technology
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Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2: Bose-level wireless noise cancelling on a budget24 hours of battery life, good controls and lots of bass will sound great to many, but if you’re a fan of classical music, look elsewhere -
Documents reveal how Peter Thiel was granted New Zealand citizenshipGovernment documents show the PayPal mogul has not met the residency requirements – but he has donated $1m to Christchurch earthquake relief
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#DeleteUber: how tech companies are taking sides in the battle over TrumpWith ride-hailing services a focal point amid divisions over Trump’s migration ban, some tech workers hope their bosses will take a stronger stand -
Amazon pledges legal support to action against Trump travel banCEO Jeff Bezos says company’s legal and lobbying teams will help fight the ban, echoing moves by Expedia and Microsoft
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Oh the humanity! Poker computer trounces humans in big step for AILibratus, an artificial intelligence robot, has won chips worth $1.5m from four of the world’s top poker players in a three-week challenge at a Pittsburgh casino
news
privacy
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Russia accuses cybersecurity experts of treasonous links to CIARumours swirl of connection to revelations about US election hacking, as state media says Sergei Mikhailov and Dmitry Dokuchayev ‘betrayed their oath’
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Czech cyber-attack: Russia suspected of hacking diplomats’ emailsScale and sophistication of hack points to foreign state, says Czech foreign minister, comparing it to attack on US Democratic party
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opinion & analysis
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As WhatsApp becomes latest victim, are any messaging apps truly secure?While some are more secure than others, there always seems to be another flaw waiting to be discovered – so should security be prioritized over convenience?
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Facebook Live is changing the world - but not in the way it hopedFacebook’s betting big on everyone streaming their lives in real time, but has it unleashed a monster it can’t control?
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Telling Facebook you've changed your phone number – the weird T&Cs you've unwittingly signed up toNobody reads the small print when they sign up to social media – so no one knows what they’re giving away. Martin Belam has found out for you
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Can Donald Trump save Twitter?The president-elect’s musings are reported as news almost every day, but will the attention help make Twitter great again?
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Hitman review – a beautiful puzzle box of a gameFinally released as a complete package, last year’s episodic stealth shooter is the best in the series and possibly one of the best stealth games ever made
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Board games reviews roundup: Vikings on Board; Elections of US America Election: The Card Game; RoboRallyThree engrossing games put the fun into planning – a Viking conquest, a presidential campaign and an after-work competition for car-plant robots
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In praise of Resident Evil: the horror stalwart that refuses to dieIt started as a cult game that scared a generation before spawning a film franchise that is about to call it a day. For one writer, it’s still body horror at its best
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The 12 greatest superhero video games everFollowing the news that Square Enix is making a new range of Avengers games, here are our favourite comic book conversions from gaming history
inside Silicon Valley
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Google and Apple join Silicon Valley voices condemning Trump's travel banLeaders of top tech companies including Facebook and Microsoft challenge order as Y Combinator boss says it’s time for sector to speak out
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Silicon Valley super-rich head south to escape from a global apocalypseAnxious Americans are buying into New Zealand as the perfect bolt-hole
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Vanishing point: the rise of the invisible computerThe long read: For decades, computers have got smaller and more powerful, enabling huge scientific progress. But this can’t go on for ever. What happens when they stop shrinking?
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Trump needs tech to achieve his vision. But Silicon Valley isn't having itSome tech CEOs may be cozying up to Trump, but workers on the ground are determined to stop him – and they might transform the industry in the process
reviews
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Honor 6X review: a lot of phone for the money, shame about the old softwareA big 5.5in screen, solid build and feel, a great fingerprint scanner and dual-Sim support means latest Huawei Honor is a solid, good value smartphone
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AirPods review: the best non-isolating wireless earbuds, but only for AppleApple has cut the cable from its EarPods, improving sound, fit and connectivity – but the AirPods lack noise-cancelling and easy controls
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devices
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WearablesWearablesMarried to money: 'smart' wedding ring doubles as payment methodUnveiled at CES 2017, Tappy ‘smart rings’ connect to wearer’s bank account and can be used to make purchases through contactless pay terminals in stores
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Internet of thingsInternet of thingsAmazon’s Echo seems great, but what does it hear?The voice-controlled home assistant works well, but on the other hand it is a networked listening device, with wider implications
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SmartphonesSmartphonesHonor 6X review: a lot of phone for the money, shame about the old softwareA big 5.5in screen, solid build and feel, a great fingerprint scanner and dual-Sim support means latest Huawei Honor is a solid, good value smartphone
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TabletsTabletsPrank crashes iPhones with rainbow emoji messagesJokers are exploiting a bug in iOS and are sending messages stuffed with 🌈 emojis which cause recipients’ iPhones or iPads to freeze
in depth
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Uber: the app that changed how the world hails a taxiHow James Bond, an abusive Parisian cabbie, and one man’s frustration with going out in San Francisco led to a transport revolution
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Apple posts record revenue thanks to holiday sales of iPhone 7