TheRepublic.com - Computing and information technology News

Audit: NC Medicaid claims system untested, flawed

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:02:43 -0400

RALEIGH, North Carolina - An audit of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released Wednesday says it has failed to fully test a new $484 million computer system scheduled to begin processing Medicaid claims on July 1.

Amazon unit to expand in Fairfax Co., add 500 jobs

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:10:16 -0400

HERNDON, Virginia - A subsidiary of Amazon.com Inc. is expanding in Fairfax County and expects to provide 500 new jobs.

More doctors, hospitals using electronic records

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:48:03 -0400

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration says more doctors and hospitals are embracing technology as adoption of computerized medical records reaches a "tipping point" in America.

U Iowa official calls for $ for next supercomputer

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:11:05 -0400

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The University of Iowa's vice president for research is expected to urge Congress to support funding to help develop the next generation of ultrafast supercomputers.

Microsoft touts Xbox One as all-in-1 entertainment

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:25:36 -0400

REDMOND, Washington - Microsoft thinks it has the one.

Internet cable from Cuba to Jamaica comes online

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:44:17 -0400

HAVANA - A new branch of the Venezuela-to-Cuba undersea fiber-optic cable has reportedly come online, linking the island to nearby Jamaica, increasing Cuba's potential international communications bandwidth and providing a backup for the main line.

Yahoo looks to regain its cool with Tumblr deal

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:11:49 -0400

SAN FRANCISCO - After falling woefully out of fashion, Yahoo wants to be cool again while catering to the capitalistic demands of its shareholders. That goal led CEO Marissa Mayer to make a $1.1 billion bet on online blogging forum Tumblr in a risky acquisition that revolves around the vision and instincts of a 26-year-old entrepreneur who dropped out of high school to pursue his dream of bringing more beauty and creativity to the Internet.

Daft Punk goes outside comfort zone for new album

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:43:36 -0400

LOS ANGELES - It's tempting to say Daft Punk has gone Hollywood.

Underwater robot to probe Gulf Stream eddies

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:36:14 -0400

ATHENS, Georgia - A University of Georgia marine scientist will explore the edges of the Gulf Stream with the university's first robotic submersible.

New smartphone app provides Mich. park information

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:04:52 -0400

OKEMOS, Michigan - A new smartphone application has been developed that will provide users with information about Michigan's parks and other recreational opportunities.

Students shoot film using just an iPhone 4.0

Sat, 18 May 2013 09:35:39 -0400

WESTMINSTER, Maryland - When McDaniel College senior Ashley Hopkins graduates later this month, she will be able to tout the filmmaking skills she developed in college.

Mich. customers oppose fees to refuse power meters

Sat, 18 May 2013 07:02:21 -0400

LANSING, Michigan - A small but outspoken group of residential customers vows to continue battling Michigan's largest utility company over the freedom to opt out of having "smart" meters installed outside their homes.

Report: Yahoo nearing $1.1B acquisition of Tumblr

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:34:29 -0400

NEW YORK - Yahoo may be on the verge of closing its biggest acquisition during the 10-month reign of CEO Marissa Mayer as she tries to attract more traffic and advertisers to the Internet company's website and mobile applications.

Review: Toshiba brings high-res screen to Windows

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:08:42 -0400

NEW YORK - Last year, Apple added a visually stunning option to its MacBooks: screens with ultra-high resolution. These "Retina" displays reveal four times as much detail as any Windows laptop screen ... until now. Toshiba just released a new laptop line with a Retina-level display.

Texas teen develops iTunes app: Widget Tabs

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:34:37 -0400

McALLEN, Texas - At age 16, Julian Alvarez has an app on the iTunes market and the trappings of a development company.

Can pricey software streamline US Steel?

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:35:35 -0400

PITTSBURGH - U.S. Steel is spending hundreds of millions of dollars installing powerful software intended to help it manage its business more efficiently, a project that began in 2007 and that chairman and CEO John P. Surma says won't be completed until 2016.

Google challenger in Vietnam redirecting queries

Thu, 16 May 2013 23:31:10 -0400

HANOI, Vietnam - A Russian-financed search engine seeking to challenge Google's dominance in Vietnam is redirecting queries for some politically sensitive terms to the American company's search engine, apparently as a way of avoiding government anger or legal liability for sending surfers to sites containing criticism of the ruling party.

Iowa cellphone, Internet service problems reported

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:01:08 -0400

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Service is being restored to some areas of eastern Iowa that experienced disruptions of cellphone and Internet connections.

State agency warns Ark. taxpayers of email scam

Thu, 16 May 2013 05:09:55 -0400

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration is warning state taxpayers of an email scam that seeks personal information.

Google's products dig deeper into people's lives

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:31:52 -0400

SAN FRANCISCO - For Google CEO Larry Page, happiness is a warm computer.

JPMorgan asks Bloomberg for privacy breach data

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:47:10 -0400

LOS ANGELES - Lawyers for JPMorgan Chase & Co. are asking financial news and data company Bloomberg LP to turn over any records it has of reporters looking up the log-in and usage data of JPMorgan employees.

Google boosts photo offerings to rival Facebook

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:24:19 -0400

SAN FRANCISCO - Google is digging deeper into its technology toolkit to turn its social networking service into a more formidable threat to Facebook, sprucing up its photo features at a time when sharing snapshots online and on mobile gadgets is growing more popular.

Highlights: music, maps, photo, other Google tools

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:20:00 -0400

SAN FRANCISCO - Google used its annual conference for software developers to unveil several new products, services and features. They include enhancements for online games, maps, search, music and photos and are meant to help the company cement its role in people's technological lives. Here's a look at some of the announcements made at Wednesday's keynote at Google I/O.

Google's music plan part of fresh wave of upgrades

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:00:32 -0400

SAN FRANCISCO - Google Inc. unveiled a streaming music service called All Access that blends songs users have already uploaded to their online libraries with millions of other tracks. Google made it available in the U.S. Wednesday for $8 a month to early birds who sign up for service before June 30.

Google unveils social, photo, music features

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:16:43 -0400

SAN FRANCISCO - Google's sixth annual conference for software developers opened Wednesday with a chance for the company to showcase its latest services. Announcements include a new phone, new tools for online games and a new music-streaming service and new features to its Google Plus social network, including tools for sharing and enhancing photos.