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Laura Sydell
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Laura Sydell

Friday

Long Before Net Neutrality, Rules Leveled The Landscape For Phone Services

Operators at a Bell System telephone switchboard, as photographed by the Department of Labor Women's Bureau. U.S. National Archives hide caption

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U.S. National Archives

All Tech Considered

Long Before Net Neutrality, Rules Leveled The Landscape For Phone Services

The new FCC rules require service providers to be a neutral gateway to the Internet. The move has precedent in the 1930s, when regulators enacted "common carrier" rules on phone service companies.

Long Before Net Neutrality, Rules Leveled The Landscape For Phone Services

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Monday

Now You Can Sign Up To Keep Drones Away From Your Property

A staff member from DJI Technology Co. demonstrates a drone in Shenzhen, in southern China's Guangdong province. A new website lets people request that drones stay away from their property. Kin Cheung/AP hide caption

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Kin Cheung/AP

All Tech Considered

Now You Can Sign Up To Keep Drones Away From Your Property

Most Americans worry that drones will invade their privacy, polls show. Thousands of people have signed up with NoFlyZone.org — the equivalent of a "get-off-of-my-lawn" warning to drone operators.

Now You Can Sign Up To Keep Drones Away From Your Property

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Thursday

Technology

Facebook Offers New Options For Digital Life After Death

The company is introducing a new policy that allows users to appoint an executor who will keep their account active posthumously.

Facebook Offers New Options For Digital Life After Death

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Monday

Shake, Rattle And Toll: Berkeley's Bells Play Sounds Of Earth

In a project called "Natural Frequencies," the bells in the Campanile on the University of California, Berkeley campus were recently programmed to play a score composed in real time by the seismic shifts taking place along the Hayward fault. Eric Risberg/AP hide caption

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Eric Risberg/AP

All Tech Considered

Shake, Rattle And Toll: Berkeley's Bells Play Sounds Of Earth

In celebration of its 100th anniversary, the bells of UC Berkeley's Sather Tower were programmed to play a score composed in real time by the data from seismic shifts happening under the campus.

Shake, Rattle And Toll: Berkeley's Bells Play Sounds Of Earth

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Wednesday

Technology

FCC Proposal Would Regulate Internet Like A Public Utility

Supporters of the move say it's the best way to guarantee so-called net neutrality. Opponents believe meddlesome regulators will impose intrusive new rules on Internet service.

FCC Proposal Would Regulate Internet Like A Public Utility

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Thursday

Pro-ISIS Messages Create Dilemma For Social Media Companies

Zarine Khan (right) and Shafi Khan, parents of Mohammed Hamzah Khan, speak to reporters in Chicago Oct. 9 after a federal hearing for their 19-year-old son, accused of trying to join Islamic State militants in Syria. Charles Rex Arbogast/AP hide caption

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Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

All Tech Considered

Pro-ISIS Messages Create Dilemma For Social Media Companies

Facebook, YouTube and other sites are being asked to do more to stop terrorists. Yet they are also being asked to let some of the propaganda remain to help officials track jihadis.

Pro-ISIS Messages Create Dilemma For Social Media Companies

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Monday

At 90, She's Designing Tech For Aging Boomers

Barbara Beskind, 90, is a designer at IDEO who works with engineers on products that improve the quality of life for older people. Nicolas Zurcher/Courtesy of IDEO hide caption

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Nicolas Zurcher/Courtesy of IDEO

All Tech Considered

At 90, She's Designing Tech For Aging Boomers

Barbara Beskind stands out in youth-obsessed Silicon Valley. She inspires designers at the IDEO firm to think about the needs of older generations: What if your glasses could help you remember people?

At 90, She's Designing Tech For Aging Boomers

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Tuesday

With Downloads In Decline, Can iTunes Adapt?

Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs stands in front of a projection of iTunes at a presentation in 2004. Ian Waldie/Getty Images hide caption

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Ian Waldie/Getty Images

The Record

With Downloads In Decline, Can iTunes Adapt?

Digital downloads of iTunes fell sharply in 2014, as consumers abandoned Apple's music store in favor of cheap, easy-to-use subscription services.

With Downloads In Decline, Can iTunes Adapt?

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Monday

Hustle Behind The Wheel: What It's Like To Be An Uber Driver

Ride-hailing services like Uber have changed ground transportation for both passengers and drivers. As Uber rapidly grows, it becomes more difficult for its drivers to keep up with the hustle. David Ramos/Getty Images hide caption

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David Ramos/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Hustle Behind The Wheel: What It's Like To Be An Uber Driver

The ride-hailing service says it is creating 20,000 driver jobs every month. While this makes the service better for customers, drivers worry it will drive prices — and their earnings — down.

Hustle Behind The Wheel: What It's Like To Be An Uber Driver

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Friday

Please Touch! Cooper Hewitt Creates A Museum For The Internet Age

Interactive touch screens at the newly redesigned Cooper Hewitt museum let visitors sort through the catalog and create their own designs. Cooper Hewitt hide caption

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Cooper Hewitt

All Tech Considered

Please Touch! Cooper Hewitt Creates A Museum For The Internet Age

The design museum is housed in a historic building, but it has been remade into one of the country's most technologically advanced museums. Officials hope it attracts younger visitors — and donors.

Please Touch! Cooper Hewitt Creates A Museum For The Internet Age

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Monday

Obituaries

Inventor Ralph Baer Was An American Success Story

Ralph Baer, a video game pioneer who turned TV sets into visual playgrounds, died Saturday at the age of 92. Baer was a refugee from Nazi Germany who invented the first home video system.

Inventor Ralph Baer Was An American Success Story

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Monday

Did You Hear? Going Viral No Longer Just For Videos, Memes

While viral videos are a common feature of modern Internet life, recently a few audio clips, including sounds from a comet, have become popular. Underwood & Underwood/Corbis hide caption

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Underwood & Underwood/Corbis

All Tech Considered

Did You Hear? Going Viral No Longer Just For Videos, Memes

Sure, the Internet is littered with viral cat videos. But recently some bits of audio have drawn millions of listens. Yet it may be too soon to say we're entering a new age of viral audio.

Did You Hear? Going Viral No Longer Just For Videos, Memes

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Wednesday

Pandora's New Deal: Different Pay, Different Play

David Lowery, of Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven, says he's wary of the way Pandora pays for music. Cooper Neill/Getty Images hide caption

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Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Music News

Pandora's New Deal: Different Pay, Different Play

The Internet radio service offers greater exposure to artists in exchange for a lower royalty rate.

Pandora's New Deal: Different Pay, Different Play

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Tuesday

Technology

Uber Executive Lashes Out At Journalists After Negative Publicity

In the latest flap involving the ride sharing company Uber, an executive is apologizing after saying the company should spy on unfriendly reporters. Uber is a hit with customers, but has clashed with competitors, regulators and some journalists.

Uber Executive Lashes Out At Journalists After Negative Publicity

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Friday

Victims Of Online Threats Say Perpetrators Aren't Being Caught

Rebecca Watson says she has been disappointed by the police response to online threats against her. Adam Isaak hide caption

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Adam Isaak

All Tech Considered

Victims Of Online Threats Say Perpetrators Aren't Being Caught

Women who turn to law enforcement for help are often frustrated that authorities aren't doing enough. Police say tracing the culprits can be a complicated and time-consuming process.

Victims Of Online Threats Say Perpetrators Aren't Being Caught

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