All Technology
- Wassily Kandinsky: Two events that changed art forever
After two key events, Wassily Kandinsky pushed aside a successful career to pursue art and, in turn, changed the course of art history. A Google Doodle honors Mr. Kandinsky on the 148th anniversary of his birth.
- Microsoft fights against the US government accessing data stored overseas
Should the US government have access to customer data held overseas? Microsoft has gone to court saying no.
- Skype update translates English and Spanish in real time
Skype Translator, a service that aims to offer real-time audio and text translation between many languages, went live to select users on Tuesday. The Skype Translator preview can perform audio translation between English and Spanish audio, and text translation between more than 40 languages.
- In the 'year of the selfie,' a hot Christmas gift item
An extendable selfie pole — perfect to widen camera angles — is the latest gift in the digital age of narcissism. But with high-profile selfies, a backlash is emerging to self-portraiture.
- Iowa passes the nation's first digital driver's license law
Iowa’s digital driver’s license will work at traffic stops and Iowan airports.
- Innovation grant winners: Up to $3 million go to 14 cities worldwide
The Bloomberg innovation grant city winners include Boston, L.A., Jerusalem, Seattle, and Jersey City, N.J. The Bloomberg Philanthropies grants range from $400,000 to $1 million annually for three years,
- Pushing for diversity in Silicon Valley
Technology companies in Silicon Valley are notorious for lacking diversity. So Jesse Jackson and his Rainbow Push organization held a summit Wednesday to promote diversity in technology companies.
- Google plans to pull its engineers out of Russia
Google is planning to close its engineering office in Russia, and while it hasn't officially said why, the move coincides with the passage of several laws restricting Internet freedom in Russia. Google will maintain its offices in Russia dedicated to customer support, marketing, and sales.
- Oculus VR scoops up experts in hand tracking and capturing reality
Oculus VR, a virtual reality company owned by Facebook, announced it bought two companies that could help expand one of the most anticipated game systems in recent memory.
- Can Facebook create the artificial conscience?
It's not the first time this kind of technology has been implemented.
- Google News will shut down in Spain in response to 'Google Tax'
Google News will close in Spain ahead of a new law which would require Google to pay publishers for showing snippets of their content on its site. Google will also remove Spanish publishers from international editions of Google News.
- Microsoft joins list of companies accepting bitcoins
Microsoft has become the latest major corporation to begin accepting bitcoins, a virtual currency. Here's how it works.
- Web founder says Internet should be human right, criticizes government surveillance
Though most business and information is spread over the Internet, some people still lack access to it. Tim Berners-Lee, founder of the Web, says everyone should be able to make use of it.
- Intel embraces the Internet of Things with new plan to link all your devices together
On Tuesday, Intel announced a platform to securely link computers and tablets to watches, thermostats, industrial controllers, fridges, and all the other 'smart' devices that make up the Internet of Things.
- What the FAA says you can and can't do with your drone
Drones are cool, but they are highly regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration. Wednesday the FAA opened up those regulations for four companies ahead of planned commercial regulation in 2015. Before you buy your drone, here is a list of what you can and cannot do with it.
- Hackers demand Sony stop showing 'The Interview'
Sony has been the victim of a number of cyberattacks in recent weeks, and Monday night a group known as Guardians of Peace demanded the company stop showing 'The Interview,' a forthcoming fictional movie about the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.
- Blackphone will open privacy-focused app store
Blackphone, a privacy-focused smart phone, will get an app store in early 2015. Blackphone is designed to keep users' communications safe from hackers and electronic surveillance.
- Amazon gives shoppers the option to haggle on collectibles, fine art
It's not quite eBay, but Amazon is giving a little more power to buyers and sellers by giving them grounds to negotiate prices.
- Ralph Baer was the father of the video game industry
Ralph Baer developed the first video game console. Now, the game industry is worth more than $90 billion globally. Here's a tribute to the father of video games.
- Legally murky music service Grooveshark goes legit with 'Broadcasts' app
Grooveshark, the questionably-legal music streaming service, will launch a completely legal app in 2015. The Grooveshark app, called 'Broadcasts,' will let users listen to playlists curated by other users.