Daily Tech Headlines – July 4, 2016
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| Daily Tech Headlines – July 4, 2016 | |
| Number | 18 |
| Broadcast Date | JULY 4, 2016 |
| Episode Length | 6:19 |
| Hosts | Tom Merritt |
Celebgate hacker pleads guilty, Facebook called a Monster, end of an era for BlackBerry.
Headlines
- Edward Majerczyk has pleaded guilty to violations of the computer fraud and abuse act for using a phishing scam to trick celebrities into entering credentials into fake security sites in 2014. He then used the credentials to access Gmail and iCloud accounts and retrieved private photos. Ryan Collins pleaded guilty to similar charges in March agreeing to an 18-year prison term. The crime can carry a sentence of up to five years.
- Reuters reports Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan called Facebook a "monster" in a TV interview Saturday for not doing enough to remove abusive posts. Facebook issued a statement Sunday saying it works closely with the Israeli government when removing hateful content. The government claims ongoing street attacks are fueled by postings online. Legislation is being drafted to order social networks to remove certain content.
- ReCode reports a note went out to the US Senate last week informing staffers they would no longer be issued BlackBerry handsets. Staffers may migrate to a Galaxy S 6 on Verizon with waived upgrade requirements. The note adds that the iPhone SE has also been added to the technology catalog.
- The Senate Memo stated Blackberry OS 10 devices are no longer being manufactured, which may or may not be true, but BlackBerry is continuing to make Android phones. A source told VentureBeat the 5.2-inch Neon will come July and August, the 5.5-inch Argon with USB-C around October and the 4.5-inch Mercury with a physical keyboard in Q1 2017.
- Independent security researchers Gal Beniamini posted Thursday about methods to extract the security key for full-disk encryption of Android devices using Qualcomm processors by exploiting the implementation of TrustZone. Such devices store the encryption keys in software, which can be pulled off the device and loaded onto a supercomputer optimized for password cracking. Google paid the researcher through its bug bounty and both Google and Qualcomm have issued patches, though not all manufacturers have implemented them.
- Xbox Play Anywhere will launch September 13th. The new option lets people play participating Xbox Games on PCs and vice versa. The PC must be running the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which comes itself August 2 and Xbox Ones must have the summer update. 12 eligible games have been announced so far.
- Japans NuAns is trying to raise $725,000 on Kickstarter to launch its NuAns NEO Windows Phone worldwide. The device has interchangeable backplates which you can get in wood, suede and ostrich among others. List prie will be $400 though depending how fast you back you can get it at a discount.
- The free upgrade to Windows 10 ends July 29 and Microsoft's got a new way to remind you that is both less likely to result in accidental upgrade but also more intrusive as it is a full screen message. The full screen takeover gives you the obvious options to upgrade now or be reminded later. Almost greyed out on the purple screen are "notify me three more times" and "Do not notify me again."
- The team behind the supersonic car Bloodhoud SSC is back together now that new funding is secured. The attempt to break the 1997 record of 763MPH has been rescheduled for October 2017 in South Africa. The Bloodhoud has a Rolls-Royce EJ2000 jet engine, sourced from an RAF Eurofighter Typhoon, a cluster of Nammo hybrid rockets and a supercharged Jaguar V8 engine. It will be driven by RAF Wing Commander Andy Green.
- The Associated Press will use the Wordsmith software from Automated Insights to take in data from MLB Advanced Media and write automated stories covering 142 Minor League Baseball teams across 13 leagues. No humans required. AP already uses Wordsmith to cover earnings report and college sports.
- Tech In Asia reports on efforts by WiFi Interactive Networks or WIN to provide free Internet access with purchases at convenience stores, restaurants and bars. WIN installs the hotspots and partners with companies to provide access codes with purchase of a say a particular brand of drink or items like shampoo. Its first partner was the Philippines largest beer maker San Miguel. It now has 41 hotspots, 34 in Manila and the rest elsewhere on the island of Luzon. Microsoft is providing funding to help extend coverage to areas currently with no connectivity.
- The United Nations passed a non-binding resolution Friday condemning countries who intentionally disrupt Internet access. The resolution was passed by consensus but opposed by India, South Africa, Russia, China and Saudi Arabia among others. Rights group Access Now estimates there were 15 Internet shutdowns in 2015 and 20 so far in 2016.
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| Preceded by: "Daily Tech Headlines – July 1, 2016" |
Daily Tech Headlines – July 4, 2016 |
Followed by: "Daily Tech Headlines – July 5, 2016" |