Technology news

• Teletrac, Navman Wireless to merge

  03-03-2015 23:33 via zdnet.com
  
  GPS fleet and asset tracking companies combine to create global telematics business.
  
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• FlexiGroup to acquire Spark's ICT leasing unit

  03-03-2015 22:37 via zdnet.com
  
  New Zealand telco inks a NZ$106 million conditional agreement to sell Telecom Rentals.
  
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• Tablet video game combats lazy eye

  03-03-2015 21:54 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Video games firm Ubisoft is working on a title that it believes can treat lazy eye, a condition that can result in reduced vision.
  
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• WIRELESS SHOW HIGHLIGHTS: Eyes on Apple, BlackBerry

  03-03-2015 21:51
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — As a major wireless show continues this week in Barcelona, Spain, Apple is highlighting the capabilities of its iPhone cameras with a gallery of photos taken by its users around the world.
  
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• Apple plans fix next week for newly uncovered Freak security bug

  03-03-2015 21:47
  
  BOSTON (Reuters) - An Apple Inc spokesman said on Tuesday that the company plans to release a fix next week to mitigate the newly uncovered 'Freak' security flaw affecting Safari browsers on its iOS and OS X operating systems. A vulnerability in web encryption technology could enable attackers to spy on communications of users with vulnerable software, including Apple's Safari browser and Google Inc's Android browser, according to researchers who uncovered the flaw. (Reportin
  
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• Net neutrality is like free speech – and the internet needs rules, says FCC boss

  03-03-2015 21:29
  
  Tom Wheeler tells the world’s largest telecoms trade show ‘there needs to be a referee’ even as European officials propose fast lanes that don’t impair traffic Continue reading...
  
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• Hands-on review: MWC 2015: Archos 94 Magnus

  03-03-2015 20:58 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  The Archos 94 Magnus may look like just another run of the mill Android tablet, but beneath its 9.4-inch display lies a hidden secret. 256GB of internal storage.It's harnesses Archos' new technology, Fusion Storage, to achieve such as large amount of internal spaceWhat's more the 94 Magnus also sports a microSD card slot, allowing you to build on that insane space even more by up to 128GB.If you fancy splashing the cash on the 94 Magnus you'll need to part with £249 (around $380, AU$480), which
  
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• FCC head defends Internet neutrality rules on the road

  03-03-2015 20:50
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — The head of the Federal Communications Commission is taking the defense of new Internet regulations on the road.
  
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• End of the line for stuff that's built to die?

  03-03-2015 19:58
  
  A new French law demands that manufacturers display how long their appliances will last. Could this stop planned obsolescence – products designed with restricted lifetimes? Continue reading...
  
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• Review: mini review: Klipsch Reference On-Ear

  03-03-2015 19:40 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  As far as headphone features are concerned, Bluetooth and gesture controls don't interest Klipsch a whole lot. Rather than putting its eggs into as many baskets as possible, the Indiana-based company chose the route less traveled with its Reference On-Ear headphones, opting instead to master of the fundamentals: performance and comfort. For headphones in 2015, $199 (about £177, AU$256) is certainly an approachable asking price. It's enough to grab several recommended headphones, but it's also e
  
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• U.S. FCC Chairman defends net neutrality rules

  03-03-2015 19:01
  
  The top watchdog of the U.S. telecommunications market defended new rules that will tighten regulation over the country's broadband providers as necessary to defend consumers' interests and openness on the Internet. Speaking at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Tuesday, Tom Wheeler, the head of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission said that some in the industry exaggerated when they said the moves would harm them or cripple innovation on the web. "One of the tragedies&qu
  
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• Venture capitalist John Doerr to testify in Silicon Valley sex discrimination case

  03-03-2015 18:46
  
  Ellen Pao claims she missed promotion after affair with partner in 2006Pao was Doerr’s chief of staff before joining firm’s digital team Continue reading...
  
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• Telstra leads tech advances by taking risk: Thodey

  03-03-2015 18:44 via zdnet.com
  
  Telstra CEO David Thodey has said the incumbent has maintained its leadership position in mobile technology advances through risk-taking, and putting its investments on the line.
  
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• Mobile World Congress – five of the most eye-catching innovations

  03-03-2015 18:39
  
  Around 2,000 companies have flocked to Barcelona to show off their new wares, from iris-recognition phones to sat navs for cyclists or furniture that charges your deviceWearables of every shape and size have littered the exhibition halls at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this year, where 2,000 companies have gathered to show off their wares to a forecast record 90,000-plus visitors this week.Apple traditionally stays away from the event, giving rivals a chance to get noticed, although the iP
  
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• How to fold the perfect paper plane

  03-03-2015 18:29
  
  By: Kathryn NaveContinue reading...
  
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• How to achieve paper-plane glory

  03-03-2015 18:29
  
  By: Kathryn NaveContinue reading...
  
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• Google Street View extends to zip lines through the Amazon rainforest

  03-03-2015 18:16
  
  Google has teamed up with the Amazonas Sustainable Foundation (FAS) in Brazil to create Amazon Street View so people from around the world can get a close-up view of the Amazon jungle in Brazil. Amazon Street View works the same as Google's Street View and allows users on Google Maps to navigate through hundreds of kilometres of Brazil's Amazon rainforest by simply clicking and viewing 360 degree photographs.
  
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• Amanda Palmer is crowdfunding again, but this time on Patreon

  03-03-2015 18:00
  
  Musician famously raised $1.2m on Kickstarter for last album, but is now seeking ‘constant communication’ with her fans on another site Continue reading...
  
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• WIRELESS SHOW PHOTO GALLERY: Gadget fans in Barcelona

  03-03-2015 17:44
  
  BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Gadget lovers from around the world are in Barcelona to view the latest in handheld and wireless technology.
  
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• Sainsbury's joins click-and-collect shopping revolution

  03-03-2015 17:43
  
  Sainsbury’s will offer online shoppers the option of picking up orders in store, years after the service was introduced by rivals Tesco and Asda, upping the stakes in Britain's brutally competitive grocery market. Online shopping, as one of the better-performing parts of the market, has become a key battleground for all of Britain's "big four" supermarket chains as they grapple with the rise of discounters Aldi [ALDIEI.UL] and Lidl [LIDUK.UL]. British shoppers are increasin
  
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• Netflix buys Oscar-tipped Idris Elba drama Beasts of No Nation for $12m

  03-03-2015 17:34
  
  True Detective director Cary Fukunaga’s latest film gives streaming platform their biggest title yet Continue reading...
  
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• Asus Transformer Book Flip TP550LA review: A multimode heavyweight

  03-03-2015 17:32 via zdnet.com
  
  The Transformer Book Flip TP550LA is a 15.6-inch multimode notebook whose Core i7 processor and reasonable price are added attractions. Bear in mind, though, that it's heavy and unwieldy (especially in tablet mode), screen resolution could be higher, and battery life isn't great.
  
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• Apple edges out Samsung in global smartphone sales - Gartner

  03-03-2015 17:24
  
  (Reuters) - Apple Inc sold the most number of smartphones globally in the fourth quarter, overtaking Samsung Electronics Co Ltd for the first time since 2011, according to research firm Gartner. Apple sold 74,832 smartphones to end users worldwide, ahead of the 73,032 phones sold by Samsung, according to Gartner's report. The success of big-screen iPhone 6 and 6 Plus drove Apple's sales in its first quarter ended Dec. 27.
  
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• Weasel riding a woodpecker: the five best #weaselpecker memes

  03-03-2015 17:17
  
  What happens when a baby weasel is photographed riding a woodpecker? The internet goes crazy. Here are five of the best memes
  Continue reading...
  
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• Game Developers Conference offers creators a sporting chance

  03-03-2015 17:16
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — With tens of millions of gamers now regularly spectating video games online and in real-world arenas, game developers looking to create the next "StarCraft" or "League of Legends" might learn a few lessons at this year's Game Developers Conference.
  
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• Review: Milestone Gravitate Activity

  03-03-2015 16:53 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Milestone Gravitate ActivityThe Milestone Gravitate Activity is a fitness tracker for the budget, rather than the body, conscious. Costing around £59 (US$90, AU$115), it's not the cheapest on the market but it's at a price range that will pique the interest of those who are still debating whether they need a fitness tracker in their lives. Having used the device for over a week, though, I do wish that a little bit more was spent on producing the band: it's fine and functional but ends up being
  
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• Japan tells Uber to halt free pilot service in Fukuoka - Kyodo

  03-03-2015 16:21
  
  Uber Technologies Inc has been told to suspend a free ride service in Japan over the possible infringement of unlicensed-taxi restrictions, Kyodo News said on Tuesday, a blow to the company's hopes in a potentially big market. The transport ministry believes Uber's free taxi-like service in southern Japan, which matches passengers via a smartphone app with private drivers, may violate Japan's Road Transportation Law, Kyodo said, citing unnamed ministry officials. Uber's pilot
  
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• Discovery adds online adventure channel to reach Web generation

  03-03-2015 16:09
  
  By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Cable network operator Discovery Communications Inc said it is boosting investment in original Web video with a new channel focused on adventurers, in an effort to reach younger audiences who have grown up watching media online. The owner of The Discovery Channel and Animal Planet launched the ad-supported free online network called Seeker on Tuesday and will pitch it to advertisers in May during the newfronts, an annual showcase of digital content. Miche
  
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• GM's Opel to offer cars with free Wi-Fi for one year

  03-03-2015 15:57
  
  By Edward Taylor FRANKFURT (Reuters) - General Motors is launching its digital Onstar connection service in Europe this year, offering Opel and Vauxhall buyers free car connectivity for the first year after purchase. Cars are equipped with their own mobile phone SIM card, enabling Opel to get in touch with a driver if an airbag deploys and alert emergency services, or to remotely unlock the car if somebody has locked keys into the vehicle. "Perhaps the most important launch for us in Geneva
  
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• Ford launches e-bikes at mobile show

  03-03-2015 15:54 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Ford has been showing off two e-bikes at Mobile World Congress as manufacturers start to look beyond the car.
  
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• Taxi firm Addison Lee to debut in New York after controversy in London

  03-03-2015 15:39
  
  Company that sparked protests in the UK after founder’s comments about cyclist deaths will vie with Uber for control of New York City’s $3.4bn taxi market Continue reading...
  
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• From GCHQ to tech giants: why the fight for your personal data matters

  03-03-2015 15:16
  
  Privacy International is battling to force GCHQ to delete information that has been collected illegally – but could we all be doing more in the battle for our data?Government agencies and companies across the world hold large amounts of data on each and every one of us. From profiles of your favourite movies to where you ate out last night, this vast mountain of data is a representation of you that you can do little about. But is that strictly true? Can you find out what GCHQ, Facebook or Goog
  
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• Survey: Which industry cloud providers will win your business?

  03-03-2015 15:13 via zdnet.com
  
  The industry cloud is the next frontier of the tech and business world. Take this survey and tell us which niche companies dominate the industry cloud market and get a free copy of the research report.
  
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• HTC apologises for Half-life comment

  03-03-2015 15:05 via bbc.co.uk
  
  HTC apologises for causing "any confusion" after claiming it was co-operating with Half-life, a much anticipated video game.
  
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• Good Technology aims at wearables and Internet of Things devices

  03-03-2015 14:53 via zdnet.com
  
  Good launches Dynamic Secure Mobility Platform to tap into what it sees as the "rapidly expanding eco-system of connected things and wearables".
  
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• Blackberry Leap has no physical keys

  03-03-2015 14:40 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Blackberry targets young career builders with its all-touch-screen Leap smartphone.
  
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• Zuckerberg - the unasked questions

  03-03-2015 14:36 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Why Mark Zuckerberg's MWC appearance was a big yawn
  
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• BlackBerry offers new phones but turns focus to software

  03-03-2015 14:23
  
  BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — BlackBerry may be launching four new smartphones over the coming year, but the struggling company is staking its future on becoming a giant in software.
  
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• Plane battery ban over safety concern

  03-03-2015 14:13 via bbc.co.uk
  
  United Airlines has announced that it will no longer carry bulk shipments of lithium-ion batteries as new tests reveal they could cause fires.
  
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• VIDEO: Pebble launches smart straps scheme

  03-03-2015 14:06 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Smartwatch pioneer Pebble is launching a programme for third-party developers to make sensor-equipped straps for its latest devices.
  
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• World of Warcraft moves closer to free-to-play

  03-03-2015 14:00
  
  The multiplayer role-playing game is launching the ‘WoW Token’, which could make paid subscription a thing of the past World of Warcraft is set to launch real-money transactions and the ability to play without paying for a subscription, as developers Blizzard move to position the game against free-to-play competitors.The company is introducing “WoW tokens”, which can be bought from other players for in-game gold, or from Blizzard for real money, and exchanged for 30 days of game time. Th
  
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• Hands-on review: MWC 2015: Pebble Time Steel

  03-03-2015 14:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  That didn't take long. Just when I, and almost every other Pebble Time backer, wondered why Pebble's new Kickstarter success was plastic and didn't resemble the all-metal Pebble Steel, my five-day-old question was answered at MWC 2015.Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky gave me a sneak peek at the Pebble Time Steel, carrying four prototypes of the decidedly classier-looking smartwatch in a Pelican briefcase. It was top-secret, but also exactly like you'd expect, down to the guessable name.This non-su
  
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• Google’s Titan drones to take flight within months

  03-03-2015 13:39
  
  Search company pushes plans to launch a fleet of high-altitude atmospheric satellites to provide internet accessGoogle will be conducting test flights of its first drones this year after purchasing unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturer Titan Aerospace.The drones will be used as atmospheric satellites, part of Google’s plan to provide internet access to areas without ground-based access and the four billion people currently without access, its senior vice president of product, Sundar Pichai, rev
  
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• EU's antitrust chief has met Google's Schmidt

  03-03-2015 13:36
  
  BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's antitrust chief has met Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt as she seeks to resolve a four-year investigation into complaints that the Internet search giant abuses its dominance. European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager met Schmidt on Monday, her spokesman Ricardo Cardoso said in an email. In recent weeks Vestager has met more than a dozen Google complainants, including executives from Microsoft, German publisher Axel Springer, mappin
  
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• Lifespan of consumer electronics is getting shorter, study finds

  03-03-2015 13:32
  
  Investigation of built-in obsolescence for German environment agency finds percentage of products sold to replace defective ones has increased remarkably, reports ENDS Europe Continue reading...
  
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• Fail fast, but learn quicker: How to take chances without risking tech disasters

  03-03-2015 13:26 via zdnet.com
  
  Taking calculated risks is a key part of using technology for business advantage: but how do tech leaders try new stuff without risking everything?
  
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• EU bets on 5G to catch up in mobile technology race

  03-03-2015 13:25
  
  By Julia Fioretti and Leila Abboud BRUSSELS/BARCELONA (Reuters) - The European Union is looking to sign agreements with China and Japan and the United States to cooperate on developing the next generation of mobile broadband as it seeks to help its companies catch up in the race to develop such technologies. Europe, once a leader in the 1990s in the second-generation GSM technology standard for mobile phone networks moving into the digital era, has fallen behind the United States, Japan and Sout
  
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• Hands-on review: MWC 2015: LG Joy

  03-03-2015 13:22 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  LG unveiled four new mid-range phones for its 2015 selection a couple of weeks before MWC, promising the handsets would be on show there. The company made good on its promises and we've managed to get a hands-on look with the Magna, Leon, Spirit and the Joy.LG's Joy has the lowest spec of the entire range and it doesn't come with any stand out features to shout about.So far there's no price for the LG Joy, which makes it difficult to place in the market and judge whether it'll be worth the cost
  
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• Apple and Google poaching settlement headed for approval

  03-03-2015 13:21
  
  A US judge on 2 March seemed satisfied with a proposed $415m (£267m) settlement that would end a lawsuit in which tech workers accused Apple, Google and two other Silicon Valley companies of conspiring to hold down salaries. US District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, had previously rejected an earlier $324.5m deal as too low. During a hearing on Monday, Koh raised no objections about the size of the settlement as she had at an earlier court session. The plaintiffs alleged that Apple, G
  
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• How video games helped me come to terms with male pattern baldness

  03-03-2015 13:10
  
  The onset of hair loss was devastating to writer Joe Donnelly – until a game called Dark Souls arrived and changed his perspective“Screw you, you baldy bastard,” cried the man I’d spent the last 15 minutes alongside, slaughtering Russian mobsters and seizing bag-loads of drugs. We were at the end of a Grand Theft Auto IV online mission and things had gone wrong; somehow, I was getting the blame, despite the fact that he was the one who nearly blew the plan by leaving me behind at the hel
  
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