Technology news

• 'Ship to Cuba' option shows up on Amazon.com amid diplomatic talks

  02-03-2015 23:40
  
  Less than three months after U.S. and Cuban officials agreed to restore diplomatic ties, Amazon.com Inc appears to be laying the groundwork to ship packages to Cuba. A "ship to Cuba" button was seen on Monday on Amazon's website by Reuters correspondents in Havana. "Due to export controls and economic sanctions laws and regulations, we are unable to process transactions from your current location," Amazon said in the message. There was no such option available on Amazon&
  
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• Google selling wireless plans to get more people online

  02-03-2015 23:31
  
  BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Search giant, self-driving car developer, smartphone and tablet maker. Turned data plan provider?
  
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• MWC 2015: Cyanogen-loaded Alcatel OneTouch Hero 2+ is headed to US shores

  02-03-2015 23:23
  
  At MWC 2015 today French company Alcatel announced the OneTouch Hero 2+, a phone loaded with Cyanogen OS 11 that's headed to the US.Cyanogen, as you may know, is the company that wants to wrest control of Android away from Google, and the Alcatel OneTouch Hero 2+ will be only the third phone to come with native support for Cyanogen OS (after the OnePlus One and the Micromax Yureka), reports Android Authority.But besides the OS change, the OneTouch Hero 2+ strongly resembles the OneTouch Hero 2,
  
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• Exclusive - Obama sharply criticizes China's plans for new technology rules

  02-03-2015 23:00
  
  By Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Monday sharply criticized China's plans for new rules on U.S. tech companies, urging Beijing to change the policy if it wants to do business with the United States and saying he had raised it with President Xi Jinping. In an interview with Reuters, Obama said he was concerned about Beijing's plans for a far-reaching counterterrorism law that would require technology firms to hand over encryption keys, the passcodes that hel
  
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• Google, Facebook update contrasting plans to connect world

  02-03-2015 22:45
  
  BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Sci-fi solutions or making friends one at a time? Google and Facebook are taking different routes to expanding Internet use and access among the unconnected in developing countries.
  
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• Washington says waiting for China response on tech rule concerns

  02-03-2015 22:42
  
  The Obama administration is waiting for China to respond to concerns raised about planned new rules pushing Chinese banks to purchase high-tech products from domestic vendors, a senior State Department official said on Monday. U.S. business groups have complained about the regulations, and senior officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry, have written to their Chinese counterparts about them. "We have put forward our position and we ... have to see now what actions they take, but t
  
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• MWC 2015: Watch out, carriers: Google is starting its own wireless service

  02-03-2015 22:38
  
  Mainly to ensure it has a hand in literally every tech business imaginable, Google announced during MWC 2015 that it plans to begin offering wireless plans to a small number of customers.The last time this rumor popped up was January, when sources said Google would launch a Straight Talk-style mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that piggybacks on the existing networks of larger carriers.At MWC today Google Vice President Sundar Pichai confirmed as much, reports Mashable.Buying inThe search c
  
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• Former HP chairman admits 'mistake' in venture firm sexism trial

  02-03-2015 22:33
  
  By Sarah McBride and Dan Levine SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Onetime highflying tech executive Ray Lane testified on Monday during a sex discrimination trial involving his former employer, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, that he made a mistake in judgment involving the harassment of a female venture capitalist at the firm. Lane, who previously served as executive chairman of Hewlett-Packard Co and president of Oracle Corp, told the court that he erred in not immediately informing others that
  
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• Tinder to charge over-28s more

  02-03-2015 22:28 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Dating app Tinder announces it will charge the over-28s nearly four times as much for its premium features as it does younger users in the UK.
  
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• Sony Mobile head says division is not being sold - Le Figaro

  02-03-2015 22:04
  
  The head of Sony Mobile told French daily newspaper Le Figaro that the division is not being sold, only two weeks after Sony Corp Chief Executive Kazuo Hirai said he would not rule out considering an exit strategy. "At the beginning of February there was speculation about a sale of Sony Mobile," division head Hiroki Totoki was quoted as saying by the newspaper in an interview published on its website late on Monday. "It's completely untrue." Totoki said that Sony Corp CE
  
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• Is Insurgent's Shatter Reality VR ride the future of film?

  02-03-2015 21:52
  
  A virtual reality experience is touring America to put viewers in the middle of the action. Is it a gimmick, or the shape of things to come? Continue reading...
  
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• VIDEO: Japan seeks to reboot innovation

  02-03-2015 21:39 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Mariko Oi reports from Japan on the country's quest to rediscover its innovative spirit with "game-changing" products.
  
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• Connecticut launches probe into Lenovo use of Superfish software

  02-03-2015 21:18
  
  BOSTON (Reuters) - Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen's office said on Monday it has launched an investigation into Lenovo Group Ltd's sales of laptops preloaded with Superfish software, which the U.S. government last month warned made users vulnerable to cyberattacks. The office said that Jepsen last week sent letters to Lenovo, the world's biggest personal computer maker, and privately held software maker Superfish asking them to provide information, including contracts
  
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• HTC hints at Half-life VR game

  02-03-2015 21:09 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The chairwoman of HTC says it is "co-operating" with Half-life - but the BBC understands Valve is not planning to announce a sequel.
  
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• MWC 2015: This is Android Pay, Google's answer to Apple Pay

  02-03-2015 21:01
  
  It was just last week that we first heard rumors that Google was working on Android Pay, a new mobile payments platform, and now the search company has confirmed it.At MWC 2015 Google Senior Vice President Sundar Pichai said that Android Pay is not itself a direct competitor to Apple Pay, but an "API layer" that will enable third parties to build payments into their Android apps, reports The Verge.The iPad Pro: still a thing?"We are doing it in a way in which anybody else can buil
  
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• Updated: MWC 2015: news and reviews from the biggest phone show of the year

  02-03-2015 20:57
  
  MWC 2015: Day 1MWC 2015 is officially underway following a packed press day that saw the unveiling of some of this year's most anticipated smartphones.Samsung landed a one-two combo by uncloaking both the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge in their full metal jackets. They were joined by another heavyweight in the ring: the HTC One M9. If you followed along with us Sunday, you'll know that a ton of other tech was unveiled (just head on over to page 2).Today we'll be bringing you the latest and gre
  
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• SanDisk made a USB flash drive for the smartphone you can't buy yet

  02-03-2015 20:05
  
  SanDisk is preparing for the smartphone future with the a new Dual USB Drive with Type C connector. As future smartphones and tablets are expected to launch with the new reversible USB port, the SanDisk Dual USB Drive allows users to store information and move files from the drive and their computers, smartphones and tablets.The 32GB flash storage drive has built-in connector tips for both a full-size USB and Type C ports so users won't need to carry additional cables or adapters.The Dual USB Dr
  
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• Sponsored: The Spring Business Event

  02-03-2015 19:30
  
  Many businesses, especially the smallest ones, often believe that buying consumer-grade products can save them money but unfortunately, more often than not, that ends in a false economy spiral.Products that have been designed for a domestic use often come with disclaimers that explicitly say that they should not be used in a professional or business environment.That's because they are less powerful, not built to withstand frequent usage or travelling and may end up with a much higher TCO (total
  
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• Updated: 100 best free Android games 2015

  02-03-2015 19:15
  
  Best free Android gamesAs Android phones and tablets have increased in popularity, the number of apps available for the platform has rocketed.And that means more free Android games. There's a lot of junk out there but, fortunately, there are gems among the junk.We've worked our way through a whole load of Android games to reveal the ones you should download to your phone.So without delay, here is our pick of the 90 best free Android games available.FutTv : 2B66VRr27Ivc640. Pinball DeluxePinball
  
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• Hands-on review: MWC 2015: HTC Vive

  02-03-2015 19:02 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  There's a TV show from the early 1990s called Red Dwarf that depicted a group of humans (and humanoids) that were lost in space in the future, desperate to get home.One of the big ways they stayed entertained was with a holographic headset that let them play in hyper real worlds, like they were living in the action sequence. It was meant as comedy, a chance for men to be stupid and depraved and powerful and ultimately escape the onboard reality they were faced with. I always thought that idea, t
  
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• Hands-on review: MWC 2015: Huawei MediaPad X2

  02-03-2015 18:58 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Smartphone manufacturers have been pushing the boundaries of the 'phablet' for a while, and the Huawei MediaPad X2 feels like a step too far.At first glance the MediaPad X2 looks like a tablet. Its 7-inch, full HD display seems to confirm that fact, but actually, according to Huawei this is a phablet.With my eyebrow firmly raised I picked up the MediaPad X2 for a closer look, and I can confirm this is much more tablet than it is phone.The all metal construction does at least give an air of premi
  
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• Samsung Galaxy S6, HTC One M9 and Huawei Watch: The best tech at Mobile World Congress 2015

  02-03-2015 18:55
  
  The 2015 Mobile World Congress is upon us, with everyone from Samsung to Ford keen to show off their latest cutting-edge products. Like Apple last year, Samsung has unveiled not one but two versions of its flagship smartphone with the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge. Samsung is looking to set itself apart from the competition and make up lost ground on Apple through a curved screen and innovative battery technology that enables wireless and fast charging. In the battle of the smartphone flagshi
  
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• The internet of things and big data: Unlocking the power

  02-03-2015 18:39 via zdnet.com
  
  The IoT will massively increase the amount of data available for analysis by all manner of organisations. However, there are significant barriers to overcome before the potential benefits are fully realised.
  
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• Research: 30 percent of organizations collecting big data

  02-03-2015 18:38 via zdnet.com
  
  Thirty percent of organizations are collecting big data, with telecommunications and engineering among the top industries collecting data, according to the latest Tech Pro Research research report.
  
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• Executive's guide to IoT and big data (free ebook)

  02-03-2015 18:37 via zdnet.com
  
  The Internet of Things and big data are growing at an astronomical rate. This ebook explores the consequences and benefits of this expanding digital universe -- and what it could mean for your organization.
  
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• Ten examples of IoT and big data working well together

  02-03-2015 18:36 via zdnet.com
  
  The Internet of Things and big data are strategic partners, especially in the enterprise. Here are 10 examples of IoT and big data operating symbiotically to get work done.
  
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• Data centre design in the age of Things

  02-03-2015 18:34 via zdnet.com
  
  The IoT is a compelling concept, but it's not yet clear precisely how the flood of data it will unleash should be handled by the world's networks and data centres.
  
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• Inside the panopticon economy: Privacy, the IoT and you

  02-03-2015 18:33 via zdnet.com
  
  The next evolution of the internet will embed sensors into nearly everything around us. Dealing with the privacy and security implications of that will be one of the biggest challenges of the next century.
  
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• Inside the panopticon economy: The next internet revolution, privacy and you

  02-03-2015 18:33 via zdnet.com
  
  The next evolution of the internet will embed sensors into nearly everything around us. Dealing with the privacy and security implications of that will be one of the biggest challenges of the next century.
  
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• Big data is a competitive advantage companies can no longer ignore

  02-03-2015 18:32 via zdnet.com
  
  Experts explain how falling costs, easier collection methods, and better analytic tools are making big data a true competitive for companies big and small.
  
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• Keeping the world's elevators running smoothly with machine learning and IoT

  02-03-2015 18:32 via zdnet.com
  
  How one of the world's largest elevator firms is hoping to spot problems before they arise by funnelling data into Microsoft's Azure Machine Learning service.
  
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• ​Rio Tinto digs for value in data

  02-03-2015 18:29 via zdnet.com
  
  Rio Tinto is soon due to complete a seven-year project that has seen the company connect its fixed and mobile assets to take advantage of predictive analytics.
  
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• Former HP chairman to testify in venture firm sexism trial

  02-03-2015 18:08
  
  By Sarah McBride and Dan Levine SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Onetime highflying tech executive Ray Lane is expected to testify Monday in a discrimination and retaliation trial involving his former employer, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the investment firm that has backed companies from Google Inc to Amazon.com Inc. Lane, who previously served as executive chairman of Hewlett-Packard Co and president of Oracle Corp, is likely to discuss his response to incidents of alleged harassment and di
  
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• HP's big deal: Tech giant buys Aruba Networks for $2.7B

  02-03-2015 18:02
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Hewlett-Packard is buying wireless networking company Aruba Networks for about $2.7 billion, in what amounts to HP's first major acquisition since its disastrous purchase of a British software company in 2011.
  
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• Hands-on review: Acer Liquid Leap+

  02-03-2015 17:57 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Acer's latest crack at the wearable market sticks is not so much a new product and more an upgrade. Which is to say, even those of you who owned the first Liquid Leap might struggle to distinguish this from the original.The Leap+ plus comes in a variety of colours, and the design is minimalist and simple. It's what an estate agent would call a 'seamless, flowing design aesthetic' and the rest of us would call 'pretty uninteresting'. The band itself is solid enough, and the rubbery silicone strap
  
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• ​Google: Chronically dabbling or disjointed?

  02-03-2015 17:44 via zdnet.com
  
  The biggest risk ahead for Google is that it could become an experimental corporation that is really simply unfocused, disjointed and prone to chronic dabbling.
  
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• Bill Gates tops Forbes rich list

  02-03-2015 16:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Bill Gates is declared the richest man in the world for the 16th time by Forbes magazine's annual ranking of global billionaires.
  
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• Fidelity cuts Google stake by nearly a third amid shift to cheaper searches

  02-03-2015 16:56
  
  (Reuters) - One of Google Inc's largest investors has cut its exposure to the company by nearly a third over the past several months amid worries about a shift to cheaper searches on mobile phones. The $107 billion (69 billion pounds) Fidelity Contrafund cut its stake in Google to 5.2 percent of net assets as of Jan. 31, from 7.3 percent of net assets as of June 30. "The firm continued to do phenomenally innovative things, but it is fighting a shift away from desktop search to less-exp
  
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• Hands-on review: Meizu MX4 Ubuntu Edition

  02-03-2015 16:50 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  It looks like Ubuntu phones are a lot like buses; you wait ages for one to turn up, then two come along (almost) at once. After the launch of the low end, and rather unglamorous, BQ Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition, Canonical was at MWC 2015 promoting its second Ubuntu phone; the Meizu MX4 Ubuntu Edition.The Meizu MX4 can already be bought with Android installed, but Canonical has teamed up with the Chinese manufacturer to provide a version with its fledgling Ubuntu Phone mobile operating system inst
  
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• Hands-on review: MWC 2015: Nokia N1

  02-03-2015 16:43 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  No need to pinch yourself, you're reading that right, a Nokia Android tablet that's actually rather good.The Nokia N1 launched last year in China, and sightings of the Finnish firm's Android slate have been hard to come buy outside of the country, but at MWC 2015 I managed to clasp my hands round it.In short, I'm a little bit in love. It's got a beautifully slender profile, unibody aluminium shell and an eye catching display, plus it's been recently updated to Android Lollipop.Sure it bears more
  
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• Regulate internet companies like telcos: Deutsche Telekom

  02-03-2015 16:35 via zdnet.com
  
  European regulators should adopt an 'all or nothing' approach to regulating telecommuncations and over-the-top internet companies exactly the same, according to Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Hoettges.
  
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• Hands-on review: MWC 2015: Windows 10 Mobile

  02-03-2015 16:26 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Microsoft unveiled a new version of its operating system last year breaking the mould and skipping ahead right to the number 10.Windows 10's main aim was to connect its ecosystem of devices using the same apps across desktop, tablet, smartphones and even its own Xbox One.All Microsoft devices from now on are likely to run with a certain version of Windows Phone 10 installed, even the mega exciting Microsoft HoloLens reportedly runs in conjunction with the OS.Windows 10 was made available at a pr
  
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• Google to offer own cellular network plan

  02-03-2015 16:25
  
  BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Google will soon be offering cellular network plans.
  
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• Large Google investor cuts stake amid shift to cheaper searches

  02-03-2015 16:13
  
  (Reuters) - One of Google Inc's largest investors has cut its exposure to the company by nearly 29 percent over the past several months amid worries about a shift to cheaper searches on mobile phones. The $107 billion Fidelity Contrafund has cut its exposure to Google to 5.2 percent of net assets, as of Jan. 31. "The firm continued to do phenomenally innovative things, but it is fighting a shift away from desktop search to less-expensive searches on mobile phones," Fidelity Invest
  
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• Review: Woojer review

  02-03-2015 16:01 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  A silent, wearable woofer. That's the claim Woojer is making about its… er… Woojer. Weird indie Kickstarter projects really do have a lot to answer for...The Woojer truly is a bizarre little device, designed to translate sound into feeling with the idea of immersing you more deeply into the music you're listening to, game you're playing, or movie you're watching.But how is it meant to do this? By sitting in the middle of your chest, or just above your bottom, vibrating at different levels de
  
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• Twitter, law enforcement investigate alleged Islamic State threats

  02-03-2015 15:09
  
  Twitter Inc and law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged threats made by Islamic State militants against the social media network's co-founder and other employees, the company said in reaction to media reports. "Our security team is investigating the veracity of these threats with relevant law enforcement officials," a representative for Twitter said in a statement on Monday.
  
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• Ericsson joins with Intel to help telecoms firms get in the cloud

  02-03-2015 15:03
  
  By Eric Auchard BARCELONA (Reuters) - Telecom equipment maker Ericsson and chipmaker Intel have agreed a partnership deal to help network operator customers build datacentres, putting them on a more competitive footing against big, cloud-based Internet firms such as Google, Facebook and Amazon. "We will build datacentre equipment which will actually have the same performance as many of the big cloud providers are doing for themselves," Ericsson's chief executive, Hans Vestberg, to
  
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• HP to buy Wi-Fi gear maker Aruba Networks for $2.7 billion

  02-03-2015 15:02
  
  (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co said it would buy Wi-Fi network gear maker Aruba Networks Inc for about $2.7 billion (1.7 billion pounds) in cash. The offer of $24.67 per share is a premium of 34.4 percent to Aruba's close on Feb. 24. A possible deal was first reported by Bloomberg on Feb. 25. (Reporting by Abhirup Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
  
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• HP confirms Aruba Networks purchase, eyes bulked up networking unit

  02-03-2015 14:58 via zdnet.com
  
  The deal, valued at $3 billion and $2.7 billion net of debt and cash, gives HP more heft to tackle campus networks and wireless technology.
  
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• HP Spectre x360: Flagship hybrid notebook packs 12-hour battery life

  02-03-2015 14:37 via zdnet.com
  
  HP's 'most premium' device can swap between PC, 'tent' and tablet modes.
  
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