Technology

As Satya Nadella becomes the new CEO of Microsoft, company founder Bill Gates is moving from chairman to

What Bill Gates' New Role Could Mean For Microsoft

10:23pm February 05, 2014

by Laura Sydell

In recent years, the Microsoft co-founder has pulled back from his work at the company to focus on his foundation — improving global health and reducing poverty. But his hands-on days at Microsoft are not over. Gates is stepping down as chairman but moving into a part-time role as technology adviser.

Queue Listen Now

'Jeopardy' Legend Picks Up A Smartphone Quiz App

7:33pm February 03, 2014

by Ken Jennings

Ken Jennings, who has the longest winning streak in the history of the television quiz show Jeopardy, reviews the trivia smartphone app, QuizUp.

Queue Listen Now

New York Looks To Bring Bitcoin Out Of The Shadows

2:58pm January 31, 2014

by Ilya Marritz

Bitcoin has been tied to the dark side of the Internet, where it's been linked to drug trafficking. But New York's financial regulators say they want to foster innovation and are looking to legitimize the virtual currency by licensing it.

Queue Listen Now

The Roxie Theater in San Francisco still has two 35 millimeter projectors, but the switch to digital is inevitable.

Arts

Small Cinemas Struggle As Film Fades Out Of The Picture

8:00pm January 30, 2014

by Laura Sydell

Paramount became the first big studio to distribute a major film in the U.S. only in digital, and others will probably follow. Small cinemas are struggling to raise money for the transition. Despite resistance from some major directors, the end of film is almost upon us.

Queue Listen Now

In their effort to make their animations seem more realistic, the Next Media team models various facial expressions it will use in a piece. These are models of singer Leslie Cheung.

Arts

For Taiwanese News Animators, Funny Videos Are Serious Work

1:17pm January 29, 2014

by Elise Hu

The studio responsible for bizarre viral videos featuring 3-D animations of the news is more serious than you'd think. Go behind the scenes at the Taipei-based Next Media Animation to find out why this fast-moving — and controversial — company says it's charting the future of news.

Queue Listen Now

The oPhone was on display at Wired's annual conference in London in October.

You've Got Mail, And It Smells Like 18th Century Paris

1:17pm January 29, 2014

by NPR Staff

The oPhone device (the "o" is for olfactory) will be able to send and receive whiffs of preprogrammed aromas remotely. Created by a Harvard professor, it's intended to add the sense of smell to the way we communicate.

Queue Listen Now

A Gem From The Archives: We Revisit A Mac Doubter

7:29pm January 24, 2014

To mark the 30-year anniversary of Apple's introduction of the Macintosh computer, we dug into our archives for our interview with Peter McWilliams about the new device. Back in 1984, McWilliams, author of The Personal Computer Book, doubted that the Mac would catch on with a wide audience.

Queue Listen Now

The security breaches at Target and Neiman Marcus have raised questions over how quickly companies are required to disclose that customer information was hacked.

Retailers Can Wait To Tell You Your Card Data Have Been Compromised

5:32pm January 24, 2014

by Laura Sydell

The data breaches at Target and Neiman Marcus raised questions over how quickly companies are required to disclose that customer information was hacked. The rules around when a retailer is required to tell you that your data got into the hands of fraudsters vary state by state.

Queue Listen Now

Auto show worker Jorge Martinez details a 2014 Buick Regal in preparation for display Jan. 11. The Regal is equipped with technology that senses a potential accident and slows the car automatically.

National

Putting The Brake On Who Can See Your Car's Data Trail

8:01pm January 22, 2014

by Brian Naylor

Many cars can now track where we are, how fast we go and lots of other nuggets of information that can be accessed and mined. Some lawmakers and at least one car company say it's time to set some rules on driver privacy.

Queue Listen Now

National

Should Farmers Give John Deere And Monsanto Their Data?

8:01pm January 22, 2014

by Dan Charles

Farmers can now deliver data from their fields, minute by minute, to big agribusiness companies like Monsanto or John Deere. Those companies promise to use the data to help farmers make money. But some farmers worry that it could threaten their privacy and give the big companies too much power.

Queue Listen Now