Technology

National

Girl Scout Cookies Will Soon Be Just A Click Away

1:56pm December 01, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

The organization has announced a program called Digital Cookies that allows Girl Scouts to sell Thin Mints, Do-si-dos, Samoas and other cookies through personalized websites or a mobile app.

The Moto G became a success for Motorola and challenged what low-cost Android phones could be.

The Market For Low-End Smartphones Is Looking Up

12:51pm December 01, 2014

by Charles Pulliam-Moore

Smartphones that don't scrimp on performance but sell for less than $200 off contract are gaining traction. And the low end is quickly becoming one of the most innovative spaces in mobile tech.

At his trial, Elonis argued that he was only exercising his First Amendment free speech rights, which he also says he wrote on his Facebook page.

National

Is A Threat Posted On Facebook Really A Threat?

9:26am December 01, 2014

by Nina Totenberg

The Supreme Court is tackling a question of increasing importance in the age of social media and the Internet after a man was convicted of posting threats against his estranged wife and an FBI agent.

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Podcasts Rise In Popularity, Funded By Advertisers And Listeners

12:44pm November 30, 2014

by Jon Kalish

Millions are downloading and listening to podcasts. It's the source of original material and growing ad revenue. Apple's iTunes has 1 billion subscribers, and advertisers are seeing dollar signs.

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Medical residents including Dr. Amy Ho (bottom right) helped with first aid at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago.

Millennial Doctors May Be More Tech-Savvy, But Is That Better?

3:04pm November 29, 2014

by Lauren Silverman

Text messages from your doctor are just the start. Millennials are the next generation of doctors and they're not afraid to say "chillax" in a consultation or check Twitter to find medical research.

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Sports

Helmets Aren't Always Enough To Keep Players Safe

12:05pm November 29, 2014

by Scott Simon

Cricketer Phillip Hughes was wearing a helmet this week when a ball struck and killed him. NPR's Scott Simon wonders if some safety measures also encourage people to take on more risk.

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Since it was built by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service in 1998, 90,000 emergency responders have come to "Disaster City" to climb over mangled steel and through derailed chemical trains.

In 'Disaster City,' Learning To Use Robots To Face Ebola

12:05pm November 29, 2014

by Lauren Silverman

A Texas training site prepares first responders to deal with emergencies like earthquakes and bombings. The facility is now turning to outbreaks like Ebola, and smart machines may play a key role.

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Those Phone-Obsessed Teenagers Aren't As Lonely As You Think

4:58pm November 26, 2014

by Maanvi Singh

Teenagers may not need as much face-to-face interaction as earlier generations to feel connected. And that may explain why a study finds they're not feeling as lonely, either.

Creator Jonas Lind-Bendixen says he thought of the idea for Sitpack when he was waiting at a concert.

Weekly Innovation: A Seat That Fits In Your Pocket

2:55pm November 26, 2014

by Samantha Raphelson

The Sitpack is a compact seat shaped like a monopod that fits in your pocket when folded up. Creator Jonas Lind-Bendixen says the product could be used during travel or while waiting at a concert.

'New York Times' Hires Former NPR Executive To Lead Digital Push

12:39pm November 25, 2014

by David Folkenflik

Kinsey Wilson was NPR's chief content officer when he was forced out last month by the network's new CEO, Jarl Mohn.