Technology news

• IN DEPTH: Creative much? How Surface Pro 3, not iPad, is Adobe's best canvas

  27-03-2015 23:51
  
  Microsoft Surface Pro 3's Adobe Touch WorkspaceAlreadyfiveyearsold,Apple'sinnovativeiPad isoftendismissedasadevicemorefocusedonconsumptionthancreation,despitethewidevarietyofappsavailableforphotographers,designers,musicians,writersandothercreativetypes.For all the things iPad may be capable of, the tablet isn't running a robust, desktop-class operating system like Mac OS X or Windows, meaning developers are often forced to reinvent the wheel when existing software launches on the device.That giv
  
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• Judge orders jury to resume deliberations in bias case

  27-03-2015 23:08
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A judge on Friday ordered a jury to resume deliberations in a Silicon Valley gender bias case after a discrepancy was discovered in the jury count.
  
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• Amazon to remove non-compete clause from contracts for hourly workers

  27-03-2015 22:56 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Announcement comes after the Verge reported that the retailer required its US employees, including seasonal workers, to sign non-compete contracts Continue reading...
  
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• Jury decides Silicon Valley firm did not discriminate

  27-03-2015 22:18
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A jury decided Friday that a prestigious venture capital firm did not discriminate or retaliate against a female employee in a case that shined a light on gender imbalance and working conditions for women in Silicon Valley.
  
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• Better PowerPoint collaboration expected with LiveLoop acquisition

  27-03-2015 22:15
  
  Microsoft has signalled its intention to further diversify the Office productivity suite after acquiring LiveLoop for an undisclosed fee.A spokesperson for Microsoft confirmed the acquisition to ZDNet, and the LiveLoop for PowerPoint program is expected to be the first to play a part in the Office of the future."Microsoft is excited to welcome the talented team from LiveLoop to help build great collaboration across Office applications, as part of our strategy and vision to reinvent producti
  
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• Ellen Pao loses landmark sexual discrimination lawsuit

  27-03-2015 22:12 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Jury finds venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers did not discriminate against Pao, who now works for Reddit Continue reading...
  
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• Jury: Silicon Valley firm didn't discriminate

  27-03-2015 22:12
  
  A jury says a prestigious venture capital firm did not discriminate or retaliate against a female employee in a case that drew attention to gender imbalance and working conditions for women in Silicon ...
  
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• PC Gaming Week: What it takes to run the biggest space MMO

  27-03-2015 21:50
  
  Meet TranquilityLike some grand old dame, her youthful charms supplanted by the calculated sophistication of age, Eve Online is wading gently into her second decade. Created by Icelandic developers CCP Games, the massively multiplayer online game is set within the distant universe of New Eden, a place of immortal space pirates and larger-than-life politics, of players who think nothing of setting 6 a.m. alarms to patrol the lawless galaxies.Eve Online isn't an easy game to get into. It comes pac
  
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• Blip: Go play Super Mario 64 in your browser right now

  27-03-2015 21:43
  
  If you grew up in the '90s, Super Mario 64 was your jam, no exceptions. But not everyone still has an N64 lying around.Good news today, then: you can now play the Nintendo masterpiece in your browser.It's just the first level, Bob-Omb Battlefield, and it's missing some things, like a few moves and the area's red coins. But what's there is a beautiful (peep those HD graphics!) and mostly-faithful recreation.If trying to play with your browser's Unity web player slows your computer to a crawl, you
  
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• Jury reaches verdict in Silicon Valley gender-bias lawsuit

  27-03-2015 21:17
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A jury has reached a verdict in a sexual discrimination lawsuit against a prestigious Silicon Valley venture capital firm that drew attention to gender imbalance and working conditions for women in Silicon Valley.
  
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• SanDisk's, Toshiba's flash tech could bring huge SSD capacities

  27-03-2015 21:00
  
  Following Intel's and Samsung's flash storage announcements, it's now Sandisk's and Toshiba's turn to announce details of their 3D NAND chips, known as BiCS.Pilot production for BiCS will kick off in the second half of 2015."We utilised our first generation 3D NAND technology as a learning vehicle, enabling us to develop our commercial second generation 3D NAND, which we believe will deliver compelling storage solutions for our customers," said Dr. Siva Sivaram, executive VP of memory
  
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• Blip: What the creator of cyberpunk said when he tried Gear VR

  27-03-2015 20:14
  
  William Gibson is one of the most important science fiction writers ever, and at SXSW this month he got to see one futuristic bit of tech - virtual reality - finally brought to life.When the 67-year-old Neuromancer author strapped on a Samsung Gear VR for the first time, his initial reaction said it all: "They did it!"Ari Kushcnir, the executive producer with New York production company "m ss ng p eces" who introduced Gibson to VR, told Gizmodo that the influential writer &qu
  
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• Google teams up with health firm to develop AI surgical robots

  27-03-2015 20:00 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Google believes it can enhance surgeons’ tools using technologies employed in other parts of its business, including self-driving cars Continue reading...
  
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• Apple CEO Tim Cook plans to give away most of his fortune

  27-03-2015 19:51
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple CEO Tim Cook is joining a long list of magnates promising to give away most of the wealth that they amass during their careers.
  
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• PC Gaming week: Can today's gaming laptop match desktop PC performance?

  27-03-2015 19:30
  
  In pursuit of processing powerWhen it comes to gaming laptops, desktop performance has always been the measuring stick to which gamers hope mobile gaming will finally reach. Now with this year's crop of gaming laptops, we've seen greater mobile computing performance is finally obtainable thanks to the introduction of desktop parts working in tandem with laptop components.Two machines that best represent this are the Origin EON15-X and MSI GS30 Shadow with GamingDock. The former comes equipped wi
  
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• Smart meter 'IT disaster' warning

  27-03-2015 18:40 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The government's £11bn scheme to roll out energy saving smart meters could be an "IT disaster", the Institute of Directors warns.
  
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• Ruth Porat in line for $70m as Google's chief financial officer

  27-03-2015 17:45 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Porat to receive $5m signing bonus and $65m in shares and stock awards‘Most powerful woman on Wall St’ moves from Morgan Stanley Continue reading...
  
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• 'Crackberry' days over as BlackBerry handset sales fall to just 8.5m

  27-03-2015 17:24 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Chief executive John Chen said company made a pre-tax loss of $385m – an improvement on $7.2bn of losses the previous year Continue reading...
  
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• International Space Station robot Kirobo returns to earth and wins Guinness World records

  27-03-2015 17:19
  
  Kirobo, a companion robot that recently returned to Japan from the International Space Station (ISS), was awarded two Guinness World Records on 27 March for being the first robot to have a conversation in space and reaching the highest height as a robot from earth. Kirobo is a joint project involving car manufacturer Toyota, Japanese advertising agency Dentsu and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa). The companion robot, which left earth in August 2013, described the way our planet was
  
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• EU plans competition inquiry into e-commerce sector

  27-03-2015 17:07 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager to examine price differences between country-specific websites, which she say may be breaking the law Continue reading...
  
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• PC Gaming Week: The evolution of PC graphics will blow your mind

  27-03-2015 16:58
  
  PC game graphics through the yearsFrom Ultima Underworld to Doom, Far Cry and Metro: Last Light, the PC has led the gaming world in graphics since the 1980s, when the last Silicon Graphics workstations were hunted to extinction by the wild-eyed tribe of Carmack. Since then some PC games have pushed boundaries like no others, requiring all-new graphics hardware; others have made cunning use of existing tech to create stunning experiences.But there's always been a relentless chasing of that cuttin
  
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• Jury back to deliberate Silicon Valley gender-bias lawsuit

  27-03-2015 16:49
  
  Jurors deciding the outcome of a much-watched gender discrimination lawsuit against a prestigious Silicon Valley venture capital firm are set to enter their third day of deliberations. The jury of six ...
  
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• Technology to look inside Fukushima reactors faces challenge

  27-03-2015 16:36
  
  YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — The cutting-edge technology was billed as a way to decipher where exactly the morass of nuclear fuel might sit at the bottom of reactors in the Japanese power plant that went into multiple meltdowns four years ago.
  
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• This robot has earned two world records - what have you done with your life?

  27-03-2015 16:30
  
  Just a quick story to make you feel better about your life achievements. A tiny android named Kirobo has just set two Guinness World Records: 'First companion robot in space' and 'Highest altitude for a robot to have a conversation'.We don't want to sound like we're being pernickety here, but that second award feels a tad strained. Did that record even exist before a robot was put in space? And if so, who was on the phone to the Jim Pattison Group demanding their certificate?This morning I put m
  
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• Review: Galaxy S6 phones are Samsung's best yet

  27-03-2015 16:19
  
  A better design, a sharper camera and easier-to-use software make the new Galaxy S6 phones the best Samsung has yet to offer. Although Samsung has been praised for its improved hardware, much of what I ...
  
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• Week in Tech: Week in Tech: Facebook takes over, Periscope pops up, Amazon takes to the skies

  27-03-2015 15:50
  
  It's been a funny old week. We've seen One Direction go in two directions, witnessed a global outcry because a man was disciplined for punching a co-worker in the face and seen the worst viral video of all time featuring Nick Clegg. But while the world outside may be frightful, the world of tech is mainly delightful. This week we discover why Google Glass will make a comeback, how Facebook plans to claim your immortal soul and why this year's laptops will make you more excited than a Top Gear pr
  
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• Backup options for Internet lines can be costly, complicated

  27-03-2015 15:39
  
  Hunter Newby describes himself as a real estate entrepreneur, even if he's not marketing houses or land. Instead, he's selling space on a new fiber-optic transmission line to Internet providers, telecommunications companies and anyone wanting high-speed data.
  
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• VIDEO: Tech to help navigate Tokyo transport

  27-03-2015 15:39 via bbc.co.uk
  
  How beacon technology can help you navigate Tokyo’s complicated public transport system.
  
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• Internet outages reveal gaps in US broadband infrastructure

  27-03-2015 15:21
  
  FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — When vandals sliced a fiber-optic cable in the Arizona desert last month, they did more than time-warp thousands of people back to an era before computers, credit cards or even phones. They exposed a glaring vulnerability in the nation's Internet infrastructure: no backup systems in many places.
  
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• VIDEO: Safari users win right to sue Google

  27-03-2015 15:14 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Google has lost a Court of Appeal bid to stop consumers having the right to sue in the UK over alleged misuse of privacy settings.
  
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• Children on screens six hours a day

  27-03-2015 14:13 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Children spend six hours or more a day on screens, according to a study comparing viewing habits now to 20 years ago.
  
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• Is Periscope the lunch-sharing social network Twitter always threatened to be?

  27-03-2015 13:55 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Twitter’s new video app is brilliant technology in a lush package – what a shame our lives are all so boringIn November 2009, Twitter made a small, seemingly cosmetic, change to its web interface. For two years, ever since the site was still called “twttr”, the box for composing a new tweet had posed the question “what are you doing?”But seeing how the site was actually being used, Twitter changed its mind. The new question was “What’s happening?” That paved the way for the mod
  
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• As launch nears, iOS apps get Apple Watch support

  27-03-2015 13:26 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Third-party apps that support Apple Watch have started to arrive in Apple's App Store.
  
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• Facebook to launch social virtual reality experiences using Oculus Rift

  27-03-2015 13:15 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Sharing birthday celebrations or a child’s first bike ride in virtual reality could become a thing if Facebook gets its way with new Oculus Rift headset Continue reading...
  
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• The California drought is a problem Silicon Valley isn't helping to solve

  27-03-2015 13:00 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  While some water technology companies take on solving California’s drought, tech kingpins prefer to follow the money to mobile apps and internet startups Continue reading...
  
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• Bloodborne review

  27-03-2015 13:00 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Plus Hotline Miami 2 and Sid Meier’s Starships reviewsContinue reading...
  
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• ​Microsoft launches on-demand Azure backup and recovery

  27-03-2015 12:29 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Microsoft is rolling out new features backup and recovery features for enterprise customers with virtualised IT infrastructure across private and public clouds.
  
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• Safari users win right to sue

  27-03-2015 12:25 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Google loses Court of Appeal bid to stop consumers having right to sue in UK over alleged misuse of privacy settings.
  
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• Facebook successfully tests laser drones in UK skies

  27-03-2015 12:07 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Social network prepares to use solar-powered drones with wingspan of a commercial airliner to beam internet access to rural areasFacebook has been testing large, solar-powered drones in the skies over the UK, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has announced.The drones use lasers to beam internet access down to the ground, designed to provide connections to rural and internet-free zones. Continue reading...
  
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• Google loses UK appeal court battle over 'clandestine' tracking

  27-03-2015 11:56 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Judges dismiss internet firm’s appeal in landmark ruling that could lead to British consumers suing it for damages over privacy breachesGoogle has failed in its attempt in the court of appeal to prevent British consumers having the right to sue the internet firm in the UK. A group known as Safari Users Against Google’s Secret Tracking wants to take legal action in the English courts over what it says is Google’s tracking of Apple’s Safari internet browser.Continue reading...
  
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• National videogame centre opens

  27-03-2015 11:45 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A national centre dedicated to the art and culture of videogames opens to the public this weekend.
  
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• Buying from other countries to get easier as EC competition boss prepares to grill retailers

  27-03-2015 11:41 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Europe's competition commissioner is launching an inquiry into what's keeping Europeans from buying goods and services online from vendors in European countries outside of their homeland.
  
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• Review: Argos MyTablet (Windows)

  27-03-2015 09:50 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Introduction and performanceUnlike Tesco's Hudl, the launch of which was widely regarded as being successful, Argos' introduction to the world of tablets with its MyTablet brand was nothing short of a dud. Launched back in December 2013, it garnered only two stars out of five in our review, and was criticised for its laggy performance, low-resolution screen and poor battery life.Argos however didn't give up and launched a Windows version of MyTablet late last year for £130 alongside a 7-inch An
  
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• Asus ZenWatch review: a sophisticated-looking Android smartwatch

  27-03-2015 08:00 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Comfortable, well styled, functional and with a hidden heart rate function this Android Wear watch comes as a surprise The ZenWatch is one of the most attractive square Android Wear watches on the market. The OLED screen is gently curved with a polished stainless steel body inlaid with a rose gold-coloured inset. A traditional brown leather strap with a locking clasp completes the look.The classic styling may not suit everyone, but at 75g in weight and 9.4mm thick, the watch is comfortable to we
  
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• Startup industry backs employee share scheme changes

  27-03-2015 05:36 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Australian startup advocacy group StartupAUS has welcomed the government's moves to amend the country's employee share scheme in a bid for startup employees to reap greater benefits from their financial interests in early stage companies.
  
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• Amazon in talks to buy online luxury retailer Net-a-Porter - Forbes

  27-03-2015 05:20
  (Reuters) - Amazon.com is in talks to buy online luxury retailer Net-a-porter in what could be the biggest acquisition yet for the e-commerce giant, but the negotiations are in early stages and could fall apart, Forbes reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. The potential deal, first reported by Women's Wear Daily, could value Net-a-Porter lower than the valuation of 2 billion euros (1 billion pounds) reported by the fashion industry trade journal, Forbes said, citing the person
  
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• Nokia keeps Vodafone Australia's network management contract

  27-03-2015 04:26 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Despite a rocky relationship over the last five years, Vodafone has reappointed Nokia Networks to manage the company's network services.
  
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• Tasmanian Audit Office reveals 'excessive' online attack risks

  27-03-2015 04:13 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  The Tasmanian Audit Office has revealed that all five of the state government departments audited for a new report released this week were at excessive risk from online attacks.
  
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• ​Second CBA IT exec charged for corruption

  27-03-2015 03:44 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  A 44-year-old man has been charged with seven counts of corruptly receiving payments from a US-based IT company totalling almost AU$1.9 million.
  
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• Insight - The $50 device that symbolises a shift in North Korea

  27-03-2015 03:43
  By James Pearson SEOUL (Reuters) - A $50 (34 pounds) portable media player is providing many North Koreans a window to the outside world despite the government's efforts to keep its people isolated - a symbol of change in one of the world's most repressed societies. By some estimates, up to half of all urban North Korean households have an easily concealed "notel", a small portable media player used to watch DVDs or content stored on USB sticks that can be easily smuggled int
  
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