Innholdsfortegnelse for #160 i Techlife News

Hackers stole 53 million email addresses in addition to customers’ card data, Home Depot said Thursday. The nation’s largest home improvement chain had disclosed the massive, months-long breach of 56 million debit and credit cards in September. Home Depot’s breach surpassed Target’s pre-Christmas 2013 data theft, which compromised 40 million credit and debit cards and hurt sales and profits. Since late last year, Michaels, SuperValu and Neiman Marcus have been among a string of retailers that have also reported breaches, though they were smaller. While shoppers appear to have grown numb to the hacks, the breaches have forcing changes in retailing. Target’s breach pushed banks, retailers and card companies to increase security by speeding the adoption of microchips in U.S. credit and debit cards, which supporters say are more secure.…

BlackBerry, which has completed the first phase of its two-year turnaround plan, is now focused on profitability and will not spread itself thin by attempting to launch too many new devices, its chief executive said. John Chen, who took the reins at the struggling mobile technology company in November 2013, has moved rapidly to try to get the one-time investor darling back on track. The company has sold assets, struck partnerships to lower manufacturing costs and broaden app offerings, and raised cash via the sale of real estate holdings in its hometown of Waterloo, Ontario. “Once we turn this company to profitability again, I will do everything I can to never lose money ever again,” Chen told Reuters in an interview this week. “That is definitely something I am very…

WHY WE AREN'T ENTERING A NEW ERA OF APPLE MALWARE Over the last week or so, we've seen some curious headlines in the world of Apple: those talking in sensationalist tones about a possible new era of Apple malware and viruses. It's all come about as a result of supposed threats to iOS and OS X called "WireLurker" and "Masque Attack". Is there much reason for you to panic? As ever, the answer is "no", but also as ever when it comes to all things Apple, it helps to know the exact reasons why. First of all, if you're wondering how the Cupertino firm could have possibly lost its reputation of being almost completely imperious to the malware and viruses that have long plagued more 'open' platforms, don't fret -…

Wireless? Bar codes? What’s the best way to pay with your phone? Apple Pay, Google Wallet and a few other services use a wireless technology called near-field communication, or NFC. With Apple Pay, the phone unlocks automatically when you hold it near the NFC reader on the merchant’s payment system. You’re then prompted to scan your fingerprint to authorize the transaction. Google Wallet isn’t quite as fast, as it requires a passcode. Some big merchants including Wal-Mart, CVS, Rite Aid and 7-Eleven are developing their own systems based on bar codes. Some have even disabled their NFC equipment in the meantime. Their system, CurrentC, is expected to debut next year. For now, bar-code payments tend to be made through apps for specific stores, such as Starbucks. NFC transactions tend to…

When audio of former “7th Heaven” star Stephen Collins purportedly confessing to molesting underage girls appeared on the website TMZ last month, it did more than just damage the veteran actor’s career. The recording, made during a therapy session and given to police by the actor’s estranged wife, led to re-runs of “7th Heaven” disappearing from cable TV and Collins swiftly losing acting roles. Three law enforcement agencies confirmed investigations into allegations that Collins molested underage girls several decades ago, although no charges have been filed. The audio, which has not been authenticated by The Associated Press, will likely never be played in a courtroom. It will, however, linger over the actor’s upcoming divorce trial, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday in Los Angeles. The audio’s impact will be…

Perhaps more than any other genre, sci-fi movies ask, “What if?” In their attempts to address that question, filmmakers have given audiences a bewildering array of sights, sounds and ideas over the years: the dystopian grit of “Blade Runner,” the space operatics of “Star Wars,” the martial-arts mayhem of “The Matrix” and the immersive thrills of “Gravity,” to name but a few. And then there are the films you might call sci-phi — those that combine the hard edge of science with a philosophical exploration of Big Ideas about life, love, space and time. The latest entry in the subgenre is the three-hour epic “Interstellar,” which hit theaters last week and was just edged out of the No. 1 box-office spot by Disney’s “Big Hero 6.” Time will tell whether…

The international news channel CNN says it will halt broadcasting in Russia due to recent changes in media legislation. Turner International, which operates CNN, announced the move in a statement Tuesday. It didn’t elaborate on the background to the decision, but appeared to refer to a law passed in October that limits foreign media ownership in Russia to 20 percent. The chairman of the Kremlin’s human rights council, Mikhail Fedotov, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying the decision would “seriously impoverish” Russia’s information sphere. Concerns are strong about media freedom in Russia as the government has taken control of all major domestic television stations and the independent-minded Echo of Moscow radio station has come under pressure.…

The unexpected package from Bob Dylan’s song publisher promised an adventure for music producer T Bone Burnett. It was a collection of typed lyrics written - and forgotten - by Dylan during his fertile “Basement Tapes” period in the late 1960s. The instructions were minimal: do with this what you will. This week, everyone can hear what Burnett did. He booked a studio for two weeks and invited an insta-band of talented friends to transform the words into music. Elvis Costello, Marcus Mumford (Mumford & Sons), Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and Rhiannon Giddens (Carolina Chocolate Drops) answered the call and, at Mumford’s suggestion, Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) was invited, too. Nobody involved - even Burnett, an old friend - has spoken to Dylan about what they’ve done with his songs.…

The Sunday-morning public affairs show “Face the Nation” celebrates 60 years of broadcasts this week, making it the second longest-running television program on the air. The reason this doesn’t attract a lot of notice outside of CBS offices is because “Face the Nation” was created to compete with the longest-running show, NBC’s “Meet the Press,” which marks 67 years on the air this week. But host Bob Schieffer and his colleagues have special reason to enjoy this milestone now, since “Face” is hot and “Meet” is not. Friday is the exact anniversary, 60 years to the day after the anti-communist crusading Sen. Joseph McCarthy came on to talk about Senate efforts to censure him. “We still do exactly what we did on the first broadcast - find the key newsmaker…

Insurance underwriters involved in a legal battle with the Rolling Stones over a $12.7 million claim have won permission to seek evidence in Utah about the mental health of Mick Jagger’s girlfriend before she took her life in March. A federal judge in Utah last month allowed the 12 underwriters to gather testimony and documents from Randall Bambrough of Ogden, the brother of L’Wren Scott. She was a fashion designer and Utah native whose suicide prompted the rock group to postpone a concert tour of Australia and New Zealand and then file a $12.7 claim for losses due to its postponement. Jagger was “diagnosed as suffering from acute traumatic stress disorder” after Scott’s death and was advised by doctors not to perform for at least 30 days, according to documents…

Nicki Minaj rapped about shortbread and Ariana Grande capped a breakthrough year with two trophies as the MTV Europe Music Awards celebrated its 20th anniversary Sunday with a Scottish-accented show in Glasgow. Grande was named best female artist and also took the best-single prize for “Problem,” one of a string of hits she’s had this year. The 21-year-old American singer said she was doubly grateful to the EMAs - meeting Iggy Azalea at last year’s awards show led directly to working with the Australian rapper on “Problem.” “This is absolutely crazy,” Grande said after her second win of the night. It was a good result for a performer who admitted she was too excited to sleep the night before the ceremony, and said was shaking after walking past a gaggle…

BlackBerry, which has completed the first phase of its two-year turnaround plan, is now focused on profitability and will not spread itself thin by attempting to launch too many new devices, its chief executive said. John Chen, who took the reins at the struggling mobile technology company in November 2013, has moved rapidly to try to get the one-time investor darling back on track. The company has sold assets, struck partnerships to lower manufacturing costs and broaden app offerings, and raised cash via the sale of real estate holdings in its hometown of Waterloo, Ontario. “Once we turn this company to profitability again, I will do everything I can to never lose money ever again,” Chen told Reuters in an interview this week. “That is definitely something I am very…

Maleficent Follow the untold story of the quintessential Disney villainess - played by Angelina Jolie - in this live action reimagining of the 1959 Walt Disney animated classic, Sleeping Beauty. Maleficent zooms in on the elements of the betrayal of the eponymous character - fiercely desiring to protect the moors over which she presides - that turn her pure heart to stone. FIVE FACTS: • Principal photography took place between June and October 2012.• The film premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood in May this year.• It has grossed $757,628,891 worldwide.• The film was scored by James Newton Howard.• The movie’s title song is “Once Upon a Dream”, taken from the 1959 film Sleeping Beauty and covered for Maleficent by Lana Del Rey. The Matrix How would you react to discovering that “reality”…

NASA's biggest test flight in years remains on track for next month, despite last week's space-related accidents. Officials said Thursday everything looks good for the Dec. 4 launch of NASA's new Orion capsule. This one will not carry a crew. Future Orions are meant to carry astronauts on missions of deep-space exploration, including, one day, trips to Mars. The spacecraft will blast off atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The four-hour flight will send it on two laps around Earth - and as far as 3,600 miles into space - before parachuting into the Pacific, Apollo style. William Hill, who helps run exploration systems development for NASA, said the test flight systems have nothing in common with either the Orbital Sciences rocket that blew up at liftoff…

A team of animated Marvel characters rocketed past a group of wormhole-bound astronauts at the weekend box office. Disney’s animated adventure “Big Hero 6,” featuring the inflatable robot Baymax and his prodigy pal Hiro from the Marvel comic book, debuted in first place with $56.2 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. Paramount’s space saga “Interstellar,” starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway as astronauts, took off in second place with $50 million, estimates said. Before launching in more than 3,500 theaters this weekend, writer-director Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” played Wednesday and Thursday in about 250 theaters equipped to project the movie on film - “The Dark Knight” filmmaker’s preferred method of showcasing his creations. “Interstellar” opened below Nolan’s last film, the mind-bending thriller “Inception,” which conjured up $62.8 million when it debuted…

Google has signed a long-term lease for part of a historic Navy air base, where it plans to renovate three massive hangars and use them for projects involving aviation, space exploration and robotics. The giant Internet company will pay $1.16 billion in rent over 60 years for the property, which also includes a working air field, golf course and other buildings. The 1,000-acre site is part of the former Moffett Field Naval Air Station on the San Francisco Peninsula. Google plans to invest more than $200 million to refurbish the hangars and add other improvements, including a museum or educational facility that will showcase the history of Moffett and Silicon Valley, according to a NASA statement. The agency said a Google subsidiary called Planetary Ventures LLC will use the hangars…

It is hard to describe the hysteria that was whipped up by the new NBC drama “Dr. Kildare” and its 27-year-old leading man, Richard Chamberlain. Adding to the excitement was the harmonic convergence that found a rival doctor drama, “Ben Casey,” arriving in ABC’s lineup just four days after “Dr. Kildare” debuted on Sept. 28, 1961. Both shows erupted as smash hits. Both launched out-of-nowhere heartthrobs. Then, as if on cue, each sputtered to a finish five seasons later. Rugged, swarthy Vince Edwards would never again enjoy his prominence as Dr. Casey. He passed away two decades ago at age 67. But a happier fate awaited Chamberlain, who, spared the typical flare-out of an overnight sensation, followed up his stint at Blair General Hospital with a varied and distinguished slate…

It seems like only yesterday, or could it be a decade, since “Growing Up Gotti” was lending an ear to the fortissimo life of mobster daughter Victoria Gotti and her three boisterous lads. Now A&E is bringing back the family for a one-hour retrospective, “Growing Up Gotti: 10 Years Later,” inviting viewers to revisit the Gottis’ Long Island manse for reminiscing and vintage clips from the series (which aired in 2004-05). The new special airs Monday at 9 p.m. EST. Mom, now 51, is still the dolled-up matriarch while sons John and Carmine are all grown up and no longer so reliant on hair gel and swagger. (But domestic drama remains: Youngest son Frank, 24, blew off the retrospective taping, claiming illness, according to the network.) “We laughed! Boy, did…

SURPRISE NEWS ALSO SEES JOHN LASSETER'S DIRECTORIAL RETURN Do you remember Toy Story, that staggering 1995 box office success that firmly installed the name of the Pixar animation studio in the minds of movie-goers everywhere? Or what about either of its sequels, particularly 2010's Toy Story 3, which saw the boy at the centre of the saga - Andy - mark his transition from childhood to adulthood by handing his old toys to a young girl, Bonnie? Well, we're now set to get a fourth addition to the franchise. So seemingly perfect was the ending of Toy Story 3, that few people ever contemplated that the series would make a big screen return. Fair enough, so Woody and Buzz haven't exactly faded into obscurity, having continued to appear in various short films and…

The Material Girl has still got it. Julien’s Auctions said Saturday that bidders worldwide sought items from Madonna’s professional and personal life during the two-day Icons & Idols: Rock n’ Roll auction in Beverly Hills that started Friday. The auction house says the gown and stole from her “Material Girl” video sold for $73,125, while the wedding dress the pop icon wore when she married Sean Penn in 1985 brought in $81,250. Her jacket from “Desperately Seeking Susan” sold for a record $252,000 and one earring worn in the film fetched $34,375. Other highlights include the gown from the film “Evita” - which sold for $15,000 - and her “A League of Their Own” uniform - which sold for $31,250.…

Attempt at your own risk: For an entire week, I left all my cash and credit cards at home to see how well wallet-free mobile services work in the real world. Apple Pay has gotten a lot of attention in recent weeks, but there are lots of other mobile-payment systems. Google Wallet uses a similar wireless technology called NFC, or near-field communication. Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts have apps that generate bar codes for their stores. A phone case called LoopPay mimics the signals produced by card swipes so you can pay with your phone just about anywhere credit cards are accepted - at least in theory. The good news: I didn’t get arrested for failing to pay my debts. But on two occasions, friends had to buy me drinks. Another…

The Endless River (Deluxe Edition) Pink Floyd The legendary English progressive rockers Pink Floyd complete their studio discography with The Endless River, the group’s first release since the death of keyboardist and founder member Richard Wright, who features posthumously. Indeed, the album - which mostly consists of ambient and instrumental music - has been described as a “swan song” for Wright. FIVE FACTS: • The Endless River is also the third studio album to be released by the David Gilmourled Pink Floyd, following Roger Waters’ 1985 departure.• It is based on 20 hours of unreleased material that the band wrote, recorded and produced with Wright during sessions for its previous studio album, 1994’s The Division Bell.• Work on the album was completed in 2013 and 2014 in Gilmour’s Astoria houseboat recording studio, as…

Microsoft is offering free upgraded versions of its Office software for iPhones and iPads, as the software giant further embraces the so-called “freemium” strategy favored by many newer companies seeking success online. Give away a basic version of a popular service, and the world may beat a path to your door and be willing to pay a little more for extras, or so the thinking goes. Microsoft, the longtime king of desktop software, has generally protected its model of getting paid upfront for what it developed. But as the company strives to stay relevant for workers and consumers in an increasingly mobile world - and better compete with Google, Apple and others - it is offering substantial versions of its most popular products free of charge for smartphones and tablets.…

At the beginning of “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare,” the recently released installment in Activision’s blockbuster military shooter franchise, the player is dumped from the sky in a drop pod onto an urban battlefield, smashing into skyscrapers and landing in a futuristic, war-torn rendition of a city that’s rarely depicted in video games: Seoul, South Korea. It’s a “Wizard of Oz” moment for the “Call of Duty” series. The interactive medium has long built digital playgrounds based on real-world locales. However, recent technological leaps, as well as an endless string of games set in ubiquitous locations like New York and Los Angeles, have motivated developers of some of the year’s biggest and most anticipated games to boldly go where they haven’t before. “I think designers are on the lookout for…

A bleary-eyed Jon Stewart is sitting outside his offices reflecting on his directorial debut, “Rosewater,” a drama about the unjust imprisonment of journalist Maziar Bahari in Iran. It’s the morning after “The Daily Show” broadcast live for the midterm elections, including a sketch that reported from the campaign headquarters of the night’s big winner - Money, as played by a hard-partying Rob Riggle - and the desolate base of the night’s loser, Ideas. Humor, Stewart says, is an “amoeba-like substance” that can grow in even the harshest of conditions, like life at the bottom of the ocean. “It may be grotesque and absurd life. It may be a fish with a crab growing out of its head that lights up like a Lite-Brite,” says Stewart. “But it’s there.” For 16…