L.A. Times - Technology News

Old Apple-1 computer sells for record $671,400 at auction

By Chris O'Brien — Sat, 25 May 2013 19:48:00 GMT

Maybe instead of Apple stock, we should all be buying old Apple computers.

Facebook delays U.K., France release of HTC First to improve software

By Salvador Rodriguez — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:21:00 GMT

Facebook has decided to indefinitely delay the release of the HTC First, the so-called "Facebook phone," in the United Kingdom and France in an effort to improve the device's software before entering another market.

Amazon enters tech's architecture wars with 'plant-rich' building

By Salvador Rodriguez — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:38:00 GMT

Not one to be outdone, Amazon.com has become the latest tech giant to reveal plans for new, outlandish headquarters.

Google looking at buying Waze traffic app, report says

By Salvador Rodriguez — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:10:00 GMT

Google is reportedly in talks to acquire Waze, a popular Silicon Valley mapping startup that gets its information by crowdsourcing from users.

Google's new search feature helps users sort through photos

By Paresh Dave — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:30:00 GMT

Not to be outdone by Flickr’s upgrade to 1 terabyte of storage this week, Google has pushed out another feature for its Google+ photo-sharing service.

FDA questions iPhone app that analyzes urine

By Paresh Dave — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

A mobile app that analyzes photos of urine samples is facing scrutiny from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Sony launches smaller, less-expensive 4K Ultra HD TVs

By Salvador Rodriguez — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:53:00 GMT

Sony will begin selling smaller, less-expensive versions of its new XBR 4K Ultra HD TVs.

Apple I, handmade in 1976 and still working, could fetch $400,000

By Paresh Dave — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:20:00 GMT

Apple’s newest iMac has at least 3,000 times more processing power than the company’s first computer model, but the older version could end up being 300 times as expensive.

Samsung Galaxy S4 laps HTC One in sales

By Paresh Dave — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:44:00 GMT

On its way to becoming the fastest-selling Android smartphone, the Galaxy S4 has been sold twice as many times as the HTC One in their first few weeks on the market.

Repairing iPhone 5 more costly than for past iPhones

By Paresh Dave — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:52:00 GMT

Repairing the iPhone 5 costs far more than fixing its predecessors because of Apple’s tight control over the parts that make up its newest phone, according to a new report.

UCLA surgeons using Vine, Instagram to video tweet brain surgery

By Paresh Dave — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:01:00 GMT

Even as hospitals struggle with keeping patient information secure in the digital world, more and more are finding that some patients are willing to publicly share intimate moments.

Google insider Ben Ling joins Khosla to unearth great Web ventures

By Jessica Guynn — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO -- Khosla Ventures is adding to its roster of top Internet executives with the addition of Ben Ling, a veteran of Google, Facebook and YouTube.

Lyft lands $60 million in funding, led by Andreessen Horowitz

By Salvador Rodriguez — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Coming up on the one-year anniversary of its ridesharing service, Lyft is celebrating with a new round of funding worth $60 million.

Twitter adds two-step verification option to help fend off hackers

By Salvador Rodriguez — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:31:00 GMT

Twitter has rolled out a two-step verification, a feature users can turn on to give themselves more protection against would-be hackers.

Employees assume bosses track their work computers, survey finds

By Paresh Dave — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Workers spend more than half an hour each day shopping for new clothing, exchanging instant messages with friends and taking care of other personal matters on their work computers.

Nextdoor, the social network for neighbors, rolls out iPhone app

By Jessica Guynn — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO -- Nextdoor, which wants to be the go-to social network for neighborhoods, is rolling out an app for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Mailbox hits send on new iPad app

By Jessica Guynn — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO -- Mailbox is coming to the iPad.

Shazam revamps iPad app, adds auto-tagging feature

By Salvador Rodriguez — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Shazam, the app that identifies a song's name and artist, is being updated for the iPad, giving tablet users many of the tools already found on the iPhone app as well as a cool new feature: automatic tagging.

Flickr photo-printing service could bring more revenue to Yahoo

By Paresh Dave — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:49:00 GMT

This week’s flashy redesign of Flickr shifts the Yahoo-owned photo-sharing website away from subscription revenue and more toward ad revenue. But Yahoo also could look to monetize another Flickr feature: printing hard copies of photos.

Verizon, Jennifer Lopez launch Viva Movil stores aimed at Latinos

By Salvador Rodriguez — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:31:00 GMT

Verizon Wireless and Jennifer Lopez teamed up Wednesday to launch Viva Movil, a new brand of cellphone retail store that will target Latino customers.

Another first for Google Glass -- tester loses a pair

By Salvador Rodriguez — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:16:00 GMT

In tech, when you're the first to do something it's usually a good thing, unless you're the first person to lose a $1,500 Google Glass device.

Boost Mobile rolls out virtual wallet for Android smartphones

By Paresh Dave — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:19:00 GMT

Android smartphones on Boost Mobile’s network can now serve as a mobile wallet.

Want to feel as if you own Google Glass? Just talk to Apple's Siri

By Salvador Rodriguez — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:42:00 GMT

Google Glass isn't likely to be released to the general public until next year, but eager users can start practicing how to control it with Apple's Siri voice assistant.

Taxes, schmaxes: Congress wants you to know it loves Apple

By Chris O'Brien — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:15:00 GMT

You could be forgiven for thinking that the big hearing before the U.S. Senate ’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations this week was a chance for lawmakers to grill Apple about some of its controversial tax practices. And yes, there was some of that.

Apple CEO Tim Cook says a line of Macs will be built in Texas

By Salvador Rodriguez — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:17:00 GMT

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook disclosed during a Senate hearing Tuesday that the tech giant will invest more than $100 million to build a factory in the Lone Star State, where it will assemble a line of Mac computers.