Technology
Latest stories
Got a Phone Charger? No, Just a Wireless Pad on a Desk

"Got a phone charger you can lend me? No, I need the new type... Oh, forget it."

To ease the stress of a dying mobile phone battery and the hassle of bundling wires into your bag, designers are hoping to make 2015 the year of the wireless charger.

W140 Full Story
Video Game Makers Grapple with Need for Diversity

An increasingly diverse fan base is challenging the video game industry to shake off its "boys only" image and better reflect the demographics of its exploding ranks of players.

At the Game Developers Conference that ends here on Friday, a hot-button topic was the treatment of women in the industry, with female game makers facing frequent vitriol by anonymous attackers.

W140 Full Story
Watches, Robots Suitcases: Mobile Gadget Highlights

Tech companies showcased countless connected gadgets at the world's biggest wireless telecom fair, the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which wrapped up on Thursday. Here is a selection of highlights:

 

W140 Full Story
Car Industry Welcomes Google, Apple but Battles Loom

It could be the battle of the titans. Auto giants at the Geneva Motor Show say they welcome the potential move of Silicon Valley players into their sector but experts warn of major disruptions.

Google has long made headlines with its plans for a self-driving car, but Apple is now also reportedly readying for a plunge into the industry to begin developing an electric car.

W140 Full Story
Health Checks by Smartphone Raise Privacy Fears

Authorities and tech developers must stop sensitive health data entered into applications on mobile phones ending up in the wrong hands, experts warn.

As wireless telecom companies gathered in Barcelona this week at the Mobile World Congress, the sector's biggest trade fair, specialists in "e-health" said healthcare is fast shifting into the connected sphere.

W140 Full Story
Being at the Big Game -- Without Actually Being There

Imagine sitting on Center Court at Wimbledon, ringside at a Las Vegas heavyweight boxing title fight, or amongst the VIPs at an NBA game -- all from the comfort of your own home.

Far-fetched? Maybe. But in a few years, sports fans more accustomed to watching sport on television may be able to don virtual-reality headsets that allow them to experience the action closer than ever before.

W140 Full Story
Sony Plans to Launch Virtual-Reality Headset in 2016

Sony plans on putting its virtual-reality headset on the market next year.

The gaming and electronics company announced Tuesday at the Game Developers Conference that its VR system nicknamed Project Morpheus will debut in the first half of 2016.

W140 Full Story
Italy Adopts Plans to Shift into Internet Fast Lane

Italy's government adopted a six-billion-euro plan Tuesday to modernize its Internet network and improve access to broadband in hopes of shedding its reputation as one of Europe's online laggards. 

The plan that the government's economic development minister labelled a "digital revolution" aims to boost broadband access by 2020 in compliance with European Union objectives.

W140 Full Story
Newly Found Online Security Flaw Stems from 1990s

A newly discovered Internet security flaw could leave many websites vulnerable to hackers because of weak U.S. encryption standards in the 1990s, researchers said Tuesday.

The flaw dubbed "FREAK" could leave thousands of websites open to attacks if the problem is not patched, according to papers released by French and U.S. researchers.

W140 Full Story
Build-Your-Own Google Handset Reconstructs Smartphone

With a smartphone that slots together piece by piece like Lego, US Internet giant Google is trying to reinvent the mobile as most phone makers are honing sleeker handsets.

The company aims to challenge its rival Apple's thin iPhones with the Google Ara project, giving smartphone aficionados the option to build their phone themselves.

W140 Full Story