Data Access Fight; 3-D Printing the Bronze Age; Mobile Dominance

Posted September 3rd, 2015 at 4:16 pm (UTC-4)
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Today’s Tech Sightings:

How Microsoft’s Data Case Could Unravel the US Tech Industry

Backed by a host of tech giants, Microsoft again heads to court next week to fight a U.S. Department of Justice search warrant seeking to access data stored in Ireland in a case related to international drugs. The case will determine if data can be confined by borders and could have a catastrophic effect on the US businesses if it lays the groundwork for future on-demand requests for data.

Bronze-Age Music Gets Encore, Thanks to 3-D Printer

For a while, a Bronze Age artifact found in Ireland was thought to be a weapon. But when Billy Ó Foghlú, a doctoral candidate at the Australian National University College of Asia-Pacific, used a 3-D printer to recreate the device, he discovered its real purpose – a mouthpiece for a horn.

Report: Baby Monitors May Be Vulnerable to Hackers

After testing nine different Internet-connected baby monitors, tech security firm Rapid7 gave only one monitor a “D.” The others all received an “F.” The company said the monitors could be easily exploited to allow access to Wi-Fi personal information and even give hackers remote control of the device.

Nine Amazing Things We Learned When a 14-Year-Old Interviewed Steve Wozniak

It was a long shot, but Sarina Khemchandani didn’t give up when Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak did not respond to an interview request for ReachAStudent, a website intended to help students at her school in Orlando, Florida connect with mentors and get anonymous help. But when she learned Wozniak was visiting Orlando, she tried again and landed an interview.

Android to Apple Switchers Fuel iPhone Growth in Europe; Windows Phone Jumps

While Android continues to dominate the mobile market, up to 27 percent of European smartphone users with older models switched to iPhones in the three months to July, according to recent smartphone sales figures compiled by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. The Windows Phone sales, still in third place with 11.1 percent, went up 2.4 percentage points from a year ago.

Google Docs Now Lets You Type Without Typing

New features for Google Docs, Sheets and Slides now allow students and other Chrome, iOS and Android users to use their voice for dictation. The update also makes collaboration easier and lets Android users search the web without leaving the Docs app.

 

Aida Akl
Aida Akl is a journalist working on VOA's English Webdesk. She has written on a wide range of topics, although her more recent contributions have focused on technology. She has covered both domestic and international events since the mid-1980s as a VOA reporter and international broadcaster.

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