Europe’s new data and privacy rules take effect a week from Friday, clarifying individual rights to the personal data collected by companies around the world for targeted advertising and other purposes. Years in the making, the rules are prompting companies to rewrite their privacy policies and in some cases, apply the European Union’s tougher standards…
WikiLeaks: CIA Has Targeted Everyday Gadgets For Snooping
Maybe the CIA is spying on you through your television set after all. Documents released by WikiLeaks allege a CIA surveillance program that targets everyday gadgets ranging from smart TVs to smartphones to cars. Such snooping, WikiLeaks said, could turn some of these devices into recorders of everyday conversations — and could also circumvent data-scrambling encryption on…
Fitbit Makes Exercise Even More of a Game
Fitbit wants to help you exercise more by making you think you’re hiking famous trails instead of strolling around your neighborhood. The new motivational feature, called Adventures, will be available to all Fitbit users through a free app update Monday. The feature tracks the distance you’ve walked or run and maps it against actual trails,…
Olympians Suit Up in High-Tech Apparel to Shave Seconds
When seconds count, the right clothing matters. For the Rio Olympics, Nike used 3-D printing technology to develop small silicone protrusions for redirecting air flow around the runner. Body scanners helped Adidas design suits to keep swimmers in ideal form. Swiss cycling specialist Assos turned to wind tunnels to craft custom, form-fitting suits for the…
The Apple Watch Will Soon Track Fitness for Wheelchair Users
Fitness trackers routinely measure physical activity such as running and cycling and encourage people to stand up and walk around throughout the day. But if you’re in a wheelchair, you’re out of luck. Apple wants to change that with an upcoming Apple Watch feature announced Monday. Instead of standing breaks, people in wheelchairs will be…
US Takes Key Step in Ceding Control of Internet Addresses
The U.S. government is taking a key step in relinquishing control of the internet’s addressing system, fulfilling a promise made in the 1990s. The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration said Thursday that it endorses a March proposal to turn full control over to a private international organization. All that remains is completing some…
Under Armour’s Fitness Gadgets Need to Shape Up
You may know Under Armour mostly for its heavily marketed line of athletic sportswear. But the company has bigger ambitions: It’s jumping into the crowded market for wearable gadgets that aim to help both athletes and couch potatoes track their fitness. Its $400 package, called the UA HealthBox, comes out this Friday. Made in partnership…
Virtual Reality Is Finally Here, Yet Still Has A Ways To Go
With the launch of Samsung’s Gear VR headset a few weeks ago, virtual reality for the masses is finally a thing. Now comes the next big challenge: Who, exactly, will care? If you’re a gamer, the appeal of immersing yourself in a virtual world might be obvious. Strap on a headset and you could find…
Things to Know about Apple’s New Photo-Storage Service
New York (AP) — On Wednesday, Apple is expected to release a free update to its Mac operating system. The update will bring a new Photos app for Mac computers and launch an online photo-storage service called iCloud Photo Library. The service lets you sync photos among various personal computers and mobile devices. It also…
5 Things to Know About Galaxy S6 Phones
A better design, sharper camera and easier to use software make the new Galaxy S6 phones the best Samsung has yet to offer. Although Samsung has been praised for its improved hardware, much of what I like is in the software — specifically, what’s not in it. After a few years of making phones difficult…
Cutting the Cord Could Save Money on Online TV Watching
New York (AP) — There are more ways to watch television online than ever. Even HBO and ESPN — two channels often cited as reasons people keep expensive cable or satellite TV packages — will be available for streaming on their own. All these offerings make it possible to drop your pay-TV service without giving…
Samsung Ditches Plastic Design, Adds Mobile Pay in New Phone
New York (AP) — Samsung, locked in a tight race with Apple to be the world’s biggest smartphone maker, has unveiled an important new phone that ditches its signature plastic design for more stylish metal and glass. The South Korean phone manufacturer also unveiled a premium model with a display that curves around the left…
Mobile World Congress Presents New Ways to Connect
New York (AP) — High-end smartphones from Samsung and HTC have gotten much of the attention at this week’s wireless show in Barcelona, Spain, but cheaper options are coming from Microsoft, Lenovo and others too. Meanwhile, Google and Facebook are working on giving people more ways to use those devices. Here’s a look at what’s…
Doctors Say Fitness Trackers, Health Apps Can Boost Care
Hackensack, NJ — That phone app keeping track of your exercise and meals might keep you out of the hospital one day. Why give your doctors permission to incorporate data from fitness trackers and health apps into electronic patient records? Well, they might spot signs of an ailment sooner and suggest behavioral changes or medication…
Fashion Designers Spruce up Smartwatches at CES
Las Vegas (AP) — Smartwatches don’t have to look ugly to be functional. Clothing and accessories designers are collaborating with engineers to produce computerized wristwatches that people will want to wear all day and night. With Apple Inc. preparing to release a watch line that includes an 18-karat gold edition, rivals know they need to…
Smart Gadgets Take Center Stage at CES
Imagine a world in which your garage door opens automatically as you pull into the driveway. The living room lights and heater turn on — perhaps the oven starts warming up, too. In the so-called “smart home,” cars, appliances and other devices all have sensors and Internet connectivity to think and act for themselves, and…
Gift Guide: Home Products Come with Connectivity
New York (AP) — Do you really need an app to tell you to brush and floss? It seems every household appliance is getting some smarts these days, meaning some connection to a phone app and the broader Internet. But then what? View: Smart Products for the Home To give you a feel for what…
Review: Devices, Apps Act Like One Under iOS 8
New York (AP) — The scores of new features in Apple’s software update for mobile devices can be boiled down to one word: unity. Many iPhone owners also have iPads and Mac computers, and family members are likely to have Apple devices, too. With the new iOS 8 software for iPhones and iPads, those devices…
Review: Apple Watch Looks to Be Another Winner
As computerized wristwatches go, the upcoming Apple Watch looks impressive. I like that it will come in two sizes, so the watch won’t feel giant on smaller hands, as some competing watches do. I also like that Apple will offer a variety of straps and materials, so fitness buffs can get a strap that’s stronger…
Motorola Emphasizes Design in Circular Smartwatch
Motorola rolled out a circular smartwatch Friday, counting on a more traditional design to win over consumers who have so far shunned other computerized wrist devices. Smartwatches so far have had rectangular faces, a shape that has turned off many consumers, said Steve Sinclair, Motorola’s vice president of product management. Motorola’s Moto 360 is round…
New Samsung Smartwatch Won’t Need Companion Phone
Samsung has unveiled a computerized wristwatch that can do more without a smartphone to go with it, while LG has one with a round design. Thursday’s announcements come as technology companies prepare for the holiday shopping season. Apple is also believed to be working on its own smartwatch, and could announce at a Sept. 9…
A Closer Look: Reading Tablets Decent, but Needed?
New York (AP) — E-book readers are great for reading books, but they can’t be used get directions or watch videos of people dumping ice over their heads. Tablets can. In partnership with Samsung, Barnes & Noble released a reading-centric tablet last week, the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook. Amazon, meanwhile, has the Kindle Fire tablets.…