Technology

Economy

How Skyscraper Construction Ties Into Tech Bubbles

8:15am October 08, 2015

by Steve Henn

There's a lot of talk in Silicon Valley about a tech bubble.Our Planet Money podcast team examines one possible indicator of a bubble: architecture. Very, very tall architecture.

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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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Mark Patterson, owner of PATCO Construction in Sanford, Maine, said his company lost more than $500,000 to cyberfraud.

When Cyberfraud Hits Businesses, Banks May Not Offer Protection

6:12pm October 07, 2015

by John Ydstie

Cyberthieves steal hundreds of millions of dollars a year from the bank accounts of U.S. businesses. Many business owners are surprised to find out their bank is not obliged to make them whole.

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Books

Robot Birds Teach Kids To Program In 'Secret Coders'

3:26pm October 07, 2015

by Etelka Lehoczky

The first installment in Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes' new graphic novel series uses goofy art — and four-eyed robotic birds — to get kids excited about learning to code.

Arts

Meet Mozzified, A Site For Ramadan Recipes, Sharia Memes And Nosy-Auntie Jokes

2:50pm October 07, 2015

by Leah Donnella

Zainab Khan says her website is geared toward young, socially aware Muslims who might, say, "binge-watch Friends on Netflix, play basketball after Friday prayers and buy eco-friendly products."

"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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National

FAA Proposes Record Fine Against Drone Operator

8:04pm October 06, 2015

by Brian Naylor

The FAA is proposing a nearly $2 million fine against a drone operator it says was operating outside the rules and endangering safety. NPR talks to the head of the FAA about what's behind the hefty penalty.

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Microsoft's Satya Nadella Travels The World Looking For The Next Big Idea

6:48pm October 06, 2015

by Aarti Shahani

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was in Mexico last week on a high-profile visit. Now that smartphones and Internet access have become so universal, the next billion-dollar idea could come from anywhere.

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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.