Technology news

• Updated: Reddit CEO Ellen Pao resigns

  10-07-2015 23:47
  
  Reddit CEO Ellen Pao was downvoted from her interim position at the company today, resigning after a chaotic week-long online protest.The very public backlash against the site and Pao began when Reddit fired popular "Ask Me Anything" administrator and director of talent, Victoria Taylor. Outraged moderators set several of their subreddits to "private," shutting down notable destinations /r/Books, /r/Science and /r/Music/.Pao had apologized earlier this week, admitting, "
  
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• How to upgrade the SSD in your business Ultrabook

  10-07-2015 23:37
  
  IntroductionIf you bought a business notebook, chances are the hard drive or solid state drive on your system is upgradeable. Upgrading your drive gives your business Ultrabook a new lease on life. You can replace a malfunctioning drive, or you stand to gain faster performance with a high speed drive or more storage capacity. If you're replacing an internal hard drive for a solid state one, you'll benefit from much faster read and write speeds. Unlike consumer Ultrabooks, business Ultrabooks and
  
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• TechRadar Deals: The best HTC One M9 deals in July 2015

  10-07-2015 23:00
  
  Best HTC One M9 dealsThe HTC One M9 is an interesting phone. Some say it's not a huge advancement on the HTC One M8 which preceded it but the company has switched the camera to a new, higher resolution version that aims to produce much better pictures than the M8 did. Follow @TRDeals on Twitter for the latest offersHTC is a leader in design though, and its handsets are always solid, well-built and reliable. And let's be honest, if you're someone that works phones hard during their lifetime then
  
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• VIDEO: Hands on with the HTC Vive headset

  10-07-2015 22:57 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Reviewing the new HTC Vive - a look at the latest virtual reality headset
  
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• This is the best way to try HTC Vive for yourself

  10-07-2015 22:28
  
  Popular phone maker HTC teamed up with gaming software company Valve to create a virtual reality headset that was announced at MWC 2015 but the HTC Vive has rarely been seen out in the wild. That should change soon. Announced on its blog, an HTC Vive World Tour is taking place this summer, starting in San Diego, CA on July 9. The tour will continue until November 1 across the US and Europe. Check out the following dates to see if your city made the list:July 9-12, Island St & 6th Ave, San Di
  
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• Top US official quits over hack

  10-07-2015 21:48 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The director of the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) resigns after reports that the records of millions federal employees were hacked.
  
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• Now that any idiot can send a selfie from Mount Fuji, have we hit peak Wi-Fi?

  10-07-2015 20:22 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Due to popular demand, climbers can now shamelessly selfie and check work emails atop Japan’s spectacular peaks. The days of living in the moment are overWi-Fi is available everywhere these days. You can use Wi-Fi at some New York City subway stations. You can use Wi-Fi at some Subway restaurants. Some people even have Wi-Fi in their homes. Now, thanks to Japanese government officials, Wi-Fi is also available at the summit of the country’s highest mountain. Continue reading...
  
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• OPM director resigns over data hack that affected up to 22 million Americans

  10-07-2015 20:00 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Katherine Archuleta steps down after sensitive information of an estimated 21.5 million federal employees stolen in cyber-attack by suspected Chinese hackersA government hacking scandal that compromised the personal information of an estimated 21.5 million Americans claimed its first big political casualty, in the shape of Katherine Archuleta, the director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).Related: OPM hack: 21 million people's personal information stolen, federal agency saysContinue r
  
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• How to use the new Photos app for Mac

  10-07-2015 20:00
  
  IntroductionFor the better part of a decade, iPhoto was arguably the cornerstoneof Apple's successful suite of consumer creative iLife products. Many ofus got in the habit of shooting our daily and family adventures, thenmanually syncing them to our Macs when we have a free moment.Buttimes change. We now live in an age of ubiquitous cameras,always-available cloud photo libraries, and one-touch editing. With themeteoric success of iOS, Apple has elected to retire both iPhoto and"iPhoto Pro&q
  
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• Target built its own smart home to sell you smart home tech

  10-07-2015 19:15
  
  Target just announced the launch of Open House, an experimental new branch of its stores that sells nothing but connected home tech in San Francisco. The one-of-a-kind store is laid out to display the smart tech that, until now, hasn't had a proper showcase in the aisles of major electronics retailers.The store rocks a futuristic look with translucent walls that are backlit by LEDs to better show off the different products and how they each can work in tandem to connect your home. In a statement
  
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• Teenager sentenced over web attack

  10-07-2015 18:50 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A British teenager has been sentenced for his part in what was called the "biggest cyber attack in history".
  
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• Keitai: How to update Android

  10-07-2015 18:02
  
  How to update AndroidWelcome to this week's Keitai round-up – this week we make sure your Android device is up to date, the world's best footballer struggles to control a phone and a warning about charging your phone at the theatre.Catch up on KeitaiHow to update AndroidThis week we're showing how to update to the latest version of Android. It's pretty simple, but it may take a little bit of time so make sure not to start this when you're in a rush.Step 1 – Do you need to update?This all dep
  
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• Review: Bluetooth Minirig

  10-07-2015 18:00
  
  Introduction and featuresThe Minirig is a very British creation and also one of the best portable speakers around. This latest version is also now rocking improved bass response and some robust wireless audio chops too.PASCE Ltd. created the original Minirig as more of a hobby project than a serious manufacturing effort. The company's background is in professional audio, but some of its engineers started messing around with portable audio as a side-project. Now it's become an entire brand in its
  
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• Opinion: A closer look at the Microsoft write-down – and the death of Windows Phone

  10-07-2015 17:00
  
  Introduction and Ballmer's follyMicrosoft is a company on the edge, not of disaster per se but of a choice between what it could be and what it will be. Under the stewardship of Satya Nadella, the company has, at least from the perspective of an outsider, progressed more in a single year than it did under the latter half-decade of Steve Ballmer's reign, both in terms of culture (which, admittedly, is hard to define) and strategic direction. Of course, one of the defining moments of Steve Ballmer
  
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• Week in Tech: Week in Tech: Windows Phone's on life support, Russia's on selfie watch

  10-07-2015 16:46
  
  If we were to describe the past seven days in a word, that word would be "week" – and if we were to describe that word in another word, it'd be "trouble". Windows Phone's hit the skids, Apple's Watch might be heading that way too, there's a rumpus over at Reddit and Flash is in a pickle too. Plus: bears! It's week in tech!Microsoft says ByePhoneRemember last week's rumour that Microsoft is planning to kill Windows Phone? Microsoft's shedding nearly 8,000 jobs, and most of t
  
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• Win! A HP 260 G1 PC

  10-07-2015 16:36
  
  Over the next few weeks, in the build up to the launch of Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows 10, we're giving away most of the Windows-powered gear that we have recently reviewed as part of a clear out we're having in the office.You still have a few days to complete our other Windows 10 competition if you haven't done it yet.We're also throwing in a free (random) wireless router with this competition prize. The ten Windows 10 capable PCs, laptops and tablets that will be given away ove
  
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• Google is building the ultimate spam-killing AI

  10-07-2015 16:19
  
  Google engineers have cooked up a new way for Gmail spam filters to learn what mail you want and what you don't. It involves 'large scale brain simulations'.In a post on the Gmail blog, product manager Sri Harsha Somanchi wrote that less than 0.1% of the email in an average Gmail inbox is spam, and the false positive rate is even lower - at just 0.05%. "Even still, Gmail spam detection isn't perfect," he said.So the company is now applying artificial neural networks to detect and block
  
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• Review: Lenovo LaVie Z 360

  10-07-2015 15:55
  
  Introduction and designIn the race to make laptops smaller, thinner and lighter than ever, 2015 has been an exciting year. Dell brought out a stunning machine with the Dell XPS 13, squeezing a 13-inch screen into an 11-inch frame. Apple, on the other hand, sought to reinvent the laptop with a brand new 12-inch MacBook, which squeezed an iPhone 6-sized logic board into its all-aluminum frame while introducing a redesigned keyboard and trackpad.Now, Lenovo has brought forth its own contender with
  
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• This squishy robot uses explosions to jump

  10-07-2015 15:53
  
  Roboticists from Harvard University and the University of California in San Diego have built a robot with a 3D-printed body that transitions from a hard core to a softer exterior. Oh, and it uses explosions to leap into the air.There's plenty of research into soft robots, which are safer to work with than their more rigid companions. But soft robots also tend to be much slower at accomplishing tasks - so the team wanted to combine a rigid centre with a squishy exterior for the best of both world
  
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• Crazy paving: Rotterdam to consider trialling plastic roads

  10-07-2015 15:47 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Dutch city could be first to pave its streets with recycled plastic bottles, a surface claimed to be greener, quicker to lay and more reliable than asphaltThe Netherlands could become the first country to pave its streetswith plastic bottles after Rotterdam city council said it was considering piloting a new type of road surface touted by its creators as a greener alternative to asphalt.The construction firm VolkerWessels unveiled plans on Friday for a surface made entirely from recycled plastic
  
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• Geeksphone: Firefox smartphones out, wearables in

  10-07-2015 15:46 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  The Spanish company known for its developer friendly handsets and Silent Circle collaboration is leaving smartphones to focus on activity trackers.
  
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• Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 10166 available now

  10-07-2015 15:45
  
  Microsoft has pulled the wrapping off another Windows 10 Insider Preview build as the release pace continues to pick up ahead of the final release on July 29.Windows Insiders in the Fast ring can download Build 10166 right away and it brings with it a range of bug fixes and fit-for-finish features plus something exclusive to customers in the Seattle area to try out.Those living in the Northwestern US city are able to buy paid-for Wi-Fi through the Windows Store using the Microsoft Wi-Fi app. Whe
  
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• Review: LG Minibeam PH300

  10-07-2015 15:37
  
  IntroductionIf you find yourself giving presentations while on the road often, the LG Minibeam PH300 ($449, £290, AU$603) may be worth looking into. Competing in the same space as other small projectors such as the $400 (£270, AU$530) ZTE SPro and the $599 (£385.24, AU$738.45) Epson EX7235 Pro, the compact LG PH300 packs a capable number of ports, a decent LED lamp, and a built-in battery rated for up to 2.5 hours on a single charge.If your main concerns in a projector are connectivity option
  
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• Here's what a Grexit would do to Greek tech spending

  10-07-2015 15:30 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  The outlook for Greek tech spending is grim whether the country stays in the euro or not.
  
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• You want more Witcher 3? You might be getting more than you can handle

  10-07-2015 15:26
  
  It's a good day to have pre-ordered a 1TB PS4/Xbox as it's been confirmed that the two new bits of Witcher 3 DLC will cumulatively take up almost as much hard drive space as the entirety of The Witcher 2.In a recent interview with Game Reactor, CD Projeckt Red/ The Witcher game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz spilled the beans on the new paid-for DLC content. There have already been 16 free bits of DLC launched for the acclaimed game. Together, the two new bits of content will add up to 30 hours o
  
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• Twitter criticised for 'epilepsy triggering' Vine adverts

  10-07-2015 15:14 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Social media company forced to remove two flashing vines for its #DiscoverMusic campaign after charity raises concerns
  Twitter has been forced to pull two adverts using its Vine looping video platform after objections were raised by epilepsy campaigners.The ads consisted of six seconds of flashing video, were “massively dangerous” to those with photosensitive epilepsy, according to charity Epilepsy Action. Continue reading...
  
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• Review: LG 65UF950

  10-07-2015 15:06 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Introduction and features The 65UF950 is so good looking it's almost unfair - to both the competition and, as it turns out, you. For it's like a siren enticing you irresistibly towards the rocks… Its 65-inch screen is suspended in a chassis that looks neither wide enough around the edges nor deep enough round the back to support such a large amount of screen acreage. Its rear, in particular, is so thin over much of its area that it almost had me thinking LG had sent me one of its OLED TVs by m
  
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• Microsoft and Nokia - a marriage made in hell?

  10-07-2015 14:45 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Microsoft's takeover of Nokia could hardly have gone worse for the Finnish firm
  
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• Car hire should be less stressful after tweak to UK licence-share system

  10-07-2015 14:08 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  DVLA makes ‘share your licence’ passcodes valid for 21 days rather than 72 hours, allowing holidaymakers more flexibility in booking car rentalsHiring a car on holiday should be less stressful after the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency made a significant change to the new system that allows vehicle hire companies to check an individual’s driving history.The DVLA came under fire after abolishing the paper part of the driving licence and introducing an online system that allows car hire c
  
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• ​Google's machine learning helping it catch spam to Gmail

  10-07-2015 13:46 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Google has shed some light on why Gmail users should hardly ever see spam in their inbox, and almost never see wanted email in the spam folder.
  
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• ​Google's machine learning helping it catch 99.9 percent of spam to Gmail

  10-07-2015 13:46 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Google has shed some light on why Gmail users should hardly ever see spam in their inbox, and almost never see wanted email in the spam folder.
  
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• BT tests IPv6 addressing scheme

  10-07-2015 13:42 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BT has started trials of the next version of the net's addressing scheme known as IP version 6.
  
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• Punk rock Bitcoin and Reddit on the rocks: Podcast 225

  10-07-2015 13:31
  
  
  Listen this week for an entertaining 45-minute look at the most interesting technology and science stories from the last seven days, with WIRED.co.uk's Michael Rundle, Katie Collins and James Temperton.By: WIRED.co.uk, Continue reading...
  
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• A mini ice age and Pluto flyby: Podcast 226

  10-07-2015 13:31
  
  
  Listen this week for an entertaining 45-minute look at the most interesting technology and science stories from the last seven days, with WIRED.co.uk's Michael Rundle, Liat Clark and James Temperton.By: WIRED.co.uk, Continue reading...
  
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• Even teenage boys are sick of sexist video games, survey finds

  10-07-2015 13:29 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  A surprisingly high proportion of male youths think female game characters are too often treated as sex objectsMany teenage boys are tired of the sexualised depiction of women in video games, according to the findings of a new survey.In the study of about 1,400 US youths, 47% of middle-school boys and 61% of high school boys agreed that women are treated as sex objects too often in games.Continue reading...
  
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• Playing it safe – how best to control your kids’ computer gaming

  10-07-2015 13:00 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Video games haven’t been sent to destroy society – but parents do need to get informedWhen it come to choosing video games for the kids, 40% of parents are not confident about what they are buying, according to recent research by the Game chain store.Certainly, identifying best-value and most appropriate games for the family is more complex than it first appears. In-app purchases sell players additional content during the course of play. They can change the total price of a title substantial
  
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• Are you hack-proof? Take our test

  10-07-2015 13:00 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  With security threats around every digital corner, David Nield examines whether you’re likely to become a target Continue reading...
  
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• Twitter ad angers epilepsy charity

  10-07-2015 12:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  An epilepsy charity criticises Twitter for uploading two online videos that feature a looping, rapid succession of flashing colours.
  
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• ​Microservices 101: The good, the bad and the ugly

  10-07-2015 12:56 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Grassroots developer support is driving the adoption of microservices architecture to new heights. It's good stuff but it's not the answer to world peace, according to Red Hat middleware expert Dr Mark Little.
  
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• VIDEO: 'Electric plane' crosses Channel

  10-07-2015 12:55 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Pilot Didier Estyene's E-Fan battery-powered plane successfully completes its crossing from Kent, England to Calais.
  
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• ​LG gives the G4 a new smaller sibling with the launch of the G4 Beat

  10-07-2015 12:35 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  LG is paring back its flagship G4: the smaller, less powerful but "well-balanced" G4 Beat is due out this month in Europe.
  
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• ​Amazon Web Service's API Gateway: Why it could be a big deal

  10-07-2015 12:03 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  AWS' API Gateway could simplify the API economy, connect more sophisticated apps and give legacy enterprise software a modernization push.
  
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• 'Staingate' angers Apple laptop users

  10-07-2015 11:46 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Thousands of Apple Macbook owners are campaigning online or taking action over reported issues with the laptop's retina screen.
  
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• ​Google releases second preview of Android M

  10-07-2015 11:14 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Google says platform and API changes for the newest version of Android is near complete.
  
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• Look who's talking - Tech Weekly podcast

  10-07-2015 09:58 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Language is what makes us human. So what does it mean when algorithms start to put words in our mouths?This week on Tech Weekly, we look at how new apps are transforming language. From new start-up Crystal, which promises to make your emails more empathetic, to the global rise of emoji, do these apps short-cut meaningful communication or are they just innocuous tools helping make life quicker? To help us decide is Evan Selinger, a professor of philosophy who thinks the divide between the human a
  
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• Outspoken privacy campaigner Caspar Bowden dies after battle with cancer

  10-07-2015 09:07 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Tributes pour in after well respected anti-surveillance campaigner and former Microsoft privacy chief who warned of NSA snooping before Snowden diesMicrosoft’s former head of privacy and respected independent privacy campaigner Caspar Bowden has died after a battle with cancer.
  A popular and outspoken figure in privacy advocacy, Bowden was particularly active after the Snowden revelations of government surveillance, advising the European parliament among others. Continue reading...
  
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• Viral video: Channing Tatum, Kanye West, Freddie Mercury and Example

  10-07-2015 08:25 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  Magic Mike actor busts some moves, Queen star knocks out the king of rap, Example’s selfie stick-up and Jack Black gives us GoosebumpsWe’ve got quite a musical theme going on this week, starting with some nifty dance moves from Magic Mike star Channing Tatum and an imagined battle between Kanye West and Freddie Mercury singing Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. If West’s performance was a little surprising, then you’ll love the shock on the faces of a club crowd when the DJ switches to Spandau
  
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• Dishonored 2: Harvey Smith on the idea of player choice

  10-07-2015 08:00 via feeds.theguardian.com
  
  With a sequel to Arkane Studios’ fascinating stealth adventure on the way, its co-creator discusses systems, freedom and followersThere is a central question at the heart of narrative game development – it has always been there and it probably always will be: how do you give a player the freedom to explore and express themselves, while also providing a cogent story for them to experience? There are hundreds of possible solutions. While highly systemised role-playing adventures, such as Mass
  
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• SpeedCast acquires NewSat teleport assets

  10-07-2015 07:37 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Hong Kong-based satellite communications company SpeedCast has acquired NewSat's Australian teleport assets from the company's administrators.
  
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• Alibaba exec in corruption probe

  10-07-2015 07:15 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Alibaba says its senior executive Patrick Liu is in police custody over corruption allegations related to his previous job with Tencent.
  
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