Thursday, 30 November 2017

Lauri Love would face jail in detention centre condemned by US judges

Appeal court hears that conditions in the Metropolitan Detention Centre, where alleged hacker Lauri Love is likely to be incarcerated if he is extradited to the US, have been described by US judges as “unconscionably bad”, and that Love, who has serious medical conditions, would be at “real risk”

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Transport researchers get 2PB of Scality object storage

Transport Systems Catapult retires ageing NetApp filers with 2PB of Scality object storage in a £1.5m project that future proofs the organisation with built-in DR

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Fintechs must curb privacy invasion, says Privacy International

Privacy International is calling for legislation and regulation to ensure financial technology firms respect consumers’ rights to privacy, equality and non-discrimination

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‘Depressing’ lack of diversity in UK IT workforce sees widespread discrimination

The UK IT sector is a difficult place to find a job unless you are a white, able-bodied male under 50, says BCS research

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AWS fleshes out cloud database proposition, while taking aim at Oracle

The second-day Re:Invent keynote saw AWS lift the veil on 22 new cloud products and services, and aim a few more jabs at Oracle's database proposition

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Millennials could change ‘hero’ mentality in IT departments, says Gartner

Analysts say the generation of millennials entering the IT workforce will create a more collaborative working environment

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Who harasses women? Members of job site give some answers

Fairygodboss -- a job review site for women -- asked its members about sexual harassment in the workplace. It found that majority of women who experience workplace harassment are victimized by peers, and harassers are mostly under the age of 40.

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LG shakes up its struggling mobile division with new top executives

 If you’ve stopped paying attention to LG in the last couple of years, you’ll learn everything you need to know from the first paragraph of its latest press release that highlights a “sweeping realignment to better address the challenges ahead.” The company’s in a tough spot. It makes good and innovative phones, but just seem to make a dent in a crowded mobile… Read More


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Smart wearables are finally taking off - CNET

The worldwide wearables market continues to grow, and smart devices are playing a bigger role.

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Get an Apple TV for $84.55 - CNET

That's by far the lowest price anywhere for the fourth-gen 32GB model. Plus: the lowest price to date for a Sonos Play:1.

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Automation threatens 800 million jobs, but technology could still save us, says report

A new report predicts that by 2030, as many as 800 million jobs could be lost worldwide to automation. The study, compiled by the McKinsey Global Institute, says that advances in AI and robotics will have a drastic effect on everyday working lives, comparable to the shift away from agricultural societies during the Industrial Revolution. In the US alone, between 39 and 73 million jobs stand to be automated — making up around a third of the total workforce.

But, the report also states that as in the past, technology will not be a purely destructive force. New jobs will be created; existing roles will be redefined; and workers will have the opportunity to switch careers. The challenge particular to this generation, say the authors, is...

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Best Fitbit 2017: which is right for you?

Fitbit is a household name when it comes to fitness tracker tech and it offers options for everyone, from running experts and exercise enthusiasts to those who just want to track how far they walk each day.

We've seen the launch of the Fitbit Alta HR and Fitbit Ionic in 2017, while both the Fitbit Charge 2 and Fitbit Flex 2 came out at the tail end of 2016.

Products such as the Fitbit Blaze and Surge sit at the top end of the Fitbit product range to keep those who are into their exercise happy, while there are also choices like the Zip, Charge and Flex for those who need something a little simpler.

There are also rumors for new Fitbit products that may be on the horizon including the Fitbit Charge 3 and Blaze 2. Here you'll find our ranking of the best Fitbit products you can buy right now - look below to find the best Fitbit fitness tracker or watch for your needs:

The best Fitbit is the Charge 2, which has a much larger screen compared to the original Fitbit Charge and the Charge HR. 

It's one of the best fitness trackers you can use right now and comes with fitness features such as a heart rate tracker and guided breathing.

There's also Multi-Sport tracking that allows you to keep a track of outdoor runs, walking, weight training and many more exercises.

It also connects with the GPS on your phone to keep track of your runs as well. You won't be able to use this in a pool though, if you want to go swimming with your tracker we'd recommend looking at the Fitbit Flex 2.

Read the full Fitbit Charge 2 review

The Fitbit Blaze is the dark horse of the Fitbit family. This is one of the stranger devices on the roster as it looks like it's trying to be the first smartwatch from Fitbit, but it's not.

Despite the design, the Fitbit Blaze is still a fitness tracker at heart. The design is a little quirky, but that may be something you want to go for in a fitness tracker.

The display also offers up notifications for your text messages, but not for any other apps you may want to see. 

The Blaze does offer up a variety of new fitness features - such as SmartTrack, which will track your exercise even if you haven't told the wearable what you're going to be doing - allowing you to burn through those calories quickly and easily.

Read the full Fitbit Blaze review

Fitbit Surge

The Surge is now longer the most expensive wearable in Fitbit's stable, and it's since been replaced the smartwatch focused iconic - but it can still be picked up in a few places.

The Fitbit Surge comes with GPS technology built-in, which means you can take it out without having to keep your phone in your pocket while you're jogging.

It comes with a heart rate monitor and a classic watch-like design that some of the other Fitbit products don't offer.

There's a slightly weaker battery life on this Fitbit and the design isn't to everyone's taste, but if you like to run this is one of the best choices of Fitbit for you.

Read the full Fitbit Surge review

The Fitbit Alta HR takes the slim, stylish Fitbit Alta and jams a heart rate monitor into its slender frame, without bulking it up.

Where the original Alta feels a bit light on features, and like it puts form over function, the Alta HR is an admirable tracker which goes beyond basic step tracking, but one that still looks good.

It's still not the most feature-packed - there's no GPS for a start - but it strikes a good balance and is the sort of thing you'll be happy to wear 24/7 (other than when swimming - this isn't waterproof), which is handy, because it can also track your sleep, and the heart rate monitor helps there too.

With basic message and notification alerts pulled from your smartphone and an almost week long battery life too, it's well worth considering if you don't need the features - or don't want the bulk - of something like the Fitbit Surge.

Read the full Fitbit Alta HR review

Do you want a fitness tracker that is easy to use and uncomplicated? The Fitbit Flex 2 may be the best device for you.

It's the only truly waterproof Fitbit, so you'll be able to use this while swimming and track how good your dips in the pool are going.

It's a touch cheaper than the Fitbit Charge 2 as well, so it may be the perfect new Fitbit tracker for you.

Read the full Fitbit Flex 2 review

If you're after a smartwatch from Fitbit, this is your only choice right now. The Fitbit Ionic isn't the fantastic smartwatch like we'd hoped it would be but it succeeds if you're looking for a fitness focused device that can tackle running, weight lifting, swimming and much, much more.

Dedicated workout programs and Fitbit Pay are among the other highlights of the Ionic, but it doesn't perform as well as say the Apple Watch or LG Watch Sport if you're looking for a full blown smartwatch experience. 

It's not cheap either and the Fitbit Ionic is also low in our list of the best Fitbit products because it's just very expensive for what it can offer you.

Read the full Fitbit Ionic review

The Fitbit Alta has a big focus on the design rather than its fitness features.

The style is customizable with various straps so you can switch them out for whatever you feel like that day - you aren't limited to just one choice, like you are on some Fitbit devices.

In our review, we found it also had a week-long battery life. That's even more than the 5 days Fitbit claims for the Alta.

It's not all great though as the Alta's screen isn't very sensitive and it's not waterproof either. But if you're looking for an all-rounder fitness tracker, the Alta may be a good choice for you - though remember there's a Fitbit Alta HR now too, which you'll find elsewhere in this list.

Read the full Fitbit Alta review

Fitbit Zip

If you want a cheap and cheerful tracker that will just monitor how far you walk each day, go for the Fitbit Zip. It's a clip you can put onto your clothing and from there you can just look at how far you've walked each day.

Essentially it's a glorified pedometer and won't be able to track your running anywhere near as accurately as you could on devices like the Surge or the Blaze.

But if you're here just to keep a track on how far you've been walking, the Fitbit Zip isn't a bad choice for you.

Read the full Fitbit Zip review

Fitbit Charge HR

Between the Fitbit Charge and the Charge 2 we got the Fitbit Charge HR, which looks exactly like the original Fitbit Charge but adds a heart rate monitor into the mix.

Fitbit has discontinued the Charge HR, but other retailers still stock it - at least for now - and it makes for a cheaper alternative to the Fitbit Charge 2.

The Charge HR is also one of the more stylish Fitbit products included on this list, but it's not always the most accurate at tracking your steps.

If you're looking to do more rigorous exercise go for one of the devices above such as the Surge or the Blaze. But the Charge HR is still a good choice if you're looking for the odd update on how far you've walked.

Read the full Fitbit Charge HR review



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WeWork has big plans for Alexa for Business

 Amazon is soon to announce Alexa for Business, and WeWork is one of the first partners to have hopped on the platform. WeWork’s vision is to use technology to help businesses make the most out of their physical space, all while customizing that space to each individual’s personal needs. The co-working giant has been on the Alexa for Business platform for about a month now, as part… Read More


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Farmers Business Network just raked in a whopping $110 million in Series D funding

 Farmers Business Network has raised $110 million in new venture funding to support a business that may sound boring to some Silicon Valley technologists but which appears to have addressed a very real need: it’s a social network for farmers that invites them to share their data, pool their know-how, and bargain more effectively for better pricing from third parties. It’s a real… Read More


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Alexa can now control Hulu, NBC, and more on the Fire TV

Today Amazon and its partners updated multiple apps in the US, including Bravo, Hulu, and NBC, so that users can control playback with voice commands. You can use the Alexa Voice Remote, an Echo device, or the Fire TV remote app to search, play, pause, rewind, or fast forward through content from these providers. You can also change the channel. CBS All Access, Showtime, and Playstation Vue also recently received this functionality.

So, for example, you could say, "Alexa, watch The Handmaid's Tale," or "Alexa, play The Real Housewives of Atlanta." Other less-specific program commands include, "Alexa, fast-forward five minutes," or "Alexa, play from the beginning." Clearly Amazon is working toward a voice-controlled future built around...

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This smart ring lets you write words and numbers with your thumb

Those of you who own a smartwatch will be familiar with a major drawback of any wearable device that has a smaller screen than a smartphone – text input is a real pain.

But a team of wearable computing engineers at Georgia Tech has developed what looks like a potential solution. It's a smart ring that lets you trace letters and numbers with your thumb, allowing easy, silent text input on even the tiniest screens.

“A ring augments the fingers in a way that is fairly non-obstructive during daily activities. A ring is also socially acceptable, unlike other wearable input devices,” said Cheng Zhang, the Georgia Tech graduate student who created the technology.

How it works

The system, which is called Fingersound, works pretty simply. The ring has an on-board gyroscope and microphone which detect when the user places their thumb over their fingers and begins to draw a shape. Once the shape is recognized, it can give tactile feedback. 

“Our system uses sound and movement to identify intended gestures, which improves the accuracy compared to a system just looking for movements,” said Zhang. 

“For instance, to a gyroscope, random finger movements during walking may look very similar to the thumb gestures. But based on our investigation, the sounds caused by these daily activities are quite different from each other.”  

Easy to use

The team says that the result is a system that is always available and easy to use. “When a person grabs their phone during a meeting, even if trying to silence it, the gesture can infringe on the conversation or be distracting,” explained Thad Starner, the Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing professor leading the project. 

“But if they can simply send the call to voicemail, perhaps by writing an ‘x’ on their hand below the table, there isn’t an interruption.”

The full details of the project were presented at Unicomp and the ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computing earlier this year.



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Volvo’s car subscription service sounds like good way to get the new XC40

 Volvo has a subscription car service, whereby you can get a new vehicle for a flat monthly fee, including insurance, maintenance and service. It’s not the first carmaker to provide this kind of ownership alternative, but it may have the best deal in the business at the moment, with its ‘Care by Volvo’ exclusively for the new XC40 SUV. The deal works thusly: Pay a monthly… Read More


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'Bomb on board' wi-fi network causes Turkish Airlines flight to be diverted

ANKARA (Reuters) - A Turkish Airlines flight from Nairobi to Istanbul was diverted after the detection of a wi-fi network called "bomb on board" that alarmed the passengers, the airline said on Thursday.


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YouTube Unveils Its Own Stories-Like Feature With 'Reels', Revamps Community

YouTube starts experimenting 'Reels' feature. The limited Community tab is now also available for all YouTube channels with over 10,000 creators.

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Meet Cozmo, the little robot with a big personality

They say nice things come in small packages, and that couldn’t be more true of Anki’s must-have robot, Cozmo. The little robot looks as if it’s come straight out of a Hollywood movie, and it has the brains and the personality to reinforce that impression. Before its UK launch in September this year, How It Works magazine was invited to meet Cozmo, the droid dubbed a ‘supercomputer on treads’.

As soon as you wake Cozmo from his charging pad, via the interactive app downloaded onto a smartphone or tablet, his animatronics come into play. He greets the party with a sleepy yawn and casually rolls off the pad, lifting his arms and making curious noises.

Cozmo has been meticulously programmed with flexible behaviours that are activated at various times, and so before prompting you to play a game via the companion app, he may choose to wander and explore. At this point his advanced sensor equipment maps the terrain in front of him and his small, manoeuvrable body easily navigates the flat surface.

After roaming for a while he stops, raises his head and pivots on the spot, searching for a familiar face. Cozmo’s cameras can swiftly identify human features (as well as those of cats and dogs), and after being instructed to commit a new face to memory, he will recognize that person in future.

Although Cozmo’s personality is apparent as soon he wakes, it doesn’t truly come to the fore until you bring out his Interactive Power Cubes. You can play multiple games against Cozmo this way, and watch as he either celebrates a victory with a squeak and a twirl with his arms raised, or throws a tantrum after a defeat.

Alternatively, you can let him play with the cubes himself and admire his advanced processing power as he aligns himself with his stack of assembled cubes – and laugh as he mischievously knocks them over shortly afterwards.

Before long Cozmo had been sent back to his charge pad and was snoring loudly. As we had yet to see his violent sneezing, acrobatic flips, and many more of his quirks and features, we can't wait to wake him up again soon.



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The best Vodafone deals in November 2017

The best EE phone deals in November 2017

The best O2 phone deals in November 2017

Juniper shares drop after Nokia denies takeover chatter

(Reuters) - Shares of Juniper Networks Inc fell 8 percent in pre-market trade on Thursday after Finland's Nokia denied reports that it was in talks to buy the U.S. network gear maker.


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