There may now be some strong evidence that the Sony Pictures hackers came across a treasure trove of sensitive info when they broke into the movie studio’s networks. High-quality screener copies of Annie, Fury, Mr. Turner and Still Alice have reached…
Technical
Ridesharing apps are erasing the value of taxi services
It’s no surprise that ridesharing outfits like Lyft and Uber are disrupting the taxi business through lower pricing and technological advantages. However, it’s now clear that these app-based upstarts are also hitting taxis where it really hurts: the …
DNA smeared on a rocket survives re-entry and tells of life’s origins
Well, would you look at that: scientists have discovered that DNA can make it through the hellish ordeal of atmospheric re-entry after all. German and Swiss researchers dotted a rocket’s grooves and screw heads with fragments of genetic blueprints to…
Xbox’s Japan chief resigns after bleak Xbox One sales
It’s no secret that the Xbox One has been far from a hit in the Land of the Rising Sun, and now this is having its negative effects on the people in charge. As reported by Famitsu, a Japanese publication which focuses on video games, Head of Xbox Jap…
Enter the tech-powered playground of the future
There are playmats where you build the roads in seconds, a ballpit where the balls are as big as you, and a drawing-board where your doodles come to life. This is Team Lab’s “Theme Park of the Future” .. but it isn’t really a theme park. It’s an atte…
Lego car becomes an avatar for a worm
Remember the OpenWorm project, in which researchers reproduced the genome of a nematode worm digitally and made it wiggle around on a screen? If you take the “brain” of that worm and use it to power a robotic car, you end up with researcher Timothy B…
LG’s mobile division is getting a new CEO, too
A few days ago, it was rumored that Samsung was planning to replace its head of mobile in a bid to reverse slumping smartphone sales. Now, local rival LG is doing the same thing, albeit for a very different reason. CNET is reporting that current chie…
LG GizmoPal wearable lets kids call their parents with one button
Even though the wearable space is flooded with a ton of options, most of those are geared toward grown-ups. And, hey, why not let the little ones join the fun too. Earlier this year, LG introduced the KizOn in South Korea, a wearable for children tha…
CBS to broadcast your social media posts alongside Macy’s parade
CBS’ coverage of Macy’s parade last year featured viewers’ Instagram photos shown on screen — this year, it’s expanding audience’s participation even more. The network will use the same service it used in 2013 called Vidpresso, but instead of showin…
HBO teams up with Tencent to sell its TV shows in China
China’s strained relationship with the concept of intellectual property is one of the reasons that you can buy a local copy of a Range Rover Evoque for a third of the price. That’s one of the reasons why western businesses are wary about selling thei…
Pew Research: You know the internet, but you might not ‘get’ it
Given how ubiquitous smart devices are, one might think that, overall, people would have a pretty comprehensive knowledge of tech. That isn’t exactly the case. According to a recent Pew Research survey, 60 percent of the representative sample knew th…
Researchers link carrier-focused malware to US and UK spy agencies
Symantec said that the recently detailed Regin spyware looked like it was created for government surveillance, and there’s now some strong support for that claim. Both Kaspersky Lab and Wired understand that the super-sophisticated malware was used…
Sony Pictures hack takes computers down studio-wide
As a whole, Sony isn’t a stranger to being hacked, but the most recent effort targeted its movie division — not PlayStation. Computers in Sony Pictures offices have been compromised, as Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety report….
Records reveal net neutrality chats between FCC and telecoms
It’s no secret that the FCC has at least a few links to the communications companies it’s policing. Chairman Tom Wheeler is a former lobbyist, and commissioners have taken industry jobs mere months after leaving office. However, Vice News has…
Sophisticated malware has been spying on computers since 2008
Highly sophisticated malware isn’t limited to relatively high-profile sabotage code like Stuxnet — sometimes, it’s designed to fly well under the radar. Symantec has discovered Regin, a very complex trojan that has been spying on everyone from…