Tech
'Rubble pile' asteroid holds clues to Earth's water story
An asteroid described as a "pile of rubble" is rich in hydrated minerals that could help solve the mystery of how Earth got its water, scientists said Tuesday. The Ryugu asteroid, around 300 million kilometers from Earth, is estimated to be between 100 million and one billion years old. It… Read
Google moves to disrupt video games with streaming, studio
Google set out to disrupt the video game world on Tuesday with a Stadia platform that will let players stream blockbuster titles to any device they wish, as the online giant also unveiled a new controller and its very own studio. The California-based technology giant said its Stadia platform will… Read
Facebook to overhaul ad targeting to prevent discrimination
Facebook will overhaul its ad-targeting systems to prevent discrimination in housing , credit and employment ads as part of a legal settlement. For the social network, that's one major legal problem down, several to go, including government investigations in the U.S. and Europe over its data and privacy practices. The… Read
Hayabusa2 spacecraft to make crater on asteroid to get samples from inside
Japan's space agency said Monday that its Hayabusa2 spacecraft will follow up last month's touchdown on a distant asteroid with another risky mission - dropping an explosive on the asteroid to make a crater and then collect underground samples for possible clues to the origin of the solar system. Hayabusa2… Read
Apple refreshes iPad lineup, with larger entry-level model
Apple has unveiled a new iPad that's thinner and slightly larger than its current entry-level tablet. The new iPad Air will cost $499 and sport a screen that measures 10.5 inches diagonally. That compares with the standard, 9.7-inch iPad, which Apple will still sell for $329. Apple has higher-end Pro… Read
Instagram to set up 1st overseas development team in Japan
The head of photo and video-sharing platform Instagram said it will set up its first development team outside its home market of the United States in the summer in Tokyo to strengthen its services and functions. Instagram, a Facebook Inc subsidiary, aims to strengthen the platform's design and quality of… Read
Facebook launches AI to find and remove 'revenge porn'
Facebook is rolling out technology to make it easier to find and remove intimate pictures and videos posted without the subject's consent, often called "revenge porn." Currently, Facebook users or victims of revenge porn have to report the inappropriate pictures before content moderators will review them. The company has also… Read
Disaster-prevention house to come with PV system, battery, fuel cell
Daiwa House Industry Co Ltd on April 1 will release a house that is resistant to primary and secondary disasters. Equipped with an "All-Weather Three Battery Linking System," the house can supply electricity, heating and hot water for about 10 days even when it is raining. The system reduces fuel… Read
Apple says Spotify wants benefits of a free app without being free
Apple Inc on Thursday responded to Spotify Technology SA's complaint with EU antitrust regulators, saying the audio streaming service "wants all the benefits of a free app without being free". Spotify, launched a year after Apple unveiled its first iPhone in 2007, said on Wednesday the company unfairly limits rivals… Read
Microsoft targets video game developers, in challenge to Amazon's cloud dominance
Microsoft Corp says it is combining elements of its video gaming and Azure cloud computing businesses to court game developers, an action designed to use the strength of its Xbox gaming franchise to gain ground on cloud services leader Amazon.com. Microsoft said it will start rolling out "Microsoft Game Stack,"… Read
