Some tropical countries saw an “alarming” surge of tree cover loss in 2014, according to a new report. The report, published Wednesday by the World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch, uses data on tree cover loss — a measure of the removal, natural or human-caused, of all kinds of trees, whether they’re in a forest or on a plantation — from the University of Maryland and … [Read more...]
Malware Infections Increasing on Android Smartphones
Malicious software targeting smartphones with the Android operating system is becoming more common, with some handsets already infected when they're bought. A report by German security firm G DATA found that the samples containing such malware had increased by 25 percent in the second quarter compared with the first three months of the year. … [Read more...]
Improve Your Sleep and Your Mood with Withings New ‘Spotified’ Aura Alarm Clock
French connected-gadgets maker Withings already has a device that improves your sleep; now, it wants to help you wake up as well. The Withings Aura Connected Alarm Clock, launched during the IFA show in Berlin, lets you wake up with any of the 30+ million songs in Spotify's catalog. … [Read more...]
Marco Rubio’s Energy Plan Is Big on Fossil Fuels, Silent on Clean Energy
Ending the Clean Power Plan, lifting America’s crude oil export ban, and allowing states — not the federal government — to regulate fracking would be some of Marco Rubio’s top energy priorities if he becomes president. That’s according to a preview of his energy plan released Wednesday, ahead of a speech in front of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association. … [Read more...]
Kylie Jenner Latest Kardashian to Go Blonde
The Kardashians certainly aren't afraid of a little blonde ambition. Kylie Jenner is the latest Kardashian to lighten up, following in the footsteps of big sister Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian. Jenner, who recently celebrated her 18th birthday, debuted her new hue on Instagram Tuesday. … [Read more...]
All Amazon Prime Customer Can Now Buy Dash Buttons
It’s been five months since Amazon announced the Dash button, a physical device slightly larger than your thumb that lets you orders more goods with a single tap. Now, the Seattle tech giant is taking the Dash button out of the invite-only stage and making it available to all Prime customers for purchase. … [Read more...]
New Zenfones from Asus Emphasize Battery Life and Pics, Not Screens
Rather than join everyone in bumping up screen resolutions, Asus is giving users what they really need: More battery life and better photos. At the IFA trade show, the electronics company announced a family of new Zenfones, including the Zenfone 2 Deluxe, Zenfone Max, Zenfone Selfie, Zenfone Zoom and Zenfone 2 Laser. … [Read more...]
Soyuz Takes Off for International Space Station with 3-man Crew
A Soyuz spacecraft carrying a Russian, a Dane and a Kazakh blasted off on Wednesday for a two-day trip to the International Space Station. The rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, a Russian launch facility in Kazakhstan, on schedule at 10:37 a.m. with "everything going flawlessly," according to a commentator on NASA television. … [Read more...]