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  • Amazon Settles On Redmond, WA For Project Kuiper, Its Space-Based Initiative

    Amazon Settles On Redmond, WA For Project Kuiper, Its Space-Based Initiative

    Earlier this year Amazon announced “Project Kuiper, a new initiative to launch a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world.”

    On Wednesday, the company disclosed, via its blog, that it has settled on new headquarters for the project in Redmond, WA. According to the post, the new facility “will consist of two buildings with a total of 219,000 square feet of space.” The facility will be used for R&D, design, prototype manufacturing and office space, with the Kuiper team expected to move in sometime in 2020.

    When Amazon made the initial announcement about Project Kuiper, a company spokesman emailed GeekWire the following statement:

    “Project Kuiper is a new initiative to launch a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world. This is a long-term project that envisions serving tens of millions of people who lack basic access to broadband internet. We look forward to partnering on this initiative with companies that share this common vision.”

    According to GeekWire, “Amazon said the satellites would provide data coverage for spots on Earth ranging in latitude from 56 degrees north to 56 degrees south. About 95 percent of the world’s population lives within that wide swath of the planet.”

    With multiple companies rushing to provide space-based internet service, Amazon is one of the bigger entries in an already crowded field.

  • Senate Signs Bill to Help Curb Illegal Robocalls

    Senate Signs Bill to Help Curb Illegal Robocalls

    Robocalls have become a plague for the American consumer, with some 54 billion being placed last year alone. Now, according to the International Business Times (IBT), the Senate has unanimously approved House-passed legislation aimed at combatting robocalls.

    The Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act is named for its sponsors, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. In passing the bill, lawmakers cited the nuisance to consumers, while also highlighting the life-threatening impact robocalls can have on hospitals.

    “There are numerous stories of hospital telephone lines being flooded with robocalls, disrupting critical lines of communication for hours,” Thune said. “That can’t be allowed to go on.”

    According to IBT, “the measure requires AT&T, Verizon and other phone companies to block robocalls for free and ensure calls are coming from real numbers. It also gives regulators more time to find and penalize scammers without having to issue warnings first.

    “The Federal Communications Commission will be required to let Congress know about action being taken against robocalling operations and oversee companies tracking such calls. It also requires the Justice Department to prosecute more often.

    “The FCC voted during the summer to allow carriers to block suspicious calls by default.

    “The bill’s requirements are expected to take months to implement and do nothing to reduce calls from credit card companies, student lenders and other businesses who depend on such calls to generate business.”

    While the bill’s backers say the its impact may not be noticeable immediately, as time goes on users will experience less calls.

    The bill will now go to President Trump. According to The Hill, “Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) told reporters Thursday that the bill is likely to be ‘signed into law the next week or so.’”

  • Uber’s Ride-Hailing Service Banned in Germany

    Uber’s Ride-Hailing Service Banned in Germany

    Reuters is reporting that a German court has banned Uber from providing its ride-hailing services in Germany, saying it lacks the license necessary to transport passengers in rental vehicles.

    Uber currently operates in seven German cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich. The issues stem from the fact that Uber works exclusively with rental car agencies and their drivers in Germany.

    While the ban goes into immediate effect, it is still open to appeal, and the company has not ruled out a legal challenge to the decision. In the meantime, Reuters reports that Uber is looking at other options for how it operates in Germany. What that would look like is anyone’s guess at this point, as a previous court ruling in 2015 prohibited the company from matching customers with drivers using their own vehicles, as it does in the U.S. That ruling is what originally prompted Uber to use rental car companies and their drivers to provide their service.

    Uber is facing increasing challenges and bans around the world. Just last month, the city of London denied Uber a license, citing safety concerns. In the wake of a recent report that thousands of sexual assaults and nine murders have occurred during rides, it’s a safe bet Uber will continue to meet with opposition.

  • FBI Warns Travelers About Automatically Joining WiFi Hotspots

    FBI Warns Travelers About Automatically Joining WiFi Hotspots

    On the eve of the holiday travel season, the FBI’s Oregon field office is warning travelers about the danger of letting their computers and devices automatically connect to open WiFi networks.

    Many devices have a feature that allows them to automatically scan for, and join, open WiFi networks. While convenient, the feature represents a world of potential problems, as there is no way to verify the safety and security of an unknown hotspot. There could be hackers scanning traffic on a third-party, open network, or the network itself could be hosted by bad actors.

    The FBI’s post outlined a number of common sense precautions travelers should take:

    “Now is not the time you want to talk about cyber security, but we do have a few travel tips to keep you safe while you are on the go.

    • Don’t allow your phone, computer, tablet, or other devices to auto-connect to a free wireless network while you are away from home. This is an open invitation for bad actors to access your device. They then can load malware, steal your passwords and PINs, or even take remote control of your contacts and camera.
    • If you do need to connect to a public hotspot – such as at an airport or hotel – make sure to confirm the name of the network and the exact login procedures. Your goal is to avoid accidentally connecting to a fraudster’s WiFi that they are trying to make look legit.
    • If you absolutely have to use an unsecured hotspot, avoid doing anything sensitive like accessing your bank account. A hacker would love your user ID and password – don’t give it to them.
    • Related to the above point, using your own secured hotspot from your phone is generally a better option.
    • If you are having guests stay at your home, consider setting up a separate WiFi account for them. That way, if they are running unsecured devices on your network, you can segregate their vulnerabilities from your sensitive data.
    • Disable location services – including those on your social media accounts and in your camera settings – that tell people where you are.
    • Finally, as hard as this may be in a world of oversharing, consider NOT pushing out pictures and posts about your grand adventures. Yes, your kids are adorable and Christmas morning was the best ever – but do you really want to tell the world that you are away from home?

    “From the FBI family to your family, enjoy your travels and stay safe.”

    The FBI’s recommendations are solid tips that should be followed at all times.

  • Facebook Reveals New Census Interference Policy Ahead of 2020 Census

    Facebook Reveals New Census Interference Policy Ahead of 2020 Census

    Facebook received its share of criticism over the 2016 election thanks to Russian operatives using the social media platform to sow disinformation and disagreement. As a result, ahead of the 2020 census—the first people can complete online—Facebook is taking measures to protect against interference.

    In a blog post on the company’s site, Facebook outlines “a new census interference policy that bans misleading information about when and how to participate in the census and the consequences of participating. We are also introducing a new advertising policy that prohibits ads that portray census participation as useless or meaningless or advise people not to participate in the census.”

    The company worked with the U.S. Census Bureau, as well as the civil rights community “to develop thoughtful rules around prohibiting census interference on our platforms and making sure people can use their voice to be counted.”

    The post outlines some of the specifics involved in its new policy.


    “Our census interference policy will prohibit:

    • Misrepresentation of the dates, locations, times and methods for census participation;
    • Misrepresentation of who can participate in the census and what information and/or materials must be provided in order to participate;
    • Content stating that census participation may or will result in law enforcement consequences;
    • Misrepresentation of government involvement in the census, including that an individual’s census information will be shared with another government agency; and
    • Calls for coordinated interference that would affect an individual’s ability to participate in the census, enforcement of which often requires additional information and context.

    “We will begin enforcement next month and use a combination of technology and people to proactively identify content that may violate this policy. All content surfaced will be assessed by a team of reviewers who will benefit from the training and guidance of a consultant with census expertise. And as with voter interference, content that violates our census interference policy will not be allowed to remain on our platforms as newsworthy even if posted by a politician.”

    Information that may be inaccurate, but not necessarily violate the new policy, may still be fact-checked. If it is found to be false, it will have prominent labels and rank lower in news feeds. The company promises to share “accurate, non-partisan information about how to participate in the census in consultation with the US Census Bureau.”

  • Instagram Prohibits Influencers From Promoting Tobacco, Vaping & Weapons

    Instagram Prohibits Influencers From Promoting Tobacco, Vaping & Weapons

    Instagram has long had rules restricting advertisers from promoting tobacco, vaping and weapons, but influencers have been exempt from those restrictions—until now.

    As the L.A. Times reports, “Instagram, owned by Facebook Inc., has long allowed people with thousands or even millions of followers to operate their own sponsored-content operations, outside the Facebook ad-buying system, without the level of oversight applied to the rest of the company’s advertising. For years, the company felt that if an influencer had cultivated an audience willing to hear their messages, Facebook shouldn’t get in the way.

    “However, there’s been a surge of sponsored content promoted by influencers, so Instagram wants to “establish clear rules to help protect our community,” at least when it comes to vaping, weapons and tobacco, according to a spokeswoman. Facebook already has rules against such products in its official advertising programs.”

    In addition, Instagram’s blog post detailing the changes says there will be special restrictions on the promotion of alcohol and diet supplements. The company is building tools to help influencers comply with the new rules, which will go into effect next year.

  • Sprint’s Former CEO Goes Rogue, Says Company Can Survive Without Merger

    Sprint’s Former CEO Goes Rogue, Says Company Can Survive Without Merger

    After testimony from both T-Mobile and Sprint executives claiming the number four carrier cannot survive without the merger with T-Mobile, Sprint’s former CEO Marcelo Claure flipped the script and claimed the company could be viable on its own.

    Bloomberg is reporting that T-Mobile CEO John Legere had previously testified that Sprint’s $40 billion in debt and unfavorable position in the market meant it would be “sold for parts” without a merger. However, when Claure—currently executive chairman of Sprint; COO of Sprint’s parent company, SoftBank Group Corp.; and CEO of SoftBank Group International—took the stand, he had a different outlook.

    “Those are possibilities,” Claure responded. “I don’t necessarily agree completely.”

    Claure did go on to say that without the merger, the road ahead would be a difficult one and likely require Sprint to leave some markets.

    “Sprint two years from now would be a very different from Sprint today, because we would cease to be a national competitor.” Claure added. He also indicated the carrier would likely have to borrow additional money and raise prices.

    Similarly, current CEO Michel Combes testified that without the deal, Sprint would have to pull back from some markets, although it would still cover three quarters of the U.S. population.

    Given that opponents of the merger do not want to see the U.S. wireless market go from four national carriers to three, Claure and Combes testimony may still help the case for the merger. In effect, both executives are implying that Sprint will cease being a national carrier and join the ranks of a regional carrier should the merger fail.

    In addition, as part of the deal, T-Mobile and Sprint would sell off wireless assets to Dish Network to help it become a new fourth carrier. Dish’s CEO Charlie Ergen testified that his company would be ready to compete with the other carriers “from day one,” once the deal is finalized and it acquires the assets involved.


    Ultimately, the court may decide that the market would be better served by Dish Network acting as the fourth carrier, rather than a crippled Sprint.

  • Senators Express Alarm Over FBI Secretly Demanding Data From Credit Agencies

    Senators Express Alarm Over FBI Secretly Demanding Data From Credit Agencies

    Documents have come to light exposing the FBI’s practice of secretly demanding information about Americans from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

    According to a report by TechCrunch, the FBI has been using “legal powers — known as national security letters — to compel credit giants to turn over non-content information, such as records of purchases and locations, that the agency deems necessary in national security investigations. But these letters have no judicial oversight and are typically filed with a gag order, preventing the recipient from disclosing the demand to anyone else — including the target of the letter.”

    Tech companies have been dealing with national security letters for some time but, following the Edward Snowden revelations, the laws were changed in 2015 to give companies the right to petition for release from the gag orders. As a result, tech companies routinely publish transparency reports, disclosing how many times the government has requested their assistance.

    In the wake of these documents becoming public, at least three senators have expressed concern. Republican senator Rand Paul and Democratic senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren have written letters to the three credit agencies, questioning why the agencies have never disclosed the FBI’s requests.

    “Because your company holds so much potentially sensitive data on so many Americans and collects this information without obtaining consent from these individuals, you have a responsibility to be transparent about how you handle that data,” the letters said. “Unfortunately, your company has not provided information to policymakers or the public about the type or the number of disclosures that you have made to the FBI.”

    Senator Wyden, in particular, has been a vocal proponent of privacy protections and an equally vocal critic of questionable and illegal spying on American citizens. With these new revelations, it’s a safe bet there will be more inquiries and possible regulation to govern how the financial and credit information of Americans can be accessed and used.

  • Ring Users Should Update Their Passwords In the Wake of Multiple Hacks

    Ring Users Should Update Their Passwords In the Wake of Multiple Hacks

    In the wake of multiple hacking incidents, Ring is recommending users change their passwords, while at the same time reassuring users the company has not been compromised.

    In recent days, there have been multiple reports of Ring devices being hacked, with some terrifying results. In one case, a Ring device in an 8-year-old girl’s room was hacked. A man’s voice can be heard talking to the girl, claiming to be her friend. There have been similar incidents in Georgia, Florida and Texas.

    Following the reports, Ring investigated the incidents and found no evidence of unauthorized intrusions into their network or systems. According to the company, “malicious actors obtained some Ring users’ account credentials (e.g., username and password) from a separate, external, non-Ring service and reused them to log into some Ring accounts. Unfortunately, when people reuse the same username and password on multiple services, it’s possible for bad actors to gain access to many accounts.”

    The company goes on to recommend some common sense suggestions, including activating two-factor authentication; using strong passwords consisting of upper and lower-case letters, numbers and symbols; adding shared users rather than sharing credentials; regularly updating passwords and not using the same passwords for multiple services and apps.

    This latest issue is another example of how an increasingly interconnected world requires individuals to learn and practice cybersecurity best practices in order to keep themselves and their families safe.

  • Analyst Cuts Odds For a Successful Merger Between T-Mobile and Sprint

    Analyst Cuts Odds For a Successful Merger Between T-Mobile and Sprint

    As the trial to prevent the T-Mobile/Sprint merger entered its third day, at least one analyst cut the odds for a successful merger.

    A coalition of 13 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit to prevent the third and fourth-place carriers from merging, despite both the FCC and DOJ signing off on the deal. In the first day of the trial, documents came to light highlighting a Sprint executive’s belief that the merger would result in higher prices for consumers—one of the main reasons the states are objecting to the merger.

    According to Barron’s, after the first couple of days of testimony, Raymond James analyst Ric Prentiss has lowered the odds of the wireless carriers winning their case from 85 percent to a mere 55 percent. One of the biggest factors is the challenge of propping up Dish Network as a viable 5G competitor. Critics of the deal have made the case that going from four major carriers to three would stifle competition and hurt the market. As a result, T-Mobile and Sprint agreed to sell assets, including Sprint’s prepaid business, to Dish Network in an effort to help it move beyond satellite TV service and become a viable wireless competitor. So far, however, that has been a more difficult sell than anticipated, leading Prentiss to issue his report.

    As Barron’s goes on to highlight, Sprint will be the big loser in the event the merger fails, as it has not demonstrated an ability to profitably continue on its own. T-Mobile, on the other hand, is leading the industry in earnings and subscriber growth, and will likely continue just fine on its own. It will, however, need to acquire additional 5G spectrum if the deal should fall through, as it was planning on using Sprint’s ample spectrum to build out the mid-range portion of its 5G network. T-Mobile activated its low-band, long-range 5G network on December 2. Meanwhile, it continues to build out its mmWave, high-speed, short-range network in multiple cities. Sprint’s spectrum would have been ideal as the mid-range bridge. If the deal is blocked, T-Mobile will need to acquire replacement spectrum to bridge the gap between its low-band and mmWave networks.

    With so much at stake, industry analysts, executives, experts and consumers are eagerly watching to see if T-Mobile and Sprint can win their case. In the meantime, we will continue to provide updates as the case develops.

  • Aliens Beware! Congress Authorizes Creation of Space Force

    Aliens Beware! Congress Authorizes Creation of Space Force

    For the first time in 60 years, Congress has paved the way for the creation of a new military branch: the United States Space Force.

    Until now, American military interests in space have mainly fallen under the purview of the U.S. Air Force, specifically Air Force Space Command. Defense officials have argued, however, that the U.S. needs a dedicated space command that could take over from the Air Force, as well as consolidate other smaller elements that fall under other branches of the military.

    With next year’s defense spending bill, Congress has authorized the creation of the new military branch. The Air Force initially envisioned a starting force of approximately 200 individuals, with that number growing to 15,000 by the end of 2024.

    According to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) summary, published by the House Armed Services Committee, “The FY20 NDAA recognizes space as a warfighting domain and establishes the U.S. Space Force in Title 10 as the sixth Armed Service of the United States, under the U.S. Air Force. In doing so, the NDAA provides the Secretary of the Air Force with the authority to transfer Air Force personnel to the newly established Space Force. To minimize cost and bureaucracy, the Space Force will require no additional billets and remains with the President’s budget request.

    “The conference agreement creates a Chief of Space Operations (CSO) for the U.S. Space Force who will report directly to the Secretary of the Air Force and become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During the first year, the CSO may also serve as the Commander of U.S. Space Command. The CSO will provide updates to the committees of jurisdiction every 60 days, with briefings and reports on implementation and establishment status.”

    Under this proposed structure, Space Force would enjoy a similar relationship to the Air Force as the U.S. Marines have with the Navy. The Marines fall under the authority of the Department of the Navy, although they are an autonomous branch of the military. Similarly, the Space Force CSO will report to the Secretary of the Air Force, yet the Force will be an autonomous military branch, complete with a member on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

    It’s a safe bet there will be plenty of interest in this new military branch, with Colorado Springs already hoping to be the Force’s headquarters.

  • Telefonica Germany Has Selected Huawei to Help Build Its 5G Network

    Telefonica Germany Has Selected Huawei to Help Build Its 5G Network

    CNN Business is reporting that Telefonica Germany has decided to use Huawei equipment to build its 5G network.

    Huawei has been fighting allegations that its equipment can be used by the Chinese government to spy on companies or governments using Huawei’s equipment. The U.S. has already blacklisted Huawei and has been campaigning allies to do the same.

    Germany has been something of a battleground for the telecommunications company, as conservative elements within the German government have called on Chancellor Merkel to ban Huawei. So far, Merkel has refused those calls, instead saying the government would outline security measures all telecommunications vendors must meet.

    In the midst of the back-and-forth over Huawei’s role, Telefonica Germany has announced they plan on using the company’s equipment in their 5G rollout, although they told CNN Business they “will only go ahead with the partnership once Huawei receives a security certification from Berlin.”

    Nonetheless, the news is a big win for Huawei, and adds weight to the claims of network operators that it will be difficult to roll out 5G without access to Huawei’s equipment.

  • Waze Adds Snow Warning Feature With Winter Weather Reports

    Waze Adds Snow Warning Feature With Winter Weather Reports

    Waze, the popular community-driven traffic app, just received a major new feature in preparation for the winter season.

    According to a press release provided to 9to5Google, Waze has launched Snow Warning, a feature aimed at helping drivers navigate through dangerous winter weather.

    The new feature was created in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation and will build on the app’s crowdsourcing feature by allowing users to report snow covered, unplowed roads and icy conditions. This can be especially helpful when dealing with black ice, something that is difficult to detect.

    The Virginia DoT plans to use data from Waze to better plan for future bad weather. In the meantime, Snow Warning is now live in 185 countries and can be accessed via Hazards > Weather.

  • Facebook Will Not Give Authorities a Backdoor to Access Encrypted Messages

    Facebook Will Not Give Authorities a Backdoor to Access Encrypted Messages

    Two months ago we reported on an open letter by Attorney General William Barr and his counterparts in Australia and the United Kingdom, calling on Facebook to create encryption backdoors in its messaging apps. This was followed by the FBI urging Interpol to condemn the use of strong encryption.

    Facebook has officially responded to the Attorney General’s request, via an open letter of their own. In the letter, Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp, and Stan Chudnovsky, Head of Messenger, highlight the inherent risks of making encryption weaker, or creating backdoors for authorities to access.

    “We believe that people have a right to expect this level of security, wherever they live. As a company that supports 2.7 billion users around the world, it is our responsibility to use the very best technology available to protect their privacy. Encrypted messaging is the leading form of online communication and the vast majority of the billions of online messages that are sent daily, including on WhatsApp, iMessage, and Signal, are already protected with end-to-end encryption.

    “Cybersecurity experts have repeatedly proven that when you weaken any part of an encrypted system, you weaken it for everyone, everywhere. The ‘backdoor’ access you are demanding for law enforcement would be a gift to criminals, hackers and repressive regimes, creating a way for them to enter our systems and leaving every person on our platforms more vulnerable to real-life harm. It is simply impossible to create such a backdoor for one purpose and not expect others to try and open it. People’s private

    “And we are not alone. In response to your open letter asking that Facebook break encryption, over 100 organizations, including the Center for Democracy and Technology and Privacy International, shared their strong views on why creating backdoors jeopardize people’s safety. Cryptography Professor Bruce Schneier said earlier this year: ‘You have to make a choice. Either everyone gets to spy, or no one gets to spy. You can’t have ‘We get to spy, you don’t.’ That’s not the way the tech works.’ And Amnesty International commented: ‘There is no middle ground: if law enforcement is allowed to circumvent encryption, then anybody can.’”

    The two executives argued that law enforcement already has viable ways of getting the information they need in cases that demand it.

    “That doesn’t mean that we cannot help law enforcement. We can and we do, as long as it is consistent with the law and does not undermine the safety of our users…. We deeply respect and support the work these officials do to keep us safe and we want to assure you that we will continue to respond to valid legal requests for the information we have available. We will also continue to prioritize emergencies, such as terrorism and child safety, and proactively refer to law enforcement matters involving credible threats.”

    Our initial report on the Attorney General’s open letter highlighted the dangers of weakening encryption or creating backdoors. As Amnesty International said, “there is no middle ground.” Encryption is about basic math. It’s no more possible to have strong encryption with backdoors than it is to break the laws of physics. Hopefully, Facebook’s questionable history with privacy and security will not cloud the very valid argument they are making about the importance of encryption.

  • New Chrome Feature Will Alert You If Your Password Is Stolen

    New Chrome Feature Will Alert You If Your Password Is Stolen

    In a blog post today, Google announced the addition of a significant security feature to Chrome, one that will alert users if their password has been stolen.

    With new data breaches occurring and being reported on a near-daily basis, people’s usernames and passwords are increasingly showing up for sale on the dark web. With many people reusing passwords across websites, a single compromised website can leave individuals vulnerable across a myriad of sites and services.

    First introduced earlier this year as an extension named Password Checkup, the feature has been rolled into Chrome’s settings as part of its Safe Browsing features.

    “When you type your credentials into a website, Chrome will now warn you if your username and password have been compromised in a data breach on some site or app. It will suggest that you change them everywhere they were used.”

    Google’s post also discussed improvements to Safe Browsing’s anti-phishing features.

    “Google’s Safe Browsing maintains an ever-growing list of unsafe sites on the web and shares this information with webmasters, or other browsers, to make the web more secure. The list refreshes every 30 minutes, protecting 4 billion devices every day against all kinds of security threats, including phishing.

    “However, some phishing sites slip through that 30-minute window, either by quickly switching domains or by hiding from our crawlers. Chrome now offers real-time phishing protections on desktop, which warn you when visiting malicious sites in 30 percent more cases. Initially we will roll out this protection to everyone with the “Make searches and browsing better” setting enabled in Chrome.”

    These improvements are welcome additions to one of the most popular browsers in use and Google is to be commended for making Password Checkup an included feature, where more people will benefit from it.

  • DOJ Planning to Review Google-Fitbit Deal Over Privacy Concerns

    DOJ Planning to Review Google-Fitbit Deal Over Privacy Concerns

    According to the New York Post, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is planning to review the Google-Fitbit deal over concerns about consumer privacy.

    We reported last month that Google had agreed to acquire Fitbit for $2.1 billion. As part of the announcement, Google did its best to reassure current users that it would respect their privacy and that their personal data would not be sold to third parties or be used for advertising. A couple of weeks later, it came to light that Facebook had also been interested in the wearable company, losing out in a bidding war against Google. At the end of that article, we made the following observation:

    “While some users have understandably been concerned about privacy in the wake of the announcement Google was purchasing Fitbit, it’s probably a safe bet that far more users would be concerned if Facebook was the buyer.”

    Evidently, the fact that Google is buying Fitbit instead of Facebook is not enough of a consolation prize to prevent regulatory scrutiny. In fact, according to the New York Post, both the DOJ and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wanted to review the deal, with one source describing it “as a real ‘arm wrestle’ between the agencies.”

    Both agencies are concerned with the privacy implications, given the amount of data Google already has about people’s lives. They fear that allowing Google to purchase Fitbit will give them too much data, especially sensitive health information. Google is already under scrutiny for Project Nightingale, Google’s partnership with the Ascension healthcare group to collect data on millions of patients.

    While the FTC has usually investigated Google’s past deals, the DOJ won out this time due to the fact they are “presently investigating Google for broader anti-competitive issues.”

    Although it’s too early to know how the DOJ will rule, the Public Citizen and the Center for Digital Democracy had previously urged the FTC to block the merger. With increased scrutiny on Google’s handling of customer data, it may be an uphill battle to close the Fitbit deal.

  • Ford and Microsoft Using Quantum Computing to Alleviate Traffic Congestion

    Ford and Microsoft Using Quantum Computing to Alleviate Traffic Congestion

    Quantum computing has long been held out as the next step in computing. Despite still being highly experimental, there continue to be major strides made in the field. One such example is a partnership between Ford and Microsoft, aimed at understanding and alleviating traffic congestion.

    In a blog post on Medium, Dr. Ken Washington, Chief Technology Officer, Ford Motor Company, details the study:

    “Through a joint research pilot, Ford and Microsoft scientists have simulated thousands of vehicles and their impact on congestion by leveraging powerful quantum-inspired technology. While we’re still in the early stages of quantum computing development, encouraging progress has been made that can help us take what we’ve learned in the field and start to apply it to problems we want to solve today, while scaling to more complex problems tomorrow.”

    One of the study’s goals was to find balanced ways of routing traffic. For example, almost everyone wants to take the shortest route possible when traveling. However, as Dr. Washington points out, requests to navigation software are made and fulfilled in a vacuum. The software doesn’t know how many other drivers have been routed through that exact route. If too many drivers all try to go the shortest route at the same time, those routes quickly become clogged. In contrast, if more balanced routes are taken by drivers in a large area, bottlenecks are avoided, roads remain open and everyone arrives at their destinations much faster than normal.

    Traditional computing is not capable of processing this much data and delivering results fast enough to be useful. Quantum computing, in contrast, is ideally suited for these kind of applications.

    “Working with Microsoft, we tested several different possibilities, including a scenario involving as many as 5,000 vehicles — each with 10 different route choices available to them — simultaneously requesting routes across Metro Seattle. In 20 seconds, balanced routing suggestions were delivered to the vehicles that resulted in a 73 percent improvement in total congestion when compared to ‘selfish’ routing. The average commuting time, meanwhile, was also reduced by 8 percent — an annual reduction of more than 55,000 hours saved in congestion across this simulated fleet.

    “These results are promising, so now we’re expanding our partnership with Microsoft to further improve the algorithm and understand its effectiveness in more real-world scenarios. For example, will this method still deliver similar results when some streets are known to be closed, if route options aren’t equal for all drivers, or if some drivers decide to not follow suggested routes? These and more are all variables we’ll need to test for to ensure balanced routing can truly deliver tangible improvements for cities.”

    This study illustrates the benefits of quantum computing, and the many ways it will eventually revolutionize industries.

  • Use Apple Card to Buy An iPhone With Zero Interest

    Use Apple Card to Buy An iPhone With Zero Interest

    Earlier this year, Apple unveiled the Apple Card, a credit card issued in partnership with Goldman Sachs. Today, the company took the next logical step, announcing that Apple Card can now be used to purchase an iPhone interest-free for 24 months.

    According to Apple’s website, “just choose your new iPhone and then select Apple Card Monthly Installments as your payment option in the Apple Store app or online at apple.com. If you don’t have Apple Card, you can easily apply when you check out on your iPhone. Or you can visit an Apple Store and a Specialist can help you purchase an iPhone with Apple Card Monthly Installments. You can also apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app on your iPhone before you go shopping for your next iPhone.”

    The iPhone’s purchase price will be decided into 24 monthly payments, paid via Apple Card Monthly Installments. The Monthly Installments can be monitored and maintained in the Wallet app.

    The new option is similar to that offered by many carriers, with the cost of the phone split into interest-free payments across 24 months. One advantage of using the Apple Card, however, is that the purchase earns 3 percent Daily Cash. Apple makes a point of highlighting that users don’t have to wait the full two years to get the Daily Cash. Instead, it is immediately added to Wallet.

    This promotion is just the latest example of why tech companies are increasingly moving into the finance market, and the integration benefits that come from doing so.

  • Microsoft May Be Working On a Version of Windows 10X For IoT

    Microsoft May Be Working On a Version of Windows 10X For IoT

    According to Windows Latest, a recent LinkedIn job posting would seem to indicate that Microsoft is working on a version of Windows 10X for Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

    Windows 10X is a version of Windows designed specifically for multi-screen hardware. The operating system (OS) will power the Surface Neo, expected in 2020, and is based on Windows Core OS. Windows Core OS is Microsoft’s effort to unify the different versions of Windows, running on different hardware. By having a single, core OS, it’s much easier for the company to then make minor adjustments to specific implementations to accommodate different hardware profiles.

    According to the job posting, the successful candidate “will build the next generation IoT operating system based on Windows 10X.”

    Not surprisingly, the job will be part of the Azure team, as Microsoft continues to make headway against Amazon’s AWS.

    “Do you want to participate in enabling the intelligent edge vision with the Azure Core OS IoT team? The IoT team is on an exciting journey to enable industry platforms with a highly secure and supported OS that enables intelligent computing on diverse silicon at the edge….The team owns software stack both on the edge and complimentary services on the cloud that power innovative secure offerings like the recently announced ROS on Windows and Trusted Cyber Physical Systems. Our team is right at the forefront of defining and implementing what edge intelligence and computing looks like on IoT devices.”

    A version of Windows 10X for IoT devices could be a big help to Microsoft’s Azure efforts, by giving administrators a common platform to work with.

  • Sprint Executive Expected Merger to Raise Prices, Undercutting T-Mobile Argument

    Sprint Executive Expected Merger to Raise Prices, Undercutting T-Mobile Argument

    As the trial to stop the T-Mobile/Sprint merger got underway today, Bloomberg is reporting that at least one Sprint executive suspected the merger would result in higher prices for consumers.

    As a coalition of 13 states and the District of Columbia try to prevent the two wireless companies from merging, T-Mobile has maintained that the merger will ultimately benefit customers. Part of the rationale is that T-Mobile and Sprint need to combine to have the size and resources necessary to compete with Verizon and AT&T. Without the merger, the two smaller companies have indicated they would not be able to compete as effectively in the 5G market, leaving Verizon and AT&T little competition or incentive to keep prices low.

    The states, on the other hand, have said that going from four major carriers to three would eliminate competition, resulting in higher prices. According to documents that have come to light on the first day of the trial, it seems that a Sprint executive agreed with that sentiment.

    “Roger Sole, Sprint’s chief marketing officer, said in a text message in 2017 to Marcelo Claure, the carrier’s chief executive officer at the time, that the deal could mean an increase of $5 a month in average revenue per subscriber. Industry leaders AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. would also benefit with fewer players in the market, he said.”

    We’ve already reported on the stakes in this trial, impacting how much states have a say in antitrust matters the federal government is not interested in pursuing. If more documents or testimony comes to light supporting Sole’s belief, the states may be able to make their case after all.

  • Wunderlist Shutting Down in May 2020, Replaced by Microsoft To Do

    Wunderlist Shutting Down in May 2020, Replaced by Microsoft To Do

    Microsoft has announced in a blog post that it is shutting down Wunderlist on May 6, 2020.

    Microsoft acquired 6Wunderkinder, maker of the popular app, four years ago and began creating its own in-house replacement two years later. The company’s plan was always to replace Wunderlist with To Do, rather than maintain both applications. Development has focused on migrating those features Wunderlist users depend on to the new application.

    Microsoft’s blog post makes it clear they believe the time has come when most users will be able to migrate over with ease.

    “As a team of over 26 nationalities, we at Wunderlist/Microsoft To Do know what it’s like to move your life from one place to another. Be it a city or an app, moving can be stressful and scary – but, more importantly, exciting and refreshing. The key to a successful move is having the support to make your transition as seamless as possible, so you can focus on enjoying all the new experiences and creating new memories (or to-dos).”

    As part of the transition, users will be able to continue using Wunderlist for the time being, although it’s clear they should begin migrating to To Do as soon as possible.

    “Why are we doing this now? We’ve stopped releasing new features and big updates to Wunderlist, so as the app ages it’s become more difficult to maintain. As technology continues to advance, we can’t guarantee that Wunderlist will continue to work as it should, or as we’d like it to. With all our latest updates, we’re confident in To Do being the best alternative for Wunderlist now and so we believe it’s the right time to make the next move. Now, we want to dedicate all our time to growing that cross-suite experience that transforms how you achieve your goals and dreams.”

    After May 6, 2020, Wunderlist to-dos will no longer sync, although data will still be able to be exported to other platforms or imported into To Do for some time past the shutdown date. In the meantime, Wunderlist is not accepting any new signups in preparation for the transition.