Articles by Mark Hawver
Porsche, Hyundai get high marks for customer satisfaction
Porsche and Hyundai are recognized as attaining highest new-owner satisfaction in a new J.D. Power survey. Automakers were judged according to performance, execution and layout.
Sony is all about the selfie, spending $345M on camera sensors
In the interests of selfie improvement, Sony will lay out $345 million to ramp up production and development of camera sensors for front-facing smartphone and tablet cameras. The investment will also affect the growing demand for video-calling capabilities.
A look at where the Internet of Things is likely to take root
The Internet of Things is officially a thing. But what does IoT mean for consumers and businesses? Many of us are familiar with the term Internet of Things, but what does it mean? Is it animal, vegetable or mineral? Well, it's neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire; it's a term that refers to the networked data flow between objects or living things that does not require human-to-human or human-computer interaction.
Facebook, Oculus now officially wed, so what's next?
Facebook's virtual acquisition of Oculus has now phased into reality, as the deal announced in March has been completed. Facebook intends to take Oculus technology into many other fields beyond gaming, including media, education and entertainment.
Cisco debuts DevNet for software makers
Cisco Systems is reinvigorating its Cisco Developer Network to encourage more software developers to build inclusive code for Cisco products. In other words, Cisco wants all developers to gather 'round the Cisco campfire.
Xiaomi hits China with new phone aimed at a more upscale consumer
China's leading smartphone maker, Xiaomi, has unveiled its latest attempt at wresting market share from Apple and Samsung in Asia. The Mi4 features a 5-inch screen and is controlled by an Android-like OS.
Facebook launches Save, and it's actually a neat 'old' feature
For those too busy to plow through all of the news on a Facebook News Feed, the company has introduced Save, a means of setting stories aside to be read later at the user's discretion. These topics can then be shared or archived.
Chrome eats laptop battery life like bears eat honey but there is a fix
If it seems like using Google's Chrome web browser is draining your laptop's battery at an excessive rate, it's because it is. Google is finally addressing the four-year-old problem by fast-tracking an update.
Tesla gets hacked, but also has a lucrative deal in the wings
A good news, bad news week for Tesla. Chinese students successfully hacked a Tesla S, but the British government may purchase 150 vehicles.
Microsoft earnings report may foreshadow post-layoff strategy
Microsoft has announced plans to lay off 18,000 employes, including many at its newly acquired Nokia business in Finland. The size and timing of the layoffs has incurred the wrath of politicians.
Tesla $35K electric vehicle will hit market in just three years
The Tesla 3, an all-electric car with an anticipated retail price of $35,000, could take the market by storm upon its introduction in 2017. To ensure Tesla can make enough batteries for the new model, it will be constructing a battery Gigafactory in the near future.
Vehicle recall epidemic continues, now it's the Kia Soul
Welcome to the recall club, Kia. The Korean automaker is fixing over 51,000 Soul vehicles for a steering assembly issue that may cause steering failure.
Facebook debuts an app for the 'elite' social networker, those who are 'someone'
Facebook Mentions is an app that cannot be downloaded by just anybody. This attempt to muscle in on Twitter requires that you are a somebody -- as in someone with a 'verified' page on Facebook.
FBI: Driverless car may be a criminal's best friend
Self-driving or driverless cars, such as those being researched by Google, have many good sides. But according to the FBI, they can also be used by terrorists as self-driving bombs.
Amazon goes unlimited with $10 endless reading, listening subscription
Amazon is launching an all-you-can-read for $9.99 per month, with access to over 600,000 titles and a couple of thousand audiobooks. But is it a consumer want?
Tesla owner doesn't let a little charging obstacle get in his way
There aren't many Tesla charging stations in China so businessman Zong Yi built his own network between Beijing and Guangzhou. Both Tesla and the Chinese government support his efforts.
Chrysler: We're speeding up Jeep fixes
Chrysler has responded to an inquiry from federal traffic safety officials about the slow pace of repairs of certain Jeep and Jeep Grand Cherokee models. Chrysler says it's ready to comply, but there's a hitch involved.
Apple, IBM team up to take on mobile enterprise competitors
Apple and IBM are forging a partnership that will let Big Blue sell iPhones and iPads preloaded with cloud and productivity software. Apple gets a big foot in the door of the mobile enterprise market that has proved elusive.
Microsoft's Bing responding to 'right to be forgotten' requests
In May, the European Union's Court of Justice decreed that Google and other search engines must allow web users in the EU's member nations to request the 'Right to Be Forgotten.' Netizens in member nations can request to have irrelevant or inadequate links to information removed from search engines.
Smartphone throwdown: BlackBerry vs. Blackphone
Black days for BlackBerry lead to a war of words between the Canadian company and the purveyors of the new security and privacy-centric Blackphone. At the core is BlackBerry's attempt to protect its corporate IT business from the new kid on the block.
Meet Jibo, a family robot who dances, tells stories and is even a good listener
Here comes Jibo, a personal assistant, family-friendly foot-tall robot. Jibo can speak, hear, snap pictures and video, deliver messages, teach children and provide some warm and fuzzy moments for the whole family.
Best used car for that teen driver? There's a list for that
Teens driving cars can be a less risky business if parents buy a used vehicle recommended by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IIHS list focuses on midsize and larger cars that have only moderate power and are loaded with safety features.
BMW recall extension tied to explosive, shrapnel-shooting airbags
BMW has issued a voluntary recall of over 1.6 million BMW 3-Series cars made from 2000 to 2006. At issue; those explosive airbags from Takata, the same company that has caused an epidemic of recalls across the industry this year.
iWatch puts industry pundits in a tizzy: 30M to 60M units will sell, leading to $9B revenue
Market analysts are starting to estimate the impact of the rumored Apple iWatch on Apple's revenue and stock price. The latest charts have the wearable tech device selling anywhere between 30 million to 60 million units the first year.
Data breaches cost New York a hefty $1.3B in damages, says AG report
It's been a tough year for New York state businesses and consumers, as Internet data breaches and hacking have rung up over $1.3 billion in damages and recovery costs. A new report by New York's Attorney General breaks down the situation.
MediaTek takes aim at Qualcomm with new chipset
MediaTek takes aim at the ubiquitous Qualcomm processor found in mobile devices with its new MT6795 chipset. It is a 64-bit processor with the ability to support 2K displays.
Google Project Zero aims to make Internet a safer place
Here they come to save the day. Google launches an ambitious bug-squashing Project Zero, recruiting the best hacking minds to ensure the triumph of good over evil in the wild and wooly Internet.
Google Glass guru jumps ship, joins Amazon
A Google executive who was instrumental in developing Google Glass has seen his way clear to jump to Amazon. It's likely that he will take Amazon into the wearable tech market for a similar device.
Mercedes-Benz S65 Coupe is all about curves, torque, performance and efficiency to boot
Mercedes-Benz is bringing its flagship S65 AMG V12-powered coupe to showrooms later this year. If you like zero-to-60 in four seconds, 621 horsepower and you've got $220,000 burning a hole in your pocket, then you're in the driver's seat.
Apple iPhone 6 debut may be much later than expected, like next year
Bigger displays lead to bigger problems for the anticipated release dates for the rumored 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6. According to an analyst, Apple is experiencing teething problems with both models.
