LAS VEGAS (AP) — It’s not just about how many steps you’ve taken or how many calories you’ve burned in a day. Wearable fitness trackers and health monitors are becoming more commonplace and diverse, but just what do you do with all of that data? “We have a lot of people buy wearables and then stop…
CES Proves PC Not Dead Yet
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A year ago, pundits were declaring the personal computer dead. Smartphones and tablets were cannibalizing sales, and the once-revolutionary PC seemed unnecessary — and boring. Sure, a smartphone is great for checking emails, snapping photos and playing games. Tablets are perfect for watching videos and shopping online. But don’t count the…
FTC’s Ramirez Urges Connected Device Makers to Focus on Privacy
LAS VEGAS (AP) — While gadget companies are celebrating a coming bonanza of health trackers, connected cars and “smart” home appliances, the head of the Federal Trade Commission is pressing the tech industry to protect consumer privacy. Powerful networks of data sensors and connected devices, dubbed the “Internet of Things,” will collect a vast trove…
Microsoft Shareholders Approve Huge Payday for Nadella
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Microsoft shareholders gave a lukewarm vote of approval Wednesday for CEO Satya Nadella’s $84 million pay package, after an investor advisory group said the company was paying him too much. Nadella’s pay package puts him among the highest paid CEOs in the country for last year, although his pay as a…
Microsoft Makes Office Apps Free for iOS
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Microsoft is offering free upgraded versions of its Office software for iPhones and iPads, as the software giant further embraces the so-called “freemium” strategy favored by many newer companies seeking success online. Give away a basic version of a popular service, and the world may beat a path to your door…
FTC Names Privacy Expert as Chief Technologist
San Francisco (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday named an outspoken Internet privacy expert, Ashkan Soltani, as its chief technologist in a move that signals the agency’s focus on protecting consumers’ online privacy. A computer scientist and technology researcher, Soltani has advised several leading news organizations in reporting on complex technical issues related…
Apple Taking iCloud Attacks “Very Seriously”
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple has posted a new security warning for users of its iCloud online storage service amid reports of a concerted effort to steal passwords and other data from people who use the popular service in China. “We’re aware of intermittent organized network attacks using insecure certificates to obtain user information, and…
Analysis: Apple’s Response to Problems Critical
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple’s response to a high-profile gaffe involving its iPhone software may be more important than the glitch itself. As the giant tech company scrambled to fix a software glitch that left some of its new iPhones unable to make calls, some analysts said Thursday that Apple is doing the right thing…
Apple Stock Falls Amid New iPhone Glitches
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple’s stock fell nearly 3 percent on Thursday, after some customers complained that a software update interfered with voice calls on their new iPhones, while others noted that the larger iPhone model could be vulnerable to bending. The stock decline led a broader decline in technology shares. While the bending problem…