Today’s Tech Sightings:
Microsoft to Spend $75 Million to Boost Computer Science in US Schools
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that his company will spend $75 million over the next three years on initiatives to boost youth access to computer science education. The initiative is part of Microsoft’s YouthSpark program, an effort to get young people into computer science and diversify the industry’s available talent pool.
China Tries to Extract Pledge of Compliance From US Tech Firms
U.S. tech companies have been running into regulatory hurdles in China for some time. Now, Beijing is asking these firms to support policies that would require them to hand over user data to the Chinese government. A few months ago, officials circulated a document asking U.S. tech firms to pledge not to harm China’s national security interests and requiring them to store user data on local servers.
US Lawsuit: Microsoft Discriminated Against Women in Pay, Promotions
Microsoft is bracing for a proposed class action lawsuit in U.S. court that claims that a former employee was discriminated against in pay and promotion. According to the lawsuit, Microsoft routinely gave women employees lower performance ratings, based on subjective criteria, than its male workers.
Virtual Reality Could Be the Future of Viewing Photographs
Virtual Reality might change the way you experience photographs by allowing users not just to look at a picture but to be immersed in it. Photo-sharing website Flickr and Oculus are working on a project to turn picture viewing into a virtual reality experience that allows users of the Oculus headset to navigate pictures and slideshows with their eyes.
Apple Users Report Problems Downloading iOS 9
Apple iPhone and iPad users who tried to update their operating systems to iOS 9 got a download error message. Others trying to download the new OS got error messages telling them that an update is required. Bugs also plagued the Apple Watch operating system update – WatchOS 2. The company put the release on hold, saying a bug was discovered that is taking time to resolve.
Facebook Users Express Concerns Over Possible ‘Dislike’ Button
Almost 3,000 comments flooded Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s official page after he announced that the social media giant will test a “dislike button” for people to express sympathy. While some users said they would use such an option, others said it will lead to cyberbullying and negative interaction.
YouTube Will Soon Support Game Streaming From Android Phones
Google is getting ready to unveil a new feature that will allow users of Android smartphones or tablets to stream games directly into YouTube, including audio and video commentary, without additional software or hardware.
