Digital Life http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1049&ft=1&f=1049 NPR's stories on information technology, computing, and the internet. Download podcasts and subscribe to RSS feeds. Listen to audio online. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Digital Life http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1049&ft=1&f=1049 Tackling New Tech In The Golden Years Smartphones, tablets and computers could help seniors stay connected to their communities and families. But a hefty price tag, steep learning curves, and designs meant for younger eyes and hands could keep some older adults from logging on. Guests discuss the best ways for seniors to tackle new technology, and how devices can be adapted to accommodate older users. Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186450899/tackling-new-tech-in-the-golden-years?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186450899/tackling-new-tech-in-the-golden-years?ft=1&f=1049 Smartphones, tablets and computers could help seniors stay connected to their communities and families. But a hefty price tag, steep learning curves, and designs meant for younger eyes and hands could keep some older adults from logging on. Guests discuss the best ways for seniors to tackle new technology, and how devices can be adapted to accommodate older users.

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]]> Viewers To Decide If Amazon's Sample Shows Make The Cut Amazon is piloting 14 possible shows for its streaming video service. The audience will vote on which shows it likes best. TV critic Eric Deggans says the process and the shows would like to be breaking ground for a new media — but they aren't. Fri, 24 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186410408/viewers-to-decide-if-amazons-sample-shows-make-the-cut?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186410408/viewers-to-decide-if-amazons-sample-shows-make-the-cut?ft=1&f=1049 Amazon is piloting 14 possible shows for its streaming video service. The audience will vote on which shows it likes best. TV critic Eric Deggans says the process and the shows would like to be breaking ground for a new media — but they aren't.

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]]> Can This Man Bring Silicon Valley To Yangon? A Stanford MBA who used to work for Google returned to Myanmar to be an Internet entrepreneur. But it's tough to start an Internet company in a country where the power goes out every day. Fri, 24 May 2013 02:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/05/24/186275257/can-this-man-bring-silicon-valley-to-yangon?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/05/24/186275257/can-this-man-bring-silicon-valley-to-yangon?ft=1&f=1049 A Stanford MBA who used to work for Google returned to Myanmar to be an Internet entrepreneur. But it's tough to start an Internet company in a country where the power goes out every day.

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]]> GIF Talk: Do You Say It With A G Or A J? The file format's creator says you should use a soft "J," like "Jif." He gets annoyed when he hears a hard "G" like "gift." For some reason, this subject seems to have created a hot debate. Wed, 22 May 2013 13:52:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/186031226/gif-talk-do-you-say-it-with-a-g-or-j?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/186031226/gif-talk-do-you-say-it-with-a-g-or-j?ft=1&f=1049 The file format's creator says you should use a soft "J," like "Jif." He gets annoyed when he hears a hard "G" like "gift." For some reason, this subject seems to have created a hot debate.

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]]> How That 'Nigerian Email Scam' Got Started You've probably seen it in your inbox before: Someone who claims to have come into a fortune needs your help. You can share in the profits — if you send along a deposit or your bank account number. <em>Boston Globe</em> correspondent Finn Brunton talks about the history of the "Nigerian prince" or "419" scam, which actually got its start long before email. Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/186048342/how-that-nigerian-email-scam-got-started?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/186048342/how-that-nigerian-email-scam-got-started?ft=1&f=1049 You've probably seen it in your inbox before: Someone who claims to have come into a fortune needs your help. You can share in the profits — if you send along a deposit or your bank account number. Boston Globe correspondent Finn Brunton talks about the history of the "Nigerian prince" or "419" scam, which actually got its start long before email.

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]]> Microsoft Unveils Its New Xbox One Microsoft has designs on your living room. The software giant's new game console — Xbox One — uses speech-recognition technology and physical commands. Not just to control games, but also your TV, Skype and recorded video. Microsoft demonstrated the new device Tuesday. Wed, 22 May 2013 06:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/185934652/microsfot-unveils-its-new-xbox-one?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/185934652/microsfot-unveils-its-new-xbox-one?ft=1&f=1049 Microsoft has designs on your living room. The software giant's new game console — Xbox One — uses speech-recognition technology and physical commands. Not just to control games, but also your TV, Skype and recorded video. Microsoft demonstrated the new device Tuesday.

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]]> Microsoft Reveals New Xbox One Game System Microsoft unveiled its new Xbox One Tuesday, displaying a device that takes new steps in game consoles' journey into becoming all-purpose entertainment and communication devices. The new console replaces the Xbox 360, which has been on the market for more than seven years. Tue, 21 May 2013 16:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185833716/microsoft-reveals-new-xbox-one-game-system?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185833716/microsoft-reveals-new-xbox-one-game-system?ft=1&f=1049 Microsoft unveiled its new Xbox One Tuesday, displaying a device that takes new steps in game consoles' journey into becoming all-purpose entertainment and communication devices. The new console replaces the Xbox 360, which has been on the market for more than seven years.

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]]> 'Arrested Development' Leads The Charge For Old Brands In New Media Brands that found their original audiences in traditional, old-media platforms are finding ways to keep going in the world of new media. Tue, 21 May 2013 15:37:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/21/185783915/arrested-development-leads-the-charge-for-old-brands-in-new-media?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/21/185783915/arrested-development-leads-the-charge-for-old-brands-in-new-media?ft=1&f=1049 Brands that found their original audiences in traditional, old-media platforms are finding ways to keep going in the world of new media.

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]]> Airbnb Stays Are Illegal In New York, Court Rules People who use Airbnb, the web company that pairs travelers with residents who rent out their homes on a short-term basis, are breaking New York City's laws, according to an administrative law judge. The vacation rental business was found to run afoul of the city's occupancy code. Tue, 21 May 2013 12:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185787514/airbnb-stays-are-illegal-in-new-york-court-rules?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185787514/airbnb-stays-are-illegal-in-new-york-court-rules?ft=1&f=1049 People who use Airbnb, the web company that pairs travelers with residents who rent out their homes on a short-term basis, are breaking New York City's laws, according to an administrative law judge. The vacation rental business was found to run afoul of the city's occupancy code.

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]]> Tumblr Users Urge New Owner Yahoo To Keep The Site Weird When news of Yahoo's purchase of Tumblr first hit, Tumblr users took their reactions online. The posts were quirky and sharp with plenty of worry about the future. Tue, 21 May 2013 05:52:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/185687599/tumbler-users-urge-new-owner-yahoo-to-keep-the-site-weird?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/185687599/tumbler-users-urge-new-owner-yahoo-to-keep-the-site-weird?ft=1&f=1049 When news of Yahoo's purchase of Tumblr first hit, Tumblr users took their reactions online. The posts were quirky and sharp with plenty of worry about the future.

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]]> What Makes Startup Tumblr Worth $1.1 Billion? In the boldest move yet by new CEO Marissa Mayer, Yahoo will buy the blogging site Tumblr for $1.1 billion. The move is a bet that Tumblr's large community of users is a source of potential profits. While Tumblr is a fast-growing startup, it has not generated significant revenue. Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185596300/what-makes-start-up-tumblr-worth-1-1-billion?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185596300/what-makes-start-up-tumblr-worth-1-1-billion?ft=1&f=1049 In the boldest move yet by new CEO Marissa Mayer, Yahoo will buy the blogging site Tumblr for $1.1 billion. The move is a bet that Tumblr's large community of users is a source of potential profits. While Tumblr is a fast-growing startup, it has not generated significant revenue.

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]]> Navigating Silicon Valley As A 'Woman Programmer' Prominent women such as Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg and Yahoo's Marissa Mayer are proving that women are finding their place at the table. But in an op-ed for <em>The New York Times</em>, former programmer Ellen Ullman argues that women in the field today face "a new, more virile and virulent sexism." Mon, 20 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185559552/navigating-silicon-valley-as-a-woman-programmer?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185559552/navigating-silicon-valley-as-a-woman-programmer?ft=1&f=1049 Prominent women such as Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg and Yahoo's Marissa Mayer are proving that women are finding their place at the table. But in an op-ed for The New York Times, former programmer Ellen Ullman argues that women in the field today face "a new, more virile and virulent sexism."

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]]> VIDEO: Look Inside A Grizzly Bear's Mouth A 3-year-old grizzly in Alaska found a GoPro camera that had been set up to capture nature scenes. The result: Very upclose video. Warning: If slobber and big teeth aren't your thing, this video may not be for you. Mon, 20 May 2013 11:50:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185527321/video-look-inside-a-grizzly-bears-mouth?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185527321/video-look-inside-a-grizzly-bears-mouth?ft=1&f=1049 A 3-year-old grizzly in Alaska found a GoPro camera that had been set up to capture nature scenes. The result: Very upclose video. Warning: If slobber and big teeth aren't your thing, this video may not be for you.

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]]> Pledging Not To 'Screw It Up,' Yahoo Seals Deal For Tumblr Yahoo will pay about $1.1 billion for the six-year-old blogging site. Tumblr's leadership won't change and Yahoo promises it will be independently operated. Mon, 20 May 2013 08:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185490104/pledging-not-to-screw-it-up-yahoo-seals-deal-for-tumblr?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185490104/pledging-not-to-screw-it-up-yahoo-seals-deal-for-tumblr?ft=1&f=1049 Yahoo will pay about $1.1 billion for the six-year-old blogging site. Tumblr's leadership won't change and Yahoo promises it will be independently operated.

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]]> Yahoo To Buy Tumblr In An Attempt To Revitalize Itself Yahoo is expected to announce Monday that it's acquiring the social media site Tumblr, in a deal <em>The Wall Street Journal</em> and other news outlets are reporting to be worth about $1.1 billion. Some analysts are calling the acquisition an effort by Yahoo to be "cool and relevant" again. Mon, 20 May 2013 04:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185430335/yahoo-to-buy-tumblr-in-an-attempt-to-revitalize-itself?ft=1&f=1049 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185430335/yahoo-to-buy-tumblr-in-an-attempt-to-revitalize-itself?ft=1&f=1049 Yahoo is expected to announce Monday that it's acquiring the social media site Tumblr, in a deal The Wall Street Journal and other news outlets are reporting to be worth about $1.1 billion. Some analysts are calling the acquisition an effort by Yahoo to be "cool and relevant" again.

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