've voted the best smartphone in the world, boasts a Snapdragon 801 processor that functions at 2.5ghz, whic
  
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• Groupon outlook disappoints, shares slide after hours

  12-02-2015 23:03
  
  Groupon Inc's forecast for first-quarter results fell short of Wall Street's expectations, as the online commerce company has been struggling to rev up sales and profit growth. The daily deals and online retail company forecast revenue of $790 million (513.5 million pounds) to $840 million in the March quarter, up 13 percent from a year earlier on a foreign exchange-neutral basis. The company that once dominated the fast-growing online coupons arena reported earnings, excluding one-tim
  
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• Chinese phone sensation dips toes in US with accessories

  12-02-2015 22:52
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Xiaomi, one of China's hottest companies, is bringing its blend of cheap yet fashionable technology and crowd-pleasing antics to the U.S.
  
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• 'Farmville' developer Zynga reports lower-than-expected bookings

  12-02-2015 22:21
  
  (Reuters) - "FarmVille" creator Zynga Inc reported lower-than-expected quarterly bookings of $182.4 million (118 million pounds) as releases such as "New Words with Friends" failed to excite gamers. Analysts on average had expected bookings of $201.5 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, according to market research firm StreetAccount. Zynga's net loss widened to $45.1 million, or 5 cents per share, from $25.2 million, or 3 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenu
  
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• 'Candy Crush' maker King Digital bookings exceed estimates

  12-02-2015 22:18
  
  (Reuters) - King Digital Entertainment Plc, a maker of games for social media platforms and mobile devices, reported gross bookings above estimates, helped largely by the success of its "Candy Crush Saga" and "Candy Crush Soda Saga" titles. The company also said on Thursday it would buy game developer Z2Live Inc. Total gross bookings, an indicator of future revenue, increased 8 percent to $586 million in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31 from the third quarter 2014. Analysts o
  
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• Google waited six months to tell WikiLeaks it passed employee data to FBI

  12-02-2015 21:36
  
  Tech giant facing renewed questions about user data as WikiLeaks lawyer says ‘The question I have is: what caused this six-month delay?’ Continue reading...
  
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• Hands-on review: Dell Venue 10 and Venue 10 Pro review

  12-02-2015 21:30 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Dell is taking the success of the business-centric $700 (£437 or AU$800) Venue 11 Pro to the educational market in the form of the $299 (£197 or AU$390) Android-powered Dell Venue 10 and the $329 (£216 or AU$430) Windows-based Venue 10 Pro. Like the Venue 11 Pro, both Venue 10 tablets can be converted into a notebook thanks to an optional keyboard dock accessory.With a new Wacom pen and optional keyboard docks, the Dell Venue 10 and Venue 10 Pro will compete in the same space as the $549(£35
  
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• HP moves annual meeting online-only as CEO face time fades

  12-02-2015 21:13
  
  By Ross Kerber BOSTON (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co will become the largest company to hold an online-only annual shareholder meeting this March, joining a trend towards virtual conferences that some activists worry keeps CEOs off the hotseat. The Silicon Valley technology giant announced in a Feb. 2 securities filing that its March 18 shareholder meeting will be online only, a move that follows in the footsteps of dozens of other companies including Sprint Corp and Martha Stewart Living Omnime
  
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• Apple enables two-step authentication for iMessages and FaceTime

  12-02-2015 21:00
  
  Additional login step brings extra layer of protection against hackers for Apple’s messaging and video chat, but more can be can be done say experts Continue reading...
  
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• Is the Samsung Galaxy S6 release date hiding in vacation blackouts?

  12-02-2015 20:50
  
  We're fully expecting the Samsung Galaxy S6 to show its 5.1-inch, metal-encased face in the next month, but a Samsung employee may have just leaked a more specific S6 release window.According to an alleged internal memo sent to Phone Arena, it looks like the Samsung Galaxy S6 could launch around March 22.The clue is in the vacation blackout periods apparently being imposed on Samsung's workforce; they aren't allowed to take time off between March 22 and March 30, which could indicate something b
  
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• Hands-on review: Dell Latitude 11 review

  12-02-2015 20:45 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  With the same purpose-built for education design, Dell is iterating on the success of the Latitude 13 for Education Series that debuted last year. The 2015 Latitude 11 model boasts the same durable design, affordable $299 (£194 or AU$386) entry price, and education-centric features as last year's model, but in a smaller 11.6-inch form factor.Though the Latitude 11 isn't certified as a rugged device, it is designed to stand up to daily classroom use. Like this year's Chromebook 11 refresh, the L
  
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• Review: Acer Aspire E15

  12-02-2015 20:40 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  IntroductionThe inherent give and take of choosing a new laptop, especially when constrained by a budget, is no fun. With the notebook market increasingly centering around the 13-inch mark, those who need or want a larger display are increasingly getting hung out to dry.With that in mind, the latest entry into Acer's Aspire line of laptops, the E15, is worth taking notice of. It sports a 15.6-inch display, is priced to sell at $469 (about £308, AU$601), and lands with a 15 x 10.1 x 1.2-inch (38
  
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• Windows 10 for phones begins its takeover today

  12-02-2015 20:11
  
  Windows 10 for Phones should mark one of the biggest transitions in Windows Phone history, and today the public - some of it, at least - can finally try it out.Microsoft's new mobile operating system arrives today in the form of a technical preview for Windows Phone users who've enrolled in the Windows Insider program.Microsoft's Surface Pro 3: laptop killer?To get started, download the Windows Insider app from Microsoft's digital storefront.There's one more barrier to trying out Windows 10 for
  
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• Fitbit says Surge can cause rash

  12-02-2015 19:54 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Fitbit acknowledges that one of its new gadgets, the Surge, can give some people a skin rash.
  
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• U.S. has raised concerns with China about new cyber rules - official

  12-02-2015 19:51
  
  The Obama administration sees planned new cyber security rules in China as a "major barrier" to trade and has raised concerns with Beijing at the highest level, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday. Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Robert Holleyman said the new regulations, which would force technology vendors to Chinese banks to hand over secret source code and adopt Chinese encryption algorithms, ran counter to Beijing's moves to open its markets and economy. "There'
  
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• Threatening sign hung near home of Italian Uber boss

  12-02-2015 19:41
  
  Sign abusing Benedetta Arese Lucini hung on electrical wire as local taxi drivers protest over potential relaxing of competition laws
  Continue reading...
  
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• Rocket Internet plans capital increase of 7.8 percent

  12-02-2015 19:40
  
  By Eric Auchard FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Ecommerce company Rocket Internet, which held its initial public offering just four months ago, said on Thursday that the company plans a capital increase by issuing new stock representing 7.8 percent of its outstanding share base. The number of shares issued and their placement price will be revealed this Friday, the company said.
  
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• FireEye is "first in the door" on big cyberattacks

  12-02-2015 19:33
  
  As hackers invade the computer systems of major companies with greater frequency and their corporate victims scramble to contain the damage and prevent future intrusions, these are boom times for cybersecurity ...
  
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• Exclusive - Obama set to announce executive order on cyber security threat data

  12-02-2015 19:22
  
  By Joseph Menn SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - President Barack Obama is expected to announce an executive order directing the government and companies to share more information about cyber security threats in response to attacks like that on Sony Entertainment . As in other policy areas where Obama has been unable to get legislation through the now Republican-controlled Congress, the White House is turning to more limited administrative actions to advance its agenda as much as it can. The announcemen
  
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• Rocket Internet plans capital increase worth 7.8 percent of shares

  12-02-2015 19:03
  
  Ecommerce company Rocket Internet, which only held its initial public offering three months ago, said on Thursday that the company plans a capital increase by issuing new stock representing 7.8 percent of its outstanding share base. The number of shares issued and their placement price will be revealed this Friday, the company said. Rocket said the new shares will offered exclusively to institutional investors in a private placement by way of an accelerated bookbuilding process. It said existing
  
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• Hands-on review: Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi

  12-02-2015 19:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  The Surface Pro 3 set the standard for what a well-built Windows 8.1 convertible device can be. We've seen a few devices, such as HP Envy x2, try and fail to mimic the same winning formula. Now, Asus has introduced something a little different with the Transformer Book T300 Chi. What's more, the company promises that its 12.5-inch 2-in-1 laptop will wipe the floor with Microsoft's baby and other convertible machines.Like the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro, this laptop utilizes an Intel Core M chip, which has
  
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• Review: New Nintendo 3DS

  12-02-2015 18:22 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Introduction and designFor all the stuff it does well, Nintendo's not doing itself many favours when it comes to communication. After the messy and confused messaging of the Wii U and the perhaps even more confusing 2DS, it's now gone and named its latest 3DS the New 3DS.And certainly by just looking at it, you wouldn't be able to tell much difference between it and its prior form. It's less of a problem for the serious gamers and Nintendo nuts, but for the parents who are out to buy their kid a
  
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• Randomly generated tweet by bot prompts investigation by Dutch police

  12-02-2015 17:54
  
  Police investigate after bot created by web developer Jeffry van der Goot tweets ‘I seriously want to kill people’ When Twitter user @jeffrybooks tweeted saying “I seriously want to kill people” at a fashion and cosmetics convention happening at Amsterdam, the Dutch police took the threat seriously.Jeffry van der Goot, a 28-year-old web developer who created the account, received a visit from the police in short order. The only problem was that Van der Goot – who is non-binary and goes
  
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• Jann Mardenborough reaches top with Nissan from virtual video game grid

  12-02-2015 17:44
  
  • 23-year-old British driver will race in top prototype class at Le Mans 24 Hours
  • Mardenborough will compete against former F1 driver Mark Webber
  • PlayStation Academy win leads to podium in Dubai 24 Hours
  • Mardenborough scores first GP3 win for Christian Horner’s team
  • From PlayStation to racing driver: in his own words Continue reading...
  
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• Hands-on review: Dell Chromebook 11 (2015) review

  12-02-2015 17:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  With this year's Chromebook 11, Dell is building on the success of last year's model, which bears the same name, by continuing to target the educational market. Although both generations of Chromebook share the same name, Dell has completely redesigned this year's model to be more durable for the classroom.Starting at just $249.99 (£164, AU$327), this year's Chromebook 11 follows the design of last year's Latitude 13 with a barrel hinge, rubberized edges to help shield against bumps, and a spil
  
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• Hands-on review: Dell Chromebook 11 (2015)

  12-02-2015 17:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  With this year's Chromebook 11, Dell is building on the success of last year's model, which bears the same name, by continuing to target the educational market. Although both generations of Chromebook share the same name, Dell has completely redesigned this year's model to be more durable for the classroom.Starting at just $249.99 (£164, AU$327), this year's Chromebook 11 follows the design of last year's Latitude 13 with a barrel hinge, rubberized edges to help shield against bumps, and a spil
  
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• Facebook offers after-death controls

  12-02-2015 16:49 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Facebook is offering a new setting to let users choose what happens to their account when they die.
  
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• Review: Mini review: Philips Fidelio NC1

  12-02-2015 16:28 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Philips is an audio brand going through something of a renaissance in the headphone market. My colleague James Rivington recently reviewed the Philips Fidelio X2 and gave them full marks so I was eager to try out the NC1 range to see if they could compete and while they don't quite warrant five stars, they are a superb set of headphones.The Philips Fidelio NC1 are headphones that have been created for the frequent traveller. They come in a plush, hard case to stop them being ruined when thrown i
  
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• Now someone can manage your Facebook account after you die

  12-02-2015 16:01
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Facebook is giving more options to decide what happens to users' accounts after they die.
  
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• Facebook, Twitter and other web firms battle botnets with ThreatExchange

  12-02-2015 15:45
  
  Pinterest, Tumblr, Dropbox, Yahoo and Bitly also on board for new platform to share information on security threatsFacebook has teamed up with a group of other internet firms to launch ThreatExchange, a way to share information on cyber-attacks and other online security threats.Facebook’s partners in the project include Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and its parent company Yahoo, Dropbox and Bitly. Related: It's been a great year! Thanks to these Facebook scams... Continue reading...
  
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• EE plans £1.5bn 4G network boost

  12-02-2015 15:38 via zdnet.com
  
  A three year, £1.5bn investment goes toward speeding up 4G and providing reliable voice and data services for 99 per cent of the UK's population.
  
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• Hands-on review: Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II

  12-02-2015 15:31 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Introduction and featuresThe Olympus OM-D series is the perfect antidote to bloated DSLRs. These OM-D cameras are small, precise and beautifully made. They use a Micro Four Thirds sensor with about half the area of the APS-C sensors in rival compact system cameras and digital SLRs, but any theoretical quality loss can be hard to spot in practice.The advantage of the smaller sensor is the corresponding reduction in size of the lenses. If you want to travel light but keep the versatility of an int
  
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• Fitbit Charge HR and Surge review: Wristbands for the serious daily tracker

  12-02-2015 15:29 via zdnet.com
  
  Fitbit's two high end devices are now available and both come with heart rate monitoring and basic notification support. Matthew spent a couple weeks with each and prefers one over the other.
  
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• Who wants a smartwatch?

  12-02-2015 15:21 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Android Wear gets off to a slow start
  
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• 10 reasons to hope Apple isn't really making a car

  12-02-2015 15:11
  
  Rumours of an Apple car may be premature but what would that future look like?We have a new contender for most improbable Apple rumour. Long-time Apple commentator, Bryan Chaffin, of the Mac Observer, says he is “certain” the company is working on a car.Chaffin’s sources say that, even as Elon Musk’s electronic car firm Tesla Motors is stealing away record numbers of employees from Apple, the house the Steves built is hiring Tesla employees right back – and specifically, “the kind of
  
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• ​Docker container-level stats? Logentries says it has the answer

  12-02-2015 15:00 via zdnet.com
  
  The arrival of the stats API in Docker is the cue for Logentries to offer container-level insights into usage and performance for production environments.
  
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• Apple bans worker 'bonded servitude'

  12-02-2015 14:48 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Apple outlaws the practice of bonded labour, where new recruits are charged a fee before they start working.
  
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• Fighting the Frankenbeast: How to stop security fears slowing the Internet of Things

  12-02-2015 14:31 via zdnet.com
  
  Before the Internet of Things becomes a reality, we must tackle all of its inherent security issues, says HP.
  
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• Attack downs Dutch government sites

  12-02-2015 14:28 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Both government and private websites fell victim to a distributed denial of service attack on Tuesday, the Dutch authorities say.
  
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• The Bear Grylls manifesto for narrowing children’s minds

  12-02-2015 14:25
  
  Computer games build imagination, confidence and an appreciation of complex moral issues. Banning them will achieve the opposite of what Grylls wants Continue reading...
  
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• Facebook ‘legacy contact’ can take over your account when you die

  12-02-2015 14:15
  
  Social network finally rolls out a contingency plan for if the worst happens allowing a trusted person to take control of a deceased’s accountFacebook is letting users in the US designate a “legacy contact” that can take control of an account after their death.
  The new setting within Facebook’s security options allows a trusted family member or friend to make one last post on the behalf of the deceased. It also lets them manage friend requests, update the cover and profile photos and a
  
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• Microsoft's Office Online update improves OneDrive saving, PDF printing

  12-02-2015 14:10 via zdnet.com
  
  Microsoft rolls out its first updates for the year to Office Online, its free productivity apps for consumers.
  
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• Streaming music's next leap forward could be 'interactive artist subscriptions'

  12-02-2015 14:01
  
  New report pitches future of app-like album releases and monthly subscriptions for fans, with the likes of Spotify and Apple as middlemenMusic streams on services like Spotify are about to start counting towards the UK’s official albums chart, but could streaming ultimately change the way albums are packaged and paid for by fans?A new report by music industry consultancy firm Midia Research hopes so. It pitches a future of “interactive artist subscriptions” where albums look more like apps
  
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• TomTom wins second contract with Volkswagen, shares jump

  12-02-2015 13:35
  
  By Toby Sterling AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - TomTom, the Dutch navigation equipment company, has won a second big contract with Volkswagen , this time to supply traffic software for the German carmaker's European fleet, it said on Thursday. TomTom said the new Volkswagen deal would be to deliver real-time traffic information to its cars "across Europe", beginning with Audi and Volkswagen models. On Jan. 6 TomTom struck a deal with Volkswagen to supply maps for its in-dashboard navigatio
  
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• No, that cat purring on YouTube isn't infringing music copyright

  12-02-2015 13:33
  
  Hour-long track of cat purring triggers YouTube’s Content ID system, but it’s definitely not a feline cover version of Focus trackCats and copyright infringement: two of the internet’s most popular pursuits ... together at last! Except in this case, the copyright infringement has turned out to be a red herring.The cause was an hour-long, audio-only YouTube video of a cat purring, uploaded in March 2014 by a user named Digihaven. With less than 3,000 views, it was very much in the long (fur
  
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• ​Apple partners with Pinterest to make iOS app discovery easier

  12-02-2015 12:30 via zdnet.com
  
  Pinterest users can now install iOS apps directly from the discovery platform.
  
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• ​Nvidia: We can reach 80 percent of enterprises now

  12-02-2015 12:20 via zdnet.com
  
  Nvidia's partnership with VMware is expected to pay off with revenue growth for its Tesla GPU and GRID platform.
  
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