Sci-Tech

Boeing Black: This smartphone will self-destruct..

(Reuters) – Boeing Co on Wednesday unveiled a smartphone that appears to come straight from a James Bond spy movie. In addition to encrypting calls, any attempt to open the casing of the Boeing Black Smartphone deletes all data and renders the device inoperable. The secure phone marks an extension of the communications arm of the Chicago-based aerospace and defense contractor, which is best known for jetliners and fighter planes. Such a phone might have […]

NASA announces discovery of 715 new planets

NASA  announced Wednesday  the discovery of 715 new planets discovered and verified because of the Kepler mission which is dedicated to finding new worlds like our own solar system, The 715 planets, or newly-verified worlds, orbit 305 stars, revealing multiple-planet systems much like our own solar system, NASA said in its statement. Nearly 95 percent of these planets are smaller than Neptune, which is almost four times the size of Earth. This discovery marks a […]

360 million newly stolen credentials on black market: cybersecurity firm

(Reuters) – A cybersecurity firm said on Tuesday that it uncovered stolen credentials from some 360 million accounts that are available for sale on cyber black markets, though it is unsure where they came from or what they can be used to access. The discovery could represent more of a risk to consumers and companies than stolen credit card data because of the chance the sets of user names and passwords could open the door to […]

Half Filipina Ann Makosinski Invented Flashlight That Is Powered Solely From Hand Heat

Ann Makosinski was just another teenager with another science project when she joined her local science fair in Victoria, Canada, last year. Her invention, a flashlight that is powered solely from hand heat, took second place at the competition. Ann, 16, and her parents, both of whom are HAM radio operators and like to fiddle with electronics, were satisfied with that result. “It’s a very simple project,” said Arthur Makosinski, Ann’s father. “It has four […]

Apple issues fix for glaring security flaw on Mac computers

SAN FRANCISCO Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:28pm EST (Reuters) – Apple Inc has issued fixes for a security flaw in its Macintosh computers that allows hackers to intercept data such as email, patching a major and embarrassing glitch that came to light several days ago. The security update for users of Apple’s OS X computer operating software follows a fix issued for iPhones last week, meaning all Apple device users now have access to the […]

360 million newly stolen credentials on black market: cybersecurity firm

By Jim Finkle BOSTON Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:36pm EST (Reuters) – A cybersecurity firm said on Tuesday that it uncovered stolen credentials from some 360 million accounts that are available for sale on cyber black markets, though it is unsure where they came from or what they can be used to access. The discovery could represent more of a risk to consumers and companies than stolen credit card data because of the chance the […]

Samsung Galaxy S5 Can Track Your Heartbeat

Introducing S Health App Samsung revealed its newest smartphone, Galaxy 5 at 2014 Mobile Congress, in Barcelona Spain. The updated version of Samsung’s smartphone includes S Health App that can track one’s heartbeat. Samsung Galaxy S5 has a series of tools more on fitness apps for users to stay healthy and monitor their heart rate, a fitness tracker to create their own exercise schedule, pedometer to track how far you walk, diet and exercise records to […]

Samsung to unveil first smartwatches with own Tizen platform

SEOUL Sat Feb 22, 2014 9:53pm EST (Reuters) – Samsung Electronics Co is to unveil on Sunday its first wearable smartwatch powered by its Tizen platform in its latest attempt to distance itself from Google Inc and enhance its software and services. Samsung has been jointly developing its mobile platform with Intel Corp, as the dominance of Google’s free Android software, which Samsung uses for its Galaxy line of products, continues to grow and is […]

Apple promises fix ‘very soon’ for Macs with failed encryption

By Joseph Menn SAN FRANCISCO Sat Feb 22, 2014 5:33pm EST (Reuters) – Apple Inc said on Saturday it would issue a software update “very soon” to cut off the ability of spies and hackers to grab email, financial information and other sensitive data from Mac computers. Confirming researchers’ findings late Friday that a major security flaw in iPhones and iPads also appears in notebook and desktop machines running Mac OS X, Apple spokeswoman Trudy […]

Facebook to buy WhatsApp for $19 billion

By Gerry Shih and Sarah McBride Wed Feb 19, 2014 6:54pm EST (Reuters) – Facebook Inc will buy fast-growing mobile-messaging startup WhatsApp for $19 billion in cash and stock, as the world’s largest social network looks for ways to boost its popularity, especially among a younger crowd. The acquisition of the hot messaging service with more than 450 million users around the world stunned many Silicon Valley observers with its lofty price tag. But it […]

First U.S. bitcoin ATMs to open soon in Seattle, Austin

(Reuters) – Robocoin said on Tuesday that later this month it will install the first automated teller machines in the United States that let users buy and sell bitcoin, the latest step into the mainstream for the digital currency. The kiosks, to be installed in Seattle, and Austin, Texas, are similar to ATMs but have scanners to read government-issued identification such as a driver’s license or a passport to confirm users’ identities. The ATMs will […]