Technology news

• Take a look at Nanoleaf's new smart bulbs (pictures) - CNET

  09-12-2015 23:49 via cnet.com
  
  These bulbs are some of the coolest-looking smart lights we've seen -- and you can ask Siri to turn them on and off.
  
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• Peek at pages with 3D Touch in iBooks - CNET

  09-12-2015 23:47 via cnet.com
  
  With iOS 9.2, iBooks supports 3D Touch. Learn what iBooks lets you do with Apple's pressure sensitivity on the new iPhone.
  
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• Former U.S. official pleads guilty to ‘sextortion’ hacking scheme

  09-12-2015 23:38
  
  By Dustin Volz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former U.S. official pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges he orchestrated an international cyber hacking operation to stalk hundreds of young women and threaten them if they did not share sexually explicit material, the Justice Department said. Michael Ford, 36, of Atlanta, Georgia, admitted to using aliases from January 2013 to May 2015 to engage in “sextortion” with his victims, many of them students at U.S. colleges, while employed by the U.S
  
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• Independent blog site hit by malware

  09-12-2015 22:34 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The Independent newspaper's blogging platform has been briefly compromised with malware that infects readers' computers, security experts say.
  
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• Netflix upgrades parental leave policy for its DVD workers

  09-12-2015 22:18
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Netflix is upgrading the parental leave policies covering hundreds of hourly workers in its DVD-by-mail division after being skewered for giving more generous baby benefits to the better-paid engineers and other employees in its more popular Internet video service.
  
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• Investors hover as e-tailers boost demand for Indian warehouses

  09-12-2015 22:08
  
  By Aditi Shah NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Overseas firms including Dutch pension fund manager APG and U.S. buyout group Warburg Pincus are looking to invest in India's warehouses, hoping to cash in on demand for modern and efficient storage space from booming online retailers. Rekindled demand is good news for India's property developers, many of whom are saddled with high debt and struggling with sluggish residential sales.
  
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• In Australia, banks disrupt Apple with mobile payments power

  09-12-2015 22:05
  
  By Matt Siegel SYDNEY (Reuters) - Apple Inc is struggling to persuade Australia's big banks to sign up for its Apple Pay mobile payment system, people familiar with the matter say, as the technology giant works from an unfamiliar negotiating position: weakness, not strength. Apple rolled out the service in Australia last month with support for payment cards issued directly by American Express Co. The move is part of the iPhone supplier's global drive to extend its mobile consumer electronics pro
  
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• iPhone gives ground to Android in US and Europe - CNET

  09-12-2015 21:58 via cnet.com
  
  Apple's smartphone market share in the US drops to 34 percent, while Android phones jump to a 63 percent share, new report finds.
  
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• Samsung Galaxy S7 Release Date, Price and Specs - CNET

  09-12-2015 21:56 via cnet.com
  
  Could Samsung's next big phone really launch in January? Dig into that rumor and more.
  
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• Why Yahoo faded: The Internet changed, but it didn't - CNET

  09-12-2015 21:49 via cnet.com
  
  The arrival of search, social networks and mobile devices transformed the way we use the Internet too rapidly for the online pioneer to keep pace.
  
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• Survey: Are virtual reality and augmented reality all hype or substance?

  09-12-2015 21:41 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  The stakes in AR and VR are growing for many companies. Take our survey and share your input on whether it's hype or reality for business.
  
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• Make your own Star Wars X-Wing helmet for cheap - CNET

  09-12-2015 21:35 via cnet.com
  
  AWE Me's latest "DIY Prop Shop" episode shows you how to make an X-Wing helmet from Star Wars without having to join up with the Rebels or cash in your Skywalker savings account.
  
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• Breville's fancy Tea Maker brews with mechanized precision video - CNET

  09-12-2015 21:33 via cnet.com
  
  $250 is a lot to spend on an electric kettle, even one designed specifically for brewing tea, but the Breville Tea Maker offers a tempting blend of precise temperature control and motorized steep timing.
  
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• Three simple fixes for the most common insulation problems - CNET

  09-12-2015 21:28 via cnet.com
  
  Put an end to those pesky drafts and cold spots throughout the house without breaking the bank.
  
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• U.S. judge expands driver class-action lawsuit against Uber

  09-12-2015 21:14
  
  By Dan Levine SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A U.S. judge ruled on Wednesday that Uber drivers could participate in a class action against the company over their employment status, even if they did not opt out of an arbitration clause in their contracts. Drivers sued Uber in San Francisco federal court, contending they are employees and entitled to reimbursement for expenses, including gas and vehicle maintenance. The results of Uber's legal battle could reshape the on-demand economy, which is built
  
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• Ewoks are scary, and other lessons I learned from a Star Wars spin-off film - CNET

  09-12-2015 21:13 via cnet.com
  
  CNET's Amanda Kooser watches the cheesy 1984 Ewok spin-off movie "Caravan of Courage" again so you don't have to. And she'll never see Ewoks the same way again.
  
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• Apple CEO: More computer science and coding education needed

  09-12-2015 21:12
  
  Apple CEO Tim Cook says teaching coding to kids is just as important as teaching any other foreign language. And the younger kids start learning it, the better. Cook spoke to a group of New York third ...
  
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• Boost Mobile cranks up unlimited music streaming - CNET

  09-12-2015 20:57 via cnet.com
  
  The first round of partners include Pandora, Slacker Radio, iHeartRadio, Samsung Milk Music and 8tracks.
  
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• Two more wild iPhone concepts we'd like to see one day - CNET

  09-12-2015 20:54 via cnet.com
  
  Designers imagine future devices equipped with screens on the side and a parachute system. Too bad they don't actually work for Apple.
  
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• Japan's Akatsuki orbiter sends back triumphant Venus images - CNET

  09-12-2015 20:51 via cnet.com
  
  Years after a failed attempt at orbiting Venus, the Akatsuki spacecraft snuggles up next to the planet and snaps a series of photos.
  
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• Secret of Ceres' weird bright spots finally revealed? - CNET

  09-12-2015 20:41 via cnet.com
  
  NASA's Dawn spacecraft has been inching closer to the dwarf planet's surface for months, and new studies using its data now reveal more about curious sights on the largest object in the asteroid belt.
  
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• New Otterbox case makes your iPhone look like it's wearing a backless dress (metaphorically) - CNET

  09-12-2015 20:36 via cnet.com
  
  Only two-thirds of Otterbox's new Statement case is see-through on back, which gives it an interesting look.
  
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• 14 ridiculously amazing desks and workspaces - CNET

  09-12-2015 20:30 via cnet.com
  
  From a zero-gravity workstation to the ultimate Avengers desk, these are the most drool-worthy techie workspaces in America.
  
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• Review: Brother MFC-J6925DW

  09-12-2015 19:58 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Introduction and designTo innovate, printer manufacturers have experimented with different technologies to make their boxy designs stand out. Epson's EcoTank technology on the WorkForce ET-4550 (US-only $499, about £320, AU$678) makes high volume printing easy with large ink tanks that don't need to be replaced as frequently, and HP promises fast print speeds with PageWide, a technology that speeds up printing with nozzles that cover the width of the page. Brother is taking a more moderate
  
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• Children saw naked woman in app adverts

  09-12-2015 19:58 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Sexually explicit adverts which appeared in an app used by children were 'irresponsibly placed', the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) rules.
  
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• New SmartThings service brings 24-7 security monitoring to the masses - CNET

  09-12-2015 19:46 via cnet.com
  
  Samsung's smart-home company, SmartThings, is joining forces with DIY security system Scout to offer an optional 24-7 professional monitoring service.
  
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• Microsoft's virtual assistant Cortana lands on Android and the iPhone - CNET

  09-12-2015 19:46 via cnet.com
  
  Microsoft's chatty companion now works just about everywhere you do.
  
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• Create a new Apple Music playlist the logical way - CNET

  09-12-2015 19:42 via cnet.com
  
  With iOS 9.2, you can pick a song and then create a new playlist instead of the other way around. Learn about this and other changes to Apple Music.
  
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• 2017 Genesis G90 Release Date, Price and Specs - CNET

  09-12-2015 19:27 via cnet.com
  
  The 2017 Genesis G90 will serve as both the flagship for and the initial glance at Hyundai's luxury spinoff.
  
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• The 2017 Genesis G90 is your first look at Hyundai's new luxury brand (pictures) - CNET

  09-12-2015 19:24 via cnet.com
  
  The Genesis G90, formerly known as the Equus, is the first official member of the new Genesis brand. Hyundai is spinning off its luxury division into its own separate brand to give it a better shot at going toe-to-toe with the best on offer from places like Germany and the US.
  
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• 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-class interior raises its style, comfort and tech game - CNET

  09-12-2015 19:10 via cnet.com
  
  Mercedes' next E-class will be a technological juggernaut, starting from the inside out, with two 12.3-inch HD screens and a rocking Burmester sound system.
  
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• Australia police raid home of man said to be bitcoin founder

  09-12-2015 18:30
  
  SYDNEY (AP) — Australian police on Wednesday raided the home and business premises of a man that technology news sites have claimed is the founder of virtual currency bitcoin.
  
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• AP EXPLAINS: What is bitcoin? A look at the digital currency

  09-12-2015 18:27
  
  Australian police raided a home and office Wednesday that, according to technology websites, belongs to the founder of the virtual currency, bitcoin. However, the origin of the currency remains murky, ...
  
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• How Azubu will use its €55m funding to take on Twitch

  09-12-2015 18:06
  
  Game streaming and esports stand poised to become a dominant entertainment staple, and prizes for professional tournaments already regularly make millionnaires of winners. The rapid growth of the field saw streaming platform Twitch gobbled up by Amazon -- going on to become a major player in online video -- and lead to the launch of the dedicated YouTube Gaming portal in August.
  Azubu isn't yet uttered in the same breath as those sites, at least not by British game
  
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• Google puts the kibosh on the Nexus 6 - CNET

  09-12-2015 17:32 via cnet.com
  
  The huge-screened Nexus is no longer available for sale via Google, replaced by the recently released Nexus 6P.
  
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• Wild Wednesday: Stocking-stuffer edition - CNET

  09-12-2015 17:22 via cnet.com
  
  From the Cheapskate: Check out these great gift items, all of them priced around $20 or less. Plus: two bonus deals!
  
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• Net neutrality rules under assault again: Here's what you need to know (FAQ) - CNET

  09-12-2015 17:20 via cnet.com
  
  The FCC was back in court defending its Net neutrality rules last week. What's likely to happen next and what does it means for you?
  
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• Wireless-charging tech just got another hurdle thrown in its way - CNET

  09-12-2015 17:14 via cnet.com
  
  Legal infighting at a key wireless-charging company threatens to derail efforts to get the power-boosting technology to where consumers can make use of it.
  
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• Microscopic predator devours prey in award-winning video - CNET

  09-12-2015 17:08 via cnet.com
  
  Watch a compilation of the top videos in Nikon's Small World in Motion competition, which also includes the roiling guts of a termite and a wasp larva breaking out of its host.
  
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• Robotically brew tea well with the Breville Tea Maker machine (pictures) - CNET

  09-12-2015 17:02 via cnet.com
  
  The $250 Breville One Touch Tea Maker doesn't come cheap but it happens to be the most advanced home tea brewer we've ever seen. It automatically makes pots of various tea styles plus lets you custom control water temperature and steep time.
  
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• Netflix and Sky Now will soon be available abroad

  09-12-2015 16:51
  
  Online streaming services such as Netflix and Sky Now will be portable across the EU, the European Commission has announced.By: Emily Reynolds, Continue reading...
  
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• Netflix and BBC iPlayer will soon be available abroad

  09-12-2015 16:51
  
  Online streaming services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Sky Now will be portable across the EU, the European Commission has announced.By: Emily Reynolds, Continue reading...
  
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• Yahoo may be about to become Internet history - CNET

  09-12-2015 16:49 via cnet.com
  
  After a long struggle to lure people back to Yahoo Mail and its search engine, the trailblazing online service plans to spin off its core business, putting it in a position to be scooped up.
  
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• Watch Me, Liam Neeson and lip-sync battles top YouTube videos of 2015 - CNET

  09-12-2015 16:48 via cnet.com
  
  "Furious 7" and late-night celebrity shenanigans with Messrs Corden, Kimmel and Fallon were among the most popular videos of the year.
  
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• Facebook hails US presidential race as 2015's top topic

  09-12-2015 16:48
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The U.S. won't elect a president until next year but the debate over the crowded field of candidates jostling for the Oval Office emerged as the hottest topic on Facebook this year.
  
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• Yahoo reverses Alibaba spin-off plan

  09-12-2015 16:45 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Yahoo has abandoned a plan to spin off its stake in Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba Group.
  
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• Anywhere, anytime: EU to allow travelers to take Netflix abroad

  09-12-2015 16:41
  
  By Julia Fioretti BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union wants to allow consumers access to their online subscriptions for services like Netflix, Sky and Canal+ when they travel in the 28-member bloc, setting it up for a battle with media groups. The proposal was presented by the executive European Commission (EC) on Wednesday, along with a longer-term strategy for making copyrighted works more easily available across the EU, likely to run into stiff opposition from the media industry as well a
  
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• You Have Been Writing Text Messages All Wrong And You Had No Idea Until Now

  09-12-2015 16:27
  
  According to some dubious science, using full stops in texts makes you look insincere...
  
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• Angry Birds studio loses another CEO

  09-12-2015 16:25
  
  Rovio CEO Pekka Rantala has stood down from the Finnish mobile games maker after just 16 months on the job.By: Michael Rundle, Continue reading...
  
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• 'Angry Birds' maker Rovio limbers up for M&A

  09-12-2015 15:54
  
  By Jussi Rosendahl HELSINKI (Reuters) - Rovio Entertainment Ltd, the maker of hit mobile phone game Angry Birds, has its eye on an eventual merger or acquisition following its restructuring this year, Kaj Hed, the Finnish firm's chairman and biggest shareholder said on Wednesday. "There is a clear need for some consolidation to take place here (in Europe), and that is something I'm interested in," Kaj Hed told Reuters. Having cut jobs and reshaped the business to make it more agile, Hed said the
  
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