Today’s Tech Sightings:
What Does the Pope Think About Technology? #It’sComplicated
He poses for selfies. He thinks the Internet is a “gift from God” and has 7.2 million followers on Twitter. Yet Pope Francis believes digital media “can stop people from learning how to live wisely” and warns that too much digital data can cause “mental pollution.”
Check Out the Big-Shot Tech Execs Who Met China’s President in Seattle
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Seattle, Washington on Wednesday was star-studded, with some of the U.S. technology sector’s most powerful leaders in attendance. Lu Wei, who oversees China’s restrictions on foreign tech firms, was also present at a Microsoft event.
US Puts Broadband on Par With Water, Power
The U.S. Broadband Opportunity Commission, which is overseen by the White House, said in a new report that the Internet has become a “core utility.” The classification is likely to bring more political attention and funding to broadband connectivity.
How Tetris Explains the Promise of the Ultimate Algorithm
Remember Tetris – the video game where you had to quickly arrange falling bricks before they filled up the screen? Well, the University of Washington’s Pedro Domingos argues that mastering Tetris is a very useful activity because it represents one of those computer problems that have no solution. But if a solution is found, then “you can solve thousands of the hardest and most important problems in science, technology and management — all in one fell swoop.”
Google Hacker Digs Up More Kaspersky Zero Days, Demands Better
Tavis Ormandy, who previously exposed vulnerabilities in leading antivirus software brands, has now come up with a new list of problems that would allow hackers to exploit Kaspersky’s antivirus software. Sending an email to a target or visiting a website can execute some of the latest exploits he discovered.
Apple iOS Lockscreen Unsafe in 9.0.1 Update
Apple’s iOS 9.0 is again plagued by a lockscreen bug that lets anyone access photos and contacts. Apple has come up with patch 9.0.1. to fix the problem, but it looks like the bug is still there.
Firefox 41 Integrates Messaging App in Fight for Relevance
Mozilla’s latest Firefox iteration – version 41 – includes a new feature called Firefox Hello, which provides integrated instant messaging with voice and video capabilities for Firefox, Chrome and Opera browsers. How this feature affects Firefox users remains to be seen.
