Uber 'obtained rape victim's medical records'
- 8 June 2017
- From the section Technology
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An Uber executive obtained the medical records of a woman who said she was raped by a driver of the taxi-app firm in India, according to a report.
Eric Alexander, who ran Uber's business in Asia, is said to have shared the records with the company's chief executive, Travis Kalanick, over a year ago.
Uber confirmed to the BBC that Mr Alexander no longer worked at the firm - but offered no further comment.
Technology news site Recode said Mr Alexander was fired only after the publication contacted the company about the story.
It said as well as Mr Kalanick, the records were seen by the company's senior vice president, Emil Michael.
Read full article Uber 'obtained rape victim's medical records'
Apple's HomePod: Superb sound, but how smart?
- 6 June 2017
- From the section Technology
We weren't allowed to film it, so I can't show it to you, but a quick off-camera demonstration of Apple's new HomePad speaker confirmed what the company promised on stage: it sounds terrific.
The company trotted out two "competing" devices, a Sonos Play 3 speaker ($299) and an Amazon Echo ($180), to receive something of an audio beating at the hands of the HomePod ($349). But this should be no means be considered an independent test. Apple controlled all aspects of it, including the settings on the competing devices.
Read full article Apple's HomePod: Superb sound, but how smart?
Android creator Andy Rubin launches Essential Phone
- 31 May 2017
- From the section Technology
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Essential
Andy Rubin, one of the creators of Google's Android software, has launched his own high-end smartphone.
Mr Rubin left Google in 2014 to create Playground, a technology investment company. Essential is one of the companies it funds - and the Essential Phone is its first product.
Read full article Android creator Andy Rubin launches Essential Phone
The five big announcements from Google I/O
- 18 May 2017
- From the section Technology
If you follow tech news often, you’ll be more than aware of the promise offered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Often, though, it feels like a far-away goal. It will get there, but right now it’s primitive.
At Google’s annual developer conference, held this week near its Mountain View headquarters, the company showed off some of the best practical applications of AI and machine learning I’ve seen yet. They may not make your jaw drop - or, thankfully, put you out of a job - but it’s an incremental change that shows how Google is putting its immense computing power to work.
Read full article The five big announcements from Google I/O
Google owner Alphabet balloons connect flood-hit Peru
- 17 May 2017
- From the section Technology
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Project Loon
“Tens of thousands” of Peruvians have been getting online using Project Loon, the ambitious connectivity project from Google's parent company, Alphabet.
Project Loon uses tennis court-sized balloons carrying a small box of equipment to beam internet access to a wide area below.
Read full article Google owner Alphabet balloons connect flood-hit Peru
WannaCry ransomware cyber-attack 'may have N Korea link'
- 16 May 2017
- From the section Technology
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@neelmehta
Who was behind the huge global cyber-attack? One prominent theory right now is North Korea - but what we know is far from conclusive.
You may not have heard of the Lazarus Group, but you may be aware of its work. The devastating hack on Sony Pictures in 2014, and another on a Bangladeshi bank in 2016, have both been attributed to the highly sophisticated group.
Read full article WannaCry ransomware cyber-attack 'may have N Korea link'
Snap's judgement: what to look out for
- 10 May 2017
- From the section Technology
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Snap, the company that owns Snapchat, is posting its first earnings as a public company on Wednesday.
Silicon Valley will be keenly watching - it's the first glimpse at how the company may perform long term, and it comes at a time when the company faces an existential threat from its biggest, perhaps only, rival: Facebook.
Can Amazon's assistant stay on top?
- 9 May 2017
- From the section Technology
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Amazon
Amazon surprised everyone when, in late 2014, it unveiled a standalone digital assistant that was not only good, but blew away the competition in both quality and aesthetics.
The Echo - a cylindrical speaker with microphone - now accounts for just over 70% of all digital assistant use in the US, leaving its nearest competitor, Google Home, well behind.
Judge to Waymo: Close, but no smoking gun
- 4 May 2017
- From the section Technology
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"So far you don’t have a smoking gun."
Not the words Waymo’s legal team wanted to hear from a judge in San Francisco on Wednesday, but hear them it did as it was scolded for not having enough evidence to prove its claims.
Uber and Waymo face off in court over self-driving row
- 3 May 2017
- From the section Technology
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Two giants in self-driving car technology will face each other in court on Wednesday.
Ride-sharing firm Uber is accused of stealing trade secrets from Waymo - the company spun out from Google’s self-driving division.
Read full article Uber and Waymo face off in court over self-driving row
