After the earthquake: Tech is a fragile lifeline in NepalIn the first day after a devastating earthquake in Nepal on Saturday, Internet connectivity looked to be an important conduit for bypassing an overloaded telephone network. But by Monday it was clear that large-scale power outages and last-mile Internet connectivity problems were making communications very difficult. The death toll from the quake and numerous aftershocks stands at more than 3,400 people with thousands more injured. Among those killed was a high-ranking Google engineer who was one of a number of expeditioners on Mount Everest who lost their lives in an avalanche triggered by the earthquake.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Comcast: Let’s call the whole thing offJust one day after a U.S. regulator was said to be calling for hearings on the proposed $45 billion merger between Comcast and Time Warner Cable come reports that Comcast is ready to abandon the tie-up, and may make an announcement on Friday. The combined companies would control more than half of the broadband Internet access market in the U.S.—a market where customers already grumble about their lack of choice, and pay more for less than people in virtually every other developed country. The omens for gaining regulatory approval have been darkening: not only did the Federal Communications Commission want hearings on the matter, but the Department of Justice, which monitors antitrust issues, was also apparently not a fan of the deal.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Comcast: Let’s call the whole thing offJust one day after a U.S. regulator was said to be calling for hearings on the proposed $45 billion merger between Comcast and Time Warner Cable come reports that Comcast is ready to abandon the tie-up, and may make an announcement on Friday. The combined companies would control more than half of the broadband Internet access market in the U.S.—a market where customers already grumble about their lack of choice, and pay more for less than people in virtually every other developed country. The omens for gaining regulatory approval have been darkening: not only did the Federal Communications Commission want hearings on the matter, but the Department of Justice, which monitors antitrust issues, was also apparently not a fan of the deal.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Facebook’s mobile shift shows through in financial resultsIt doesn’t seem so long ago that analysts were fretting over Facebook’s mobile playbook, but now the social media giant is monetizing a user base that is increasingly on smartphones and tablets. In reporting its financial results Wednesday, it said that a solid majority of its advertising revenue for the first quarter came from users on mobile devices, the New York Times reports.Facebook gives Android phones souped-up caller IDFacebook wants to move even closer to the core functions of your Android smartphone, with a new dialer app called Hello that uses Messenger to call your friends. The company also says it can give you better security with enhanced call-blocking, and uses the Facebook database to identify callers, PC World reports.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Facebook’s mobile shift shows through in financial resultsIt doesn’t seem so long ago that analysts were fretting over Facebook’s mobile playbook, but now the social media giant is monetizing a user base that is increasingly on smartphones and tablets. In reporting its financial results Wednesday, it said that a solid majority of its advertising revenue for the first quarter came from users on mobile devices, the New York Times reports.Facebook gives Android phones souped-up caller IDFacebook wants to move even closer to the core functions of your Android smartphone, with a new dialer app called Hello that uses Messenger to call your friends. The company also says it can give you better security with enhanced call-blocking, and uses the Facebook database to identify callers, PC World reports.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
US warns airlines about onboard Wi-Fi hackingHere’s one more thing for nervous flyers to worry about: Two U.S. federal agencies are advising airlines to look out for signs that passengers may be trying to hack into planes’ navigation systems via Wi-Fi or onboard entertainment systems, Wired reports. The FBI and TSA apparently don’t have evidence that this is happening, but are taking seriously claims that it can be done, and issued a list of things to be on the lookout for.Drone lands on Japanese Prime Minister’s roofTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
US warns airlines about onboard Wi-Fi hackingHere’s one more thing for nervous flyers to worry about: Two U.S. federal agencies are advising airlines to look out for signs that passengers may be trying to hack into planes’ navigation systems via Wi-Fi or onboard entertainment systems, Wired reports. The FBI and TSA apparently don’t have evidence that this is happening, but are taking seriously claims that it can be done, and issued a list of things to be on the lookout for.Drone lands on Japanese Prime Minister’s roofTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
New mainframe can’t keep IBM sales from slidingIBM reported a 12 percent drop in revenue for the last quarter despite a big boost from its new z13 mainframe. Profit was down 5 percent to $2.4 billion on revenue of $19.6 billion. IBM said Monday that its cloud, analytics and mobile business increased more than 20 percent from a year earlier, but wasn’t enough to offset declines elsewhere.Google’s Mobilegeddon hits TuesdayIt’s here: the day that webmasters have called Mobilegeddon for its potentially cataclysmic effect on those who did not heed the warnings has arrived. On Tuesday, websites that aren’t sufficiently mobile-friendly will find themselves tumbling far down in Google’s search rankings.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
New mainframe can’t keep IBM sales from slidingIBM reported a 12 percent drop in revenue for the last quarter despite a big boost from its new z13 mainframe. Profit was down 5 percent to $2.4 billion on revenue of $19.6 billion. IBM said Monday that its cloud, analytics and mobile business increased more than 20 percent from a year earlier, but wasn’t enough to offset declines elsewhere.Google’s Mobilegeddon hits TuesdayIt’s here: the day that webmasters have called Mobilegeddon for its potentially cataclysmic effect on those who did not heed the warnings has arrived. On Tuesday, websites that aren’t sufficiently mobile-friendly will find themselves tumbling far down in Google’s search rankings.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Is Nokia on the way back to the phone market?When it sold off its device business to Microsoft, Nokia seemed to be saying goodbye to the mobile phone market it once helped define. But now sources tell re/code that projects in development at the small Nokia Technologies division indicate it’s plotting to return when it’s no longer under contract restrictions that prevent it from directly selling or licensing phones under its brand.DOJ said to be leaning against Comcast-Time Warner dealAttorneys at the U.S. Department of Justice are looking unfavorably on the proposed merger of two U.S. cable and Internet giants, Bloomberg reported. Lawyers in the antitrust division may this week recommend blocking Comcast’s bid to buy Time Warner for $45.2 billion.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Is Nokia on the way back to the phone market?When it sold off its device business to Microsoft, Nokia seemed to be saying goodbye to the mobile phone market it once helped define. But now sources tell re/code that projects in development at the small Nokia Technologies division indicate it’s plotting to return when it’s no longer under contract restrictions that prevent it from directly selling or licensing phones under its brand.DOJ said to be leaning against Comcast-Time Warner dealAttorneys at the U.S. Department of Justice are looking unfavorably on the proposed merger of two U.S. cable and Internet giants, Bloomberg reported. Lawyers in the antitrust division may this week recommend blocking Comcast’s bid to buy Time Warner for $45.2 billion.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Wikileaks goes to HollywoodWikiLeaks won plaudits from people who want to see the workings of government exposed to daylight, by publishing a vast trove of U.S. data several years ago. Now, it’s decided to expose another cache of purloined information that has decidedly less obvious benefit for the public interest. It’s put up a searchable database of the documents stolen from Sony Pictures last year in a high-profile hack, using the rationalization that basically, big companies should have their dirty washing hung out just because (insert reference to military-industrial complex here). Those who can’t wait to read a Hollywood executive’s true feelings about a certain famous actress would probably agree.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Wikileaks goes to HollywoodWikiLeaks won plaudits from people who want to see the workings of government exposed to daylight, by publishing a vast trove of U.S. data several years ago. Now, it’s decided to expose another cache of purloined information that has decidedly less obvious benefit for the public interest. It’s put up a searchable database of the documents stolen from Sony Pictures last year in a high-profile hack, using the rationalization that basically, big companies should have their dirty washing hung out just because (insert reference to military-industrial complex here). Those who can’t wait to read a Hollywood executive’s true feelings about a certain famous actress would probably agree.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
In antitrust case, EC could have a tough time proving Google abuseA European Commission victory in its antitrust case against Google is not a sure bet. The narrowly defined case, focusing on search results that allegedly favor Google Shopping, indicates that the Commission thought that broad charges would not stick, legal experts say. And to successfully conclude the case, the Commission must show that Google’s actions harm not just competitors, but consumers as well, which could be a stretch.Israeli camera tech may be lens on future Apple productsTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
In antitrust case, EC could have a tough time proving Google abuseA European Commission victory in its antitrust case against Google is not a sure bet. The narrowly defined case, focusing on search results that allegedly favor Google Shopping, indicates that the Commission thought that broad charges would not stick, legal experts say. And to successfully conclude the case, the Commission must show that Google’s actions harm not just competitors, but consumers as well, which could be a stretch.Israeli camera tech may be lens on future Apple productsTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Former Office chief DelBene returns to Microsoft to head strategyKurt DelBene, who left Microsoft as president of its Office group in 2013, is coming back to Microsoft as executive vice president of corporate strategy and planning, reporting to CEO Satya Nadella. After leaving Microsoft last time, he did a stint helping the federal government recover from the bungled Healthcare.gov launch, and has been a partner in a venture capital firm. He’ll be on the lookout for acquisition targets for Microsoft.Turing manuscript sold for more than $1 millionTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Transforming robot gets stuck in nuclear reactorThe ability to change shape hasn’t saved a robot probe from getting stuck inside a crippled Japanese nuclear reactor. On Friday, the utility sent in the pipe-crawling, snake-like robot, which can transform itself into several configurations depending on the terrain, to determine the state and location of melted-down fuel in the reactor.Microsoft, robot firm demo industrial IoT based on WindowsTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Thin crowds greet Apple Watch in stores in AsiaThe arrival of the Apple Watch in stores across Asia on Friday failed to draw the same crowds that greeted the launch of the iPhone 6—a sign, perhaps, that Apple fans are prepared to queue overnight to buy, but not just to try. The watch is now on show at Apple Stores across the U.S. too, but you’ll have to wait until April 24 to buy one. The company is accepting preorders online only.Reviewers like the new MacBook’s looks, but find a lot to criticizeTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Thin crowds greet Apple Watch in stores in AsiaThe arrival of the Apple Watch in stores across Asia on Friday failed to draw the same crowds that greeted the launch of the iPhone 6—a sign, perhaps, that Apple fans are prepared to queue overnight to buy, but not just to try. The watch is now on show at Apple Stores across the U.S. too, but you’ll have to wait until April 24 to buy one. The company is accepting preorders online only.Reviewers like the new MacBook’s looks, but find a lot to criticizeTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Facebook’s cred is still intact with teens, survey saysA Pew Research survey has found that Facebook is the most popular social network among teens, debunking the notion that it was losing ground among the younger generation. While 71 percent of all teens surveyed use Facebook, 41 percent said they use it the most often compared to other sites. Snapchat and Instagram aren’t far behind, though.Oz launches subscription video platform Thursday, aims at creatorsIcelandic startup Oz is launching a new video platform and mobile app on Thursday that aims to give artists, small businesses and even journalists a platform to publish videos online and get subscription revenue from viewers. Oz videos will be accessible on the Web as well as on iOS and Android. The company suggests that most content creators charge around $5 per month; the platform supports payments in 120 different currencies, with Oz taking a 30 percent cut of producers’ revenue.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
IDG News Service staff