Technology news

• Review: Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus

  05-06-2015 23:25 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Headphone companies try their darndest to release products that prove how well they know their audiences. Despite a few whiffs here and there, more often than not, these companies are skilled at it.Beyerdynamic displays such skill with the Custom One Pro Plus, a fully tweakable set that empowers listeners to get personal with its looks and sound. A $229 (£179, about AU$299) asking price isn't cheap by any means, but the performance and comfort here – along with oodles of customization – jus
  
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• The real scars of Korean gaming

  05-06-2015 21:46 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The real scars of Korean gaming
  
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• US threatens sanctions against culprit in hacking of federal employees' data

  05-06-2015 21:21 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  White House spokesman refuses to confirm claims of Chinese involvement in hack that compromised data of 4 million US government employeesThe White House has threatened possible economic sanctions against whoever is found to be involved in the recent hacking of US government personnel records, as China responded angrily to unofficial reports that pointed the finger in its direction.Obama press secretary Josh Earnest refused to confirm off-the-record US claims of Chinese involvement, insisting at
  
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• US government responds to latest hack: give us more power over data collection

  05-06-2015 21:06 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  ‘Zero day’ attack on high-level security clearance agency reignites push by Congressional leaders to hand federal government greater cybersecurity powersCongressional leaders are warning the latest major government data hack proves the Senate should hand the US government greater cybersecurity powers – even as the stalled legislation to do so would place even more consumer data into the hands of the same government that could not secure its existing information.An estimated 4 million feder
  
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• US facing 'dedicated' hacking enemy

  05-06-2015 20:34 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The US says it faces a "dedicated adversary" and an "ever evolving threat" to the nation's cyber security, after a major data breach.
  
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• The Guardian view on cyberwars: enter the trolls | Editorial

  05-06-2015 20:11 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  The great breach in the US government’s database is a classic case of informational smash and grab. But operations to plant misinformation are also worrying for states which care about truthDigital wars are being fought in many theatres around the world – and in many forms. In the light of the Snowden revelations, citizens who guard their privacy may already feel that it has been occupied by a hostile force. But on Thursday, the Obama administration conceded that the US federal government ha
  
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• 'Baby yoga' video on Facebook sparks internet censorship debate

  05-06-2015 19:00 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  NSPCC calls on government to intervene over video showing screaming baby being roughly dunked in bucket of waterA disturbing video of a screaming baby being roughly dunked in a bucket of water is at the centre of a row over internet censorship.
  The two-minute film appeared on Facebook and showed a woman in a kitchen, believed to be in Indonesia, repeatedly plunging a crying young baby into a vat of water while holding the child upside down and spinning it around.Continue reading...
  
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• Google unveils new underwater 'street views'

  05-06-2015 18:57 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Google has unveiled a collection of 40 new "special" street view images as part of its latest update.
  
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• The Film Distributors Association has turned 100! So what's the current life expectancy for cinematic releases?

  05-06-2015 18:44 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Celebrations are underway for the centenary of the FDA – but with Netflix in such ascendancy, can traditional film distribution survive the looming shadow of the digital streaming giants?The lights go down; you settle back in your plush fake-velvet seat; the projector beam ignites overhead; the silver screen begins to glow ... it’s an age-old ritual, and one of cinemas great selling points. But the communal experience of cinema exhibition is under threat as never before. Not content with per
  
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• Cyberwar: hacking attacks between nations are difficult to prove

  05-06-2015 18:18 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Following the large-scale hack of US federal personnel databases, governments need to build up their defences to minimise the impact of future attacksIt is a story that is becoming all-too-familiar: the US government had to admit on Thursday that one of its key personnel databases, containing the records of up to 4 million staff, had been compromised in a large-scale hacking attack. Officials speaking off the record laid the blame at China’s door, though did not immediately provide any evidenc
  
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• Silk Road: Ross Ulbricht files appeal against convictions and sentencing

  05-06-2015 17:41 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Drug marketplace operator ‘Dread Pirate Roberts’ was found guilty last month on seven counts and given sentences that amount to life in prisonRoss Ulbricht, the man convicted of running the online drug emporium Silk Road, has appealed against his conviction and sentence, according to court documents filed on Thursday. Related: Silk Road operator Ross Ulbricht sentenced to life in prisonContinue reading...
  
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• Review: Drift Stealth 2

  05-06-2015 17:30 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Introduction and designAction cameras generally follow one of two designs, box or bullet, but the small Stealth 2 is a mixture of the two. It looks very similar to the larger Drift Ghost-S with the same long rectangular shape, twist lock back, screen on top and rotating front lens element. This design made the Ghost-S exceptionally easy to mount, but the size and weight of the Ghost-S can be an issue, but while the Stealth 2 looks similar it's 40% lighter and 50% smaller.Physical appearance is w
  
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• Cheep shot: Cannes head says it has become a 'Twitter festival'

  05-06-2015 16:55 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Cannes director Thierry Frémaux voices complaints at amount of social media in play during the festival, following his ban on red-carpet selfiesCannes film festival chief Thierry Frémaux has attacked social media for making this year’s event “a Twitter festival”.Speaking to French industry magazine Le Film Français, Frémaux criticised delegates’ tendency to respond to the world-first screenings of key arthouse titles by tweeting about them soon after leaving – or
  
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• Dirty cloud: warnings over online gaming industry's environmental footprint

  05-06-2015 16:43 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Gaming giants scrutinised in the past for using hazardous materials in consoles could soon see their online enterprises put under the microscopeThe video game industry, while dedicated to delivering hours of thumb-strengthening entertainment, hasn’t always shown a similar verve when it comes to giving Mother Earth an extra life. Greenpeace has slammed console makers Nintendo and Microsoft in the past for their attitudes towards hazardous materials and e-waste, with Nintendo again hitting botto
  
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• Fullblox review

  05-06-2015 15:25 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  3DS; Nintendo; £8.99Pullblox was a deceptively simple puzzle game for Nintendo’s handheld 3DS, its plump little hero walking up to irregularly shaped blocks and either pulling them forwards or pushing them backwards in order to form stairs towards a flag perched at the top of each puzzle. Fullblox sticks with this formula, but adds the ability to stretch blocks sideways, along with enemies who can harm you but can also be hopped on and used as moving step ladders to reach otherwise inaccessib
  
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• How big data gone bad could cost you your job

  05-06-2015 15:13 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  The number of CEOs ready to fire those behind a failing big-data project says a lot about the growing importance of data analytics, according to a new study.
  
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• Six important video games you'll never see in a hall of fame

  05-06-2015 15:05 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  The Strong museum in New York has opened a World Video Game Hall of Fame – here are the historic titles that won’t be included any time soonVideo game hall of fame honours Pong, Doom and Super Mario Bros.
  It is undoubtedly good news. The Strong museum of Play in Rochester, New York, has opened a World Video Game Hall of Fame to celebrate titles that have had a huge impact on the medium. The six initial inductees are clearly deserving of their inclusion. Pong, Pac-Man, Tetris, Super Mario Bro
  
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• Dubsmash: the viral app turning memes into mimes is singing – and winning

  05-06-2015 14:42 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  The lip-syncing app has been downloaded more than 50 million times, but what is it? And why is it so popular with everyone from kids to celebrities?Miming into a hairbrush, reeling off favourite quotes from films, and covering internet catchphrases – all a lot easier since the arrival of lip-syncing app, Dubsmash. The mobile app allows users to take videos either of themselves or others miming to pre-recorded audio clips. Film, music and internet snippets are popular, but users are also able t
  
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• Facebook criticised over baby video

  05-06-2015 14:30 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The NSPCC urges the UK government to intervene amid a row over a "dreadful and disturbing" Facebook video of a baby being immersed in a bucket of water.
  
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• First Steam Machines up for sale

  05-06-2015 14:10 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The first Steam Machines - an attempt to bring PC gaming to a wider audience - are available to pre-order.
  
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• Zero Day Weekly: OPM breach blame game, SourceForge Nmap hijack, malware regrets

  05-06-2015 14:02 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  A collection of notable security news items for the week ending June 5, 2015. Covers enterprise, controversies, application and mobile security, malware, reports and more.
  
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• YouTube tool reveals music secrets

  05-06-2015 13:58 via bbc.co.uk
  
  YouTube's new tool for artists reveals some surprising secrets about musicians' international fanbases.
  
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• FBI anti-terror official calls on tech firms to 'prevent encryption above all else'

  05-06-2015 13:50 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  When communication goes through encrypted channels, rather than in public, the FBI has a hard time intercepting itThe FBI has again waded into the debate around encryption, with the bureau’s assistant director of counterterrorism telling the US congress that tech companies should “prevent encryption above all else”.Michael Steinbach, speaking at a hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee, explained how the the FBI uses technology to track and intercept supporters of Isis in the
  
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• Solar power to the people: how the sun can ease Africa's electricity crisis

  05-06-2015 13:38 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  The scale of the continent’s energy deficit often fuels a sense of fatalism and paralysis. Yet on the flipside of this crisis are enormous opportunities“We shall make electric light so cheap that only the wealthy can afford to burn candles,” said Thomas Edison, inventor of the modern lightbulb. That was almost a century and a half ago.
  Today in Africa, 621 million people – two-thirds of the population – live without electricity. And the numbers are rising. A kettle boiled twice a day i
  
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• Power beamed to camera via wi-fi

  05-06-2015 13:16 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Ambient wi-fi signals have been used by US researchers to power a small surveillance camera.
  
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• Facebook Lite: the slimmed-down, faster alternative to the full app

  05-06-2015 13:04 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Social network’s plan to attract next billion people sees launch of new app for developing nations that consumes a fraction of data Facebook’s new app for Android has all the features of its full app, but is faster, smaller and lighter on data.
  The Facebook Lite app is designed for use in developing countries where mobile data services can be spotty, slow and with low-bandwidth. Continue reading...
  
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• Pie raises $1.2 million to bring enterprise messaging to the everyman

  05-06-2015 12:00 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Singapore's Pie raised a $1.2 million Series A round. Here's how it wants to make enterprise message more accessible.
  
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• Vodafone and Liberty Global in talks - but not looking to merge

  05-06-2015 11:34 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  With bundled services taking on increasing importance, Vodafone and LIberty Global may look to swap their assets in the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany.
  
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• Google Chrome will pause 'non-essential' Flash content to save your battery life

  05-06-2015 10:33 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Google has teamed up with Adobe to make Chrome's Flash handling a bit more battery friendly.
  
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• Star Trek's Lt Uhura suffers stroke

  05-06-2015 10:04 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Nichelle Nichols, 82, is reported to be "in good spirits" following a mild stroke at her home in Los Angeles.
  
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• The hidden truth behind Three's new Muppet ad

  05-06-2015 08:43
  
  Muppet or madness?When first watching the new Three ad, you could be forgiven for thinking it's nothing more than a new campaign, combining a Henson Muppet with an East 17 track.A simple tale of a fluffy monster that battles back from adversity to start a revolution. Brilliant times, right? Wrong.There's a secret lurking behind the whole thing. Watch it once and you'll miss it, but watch it 37 times and you'll realise that there's a lot going on you haven't realised.YouTube : https://www.youtube
  
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• Your exact location can be shared in Facebook Messenger

  05-06-2015 07:29
  
  Facebook is attempting to eliminate the deluge of "Where are you at?" messages we send each other every day with a new location sharing feature.Conversions now include a map of your exact location, or another rendezvous point to meet friends, as one of the messages, explained the social media company today.Location sharing in Facebook Messenger isn't actually new. This just works in a more privacy friendly way than its current method hidden within every message and sent unless you opt
  
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• OPM hack: China blamed for massive breach at US federal agency

  05-06-2015 07:02 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Denials from Beijing after computer systems are targeted at Office of Personnel Management, which holds details on entire staff of US government Continue reading...
  
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• NBN ownership, cherry-picking rules challenged by trade agreement

  05-06-2015 05:55 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  A WikiLeaks leak of documents from a new international trade agreement has raised potential consequences for NBN ownership and cherry-picking legislation should Australia sign the agreement.
  
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• Telstra accidentally redirects NBN voice calls

  05-06-2015 05:49 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Thousands of Telstra customers across New South Wales received incoming calls intended for other numbers, in a technical error reported on Tuesday.
  
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• Islamic State has 'best cyber offence' of any terrorist group

  05-06-2015 04:51 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  "There's a new group of attackers coming. It's growing right now. And these guys are different," says F-Secure's Mikko Hypponen. Then there's criminals. And governments.
  
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• Video game hall of fame honours Pong, Doom and Super Mario Bros.

  05-06-2015 04:33 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Pac-Man, Tetris and World of Warcraft also make grade in US museum’s homage to industry rivalling Hollywood in entertainment pecking order Continue reading...
  
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• ​China's SAIC to crackdown on online counterfeit trading

  05-06-2015 04:07 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  The State of Administration of Industry and Commerce (SAIC) has launched a new campaign to focus on the the responsibility platform operators have on supervising fake goods do not get sold on their platforms.
  
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• Review: Nvidia Shield Android TV

  05-06-2015 03:40
  
  If the Nvidia Shield already sounds like a familiar name, that's because it is. Nvidia has used the Shield moniker a couple times before, with its Shield Portable and Shield Tablet. But the Shield console is different from its predecessors, both in its form factor – obviously – but more importantly in its intentions.This is the world's first-ever 4K Android TV set-top box, and the first widely offered streaming device that's capable of handling Ultra HD. That means, unlike the Roku 3, Chrome
  
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• Australian government slammed for public safety broadband inaction

  05-06-2015 03:21 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  The current and former Australian governments have come under fire from the Police Federation of Australia for delaying a decision on whether to build out a public safety mobile broadband network.
  
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• NewSat administrators gives CFO the bump

  05-06-2015 02:24 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Following the appointment of administrators, launch delays, redundancies, and terminations, NewSat spent another week in the limelight for reasons less than ideal.
  
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• In depth: Apple music streaming service: what we know so far

  05-06-2015 02:11
  
  Apple music streaming serviceFollowing months of reports, Apple is expected to unveil its own on-demand music streaming service at next week's WWDC 2015. While the tech giant has yet to detail its intentions in full, sources paint a fairly clear picture of a paid subscription model in the vein of Spotify and the fresh-faced Tidal. There are also talks of Apple overclocking its current iTunes Radio platform with technology from its acquisition of Beats Electronics. Has Apple finally lined up its
  
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• SMBs answer the call with Telstra DOT (Digital Office Technology)

  05-06-2015 02:04 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Telstra's Digital Office Technology (DOT) helps small business miss fewer customer calls.
  
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• Sony SmartBand 2 may have just made a dumb move

  05-06-2015 02:02
  
  Sony accidentally launched its SmartBand 2 app on the Google Play store, foreshadowing the release of its next wearable. Sony's previous SmartBand was made to be a simple, no-nonsense wearable to go against the grain of competition. It was waterproof, low profile and used e-ink, making it a cinch to read on bright days. For those expecting a fitness tracker though, it was a bit of a letdown, lacking a heart rate monitor and an altimeter. According to description on the new app, which was eventua
  
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• Glenn Greenwald says Australia is 'one of most aggressive' in mass surveillance

  05-06-2015 01:29 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Journalist who first reported on Edward Snowden revelations for the Guardian says Australia is ‘probably the country that has gotten away with things the most’ Continue reading...
  
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• VIDEO: Acronym dispute: Greek debt explained

  05-06-2015 01:18 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Greek debt explained
  
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• VIDEO: The prototype bike that hopes to fly

  05-06-2015 01:10 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC Click's LJ Rich looks at some of the best of the week's technology news.
  
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• HP Collaboration PC eliminates conference room cable clutter

  05-06-2015 01:02
  
  HP unveiled a suite of conference room products to make it easier for attendees to collaborate, video chat, share and stay productive while keeping their data safe. The products range from a new video conferencing monitor, Chromebox, PC and keyboard. "Too much time is spent at the beginning of a meeting getting the technology to work," HP said in a statement. "Collaboration solutions from HP help address these challenges by providing a simplified experience to engage with colleagu
  
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• Creating the blackest paint in the world

  05-06-2015 01:01 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Creating the blackest black paint in the world
  
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