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Showing posts from January, 2019

Twitter Says False Content Is Evolving, and More Comes From the U.S.

The social media service said on Thursday that disinformation on its platform now includes more domestic and foreign sources — and not just Russia. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2GbpLKs

Critic’s Pick: An 1840s Road Trip, Captured on Lustrous Silver

An exquisite show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art recalls travel before digital maps, when photography was the hottest of new media. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2TnJ1rR

It’s Not the Stuff of a Playful BuzzFeed Quiz

For the 220 people laid off recently at the digital publisher, a harsh reality hit this week that included a fight for better severance pay and attacks from trolls. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2G1J6P6

Chip Giant Intel Picks Interim Leader as Permanent C.E.O. After Long Search

Robert Swan takes the helm at a time when the Silicon Valley company is financially strong but facing questions about its future. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2SaSR3d

Corner Office: Julia Hartz Founded Eventbrite With Her Fiancé. Then She Took His Job.

The California native is “an energy person” who worked in TV and then did a little of everything at the couple’s start-up. It all prepared her to take it public. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2RWcuwt

Could You Last 11 Days Without the Internet? Tonga Finds Out the Hard Way

Since a fiber-optic cable was severed on Jan. 20, contact with the outside world has been difficult for residents of the remote island nation. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2Sc90W0

Releasing Earnings, Microsoft Stays in Stride, With Cloud Powering the Way

The company reported revenue of $32.5 billion in the last quarter, and it made a profit of almost $8.6 billion, big increases over the same period a year ago. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2S0pH7k

The Shift: Maybe Only Tim Cook Can Fix Facebook’s Privacy Problem

The cold war between Facebook and Apple over data use and privacy is heating up. How far should Mr. Cook take it? from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2DKXdWw

Firm That Sold Social Media Bots Settles With New York Attorney General

The company, Devumi, was exposed as a leading wholesaler of fake Twitter followers in a New York Times investigation last year. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2CXBBVp

Amazon Users in India Will Get Less Choice and Pay More Under New Selling Rules

Under pressure from small merchants, the Indian government is prohibiting Amazon and Walmart from selling products on their own sites. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2MHzZDE

Facebook Gains More Users as Revenue and Profits Climb

Despite a painful year of scandals, the social network reported Wednesday that it continued to grow in the fourth quarter. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2sTNerL

How to Make Your Office More Ergonomically Correct

If your office leaves you with pain in your wrists, back or neck, it doesn’t have to be that way — in fact, it shouldn’t. Here’s how to fix it. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2sXB3u2

Foxconn Is Reconsidering Plan for Manufacturing in Wisconsin

The Taiwan-based company’s intent to build a $10 billion plant with 13,000 jobs was hailed by President Trump. It now sees a shift toward research. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2MH5YDX

Tech We’re Using: An Arsenal of Skype, Voice Recorders and FOIAs

Emily Bazelon, an investigative reporter at The New York Times Magazine, craves easy-to-use tools, whether for interviews, Freedom of Information Act records or her home TV. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2FYbzW2

Foxconn Is Reconsidering Plan for Manufacturing in Wisconsin

The Taiwanese company’s 2017 announcement that it would build a $10 billion plant with 13,000 jobs had been hailed by President Trump. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2HFo2Q6

Does Facebook Really Know How Many Fake Accounts It Has?

The social network has disclosed an estimate for years, but a closer look raises lots of questions. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2WnWqlE

Tesla Outlook: 5 Questions for Elon Musk on Earnings Day

The electric-car maker needs to cut costs, ramp up production, improve service and increase demand. But can its chief executive deliver? from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2RqZBp5

Critic’s Notebook: Our Never-Ending ‘Scam Season’

The conditions that produced Billy McFarland, Anna Delvey and Elizabeth Holmes show no signs of abating. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2MGPSKy

Alibaba, an Icon of China’s Growth, Now Reflects Its Slowdown

The e-commerce giant posted numbers that pale in comparison to earlier surging figures, as a result of its size and the country’s economic slowdown. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2GcGiO7

Tech Fix: How to Save on Your Next Apple Purchase

If recent increases are any indication, chances are your next iDevice will cost even more. We analyzed how prices have shot up and offer ways to buy for less. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2RofCMs

iPhone FaceTime Bug That Allows Spying Was Flagged to Apple Over a Week Ago

A teenager in Arizona discovered the flaw, which allows eavesdropping, on Jan. 19, and his mother contacted Apple the next day. But the company was slow to reply. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2UrhUfw

Apple Says Profits Were Flat, Citing Slump in China

The iPhone maker, which reported quarterly earnings, faces a number of issues, from consumer demand in China to an unusual security bug in its iPhone software. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2UoOkr9

Huawei and China Have Limited Ways to Answer U.S. Charges

Slowing growth and the trade war could restrict Beijing’s ability to get tough. Huawei has shuffled its Washington staff, apparently seeking a reset in relations. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2RmmtWF

How to Disable FaceTime to Avoid Eavesdropping Bug

Apple has disabled Group FaceTime, the feature that enabled the eavesdropping, while it works on a fix. But for extra security, follow these steps. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2CUwSnv

Data Breaches Dent Singapore’s Image as a Tech Innovator

Experts say security concerns are a pitfall for countries that are pushing to make vast troves of data more accessible and centralized. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2DHanE4

Huawei and China Have Limited Ways to Answer U.S. Charges

Slowing growth and the trade war could restrict Beijing’s ability to get tough. Huawei has shuffled its Washington staff, apparently seeking a reset in relations. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2CUuGMw

At Surf Camp 2.0, Data Rules

At the new Surf Simply resort in Costa Rica, guests are videotaped as they catch a wave, and that’s only the beginning of the tech-based coaching. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2Roptlg

Can Technology Help Fix the Housing Market?

A lot of start-ups have promising ideas, but the fundamental problem of affordability seems beyond their reach. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2RXV5Dy

FaceTime Bug Lets iPhone Users Eavesdrop, in a Stumble for Apple

A glitch in the video and audio calling app can transform the smartphone into a device perhaps better suited for espionage. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2CSIQxA

Uh Oh, Apple. An iPhone Bug Lets FaceTime Callers Eavesdrop.

A glitch in Apple’s video and audio calling app FaceTime can transform iPhones into eavesdropping mechanisms. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2FVkNSP

U.S. Formally Accuses Huawei Executive of Helping Evade Iran Sanctions

The Justice Department unveiled sweeping charges against Huawei and its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, who was arrested last year in Canada. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2TjEVBc

A Tiny Screw Shows Why iPhones Won’t Be ‘Assembled in U.S.A.’

Apple decided several years ago to produce a high-end Mac in Texas. The problems that surfaced illustrate the challenges of domestic manufacturing. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2TnMA1v

Lyft’s C.E.O. Is Nudged Into the Spotlight in a Time of Need

Logan Green is known to be reserved, letting his second-in-command speak for their ride-sharing service. But now he’s in a race with Uber to take the companies public. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2MzSFoK

Why Are Young People Pretending to Love Work?

I saw the greatest minds of my generation log 18-hour days — and then boast about #hustle on Instagram. When did performative workaholism become a lifestyle? from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2CLQSbE

Stuff and Things: The Secret World of Amazon’s Power Reviewers

A clandestine society receives an unending stream of products. They create Amazon’s reality. Is there such a thing as too much free stuff? from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2RPXRe3

The Shift: The Hidden Automation Agenda of the Davos Elite

In public, executives wring their hands over automation’s negative consequences for workers. In private, they talk about how they are racing to automate. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2S6pJdj

BuzzFeed’s First Round of Layoffs Puts an End to Its National News Desk

“I know it’s been a hard day,” Ben Smith, the editor in chief of BuzzFeed News, said in a note to the staff. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2TkKBLn

Vodafone, One of World’s Largest Cell Carriers, Halts Buying of Huawei Gear

The British company said it would no longer use the Chinese telecommunications giant’s equipment in some parts of its network in Europe because of political factors. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2S64UPb

‘Hamlet’ in Virtual Reality Casts the Viewer in the Play

A joint production by a Boston theater company and Google hopes to bring high-quality Shakespeare to wider audiences, and new audiences into theaters. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2S6XtqS

Zuckerberg Plans to Integrate WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger

Facebook’s chief executive has asserted control over its sprawling divisions and mandated the social network’s messaging services be knitted together. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2FNIOLo

YouTube Moves to Make Conspiracy Videos Harder to Find

The online service has long been criticized for promoting videos that are full of misinformation but don’t necessarily conflict with its rules. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2UeKcKc

Extending the Stage With Technology

A brief sampling of productions that use augmented reality, smartphone mapping and motion capture, blurring the line between the live and the virtual. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2Dzonji

Bits: The Week in Tech: Silicon Valley Hobnobs in Davos

Controversy over a video uploaded to Twitter over the weekend revealed old fault lines, and why social media is so good at exposing them. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2RSRaYD

Work Friend: When Your Meat Suit Is Angry With Some Other, Louder Meat Suit

Life is just enacting feelings until we expire. And nothing else matters. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2UelRUQ

Amazon Is Pushing Facial Technology That a Study Says Could Be Biased

In new tests, Amazon’s system had more difficulty identifying the gender of female and darker-skinned faces than similar services from IBM and Microsoft. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2B2IJiZ

Intel Searches (and Searches) for a New C.E.O.

Since Brian Krzanich, who was chief executive for five years, was forced out in June, the chip maker has been looking for a new boss. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2G08BiP

How to Use ‘Do Not Disturb’ on Your Phone (While Still Letting Important Calls Through)

The bliss of turning off all notifications on your phone doesn’t have to come with the anxiety of potentially missing an important call or text. Here’s how you can have it all. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2CHJtdl

Microsoft’s Bing Back Online in China After Apparent Blockage

Users in parts of China were unable to access Bing on Wednesday and Thursday, and it remains unclear what led to the shutdown. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2MzcaxW

Shutdown Leaves Uninflated Space Sculpture Circling in Orbit

Trevor Paglen’s “Orbital Reflector” is waiting for F.C.C. clearance before it can be activated. The artist says it might not survive the wait. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2CG0LHW

‘Businesses Will Not Be Able to Hide’: Spy Satellites May Give Edge From Above

With 2,200 observation satellites going into orbit in the next decade, start-ups are trying to use them to churn out financially useful information that could help companies track their rivals. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2Whn1Rf

The Hard Part of Computer Science? Getting Into Class

Student demand for computer science courses is outstripping the supply of professors, creating a student divide of computing haves and have-nots. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2MsdhPO

China Appears to Block Microsoft’s Bing, Despite Company’s Own Censorship

A block, if permanent, would signal that foreign companies can do little to get in Beijing’s good graces as it tightens its grip on online content. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2T5gbfW

Who Posted Viral Video of Covington Students and Protester? Congress Wants to Know

Lawmakers are investigating the Twitter account that first shared the video that has caused an explosive political moment. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2U7RYp6

World Leaders at Davos Call for Global Rules on Tech

Leaders from Japan, China, Germany and South Africa say that international rules are needed for tech, but there is no consensus on details. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2RYYOA7

Tycoon of the Pre-Owned

Can Silicon Valley survivor Julie Wainwright’s luxury consignment company, the RealReal, save retail? from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2sGsvrr

Tech We’re Using: He Reported on Facebook. Now He Approaches It With Caution.

Nick Confessore, an investigative reporter who has written about social media and data privacy, has changed his tech habits after what he has learned. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2DuwLAe

Tech Fix: How to Declutter and Organize Your Personal Tech in a Few Simple Steps

Accessories and data may not take up much physical space, but they contribute to frustration and anxiety. Here are ways to keep e-junk at bay, Marie Kondo-style. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2MrEVMS

The Art of the Internet, Restored and Out in the World

A show at the New Museum celebrates the completion of Rhizome’s Net Art Anthology, a two-year project to preserve and archive digital artworks that were in danger of disappearing. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2S0X6y6

Viacom Buys PlutoTV Streaming Service, Its Biggest Digital Push Yet

The once mighty cable giant is paying $340 million for the free, advertising-based service, which has about 12 million active viewers a month. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2R7jv8k

Did Australia Poke a Hole in Your Phone’s Security?

A law passed last month allows the authorities to compel tech companies to build tools to bypass their products’ encryption. It has global implications. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2W8miBT

How Huawei Wooed Europe With Sponsorships, Investments and Promises

As the Chinese telecommunications giant faces scrutiny over its security, its careful cultivation of European governments and customers is at risk of unraveling. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2HsvuOc

What Made the TV Show ‘You’ a Hit? Netflix

The show drew virtually no audience when it premiered on Lifetime in September. Now that it’s streaming, it’s a different story. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2Dpjk4x

The New New World: China Transforms, and a Factory Owner Struggles to Follow

Shao Chunyou rose from the assembly line to the boss’s office. Now the old recipes for success don’t work, and he must reinvent himself again. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2RVc5JZ

Google Is Fined $57 Million Under Europe’s Data Privacy Law

France penalized the company for not properly disclosing to users how data is collected across its services to present personalized advertising. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2DrdU9v

Coming Soon to a Police Station Near You: The DNA ‘Magic Box’

With Rapid DNA machines, genetic fingerprinting could become as routine as the old-fashioned kind. But forensic experts see a potential for misuse. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2DqlC3L

A.I. Policy Is Tricky. From Around the World, They Came to Hash It Out.

Dozens of senior policymakers who are trying to agree on rules for artificial intelligence gathered at M.I.T. There was even some consensus. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2TXC8gO

Amazon Knows What You Buy. And It’s Building a Big Ad Business From It.

The online retail giant is taking advantage of what it knows better than anyone: consumers’ online shopping habits. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2DnTlL1

#10YearChallenge: Harmless Trend or Boon to Facial Recognition Technology?

The meme encourages people to post a photo of themselves from 10 years and one from today. It’s just a drop in a big bucket of data Facebook has already amassed. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2R08Qfv

Could You Fall in Love With a Robot?

Today people fall in love via their phones. But would your phone be just as satisfying? from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2RXNeFc

F.T.C. Is Said to Be Considering Large Facebook Fines

The agency’s investigation, which began in late March, is continuing, and the commissioners and staff have not reached a final conclusion. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2sBeN9a

D.N.C. Says It Was Targeted Again by Russian Hackers After ’18 Election

In new filings submitted late Thursday, the Democratic National Committee, whose computers were breached in 2016, said it was on the receiving end of a so-called spearphishing campaign in November. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2HhfQ8k

Common Sense: Why Jeff Bezos’ Divorce Should Worry Amazon Investors

The Amazon chief’s split from his wife raises questions about the disposal of their enormous stake in the company he founded. Investors deserve answers. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2sApb0K

Bits: The Week in Tech: How Google and Facebook Spawned Surveillance Capitalism

A new book argues that Google and Facebook created a new business model that profits off private human behavior. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2T1mO2R

AT&T to Advertise on YouTube Again After a Nearly 2-Year Holdout

AT&T, one of the biggest advertisers in the U.S., had balked because offensive content too often accompanied its ads. Now it says YouTube has addressed the issue. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2HkjApP

Work Friend: If You Don’t Think Your Office Is a War Zone You Are Fooling Yourself

Men can’t tell the difference between fear and respect. They act accordingly. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2FJ4K9C

Crowdwise: How to Handle the Dreaded ‘Reply All Moment’

You know that sinking feeling when you accidentally click "Reply All" instead of "Reply?" It's awful. Here's how to handle it, and make sure it never happens again. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2AQJGe2

Wait —: Wait — Is Qai Qai America’s Most Important Doll?

Short answer: yes. Meet the granddaughter of Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2SYA1Jx

Corner Office: Hadi Partovi Was Raised in a Revolution. Today He Teaches Kids to Code.

The founder and chief executive of Code.org, who was born in Iran, says computer science is a “foundational skill,” one that future doctors, lawyers and politicians should all possess. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2DgRS9o

Facebook Identifies Russia-Linked Misinformation Campaign

Facebook removed nearly 500 pages and accounts targeted at Europe and Central Asia. Some originated from an agency controlled by the Kremlin. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2SWogmU

Microsoft Pledges $500 Million for Affordable Housing in Seattle Area

The move is the most ambitious effort yet by a tech company to fund construction for local teachers, firefighters and other middle- and low-income residents. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2T3AudK

Huawei Said to Be Under U.S. Investigation in Trade-Secrets Case

The inquiry grew out of a 2014 civil suit and appears unrelated to other pressure faced by the Chinese company, two people familiar with the case said. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2TWfeGJ

On Technology: How Secrecy Fuels Facebook Paranoia

The social platform knows everything that happens within its walls — that’s the whole point — but it is oddly reticent when it comes to misinformation campaigns. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2TTFd1g

Tech We’re Using: How to Sort Through a Cornucopia of Television Shows

Our assistant TV editor has a state-of-the-art setup for watching shows and movies. But here’s what happens when there can be too much content to choose. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2suAAPB

Tech Tip: The Easy (and Free) Way to Make a Budget Spreadsheet

With a little time, typing and easy-to-use software, you can quickly see your financial picture much more thoroughly and better plan for the future. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2MeXFz0

YouTube Bans Risky Prank Videos Amid Spate of ‘Bird Box’ Challenge Stunts

The video-sharing site said that it was clarifying its policies on the posting of harmful content to explicitly exclude pranks with a “perceived danger of serious physical injury.” from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2QRC4NJ

Facebook Advertising Profiles Are a Mystery to Most Users, Survey Says

About three-fourths of the Facebook users in a Pew Research Center survey said they were not aware of the Ad Preferences page, which lists their personal traits made available to advertisers. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2sDLH9j

Nonfiction: Tracing the Rise of a Guardian Hacker

In “Breaking and Entering,” Jeremy Smith tells the story of a brilliant, larger-than-life computer scientist who runs her own boutique cybersecurity firm. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2APfAb8

Alan R. Pearlman, Synthesizer Pioneer, Dies at 93

Mr. Pearlman’s ARP synthesizers were once ubiquitous in pop and electronic music. By the mid-1970s, they commanded 40 percent of the market. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2FtfxWa

In Portland, Scooter Start-Ups Played Nice. Regulators Took Note.

Three companies agreed to a pilot program with city. The results showed environmental benefits but left unanswered what tight controls mean for profits. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2SWqT8a

Huawei’s Reclusive Founder Rejects Spying and Praises Trump

Ren Zhengfei, C.E.O. of the Chinese tech giant, said he would wait to see if President Trump intervened in the case of his daughter, who is accused of fraud. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2VNk5M2

Huang Qi, Online Dissident and Rights Advocate in China, Faces Trial

The case of the blogger behind the popular website 64 Tianwang has drawn intense international scrutiny, in part because he has a kidney disease. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2VSKJ6f

An Egg, Just a Regular Egg, Is Instagram’s Most-Liked Post Ever

There’s nothing special about the egg. Seems like a fine enough egg. But more than 22 million people have liked it, dethroning Kylie Jenner’s birth-announcement post. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2SYiIIR

Electric Vehicles Are in the Spotlight at Detroit’s 2019 Auto Show

Automakers are rolling out models meant to widen the appeal of electric cars. But making it easier and faster to charge them is a crucial challenge. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2VQicy8

Robotic Milkers and an Automated Greenhouse: Inside a High-Tech Small Farm

Rivendale Farms outside Pittsburgh is a laboratory for applying technology to smaller farms. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2QHj58t

Huawei Fires Employee Arrested in Poland on Spying Charges

The Chinese telecommunications giant said that the alleged actions of the employee, Wang Weijing, had nothing to do with the company. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2Cd5GzG

Who Is MacKenzie Bezos?

Her divorce from the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has made this novelist, and her private life, a public fascination. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2SLxlyS

How We Apologize Now

The iPhone app Notes has become the medium of choice for celebrity mea culpas. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2TNGvLx

Mamá to Madre? ‘Roma’ Subtitles in Spain Anger Alfonso Cuarón

Netflix has dropped Spanish subtitles from “Roma" after the director Alfonso Cuarón called them “parochial, ignorant and offensive to Spaniards themselves.” from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2RoYxHc

Bits: The Week in Tech: It’s Not Easy Being a Unicorn

Stock market fluctuations are making some hearts in Silicon Valley flutter as they prepare their companies for initial public offerings. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2RkWdkl

E.T.F.s Try to Lure Investors Into Ever Narrower Niches

By carving the stock market into specialized slices, these funds may tempt shareholders to take imprudent risks in the quest for the next big thing. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2FpW2wZ

The Shift: Juul’s Convenient Smoke Screen

After making billions of dollars and joining forces with Big Tobacco, Juul is trying to reinvent itself as a public-health crusader. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2QElVuN

More Start-Ups Have an Unfamiliar Message for Venture Capitalists: Get Lost

Frustrated with the perverse incentives of fast growth, founders are criticizing the investment model that built the tech industry as we know it. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2VM9Wz7

Board Sued Over Google’s Exit Package for Accused Executive

A shareholder lawsuit claims the directors of Google’s parent company approved a payout for Andy Rubin, who was accused of sexual harassment, in order to “keep the matter quiet.” from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2ADrgxC

Older People Shared Fake News on Facebook More Than Others in 2016 Race, Study Says

Users aged 65 and older posted seven times as many articles from fake news sites as adult users 29 and younger, a study published this week found. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2Rk7UaR

Twitter Users in China Face Detention and Threats in New Beijing Crackdown

Authorities are using harsh methods to target people posting criticism of the government on a social media platform that is blocked in the country, extending online censorship beyond China’s borders. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2FoQTW3

Jeff Bezos of Amazon and MacKenzie Bezos Plan to Divorce

The financial details of the split are sure to be complicated, though the world’s richest man and his wife of 25 years vow to “remain cherished friends.” from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2QBbDvx

China’s Ambassador to Canada Blames ‘White Supremacy’ for Feud Over Arrests

Lu Shaye said in an op-ed for The Hill Times that Canadians applied “double standards,” viewing their own country’s laws as having to be observed, but not China’s. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2FmCkmC

Investors Were Spooked About Profits. Now Come the Facts.

After the worst year for stocks in a decade, investors are eager to hear what executives expect in 2019 as companies report fourth-quarter earnings. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2D2LKkP

Tech Fix: CES 2019: It’s the Year of Virtual Assistants and 5G

A visual tour of the world’s most important tech conference offers a window into the year’s trends, including next-generation wireless networks and the invasion of A.I. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2H5KuBv

Tech We’re Using: To Cover China, There’s No Substitute for WeChat

Li Yuan conducts much of her work on the WeChat mobile app, including spotting trends — and prodding sources to get back to her. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2QzU0fu

German Man Is Arrested Over Hacking of Public Figures’ Data

The personal information, photos, chats and other online information of hundreds of lawmakers and others had been posted online. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2C6Fjvm

Sony’s Chief Plans to Make Entertainment Assets a Priority

Kenichiro Yoshida says he considers Sony ”a creative entertainment company” and sees the PlayStation Network as a way to bring Sony movies, shows and music to consumers. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2RbtX3C

Who Wants a Market Downturn? These Investors Actually Do.

Some venture capitalists are rooting for a market dip to calm Silicon Valley’s overheated start-up scene. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2C73Wbe

The Shift: Apple’s Biggest Problem? My Mom

The most consequential hit to the bottom line may be from people, including longtime fans, who are holding on to their phones longer. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2RaVWAj

5 Reasons You Wouldn’t Want to Be in Tim Cook’s Shoes Right Now

Apple’s chief executive has enjoyed enormous success over his seven years running the company, but he’s likely to face tougher times ahead. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2LVGvq4

In Price and Value, Chinese Phone Makers Outpace Apple in Much of the World

The tech giant’s recent warning about disappointing iPhone sales in China obscured the fact that it is also losing out to Chinese brands in places like France, Germany, India and Southeast Asia. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2CRCTCr

‘Bandersnatch’ Has Many Paths, but Do Any of Them Add Up to Anything?

Three critics review their respective versions of the “Black Mirror” choose-your-own-adventure movie, which has been elaborately dissected by the internet. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2AxHHeD

Marriott Concedes 5 Million Passport Numbers Lost to Hackers Were Not Encrypted

The overall number of guests affected by the hacking, in which Chinese intelligence is the leading suspect, declined to 383 million. But the passport data is critical to intelligence agencies. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2SIMZuI

Bits: The Week in Tech: Amazon’s Burning Problems

Technology publications are asking pointed questions about the online retail company. And Apple had rare, surprising bad news about sales. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2QqIl2V

Hackers Leak Details of German Lawmakers, Except Those on Far Right

Twitter has shut down an account that had been posting personal data for weeks. Only the Alternative for Germany party appeared to be unscathed. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2AwnNRo

Los Angeles Accuses Weather Channel App of Covertly Mining User Data

In a lawsuit on Thursday, the city attorney said tracking was used not just for local forecasts but also for commercial purposes like targeted marketing. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2QkhuFC

Chinese Consumers’ Confidence Sags, Casting a Pall Over the Global Economy

Apple’s slumping Chinese iPhone sales are the latest sign that the country’s spenders are increasingly bothered by the economy, debt and other problems. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2F5TULI

Wheels: Car Tuneups That Require Audio Engineers

While carmakers and audio teams must battle over environment, budget, weight and space, owners simply want their vehicle to sound as if Ariana Grande were riding shotgun. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2SuOr3U

Tech Fix: Devices That Will Invade Your Life in 2019 (and What’s Overhyped)

A.I. that responds to your voice. Next-generation wireless networks. If this year’s biggest consumer technology trends have a familiar ring, there’s a reason for that. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2s8SbfQ

Apple Cuts Revenue Guidance Because of Slow Sales in China

The surprise announcement added to concerns about the ability of American tech giants to navigate an increasingly uncertain economy and a continuing trade war between the United States and China. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2AuiyS7

Tech We’re Using: Hurricanes. Shootings. Fires. Time for an Editor’s Emergency Kit.

When news of natural disasters or man-made ones break in the U.S., Julie Bloom taps a variety of tools to communicate with reporters, edit stories and get them published. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2ApDIAY

Tesla Reports Record Output, but Cuts Prices, and Its Shares Plunge

The automaker said production of the Model 3 sedan increased 15 percent over the previous quarter, but the price cut could signal softening demand. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2GOLpWV

Overlooked No More: Karen Sparck Jones, Who Established the Basis for Search Engines

A pioneer of computer science for work combining statistics and linguistics, and an advocate for women in the field. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2TiiBaG

The New New World: Censoring China’s Internet, for Stability and Profit

Thousands of low-wage workers in “censorship factories” trawl the online world for forbidden content, where even a photo of an empty chair could cause big trouble. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2EZv8Ml

Netflix Blocks Show in Saudi Arabia Critical of Saudi Prince

The episode of “Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj,” which critiques the crown prince, was blocked from streaming in the country after the government complained that it violated cybercrime laws. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2R2q7da

Curbs on A.I. Exports? Silicon Valley Fears Losing Its Edge

The Commerce Department is considering national security restrictions on artificial intelligence. Some worry they could stunt the industry in the U.S. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2GNqgfS

Big Tech May Look Troubled, but It’s Just Getting Started

Even as Facebook, Google and others confronted challenges in 2018, their ambitions were undimmed. After all, so much of life remains undisrupted. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2F0IOHx

Rocket Launches, Trips to the Moon and More Space and Astronomy Events in 2019

A busy year in space just ended, and this one will be full of new highlights in orbit and beyond. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2SqlUfH

With Drone Deliveries on the Horizon, Europe Moves to Set Ground Rules

A former military airfield in Belgium will be used to test technology and help regulators set rules for delivery by unmanned flying devices. from NYT > Technology https://nyti.ms/2AoWmsB