What to Expect Now that Internet Providers Can Collect and Sell Your Web Browser History | MSN

March 30, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

After Congress handed President Trump legislation Tuesday that would wipe away landmark privacy protections for Internet users, we received a lot of reader questions about what happens next. The legislation makes it easier for Internet providers, such as AT&T and Verizon, to collect and sell information such as your Web browsing history and app usage. But let’s get into the details: You wanted to know whether the measure could help the government dig up dirt on people. You asked how to protect your privacy. And some of you even asked if it would be possible to buy up the online browsing histories of Trump or members of Congress.

To find out, I spoke to a number of privacy and security experts who have been following these issues closely in the public and the private sectors.

US Hiker Given Warning for Rescuing ‘Abandoned’ Bear Cub | BBC News

March 30, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A hiker in the US has avoided criminal charges after rescuing what appeared to be an abandoned black bear cub from an Oregon trail.

Corey Hancock, 41, spotted the bear lying on his back alone when returning from a hike on Monday evening.

He said he believes the malnourished bear cub’s mother had purposefully left him or been shot by hunters.

It was initially suggested he could face charges for removing the cub from his habitat.

Samsung’s Sleek S8 Has Curved Screen, Facial Recognition | Bloomberg

March 29, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Samsung Electronics Co. knows it needs to get its new flagship smartphone right. Apart from making sure the gadget won’t cause bodily harm, the company packed it with a plethora of new features: taller, curved screens, encrypted facial recognition, deeper display colors, system-wide voice control and the ability to turn into a desktop computer.

The Galaxy S8 comes in two sizes, a standard 5.8-inch display model and a Plus version with a 6.2-inch screen. Both are larger than the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the lineup’s main competition until Apple Inc. rolls out its 10th-anniversary iPhone later this year. In line with smartphone trends, Samsung’s new devices feature slimmer bezels alongside the display and are curved on all four corners. Pre-orders will begin soon after the unveiling, ahead of the S8’s April 21 release. It comes in five colors: midnight black, maple gold, coral blue, arctic silver and orchid gray.

Pandora Just Released Its Spotify Killer, And It’s Surprisingly Impressive | Fast Company

March 29, 2017March 29, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

In a way, opening the new Pandora app feels like running into an old friend. For one thing, I haven’t been using Pandora much for the last few years, opting instead to binge on music via Spotify, SoundCloud, and vinyl, dipping into Pandora only rarely. But just like someone from an earlier phase of life, Pandora seems to know me and we pick up right where we apparently left off: listening to Slowdive, the dreamy English shoegaze band from the 1990s. I didn’t ask Pandora to take me down this road, but it suits my mood just fine on this chilly March afternoon.

Of course, Pandora has always been able to dive into a personalized radio station like this. But now the app has a new trick: Its brand-new on-demand music subscription tier, built to rival Spotify and Apple Music, is layered seamlessly on top of its famous people-and-data-powered playlisting engine. Pandora Premium is here. So far it sounds pretty good, but I can’t help but wonder whether or not it’s too late.

Scientists Have Some Wild Ideas for Solving Our Big Bee Problem | NBC News

March 28, 2017March 27, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The world’s bees are in big trouble — even more than you might have realized.

Last year the U.S. lost a mind-boggling 44 percent of its honeybee colonies. Certain bee species — including the rusty-patched bumblebee and Hawaiian yellow-faced bees — are on the brink of extinction. Even “Buzz the Bee” disappeared from Honey Nut Cheerios boxes earlier this month because General Mills decided removing the familiar mascot could help spotlight the problem.

A world without bees wouldn’t be pretty, and not just because we’d miss their buzzing on lazy summer afternoons. Bees play an indispensable role in pollination. About 75 percent of our major crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, reproduce only with the help of bees and other pollinators.

Uber Self-Driving Cars Back on San Francisco Roads After Arizona Crash | Fortune.com

March 27, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Driverless vehicles operated by Uber Technologies were back on the road in San Francisco on Monday after one of its self-driving cars crashed in Arizona, the ride-hailing company said.

Uber’s autonomous vehicles in Arizona and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, remained grounded but were expected to be operating again soon, according to a spokeswoman for the company, who refused to be identified.

“We are resuming our development operations in San Francisco this morning,” she said in an email.

Brands and Media Agencies Send Google an Ultimatum: Evolve or Else | Adweek

March 24, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

“Google’s next step is simple: they must acknowledge that they cannot grade their own homework.”

That’s one top media agency executive’s take on the scandal that has threatened to engulf the search and video giant over the past few days after AT&T, Verizon, J&J and pharma giant GSK became the latest big brands to pull all advertising from YouTube over disagreements on controversial content—including videos supporting terrorist groups like ISIS.

Why Virgin America Will Soon Cease To Exist | Forbes

March 23, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The Virgin America name is being permanently grounded.

Alaska Airlines, which bought the airline for $2.6 billion last year, said on Wednesday it has decided to ditch Virgin America’s brand name and logo sometime in 2019.

However, it will hang on to certain signature features, like mood lighting, music and enhanced in-flight entertainment.

“While the Virgin America name is beloved to many, we concluded that to be successful on the West Coast we had to do so under one name – for consistency and efficiency, and to allow us to continue to deliver low fares,” said Sangita Woerner, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of marketing.

Airline electronics ban: What you need to know | Money CNN

March 22, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Flying to the U.S. and Britain from airports in the Middle East and North Africa just got a lot more complicated.

The Trump administration has ordered nine airlines to stop passengers from bringing most types of electronic devices — not including smartphones — into the cabin for U.S.-bound flights. Instead, those devices must be checked in.

The U.K. government has announced similar restrictions.

The sudden moves, attributed to concerns about potential terrorist attacks, create a new headache for airline staff and passengers.

How Small Businesses Are Using AI Chatbots in 2017 | Business News Daily

March 21, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Artificially intelligent chatbots aren’t just for Fortune 500 companies anymore. Thanks to a slew of innovative bot ventures that focus on the user experience, small business owners are now using AI technology to improve daily operations, connect with clients and increase sales. Heavy hitters like Mark Zuckerberg and Satya Nadella have publicly touted the value of AI chatbot technology, and with Google investing in Allo, Facebook’s launch of Messenger, Windows’ rollout of Cortana, and the early success of Operator and Telegram, it’s reasonable to assume that AI chatbots are going to be ubiquitous.

Here’s how early adopters in the small business category are currently engaging with AI chatbot technology through subscription services, custom builds, free services and beta testing.