Edward Snowden hopes for possible asylum in Switzerland

Michael Hatamoto | Hacking, Security & Privacy | Mar 10, 2015 6:43 PM CDT

Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, currently residing in Russia, says he would like if the Swiss government granted him asylum. Snowden once lived in Geneva while working undercover for the CIA, and enjoyed his time in the European country.

In addition to Switzerland preferring a neutral stance on current military wars and other issues, the country also boasts a high quality of life and treatment of citizens. Unfortunately, current Swiss laws dictate someone applying for asylum must already be in Switzerland - and it's unknown if the government is willing to make an exception for Snowden.

"I would love to return to Switzerland, some of my favorite memories are from Geneva," Snowden recently said during the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights. "It's a wonderful place. I do think Switzerland would be a sort of great political option because it has a history of neutrality."

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX Titan X early look at performance is off the charts

Anthony Garreffa | Video Cards & GPUs | Mar 10, 2015 6:38 PM CDT

It was less than 24 hours ago that we provided the best look at the GeForce GTX Titan X yet, but without drivers we can run anything on it, so performance numbers right now are a total secret. We can do guess work, where I said to expect 30-50% additional performance on top of the GTX 980, which it looks like we have in the Titan X.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX Titan X early look at performance is off the charts

VideoCardz has some very early performance numbers, where it really trounces everything else in its path. The tests performed, 3DMark 11, show us that it demolishes the GTX 980, Radeon R9 290X 8GB, GTX Titan Black, and so much more. It swings punches with the dual-GPU Radeon R9 295X2, but gets awfully close in successive benchmarks.

They ran the Titan X in 4-way SLI, which would just be so great to see in person, where the performance reaches 427% that of the single Titan X - some impressive SLI scaling.

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Wikimedia Foundation suing NSA to protect millions of Wikipedia users

Michael Hatamoto | Hacking, Security & Privacy | Mar 10, 2015 2:13 PM CDT

The NSA and US Department of Justice are being sued by the Wikimedia Foundation, accusing the US organizations of violating US laws related to freedom of speech. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is representing Wikimedia, which was joined by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and several other major organizations in the lawsuit.

The NSA's use of "upstream" surveillance, which "taps the Internet's 'backbone' to capture communications with 'non-US persons,'" is available for a large amount of possible uses - however, it is believed to ultimately collect data not involved in their investigations. Wikimedia and other groups are concerned that journalists, clients, foreign government officials and others won't be as willing to turn over information and discuss sensitive topics with them.

"Our lawsuit says that the NSA's mass surveillance of Internet traffic on American soil - often called 'upstream' surveillance - violates the Fourth Amendment, which protects the right to privacy, as well as the First Amendment, which protects the freedoms of expression and association," according to a Wikipedia op-ed published by the New York Times. "We also argue that this agency activity exceeds the authority granted by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that Congress amended in 2008."

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Android 5.1 announced, includes cross-platform HD Voice support

Anthony Garreffa | Software & Apps | Mar 10, 2015 3:10 AM CDT

Google has announced Android 5.1 Lollipop, the latest update to its mobile OS, which comes with some improvements and new features. We have the usual stability improvements and performance-enhancing code supplements, but the new features might have you happy.

Android 5.1 now includes multi-SIM support, and cross-platform HD Voice support - depending on the network, of course. Google has also provided Device Protection, where Android will keep your smartphone safe from intruders, even if they perform a factory reset on your smartphone after they've stolen it. This new feature binds your Android 5.1-powered device to your Google account, unless you choose otherwise.

The latest version of Lollipop has an updated Quick Settings menu, giving you more granular control over things like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi network switching. The latest Android 5.1 update should be rolling out to Nexus 6 owners soon enough.

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Microsoft bundles broken Halo: Master Chief Collection with Xbox One

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Mar 10, 2015 1:15 AM CDT

Microsoft has introduced a new Xbox One bundle, something that includes Halo: The Master Chief Collection, with a bundled price of $349. Inside of the new bundle, you get the Xbox One, with a download code for Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

The download is a huge 59.1GB, which includes Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary (both digital remasters), Halo 3, and Halo 4. The Master Chief Collection also provides gamers with access to the live-action Halo: Nightfall series which is available on Xbox LIve.

The biggest thing to take away from this is that there are still countless problems with Halo: The Master Chief Collection, with people reporting even with the latest patch, the game is still broken with matchmaking issues, and so much more.

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New 'Tomorrowland' trailer packs an intriguing premise

Ben Gourlay | Celebrities & Entertainment | Mar 10, 2015 12:40 AM CDT

This summer's crop of blockbusters including 'Mad Max', 'Jurassic World', 'The Avengers' and 'Terminator Genisys' are all relatively known quantities, but one - big budget original sci-fi story 'Tomorrowland' remains shrouded in mystery, even if the newly released latest theatrical trailer does shed a little more light on the interesting premise.

Disney have released the following synopsis which adds very little: "Bound by a shared destiny, a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor jaded by disillusionment embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory as 'Tomorrowland'."

Starring George Clooney and Hugh Laurie, 'Tomorrowland' is directed by former Pixar director Brad Bird and hits cinemas in Australia on May 21st and a day later in the United States.

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Apple installs Watch ad, or permanent icon to the iPhone in iOS update

Anthony Garreffa | Software & Apps | Mar 9, 2015 9:57 PM CDT

Apple's media event has now finished, where we were introduced to a new 12-inch MacBook Air that is thinner and faster than ever, as well as a much more detailed and price run-down of Apple's first wearable, Watch.

With the newly released iOS 8.2, Apple has forced an Apple Watch application to your homescreen. The app itself doesn't do anything, as Watch doesn't launch until April 24, but this isn't just a forced app. This is an advertisement, forced onto all iPhone users, for Apple's largest launch since the iPhone.

You can't delete it, you can't remote it, it's an app that will stay on your homescreen for the foreseeable future.

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Microsoft boss teases that 'Gears of War news coming shortly'

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Mar 9, 2015 7:15 PM CDT

We're beginning to see the first rumbles of a new Gears of War game from Microsoft, after the company acquired the rights to the franchise from its creators, Epic Games.

The previous Creative Director on Kinect, Kudo Tsunoda, has teased a new Gears of War game, where he revealed his new role within the software giant. Microsoft has talked about Tsunoda's new position: "While the Halo, Gears of War, Forza and Minecraft franchises will continue to report to Phil Spencer, Kudo will lead the vision and experience development of our other Microsoft Studios portfolio investments in the United States, Europe, and across our Global Publishing team".

What's more exciting, is that we could see the new Gears of War released on the PC for Windows 10, or even better - for HoloLens. We should see more news on the new Gears of War as we slide closer to E3 in June.

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New 'Game of Thrones' Season Five trailer tantalizes

Ben Gourlay | Celebrities & Entertainment | Mar 9, 2015 5:58 PM CDT

Apple today revealed another nugget at their 'Spring Forward' media event - a partnership with HBO on a standalone streaming service which will bring the channels stable of shows home, without the need to join a more costly cable pay TV service. But for 'Game of Thrones' fans, perhaps the most exciting news was a tantalising glimpse at scenes from the next batch of episodes which make up season five.

The newest season of 'Game of Thrones' premieres on April 12th and reunites key cast that have survived the bloodbath of the previous four, including Alexander Siddig, Toby Sebastian, Nell Tiger Free, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Jessica Henwick, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers, DeObia Oparei, Jonathan Pryce, Hannah Waddingham, Enzo Cilenti, Michael Condron, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje who join the cast for the first time.

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Apple Watch Edition comes in 18-karat gold, pricing starts at $10,000

Apple has provided the most details yet on its Watch, something that will begin hitting wrists across the world on April 24. We now know that there will be the regular Watch, the Watch Sport, and the Apple Watch Edition.

The Apple Watch Sport starts at $349 in its smallest 38mm size, and $399 for the 42mm with both being available in silver or space gray. The "regular" Watch has a stainless steel casing, with its price ranging from $549 up to $1049 for the 38mm version, while the 42mm ranges from $599 to $1099. Then we have the Apple Watch Edition, with its casing made from 18-karat solid gold, starting at $10,000.

The Apple Watch will have Apple Pay baked into it, where you can double-tap on the side button to bring up Apple Pay. "Taptic" feedback is also here, which will come into play once a transaction is complete. No authentication is needed with your iPhone, as it is all done on Watch. Notifications will also pop up on Watch, with every notification from your iPhone hitting your wrist.

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