Microsoft is making the Mac look old and stale

Apple has been neglecting its desktops and laptops for mobile, while Microsoft has been busy reinventing the PC.

Microsoft’s Windows 10 Creators Update starts rolling out to Surface Hub

Microsoft is starting to roll out Windows 10 Creators Update to its Surface Hub customers. Here are some of the new features, which will be introduced via a phased approach.

Palo Alto Networks delivers strong Q3 results

The security company said it added customers at a rapid clip and upped its outlook.

DEWALT aims for construction site IoT, digital transformation

DEWALT, best known for its tools, is planning to offer construction site networking and an IoT platform that can track productivity and assets.

​Kubernetes leads container orchestration

According to a 451 Research study, containers are taking over cloud server deployments, and Kubernetes is taking over container orchestration.

China’s new cybersecurity law rattles tech giants

But look no further than Russia for some idea of how US companies will be affected.

SAP eyes further growth in Brazil

The vendor is expanding its SME client base and promoting digital innovation platform Leonardo as local businesses seek innovation and efficiency to weather the economic instability.

Google adds security features to Gmail

Using a dedicated machine learning model, Google is delaying a small fraction of Gmail messages for more thorough phishing analysis.

​Computex 2017: Always Connected PC sounds great, but we’ll have to wait

Qualcomm and Microsoft made a compelling case for a new class of laptops with 1Gbps wireless, longer battery life and full Windows 10. Asus, HP and Lenovo will be first to offer Always Connected PCs, but they aren’t ready yet.

15 things to look for at next week’s WWDC

In less than a week, the Apple’s army of dutiful developers will descend on WWDC. After a long, quiet spring, what will Apple announce? What innovations have they been working on?

Cisco, IBM forge security integration partnership

Both companies will integrate products, research and services as they aim to collaborate on cybersecurity.

HYP3R’s Geosocial Index creates a league table for landmarks

HYP3R has launched a sort of ‘Klout score for places’ such as theme parks, sports stadiums, hotels and landmarks mentioned on social media sites. But the real story is about mining social data for marketing purposes – an approach that Foursquare is already showing can be profitable

Intel showcases its technology with its own digital transformation story

Intel’s IT annual performance report details how the chipmaker is making products faster, improving its supply chain and making its marketing and sales efforts more effective.

Five emerging technologies for rapid digital transformation

The enterprise world of technology is finally catching up with the consumer world. Here are some representative examples of new enabling products for faster digital change.

Borderless banking: Estonia’s e-residents can open accounts without going there

Estonia is expanding its digital residency with a new business banking scheme.

Shadow Brokers launch subscription service for fresh exploits, zero-day leaks

It will only set you back $23,000 per month to join.

Uber sacks self-driving car engineer accused of stealing Waymo secrets

Anthony Levandowski has been fired after refusing to hand over allegedly stolen documents to the US courts.

Singapore wants tech firms to list on local exchange

Country’s ICT regulator and stock exchange will work together to make it easier for high-tech companies to tap available capital and file for public listing in Singapore.

First ‘Always Connected” Windows 10 on ARM PCs are coming from ASUS, HP, Lenovo

ASUS, HP and Lenovo are the first PC makers to commit to building Qualcomm Snapdragon-based Windows 10 PCs, which will be coming ‘soon.’

Cash isn’t everything when bug bounties compete with the black market

As companies fight over skilled eyeballs, money may not actually be the key to securing vulnerability reports.

Qualcomm inks deal to build mobile Windows 10 PCs with Asus, Lenovo, HP

The new PCs will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 mobile processors.

U.S. Tests Missile Defense Amid North Korea Tensions

The Pentagon conducted a successful test of a system designed to shoot down an intercontinental ballistic missile, a demonstration that came amid rising tensions over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

​Saving money with used printer cartridges is finally legal

The Supreme Court has ruled that once a company sells you a printer cartridge they no longer have any patent rights over it. So get ready for some cheaper printing!

BlackBerry KEYone available in US from Amazon and Best Buy on May 31

The highly anticipated launch of the BlackBerry KEYone will take place in the US tomorrow. Customers can enter select Best Buy stores to see the device before buying or pick one up online.

Best BBQ equipment for tech gurus

If you want to show off your tech prowess when you grill, here are some gadgets that will prove that you really know your stuff when it comes to hosting the perfect BBQ.

Computex 2017: Intel rediscovers the desktop

With steady growth in gaming and a reinvigorated competitor in the form of AMD, Intel has shifted its focus at this year’s Computex to powerful desktop processors in a big way.

Suspected North Korean Hackers Try Tricky New Tactic

South Korean cybersecurity experts have noticed recent intrusions at government-affiliated websites following a new pattern: They used a technique that doesn’t require tainted email links or forceful server assaults.

For SMB IT staff, fear of cloud is fear of their own inadequacy

Fear of cloud migration has very little to do with the overall security and reliability of public cloud infrastructure.

Eco Blade server: The most energy efficient high-performance blade server on the market

PSSC Labs have announced its new Eco Blade server platform, the most energy efficient server on the market offering power savings of up to 46 percent per server.

The astonishing hidden and personal costs of IT downtime (and how predictive analytics might help)

You’ve heard about the big IT failures like the British Airways shutdown at Heathrow this week. But there are hidden factors that can sap productivity and kill innovation. To learn more, and how AI might help, read on.

Containers in the cloud

How do containers work in the cloud?

Essential, Andy Rubin aim to simplify smartphone game: Why some skepticism is warranted

Android co-founder Andy Rubin has launched Essential and a smartphone that aims to put design and craftsmanship first with simplicity. It’s a tall order.

Composable infrastructure: The Next Big Thing in datacenters

The technology wheel is turning again. Yesterday it was converged and hyperconverged infrastructure. Tomorrow it’s composable infrastructure. I’ve been doubtful, but it’s here today. This is what you need to know.

Energy and information sabotage: The threats facing our smart cities

Our cities are becoming smarter, but our security is not following suit.

Travel, Work, and Live Anywhere in the World

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Uber, Lyft return to Austin as driver fingerprint rule overturned

The debate over checks required for public carriage drivers is over and both companies can enjoy a triumphant return.

EU to launch free WiFi4EU Internet hotspots

The hotspots will give tourists and residents alike the chance to use free public Wi-Fi in popular areas.

8 ways to make sure you really need microservices

You may not even need microservices to manage your monolith. A tech transformation expert offers some ways to test your readiness.

Qualcomm unveils Mesh Networking Platform to boost home IoT devices

The platform has been designed with home IoT device connectivity and broadband demands in mind.

Union blames Indian IT for BA systems collapse, but CEO points to power surge

British Airways’ CEO has blamed a local power supply issue rather than outsourcing tech to TCS, which should be a big relief for Indian IT.

New awareness study reveals what you need for the best security programs

Third annual report educates security awareness professionals on how time, the right talent, and good communications make for the best, most effective programs.

After the novelty: Three months later and the LG G6 just works

After more than three months spent off and on with the LG G6, it is clear that this phone doesn’t get the consideration it deserves. It’s gorgeous, functional, efficient, and affordable.

France’s Special Forces Hunt French Militants Fighting for Islamic State

A number of French citizens have been killed by Iraqi artillery and ground troops using location coordinates and other intelligence supplied by French forces during the battle to drive the extremist group from Mosul, Iraq.

A simple file naming bug can crash Windows 8.1 and earlier

The “blue screen of death” lives on thanks to a simple Windows file system bug.

Apple still towers over other IT companies in quarterly revenues and profits, but there are changes in the chasing pack

Putting the latest quarterly financial results into a bar-chart shows just how much the IT world has changed since IBM ruled the world. Today, Apple is ahead in both turnover and profits, but other companies are changing places

​Computex 2017: ARM has designs on more than mobile

The latest Cortex processors and Mali graphics will push phones to new levels of performances. But ARM has even bigger plans for this generation including VR headsets, laptops, networking gear and servers, and especially machine learning.

Macron, Putin Hold Talks Amid Strained U.S.-European Ties

The talks at Versailles are Emmanuel Macron’s first with the Russian leader since winning election as France’s president earlier this month.

Laptops and tablets banned? Here’s how to stay productive in flight

In a further potential blow to business travelers’ productivity, the Trump administration is considering extending its laptop ban to all international flights departing from and arriving in the US . Some previously niche products and one obscure Windows 10 feature could come in handy.

Macron, Putin Hold Talks Amid Strained U.S.-European Ties

The talks at Versailles are Emmanuel Macron’s first with the Russian leader since winning election as France’s president earlier this month.

Running with the Altra Torin IQ: Live coaching via embedded sensors

Altra is a running shoe company that uses a unique FootShape form factor in its products. This latest Torin IQ shoe packs a coach in as well.

Russian Social Media Seen as Threat to Ukraine and to Cybersecurity

Ukraine has shut down Russia’s homegrown versions of Facebook, citing concerns over pro-Russia propaganda, but cybersecurity experts say the social-media platforms pose a greater danger as launchpads for hacking attacks.

Intel ANZ chief Kate Burleigh resigns after 20 years

Intel’s ANZ managing director Kate Burleigh is resigning from the company after a 20-year stint.

ARM launches new Cortex, Mali processors to boost AI, VR mobile tech

The new processors have been designed for “always on” interfaces able to cope with AI and VR application demands.

Governments stand ready to regulate a cyberscape they do not understand

As governments become more attuned to the threats posed in the IT space, the first reaction is to reflexively clamp down on them.

Apple developing dedicated AI chip for iPhone, iPad: Report

Apple sees artificial intelligence in its future. According to a new report, Apple is developing a dedicated AI chip named Apple Neural Engine to offload tasks for better device performance.

U.S. Shifts Strategy in War on ISIS

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says new goal is to kill militants in Syria and Iraq rather than force them to flee

Artificial intelligence and machine learning: How to invest for the enterprise

Investing in AI requires different skills and approaches from buying process automation software like ERP or CRM. A world-leading expert explains what you need to know.

Trump Hesitates as World Leaders Back Climate Deal

President Trump was the only leader at a summit for seven of the world’s largest economies who didn’t back an international climate-change agreement. He said he will decide on it next week.

Mastercard upgrades Masterpass platform in Brazil

The second generation of the digital payments service includes simpler digital wallet authentication and improved mobile features.

U.K. Reduces Terrorism-Threat Level

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May said she was reducing the country’s terrorism threat level from critical to severe, less than a week after a suicide bomber killed 22 people in a terror attack in Manchester.

Chinese Jets Intercept U.S. Navy Plane, Pentagon Says

The Pentagon said two Chinese jet fighters unsafely intercepted a U.S. naval surveillance plane over the South China Sea in the second such incident around China’s shores in a week.

StarHub buys controlling stake in Accel in cybersecurity boost

Singapore telco buys 51 percent stake in Accel Systems for S$19.38 million in a move it says will boost its cybersecurity offerings.

Egypt Strikes Libya After Gunmen Attack Christians

Gunmen killed at least 28 people on a bus carrying Christian pilgrims in Egypt on Friday, prompting Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi to order retaliatory airstrikes in Libya as he faces an emerging national security crisis.

Brazil slips in global open data ranking

The country now ranks 18th in this year’s Open Data Barometer, down one place since the last report – but leads the way in open data on public spending and education.

Here’s how you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade

Microsoft’s much-hyped free upgrade offer for Windows 10 ended last year, right? Maybe not. The GWX tool may be gone, but all the other upgrade tools still work, and the end result is an apparently valid digital license. Here’s how to get yours.

What Indian IT needs to do urgently to survive the digital future

The world has changed almost overnight, and yet Indian IT firms seem to be reluctant to take the plunge to radically overhaul their operations, wean themselves off the traditional model, and undergo some short term pain so they can compete in the digital present and future. Here’s a to-do list that they may find helpful.

Artificial intelligence on Hadoop: Does it make sense?

MapR just announced QSS, a new offering that enables the training of complex deep learning algorithms. We take a look at what QSS can offer, and examine AI on the Hadoop landscape.

Amazon’s app store puts millions of Android devices at risk

It’s dangerous to go alone outside Google’s protective walled garden, but it’s the price you pay for free software.

Leaders to Confront Trump at G-7 on Climate and Trade

Trans-Atlantic tensions over trade and climate change hung over the start of the Group of 7 summit Friday in Sicily, the last stop in President Donald Trump’s first overseas trip since taking office.

Drone regulations are up in the air

In one week: court overturned the FAA’s recreational drone rules, a drone crashed into spectators at Petco Park, and Senators introduced the Drone Federalism Act

Final BlackBerry, Qualcomm settlement reaches $940 million

Qualcomm has agreed to pay the full amount on or before May 31.

Apple’s MacBooks: Still the most reliable

It’s popular to decry the “Apple tax” – the mythical premium Apple customers pay for Macs. But few look at the other side of the coins: what you get for your money. In Apple’s case: the best reliability and tech support.

Meet the army of Surface Pro clones and lookalikes

They laughed at the original Surface RT. But Microsoft persisted, refining the Surface Pro’s features and engineering away its flaws through multiple iterations. The proof of success? Just look at all the Surface Pro clones.

Making sense of Microsoft’s Surface lineup

With its new Surface Laptop and a major internal makeover for the Surface Pro, Microsoft’s line of PCs now includes four models. Here’s a closer look at where each one fits in the competitive landscape.

Trump Tells NATO to Pay Up for Military

President Donald Trump issued tough new spending demands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization while withholding public support for a core tenet of the security alliance that an attack on one member nation is an attack on all.

Why cloud management matters

Cloud management is one of the top three challenges in cloud deployment

It’s not just Windows anymore, Samba has a major SMB bug

First, it was Microsoft’s turn to deal with a terrible SMB security hole, WannaCry. Now, it’s the open-source SMB server Samba’s turn.

Splunk satisfies Q1 targets, raises outlook for fiscal year

Splunk said billings were $242.8 million, up 30 percent year-over-year.

Nutanix beats market expectations for Q3

The company reported a record number of large deals for the quarter and revenue up 67 percent year-over-year.

​Twilio gets into the serverless game

Twilio Functions will take load balancing, scaling and server provisioning off of developers’ hands.

How CIOs can tap into the momentum behind digital transformation

Digital transformation is the new mojo for using tech to make your business smarter and faster. At the Digital Business World Congress, Michael Krigsman explained how CIOs should think about it.

Rackspace to acquire TriCore for its application management capabilities

The acquisition is the latest move from Rackspace expanding its professional services.

How to develop a practice of lifelong learning

David Gewirtz continues his Productivity Hacking series with a look into what it takes to keep up in our changing world. The good news is it’s doable. You just have to be willing to learn. All the time, forever.

Polycom, Zoom forge video conferencing, collaboration pact

Zoom will be integrated into Polycom’s video conferencing systems with one-click access.

Crysis ransomware master keys released to the public

A total of 200 master keys can now be used by victims to decrypt and unlock their systems.

U.K. Angered Over U.S. Leaks on Terror Investigation

British Prime Minister Theresa May said she will raise the issue of media leaks with President Donald Trump at a summit in Brussels on Thursday, as outrage in the U.K. intensified over the leaking of sensitive information related to the Manchester terror investigation.

T-Mobile Digits launching on May 31st after successful beta program, $10 for additional lines

After nearly five months with tens of thousands of beta testers, T-Mobile Digits is launching to help you stay connected across multiple devices and multiple numbers.

Talend travels full circle

Once the challenger in the data integration space, Talend itself is now being challenged by a new breed of data integration players born in the big data world. Talend, like other data integration players, is now focusing on expanding the audience beyond DBAs, both with guided machine learning capabilities and role-based front ends.

Star Wars at 40: It’s 2017, and these aren’t the droids you’re looking for

40 years after the premiere of Star Wars, we’re much closer to HAL and The Terminator than we are Artoo and Threepio.

Pure Storage, NetApp quarters highlight data center shift to flash storage

It was a tale of two storage rivals and fierce competitors, but the refrain is the same: Flash is becoming the storage option of choice.

Nvidia’s supercomputer toolset: Opening up workings of the human heart in real time

Nvidia and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center are working on building a better cardiac computational model.

Long Term Travel As Education

Have you ever wondered what long term traveling families “do about keeping up with school” for their kids? Perhaps you’re asking the wrong question. Jenn Miller, world schooling mother of four, teacher by trade, discusses world schooling as a viable educational alternative.

DJI Spark is a palm-sized drone available for $499

Popular drone maker DJI is out with its smallest and most affordable drone yet: the Spark. It’s available for $499 and will begin shipping in June.

​Back to the future: Converged infrastructure journey through the clouds

If you asked me two years ago to invest in a private cloud startup company I wouldn’t have believed it.

Microsoft uses open-source software to create Windows

Windows will almost certainly never be open source, but virtually all Microsoft Windows engineers are now using the open-source program Git to build Windows on.

HP tops Q2 targets as PC sales increase 10 percent

HP CEO Dion Weisler said Q2 marked the first time in seven years that revenue from both PC and printer sales increased over the same quarter.

27 Star Wars goodies you can download and 3D print right now

Whether it’s an R2D2 egg cup, Darth Vader’s melting mask, or storm trooper snow flake ornaments, if you can think of it, you can 3D print it.

Rackspace names Joe Eazor as new CEO

Eazor joins Rackspace after serving as CEO of EarthLink, where he led the company from dial-up services into new areas like cloud computing.

What are “national security letters?” Here’s everything you need to know

Here’s everything you need to know about the secretive FBI’s investigative powers.

Intel helps advance genomics analytics with new architecture

After committing $25 million to a partnership with the Broad Institute, Intel announces some milestones that should advance genomics research into cancer and other diseases.

Twilio launches API for mobile enterprise, customer conversations

The API, dubbed Twilio Proxy, is built to enable moderated conversations and could be used by enterprise with mobile workers using their own devices.

Samsung resumes Brazil tech startup program

The company continues its partnership with the South Korean and Brazilian governments for the third round of the program; eyes digital agriculture opprtunities

Cisco launches IoT platform, partners with Microsoft Azure

The Cisco IoT Operations Platform includes tools to mange connections at scale via the company’s technologies and industry partners.

Identity management for mobile users

Setting and enforcing policies for mobile users starts with an ironclad identity solution. We explore scenarios where Microsoft Azure Active Directory integrates with mobility management systems for authentication and security.

iPhone sales nose-diving in China, and this could be really bad for Apple

The Chinese market is responsible for a quarter of Apple’s profits, and is the company’s second-largest market after the US, so any signs of a problem there would be very serious.

Amazon Echo Dot, Tap, Look, Show: Which Alexa is right for you?

Amazon now has an entire army of Echo devices. Some listen to you. Some also watch you. Which should you choose? We help you decide.

HP’s updated Spectre x2 will compete against new Surface Pro

How does the $999.99 convertible laptop stack up against Microsoft’s latest 2-in-1 device?

IFTTT launches Maker tier for developers

IFTTT said the Maker tier is designed to give developers access to more sophisticated tools.

Britain Steps Up Security After Manchester Attack

Armed soldiers deployed at top landmarks in the U.K., as the country’s top security official said it ”seems likely” that the man who killed 22 people, among them children, in an attack at a concert in Manchester didn’t act alone.

Capture your outdoor adventures in 5.7K with the compact, rugged Garmin VIRB 360

2017 is starting to look like the year for the consumer 360 camera and Garmin is bringing its experience with outdoor cameras and GPS devices to a compact, rugged camera.

IBM’s compute, storage tech powers Qatar Genome Program

According to IBM, the Qatar Genome Program is one of the world’s largest national genome medical research projects.

How to protect your laptop in cargo when you fly

In this guide, learn about current regulations and how to deal with theft, insurance problems and hardware damage.

Cloudera introduces Altus, offering Hadoop jobs as a Service

Cloudera’s service will make it easier to run and pay for Hadoop and Spark jobs running on its distribution in the cloud.

Twitter flaw allowed you to tweet from any account

All this time, a rather simple Twitter bug could have caused chaos on the platform.

APAC firms see data security as key barrier to digital transformation

Some 35 percent of Asia-Pacific companies view the potential failure of securing sensitive data as a top barrier to digital transformation, while others cite rigid IT systems and inability to migrate to the cloud.

LinkedIn, HPE launch nonprofit to support open datacenter designs

The Open19 Foundation, whose founding members also include GE Digital, Vapor IO and Flex, will support open hardware and open software projects.

Intuit’s Q3 boosted by 59 percent growth in QuickBooks Online users

Intuit has also raised its guidance for the fiscal year.

Security as a Service? We want it, say IT leaders

Survey finds cloud everywhere, and with it, demand for security services.

Microsoft starts rolling out collaborative inking Whiteboard app

The rollout coincides with updates to the Surface Pro but also with an increasingly competitive whiteboard market.

Chef expands its cloud and container menu

Chef, the popular DevOps company, has expanded its Chef Automate program to handle cloud-native and container-first server environments.

Google rolls out enterprise bundle for Chrome, Citrix support

Chrome adoption in the enterprise has already doubled in the past two years, Google says, but now it’s easier for IT admins to deploy and manage the browser.

Singapore lets telcos test 5G services for free

Government waives frequency fees for 5G trials until December 2019, in a move aimed at driving the market and uncovering potential use cases for the next-generation network.

Intel Core i9: It’s not a question of whether you need twelve cores, but of whether you’ll want to pay for those cores

The processor market is heating up once again, with AMD and Intel back to having “core and speed” wars. But if the latest leak is accurate, Intel’s next-generation silicon is likely to be out of most people’s budget.

Citrix rolls out new cloud, analytics services for enterprises

Citrix says the updates are focused on how enterprises can secure and manage the way apps and data are delivered.

UK authorities want ‘direct access’ to internet providers’ systems, say critics

The government wants to install black box-type devices on telecoms networks for unfettered access to UK metadata, which one rights group says will “become central to the new surveillance regime.”

​Microsoft’s Middle East chief: ‘Cloud, big data, IoT are only part of the story’

In the second of two interviews, Microsoft’s new president for the Middle East and Africa sets out the company’s strategy in the region.

Suicide Bomber Kills 22 at U.K. Concert; Children Among Victims

The suicide bomber who killed 22 people and injured dozens of others outside a pop concert in Manchester on Monday night hit one of the softest of soft targets – a mostly young crowd pouring from the exits at the end of the show, police said.

Wanna Travel Sooner?

Would you like to travel now, instead of later? Would you like to travel for six months instead of two? How about a lifetime? Jennifer Miller shares some secrets to funding your travels sooner rather than later.

386 WannaCry ransomware samples discovered in the wild

The destructive ransomware has caused chaos and it may be that cyberattackers want to continue capitalizing on the malware.

Europol cracks down on ATM black box attack scheme

The “black box” attacks compromise ATMs to dispense cash.

At Least 19 Killed at U.K. Concert; Police Investigating as Terror

A suspected suicide bomber killed at least 19 people were killed and about 50 injured at a concert hall in Manchester, England, according to U.S. and U.K. authorities. A loud explosion was set off outside the venue just after American singer Ariana Grande closed a show, sending screaming fans streaming toward the exits, according to witnesses and British authorities.

Apple reveals it received a secret national security letter

Authorities demanded data from twice as many Macs, iPhones, iPads in the second-half of last year than the first-half, despite fewer overall requests.

Supreme Court puts new restriction on patent trolls

The high court unanimously curbs the use of “forum shopping,” limiting patent litigation to the judicial district where the defendant is incorporated.

Nextcloud 12: The bigger, better, in-house small business cloud

Nextcloud gives even the smallest businesses a private cloud to call their own.

Can data improve the educational system in Brazil?

A startup is working on using vast amounts of open information to drive long-term improvements across the country’s public school network

Blockchain explained in plain English

Understanding how blockchain works and identifying myths about its powers are the first steps to developing blockchain technologies

Where does the NAS fit in an increasingly cloud-centric world?

As more and more of our essential services move to the cloud, what remains on the small business LAN?

Trump Arrives in Israel in Bid to Revive Peace Process

President Donald Trump arrived in Israel in an attempt to build on two days of talks in Saudi Arabia with Gulf leaders about a regional thaw between Arabs and Israelis, but the effort faces early headwinds.

iPad Pro vs MacBook: Which to buy and why

Weighing getting a svelte MacBook against an iPad Pro? I just went through the decision tree myself. Here’s what I learned – and bought.

The quickest, simplest way to speed up an old, tired PC

Got an old PC? Here’s how to breathe new life into your old desktop system.

With one small tweak, the iPad could replace the laptop

Apple clearly wants the iPad to replace the laptop. In fact, the company believes that it is already superior to the laptop. But it isn’t.

Trump Arrives in lsrael in Bid to Revive Peace Process

President Donald Trump arrived in Israel in an attempt to build on two days of talks in Saudi Arabia with Gulf leaders about a regional thaw between Arabs and Israelis, but the effort faces early headwinds.

Facebook prying: Watchdogs hit back on excessive harvesting of your data

Amid concerns over Facebook’s use of tracking users with pixels, Belgium joins the Netherlands, France, and EC in legal moves.

QVC: How a media, retailing hybrid approaches digital transformation

Alex Miller, senior vice president of digital commerce at QVC, talks with ZDNet about pitching on multiple platforms and walking the line between being a media company and e-commerce player.

Facebook’s secret guide on sex, violence, and hate speech leaked

The internal documents lay out the social media giant’s stance on moral and ethical decisions related to user content.

Yahoo retires ImageMagick library after 18-byte exploit leaks user email content

The simple line of code made it possible for attackers to view private Yahoo Mail images.

Uber uses artificial intelligence to figure out your personal price hike

The system has caused a wide discrepancy between how much you pay and what your driver receives.

Google I/O, Gear Fit 2, Huawei Watch 2, HTC U11 (MobileTechRoundup show #398)

While Android O was talked about at the end of Google I/O, there was plenty of other interesting developments at the event. Google Photos, Google Assistant, and Google Home updates were the most interesting to me.

2017 Samsung Gear 360 hands-on: New form factor makes it easier to capture the whole world

Last year’s original Samsung Gear 360 was one of the best affordable 360 cameras, but was limited to a couple Samsung phones and the large ball was awkward to carry around for capturing life’s moments. This year’s model is much easier to handle and records higher resolution video.

Trump’s Speech to Mark Bid to Ease Muslim Tensions

President Donald Trump will try to offset some of his sharp campaign rhetoric directed at Islam with a speech casting it as a peaceful religion, U.S. officials said, as he wraps up his trip to Saudi Arabia with a series of meetings with Arab leaders.

FCC won’t publish evidence of alleged DDoS attack, amid net neutrality battle

The agency has “gigabytes” of server logs that offer evidence for the alleged distributed denial-of-service attack, but it won’t make them public.

iPhone 8: Here’s everything we think we know about Apple’s super-expensive iPhone

Apple’s super-expensive 10th-anniversary iPhone 8 is set to redefine the iPhone and help take the device into its second decade. Let’s take a look at what we (think we) know.

Here’s how to check if your favorite iOS apps are going to soon become obsolete

iOS 11 could be the end of the line for a lot of old apps. Here’s how to find out if an app you rely on might stop working soon.

There’s a handy shortcut menu hidden on your iPhone or iPad

Here’s a simple trick that will make it much easier for you to find and use the buried features that you regularly use on your iPhone or iPad.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani Wins Re-Election

Iranian voters gave President Hassan Rouhani a second four-year term, rejecting his hard-line challenger and endorsing a leader who seeks better ties to the West. State television congratulated him on the victory.

Trump Arrives in Saudi Arabia as Overseas Trip Starts

President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia, his first stop outside the U.S. since taking office and the start of an ambitious nine-day trip through the Middle East and Europe.

Microsoft’s updated Surface Pro allegedly leaks ahead of event

Spoiler alert: A leak provides an early glimpse of Microsoft’s updated Surface Pro, but don’t expect any major changes.

2017’s biggest hacks, leaks, and data breaches — so far

Dozens of data breaches, millions of people affected.

JBS Executive Says He Illegally Paid Millions to Brazil Leaders

The chairman of meatpacking giant JBS has told prosecutors he made millions of dollars of illegal payments to Brazilian President Michel Temer and his predecessors, Dilma Rousseff and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Google’s Fei-Fei Li: Vision is AI’s “killer app”

Computer vision is “one of the most important elements of machine intelligence and the transformation of enterprise and companies,” Li said at the Google I/O conference.

New FCC proposal completes plan to gut net neutrality

The Republican-led FCC has completed its plan to wreck net neutrality.

Iran’s Presidential Election Exposes Family Divides

Iran’s presidential election is exposing stark divides, sometimes even within families, as the country’s voters face a pivotal choice between the moderate incumbent, Hassan Rouhani, and hard-liner Ebrahim Raisi, who is close to Iran’s clerical establishment.

Graph databases and RDF: It’s a family affair

RDF is a graph data model you’ve probably either never heard of, or already dismissed. Why is that, could there be value in it, and how does it differ from the most popular graph data model out there?

No TPM (Trusted Platform Module) in your PC? No problems, here’s how to fit one

Want to use the Windows BitLocker feature but there’s no TPM in your PC? No problems. Here’s how you can fit one yourself for under $20.

Brazil starts satellite trials

The government has started the operational tests for the equipment, expected to improve broadband provision and security of defense communications.

​CIO Diary: Lessons from the FCC bot-swarm attack

Cloud-based bots attacked the Federal Communications Commission — here’s what we know.

Building a voice interface: The do’s and don’ts

There’s huge potential in conversational interfaces, but there are also pitfalls to avoid, Google’s Daniel Padgett explained at the Google I/O conference.

Azure, Office 365, Dynamics 365: Microsoft’s cloud just grew its reach with new regions

Taking its cloud region count to 40, Microsoft will be offering its services from datacenters in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa.

Sweden Ends Probe Against WikiLeaks Founder Assange

Swedish prosecutors said they have decided to discontinue a probe into alleged rape targeting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Asean internet economy worth $50B, home to 230M digital consumers

Number of digital consumers in Southeast Asia has climbed 50 percent over the past year to 200 million, fuelling a US$50 billion internet economy that is big on social media and games.

Is the unpredictable nature of digital marketing to blame for missed revenues?

The shift to digital marketing comes with a lack of reliable outcomes making it harder to forecast sales — bad news for pre-IPO startups and public companies

Twitter abandons ‘Do Not Track’ privacy protection

Is this the end for ‘Do Not Track’, the web-tracking privacy service?

Uber Freight app connects truck drivers with available loads to haul

Uber promises the ability to skip shipping brokers with upfront pricing and faster payments for truck drivers.

Digital transformation in the cloud

How the cloud can save your business from oblivion

​Nvidia makes the case for GPU accelerators

Moore’s Law is slowing down as emerging AI workloads are demanding more performance. But Nvidia says it’s got a plan. At this year’s GPU Technology Conference, it announced powerful hardware and software for deep learning.

Salesforce satisfies Q1 targets, ups outlook

The CRM giant reported revenue of $2.39 billion, up 25 percent year over year.

Font sharing site DaFont has been hacked, exposing thousands of accounts

Over 98 percent of the passwords were cracked, thanks to the site’s poor password security.

Brazil Scandal Nears Temer, Roiling Markets and Prompting Impeachment Talk

An unfolding corruption scandal moved closer to President Michel Temer and a leading ally, sending financial markets plunging and prompting calls for Mr. Temer’s impeachment.

Google aims to make web VR and AR “first class citizens” on browsers

At the I/O developer conference, Google rolls out new VR/AR developer tools, as well as a software update to the Daydream platform.

Computer repair toolkit essentials for IT technicians

If you’re in the business of repairing PCs, smartphones, or tablets, then you need the tools to help you get the job done in a fast, efficient, and safe way.

Updated with reader suggestions May 2017.

Intel, Honeywell collaborate on logistics, shipping IoT

The partnership combines Intel’s new logistics platform and Honeywell’s hardware and cloud services.

Android Pay to launch in Brazil

The mobile payment system will launch in the country by year end.

Expanded state hacking powers make a stealthy return to German agenda

A leaked draft amendment shows the German government is attempting a last-minute expansion of state hacking.

Alibaba’s fiscal 2017 revenue climbs 56 percent on cloud, mobile commerce growth

Chinese e-commerce giant clocks US$22.99 billion revenue for the year ended March 31, with cloud generating US$968 million on 121 percent growth year-on-year and mobile accounting for 80 percent of its retail revenue.

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller Named Special Counsel for Russia Probe

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller III was appointed as special counsel to oversee the FBI investigation of the Russian government’s efforts to influence the 2016 election, the Justice Department said.

Google Assistant comes to the Apple iPhone: in pictures

The battle to serve as your voice-controlled assistant continues to spread across multiple platforms. Yesterday, Google released its Assistant for iOS and we took it for a spin on our iPhone 7 Plus.

NATO Mulls Arctic and Atlantic Command to Counter Russia

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization may revive a Cold War naval command to counter Moscow’s increased submarine activity in the Arctic and protect Atlantic Sea lanes in the event of a conflict, according to allied diplomats and officials briefed on the planning work.

Pivotal touts agile development as way to keep APAC systems secure

In a threat landscape where new vulnerabilities are constantly uncovered, organisations also need to continuously change the attack surface to make it harder to penetrate and keep their networks stable.

Airport facial recognition: Could it spell the beginning of the end for passports?

​Like several airlines, Finnair is testing facial recognition on passengers at airport check-ins but its approach in Helsinki differs subtly from the others.

Google’s Instant App, mobile web improvements give tech decision makers a lot to ponder

With Google’s Android Instant Apps opening to a broad group of developers, CXOs will need to kick the tires and see if it makes sense to support their current apps. Here’s a look at the big questions.

Slow Down!

With your map unrolled on the dining room table, it’s tempting to keep adding dots to your itinerary. After all, you don’t want to miss anything! Grab a glass of wine and sit down with Jenn Miller as she explains why they’ve learned to travel slower, and see the benefits of a less hectic pace for long-term travel.

Amazon updates Kindle Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 tablets, including Alexa support

The cheapest Kindle Fire gets an improved display and slimmer design, while the Fire HD 8 receives a $10 price cut. Both models will be available in three new colors, and Amazon is releasing Kids Editions of each.

Android embraces the Kotlin programming language

Kotlin, a popular new language for mobile platform that’s compatible with Java, is now officially supported on Android.

Watch this 3D-printed robot walk on sand

This is the first soft robot that can walk on rough surfaces.

Cisco shares fall on weak revenue outlook

Cisco reported its sixth straight quarterly revenue decline.

Google unveils standalone VR headsets with Daydream

Google said Daydream will soon support a new category of standalone VR headsets with partners HTC and Lenovo.

Google releases Android O in beta, rolls out Android Go for entry-level devices

Already, there are more than 2 billion active devices with Android, Google boasted at the I/O conference.

Google to add jobs to search, dabbles as HR gatekeeper

Google will use machine learning to cluster and bring relevant jobs to users along with contextual data and streamline the application process.

Putin Dismisses Accusation That Trump Shared Secrets

Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed accusations that President Donald Trump revealed sensitive classified information during an Oval Office meeting with Russian officials.

Google’s strides in computer vision leads to Google Lens feature

At Google I/O, CEO Sundar Pichai said that computer vision has reached an “inflection point,” with error rates lower than a human’s.

Google bets on AI-first as computer vision, voice recognition, machine learning improve

At Google I/O, CEO Sundar Pichai said that all of the company and its products are being revamped to be AI first. The shift may be bigger than mobile computing.

AMD is making PCs and servers exciting again

Forget about smartphones and tablets, AMD is making the PC and server markets exciting again.

AI solutions in the future

What happens when natural-language processing, cloud-based neural frameworks, and a universe of connected ‘things’ are all in place? We explore the possibilities and emphasize the steps ITIs need to take now to thrive in this future.

Cheap 2017 iPad vs. 9.7-inch iPad Pro: How to decide

There is the iPad, and there is the iPad Pro. One is almost twice the price of the other. They are virtually identical, except for a few minor features. So which should you buy? And why?

UK police charge activist under terrorism law for refusing to hand over passwords

The controversial “schedule 7” law can compel a person at the UK border to turn over device passwords.

Qualcomm hits back at Apple suppliers for breach of contract

Qualcomm filed a breach of contract complaint against Foxconn, Pegatron Corporation, Wistron Corporation, and Compal Electronics for breaching their license agreements.

ServiceNow buys Qlue, invests in BuildOnMe in chatbot expansion

ServiceNow plans to meld its Intelligent Automation Engine and chatbot and virtual messaging technologies from Qlue and BuildOnMe.

Google Assistant integrates with GE’s connected appliances

Users of the Google Assistant or Google Home device can use voice commands to do things like turn on the oven or check on a load of laundry.

Samsung Chromebook Pro briefly goes up for pre-order on Amazon

The high-end 2-in-1 showed a May 28 release date and $549 price tag before the online retailer took down its product page.

Las Vegas to lose 65 percent of jobs to automation by 2025, says study

Based on a 2013 study conducted by Oxford University researchers, this new report is a bleak reminder of how vulnerable low-skilled jobs in the US are to automation.

Indian IT’s planned layoffs give a glimpse of the bloodbath ahead

Automation and lack of appropriate skill sets to cater to a new world of digital will mean up to 40 percent of Indian IT’s employees will be laid off in the next three to four years, say experts.

U.S. Allies Weigh Impact of Trump’s Disclosure

Some U.S. allies reacted with alarm and befuddlement to reports that President Donald Trump shared intelligence from an allied country with Russia, though officials hesitated to conclude that his actions would hinder intelligence-sharing between the U.S. and its closest partners.

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Slack adds screen sharing for video calls

The feature is available to teams signed up for Slack’s paid plans using the latest versions of the Slack for Mac and Slack for Windows desktop apps.

In encryption push, Senate staff can now use Signal for secure messaging

Senate staffers can now use what is widely considered the world’s most secure messaging app.

Israel Provided Intelligence Trump Shared With Russia

Israel provided the U.S. with the classified information that President Trump shared last week with Russian officials, according to officials with direct knowledge of the matter.

Trump Defends Sharing Intelligence ‘Facts’ With Russia

President Donald Trump said on Twitter that he had an “absolute right” to share “facts pertaining to terrorism,” in response to reports he shared intelligence from a close U.S. ally with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador.

Why You Should Forgo the American Dream

Too many people unquestioningly pursue the path that society has prescribed – school, career, mortgage, retirement. Rachel Denning will convince you that travel provides a more satisfying alternative.

Gulf States Offer Better Relations If Israel Makes New Bid for Peace

Arab Gulf states have offered to take concrete steps to establish better relations with Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will make a significant overture aimed at restarting the Middle East peace process, according to people briefed on the discussions.

Cyberattack Spreads, Though at Slower Pace

Governments and companies reported more infected computers stemming from Friday’s global cyber attack, though fresh fallout appeared limited so far early Monday after IT departments around the world kicked off a fourth day trying to determine the scope of damage and recover from it.

List of Cyberattack Victims Grows to More Than 200,000

More than 200,000 victims in at least 150 countries were hit by the cyber pandemic that tore through computer systems across the globe in recent days, the head of Europe’s police agency said.

Ransomware Hack Exploited Human Error

The global cyberattack combined elite hacking tools with a particularly devastating form of malicious software known as ransomware. But another factor helped turn the outbreak into one of the nastiest computer infections ever: human fallibility.

More Cyber Victims Emerge as Agencies Search for Clues

Governments and executives scrambled to recover from a cyberattack that wreaked havoc on computer systems around the world, as the list of victims grew to include Germany’s main rail operator and a swath of the Russian banking system.

English Hospitals Hit by Suspected Cyberattack

More than a dozen hospitals and health practices around England were affected by a widespread technological failure, which was suspected of being caused by a large-scale cyberattack.

Beijing Trumpets U.S.-China Trade Plan as Summit Nears

A broad plan to reset trade relations with the U.S. gave China a choreographed diplomatic success ahead of a summit of world leaders in Beijing, as both countries avoided some of the stickiest issues of the relationship.

Kurd-Led Force Homes In on ISIS Bastion

A Kurdish-led military force in Syria is closing in on Islamic State’s stronghold of Raqqa after taking the strategic Tabqa dam nearby, days after the fighters won rare approval from both Washington and Damascus to battle the extremist group.

One Family’s Journey to Full Time Travel

Seven years into open-ended world travel, Jenn Miller shares a secret: She never meant to travel long-term. Jenn shares the plans, hard work, and serendipities that transformed their one year journey into an epic adventure of a lifetime.

U.S. to Expand Intelligence Cooperation With Turkey

The U.S. is beefing up joint intelligence efforts with Turkey to help that government better target terrorists in the region, in an apparent bid to alleviate Turkish anxieties as the Pentagon implements a plan to arm Kurdish forces operating inside Syria.

Trump, Top Russian Envoy Don’t Discuss Alleged Meddling in U.S. Election

President Donald Trump​didn’t raise the issue of Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. elections during an Oval Office meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, dismissing the hacking charges as “not serious.”

Trump Set to Arm Kurds in ISIS Fight, Angering Turkey

President Donald Trump approved plans to directly arm Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State in Syria, U.S. officials said Tuesday, paving the way for an offensive against the extremist group’s de facto capital.

Moon Jae-in Poised to Win South Korean Presidency, Exit Polls Show

South Korean voters were poised to elect Moon Jae-in as the country’s next leader, exit polls show, ending nine years of conservative rule and bringing to power a forceful advocate for closer ties with North Korea.

Turnout High in Korean Election; Focus on Pyongyang and Corruption

Following a short campaign that was punctuated by concerns about Seoul’s relationships with Pyongyang and Washington, voters in South Korea are expected to replace Park Geun-hye with an ideological rival.

Macron’s Brand New Party Shoots for Parliament Takeover

After winning his bid to lead France, Emmanuel Macron got to work Monday on his next challenge: winning control of its parliament.

Macron’s ‘New Deal’ for Europe Faces Old German Doubts

Emmanuel Macron’s big idea for Europe is to deepen the euro currency union. But to get what he wants he will first have to convince a skeptical Germany.

Macron Victory Eases Path for Stronger Euro

As political risks to the euro wane, analysts now expect the currency to follow eurozone economic growth higher, leaving a long period of weakness behind it.

Macron Wins French Presidency

Emmanuel Macron was elected president of France in a victory for a political newcomer who campaigned on promises to reform France’s heavily regulated economy and fight a tide of nationalism sweeping the European Union.

Macron and Le Pen Face Off in Pivotal French Election

The French are voting in the deciding round of an election that has sidelined mainstream parties and redrawn French politics as a contest between globalists and nationalists.

France Rushes to Limit Impact of Macron Hack

French authorities attempted to contain the fallout from a computer hack of Emmanuel Macron’s political party, less than a day before the country votes in a presidential election.

Venezuela Is Starving

Once Latin America’s richest country, Venezuela can no longer feed its people, hobbled by the nationalization of farms as well as price and currency controls. The resulting hunger and malnutrition are an unfolding tragedy.

U.S. Jet Fighters Flex Muscle Amid Russia Tensions

The Pentagon has deployed its newest combat plane, the stealthy F-35A fighter, to Europe for a first overseas training mission in a show of allied strength intended in part to deter Russia.

Iraq Launches Fresh Push on Islamic State in Mosul

Iraqi forces opened a new front against Islamic State in Mosul on Thursday, as the government shifted tactics again in a bid to break fierce resistance from militants fighting to hold their last bastion in the historic Old City, military officials said.

Russia, Turkey, Iran Sign Deal on Syria De-Escalation Zones

Russia, Turkey and Iran signed an agreement for the creation of “de-escalation zones” in Syria as a step toward greater stability in the war-torn country, according to Turkish and Russian officials.

In French Election, Youth Reject Establishment in Search for Jobs Cure

Ahead of Sunday’s vote, young people are showing overwhelmingly support of centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron, but are skeptical of his plans to tackle their most vexing challenge: landing a steady job.

Trump Meets Abbas, Says of Peace: ‘We’ll Get It Done’

President Donald Trump met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, saying the U.S. would take part in the pursuit of peace between Israelis and Palestinians and vowing, “We’ll get it done.”

EU Lays Out Tough Position on Brexit Talks

The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator set out tough demands for a divorce deal with Britain, including ensuring that EU citizens in the U.K. keep their welfare benefits and residency rights for their lifetimes.

North Korea Protests Flyover of U.S. Bombers

North Korea complained after a pair of U.S. bombers flew near the Korean Peninsula, as the CIA’s director wrapped up a three-day visit to the South and the U.S. declared operational a missile-defense system that it is installing there.

Greek Austerity Deal Opens Up Potential Path Out of Bailout

Greece and its international creditors sealed a deal Tuesday over fresh austerity measures, keeping its €86-billion ($93.74 billion) bailout on track and clearing the way for debt-relief talks that offer the best chance in years for the battered Greek economy to begin healing.

China Keeps a Wary Eye on Trump’s Tax-Cut Plan

China, which has tried for years to reduce business costs, is worried that Trump’s tax proposals will set back its global competitiveness and spur companies to invest in the U.S. instead of China.

A Travel Insurance Interview: Do You Really Need It?

Trying to decide if you need travel insurance? And if so, what kind? Adam Seper’s fictitious interview with a surly backpacker will help you make the call.

Hamas Drops Explicit Call for Israel’s Destruction

The Palestinian Islamist movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, also formally accepts the notion of a Palestinian state in territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

Asian Leaders Are Drawn Into U.S. Push on North Korea

President Donald Trump invited leaders of Thailand, Singapore and Philippines to the White House in outreach that could help build cooperation in Southeast Asia against North Korea.