Your Control of Your Personal Info is All but Dead, Pew Respondents Fear
A new survey reveals more than 90 percent of Americans feel they’ve lost control over how their personal information is collected and used by companies, particularly for advertising purposes. The majority of respondents expressed concern about whether the government is listening in on their phone calls, or viewing their online communications and other sensitive data.
Robot Lands on Comet
The European probe Philae made the first-ever landing on a comet, touching down on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko after separating from its mothership, Rosetta more than 510 million kilometers (320 million miles) from home. Scientists hope the lander, equipped with 10 instruments, will unlock the secrets of comets.
Good Eggs Brings the Farmers Market Online
Good Eggs, which began 2013 with a vision of bringing farm-fresh produce typically only available at farmers markets directly to consumers with free, same-day, home delivery. It’s currently only available in San Francisco, its local market.
Microsoft Fixes 19-year-old Windows Bug
Microsoft Corp issued patched a bug in its Windows operating system that remained undiscovered for 19 years. The bug allowed an attacker to remotely take over and control a computer.
Pedal Power Charges Smartphones
A bike ride and a low cellphone battery helped launch a business for a group of young entrepreneurs in Sweden. They created a device that uses the spinning wheels of a bike to charge a cellphone.
Not-kia: One-Time Mobile Giant’s Name Erased
The Nokia branding was dropped from the latest Lumia model after Microsoft bought the Finnish firm’s phone division.
Nintendo Says Super Smash Bros. Orders Set Wii U Record
Advance orders for coming Super Smash Brothers video game (a fighting game for Wii U) are at a record high and may lift sales of the company’s struggling Wii U console during the holidays. The game is expected to reach stores on November 21.
The Richest Elderly Generation Ever Doesn’t Like to Spend
Many of the so-called Silent Generation, born during the Great Depression, recall saving 10 percent of every paycheck, hoping their investment would build up a nice little nest egg by the time they were ready to retire. Some are experiencing a median net worth near the top compared with other age groups from near the bottom just two decades ago.
Twitter to Overhaul Private Messages ‘This Quarter’, New Users to Get Pre-populated Timelines
Twitter revealed that improvements are on the way that will see the private messaging functionality overhauled this quarter. The changes are designed to encourage new users to stick with the platform. Another change on the horizon is the introduction of a feature that will give new users the option of having a pre-populated ‘Following’ stream.