Articles by Quinten Plummer
Movie theaters ban Google Glass, wearables to stop illegal recording
It was understood, but it had to be said. Google Glass and other wearable tech capable of capturing video must be stowed when owners of the devices visit movie theaters.
Twitch: Put some clothes on, semi-nude gamers, you're making us twitch
With a ban already in place forbidding crazy liquor and cheeseburger parties while streaming, Twitch calls for an end to the shirtless circuses that distract viewers from video games. If it's unbearably hot in your home, crop your webcam to your face, says Twitch.
Twitter taps IBM for data analytics, now we know what Watson's up to
IBM's Jeopardy-winning supercomputer is reading tweets now. Watson's insights could help businesses gauge the health of their products and services, while helping them adjust to new trends.
BlackBerry hoping classic approach proves a winning smartphone strategy
As BlackBerry prepares to launch the Classic (Q20), the company's CEO pens an open letter to customers new and old. BlackBerry CEO John Chen wants consumers to step away from trends and fall in love with a smartphone that pays homage to the handset maker's golden era.
Major cyber attack ahead, communication networks prime target
As the White House reports it was recently targeted by cyber criminals, a new report asserts a large-scale attack will rock the U.S. before 2025. Some of the study's respondents indicated such a cyber attack has already occurred.
Highest Ice Age human settlement in Peruvian Andes wows archaeologists
Ice Age settlers chased game high up into the Peruvian Andes as soon as the ice thawed. At an elevation of 14,000 feet, the Ice Age campsite evidences man's ability to adapt to drastically different environments in a short time.
FTC takes AT&T to court for breaking unlimited data plan promise
The FTC charges AT&T with throttling wireless data speeds of unlimited data plans by up to 95 percent since 2011. AT&T is dismissing those charges, asserting it was working to spread out network usage equally to all of its customers.
A sleeker, standalone keyboard for that new iPad Air 2
Logitech releases three new accessories to help work on iPads move closer to a desktop level of comfort. The portable Keys-to-Go boasts a lightweight build inside a water-repellent skin and it's compatible with all iPad generations.
Apple Pay snubs, stumbles no biggie, claims CEO Tim Cook
There have been ups and downs early on as Apple Pay attempts to drive deep into the mobile payments market. But for Apple CEO Tim Cook, the struggles of his company's virtual wallet platform pale in comparison with its victories.
Google taps PwC for enterprise push. Watch out, Microsoft
The newly branded Google for Work unit is getting a push from consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, deep into the heart of the enterprise. Meanwhile, Apple and IBM prepare a similar offensive to improve the way people work.
YouTube mulls ad-free paid subscription option as battle to dominate video continues
YouTube is looking once again at giving users the option to pay to watch videos without ads. As artists decry the possibility of being forced by YouTube into contracts for meager revenue, the streaming video service is still not ready to talk about a music subscription service.
Alibaba: We'd love to hook up with Apple Pay and Tim Cook is just as interested
Jack Ma, the richest person in China, wants to join forces with Apple CEO Tim Cook on an endeavor to expand Apple Pay. Though Apple's virtual wallet system has had its challenges, it welcomed more than 1 million new accounts within its first 72 hours of availability, says Cook.
Four harrowing adventure games to play while you wait for Telltale's 'Game of Thrones: Iron from Ice'
Telltale Game's community manager, Laura Perusco, recently announced on Twitter that 'Iron from Ice' will release before the end of 2014, taking care not to release a specific date. Until then, there are at least four games that must be played to warm up the palate for Telltale's take on Westeros.
SUSE Linux boasts higher uptime, snazzy system snapshot feature
The latest version of SUSE Linux Enterprise includes enhancements that increase server uptime, boost virtual machine performance and deliver a system restore function. There's also a workstation extension that enables administrators to turn servers into development environments.
Car infotainment may not be so reliable after all, say consumer groups
Infotainment systems bring down vehicle reliability, especially those in their first run on the market, according to Consumer Reports. Still, there's hope the systems will work through the kinks and become reliable driver aids, says AAA.
Microsoft offers all-you-can-use storage with Office 365. Take that, Google
Office 365 will include unlimited storage space as Microsoft begins washing away the tiers that once divided its OneDrive service. The move comes after Microsoft reported growth to investors regarding its cloud services.
Fitbit shores up smart bands with health, activity features, in a surge toward a smart watch
Learning from the positive and negative reactions to its previous offerings, Fitbit rolls out three new smart bands. The Fitbit Surge puts the wearable maker another step closer to a full-fledged smart watch.
Apple Pay not every retailer's dream as two early supporters opt out
CVS and Rite Aid pull support for Apple Pay as they explore other options. As members of the rival MCX network, they may already have a strong idea in which direction they'll head for a virtual wallet platform.
Android chief Sundar Pichai gets more responsibilities and that's good news for Android fans
Google's Android and Chrome chief takes on more work as CEO Larry Page steps back to take it all in. Sundar PIchai's promotion in the reorganization is good news for Android fans and investors.
iPhone 6 Plus users complain of inexplicable crashes or reboot loop: Here's the solution
A month after launch, some iPhone 6 users are still awaiting a solution for crashes and reboot loops. The problems seem to have been isolated to the 128-GB version of the iPhone 6 Plus.
Google Nest buys smart home automation startup Revolv only to stop selling its products: Here's why
Impressed by the startup's smart home platform, Google's Nest acquires Revolv. The talent at Revolv will be tasked with improving Nest's Works with Nest platform.
Feds tapping social media tools in hunt for national park graffiti vandal
A Instagram user flaunted images of defaced land in national parks and used the social image sharing site to take credit for the vibrant paintings. The National Park Service and a hiking enthusiast are using online and social networking tools to find the vandal and collect evidence.
OS X Yosemite released: These top features will tempt you to upgrade
Apple has heralded OS X Yosemite as a monumental release. Some of the OS' game-changing features will draw crowds, while others are hidden a little deeper in the valleys that are seldom trekked.
'Dark Souls II' grabs top gaming award
With a sip from the estus flask and a clamor of armor, 'Dark Souls II' is crowned as 2014's Game of the Year at the 32nd annual Golden Joystick Awards. 'Witcher III' is voted the most-wanted game of the year.
Apple chief visits China, talks privacy and Apple Pay market strategy
Apple CEO Tim Cook talks privacy and protection with China's vice premier. Apple continues to avoid finger-pointing regarding cybersecurity issues as it plans to set up 25 new stores in the country in two years' time.
Bogus federal agency emergency warnings irk AT&T U-verse subscribers
False alerts asked AT&T U-verse subscribers to stand by for a message from the White House. Turns out the bogus alerts were accidentally injected into the U-verse network by FEMA broadcasts.
Nike joins Apple in driving wearable devices forward
Wearable tech needs to be more stealthy, according to Nike's CEO. Nike and Apple will play to each other's strengths to make wearable tech more fashionable and effective, he says.
Amazon Fire flames out, leaves more than just a loss in its wake
Amazon absorbed a $170 million charge for its floundering Fire smartphone. The company has $84 million in unsold Fire phone handsets in the warehouse.
Facebook Rooms welcomes anonymity but begs the question: Isn't it just a spruced up chatroom?
Facebook's new Rooms app is a nod to the Internet's early years, according to a Facebook product manager. Unlike Facebook, however, Rooms users can cloak themselves in whatever pseudonym makes them feel pretty.
Apple Pay hits first of many expected snags to come
Apple Pay has run into a few problems, but it's still on its feet. A marketing firm lays out three hurdles it will have to overcome to continue moving forward where other virtual wallet platforms have stagnated.
