L.A. Times - Technology News

Facebook is seeking smartphone partnership with Samsung

By Paresh Dave — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:18:00 GMT

The HTC First, a smartphone that features Facebook front-and-center, has been a flop. So now Facebook is reportedly turning to Samsung, the world’s largest phone maker, for help.

Highland Park hacker wins award for wearing a 'white hat'

By Paresh Dave — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:05:00 GMT

Many days late at night, Skyler Rojas, a rising junior at UC Berkeley, finds himself exchanging messages on Skype with a good friend. The conversations tend to focus on cybersecurity -- how to protect and break into computer networks.

Certification begins on a faster, more reliable Wi-Fi technology

By Paresh Dave — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:05:00 GMT

Many Wi-Fi woes could soon be coming to an end.

Silicon Beach Fest celebrating L.A. tech scene kicks off Wednesday

By Andrea Chang — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:18:00 GMT

Silicon Beach Fest, aimed at boosting the growing Los Angeles technology scene, is back for its second year.

Google wants to reveal how many secret security requests it gets

By Salvador Rodriguez — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:05:00 GMT

Google is petitioning the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court for approval to reveal detailed information about the amount of national security requests it receives.

FiftyThree, creator of Apple's app of the year, raises $15 million

By Salvador Rodriguez — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:52:00 GMT

FiftyThree, the developer of the app that won Apple's iPad app of the year award, has raised $15 million in funding, led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.

Huawei unveils Ascent P6, claimed to be the world's thinnest phone

By Salvador Rodriguez — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:46:00 GMT

Huawei rolled out a smartphone Tuesday that it claims is the thinnest smartphone in the world.

Yahoo discloses how much government data requests it gets

By Salvador Rodriguez — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:10:00 GMT

Yahoo became the fourth major tech company to disclose how much government data requests it gets, following a report that alleged the tech companies are involved in a government surveillance program known as PRISM.

T-Mobile to be exclusive carrier for Sony's Xperia Z smartphone

By Salvador Rodriguez — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:06:00 GMT

Five months after unveiling the Xperia Z smartphone, Sony has finally announced that T-Mobile will be the exclusive U.S. carrier for the device.

Sprint files lawsuit against Dish and Clearwire

By Andrea Chang — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:00:00 GMT

The complicated battle for Clearwire is growing more contentious.

Chromebook laptops on sale at Wal-Mart, coming to more retailers

By Salvador Rodriguez — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:53:00 GMT

Google has teamed up with Wal-Mart and several other major retail partners to sell the company's Chromebook laptops at their stores.

Digg Reader, a Google Reader replacement, to be launched next week

By Salvador Rodriguez — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:38:00 GMT

Digg is keeping true to its promise by launching an RSS news aggregator before the shutdown of Google Reader on July 1.

'Tweet' is now an official word in the Oxford English Dictionary

By Salvador Rodriguez — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:31:00 GMT

In the latest sign that social media is changing the way we speak and behave, the Oxford English Dictionary announced the inclusion of the definition of the word "tweet" in its latest update.

Paperback version of Steve Jobs biography coming Sept. 10

By Salvador Rodriguez — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:13:00 GMT

Two years after the release of the hardcover version of "Steve Jobs," the authorized biography of the Apple co-founder written by Walter Isaacson, a paperback version will go on sale Sept. 10.

Samsung to sell faster version of Galaxy S 4

By Salvador Rodriguez — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:06:00 GMT

Samsung said it plans to offer a new version of its Galaxy S 4 flagship smartphone that will be able to download data at about twice the speed of the current version.

Apple releases information on data requests from NSA, other agencies

By Jim Puzzanghera — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

WASHINGTON -- Apple Inc., said it received 4,000 to 5,000 requests for customer data from U.S. officials during the six months ending in May, as it became the latest high-tech company to provide some details on its involvement in the National Security Agency's Internet surveillance program.

Reddit Meetup: Can users turn online connections into real ones?

By Stacey Leasca — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 14:36:00 GMT

What do President Obama, Morgan Freeman, NSA document-leaker Edward Snowden and some guy who goes by the name “probably hitting on you” have in common?

Facebook releases information on NSA requests for user data

By Jessica Guynn — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 02:14:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO -- Looking to shield itself from a growing public backlash over damaging revelations that it turned over user data to the National Security Agency's clandestine Internet surveillance program Prism, Facebook said late Friday it had reached an agreement to divulge some details about the government requests it receives for information about its users.

San Francisco and New York call truce, will co-host tech summit

By Chris O'Brien — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:36:00 GMT

Laying aside years of bad blood that has at times threatened to spill into open warfare, the mayors of San Francisco and New York City agreed Friday afternoon to a digital detente that will include co-hosting a technology summit this year.

Facebook sends out invitation to a June 20 event -- by snail mail

By Salvador Rodriguez — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:18:00 GMT

Facebook has begun sending out invitations for its next media event, but not in a way one would expect from a top tech company. Facebook is using the U.S. Postal Service.

Amid criticism, Apple website showing off alternate iOS 7 icons

By Salvador Rodriguez — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:15:00 GMT

Apple Inc., which has taken flak from some users for the design of its new iOS 7 mobile platform, may have already begun making changes to the system's look.

AT&T taking pre-orders for Galaxy S 4 Active, in stores June 21

By Salvador Rodriguez — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:55:00 GMT

AT&T and Samsung are going after outdoorsy customers with the new Galaxy S 4 Active, a rugged version of Samsung's popular flagship smartphone.

Microsoft Office app finally arrives for the iPhone

By Salvador Rodriguez — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:27:00 GMT

Microsoft Office users with iPhones rejoice: Word, PowerPoint and Excel are now available on your smartphone.

Apple, Samsung credited for moving toward phones that deter thieves

By Paresh Dave — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Two prosecutors leading a nationwide campaign urging cellphone makers to embed a powerful antitheft feature in smartphones credited Apple and Samsung for moving in the right direction after a summit on the issue Thursday.

Father's Day gift guide for the tech-savvy dad

By Jessica Naziri — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:00:00 GMT

With Father’s Day is just a few days away, it may be time to start shopping. But before you go off and buy a tie, cologne or another polo shirt, remember, dads are more tech-savvy these days. After all, he did wish you “happy birthday” on Facebook.