News and Notes Roundup - 1/11/2016
Another wonderful Monday, beloved readers. Right on the dot, here’s your weekly News & Notes Roundup, rife with fun and interestingness.
Last week was the weeklong Consumer Electronics Show, now known simply as CES, and the world was introduced to a ton of new ideas and gadgets. Here’s what a week’s worth of hoarding swag looks like. Netflix took the opportunity to announce its expansion to almost all of planet Earth, while US marshals raided a Chinese one-wheel hoverboard stand. You also couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting a drone demonstration. Lots of cool stuff, so give some of the reveals a peek and find your next new gizmo. (I’m checking out the Polaroid Snap!)
Today, we mourn the loss of legendary artist, performer, and innovator David Bowie, passing away last night, aged 69, after battling cancer for a year and a half. While most will remember Mr. Bowie for his groundbreaking music, his avant art, or his illustrious film career, let us also remember the spirit of invention he brought to the internet, creating his own pioneering web service, BowieNet. The platform served not only as an ISP, a digital marketplace for his art, a community for music fans everywhere, and a channel to perform directly to his fans - truly a step ahead of its time. A tremendous influence, we hope you rest in peace, Mr. Bowie.
Tech News:
- Video game piracy may be facing its sunset
- Apple Music topped 10 million subscribers
- Tesla CEO Elon Musk declares the company’s autopilot “probably” a better driver than humans
- General Motors issues an official welcome to white hat hackers, with rules, immunity, the works
- Here’s how to put a value on a subreddit
- The cause of the power outage in Ukraine has been confirmed as coordinated hackers
- The FTC warns of some risks attached to the big data economy
- A farewell tribute to Internet Explorer
Tech4Dem:
- Check out these tips for selecting the best platform for M&E
- The Nepal Open Data Index published its findings
- There’s an app for helping Syrian refugees adapt to life in Australia
- What Free Basics? Four engineers are working to give free, unfettered WiFi to India’s villages
- As if we needed confirmation - a study confirms that tech without capacity is worthless
- The Iowa caucus is finally being invaded by technology
Mobile News:
- Using mobile money can connect multinational corporations with local merchants
- Ford is hedging its bets on cars with its new FordPass app
- AT&T is reintroducing unlimited data plans, but with some strings, of course
- Not satisfied with your phone’s camera? Here’s a lens upgrade, but good luck fitting it in your pocket
- You’ll be less likely to realize you’re holding a Motorola phone now