All Technology
- Why the White House is open-sourcing its chatbot code
In August, the White House released a chatbot that allows citizens to contact the President, who reads ten letters and messages each night.
- First LookWhy Google News is adding a 'Fact Check' label
While pundits are in disagreement about the role the media should play in vetting politicians' statements, readers are bringing record traffic to fact-checking websites like Politifact.
- Why did Twitter suspend Geofeedia over ACLU surveillance report?
Twitter's decision to suspend the startup drew praise from privacy activists and highlighted tensions between police and the American public.
- First LookAt Alibaba, you pay by nodding. Yes, really.
Alibaba pay by nodding: Eager to improve the virtual reality shopping experience, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba developed a payment system where customers can pay by nodding.
- First LookAmazon launches streaming music service: Can it compete?
Once just a shopping site, Amazon hopes that Music Unlimited will increase the rate at which customers return to the site and allow it to compete with other streaming services.
- Could Facebook's Workplace platform replace email at work?
Many of the more than 1,000 businesses and organizations that have been testing the platform during the past year have showered praise on the product.
- Hinge's redesign bets that Millennials are looking for deeper relationships
Hinge, the dating app, has a new look. The 'story' format is intended to spark deeper connections between users, with a view to forming long-term relationships. The company hopes this will become the 'new normal' for dating apps.
- First LookWhy are we celebrating Ada Lovelace Day?
Ada Lovelace was a 19th-century English mathematician and writer, today widely celebrated as the world's first computer programmer.
- First LookSprint's 1Million Project: philanthropy or smart marketing?
Sprint will lend smartphones, tablets, and laptops to low-income high school students – in addition to giving them four years of connectivity.
- First LookAmid revelations of hacking and spying, Yahoo disables email forwarding
Users who had already set up their email-forwarding service before this month are unaffected, but those who wish to begin forwarding messages now are unable.
- First LookSamsung ends production of Galaxy Note 7. Lessons to be learned?
The manufacturing flaw could tarnish the reputation of Samsung's future phones, leading loyal customers to seek out products from the smartphone giant's competitors.
- Samsung changes Note 7 output schedule after fire reports
The company did not confirm or deny a report by South Korea's Yonhap news agency earlier Monday that it has suspended production of the phones.
- Facebook Workplace: Are employers ready to embrace social media at work?
The social media giant has offered a platform specifically designed for the work environment to select companies for the past 18 months, but Facebook's Workplace faces the ultimate test beginning Wednesday: Will companies be willing to pay for a work-oriented Facebook?
- Apple, Samsung take design patent spat to Supreme Court this week
"On the one hand, I think Samsung has the better argument as a matter of public policy. On the other hand, this is kind of how the statute has been interpreted for 100 years or more." —Michael Risch, patent law professor at Villanova University
- Traffic deaths spiked this year. Will self-driving cars bring them back down?
A report found that traffic deaths in the first half of 2016 spiked at the highest rate since 1966. Can the government’s plan to push self-driving vehicles save lives?
- Google unveils Noto: One universal font to rule them all?
Google announced one of the biggest typography projects, Noto, on Thursday. The font family covers more than 800 languages and 100 writing scripts.
- First LookFree Basics: The best way to improve Americans’ internet access?
Millions of Americans lack reliable internet access. Facebook says its Free Basics program is the answer. But critics worry about the implications for net neutrality.
- First LookReport: Snap Inc., ready to compete with social media giants, prepares IPO
Snap Inc. is preparing its initial public offering for early next year, further solidifying the company's competition with rivals such as Facebook and Twitter.
- Facebook launches encryption option for Messenger
Facebook users can now opt in to end-to-end encryption on each message thread.
- First LookGoogle's releases: latest round of smartest gadgets yet
Google Home will have access to the company's search engine, but will the speaker deliver on its promise of being a 'personal Google for each and every user'?