Innholdsfortegnelse for #432 i Techlife News

Facebook joined YouTube, Twitter and payment service Venmo in demanding that a facial recognition company stop harvesting user images to identify the people in them, which the startup does as part of its work with police. Facebook said it has demanded New York-based Clearview AI stop accessing or using information from its flagship site and Instagram. “Scraping people’s information violates our policies,” a company spokesman said. Clearview has drawn scrutiny following investigative reports in January by the New York Times and Buzzfeed detailing its work with law enforcement agencies and its practice of scraping social media and other internet platforms for images. Venmo said it is sending Clearview a cease-and-desist letter. “Scraping Venmo is a violation of our terms of service and we actively work to limit and block activity…

U.S. companies added 291,000 jobs in January, a big increase from December, but much of that strength likely reflected unusually warm weather during the month. Payroll processor ADP said Wednesday that the January job gain, which was larger than had been expected, compared to a revised December figure of 193,000. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said that warmer-than-normal weather for January played a big role in the increase. He said without that impact, the job gain would probably have been around 150,000. The ADP report is coming out ahead of the Labor Department’s release of the January jobs report on Friday. Many analysts expect that report will show a job gain of 150,000 in January, compared to 145,000 jobs in the government’s report in December. Analysts believe the…

Britain announced that it plans to ban the sale of new gas and diesel cars by 2035 — five years earlier than its previous target — in a bid to speed up efforts to tackle climate change. The announcement was timed to coincide with the launch of Britain’s plans for the United Nations’ climate summit, known as COP26, which is scheduled to be held in Glasgow in November. But the U.K. government’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions was questioned by the woman who was appointed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to head the Glasgow climate summit — and then was fired last week. Sacked conference president Claire O’Neill said Britain’s efforts to fight climate change were “miles off track.” Britain has pledged to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions…

A new Maryland bill would ask the state’s Department of Information Technology to develop a baseline plan for localities within the state to help battle cyber attacks. Senate bill 120, introduced by Sen. Susan Lee, D-Montgomery, would give the Maryland Department of Information Technology the expanded responsibility of developing a cybersecurity strategy and helping agencies within the state implement it at their discretion. Under current law, the Department of Information Technology oversees the defense of state systems, but not that of counties, school districts and other similar entities. Having a sample plan in place could be beneficial in preventing future attacks that disrupted the likes of the city of Baltimore and Salisbury Police Department recently and cost millions in reparations. The legislation does not mandate significant increases in expenditures by…

At Rosendale Dairy, each of the 9,000 cows has a microchip implanted in an ear that workers can scan with smartphones for up-to-the-minute information on how the animal is doing — everything from their nutrition to their health history to their productivity. Feed is calibrated to deliver a precise diet and machines handle the milking. In the fields, drones gather data that helps bump up yields for the row crops grown to feed the animals. Technology has played an important role in agriculture for years but it’s become a life and death matter at dairy farms these days, as low milk prices have ratcheted up pressure on farmers to seek every possible efficiency to avoid joining the thousands of operations that have failed. “If I use 100 bags of seed…

At $15 a pop in major cities — and sometimes more — going to the cinema can easily break the bank. That’s where a movie subscription comes in. Although MoviePass failed in its bid to let you catch first-run movies just about anywhere for a low monthly price, many theater chains are now offering plans of their own. These plans cost more than MoviePass’ $10-a-month starting price, and they work only at each chain’s own theaters, which mostly show big studio releases. That means you’ll still have to pay full price for that obscure indie flick at the local art house. But these plans can still be a good deal if you average just a few movies a month at those theaters. If you’re still looking to catch up on…

World Athletics cleared distance runners to keep wearing a favored Nike design even though it acknowledged shoe technology poses a risk to the sport. The governing body published updated guidelines which limited the use of prototype shoes like the high-tech Nike style worn in a sub-2 hour marathon run by Eliud Kipchoge in Vienna in October. Independent research showed “sufficient evidence to raise concerns that the integrity of the sport might be threatened by the recent developments in shoe technology,” the Monaco-based governing body said. An expert working group will be created to assess new shoes entering the market. Still, the more established Nike style called Vaporfly, increasingly favored by top marathon runners, can be worn. World Athletics set a guideline taking effect on April 30 that a shoe must…

The cosmic detector that required a series of difficult spacewalking repairs is back in action. The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is working better than ever, Samuel Ting, the Nobel laureate who oversees the instrument, said. The $2 billion spectrometer — the International Space Station’s premier science instrument — has now measured 152 billion charged cosmic rays in its hunt for elusive antimatter and dark matter, said Ting, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A pair of astronauts conducted four spacewalks, beginning in November, to replace the spectrometer’s failing cooling system. The final spacewalk, last week, was the only one where Ting was not at NASA’s Mission Control in Houston. Instead, he was in Switzerland at the control room for the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, which helps…

Automakers are considering whether to resume operations in China amid efforts to contain a virus outbreak, but the impact is spreading for many other companies. Retailers are closing shops and big tech companies are canceling presentations at trade shows. Here is a look at the latest developments as of Thursday: NISSAN MOTOR CO.: The Japanese automaker says it is considering reopening some factories in China next week but operations in the province at the center of the virus outbreak won’t resume until at least Feb. 14. Nissan has a factory and offices in Wuhan, the city where the first virus cases were reported in December. TOYOTA MOTOR CORP.: The automaker said it will decide Monday on further action for its 12 idled factories in China. Four of the facilities are…

The LinkedIn professional networking service is getting a new CEO. Jeff Weiner will become executive chairman after 11 years as chief of the Microsoft-owned business. Ryan Roslansky, senior vice president of product, will become CEO as of June 1. Weiner said the timing felt right personally and professionally, with a ready successor. Roslansky said LinkedIn’s priority of serving the world’s professionals isn’t going to change. LinkedIn is a social network for workers and job seekers. Recruiters use it to find new hires. Users can share their resumes, search for jobs and catch up on career advice and the latest news. The basic version is free, though LinkedIn charges to get additional features. Weiner said he sees his new role as similar to how LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman helped him. “He…

Chinese tech giant Huawei accused U.S. phone carrier Verizon of violating its patents in a lawsuit filed Thursday, broadening efforts to defend company’s business in the United States amid government sanctions. Huawei Technologies Ltd. accused Verizon Communications Inc. of violating 12 patents on optical transmission, digital communications and other technology, according to a copy of the lawsuit released by the company. Huawei said it filed the lawsuit after negotiations failed to produce a licensing agreement. In separate cases, Huawei also is challenging U.S. government measures to limit its access to the American market on security grounds. There was no indication Thursday’s lawsuit was related to those. The suit asks a U.S. federal court in Waco, Texas, to award unspecified damages and license fees. Huawei, the No. 2 global smartphone brand…

As concerns about China’s virus outbreak spread, universities all over the world are scrambling to assess the risks to their programs, and some are canceling study-abroad opportunities and prohibiting travel affecting hundreds of thousands of students. From Europe to Australia and the United States, universities in countries that host Chinese students have reconsidered academic-related travel to and from China. In the U.S., the cancellations add to the tension between two governments whose relations were already sour. The scare threatens to cause lasting damage to growing academic exchange programs that reached new heights over the last decade and a half, experts say. The travel restrictions also complicate planning for conferences and campus events in the U.S. that scholars from China might attend. “That door has been, if not slammed shut, certainly…

2019 was one of Apple’s most successful years to date, but the company is showing no signs of slowing down. As well as five new iPhones launching in 2020, Apple is expanding its universe, introducing innovative products and services to keep the tech giant at the top. SPRING LAUNCHES Though Apple traditionally saves big launches for September, where iPhones and Apple Watches are given their annual upgrade, this year the company looks set to rinse and repeat its 2019 release schedule, hosting a Special Event in March to show off the new products it’s been working on, giving Apple fanatics another excuse to head into their local Apple Store. Word on the grapevine suggests Apple will kick off 2020 with an affordable smartphone, the spiritual successor to the iPhone SE.…

Twitter will begin to label and in some cases remove doctored or manipulated photos, audio and videos that are designed to mislead people. The company said this week that the new rules prohibit sharing synthetic or manipulated material that’s likely to cause harm. Material that is manipulated but isn’t necessarily harmful may get a warning label. Under the new guidelines, the slowed-down video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in which she appeared to slur her words could get the label if someone tweets it out after the rules go into effect March 5. If it was proven that it also causes harm, Twitter could also remove it. But deciding what might cause harm could be difficult to define, and some material will likely fall into a gray area. “This will…

Will Mario follow in the steps of Mickey Mouse? Japanese video game maker Nintendo Co. said it is bullish about profiting from its characters by mirroring the historical appeal of the Disney franchise. “We are thinking about the Nintendo brand that way,” said the company’s game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto. He stressed that Nintendo characters have an extra, interactive element because they originate from video games. “We want more people to know our characters, not just through games,” he said. Nintendo has been banking on its intellectual property. Its own branded store and event space in Tokyo has opened recently, and a Nintendo park is set to open at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, central Japan, later this year. More are in the works, including in Hollywood and Singapore, according to…

Almonds used to have about 170 calories per serving. Then researchers said it was really more like 130. A little later, they said the nuts may have even less. Calorie counting can be a simple way to help maintain a healthy weight — don’t eat and drink more than you burn. And the calorie labels on food packaging seem like an immutable guide to help you track what you eat. But the shifting numbers for almonds show how the figures printed on nutrition labels may not be as precise as they seem. Last month, Kind said it was lowering the calorie counts for its snack bars, even though the ingredients weren’t changing. The company cited studies that indicate nuts have fewer digestible calories than previously believed. Conducted by government researchers…

The Federal Communications Commission opened a window for federally recognized tribes to apply for licenses that could help establish or expand internet access on their lands. Tribes had pushed to be first in line for mid-band spectrum licenses that largely are unassigned across the western United States and once were reserved for educational institutions. The 2.5 Ghz-band of spectrum — channels of electromagnetic waves — are seen as key to expanding 5G access. The FCC estimates that about one-third of people living on tribal lands don’t have access to high-speed internet, but others say the figure is twice as high. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told tribes gathered in Washington last month for a broadband workshop that the licenses could be a “game-changer,” allowing tribes to consult online with specialists, work…

Madrid’s international airport was closed for over one hour on Monday due to the reported sighting of drones, authorities in Spain said. The airport manager, AENA, tweeted that 26 flights had been diverted to other airports by the time air traffic restrictions were lifted at 14.15 p.m. (1315 GMT). It said that a security committee had been set up to study the incident. The Transport Ministry announced the closure of the airspace around the Adolfo Suárez-Barajas airport in Madrid after Enaire, Spain’s air navigation authority, reported the possible presence of drones in the area. Spain’s Civil Guard said an investigation had been opened after two pilots had reported seeing some drones near the airport, which is located just east of the city center. Enaire, which activated a special procedure to…

Major Seattle-area companies say they are willing to be taxed to help address regional challenges, such as affordable housing and public safety. KUOW reports the companies -- including Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, and Alaska Airlines – signed a statement released Tuesday, saying: “We think the most high impact way to contribute to meet those needs is in the form of a new business tax.” The statement comes as state lawmakers consider a bill that would allow King County to tax large businesses with high earners to help address homelessness in the region. In the statement, the eleven employers stop short of supporting the proposed measure. Instead, the statement says any tax should be “imposed at a reasonable level with accountability for results in homelessness and affordable housing.” The bill, which is…

Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia Corp. has reported a rise in fourth-quarter earnings mainly due to cost savings and pledged to boost investments in next-generation 5G networks, of which it is one of the world’s main suppliers. Net profit during the October-December period rose 11% to 821 million euros ($903million) while sales remained flat at 6.9 billion euros. Nokia, based in Espoo, Finland, said Thursday it expects to resume dividend payments after the company’s net cash position improves to around 2 billion euros. It would not, however, expect to reach that level in the first three quarters of this year. In October, Nokia cut its business outlook and halted dividend payments, justifying the decision on need to step up investments into 5G networks, where it competes with China’s Huawei and…

Eight months after it seemed headed for the corporate junkyard, Tesla is now worth more than General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler combined, even though the Big Three together sell more cars and trucks in two weeks than Tesla does in a whole year. In a reversal of fortune analysts find amazing if not nutty, the stock of the electric vehicle and solar panel maker has rocketed to nearly $900, up over 30% in just the past two days. It is now worth five times what it was in June, when there were whispers of bankruptcy surrounding the company founded by the erratic visionary Elon Musk. Among the world’s automakers, Tesla, with a market value Tuesday just shy of $160 billion, ranks behind only Toyota, at $232 billion. Many investors…

Better late than never, YouTube is making clear there will be no “birtherism” on its platform during this year’s U.S. presidential election. Nevermind that the conspiracy theory around former President Barack Obama’s citizenship emerged in 2008 and has not been a widespread issue since he last ran for president in 2012. The Google-owned video service is also reiterating that it won’t allow election-related “deepfake” videos and anything that aims to mislead viewers about voting procedures and how to participate in the 2020 census. Neither of these policies is new either, but YouTube clarified its rules ahead of the Iowa caucuses Monday in an apparent attempt to ensure that it is working to prevent the spread of election-related misinformation on its service. Google, Facebook, Twitter and other technology platforms are under…

At least one U.S. phone company likely broke the law by sharing data that can pinpoint the location of smartphone users, the Federal Communications Commission said. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a letter to Congress that one or more wireless companies apparently violated federal law and could be subject to penalties. He didn’t name any companies but said the commission would decide soon on enforcement actions, now that the agency has completed an investigation. The FCC’s enforcement bureau began investigating following 2018 reports that U.S. wireless providers were selling real- time phone location information to outside data aggregation firms without phone users’ knowledge or consent. Location-tracking services can use the data to keep tabs on packages and vehicles or create personalized marketing pitches, but it can also be used…

Atari, the arcade game company that ushered in the gaming revolution in the 1980s, is opening eight video game-themed hotels across the United States, including ones in Las Vegas and Phoenix. The company said this week it will break ground on its first hotel later this year in Phoenix as it seeks to create a unique lodging experience combining the brand with a video game-themed destination. “Atari Hotels level up hotel entertainment with fully immersive experiences for every age and gaming ability, including the latest in VR and AR (Virtual and Augmented Reality),” the company said in a statement. “Select hotels will also feature state-of-the-art venues and studios to accommodate esports events.” Hotel development and design are being led by Shelly Murphy’s GSD Group and Napoleon Smith III, producer of…

Monday night could not have gone better for online troublemakers who have spent years propagating false or misleading conspiracy theories on the internet that the U.S. election is rigged or vulnerable to tampering. The delayed election results from the Iowa caucuses revealed some Democratic candidates’ supporters are so distrustful of the outcome that they peppered the internet with unproven claims that accused the Democratic Party of corruption by attempting to tilt the election in favor of a single candidate. President Donald Trump and his supporters seized on that distrust by sending tweets Monday night with #RiggedElection. Trump’s own sons shouted “Rigged!” at an Iowa campaign event. And Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham suggested in a tweet that the caucus issues were the result of a “Bernie blowout.” It’s the type of…

A team of scientists is preparing to dive deep into the depths of the Indian Ocean — into a “Midnight Zone” where light barely reaches but life still thrives. Scientists from the British-led Nekton Mission plan to survey wildlife and gauge the effects of climate change in the unexplored area. Working with the Seychelles and Maldives governments, the five-week expedition is targeting seamounts — vast underwater mountains that rise thousands of meters from the sea floor. To explore such inhospitable depths, Nekton scientists will board one of the world’s most advanced submersibles, called “Limiting Factor.” “What we do know is that beneath 1,000 meters (3,280 feet), there’s no light down there, but a lot of animals … are bioluminescent. It’s life that glows,” says Nekton mission director Oliver Steeds. “The…

Travel restrictions and business closures aimed at stopping the spread of a new virus that has killed more than 300 people in China could end up causing ripple effects that harm the global economy, experts say. “When you stop planes and ships, trains and and motor vehicles from moving, it starts to shut down the economy — and that can have a cascading effect throughout society,” Dr. Eric Toner, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said after multiple airlines announced that they would suspend or cut back on flights to and from China, and several countries, including the U.S., imposed travel restrictions. “And it’s not just airline pilots who get out of work, I mean, it’s you know, it’s everybody that they depend on.” It’s not…