Technology news

• Relive astronaut Scott Kelly's trailblazing year in space (pictures) - CNET

  03-03-2016 23:59
  
  During a year in orbit, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly took up microgravity gardening, strolled in space and captured some eye-popping photos. Here are the moments that stood out.
  
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• Faster editing and easier cropping with Google Photos - CNET

  03-03-2016 23:31
  
  Google Photos on the Web received an update that streamlines the editing process while also adding an aspect-ratio selector for cropping photos.
  
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• Google engineers working with UNICEF in Zika virus fight

  03-03-2016 23:07
  
  BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Google said Thursday that a half dozen of its engineers are working to help Brazil track the Zika virus and the mosquito that spreads it by doing one of the things the search engine giant does best: write algorithms.
  
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• Good luck buying the Echo Dot, Amazon didn't make it easy (CNET Update show notes) - CNET

  03-03-2016 22:53
  
  Amazon released two new models of the Echo smart speaker, but not everyone can order the cheaper one. Learn about the Amazon Tap and Echo Dot, and the new smart-home features coming to all models.
  
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• Switch to Boost Mobile, get discounts and free phones - CNET

  03-03-2016 22:26
  
  A limited-time promotion finds the Sprint prepaid brand rewarding customers who port their number from another carrier.
  
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• Here's how to watch tonight's Republican debate online - CNET

  03-03-2016 22:24
  
  Things are sure to get heated when Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and John Kasich face off on Fox News in the 11th presidential debate.
  
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• 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' home release will take more of your money (and time) starting April 1 - CNET

  03-03-2016 22:23
  
  The digital version hits April 1, with the Blu-Ray combo pack and DVD coming April 5.
  
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• Good luck buying the Echo Dot, Amazon didn't make it easy video - CNET

  03-03-2016 22:07
  
  Amazon released two new models of the Echo smart speaker, but not everyone can order the cheaper one. Learn about the Amazon Tap and Echo Dot, and the new smart-home features coming to all models.
  
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• Self-cleaning airplane bathroom makes flying less germy - CNET

  03-03-2016 22:05
  
  Boeing wants to assuage your fear of entering the dangerous realm of the airplane lavatory with a touchless, self-sanitizing restroom experience.
  
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• Hear an earthquake from Mariana Trench in the ocean deep - CNET

  03-03-2016 21:43
  
  Researchers have discovered a universe of uncanny sounds at the bottom of the deepest ocean trench in the world.
  
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• Superhero business cards tell it like it is (pictures) - CNET

  03-03-2016 21:41
  
  Wonder Woman wants your eyes up here and Superman doesn't want to hear any questions about his underpants in a series of funny superhero business cards.
  
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• Sassy business cards reveal superheroes' secret identities - CNET

  03-03-2016 21:40
  
  If Thor, Iron Man, Wonder Woman and Daredevil ever want some extra recognition for their mild-mannered alter egos, then they should get these custom business cards.
  
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• Google Fiber's video subscriber growth surges 79 percent in 2015

  03-03-2016 20:48
  (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's much-talked about high-speed internet service, Google Fiber, had 53,000 video subscribers as of December end, up 79 percent from a year earlier, brokerage MoffettNathanson said, citing numbers from the U.S. Copyright Office. Google has been expanding the service, which promises Internet speeds of up to 1,000 megabits per second, in several cities in the United States. "After all, there has been a steady stream of new cities announced, and they've now been at it for a l
  
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• Google says its engineers working with UNICEF to map Zika

  03-03-2016 20:46
  Google engineers are working with U.N. child agency UNICEF to analyze data in an effort to map and anticipate the spread of the Zika virus, linked to birth defects among children in Brazil, the company said on Thursday. Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc, said in a statement it was providing a $1 million grant to the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund to help it raise awareness about Zika, reduce mosquito populations and support other Zika-related initiatives on the ground, mostly in Latin Ame
  
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• Spyder PowerShadow battery case for Apple iPhone 6s Plus: 3500 mAh capacity, plus protection

  03-03-2016 20:15 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  There is a need to use your phone for longer than a day and one common solution is an extended battery case. The new Spyder PowerShadow is my favorite option for the iPhone 6s Plus.
  
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• U.S. tech companies unite behind Apple ahead of iPhone encryption ruling

  03-03-2016 19:57
  Alphabet Inc's Google, Facebook Inc , Microsoft Corp and about a dozen other Internet companies will file a joint legal brief on Thursday asking a judge to support Apple Inc in its encryption battle with the U.S. government, sources familiar with the companies' plans said. The effort is a rare display of unity and support for the iPhone maker from companies which are competitors in many areas, and shows the breadth of Silicon Valley's opposition to the government's anti-encryption effort. The gr
  
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• Different paths could lead to autonomous cars

  03-03-2016 19:37
  
  Cars that drive themselves would mean a revolution in how people get around. But they might arrive just as much by evolution, with everyday cars getting gradually smarter, as by sudden shifts to fully ...
  
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• Review: Otone BluWall Direct

  03-03-2016 19:15 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Introduction and featuresThe Otone BluWall Direct is a multi room, high-res audio capable, Wi-Fi enabled Bluetooth speaker system from the UK audio company. With a number of Bluetooth speakers from Otone already on the market, the BluWall Direct raises the bar with the addition of Hi Def FLAC playback and Wi-Fi Direct connectivity. The unit itself opts for discreet, subtle styling, available in six different colour schemes to suit different tastes or to match the decoration in different rooms of
  
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• Apple launches support page on Twitter, instantly gets 50k followers

  03-03-2016 18:53
  Apple Inc launched a new Twitter account on Thursday dedicated to customer support, a move that expanded the company's social media presence and prompted immediate reaction from users complaining about their devices. The Cupertino, Calif.-based maker of phones, computers and watches said in a tweet under the handle @applesupport that it would provide tips and tricks to users online. The new account prompted immediate cheers on Twitter.
  
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• No Man's Sky hands on: infinite discovery

  03-03-2016 18:15
  
  With an entire universe open to explore, No Man's Sky is one of the most alluring yet mysterious games in years. WIRED goes hands on and speaks with director Sean Murray ahead of its long-awaited release on PlayStation 4.By: Matt Kamen, Continue reading...
  
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• Watch: slime-filled trailer of all-female Ghostbusters

  03-03-2016 17:46
  
  Director Paul Feig's reboot of the Ghostbusters franchise stars Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig plus cameos from Bill Murray and the original cast.By: Matthew Reynolds, Continue reading...
  
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• German court rules Facebook may block pseudonyms

  03-03-2016 17:36
  Facebook may prevent its users from using fake names, a German court said on Thursday, overturning a previous order from the Hamburg data protection authority. The Hamburg data protection authority, which is responsible for policing Facebook in Germany, said last July that Facebook could not unilaterally change users' chosen usernames to their real names, nor could it ask them for official identification. A woman had complained to the Hamburg watchdog after Facebook blocked her account for using
  
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• Amazon launches two Alexa digital assistant-based gadgets

  03-03-2016 17:30
  Amazon Inc on Thursday introduced two new gadgets similar to its voice-controlled Echo speaker, which can be used to check the weather, order Domino's pizza or hail an Uber car. Amazon Tap, a portable speaker that streams music, sells for $129.99. The $89.99 Echo Dot is a hockey puck-shaped device that responds to prompts to control smart appliances and connects to external speakers.
  
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• Apple Support is now available on Twitter

  03-03-2016 17:25
  
  @AppleSupport, claims it will provide "tips and tutorials" from the company's t-shirted Apple AdvisorsBy: James Temperton, Continue reading...
  
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• 'No Man's Sky' reaching to infinity and beyond on June 21

  03-03-2016 17:03
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — "No Man's Sky" creator Sean Murray wants everyone in the world to know that his galaxy simulator isn't merely a ridiculously ambitious idea that's wowed crowds at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. It's actually a video game.
  
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• Fujitsu Celsius J550 review: A quart of workstation in a pint-pot case

  03-03-2016 16:57 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  With the Celsius J550, Fujitsu has squeezed workstation-grade components into a quiet and compact desktop format, including a full-height GPU card for applications that really need it.
  
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• Romanians make fun of Bernie Sanders over Internet tweet

  03-03-2016 16:42
  
  BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — From across the ocean, Bernie Sanders has managed to offend a good number of Romanians.
  
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• Moments of intense joy 'can damage your heart'

  03-03-2016 16:33
  
  Brief episodes of happiness can buoy us, inspire us and give our lives meaning. But they can also cause the left ventricle of the heart to suddenly weaken.By: Emily Reynolds, Continue reading...
  
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• Elliott Associates, affiliates take 8.88 percent stake in Qlik

  03-03-2016 16:24
  (Reuters) - Investor Elliott Associates and its affiliates reported a combined 8.88 percent stake in data analytics company Qlik Technologies Inc, sending its shares up 9.5 percent on Thursday. Elliott Associates said in a filing it believed the company's shares are "significantly undervalued". The stake, which the investor and its affiliates held as of March 2, makes it the biggest shareholder in Qlik according to Thomson Reuters data.
  
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• Car makers talking with possible partners for mapping company: Audi CEO

  03-03-2016 15:32
  BERLIN (Reuters) - German luxury car makers are in talks with possible partners for digital mapping company HERE, Audi Chief Executive Rupert Stadler said on Thursday. Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz clubbed together last year to buy Nokia's maps business, beating out high-tech rivals for location services seen as key to the future of self-driving cars. "There are different kinds of talks at the moment," Stadler told reporters. "We have let it be known that we are pleased to invite our partners and
  
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• I flew a drone that was 1,400 miles away and it didn't go so well - CNET

  03-03-2016 15:28
  
  Ericsson offers a glimpse of the future with a cellular-connected drone in Stockholm, which I piloted while in Barcelona.
  
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• Businesses are still scared of reporting cyberattacks to the police

  03-03-2016 15:28 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  Report suggests organisations, be it because of embarrassment or ignorance, aren't seeking help from the authorities when they're victims of cybercrime.
  
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• Amazon amplifies its Alexa line of voice-controlled devices

  03-03-2016 15:21
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Amazon.com is introducing two devices designed to amplify the role its voice-controlled assistant Alexa plays in people's homes and lives.
  
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• Indian phone maker Micromax's CEO quits amid falling sales

  03-03-2016 15:17
  The chief executive of India's second-largest phone manufacturer has left the company, the second high-profile departure within a year, as the business grapples with falling sales in the face of competition from cheaper Chinese handsets. Micromax said that Vineet Taneja has left to pursue other opportunities. Taneja joined Micromax from Samsung Electronics' Indian business in 2014 as the company began to step up its international expansion into countries such as Russia.
  
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• Here's how you can buy an Amazon Echo Dot and Amazon Tap - CNET

  03-03-2016 15:13
  
  It's not as straightforward as you think.
  
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• Wearing Rythm Dreem, the EEG-sensing sleep headband video - CNET

  03-03-2016 15:00
  
  Dreem wants to be a metronome for your deep-sleep patterns, giving you better rest. We didn't sleep with one, but looked at a prototype of what's arriving later this year.
  
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• Two new Echo devices for Amazon's Alexa video - CNET

  03-03-2016 15:00
  
  The battery-powered Amazon Tap puts Alexa on the go, while the pint-sized Echo Dot lets you bring Alexa's voice controls to any speakers you like.
  
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• Save space and organize spices on your fridge - CNET

  03-03-2016 15:00
  
  Got limited space? This hack will save you room and keep you organized in the kitchen.
  
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• Rythm Dreem Release Date, Price and Specs - CNET

  03-03-2016 15:00
  
  I tried on a weird brain wave-reading sleep helmet at work, but didn't get go to bed with it
  
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• Make your own Netflix button with the Pebblebee Stone - CNET

  03-03-2016 15:00
  
  Build a Netflix button? Nonsense! Use a smart button and IFTTT to make your own in minutes.
  
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• Here's everything we loved from Day 2 of the 2016 Geneva Motor Show - Roadshow

  03-03-2016 15:00
  
  From a hopped-up Ford Fiesta to a million-dollar Koenigsegg hybrid, there's something here for everybody.
  
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• Google Lunar XPrize partners with J.J. Abrams for 'Moon Shot' documentary - CNET

  03-03-2016 15:00
  
  The $30 million Google Lunar XPrize is encouraging private teams to explore the moon, and now a documentary will tell their stories.
  
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• Amazon's Alexa gets comfy in our homes - CNET

  03-03-2016 15:00
  
  With Amazon's Echo smart speaker becoming a surprise hit, the online retailer is expanding its line of voice assistants with two new devices.
  
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• Amazon Tap Release Date, Price and Specs - CNET

  03-03-2016 15:00
  
  The rumors were true: Amazon is introducing a wireless smart speaker that's smaller, more portable, and more affordable than Amazon Echo.
  
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• Amazon Echo Dot Release Date, Price and Specs - CNET

  03-03-2016 15:00
  
  Amazon's teeny-tiny Echo follow-up ditches the speaker and cuts the cost of Alexa in half.
  
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• Alexa brings more smart thermostats on board -- including Nest - CNET

  03-03-2016 15:00
  
  Amazon's new developer tools will help third parties bring new connected thermostats under Alexa's control. By the end of the month, that'll include the Nest.
  
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• A trio of big Alexa announcements from Amazon (pictures) - CNET

  03-03-2016 15:00
  
  Alexa will soon find her way into two new Amazon devices. Oh, and she'll soon be able to control a little old product called Nest.
  
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• J. J. Abrams has made a film about Google's XPRIZE

  03-03-2016 14:52
  
  J.J Abrams has made a series of nine short documentaries charting the progress of companies competing for Google's Lunar XPRIZE.By: Matthew Reynolds, Continue reading...
  
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• France, Britain agree to invest 2 billion euros in drone prototype project

  03-03-2016 14:50
  France and Britain have agreed to invest 2 billion euros in a project to build a next-generation multi-role drone with a view to making it operational after 2030, the two countries said in a statement on Thursday. "This program ... will be based on a multi-role drone platform that could serve as a basis for future operational capacity after 2030," the statement said after a Franco-British summit.
  
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• Time to pay attention: The Internet of Things is about to go mainstream

  03-03-2016 14:42 via zdnet.com.feedsportal.com
  
  There's 'universal acceptance' about the need to deploy IoT technology, even if uncertainty about how to use it remains, report claims.
  
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