All Technology
- Comcast, citing fairness, adds data caps in more cities
Comcast is expanding its "Data Usage Plan Trials" to cities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Virginia. Customers in those cities will have a 300 GB data cap; they'll be charged $35 for additional increments of 50 GB.
- Why undersea Internet cables still power our 'wireless' world
Recently a New York Times article on Russian submarine activity near undersea communications cables dredged up Cold War politics and generated widespread recognition of the submerged systems we all depend upon.
- Too many emails? No problem. Google's Smart Reply will answer for you.
Google's latest revelation is Smart Reply, a system that crafts email responses. But what does this say about privacy invasion?
- In coding classes, Boston schools aim to provide 21st century skills
As a battle rages over an $8 billion education technology sector, schools disagree about the extent to which technology should permeate the classroom.
- In victory for Airbnb, city voters reject proposal to curb short term rentals
Amid a long-running battle over affordable housing in a city often seen as dominated by tech workers, voters rejected a proposal to limit short term rentals.
- Japanese scientists invent nearly unbreakable glass
Researchers in Japan have created glass that is twice as strong as typical glass.
- Google's hackers shame Samsung and others into fixing security flaws
A team of hackers devoted to making the Internet more secure is tasked with finding bugs and pressuring companies to fix them to protect users.
- Tesla reins in Autopilot after 'fairly crazy' drivers misuse self-driving tech
Tesla chief Elon Musk says the company will restrict the Autopilot feature in its Model S electric car so that people will use it more responsibly. Even so, the company says Autopilot has already averted lots of accidents and caused none.
- Google’s new Smart Reply artificial intelligence can write e-mails for you
Smart Reply, a feature rolling out this week for Google's Inbox email app, can automatically read incoming emails and suggest appropriate responses. Smart Reply uses machine learning to judge the gist of an email and compose several different reply options.
- Will Twitter users 'like' the new heart button?
Twitter has changed its 'favorite' star icon to a 'like' heart. Will anything change?
- New drone can navigate on its own at high speeds
An MIT student developed a drone that can avoid obstacles autonomously, using advancements in software.
- EU's Safe Harbor decision reveals rift between US economic, privacy issues
A Congressional hearing turned combative at times on Tuesday, as legislators discussed the fallout of a European court ruling last month that said a 15-year-old data law was invalid.
- What does it mean that Google can now respond to your emails?
Google is about to release a feature that will automatically reply to emails for you. Is it time to delegate more routine tasks to machines?
- When Snapchat’s new privacy fine print matters – and when it doesn't
When Snapchat updated its Terms of Use and Privacy Policy on Friday, many users assumed (incorrectly) that the company was asserting ownership over pictures and videos taken in the app. What does the confusion say about the way privacy policies are written?
- First LookToddlers and touch screens: parents' helpers or 'digital candy'?
A small community survey found that the majority of young children use mobile devices. The verdict is still out on whether that's a good thing or not.
- How kids in Halloween costumes help improve Google's self-driving cars
On Saturday, the company had children wearing Halloween costumes at its California headquarters move around parked self-driving cars, allowing them to 'learn' to anticipate their movements in an effort to make the cars safer.
- South Korea pulls plug on child surveillance app after security concerns
Government officials pulled Smart Sheriff, an app that lets parents track how their children use social media, from the Google Play store over the weekend.
- Why big tech firms are at odds with Trump on immigration
For many, the GOP candidate's mass deportation policy conflicts with the vision of a 21st-century economy.
- Does Facebook's 'real name' policy really protect its users?
Facebook's 'real name' policy requires users to register with the name given on federal IDs or credit cards, a rule that opponents say could harm user safety, even as supporters argue that it will help.
- One OS to rule them all: Why Google will merge Android and Chrome OS
A new report says Google is combining its Chrome OS computer operating system and Android mobile operating system into a single platform. The combined Google OS would run on phones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers.