Articles by Quinten Plummer
Santa Tracking Time: NORAD, Google Both Keeping Tabs on St. Nick This Season
Though Santa still manages to shuttle toys and coal across restricted air spaces with impunity, the world's tracking systems have gotten better at keeping track of him. NORAD and Google's Santa surveillance systems are a go.
Sprint Offers Half-Off Bills to Lure New Subscribers
In a disruptive strategy similar to that drawn up by T-Mobile, Sprint offers to halve the bills of consumers who leave either of the top two wireless carriers and join number three. Sprint will even cover termination fees.
Facebook, Twitter and Other Social Media Are Unreliable Sources for Studying Human Behavior
Data science based on social media is often flawed, as researchers often overlook basic variables, according to a new study. Data scientists are missing factors such as demographics, bias and spammed content.
Poor Profits Prompt Samsung to Announce $2 Billion Share Buyback Plan, Sell Chemical and Defense Units for $1.7 Billion
Samsung looks to get leaner in order to bolster its handsets' sales, which slumped for yet another quarter. The Korean tech titan will buy back shares to deliver more value to investors and sell off shares in four firms ahead of some executive changes.
Amazon Robotic Workforce Doesn't Need Meal Breaks
Amazon reveals its fleet of robots working in its fulfillment centers has reached 15,000. While the ranks of its robots are up, the e-commerce company says it still expects to hire 14 percent more seasonal workers than it did last year.
Streaming Media Stick a Hot Commodity. Is One on Your Cyber Monday List?
Cord cutters are making cable companies bleed their own blood. A new report says streaming media hardware has penetrated up to 20 percent of households in the US.
Microsoft Buys Email Startup to Drive Cross-Platform App Delivery
A week after leaking the news on its blog, Microsoft has confirmed it has acquired Acompli. The mobile email client will merge with the Outlook team as Acompli transitions under Microsoft's umbrella.
Google Glass v2 May Boast Intel Power
Fears that Google Glass may be dying are rebuffed by reports the smart glasses are up for a major update. Intel will stuff its processing power into Glass.
UBS Survey Predicts Big Consumer Appetite in 2015 for Apple Watch
The Apple Watch is the smart watch for which the world is holding out, according to a new survey. Apple is projected to ship 24 million Apple Watches during the smart watch's first nine months on the market.
Samsung Mobile Chief Not Leaving Amid Leadership Shuffle
Samsung retains the CEO of its mobile unit, though it has laid off the division's president. While Samsung's mobile division has seen its sales slide, CEO J.K. Shin appears to have earned more time to turn things around.
Nintendo Files Patent for Game Boy Emulation on Mobile Phones
Nintendo lays out plans for Game Boy emulation, detailing the software in a patent application. If Nintendo's earlier assertions are to be believed, the patent filing for the emulator is merely an act of prudence.
Google Chromecast Gets Price Cut for Black Friday Weekend but What about Roku Streaming Stick or Fire TV Stick?
While Amazon's Fire TV Stick goes back to its base price, the Roku Streaming Stick and Google Chromecast get price cuts for the holidays. The Chromecast is now just $23.
Microsoft May Hold Windows 10 Consumer Preview Event After CES 2015
Microsoft is preparing to show off the consumer side of Windows 10 in the second half of January 2015, according to reports. The software company is expected to announce a date for the presentation before the end of the year.
Anonymous Social Networking App Works Hard to Keep Users Unseen
The refresh of the Unseen app adds end-to-end encryption and ephemeral messaging so its users no longer have to share phone numbers and IDs to chat directly. Users need to trust their communications are safe, says company's CEO.
Microsoft Celebrates Xbox One 1st Birthday with Free Games and Digital Goodies
The Xbox One's birthday party continues as some of the console's early adopters report being chosen to receive a free copy of 'Limbo' once the game is ready. While the 'Sunset Overdrive' free play is over, Microsoft has lots more gifts to give early adopters.
From the Super Cool File: Samsung Builds Eye-Tracking Mouse
With a piece of revolutionary tech in its hands, Samsung opts to donate the eye-tracking mouse to charity. But the Korean tech vendor may be looking to get more aggressive in the hardware market.
Crowd-Fueled Kickstarter Thursday: Swatting Out Sweatshops, Better Lunar Landing and Finessing the Flare
In the near future, millions of people may be thankful for the fundraising campaigns listed in this week's Kickstarter roundup. An app seeks to combat sweatshop working conditions, innovators attempt to modernize the flare and a lunar landing module is being gassed up for a trip to study the Earth's moon.
Black Friday Deals 2014: Macy's, JCPenney Offer Best Deals While Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Amazon Lag
Aye, reports have it that the Black Friday deals are more vast and varied at JCPenney than any other merchant this year. But for those who go overboard on the spending, the savings may be all for naught.
Lyft Launches Destination Program to Recruit New Drivers
Lyft modernizes hitchhiking with its Driver Destination. The service shows everyday motorists what passengers along the driver's route may need a lift.
Netflix Sues Former Executive, Now Yahoo CIO, for Kickback Scam
Netflix accuses a former top executive of taking $500,000 in kickbacks through his consulting firm. Michael Kail, now Yahoo's CIO, connected two companies to Netflix and took commission off the $3.7 million the streaming media company paid them, according to a Netflix lawsuit.
Sony Crafting E-Paper Smart Watch? Style Trumps Tech, Functionality
Sony may be building a smart watch boasting a wraparound e-paper form. The watch is said to be part of Sony's new speculative product development approach as the company's TV and mobile business produce lackluster profits.
HP Business Split May Ignite More Layoffs as Turnaround Continues
It would be a missed opportunity to split the company in two and to leave both halves as they are now, according to HP CEO Meg Whitman. She didn't explicitly state it, but more layoffs appear to be inbound.
BlackBerry Dangles $550 Incentive to Pull in iPhone Users
BlackBerry is willing to cover just about the full price of an iPhone to get Apple device users to commit to its Passport handset. Consumers interested in swapping out their iPhones will need to make sure the devices are fully eligible to participate in the program.
FTC, Sony Settle Vita Marketing Issue, Partial Refunds Heading to Consumers
Sony settles accusations of deceptively marketing the PS Vita. Now, the FTC is turning its attention to one of Sony's marketing partners for the way the firm promoted the portable console.
Apple RED AIDS Campaign Gets a Little Kardashian Love
As Apple and Bono work toward an 'AIDS-free generation,' reality star Kim Kardashian vocalizes her support for the RED campaign. As part of her game's RED exclusive content, players of 'Kim Kardashian: Hollywood' can take a selfie with the star.
Home Depot Data Breach Backlash: 44 Civil Lawsuits in the Works
Home Depot says its operations are facing the pressures of several investigations and 44 civil suits. As the company works to recover from a massive security breach, it admits that, like any other organization, it is still vulnerable to large-scale attacks.
Twitter CFO Misfires a Tweet on Deal
Backing up claims that Twitter isn't the most intuitive site around, the company's chief financial officer tweets sensitive information to the public. Anthony Noto didn't tweet a lot of specifics, but he revealed enough to tip Twitter's hand.
Redbox Issues A Bah, Humbug in Jacking Rental Prices. Ho-Ho-Ho
Redbox raises its prices just in time for the holiday season. For those who don't feel it's a good thing, Redbox says it will use the extra revenue to pump boxes with more top movies and expand its offering of video games for new-generation consoles.
Cheap Smartphones Pose Good Bang for the Buck
As the cost of smartphone components falls, the number of consumers buying prepaid handsets rises. About a third of consumers purchased a smartphone for $200 or less between July and September, a research firm states.
Symantec Issues Alert on Spy Code Regin, Trojan Malware Targets Networks
Security firm profiles Regin at least six years after the malware began targeting private individuals and their phone calls. Regin may have taken years to create, which leads Symantec to conclude the malware is one of the top tools used by a nation-state to spy on others.
