Technology news

• NYC police: Criminals say Apple encryption a 'gift from God'

  18-02-2016 23:59
  
  Police and prosecutors in New York City said Thursday that the top-notch encryption technology on Apple mobile phones is now routinely hindering criminal investigations. And they predicted the problem ...
  
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• Chorus profit down NZ$31m due to copper pricing decision

  18-02-2016 23:54 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Chorus has recorded a six-month net profit of NZ$33 million on revenue of NZ$479 million, with the UFB and RBI rollouts both picking up speed in connecting homes to fibre broadband.
  
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• The Latest: Hospital attack concerns cybersecurity experts

  18-02-2016 23:50
  The Latest on a Los Angeles hospital that paid hackers to release its computer system (all times local): 2:50 a.m. Cybersecurity experts worry that the $17,000 a Los Angeles hospital paid hackers to regain ...
  
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• Australia Post speeds up application delivery with as-a-service model

  18-02-2016 23:39 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Australia Post recently implemented an Application-as-a-Service platform to help address the company's slow DevOps environment, which hindered how quickly it could release applications and iterations to market.
  
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• GE's smart dryer is feature-packed but could use more drying power video - CNET

  18-02-2016 23:17 via cnet.com
  
  Priced at a steep $1,200, the GE GTD86ESPJMC Dryer offers plenty of features including steam modes and mobile app controls save speed and good looks.
  
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• Samsung Galaxy Tab E Release Date, Price and Specs - CNET

  18-02-2016 23:02 via cnet.com
  
  Verizon is the only carrier to currently offer the 8-inch tablet.
  
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• Apple vs. the FBI: An easy explanation (CNET Update show notes) - CNET

  18-02-2016 22:42 via cnet.com
  
  A judge has ordered Apple to crack into an iPhone for law enforcement, but this could affect the future of cybersecurity for everyone. Bridget Carey breaks down the issue in under three minutes.
  
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• Key U.S. lawmaker suggests openness to encryption legislation after Apple order

  18-02-2016 21:57
  By Dustin Volz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senior U.S. lawmaker expressed a new willingness to support legislation establishing ground rules for when technology firms should grant authorities access to their products, after Apple Inc said it would fight a court order to unlock an iPhone linked to the San Bernardino rampage. While lawmakers are far from a consensus on the issue, Schiff said, "the court's decision will likely accelerate our consideration of how to weigh the competing privacy, securit
  
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• Quiz: which jaw-droppingly awful thing did these tech people actually say?

  18-02-2016 21:55
  
  The masters of Silicon Valley have a knack for technological innovation, but they also can’t stop inventing new and awful ways of putting their feet in their mouths. Test your knowledge of the tech industry’s worst ambassadors by clicking your answers and seeing how you did at the end. Continue reading...
  
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• The Apple standoff should make us rethink our surrender to the phone | Gaby Hinsliff

  18-02-2016 21:23
  
  The FBI’s fight to unlock an iPhone belonging to one of the San Bernardino shooters is a reminder of the risks of putting all our electronic eggs in one basketIt certainly wasn’t how you imagine a bank robbery to be. There were no men with sawn-off shotguns or screaming cashiers lunging for panic buttons. It all happened so peacefully and invisibly that I would never have noticed had I not been logging into my bank account online last month, only to find that nothing worked. Sho
  
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• Amazon taking on Uber with its on-demand delivery service

  18-02-2016 21:17
  
  The world’s biggest e-commerce company is taking a page from the ride-sharing service and asking drivers to sign up for shifts to deliver packagesAmazon.com is quietly inviting drivers for its new “on-demand” delivery service to handle its standard packages, as the online retailer known for low prices and razor-thin profit margins looks to speed up delivery times and tamp down its growing multibillion-dollar logistics bill.The move, which has not been announced publicly, is the
  
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• Dish net income tumbles in 2015 as subscribers drop; shares slump

  18-02-2016 19:38
  Dish Network Corp reported lower net income in 2015 from a year earlier amid a drop in pay-TV subscriptions and a wireless airwaves auction-related expense, sending its shares down more than 4 percent on Thursday. The No. 2 U.S. satellite TV provider said full-year net income attributable to the company tumbled 21 percent from a year earlier to $747.1 million, or $1.61 per share. This was below the average analyst estimate of $1.97 a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Dish said it incu
  
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• Uber CEO says company is losing $1bn a year as it tries to compete in China

  18-02-2016 19:27
  
  The company’s Chinese business is now worth $8bn, but is losing money as it tries to compete with local firm Didi KuaidiUber is burning through more than a billion dollars a year in China as it wages a fierce price-war against local rival Didi Kuaidi, its chief executive said.The company’s Chinese business boosted its valuation last month to more than $8bn after raising more than $1bn in its latest funding round, but the US ride-hailing app is not yet profitable in mainland China bec
  
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• Exclusive: EU set to clear Dell's $67 billion deal to buy EMC - sources

  18-02-2016 19:07
  By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Dell Inc [DI.UL], the world's third-biggest maker of computers, is set to gain unconditional EU antitrust approval for its $67 billion bid for data storage company EMC Corp, two people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Dell unveiled the deal in October last year, the largest ever in the technology industry sector, and designed to enable Dell to better challenge rivals Cisco Systems Inc, IBM and Hewlett-Packard in cloud computing, mobility and cyber s
  
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• Silicon Valley's biotech firms: 'Theranos gave us a black eye'

  18-02-2016 19:00
  
  Despite signs of crisis among science startups, many still think that biotech will create companies so powerful that they will ‘win’ the 21st centuryIt was noon on a Thursday at a gathering of science startups in San Francisco. The public market for biotechnology stock had dropped 25% in two months. The private sector’s star startup, Theranos, valued at $9bn, has begun to implode. The most popular food tech startup, Hampton Creek, which is trying to reinvent mayonnaise, has rep
  
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• Xbox One to get biggest software update in months

  18-02-2016 18:38
  
  Not to be outdone by Sony's new PS4 firmware beta test, Microsoft's first major Xbox One software update of 2016 is rolling out to players tomorrow.By: Matt Kamen, Continue reading...
  
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• Xbox One gets biggest software update in months

  18-02-2016 18:38
  
  Not to be outdone by Sony's new PS4 firmware beta test, Microsoft's first major Xbox One software update of 2016 is rolling out to players today.By: Matt Kamen, Continue reading...
  
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• Penguins wibble-wobble waddle when they put on weight

  18-02-2016 18:29
  
  Penguins are known for their cute and distinctive waddle. A report has examined the science behind their ubiquitous gait -- and it's all to do with how fat they are.By: Emily Reynolds, Continue reading...
  
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• Review: Arcam MusicBOOST

  18-02-2016 18:20 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Arcam MusicBOOSTArcam's new MusicBOOST is two products in one, really. It's a battery pack case for the iPhone 6 (or 6s, at a squeeze, which we'll come to), as well as a headphone amp and digital-to-analog converter for your music. The idea is to bypass the slightly ropey sound components of your expensive Apple phone and use the Lightning connector to feed the audio data directly into the MusicBOOST's DAC and then out to your headphones via the amp component.Stick your iPhone in (it connects vi
  
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• Apple's encryption, future food: Podcast 255

  18-02-2016 18:08
  
  
  How much sugar is in a Starbucks Hot Mulled Fruit Grape with Chai, Orange and Cinnamon? Plus, we find out how Noma is creating the food of the future.By: WIRED.co.uk, Continue reading...
  
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• FCC approves proposal to boost TV set-top box competition

  18-02-2016 17:58
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission approved on Thursday a proposal to boost competition in the $20 billion pay television set-top box market by allowing consumers to swap pricey cable boxes for cheaper devices and apps. The measure passed in a 3-2 vote Thursday. "Technology allows it, the industry at one time proposed something similar to it and the consumers deserve a break and a choice," FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said. (Reporting by Clarece Polke; Editing by Mohammad Z
  
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• Apple wants you to ditch your old iPhone with new payment plan - CNET

  18-02-2016 17:37 via cnet.com
  
  The Trade Up With Installments program lets you unload an old phone and get a new model for under $35 a month over two years.
  
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• Bitcoin mining company settles FTC charges over deceiving customers

  18-02-2016 17:24
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bitcoin mining operation Butterfly Labs and two of its top employees have agreed to settle charges that they deceived customers, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Thursday. Butterfly Labs, its vice president of product development Sonny Vleisides and general manager Darla Drake settled charges that they deceived thousands of customers about the quality of their machines, designed to mine Bitcoin virtual currency, and that they unfairly kept consumers' payments desp
  
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• Italy court accepts Hitachi request in Ansaldo STS bid: sources

  18-02-2016 16:52
  An Italian court has accepted a request by Hitachi to suspend a decision by market watchdog Consob calling on it to raise the price of its mandatory bid on Ansaldo STS, three legal sources said. Hitachi launched a 9.5 euro ($10.53) per share mandatory public offer to buy out Ansaldo STS minority shareholders on Jan. 4 after buying a 40 percent stake in the Italian rail signaling company from Finmeccanica last year at the same price. Both Hitachi and Amber appealed the decision.
  
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• Family of murdered soldier criticizes Apple's refusal to hack San Bernadino shooter's iPhone - CNET

  18-02-2016 16:28 via cnet.com
  
  The uncle of British soldier Lee Rigby, who was killed by Islamic extremists in 2013, has called Tim Cook's insistence on prioritizing privacy "short-sighted."
  
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• 2016 Lamborghini Huracán Spyder Release Date, Price and Specs - Roadshow

  18-02-2016 16:22 via cnet.com
  
  Lop the roof off your average supercar and you're asking for trouble. Opt for the Huracan Spyder and you get only extra charm.
  
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• Kurt Russell officially joins the Guardians of the Galaxy

  18-02-2016 16:20
  
  Marvel Studios and Disney have officially revealed the cast for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the follow up to 2014's surprise hit sci-fi superhero movie.
  The sequel adds a surprising trio of actors to the ensemble, including one whose inclusion has been rumoured for some time. That would be arguably the biggest "name" actor to sign on, Kurt Russell. He's joined by Elizabeth Debicki,  and Chris Sullivan. They join previously announced newcomer Pom Klementieff.By:
  
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• EU asks tech firms to pitch refugee-tracking systems

  18-02-2016 16:12
  
  Border agency Frontex has asked for designs for smartphone apps and databases to track and manage refugees arriving in Europe European governments keen to bring the refugee crisis under control are considering using apps, biometrics and smart cards to attempt to manage refugees before they leave countries with border crossings into the EU.EU states in partnership with Frontex, the EU external border agency, have asked tech companies to pitch ways to track and control people trying to reach the c
  
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• IBM to acquire Truven Health Analytics for $2.6 billion

  18-02-2016 15:57
  (Reuters) - International Business Machines Corp said on Thursday it plans to acquire Truven Health Analytics, a provider of healthcare data and analytics, for $2.6 billion, marking its fourth major health data-related deal in the past year. IBM said Truven will bring more than 8,500 clients, including U.S. federal and state government agencies, employers, health plans, hospitals and others, to its IBM Watson Health portfolio. The Truven data will be integrated with Watson's data, used to identi
  
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• Survey: Do Adobe's mobile apps draw you in? - CNET

  18-02-2016 15:56 via cnet.com
  
  A CNET survey digs into Adobe's attempt to extend its creative software to phones and tablets. We'll publish the results so you can see where you stand.
  
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• Indian firm launches $3.67 smartphone

  18-02-2016 15:50 via bbc.co.uk
  
  An Indian company launches what is being billed as the world's cheapest smartphone, priced at 251 rupees ($3.67; £2.56).
  
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• Ubisoft unveils growth plan to fend off Vivendi

  18-02-2016 15:48
  By Mathieu Rosemain and Gwénaëlle Barzic PARIS (Reuters) - French video games maker Ubisoft declared new revenue and profit growth targets for the next three years on Thursday as management sought to secure its independence in the face of media group Vivendi's recent stakebuilding. Vivendi, which is chaired by French billionaire Vincent Bollore, has increased its stake to almost 15 percent since buying into both Ubisoft and related mobile phone games company Gameloft last October. Th
  
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• ARM's Cortex-R8 processor blazes a trail for 5G

  18-02-2016 15:42 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Latest chip aims at the LTE Advanced Pro and 5G mobile based standard for mass storage and IoT applications.
  
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• Apple wants you to ditch your old iPhone with this new payment plan - CNET

  18-02-2016 15:40 via cnet.com
  
  The Trade Up With Installments program lets you unload an old phone and get a new model for an outlay of less than about $35 a month.
  
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• Spanish taxis block central Madrid in car-sharing protest

  18-02-2016 15:35
  More than a thousand Spanish taxi drivers blocked a central Madrid boulevard on Thursday, beeping horns and setting off firecrackers, to protest plans to open the country to greater competition from ride-hailing and car-sharing services. Uber [UBER.UL] and other companies such as Cabify face demonstrations from taxi drivers worldwide for operating services which match private vehicle owners with customers. Spain's regulatory agency CNMC is expected to publish a non-binding recommendation next we
  
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• How to connect LIFX bulbs to the Amazon Echo - CNET

  18-02-2016 15:30 via cnet.com
  
  Among over 1,000 new features added to the Amazon Echo is native support for the LIFX smart bulbs. Learn how to connect and control your LIFX bulbs with the Echo.
  
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• Storage, schmorage. The Robin phone archives your stuff online video - CNET

  18-02-2016 15:01 via cnet.com
  
  Nextbit's Robin is a new phone by a new phonemaker. Is it any good? See for yourself.
  
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• Nextbit's Robin is an ode to phone design (pictures) - CNET

  18-02-2016 15:00 via cnet.com
  
  Whether or not you love its concept of cloud storage, this Android handset was lovingly designed.
  
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• Nextbit Robin review - CNET

  18-02-2016 15:00 via cnet.com
  
  Nextbit's new Android phone has a great look and concept, but by trying too hard to be different, it gets in its own way.
  
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• Nextbit Robin review: a cloud-filled breath of fresh design

  18-02-2016 15:00
  
  Crowd-funded smartphone is thin, capable, has a decent camera and excellent fingerprint scanner, for a mid-range priceThe Nextbit Robin is crowd-funded Android smartphone that aims to put the cloud at the centre of the experience, while breaking the mould on the traditional black slab.
  The Robin is designed by ex-HTC designer Scott Croyle, who was responsible for the look of the Taiwanese firm’s One series. Continue reading...
  
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• 4 things to make with a Keurig beyond just coffee - CNET

  18-02-2016 15:00 via cnet.com
  
  Keurigs aren't just for coffee and tea. Here are four food items that can be made with your single-cup coffee maker.
  
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• Family of murdered soldier criticize Apple's refusal to hack San Bernadino shooter's iPhone - CNET

  18-02-2016 14:50 via cnet.com
  
  The uncle of British soldier Lee Rigby, who was killed by Islamic extremists in 2013, has called Tim Cook's insistence on prioritizing privacy "short-sighted."
  
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• Amazon: the obscure subsidiary at the heart of US and EU tax disputes

  18-02-2016 14:45
  
  Arcane unit in Luxemburg that allows US multinational to pay much lower taxes is at the centre of demands for firm to pay moreIf you had to sum up Amazon’s core business in a single sentence, how would you put it? Is it a website where you can order almost anything? Or is it a quick and convenient delivery network allowing you to receive the goods you need promptly?Clearly, it is both. But precisely how the group’s economic value is split between the two is now a vexed question at th
  
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• Revealed: how Project Goldcrest helped Amazon avoid huge sums in tax

  18-02-2016 14:44
  
  Documents released during the internet giant’s court battle with the US Internal Revenue Service over a possible $1.5bn in unpaid taxes detail a complex restructuring and a deal with Luxembourg that delivered Amazon multimillion-dollar savings Amazon is facing a landmark court ruling in the US that could prise open its obscure tax structure in Luxembourg, after a high-stakes legal battle that has shed unprecedented light on the technology giant’s labyrinthine tax affairs.The case, wh
  
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• Apple v the FBI – video explainer

  18-02-2016 14:41
  
  Apple is facing a legal showdown with the FBI over control of its encryption code. The iPhone maker is resisting court orders to bypass security on the phone belonging to Syed Rizwan Farook, who took part in the killing of 14 people in San Bernadino last year. Apple is standing firm for now and has received support from other technology giants – but how far is its boss Tim Cook willing to go to preserve his company’s claim to user security? Continue reading...
  
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• Turn off notifications from websites in Chrome on Android - CNET

  18-02-2016 14:25 via cnet.com
  
  Getting too many alerts from mobile websites? Here's how to disable them.
  
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• This drone's wings are inspired by shape-shifting bats

  18-02-2016 14:25
  
  The drone's wings work like artificial muscles, changing shape based on the forces they experience during flight.By: Matt Burgess, Continue reading...
  
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• Can't drum? You need this two-foot long robot third arm

  18-02-2016 14:12
  
  If you ever wanted to recreate the technical prowess shown off in the 2014 film Whiplash but weren't sure you had the chops, some good news: you could be fitted with a robotic arm to make your life a little bit easier.By: Emily Reynolds, Continue reading...
  
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