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Tech
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Turn off, turn on: Simple step can thwart top phone hackers
As a member of the secretive Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Angus King has reason to worry about hackers.…
3 tech giants report combined profits of more than $50B
Although these companies make their money in different ways, the results served as another reminder of the clout they wield and why government regulators are growing increasingly concerned about whether they have become too powerful.
Bitcoin jumps on speculation that Amazon considering crypto
Bitcoin's price surged again Monday after speculation that Amazon may be entering the cryptocurrency sector after it posted a job seeking a “digital currency and blockchain product lead.”
Why the Anthony Bourdain voice cloning creeps people out
The revelation that a documentary filmmaker used voice-cloning software to make the late chef Bourdain say words he never spoke has drawn criticism amid ethical concerns about use of the powerful technology.
$10-million rewards bolster White House anti-ransomware bid
The State Department will offer rewards up to $10 million for information leading to the identification of anyone engaged in foreign state-sanctioned malicious cyber activity, including ransomware attacks, against critical US infrastructure.
China orders takedown of 25 apps from ride service Didi
China's regulator ordered the removal from app stores of 25 apps owned by Didi Global Inc., the country's largest ride-hailing service, citing severe violations of rules against collecting personal data.
QAnon has receded from social media — but it’s just hiding
Since the start of the year, Twitter and Facebook have removed tens of thousands of accounts, groups and pages dedicated to the QAnon conspiracy theory. But QAnon is far from winding down. Federal intelligence officials recently warned that its adherents could commit more violence, like the deadly Capitol insurrection on January 6.
Twitter restricts account of expert who mocked China leader
A New Zealand academic says Twitter temporarily restricted her account after she mocked Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Kaseya says 800 to 1,500 businesses hit by cyberattack
The software company targeted by a holiday weekend ransomware attack said between 800 and 1,500 small businesses managed by its customers were compromised.
EXPLAINER: Ransomware and its role in supply chain attacks
High-profile ransomware attacks in May hit the world’s largest meat-packing company and the biggest US fuel pipeline, underscoring how gangs of extortionist hackers can disrupt the economy and put lives and livelihoods at risk.
Just how vulnerable is the internet?
An outage at a little-known firm that speeds up access to websites knocked a lot of top internet destinations offline on Tuesday, disrupting business and leisure for untold millions globally. The problem was quickly resolved. The company, Fastly, blamed a configuration error in its technology.
Global war on ransomware? Hurdles hinder the US response
RICHMOND, Va. — Foreign keyboard criminals with scant fear of repercussions have paralyzed U.S. schools and hospitals, leaked…
Zoom’s boom continues in 1Q, raising post-pandemic hopes
Zoom is still booming, raising prospects that the video-conferencing service will be able to sustain its momentum, even as the easing pandemic lessens the need for virtual meetings.
Can virtual reality help seniors? Study hopes to find out
POMPANO BEACH, Florida — Terry Colli and three other residents of the John Knox Village senior community got…
US govt use of Chinese drones in limbo as Congress weighs ban
More than a year after the US Interior Department grounded hundreds of Chinese-made drones it was using to track wildfires and monitor dams, volcanoes and wildlife, it's starting to look like they won't be flying again any time soon — if ever.
Microsoft: SolarWinds hackers target 150 orgs with phishing
The state-backed Russian cyber spies targeted about 3,000 email accounts at more than 150 different organizations, at least a quarter of them involved in international development, humanitarian and human rights work, Microsoft said.
Ransomware hits AXA units in Asia, hurts Ireland healthcare
Cybercriminals have hit four Asian subsidiaries of the Paris-based insurance company AXA with a ransomware attack, impacting operations in Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Philippines, the insurer said.
Meituan’s stock price plunges after CEO posts Chinese poem
Shares in Meituan, China’s largest food delivery platform, have tumbled after its CEO posted —and then deleted — an ancient poem in a move widely seen as possible criticism of the Chinese government.
Army of fake fans boosts China’s messaging on Twitter
China’s ruling Communist Party has opened a new front in its long, ambitious war to shape global public opinion: Western social media.
SolarWinds Hacking Campaign Puts Microsoft In The Hot Seat
Because its products are a de facto monoculture in government and industry — with more than 85% market share — federal lawmakers are insisting that Microsoft swiftly upgrade security to what they say it should have provided in the first place, and without fleecing taxpayers.
Robot artist sells art for $688,888, now eyeing music career
Sophia is a robot of many talents — she speaks, jokes, sings and even makes art. In March, she caused a stir in the art world when a digital work she created as part of a collaboration was sold at an auction for $688,888 in the form of a non-fungible token (NFT).
Facebook data on more than 500M accounts found online
Details from more than 500 million Facebook users have been found available on a website for hackers.
Report: Extremist groups thrive on Facebook despite bans
A new outside report found that Facebook has allowed groups — many tied to QAnon, boogaloo and militia movements — to glorify violence during the 2020 election and in the weeks leading up to the deadly riots on the US Capitol in January.
Apple may test the bounds of iPhone love with a $1,000 model
By Michael Liedtke | The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO—Apple is expected to sell its fanciest iPhone yet for…
New LG phone influenced by Samsung’s Note 7 troubles
By Anick Jesdanun | The Associated Press NEW YORK—Samsung’s fiasco with its fire-prone Note 7 phone has pushed…
Fossil Q ups smartwatch game with handsome design and build
By Pauline Joy M. Gutierrez ONE of the most popular brand names in the US, Fossil has unveiled…
Time to set limits: Business owners suffer tech overload
By Joyce M. Rosenberg / The Associated Press Three years into being a business owner, Becky Davis knew she…
Moto makes modular marvelous
By Gerard Ramos / Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor SURE, it is not as ambitious as Ara, the modular smartphone…
Google Home, Amazon Echo mix convenience with creepiness
By Troy Wolverton / The Mercury News HAVING a smart speaker like Amazon Echo or Google Home in the…
This time, LG plays it safe and makes good sound with the V20
By Jt Nisay THE fine-tuned V20 is LG’s return to normalcy—sort of. In late March this year, the…
The Sony Xperia XZ…because it’s a selfie world
By Gerard Ramos / Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor IN a smartphone marketplace increasingly littered with gimmicky features—from “borderless” screens…
Apple’s new iPhone 7 models offer modest updates
By Troy Wolverton / The Mercury News Apple’s new iPhone 7 devices are no breakthroughs. The midsize iPhone 7…
What to expect from GoPro’s big drone unveiling
By Paresh Dave | Los Angeles Times Action camera-maker GoPro Inc. gets its big chance to rebound from…
With Series 2, Apple admits its smartwatch isn’t for everyone
By Paresh Dave / Los Angeles Times TWO years ago, Apple Inc. executives made the case that anyone with…
Samsung recalls Galaxy Note 7 after battery explosions
By Youkyung Lee / The Associated Press Samsung recalled its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones on Friday after finding some…
Questions on 5G’s impact on health raised
By Jim Puzzanghera / Los Angeles Times AS wireless companies prepare to launch the next generation of service, there…
Livestreaming apps beyond Facebook Live
By Barbara Ortutay / The Associated Press LIVE video is growing more popular as a way for families to share…
Gadgets to help your health
By Jonathan Takiff / Philadelphia Daily News TAKING better care of ourselves is a promise we always make to…
Of red hearts and blue thumbs-up
By Jt Nisay EARLY last year, American retailer Lord & Taylor tapped 50 fashion bloggers or “influencers” to…
Boon or bane?
By Gianna G. Maniego RAISE your hand if the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning…
Universe2Go like Pokémon Go for astronomy geeks
By Jim Rossman / The Dallas Morning News I’ve been interested in astronomy since I was a wee lad.…
Hear, hear, rechargeable mobile cases are here!
By Pauline Joy M. Gutierrez THERE are two problems faced by users of most ultrathin phones with nonremovable…
Bulletproof glass, Twitter abuse
By Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times A FAN at the Comic-Con International here had a message for Joss…
Success of ‘Pokémon Go’ begs question: How augmented should reality be?
By Alex Schiffer / Los Angeles Times THE magic of “Pokémon Go” is in the way it overlays…
Microsoft draws flak for pushing Windows 10 on PC users
By Matt Day / The Seattle Times A few days after Microsoft released Windows 10 to the public…
A lesson in backups
By Troy Wolverton / The Mercury News Michael Friedman learned the hard way how important it is to…
iPhone SE features smaller screen, lower price
By Jim Rossman / The Dallas Morning News SMALL, medium or large? You might drive a Toyota Prius,…
Microsoft takes the long view on smartphone reboot
By Matt Day / The Seattle Times Microsoft, after failing to build a smartphone hub to rival Google…
Apple’s newer, smaller iPad Pro a terrific tablet
By Troy Wolverton / San Jose Mercury News WHEN Apple launched its first iPad Pro last fall, I…
Beyond keeping time
By Gerard Ramos / Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor OF late, Huawei has been hitting it out of the…
Virtual-reality hardware is finally here; what you need to know
By Omar L. Gallaga / Austin American-Statesman LAST November I wrote about the ways in which virtual reality…
What’s the best voice recorder in the market?
By Seamus Bellamy / Los Angeles Times AFTER 36 hours of research, testing eight different devices in a…
Apple’s events are getting as predictable as the company. Time for a refresh?
By Paresh Dave / Los Angeles Times ‘Good morning and thanks for joining us.” When Apple Chief Executive…
Apple-FBI dispute has security lessons for the rest of us
By Troy Wolverton / San Jose Mercury News THE dust-up between Apple and the Federal Bureau of Investigation…
Huawei’s new flagship: The power of 8
By Gerard Ramos / Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor YOU would think that Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. would see the…
Instagram making you sad? Blame the Kardashians
By Matt O’Brien / San Jose Mercury News Shira Hecht keeps up with all her friends on Instagram,…
YouTube moves closer to becoming a Netflix for millennials
By David Pierson / Los Angeles Times COULD it soon be time to YouTube and chill? The world’s biggest…
Why Snapchat and WhatsApp are bringing new features to messaging
By Paresh Dave / Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES—One app to rule them all might be the future…
2016 tech predictions include an Internet of Things bust and success for Netflix
By Omar L. Gallaga / Austin American-Statesman Sometimes the future is a little more clear in certain years…
A better iPhone experience
By Gerard Ramos / Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor OPEN the Globe Telecom web site (www.globe.com.ph) and among the plethora…
Becoming Mate-d for life
By Gerard S. Ramos / Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor IT wasn’t too long ago when Huawei, either as…
Jumbo-sized iPad Pro lacks purpose
By Troy Wolverton / San Jose Mercury News WHEN Apple released the iPad in 2010, it sought to…
BlackBerry’s keyboard not enough to make Priv stand out in Android pack
By Troy Wolverton / San Jose Mercury News BLACKBERRY, the longtime device maker that helped pioneer the smartphone…
An absolutely premium experience
By Gerard Ramos / Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor THERE is no getting around it: a review of the…
Xbox One update plays up the ‘game’ part of console
By Matt Day / The Seattle Times SEATTLE—Microsoft is giving the Xbox One a new look as the…
Could virtual reality become the way we watch sports?
By Troy Wolverton / San Jose Mercury News I took a step into the virtual future of sports…
Are you game? YouTube thinks so
By Paresh Dave / Los Angeles Times WITH a seemingly infinite supply of free-to-watch videos, YouTube usage is…
Google introduces Pixel C tablet, new Nexus phones
By Matt O’Brien / San Jose Mercury News SAN FRANCISCO—Google introduced a tablet-laptop hybrid last week, along with…
iOS 9 offers some cool new features for iPhones, iPads
By Troy Wolverton / San Jose Mercury News APPLE’S iPhones and iPads can do some new tricks, thanks to…
Bluetooth speakers look good, sound even better
By Jim Rossman / The Dallas Morning News LISTENING to music is a very personal experience. From the music…
New iPhones, iPad unveiled, but Apple TV steals the show
By Patrick May / San Jose Mercury News SAN FRANCISCO—Apple’s new $99 Pencil will bring out the inner…
The best tablet in the market, period
By Gerard S. Ramos / Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor IN the days leading up to Sony’s scheduled September…
Why I’m no longer wearing my Apple Watch
By Troy Wolverton / San Jose Mercury News I’VE stopped wearing my Apple Watch. After buying it the…
Windows 10 fixes the mistakes of Windows 8
By Troy Wolverton / San Jose Mercury News WINDOWS 10, the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system, upholds the…
Some bits and pieces on gadget lust
By Gerard Ramos / Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor WELL, that was quick. Wasn’t it only recently when it…
Yahoo! unveils new live video and texting app
By David Pierson / Los Angeles Times YAHOO! unveiled a live video texting app on Wednesday that could boost…
Life in the fast lane
By Jonathan Lansner / The Orange County Register WHEN it comes to what works in your home—and what…
Google photo service is strong on search
By Anick Jesdanun / The Associated Press NEW YORK—Google’s new service for organizing and backing up images blends…
Microsoft Office in a world of multiple devices
By Anick Jesdanun / The Associated Press NEW YORK—Microsoft’s new Office apps do a good job of helping…
Amazon Echo is great and will only get better
By Jim Rossman / The Dallas Morning News I’VE been playing with one of Amazon’s newest gadgets, the…
Nikon’s P900 takes the term ‘super zoom’ to a new level
By Jim Rossman | The Dallas Morning News NOT too many people know I went to college to…
PC sales slow before launch of new Windows software
DESKTOP, laptop and tablet sales across the globe have hit a speed bump but could pick up by…
Teens and apps: A parents’ guide to what’s popular—and what’s problematic
By Martha Ross / San Jose Mercury News THIS past fall, Yik Yak whipped up serious digital drama…
How to control the madness of notifications
By Omar L. Gallaga / Austin American-Statesman AS this sentence was being written, about a dozen notifications just…
Twitter’s direction ‘extremely strong and beautiful,’ Jack Dorsey says
TWITTER Inc. stock is rising as Wall Street welcomes the departure of its embattled chief executive. On Friday morning,…
Will broadcasting app Periscope’s best side surface?
By Omar L. Gallaga / Austin American-Statesman I’M struggling with a relatively new piece of technology called Periscope,…
In a state of Zen
By Gerard Ramos / Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor THE Taiwanese multinational computer hardware and electronics company headquartered in Taipei,…
Google takes on Apple Pay, Flickr with updated Android offerings
By Matt O’Brien / San Jose Mercury News SAN FRANCISCO—Hoping to up its game against rivals, such as Apple,…
Cyanogen CEO Kirt McMaster sees big future for Android rival
By Troy Wolverton / San Jose Mercury News KIRT MCMASTER can be a bit brash as when he told…
A frustrating journey through today’s e-mail inbox
By Patrick May / San Jose Mercury News A FEW months back, apparently in a moment of spiritual…
Apple’s new MacBook takes thinness to an uncomfortable extreme
I really wanted to love Apple’s new MacBook. But I just can’t. When I heard that Apple was…
Samsung Galaxy S6 impresses, but something’s missing
THE Samsung Galaxy S6 is a paradox. While Samsung has produced a great phone and included some nice…
Facebook Messenger apps seek to infuse emotion into texts
SAN JOSE, California—Instant messages can feel trite and impersonal, but new apps can make it easier to express…
Google shaking up search results on smartphones
GOOGLE is about to change the way its influential search engine recommends web sites on smartphones in a shift…
In a cameras-everywhere culture, science fiction becomes reality
SCIENCE fiction (sci-fi) writer David Brin calls it “a tsunami of lights”—a future where tiny cameras are everywhere, lighting…
Early Apple Watch reviews are mixed
THE best wearable gadget available, but it still has a long way to go. That’s the gist of…
Smartphone domination pretty close to complete
IN case you haven’t raised your head long enough to notice the throngs of people gazing hypnotically at…
Pins and needles for Apple Watch app makers
DEVELOPER Curtis Herbert worries that a winter’s worth of work on an Apple Watch app will come to nothing.…
Toshiba Chromebook 2 raises the bar
SHOPPING for laptops can be maddening. There are hundreds of laptops from many different manufacturers, and they’re mostly…
Six smartwatch alternatives to the Apple Watch
DO I need a smartwatch? On Monday morning, Apple was expected to release the sales date and prices…