Tech Sightings, September 11, 2014

Posted September 11th, 2014 at 2:46 pm (UTC-4)
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Google Buys High-Tech Spoon Manufacturer

It’s not an ordinary spoon. Lift Labs’s high-tech spoon accounts for tremors and makes it easier for people suffering from neurodegenerative disease to eat. The company, along with some of its employees, will join Goggle’s Life Sciences division.

Bank of England Sees Bitcoin Fraud Risk, Deflation Danger

The Bank of England says cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin may be at risk of fraud and could damage the economy if used widely. The bank adds that an economy that depends on Bitcoin’s finite supply as its main currency would risk deflation.

China’s Antitrust Regulators Defend Probes of Foreign Tech Firms

China’s anti-trust regulators, who have been very busy of late, launched a vigorous defense of their investigations into foreign companies, saying they are not being targeted. At least 30 companies have been scrutinized in recent months. Critics say China’s 2008 anti-monopoly law is being used to unfairly target foreign companies.

Release of iPhone 6 Delayed in China

China is one of Apple’s biggest and fastest growing markets. But on Wednesday the company informed Chinese state-owned mobile service providers that its new iPhones will not be available in the Chinese market on September 19.  While no explanation was given for the delay, it appears Chinese regulators have not yet given their approval for the phones to go on sale.

Reports: Microsoft is killing the Nokia and Windows Phone names

There is increasing evidence that the next version of Microsoft’s Windows operating system will kill the Windows Phone name. Reports say an internal Microsoft document details plans to phase out both of the  Nokia and Windows Phone brands in favor of the Lumia brand.

iPwned: How Easy is it to Mine Apple Services, Devices for Data?

Apple’s recent iCloud breach that leaked nude celebrity pictures online has raised a lot of questions about the security of the company’s services and devices. Ars Technica put Apple security to the test with a little experiment that should leave you slightly worried.

Google: No Compromise, Likely Massive Phishing Database

A Google analysis has found that Wednesday’s online dumping of more than 4.9 million Google accounts was not the result of a breach of the company’s systems. Google says the information was probably a  collection of credentials acquired from various sources.

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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