In Tech: Minecraft For Schools, Amazon Dash, Data Encryption
In Tech: Minecraft for schools, Amazon Dash, data encryption By Associated Press
Last updated at 21:12 EDT on January 20, 2016
Microsoft has purchased Minecraft's educational version and plans to develop a larger and more robust version for classrooms.
Redmond Washington-based software firm Software Corporation, a Washington-based company, will collaborate with TeacherGaming LLC to transform MinecraftEdu into "Minecraft Education Edition". The financial details of the partnership weren't disclosed.
Microsoft claims that the latest version will have enhanced features that make Minecraft classroom-friendly, including more accurate maps and coordinates that will help students and teachers navigate the Minecraft world together. Developers are planning to improve the game's multi-player features which means that up to 40 players can play together.
The game lets players explore battle monsters, build amazing structures - including electrical circuits out of blocks. It's a great tool to teach math, according to Deirdre Quaranstrom, Microsoft's director of Minecraft education. Children could visit ancient temples or see the inside of the eyeball when playing the game as part of an education in science.
Teachers can benefit from an online community and mentorship program that connects teachers who are familiar with Minecraft to newcomers to the game. out.
The new game will be available this summer with free trials for teachers and students. Microsoft will reveal pricing details prior to the closing of the current school year, but says it plans to keep the price at $5 per year for each user.
farming is a profession of hope
Amazon is expanding its smart-home ordering service to a range of new appliances. Its Dash "replenishment" service lets users reorder common household items at the click of the button. (Its initial form was based on plastic "Dash buttons" that were devoted to specific items that would allow users to order a set quantity of diapers, for example, or dishwasher detergent.)
The new Dash devices operate in the same way, but they won't come with buttons. Brother-connected printers will let users to purchase toner replacement or ink. A GE washer will reorder detergent when it is running low. A Gmate glucose device that monitors blood sugar levels in diabetics and automatically orders testing strips and blood-drawing lancests and reorders detergent when it runs low. Users can sign up online to access the service.
Amazon announced the expansion of its Dash line in October. The new products are available on the market. Other products under development include Purell hand-sanitizers, Samsung laser printers and "smart home locks" from Austin among others.
- Mae Anderson, AP Technology Writer
Some government and police officials might be furious because encryption makes it difficult for them to catch extremists and criminals, but it turns out that a lot of companies don't bother to safeguard their data by encoding it in the first place.
Sophos released Tuesday a new study that surveyed 1,700 IT managers from mid-sized companies in the U.S. and Canada. Of these, 44 percent say they're currently making use of encryption, and another 43 percent use encryption to some extent.
The level of encryption was lower for the smaller businesses surveyed, with only 38 percent of businesses that have between 100 and 500 employees saying they're encrypting extensively.
In the U.S., encryption rates are higher than in the U.S., with 54 percent of those surveyed say they make use of encryption. Australia was second , with an average of 49 percent, while Malaysia had a rate of 26 percent.
The most common reason for not having a comprehensive encryption - supplied by 37 percent of those who responded that they did not have a budget and 31 percent mentioned performance concerns.
- Bree Fowler - AP Technology Writer
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Verizon is the newest cell phone company to offer Web surfing for customers that don't count against their data limits.
With these caps, you can get hit with extra fees or slower speeds if you exceed the limit of data on your plan. This isn't a problem particularly if your device allows you to stream music and watch videos on the go.
Verizon has said it's interested in "sponsored data" as a source of revenue. Verizon can pay a company to allow users to browse their websites, download their apps, and watch videos without the need to consume data. Verizon claims that brands have signed up for AOL and Hearst Magazines.
AT&T introduced a sponsored data program in 2012, but only a handful of companies are participating.
T-Mobile is, however, exempts a number of music and video providers from caps but doesn't charge them. It claims it wants to attract customers who stream lots of videos in the way that doesn't strain its network as much. It lowers the quality of video across all video sources, even those that aren't exempt from caps. T-Mobile claims that its customers will be able to watch more.
AT&T and T-Mobile have been questioned by government regulators for more information on their strategies. Although net neutrality rules that were enacted in the last year don't prohibit the practice of choosing and choosing services that do not count against data caps technically referred to as "zero rating," some advocates say it could hinder innovation or favor some companies over others. Net neutrality is the notion that apps and websites should be treated equally by Internet service providers.