tech
NewsReutersBeijing 2022 official says data in Olympics app is protected
The main function of an app China has built for the Beijing Winter Olympics is to monitor people's health and the country follows strict rules to protect data, the director general of the games organisers' technology department said on Wednesday. All of the MY2022 app's technology aspects have been validated by relevant app stores, the Beijing 2022 official said at a briefing hosted by the Chinese embassy in the United States. On Tuesday, Canadian researchers said the MY2022 app, which was built by the Beijing Organising Committee mainly to track and share COVID-19-related medical information among the athletes during the Games, contained security flaws that makes it vulnerable to privacy breaches and hackers.
BusinessReutersSony slides on 'monumental challenge' from Microsoft gaming deal
Shares in Japan's Sony Group fell 9% on Wednesday after gaming rival Microsoft said it will buy developer Activision Blizzard in a record $68.7 billion deal for the industry. While Sony's PlayStation is widely seen as having a lead in the generational battle with Microsoft's Xbox, the purchase of the "Call of Duty" maker comes as Microsoft is aggressively expanding its Game Pass subscription service. Sony has strengthened its network of in-house games studios in recent year and delivered a string of exclusive hits including in its "Spider-man" franchise, with Microsoft left playing catch-up.
BusinessReutersAirlines scramble to rejig schedules amid U.S. 5G rollout concerns
Major international airlines rushed to rejig or cancel flights to the United States ahead of a 5G wireless rollout on Wednesday that has triggered safety concerns, despite two wireless carriers saying they will delay parts of the deployment. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that potential 5G interference could affect height readings that play a key role in bad-weather landings on some jets and airlines say the Boeing 777 is among models initially in the spotlight. Despite an announcement by AT&T and Verizon that they would pause the 5G rollout near airports, several airlines still canceled flights or switched aircraft models.
BusinessZacksHimax (HIMX) Introduces TV TCON Chip for the Gaming Market
Himax (HIMX) introduces an industry-leading timing controller (TCON) solution, which will provide ultra-high-resolution for a smoother gaming experience.
BusinessYahoo EntertainmentWhen 26,000 Amazon shoppers rave about $21 wireless earbuds, you need to check them out
Shoppers are comparing these wallet-friendly true wireless earbuds to AirPods — grab them while they're on sale.
BusinessReutersMoncler says key data on customers safe despite hacking incident
Italian luxury down jacket maker Moncler said that key data on its customers was safe following a cyber attack it suffered last year, after some data was released on the dark web on Tuesday. Updating on a hacking incident that hit the group in December, Moncler said some data obtained from the company had been released on Tuesday after the luxury group rejected a ransom demand. The stolen data concerned employees, former employees, some suppliers, consultants, business partners and some customers registered on its website.
BusinessReutersBrazil's WEG and Neoenergia announce partnership in charging stations for electric vehicles
Brazilian motor maker WEG SA announced on Tuesday a partnership with power company Neoenergia SA to provide charging stations for electric vehicles. Neoenergia, controlled by Spain's Iberdrola SA, has its own fleet of electric cars and also sells charging stations to companies and residential customers. With the agreement, WEG will now be the exclusive supplier of charging stations to the power company.
BusinessYahoo FinanceAmerica's problems with rural broadband access are 'so heartbreaking': Commerce Secretary
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $65 billion to make sure every American gets broadband.
EntertainmentKotakuXbox Game Pass Kicks 2022 Off With Two 2021 GotY Contenders
The big news out of Microsoft today is, obviously, its acquisition of Activision Blizzard for the nominal fee of, oh, a small country’s GDP. The immediate impact here means major Activision-published behemoths like Call of Duty and Overwatch will become first-party games under Microsoft’s ever-growing purview, with much of the publisher’s backlog coming to Xbox Game Pass. But Microsoft’s unstoppable games-on-demand service continues to grow outside of country-seized acquisitions. Here’s everythi
NewsAssociated PressFBI, US agencies look beyond indictments in cybercrime fight
The FBI and other federal agencies are increasingly looking to counter cyber threats through tools other than criminal indictments, the head of the bureau's cyber division said in an interview with The Associated Press. Arrests and indictments of foreign cybercriminals are still appropriate in certain circumstances and something the FBI pursues “every day of the week," said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran.
EntertainmentKotakuMicrosoft Is Bringing Activision Blizzard Games To Game Pass
Alongside news that Microsoft is preparing to acquire Activision Blizzard for $70 billion, the Xbox console maker has confirmed that games from the recently troubled Call of Duty and Warcraft publisher will make their way to Xbox Game Pass.
- BusinessReuters
NFT marketplace OpenSea buys crypto wallet Dharma Labs, changes CTO
NFT marketplace OpenSea on Tuesday said it had bought Dharma Labs, a digital wallet for cryptocurrencies, for an undisclosed amount, and said Dharma's chief executive officer would become OpenSea's chief technology officer. OpenSea, which was founded in 2017 and was recently valued at $13.3 billion in its latest round of venture funding, said the deal would help it "dramatically improve the experience of buying, minting, and selling NFTs" on its marketplace.
TechnologyYahoo Canada StyleThis entry-level smartphone has more than 400 Amazon reviews — and it's on sale for $162
"For the price, this blew my mind."
EntertainmentKotakuPlayStation’s Best-Selling Series Of 2021 Could Become Xbox-Exclusive
The NPD Group released its annual tally of gaming sales for 2021 today, pretty much at the very second Microsoft announced it would buy mega-publisher Activision Blizzard for approximately the GDP of Luxembourg. The top-selling console game for 2021 was the same as it is as it is nearly every year: the latest Call of Duty game. Uh-oh, PlayStation.
TechnologyAFP NewsMandatory Chinese Olympics app has 'devastating' encryption flaw: analyst
An app all attendees of the upcoming Beijing Olympics must use has encryption flaws that could allow personal information to leak, a cyber security watchdog said Tuesday.
NewsAssociated PressPolish chief auditor seeks to question leader over spying
Poland's chief auditor said Tuesday that he plans to initiate an audit of the state's supervision of the secret services following revelations of illegal surveillance of government critics with powerful spyware. Marian Banas, president of the Supreme Audit Office, an independent institution charged with ensuring public funds are spent properly, spoke before a Senate committee investigating the use of Pegasus, spyware produced by Israel's NSO Group. “Taking into account the recent events related to the security of the state and citizens, I made a decision to initiate immediate urgent monitoring of state supervision over secret services,” Banas said.
BusinessZacksMicrosoft (MSFT) Set to Buy Activision, Expands Gaming Footprint
Microsoft (MSFT) announced plans to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, which will make it the third-largest gaming company in the world.
BusinessKotakuHead Of Microsoft Says He’s ‘Grateful’ For Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick's 'Commitment to Real Change'
Microsoft revealed a bombshell today: it’s buying embattled Call of Duty publisher Activision Blizzard in the largest gaming industry acquisition ever. That means a lot of things, including that the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, will soon be veteran CEO Bobby Kotick’s new boss. But what that means for the man currently accused of letting sexual harassment, discrimination, and misconduct run rampant at his company for years remains unclear.
BusinessReutersAT&T, Verizon pause 5G rollout near U.S airports to avoid flight disruptions
AT&T and Verizon Communications on Tuesday agreed to temporarily defer turning on some wireless towers near key airports to avert a significant disruption to U.S. flights as they roll out 5G service that will bring faster wireless service to tens of millions of people. President Joe Biden hailed the agreement, saying it "will avoid potentially devastating disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations, and our economic recovery, while allowing more than 90% of wireless tower deployment to occur as scheduled." But airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration warned that new restrictions as a result of 5G service, which Verizon and AT&T are to launch on Wednesday, would still prompt some flight disruptions.
BusinessZacksAlphabet's (GOOGL) Google to Bring Digital Wellbeing Widget
Alphabet's (GOOGL) Google gears up to add the digital wellbeing widget for showing users the amount of time they spend on their phone and Android applications.
BusinessReutersBlink to supply EV chargers at GM dealerships in North America
Blink said it would collaborate with facility solutions provider ABM Industries to supply its IQ 200 Level 2 chargers to dealerships across North America. The company added that it had already shipped chargers to some GM dealerships in the U.S. and has orders in hand to supply more in the coming months.
BusinessReutersNFT-based metaverse company Animoca Brands raises $360 million
Metaverse gaming company Animoca Brands raised nearly $360 million in a funding round led by Liberty City Ventures, the company said on Tuesday, valuing the firm at more than $5 billion. Animoca Brands - an Australian company with headquarters in Hong Kong - invests in and builds blockchain-based online virtual worlds, in which assets such as land can often be bought in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). It has invested in more than 150 NFT and metaverse-related companies.
BusinessZacksSAP Announces Share Buyback Authorization: Major Takeaways
SAP will utilize the new share buyback plan to fund awards under the "Move SAP" share-based compensation scheme from 2022.
BusinessYahoo FinanceActivision Blizzard stock jumps 25% on Microsoft takeover news
Activision Blizzard (ATVI) shares jumped in pre-market after Microsoft (MSFT) announced it will acquire the video game publisher for $95 dollars per share. The deal is valued at $68.7 billion.
BusinessZacksCirrus Logic (CRUS) is a Solid Bet for Investors: Here's Why
Penetration in the Android market and growth opportunities in digital headsets and voice biometrics on the back of a healthy balance sheet make Cirrus Logic (CRUS) an attractive bet.
