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Communication and Technology news
Australia to start policing Facebook’s and Google’s algorithms
2019-07-26

The plan is the first in the world that proposes keeping tabs on tech companies’ algorithms. Australia’s antitrust watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), has announced that it plans to set up an office that is dedicated to nothing else other than policing the algorithms tech...

India doesn’t want WhatsApp sharing your payment data with Facebook
2019-07-26

Even as WhatsApp readies to launch its mobile payment service in India later this year, the government is concerned about its privacy and security ramifications. “Indian authorities are concerned that WhatsApp’s payment service might share user data with group companies Facebook and Instagram, compromising the...

Alphabet stock soars as Google ad sales signal a return to form
2019-07-25

After a bummer Q1, ad sales growth appears to be gaining ground again. The company beat analyst expectations on revenue and earnings per share. Alphabet reported a solid second quarter Thursday on the strength of improving growth in its Google online advertising business.Read Full Story

Netflix canceling ‘Tuca and Bertie’ is a bad sign for all the distinctive, weird shows streaming is supposed to keep alive
2019-07-25

If we’re all supposed to watch the same thing, why not just tune in CBS? There’s an incisive quote about creating television that has stuck with me for years. I forget which showrunner said it, although it was probably The Good Place’s Mike Schur, and the exact quote has proven un-Googleable, but...

Hate Twitter’s new design? Here’s how to get the old look back
2019-07-25

Welcome to TNW Basics, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff. You’ve probably heard about it: Twitter redesigned its platform to make it snappier and give you more color themes. But there’s a problem: a lot of people absolutely hate its...

Dwayne Johnson dives into bottled water with new Voss Water deal
2019-07-25

The Rock takes an ownership stake in the company, while becoming the latest celebrity duking it out for your thirst in the bottled-water aisle. Dwayne Johnson has added to his laundry list of career titles—wrestler, actor, producer, shoe and apparel designer—by taking an ownership stake in Voss Water,...

Zuckerberg’s word use suggests Facebook is selling ‘experiences’ and not ‘ads’
2019-07-25

Facebook’s been through a tumultuous period, to put it mildly. From the disruption of global democracy due to the misuse of personal data, to unfavored algorithmic changes resulting in especially gen z fleeing the platform for alternatives like Snapchat and TikTok. This tumultuousness is reflected by Facebook’s...

This snack curator for Google is one of the most powerful people in food
2019-07-25

Meanwhile, it won’t surprise you to learn that Google takes a data-driven approach to choosing snacks—and making sure the peanut M&Ms never run out. On Glassdoor, the site where people can rate and review workplaces anonymously, a Google employee begins a list of “pros” with:...

Dwayne Johnson faces off against Jason Momoa, Will Smith—and Gwyneth Paltrow?—in the bottled water wars with new Voss deal
2019-07-25

The Rock is more than just the brand’s first-ever celebrity endorser, he’s also got an ownership stake in the company. Dwayne Johnson has added to his laundry list of career titles—wrestler, actor, producer, shoe and apparel designer—by taking an ownership stake in Voss Water, also becoming...

Make Sense of SEO & Kick off a Digital Marketing Career with This $49 Bundle
2019-07-25

But even if you’re unschooled in the ways of 21st century web commerce, the boatload of training in The Complete SEO & Digital Mega Marketing Bundle can definitely start getting you up to speed. You can get your hands on this giant collection of digital wisdom for at literally thousands off the regular price,...

The best way to make money out of Libra? Put a bet on it not launching on time
2019-07-25

Facebook’s digital currency Libra is looking less and less likely to launch next year as originally planned. Policy expert, Angela Walch from University College London’s Centre for Blockchain Technologies told Quartz: “The odds that Libra receives regulatory approval anytime soon (ie, in the next six-12 months)...

How to mute annoying chats on WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram
2019-07-25

Welcome to TNW Basics, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff. Modern-day chat apps have allowed us to stay connected with our friends and family. But there are some pesky people and groups whom you don’t want to interact with all the time....

Russians caught peddling spyware disguised as legit Google and Pornhub apps
2019-07-25

The Russian surveillanceware saga continues. Canadian cybersecurity researchers have discovered a new set of Android surveillance tools originating from Russia. The kicker? The spyware can be found in numerous fake apps disguised as legitimate software from Google, Pornhub, Skype, and many other familiar brands. The...

TRON’s Justin Sun confirms he’s a ‘big-mouthed over-marketer’ in Warren Buffett lunch apology
2019-07-25

Justin Sun, the founder of cryptocurrency platform TRON, has issued a public apology after postponing a highly publicized charity lunch with billionaire Warren Buffett. And it seems Sun is finally becoming aware of his “over-marketed hype.” Sun issued an apology earlier today saying he “sincerely apologizes...

Dating app ‘reviews’ won’t tackle harassment
2019-07-25

This article was originally published on SEXTECHGUIDE, an independent publication that looks at the intersection between sex and technology in a non-explicit, as close to a ‘safe for work’ way as possible – including app reviews, adult VR info, sextech devices, privacy, security issues, and much more. It was...

FTC sues now-bankrupt Cambridge Analytica over ‘deceptive practices’
2019-07-25

Facebook may have been slapped with a $5 billion fine for its handling of repeated data violations on the platform, but Cambridge Analytica isn’t getting off the hook either. In an administrative complaint, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) initiated a separate legal action against the controversial data analytics...

The Best Chromebooks for Designers and Creatives in 2019
2019-07-25

Looking for the best Chromebooks for your design & creative needs? Look no further. We've reviewed and ranked the best Chromebooks you can buy today in 2019.

Google’s ‘Sound Amplifier’ Android app helps you hear better in noisy areas
2019-07-25

There are millions of people with varying degrees of hearing loss throughout the world, but modern technology means we have some tools to tackle this problem with the very devices in our pockets. Case in point: Google has an app simply named ‘Sound Amplifier‘ that can make it easier to hear speech in situations...

For now, Facebook is still crying all the way to the bank
2019-07-24

The company may be battling the feds on multiple fronts, but business is still booming. For all the self-inflicted problems Facebook is dealing with—such as the $5 billion fine it must pay after an FTC investigation into its privacy practices—the news is usually good when it comes to its financial...

Google confirms Search results are broken for ‘some’ Android users
2019-07-24

No, you’re not the only one: a bunch of Android users are complaining they’re unable to load Google Search results in full on their phones. Numerous reports claim Search result pages aren’t completely rendering, randomly leaving a “white wall” at the bottom. The issue has persisted for at least “the past...

Hipcamp raises $25 million to lure more people out of the great indoors
2019-07-24

Nature is not just an Instagram phenomenon. Hipcamp has a bold plan to get cubicle jockeys into the great outdoors, and now it has $25 million more to do it. The Airbnb of camping just announced that it has raised that hefty sum in a funding round led by noted cubicle jockeys Andreessen Horowitz. Andrew...

How the FTC settlement could let Facebook off the hook
2019-07-24

In agreeing to $5 billion, Facebook appears to be off the hook for any other FTC claims that it violated a 2012 settlement with the agency. Facebook has agreed to pay $5 billion and implement new practices to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations it violated a 2012 settlement on user privacy.Read Full Story

Survey finds adults couldn’t care less about Facebook’s Libra ‘cryptocurrency’
2019-07-24

Facebook Libra’s potential to help cryptocurrency go mainstream has been touted in recent weeks, but recent survey results indicate otherwise.  According to a poll conducted by CivicScience, which looked into general interest and public concerns surrounding Libra following the announcement of its launch, only five...

Facebook tries to make the FTC settlement sound like a cool new privacy feature
2019-07-24

The company was hit with a record-setting $5 billion fine for privacy violations. In a blog post this morning, Facebook officially announced the news of its settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, which includes a record-setting $5 billion fine along with strict new rules regarding how the company must...

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