Technology news

• Winter isn't coming: John Oliver trolls 'Game of Thrones' fans - CNET

  19-01-2017 23:53 via cnet.com
  
  In a witty promo, the returning talk-how host gets scolded for trying to sit in Westeros' imposing Iron Throne.
  
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• Uber to pay $20 million to settle U.S. claims it misled drivers

  19-01-2017 23:47
  Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc has agreed to pay $20 million to settle claims by the U.S. government that it exaggerated prospective earnings in seeking to recruit drivers and downplayed the costs of buying or leasing a car, documents filed with a federal court on Thursday showed. The company said on its website that some Uber drivers made more than $90,000 in New York and $74,000 in San Francisco when the real earnings were $61,000 and $53,000, respectively, the Federal Trade Commis
  
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• Fraudsters can get your fingerprints from photos of you doing a peace sign

  19-01-2017 23:44
  
  Hide your fingertips! Hide your irises!
  
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• See how all Pixar films are mysteriously connected - CNET

  19-01-2017 23:43 via cnet.com
  
  How did we not notice that Riley from "Inside Out" makes an appearance in "Finding Dory"? Gotta be quicker on the freeze-frame button.
  
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• The Galaxy S8's digital assistant may be more powerful than we thought

  19-01-2017 23:37
  
  It's looking increasingly likely that Samsung's upcoming AI-powered digital assistant will be more than capable of giving Siri a run for its money.  Samsung's Bixby, the assistant reportedly set to debut with the Galaxy S8, will be able to search for items based on what you point the camera at.  SEE ALSO: Hey, Siri: How'd you and every other digital assistant get its name? You'll be able to access the feature with a dedicated "Bixby" button on the phone, according to Sam Mobile . 
  
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• This knife uses a clever alloy tested by Nasa to sharpen itself

  19-01-2017 23:29
  
  The knife imaginatively has the name “Knasa” – obviously.
  
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• HTC Vive commits $10m to socially conscious VR projects

  19-01-2017 23:28 via zdnet.com
  
  Like Oculus' VR for Good initiative, HTC Vive is also looking to drive social and environmental change via its $10 million VR for Impact program.
  
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• Mozilla's new internet-infused brand throws browsers for a loop - CNET

  19-01-2017 23:12 via cnet.com
  
  What happens when you blend programming instructions into a brand name like Moz://a? For browsers, anything from nothing to confusion.
  
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• Telecommunications company Avaya files for bankruptcy

  19-01-2017 23:11
  By Jessica DiNapoli and Tom Hals WILMINGTON, Del (Reuters) - Telecommunications company Avaya Inc filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Thursday to reduce its debt load of about $6.3 billion but said it would not sell its call center business, which it had tried to do last year. The bankruptcy underscores the challenges telecommunications companies face as they transition to software and services from hardware. Early last year, Avaya had planned to sell its call center business but did not reach a
  
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• Here's why we're not downloading Meitu, the red-hot anime photo app - CNET

  19-01-2017 23:05 via cnet.com
  
  Why does a photo app need all these permissions?
  
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• His dad founded Chuck E. Cheese. Now he's opening virtual reality fun zones.

  19-01-2017 23:00
  
  Back in the day, a visit to Chuck E. Cheese was the most exciting thing ever: pizza, ball pits, and creepy singing robots.  Now the son of the man who founded that company wants to open a high-tech fun zone that lets people shoot lasers in virtual reality.  SEE ALSO: Chuck E. Cheese goes to Wall Street: $1 billion IPO reportedly in the works Brent Bushnell, son of Chuck E. Cheese and Atari Inc. co-founder Nolan Bushnell, announced a new round of funding for his planned micro-amusement
  
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• Vive Tracker Release Date, Price and Specs - CNET

  19-01-2017 22:58 via cnet.com
  
  Get ready for a flood of weird VR accessories, but they'll all work off a single clever gadget.
  
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• Facebook fights against potential hate-speech fines in Germany - CNET

  19-01-2017 22:57 via cnet.com
  
  The country is considering penalizing social networks if they don't respond to complaints of hate speech and fake news within 24 hours. Facebook calls the issue "highly complex."
  
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• Russia threatens retaliation over Facebook 'censorship' of RT

  19-01-2017 22:55 via theguardian.com
  
  Government-backed network was temporarily banned from posting images, videos or live streams for about 20 hours, possibly over a copyright issueHardly a day goes by without Facebook landing itself in a censorship row, but the social media giant’s latest kerfuffle – a temporary ban of the Russian government-backed network RT – has drawn threats of retaliation from the Russian state censor. RT was barred from posting images, videos or live streams on its Facebook page for about 2
  
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• Massive marijuana grow operations - CNET

  19-01-2017 22:55 via cnet.com
  
  From Northern California to England to Chile, these are the biggest marijuana grow operations in the world.
  
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• It's do or die for Faraday Future

  19-01-2017 22:48
  
  At CES 2017, Faraday Future was one of the biggest draws.  The upstart automaker gave the first buzzy (if not a bit nauseating) presentation of the show when it unveiled the FF 91, complete with a record breaking 0 to 60 mph acceleration down a test track.  It was an exciting moment — up until the event, the public had never seen anything close to a working production vehicle. While the autonomous system hit a few snags during its own demo, this was the first proof the automaker
  
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• Asteroid named after Star Trek's Wil Wheaton: Engage! - CNET

  19-01-2017 22:46 via cnet.com
  
  An asteroid going boldy through the universe now carries a new name that honors actor Will Wheaton, who played Wesley Crusher on "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
  
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• Meitu blazing up the app store charts, but the code makes us nervous video - CNET

  19-01-2017 22:45 via cnet.com
  
  The photo filter app makes a big splash on social media, but some digital forensics experts point out some concerning code behavior and permissions.
  
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• IBM beats Q4 estimates, quarterly revenue down 1.3 percent

  19-01-2017 22:43 via zdnet.com
  
  Big Blue's cloud business was once again the star growth category, with revenue climbing 35 percent to $13.7 billion for full-year 2016.
  
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• Beats' new budget-priced headphone is surprisingly good video - CNET

  19-01-2017 22:41 via cnet.com
  
  The affordable Beats EP is a wired on-ear model that's not only well built but delivers decent sound for the money.
  
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• Atlassian's customer roster swells, delivers solid Q2

  19-01-2017 22:39 via zdnet.com
  
  For fiscal 2017, Atlassian projected revenue between $611 million to $615 million as it integrates Trello.
  
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• Netflix's new docu-series visits best designers in the world - CNET

  19-01-2017 22:35 via cnet.com
  
  "Abstract: The Art of Design" will debut on Netflix on February 10.
  
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• Uber to pay $20 million to settle U.S. allegations it misled drivers about earnings

  19-01-2017 22:29
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] has agreed to pay $20 million to settle allegations that it exaggerated prospective earnings in seeking to recruit drivers, according to documents filed with a U.S. federal court on Thursday.
  
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• Davos bigwigs protected by anti-drone guns - CNET

  19-01-2017 22:29 via cnet.com
  
  Commentary: When you have that much power and money in one place, you have to take serious precautions against technological incursion.
  
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• How to watch inauguration events, with or without TV

  19-01-2017 22:28
  
  The lack of a TV set shouldn't prevent you from following Friday's presidential inauguration ceremony, the pomp and circumstance surrounding it, and the many protests and marches planned around the country. ...
  
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• A redhead emoji is finally in the cards

  19-01-2017 22:28
  
  Redhead emoji just moved one step closer to reality.  Emoji with red hair are on the agenda for the next meeting of the Unicode Technical Committee, the organization that sets standards for the emoji you see on the smartphones and social networks millions use every day. Finally, gingers may get representation in the emoji universe. Apple is hosting the meeting, which begins Jan. 23, at its campus in Cupertino, California, reports Emojipedia. Jeremy Burge, who works for the site and gives te
  
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• It's time for the Apple Watch to support Android - CNET

  19-01-2017 22:20 via cnet.com
  
  Commentary: If Apple wants to win the smartwatch race, it needs to swallow its pride and embrace Google's platform.
  
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• USA Today to livestream Trump's inauguration in VR - CNET

  19-01-2017 22:18 via cnet.com
  
  Thanks to USA Today's VR news show, all you need is a VR headset and the YouTube app.
  
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• Homtom HT20

  19-01-2017 22:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Rugged smartphones are becoming more popular amongst users and manufacturers for a few good reasons. For the former, while more expensive, they are better value for money especially if you tend to drop devices and end up, more often than not, with a smashed screen.For vendors, the lure of much higher margins has proven to be far too attractive to miss. This explains why a number of lesser-known Chinese vendors (BlackView, Nomu, Ulefone) have jumped on the rugged bandwagon, following the likes of
  
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• Turns out, 1 in 5 of us has secretly accessed our friends’ Facebook accounts

  19-01-2017 21:56
  
  It’s probably time to change your password.
  
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• Putin spokesman denies US election hack

  19-01-2017 21:55 via bbc.co.uk
  
  President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman denies any Russian government involvement in hacking to influence the 2016 US election result.
  
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• Dell XPS 13 Notebook Series review - CNET

  19-01-2017 21:45 via cnet.com
  
  New processors and the versatility of Thunderbolt 3 help keep the XPS 13 as a top choice.
  
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• Transform any surface into a touchscreen computer with this projector

  19-01-2017 21:24
  
  The ‘Typlet T1S’ is a device that will project a touchscreen computer onto any surface. The company behind it reports that there is no shadow disruption, meaning users won't have any issues with the screen responding properly because of shadows.  
  
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• Czech inventor gives snow chains a modern makeover

  19-01-2017 21:05
  VRBNO POD PRADEDEM, Czech Republic (Reuters) - After struggling one night to get chains on his tyres on a snowy mountain, Czech businessman Petr Gross decided he needed to come up with something that did the job better. So over the next three years he developed a new device at the back of the car parts factory he runs in the east of the Czech Republic. The result is a mechanized system that fits over the wheel like a hubcap and can be fitted before a journey. ...
  
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• The CIA is telling us how the agency uses Americans' data

  19-01-2017 20:57
  
  You can now read about how the CIA uses the data it has gathered on Americans. The agency on Wednesday published its rules for data collection on American citizens, updating them for the digital age and making them readily available for the first time. SEE ALSO: Donald Trump trusts WikiLeaks more than the CIA or FBI The CIA collects information in huge swaths that are perhaps impossible to comb through. The agency's guidelines lay out plans to ensure that the agency only holds onto U.S. citizen
  
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• U.S. regulator finds no evidence of defects after Tesla death probe

  19-01-2017 20:55
  U.S. regulators has found no evidence of any defects in Tesla electric cars after investigating the death of a man whose Model S collided with a truck while he was using its Autopilot system, the first fatality involving semi-autonomous driving software. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday it will not seek a vehicle recall after conducting a six-month investigation. The regulator's decision is seen as a boost to automakers racing to get vehicles that are near
  
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• What is Meitu? The kawaii anime makeover app goes viral - CNET

  19-01-2017 20:41 via cnet.com
  
  The Meitu app is a photo editing app with extra features that gives anime eyes and sparkles.
  
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• AutoComplete: NHTSA closes Tesla Autopilot investigation, won't seek a recall video - Roadshow

  19-01-2017 20:21 via cnet.com
  
  Velodyne builds a Lidar 'Megafactory,' and Dodge teases the SRT Demon once again.
  
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• Here's how much the Range Rover has changed since 1970 - Roadshow

  19-01-2017 20:12 via cnet.com
  
  Spoiler alert: The answer is "a fair bit."
  
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• Here comes the Trump Train! Will the tech industry get on board? (The 3:59, Ep. 165) - CNET

  19-01-2017 19:51 via cnet.com
  
  Just a day before the inauguration, we discuss Donald Trump's potential tech policies and tweeting habits.
  
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• Twitter gets more diverse, but women and minorities still lag - CNET

  19-01-2017 19:39 via cnet.com
  
  The social network meets its diversity goals for 2016, but acknowledges it still has more work to do.
  
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• Phone with dual front-facing cameras is perfect for selfie fanatics

  19-01-2017 19:33
  
  You've probably heard of big-name Chinese phone makers like Xiaomi, Huawei and Meizu. But you might want to start keeping a closer eye on Vivo. The Chinese phone maker's been around since 2009, but it's just now starting to kick things up a notch. Take the company's newest phone, the Vivo V5Plus. It's got two front-facing cameras to take the ultimate selfie. SEE ALSO: Everything we think we know about the Samsung Galaxy S8 Vivo's not the first company to include two front-facing cameras. LG's V1
  
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• Get ready Samsung Galaxy S7 owners, tasty Android Nougat software is here - CNET

  19-01-2017 19:33 via cnet.com
  
  If you call a Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone your own, you're in luck because an update to Android 7.0 Nougat is on the move.
  
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• Giant Skittles spill turns highway into strange red hellscape - CNET

  19-01-2017 19:32 via cnet.com
  
  A lot of cows won't be tasting the rainbow after a load of red Skittles destined for cattle feed spilled off a truck and all over a highway.
  
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• Will Melania Trump take over FLOTUS twitter? No one really knows.

  19-01-2017 19:31
  
  The first lady of the United States twitter account is about to have a vacancy and, as of this moment, no one knows if incoming first lady Melania Trump will fill it. SEE ALSO: Trump is using Facebook ads to unload Inauguration tickets Outgoing first lady Michelle Obama joined Twitter with a personal, though verified, account in 2011. It quickly amassed millions of followers. However, once the official FLOTUS account launched in 2013, Obama switched gears and stopped tweeting from her personal a
  
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• Samsung may finally explain Note 7 failure on Monday video - CNET

  19-01-2017 19:29 via cnet.com
  
  The results of the company's internal investigation could be announced January 23, according to a report. The Note 7 nightmare continues to linger as thousands of Verizon customers are still using the dangerous phone.
  
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• NHTSA closes Tesla Autopilot probe, finds Autosteer reduced crashes

  19-01-2017 19:15 via zdnet.com
  
  The federal investigation could have led to a recall, but instead the report showed how Tesla's Autopilot system has actually improved safety.
  
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• BeeLine, the navigation aid that lets you enjoy getting lost - CNET

  19-01-2017 19:13 via cnet.com
  
  The BeeLine is a simple, compass-like wearable for cyclists, walkers and explorers who want to know where they're going, even when they don't.
  
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• U.S. regulator closes Tesla death probe; no evidence of defects

  19-01-2017 19:10
  By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators said on Thursday they found no evidence of any defects in Tesla electric cars after investigating the death of a man whose Model S collided with a truck while he was using its Autopilot system, the first fatality involving semi-autonomous driving software. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report it will not seek a vehicle recall after conducting a six-month investigation. ...
  
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• US ends probe of Tesla fatal crash without seeking recall

  19-01-2017 19:07
  U.S. safety regulators have closed an investigation into a fatal crash involving electric car maker Tesla Motors' Autopilot system without seeking a recall, but they criticized the way the company markets ...
  
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