It has been another busy week in tech, with headline after headline hitting the news. With so many headlines, it can be a little difficult to keep up with it all.
Luckily, we've put together a list of the top stories for the week.
Sony Pictures Hack Is Worse Than Expected
News about a hack of Sony Pictures is continuing to worsen, as hackers post thousands of Social Security numbers online, including those of some Hollywood stars such as Sylvester Stallone.
The leak was originally thought to be the work of the North Korean government because of the government's reaction to news about a comedy movie The Interview, which depicts two journalists, played by Seth Rogen and James Franco, who are hired to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. A North Korean diplomat has since denied the regime's involvement in the hack.
Apple in Court Over DRM, Requests Case Dismissal
In a lawsuit that has spanned 10 years, Apple is once again defending itself in court, this time for allegedly forcing users to buy iPods and songs from iTunes due to a purposeful lack of compatibility with other devices.
Despite the long lead time, the validity of the plaintiff's claims have been questioned. One has withdrawn her name from the lawsuit because her purchase was outside the time frame, while the second plaintiff's purchase is being checked to show whether her iPod was purchased during the time frame in question. If not, she, too, will be ineligible to be a part of the case.
Because of the revelations involving the plaintiffs, Apple has requested the case be dismissed.
Amazon Debuts Amazon Elements Line of Consumables
Amazon has introduced a new line of consumable products, Amazon Elements. The first products in the new line include diapers and wipes for babies.
Amazon is being transparent on where it gets materials for the diapers, something that an increasing number of consumers look for when buying products. Not only that, but because of the fact that Amazon is working directly with manufacturers, it is able to cut costs, making the diapers much cheaper than most competitors.
Google Replaces CAPTCHA With "I'm not a robot" Checkbox
Google is doing away with the CAPTCHA that proves users are human, and replacing it with a simple checkbox that says "I'm not a robot."
The new software essentially is able to prove that a user is a human by tracking the speed and consistency of mouse movements, as well as the users engagement with the CAPTCHA before and after ticking the checkbox.
Netflix Under Scrutiny For Creating Internet Fast Lanes
Netflix has come under scrutiny by a federal regulator for allegedly creating Internet fast lanes of its own for content delivery.
According to the accusations, such a move would create an unfair advantage over competitors. Essentially, the company is paying Internet service providers to store Netflix content inside their servers so that it does not have to travel as far to get to users.
While some suggest the move is a threat to net neutrality, most say that Netflix is aiming to develop and create better and faster ways for Netflix customers to enjoy content.
