Tech news

Red Hat has announced the addition of high-density storage capabilities to its in-memory data management technology. The company has expanded an alliance with Azul Systems to build on their prior collaboration to provide entitlements for Azul Zing with JBoss Data Grid subscriptions. The arrangement will help customers meet speed and volume needs for their big data environments. The design of Azul's Zing runtime for Java supports high-performance on-heap storage, making it well-suited for JBoss Data Grid deployments that feature large in-memory data sets. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2oBQdT8

Apple's plans to open a number of healthcare centers for its employees surfaced this week. Called the "AC Wellness Network," the centers will offer "a unique concierge-like healthcare experience for employees and their dependents," according to a website Apple set up for the initiative. Apple revealed more details about its healthcare venture at the Glassdoor job website. "AC Wellness is an independent medical practice exclusively dedicated to delivering Passionate, Compassionate, and Effective Healthcare to Apple employees and their families." from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2HSZpLV

It's common for Linux users to hop between distributions and survey the field, and I recently reached a point where I had to seriously rethink the one I was using most of the time. Between hardware compatibility issues with my old standby and some discouraging missteps with other go-to choices, I felt the time had come to reassess my pool of preferred distributions and repopulate it from scratch. As my journey progressed, I realized that as often as I've discussed the field of Linux-based systems, I had not addressed how to pick one out. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2CMvC3J

"From the consumer point of view, when you go shopping you have people who help you and service you, and you walk away happy," said FutureProof Retail President Di Di Chan. "What we're doing is bringing the online offline, to centralize that service. It's not just the top VIP shopper who can enjoy that experience -- everyone can. ... From a retail point of view, costs are increasing -- for goods, operations and service -- but prices can't be increased too much. The only way to make up for that is to have increased efficiency." from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2FCcIiK

Samsung has raised the curtain on the latest models of its flagship Galaxy smartphones, the S9 and S9+, featuring improved imaging and audio performance. Two standout features in the 12-megapixel rear-facing camera are improved low light performance and super slow-mo video. By adding dual aperture capabilities to the camera, Samsung has boosted the unit's performance in challenging lighting conditions, allowing more light through the lens when conditions are dark and less in bright light. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2BT6xHp

The shooting at the school in Florida was devastating, and it appears clear that Russia has been manipulating public opinion in the U.S. to stoke the flames of a divisive argument on guns. What is being missed is a brewing problem that potentially could have an even more devastating impact. Competing for our eyeballs is the news that the U.S. president kissed a woman without her permission. That story has served as a distraction from far more horrendous attacks against women in the tech industry and in government. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2ozPB0f

Conservatives on Twitter have been fulminating over their losses of followers measured in the thousands, a consequence of the network's unannounced lockout earlier this week of suspected bot accounts. Among those objecting to the move are some high-profile figures known for expressing extreme right-wing views, including Michael Flynn Jr., son of the disgraced former national security advisor to Donald Trump; white supremacist Richard Spencer; Infowars editor Paul Joseph Watson; and NRA TV host Dan Bongino. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2CDVeQe

The Endless OS is a distro with its own adapted desktop environment based on Gnome 3, and with an even simpler and more streamlined user experience. Although it looks and feels a lot like an Android shell running on a PC, Endless OS is a fully functional Linux distro designed to be easy to install and very simple to use. The latest version's features include automatic updates, improved launch speed for applications, and some Flatpak programs from the Flathub community repository rather than Endless' custom repository. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2sJfErm

Uber has launched a new service that lowers ride-sharing costs for customers willing to walk to and from designated locations. Express Pool became available this week in several participating cities. Passengers must walk a short distance to a pickup intersection. They are then dropped off at another designated spot, close to their final destination. Customers appreciate the cost savings of normal ride-sharing, but many would like the benefits that come with having designated pickup and dropoff locations, said Uber spokesperson Kaitlin Durkosh. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2sJTFQZ

More often than I'd care to admit, I feel the seconds, minutes, and hours of a day slip into the ether before I realize it's happening. When it's time for bed and I try to take stock of my day, it's difficult to recall exactly how I spent my time. As someone who would like to be more efficient and productive, I think Timeflip seems like a terrific way to keep track of where all that precious time goes. It's a 10-sided, die-like device that you simply turn to log the activity you're engaged in at a given time. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2CbJOHI

Suse recently entered an agreement to expand its relationship with Amazon Web Services, allowing Suse Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications to be sold directly on the AWS Marketplace. AWS customers that are running SAP workloads on Suse Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications -- a leading platform for SAP Hana and SAP S/4Hana -- will get integrated and streamlined support from AWS and Suse under the agreement. AWS customers will be able to buy the Suse Linux Enterprise on demand, so they will pay only for what they use. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2GxW3fA

Within an hour of the shooting at a Florida High School, divisive messages began pouring out of Twitter accounts believed to be controlled by Russia. At a rapid speed, messages reportedly began flooding Twitter using popular hashtags to exploit the rampage by a lone gunman with an assault rifle at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Prior to the shooting, many of the same accounts had been focused on Special Counsel Robert Mueller III's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2onhZm8

After addressing the topic of sexual harassment and misconduct in Silicon Valley last month, I finally got my hands on a copy of Brotopia , an eye-opening new book, and a lot of executives should be happy I did not pursue my career in law enforcement. Otherwise I would be working my butt off to get them off the streets behind bars. Everyone connected to tech should read this book. Specifically, for investors, it will give you insights into a level of extreme avoidable risk that has not been factored into the market -- at least not yet. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2EOwTw9

HTT has announced an agreement with an Ohio agency to launch a study on creating its first interstate hyperloop project in the U.S., connecting Chicago and Cleveland. The agreement with the Northern Ohio Area Coordinating Committee puts in motion a regional feasibility study, to be carried out in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Transportation. Various routes have been identified for the hyperloop service, which would operate a super high-speed system to accommodate transport at more than 700 miles per hour. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2sGx73J

SentinelOne this week announced a partnership with Microsoft to bolster threat protection for mixed platform users, making computing safer for Linux machines in a multiplatform workplace. SentinelOne will integrate its Endpoint Protection Platform with Microsoft's Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection service to cover Mac and Linux device platforms. SentinelOne's EPP technology will feed all threats and detections from Mac and Linux endpoints seamlessly into the Windows Defender ATP console. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2Bw4Gbj

Apple's new $350 HomePod could make an impact in several ways. In addition to providing listeners with highly praised sound quality, the smart speaker literally could make an impression on some of the wood surfaces it touches -- in the form of white rings. The HomePod, which is compatible only with other Apple products, can stream music to those who have an Apple Music subscription. It has a few other capabilities too -- including the dubious ability to mar certain types of wood surfaces. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2F5L3Xt

Millions of smart TVs from Samsung and some streaming devices from Roku recently were found to be vulnerable to cyberattacks, allowing intruders to take control and remotely change channels and volume settings, among other things, according to Consumer Reports research. Vulnerabilities were discovered not only in Samsung televisions, but also in TVs from TCL and other brands that sell sets compatible with the Roku TV smart-TV platform and streaming video devices such as Roku Ultra, according to the report. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2C2iyLC

Google has rolled out a developer preview of its new AMP story format, which is designed to give content publishers an easy way to deliver news and information on mobile devices with visually rich, tap-through stories. "On mobile devices, users browse lots of articles, but engage with few in-depth," noted Rudy Galfi, product manager for AMP at Google. "Images, videos and graphics help publishers to get their readers' attention as quickly as possible and keep them engaged through immersive and easily consumable visual information." from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2BZHzqD

If there ever were a time when perception Trumped reality, this would be it. So much of what we see these days that looks real just isn't. I can connect a lot of this back to Steve Jobs, who was the master at this in the tech world. However, I'm worried that too many people don't realize that there were several times Steve missed jail by the skin of his teeth, largely because he did amazing work under pressure. There isn't anyone at his level at the moment, suggesting that much of the activity I'm seeing will end badly. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2Cfxemb

EHang this week released footage of the latest test flights of its EHang 184 personal Autonomous Aerial Vehicle. The EHang 184 can transport a single person at up to 130kph in Force 7 typhoon conditions, the company said. EHang plans to further improve the passenger experience and add an optional manual control so passengers with piloting experience can operate the AAV manually. It also has developed and tested a two-seater craft that can carry up to 280kg. In 2017, EHang was granted AS9100C certification. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2Cbugiq

Apple lawyers have sent a copyright violation notice to Github, following the publication of leaked iOS 9 source code on the site. Though iOS 9 is a dated version of the company's mobile operating system, it's possible that the leaked code could be used to jailbreak older devices or worse. Publication of the code violated Apple's rights under the DMCA, the attorneys wrote, demanding that the iBoot source code be removed. However, "by design the security of our products doesn't depend on the secrecy of our source code," Apple said. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2G1RKZE

MIT last week launched the MIT Intelligence Quest, an initiative to find out how human intelligence works, in engineering terms, and how a deeper grasp of human intelligence can be applied to building wiser and more useful machines. Life scientists, computer scientists, social scientists and engineers will collaborate in the effort. "Human intelligence is turning out to be very complex, involving emergent properties that arise from complex computational networks," noted Michael Jude, research manager at Stratecast/Frost & Sullivan. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2H05RQt

The parade of Olympic athletes entering Pyeongchang, South Korea, could be quite colorful for a few reasons. Athletes from North and South Korea will enter together for the first time in more than a decade, and viewers at home will be able to see the ceremony -- and even some events -- like never before. NBCUniversal has decided to make the XXIII Olympic Winter games available to cable and satellite partners in 4K HDR. Dish, DirecTV and Comcast customers who have compatible TV sets and subscriptions will be able to take in the 4K HDR coverage. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2nMOT05

Meaningful security is more than an app or an OS. It's a mindset. Linux security tools by themselves will not make you or anyone more secure. Security requires trade-offs in convenience, so the tools I'll highlight here are not recommended as "daily drivers." Only you can determine your ideal balance point. Perhaps the single greatest strength of Linux is that it is one of the few open source operating systems, and among the most widely developed. "But wait," you might ask, "wouldn't releasing the source code make a system less secure?" from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2nThO1L

Critics have begun weighing in on Apple's HomePod smart speaker, and they're loving the device's sound but don't have much affection for its smarts. The HomePod's sound outclassed top-shelf competitor SonosOne, according to Matthew Panzarino. "The HomePod was the 'best' sounding. It's nuanced and subtle with great separation and clarity across all kinds of music," he wrote. "The One, for instance, had decent mid range but an overly bright high-end with just the out of the box calibration." from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2nQ9ujq

A group of former Facebook, Google and Mozilla executives have joined forces to establish the Center for Humane Technology, a new organization dedicated to combating the growing problem of addictive behavior among social media users. The new center, along with the children's advocacy group Common Sense, has announced a campaign to help change the social media model. Its goal is to lessen the negative impact of automation and other technologies on the development of children and young adults. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2nQM4u7

Most WiFi router vendors have not patched numerous firmware vulnerabilities discovered more than two years ago, according to a report released Tuesday. OEM firmware built into WiFi routers use open source components that contain numerous known security vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers, it notes. Insignary conducted comprehensive binary code scans for known security vulnerabilities in WiFi routers. The company conducted scans across a spectrum of the firmware used by the most popular home, SMB and enterprise-class WiFi routers. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2nOTlL3

Intel has designed a pair of smart glasses that won't make you look like a hopeless geek. Called "Vaunt," the peepers, which are still in the prototype phase, look like ordinary glasses, save for a faint, red glimmer that occasionally appears on the right lens. Information sent to the glasses appear to be displayed on a screen but in reality is beamed to the retina of a wearer's eye. "The prototypes I wore in December also felt virtually indistinguishable from regular glasses," Dieter Bohn wrote in a hands-on review. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2BdLdvS

Healthcare is a mess in the United States. Consumers pay more and get less than in most other developed countries. Strong comprehensive healthcare is unaffordable for most without substantial help, which is why putting the burden on the government really does not work. If people cannot afford something, individually aggregating it under what amounts to a tax is not really any better -- and given the extra overhead, arguably is worse. What's needed is a way to bring costs down sharply. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2nFUeWT

Canonical has announced the availability of Skype as a Snap file, the universal Linux app packaging format. The release means that Skype can deliver its communication service to a wider range of Linux users, not just those who run Canonical's Ubuntu Linux distribution. Skype, a Microsoft product, is an application that lets users make video and voice calls, and send files, video and instant messages. Skype-to-Skype calls are free anywhere in the world. Premium features like voicemail, or calls to landlines and cellphones carry a cost. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2BPKopI

"Human capital management is the idea that your humans are your capital, and so you should be investing in them and managing them, making sure that you're giving your talent opportunities to grow, and that they have purpose in their work," said HighGround CEO Andee Harris. "Human resources is more about HR benefits and core HR systems," she noted, while HCM "is more about people systems. ... Human capital management is the idea that your humans are your capital." from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2EzNxwT

The social media industry may have to struggle to rehydrate in light of some surprising and troubling metrics Facebook released on Wednesday. In addition to a pause in user growth, there have been signs that user engagement may have reversed course. The decline may have something to do with Facebook's efforts to recover from accusations that it has provided fertile ground for fake news. CEO Mark Zuckerberg last month promised to steer the company toward refocusing on the user experience. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2BNnboa

Three corporate giants on Tuesday announced they were banding together to provide healthcare for their 1.1 million employees. The companies -- Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JP Morgan Chase -- plan to form a company "free from profit-making incentives and constraints" in order to improve employee satisfaction with their healthcare coverage as well as reduce costs. The company initially will focus on technology solutions that provide U.S. employees and their families with simplified, high-quality and transparent healthcare at a reasonable cost. from TechNewsWorld http://ift.tt/2nusftc