Technology Simplified

 In the world of mobile apps, numbers come in two sizes: big and bigger. More than one billion people use Facebook’s mobile app every day. But what about the financial side of the mobile business; specifically, venture investment and returns? By looking at the numbers behind two different ends of the startup life cycle, a reasonable understanding of the mobile market today can be had. Read More from Mobile – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2npRIUO

By SHEERA FRENKEL from NYT Technology http://ift.tt/2rYCA5c

FBI strengthens crackdown on darknet drug dealing After Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a new team to combat the dark web users of the opioid epidemic, some experts in the field say it’s about time the government focused their resources on this realm of activity. via http://ift.tt/2EtUtLV

By NICK WINGFIELD from NYT Technology http://ift.tt/2nqiY5r

By NATHANIEL POPPER from NYT Technology http://ift.tt/2rZWEoa

By SUI-LEE WEE and PAUL MOZUR from NYT Technology http://ift.tt/2DNUklr

Inmates in New York State prisons to receive free tablet computers Inmates at New York State prisons will soon be given free tablet computers as part of an effort to better prepare convicts for life after imprisonment. via http://ift.tt/2DSaHxd

 Facebook is putting its short-term money where it’s mouth is, reducing the presence of viral videos in an effort to boost well-being of users of its site. Today in Facebook’s Q4 2017 earnings report CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that “Already last quarter, we made changes to show fewer viral videos to make sure people’s time is well spent. In total, we made changes… Read More from Mobile – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2npfno3

 Facebook’s $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp sounds smarter and smarter. Today CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on the Q4 2017 earnings call that WhatsApp now has 1.5 billion users and sees 60 billion messages sent per day. That’s compared to 1.3 billion monthly users and 1 billion daily active users in July. The massive growth makes Facebook’s choice to pay over $19 billion… Read More from Mobile – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2FvKzbS

 Despite worries about Russia and that passive News Feed scrolling hurts us, Facebook beat expectations again in its Q4 2017 earnings report. Facebook now has 1.4 billion daily users, up 2.18% compared to growing 3.8% to 1.37 billion users in Q3. That’s a sizeable slow down, and the lowest percentage daily user growth since Facebook’s early days. That could be because CEO Mark… Read More from Mobile – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2E6bCO7

 While at CES I try to avoid getting bogged down by dozens of random gadgets, and this time I mostly succeeded — but the mouse reviewer in me was intrigued by Lexip’s new gaming mouse that’s also a sort of floating joystick. It’s a strange but cool idea, and although the learning curve is high, I can see some hardcore gamers and productivity fiends getting a lot of use… Read More from Gadgets – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2E1ZflZ

The MultiFry takes some guilt out of fried food but keeps the flavor. from CNET Reviews - Most Recent Reviews http://ift.tt/2E65sxt

Facebook enables 'fake news' with its digital advertising platform, report says Another former Facebook executive has turned on the tech giant. via http://ift.tt/2DTIZ7p

By BRIAN X. CHEN from NYT Technology http://ift.tt/2Gwa2U9

By ANDREW ROSS SORKIN from NYT Technology http://ift.tt/2DR7xKa

This Wi-Fi refrigerator from LG isn't anything flashy, and might make for a more unassuming smart kitchen. from CNET Reviews - Most Recent Reviews http://ift.tt/2E5FmdM

iPhone X in trouble? Apple reportedly halves production Maybe a $1,000 iPhone is too rich for most people after all. via http://ift.tt/2EuMv5q

 If you’re more of a Gmail power user (or even semi-power user) and other email services geared toward work, you’ve probably installed plenty of plugins like Rapportive to make your job a little bit easier. And while it’s all fine to try to pull together a suite of plugins to make that a little bit easier, a startup called Polymail is hoping to rope that all into a single hub… Read More from Mobile – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2rThhSC

 Actress Maisie Williams, best known for her role as Arya Stark on Game of Thrones, is the latest celeb to venture into tech entrepreneurship, with the launch of a new company aimed at connecting creatives, called Daisie. Available later this summer as a mobile app, Daisie will offer a platform where creators can network, like, share and collaborate on projects within a social networking… Read More from Mobile – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2EtcIkH

 Apple is working hard on the next major versions of its operating systems — macOS, iOS, tvOS and watchOS. While iOS is the big elephant in the room, the most intriguing new feature could be fore macOS. According to reports from Bloomberg and Axios, Apple will let you run iPad apps. Yesterday, Axios first reported that Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering Craig… Read More from Gadgets – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2nx8Sie

Amazon shows off its bubble greenhouses at Seattle HQ Amazon's bubble-shaped botanical offices are now up and running. via http://ift.tt/2EqShF0

 Lego bricks (or, if you’re not a pedant, Legos) are highly precise and highly consistent plastic objects. Anywhere you go in the world the Lego is the same. That means that scientists at MIT can use these little sole stabbers to create very precise scientific systems. Their first tests involves creating a microfluid pump and sorter using basic Lego parts. Because they can trust Lego… Read More from Gadgets – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2DQLi7r

By J. D. BIERSDORFER from NYT Technology http://ift.tt/2rXgDn4

By DAISUKE WAKABAYASHI from NYT Technology http://ift.tt/2DT2cpN

Facebook bans advertisements for cryptocurrency exchanges Facebook brought the hammer down on "misleading financial products" on Tuesday by effectively banning any and all advertisements for cryptocurrency exchanges and initial coin offerings. via http://ift.tt/2noh0Te

The competitively priced Acer Spin 5 packs a bevy of ports and a stylus. from CNET Reviews - Most Recent Reviews http://ift.tt/2Gv0AjM

By Unknown Author from NYT Technology http://ift.tt/2E1tOby

from ComputerWeekly.com http://ift.tt/2GxLSbK

By FARHAD MANJOO from NYT Technology http://ift.tt/2DZtBWy

 SoftBank is partnering up with messaging app Line to help develop its Line Mobile telecom service. Line announced that it has agreed to allow SoftBank to take a 51 percent in the business via an issuance of new shares. The deal is expected to close by March. From the documents, its mobile business is valued at around $15 million (1.7 billion JPY) but a company spokesperson told TechCrunch… Read More from Mobile – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2BFpxFG