Technology http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1019&ft=1&f=1019 Latest technology news and breakthroughs in technology, science, and industry. Download the NPR Technology podcast and Technology RSS feed. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:30:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Technology http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1019&ft=1&f=1019 Microsoft Responds To Fan Outcry, Changes Xbox One Policies Microsoft has changed policies regarding Internet connection and used game capabilities for its upcoming Xbox One gaming console. The company says it is responding to feedback from consumers. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/19/193607513/microsoft-responds-to-fan-outcry-changes-xbox-one-policies?ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/19/193607513/microsoft-responds-to-fan-outcry-changes-xbox-one-policies?ft=1&f=1019 Microsoft has changed policies regarding Internet connection and used game capabilities for its upcoming Xbox One gaming console. The company says it is responding to feedback from consumers.

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]]> Federal Agents Accuse Two Of Plotting Deadly X-Ray Weapon Officials say the suspects did not acquire a radiation source for a weapon, but they finished building a remote control that was meant to operate it. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/19/193599569/federal-agents-accuse-two-of-plotting-deadly-x-ray-weapon?ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/19/193599569/federal-agents-accuse-two-of-plotting-deadly-x-ray-weapon?ft=1&f=1019 Officials say the suspects did not acquire a radiation source for a weapon, but they finished building a remote control that was meant to operate it.

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]]> FBI Director Says Agency Is Using Drones Over The U.S. Robert Mueller told the Senate the FBI used drones rarely and for surveillance proposes. The DEA and the ATF had both revealed they possessed drones. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/19/193501274/fbi-director-says-agency-is-using-drones-over-the-u-s?ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/19/193501274/fbi-director-says-agency-is-using-drones-over-the-u-s?ft=1&f=1019 Robert Mueller told the Senate the FBI used drones rarely and for surveillance proposes. The DEA and the ATF had both revealed they possessed drones.

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]]> TV, Movie Streaming Services Want To Grow With Kids Twenty percent of Netflix's streaming is made up of content for kids. Amazon just ordered a bunch of pilots of kids' shows. TV critic Eric Deggans says subscription streaming services are going to lean on parents' desire for control of what their kids watch as they build their audiences. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/19/193344646/tv-movie-streaming-services-want-to-grow-with-kids?ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/19/193344646/tv-movie-streaming-services-want-to-grow-with-kids?ft=1&f=1019 Twenty percent of Netflix's streaming is made up of content for kids. Amazon just ordered a bunch of pilots of kids' shows. TV critic Eric Deggans says subscription streaming services are going to lean on parents' desire for control of what their kids watch as they build their audiences.

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]]> U.S. Automakers Are On A Roll, But Hiring Is Slow And Steady Profits for the nation's carmakers are on the rise, but after years of doing more with less, higher profits are unlikely to translate into significant numbers of new jobs. There are eight fewer plants and hundreds of thousands fewer workers in the industry than before the Great Recession. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:21:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/19/191386225/u-s-automakers-are-on-a-roll-but-hiring-is-slow-and-steady?ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/19/191386225/u-s-automakers-are-on-a-roll-but-hiring-is-slow-and-steady?ft=1&f=1019 Profits for the nation's carmakers are on the rise, but after years of doing more with less, higher profits are unlikely to translate into significant numbers of new jobs. There are eight fewer plants and hundreds of thousands fewer workers in the industry than before the Great Recession.

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]]> Parvum Opus: Followers Flock To Pope's Latin Twitter Feed The account has gained more than 100,000 followers worldwide in less than six months. Followers, who represent a wide variety of professions and religions, are convinced the language of the ancient Romans is perfectly suited to 21st century social media. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:18:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/06/19/188750518/parvum-opus-followers-flock-to-popes-latin-twitter-feed?ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/06/19/188750518/parvum-opus-followers-flock-to-popes-latin-twitter-feed?ft=1&f=1019 The account has gained more than 100,000 followers worldwide in less than six months. Followers, who represent a wide variety of professions and religions, are convinced the language of the ancient Romans is perfectly suited to 21st century social media.

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]]> Amazon Cuts Ties In Minnesota Ahead Of New Sales Tax Amazon ends the contracts of people and businesses that are paid for sending customers to the retailer. The company has taken similar steps in other states that have passed laws like Minnesota's new sales tax legislation. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/18/193244080/amazon-cuts-ties-in-minnesota-ahead-of-new-sales-tax?ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/18/193244080/amazon-cuts-ties-in-minnesota-ahead-of-new-sales-tax?ft=1&f=1019 Amazon ends the contracts of people and businesses that are paid for sending customers to the retailer. The company has taken similar steps in other states that have passed laws like Minnesota's new sales tax legislation.

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]]> Mexico's Tech Startups Look To Overcome Barriers To Growth <strong></strong>In the past decade, Mexico's tech industry has flourished, growing three times faster than the global average. Most of that growth has been fueled by demand from the United States. But as Mexico's startups strive to make it in foreign markets, they say they need more engineers and ways to finance their growth. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:52:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/06/18/188322814/mexicos-tech-startups-look-to-overcome-barriers-to-growth?ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/06/18/188322814/mexicos-tech-startups-look-to-overcome-barriers-to-growth?ft=1&f=1019 In the past decade, Mexico's tech industry has flourished, growing three times faster than the global average. Most of that growth has been fueled by demand from the United States. But as Mexico's startups strive to make it in foreign markets, they say they need more engineers and ways to finance their growth.

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]]> Breaking Bad News To Kids: How Media Has Tweaked The Process Parents have always had to break hard news to kids, from family hardships to national tragedies. Now there are more ways for children to learn about news faster — through 24 hour news and social media. So, what's changed in how parents broach these subjects? How can media help, or hurt? Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/18/193135999/breaking-bad-news-to-kids-how-media-has-tweaked-the-process?ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/18/193135999/breaking-bad-news-to-kids-how-media-has-tweaked-the-process?ft=1&f=1019 Parents have always had to break hard news to kids, from family hardships to national tragedies. Now there are more ways for children to learn about news faster — through 24 hour news and social media. So, what's changed in how parents broach these subjects? How can media help, or hurt?

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]]> Teens Find The Right Tools For Their Social-Media Jobs There was a time — a time long, long ago — when MySpace dominated the teen social-media world. Not anymore. NPR's Sami Yenigun looks at how teenagers use various social platforms in today's increasingly segmented online universe. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/06/17/192718821/teens-find-the-right-tools-for-their-social-media-jobs?ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/06/17/192718821/teens-find-the-right-tools-for-their-social-media-jobs?ft=1&f=1019 There was a time — a time long, long ago — when MySpace dominated the teen social-media world. Not anymore. NPR's Sami Yenigun looks at how teenagers use various social platforms in today's increasingly segmented online universe.

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]]> Google's 'Internet Balloons' Could Expand Online Access Google's "Project Loon" just launched in New Zealand — it uses balloons floating in the stratosphere to bring high-speed Internet access to remote areas. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=192791052&ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=192791052&ft=1&f=1019 Google's "Project Loon" just launched in New Zealand — it uses balloons floating in the stratosphere to bring high-speed Internet access to remote areas.

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]]> Digital Scrapbook Collects Rock-Star Authors' Memories If any story screams out for a multimedia e-book treatment, it's the tale of The Rock Bottom Remainders, a small band of best-selling authors — including Amy Tan, Dave Barry and Stephen King — who yowled out rock standards. <em>Hard Listening</em><em> </em>is a digital scrapbook about their years as musicians. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/06/17/191288040/digital-scrapbook-collects-rock-star-authors-memories?ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/06/17/191288040/digital-scrapbook-collects-rock-star-authors-memories?ft=1&f=1019 If any story screams out for a multimedia e-book treatment, it's the tale of The Rock Bottom Remainders, a small band of best-selling authors — including Amy Tan, Dave Barry and Stephen King — who yowled out rock standards. Hard Listening is a digital scrapbook about their years as musicians.

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]]> 'Guardian': Documents Show Britain, U.S. Spied At World Summits This is the latest revelation to come from documents leaked by Edward Snowden. They purportedly show that Britain and the United States spied on their allies during G-20 summit meetings in England in 2009. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/17/192631660/guardian-documents-show-britain-u-s-spied-at-world-summits?ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/17/192631660/guardian-documents-show-britain-u-s-spied-at-world-summits?ft=1&f=1019 This is the latest revelation to come from documents leaked by Edward Snowden. They purportedly show that Britain and the United States spied on their allies during G-20 summit meetings in England in 2009.

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]]> The Implications Of Drones In U.S. Airspace The Federal Aviation Administration is working on new regulations that would allow the use of small, commercial drones. Texas and 30 states are crafting their own laws to rein in these flying robots before they leave the ground. Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=192415103&ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=192415103&ft=1&f=1019 The Federal Aviation Administration is working on new regulations that would allow the use of small, commercial drones. Texas and 30 states are crafting their own laws to rein in these flying robots before they leave the ground.

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]]> Bringing Extreme WIFI To Remote Places Google scientists have been testing a way to link computers to the internet in rural, war torn or disaster areas where high speed internet does not exist. We hear from Steven Levy, a senior writer with Wired magazine who was embedded with the Google team. Sun, 16 Jun 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=192277280&ft=1&f=1019 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=192277280&ft=1&f=1019 Google scientists have been testing a way to link computers to the internet in rural, war torn or disaster areas where high speed internet does not exist. We hear from Steven Levy, a senior writer with Wired magazine who was embedded with the Google team.

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