Digital Life

This Week In Data Collection News, And The Privacy Paradox

10:43am October 10, 2015

by Alina Selyukh

As California tightened its digital privacy protections, news involving Google, Pandora and other firms highlighted the way companies increasingly rely on data about their users. How much do we care?

The tension in Steve Jobs comes partly from the terrific performances and partly from juxtaposing Jobs' public and private personas. Michael Fassbender (left) portrays Jobs; he's shown here with Seth Rogen, as Steve Wozniak.

Arts

'Steve Jobs': As Ambitious As Its Title Character

12:49am October 10, 2015

by Bob Mondello

Danny Boyle's new biopic, Steve Jobs, is a look at the man who made Apple mean computers, not fruit. NPR film critic Bob Mondello says it's an invigorating story told in three acts of crisis.

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Facebook tests replacing its "Like" button with six emojis: "Like," "Love," "Haha," "Yay," "Wow," "Sad" and "Angry."

Beyond The 'Like' Button: Facebook Comes To Our Emotional Rescue

5:00pm October 09, 2015

by Alina Selyukh

Facebook reveals new emojis it's testing to expand the iconic "Like" button. All Tech Considered welcomes a new host, who tries to explain her vision for the blog using Facebook's seven "Reactions."

Comedian Aziz Ansari became a pioneer of emoji language use in 2011, when he transcribed the hit Jay-Z and Kanye West song, "Ni**as In Paris."

As Emojis Spread Beyond Texts, Many Remain [Confounded Face] [Interrobang]

6:32pm October 08, 2015

by Emma Bowman

There's a growing tendency to bring the tiny hieroglyphs off phones, but not everyone is fluent. New takes on emoji integration suggest misunderstanding may be remedied with universal translation.

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Hey Siri, What Did You Say? Why Computers Still Mispronounce Names

6:07pm October 08, 2015

by Laura Sydell

Computer voices sound perfect in sci-fi films, but in the real world computer voices such as those used for Siri, Cortana and Google Now don't seem to be able to say some words correctly.

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National

When Social Media Fuels Gang Violence

3:16pm October 08, 2015

by Cheryl Corley

Young people, often rival gang members, have increasingly used Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to threaten each other. The practice is called "cyber banging" and it's led to fights and even death.

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Why You Should Keep A Tighter Grip On Airline Boarding Passes

7:37pm October 07, 2015

You might want to think twice before shoving that boarding pass into the seat pocket in front of you. Security reporter Brian Krebs says there could be sensitive information on it.

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"We don't collect a lot of your data and understand every detail about your life. That's just not the business that we are in," says Apple CEO Tim Cook, shown here at the NPR offices in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.

National

Apple CEO Tim Cook: 'Privacy Is A Fundamental Human Right'

7:10am October 07, 2015

by NPR Staff

Apple has long touted the power and design of its devices, but recently it's been emphasizing their privacy features. Tim Cook describes how Apple is protecting and using, or not using, customer data.

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People huddle in front of the Habana Libre hotel in Havana, trying to get on the Internet.

World News

Internet Access Expands In Cuba — For Those Who Can Afford It

2:03pm October 06, 2015

by Carrie Kahn

There's a growing number of WiFi hotspots, but access for an hour can cost a couple days' salary. It's leading to a sharp divide between those who can and can't afford it.

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A recreational drone is flown above Old Bethpage, N.Y., in August. SkyPan uses drones for aerial photography.

FAA Proposes Nearly $2 Million Fine To Drone Operator For Restricted Flights

1:21pm October 06, 2015

by Brian Naylor

The Federal Aviation Administration charges the company, SkyPan International, conducted 65 flights in the skies over Chicago and New York, some of the nation's most restricted and congested airspace.