Facebook hits two billion users

More than a quarter of the world's population now uses Facebook every month, the social network says.
"As of this morning, the Facebook community is now officially two billion people," founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg posted.
The milestone comes just 13 years after the network was founded by Mr Zuckerberg when he was at Harvard.
He famously dropped out of the university after launching the global social-networking website.
The internet giant announced it had one billion monthly users in October 2012, meaning it has doubled the number of its users in just under five years.
The firm's continuing growth will confound critics who have long predicted that the social network's growth would slow down as rivals such as Snapchat stole its users.
Earlier this year, Facebook warned that growth in advertising revenues would slow down.
Nonetheless, Mr Zuckerberg's ambitions remain huge.
He told USA Today the firm had not made "much fanfare" about hitting the two billion figure because "we still haven't connected everyone".
"What we really care about is being able to connect everyone," he said.
The firm's rapid growth has put pressure on its ability to moderate violent and illegal content posted on its site.
The most recent high profile incident involved a man in the US posting a video of himself to the site, showing him shooting and killing an elderly man.
Last month Facebook said it was hiring 3,000 extra people to moderate content on its site.

Credit card with a fingerprint sensor revealed by Mastercard

A payment card featuring a fingerprint sensor has been unveiled by credit card provider Mastercard.
The rollout follows two successful trials in South Africa.
The technology works in the same way as it does with mobile phone payments: users must have their finger over the sensor when making a purchase.
Security experts have said that while using fingerprints is not foolproof, it is a "sensible" use of biometric technology.
'Nine changes'
Mastercard's chief of safety and security, Ajay Bhalla, said that the fingerprint technology would help "to deliver additional convenience and security. It is not something that can be taken or replicated."
However, fingerprint sensors can be compromised.

Karsten Nohl, chief scientist at Berlin's Security Research Labs, told the BBC: "All I need is a glass or something you have touched in the past."
He adds that if that information is stolen, "you only have nine fingerprint changes before you run out of options".
But Mr Nohl is cautiously optimistic about the technology, saying it is "better than what we have at the moment".
"With the combination of chip and PIN, the PIN is the weaker element. Using a fingerprint gets rid of that."
"Fingerprints have helped us avoid using terrible passwords, and even the most gullible person is not going to cut off their finger if [a criminal] asks nicely."
No scanner needed
The cards are thought to be the first to include both the digital template of the user's fingerprint and the sensor required to read their fingerprints at the point of sale.
Previous biometric payment cards only worked when used in conjunction with a separate fingerprint scanner.
That limited their usefulness, as only stores with the correct equipment could accept them.
Having both the data and the scanner on the same card means that they should be accepted everywhere a normal chip and PIN payment card can be used.
But the biometric verification can only be used for in-store purchases: online and other so-called "card not present" transactions will still require further security measures.

Facebook team working on brain-powered technology

Facebook says it is working on technology to allow us to control computers directly with our brains.

It is developing “silent speech” software to allow people to type at a rate of 100 words per minute, it says.
The project, in its early stages, will require new technology to detect brainwaves without needing invasive surgery.
"We are not talking about decoding your random thoughts,” assured Facebook's Regina Dugan.

"You have many thoughts, you choose to share some of them.
"We’re talking about decoding those words. A silent speech interface - one with all the speed and flexibility of voice."

Ms Dugan is the company’s head of Building 8, the firm’s hardware research lab. The company said it intends to build both the hardware and software to achieve its goal, and has enlisted a team of more than 60 scientists and academics to work on the project.
On his Facebook page, Mark Zuckerberg added: "Our brains produce enough data to stream four HD movies every second.
"The problem is that the best way we have to get information out into the world - speech - can only transmit about the same amount of data as a 1980s modem.
"We're working on a system that will let you type straight from your brain about five times faster than you can type on your phone today.
"Eventually, we want to turn it into a wearable technology that can be manufactured at scale. Even a simple yes/no 'brain click' would help make things like augmented reality feel much more natural.
"Technology is going to have to get a lot more advanced before we can share a pure thought or feeling, but this is a first step."

Other ideas detailed at the company’s developers conference in San Jose included work to allow people to “hear” through skin. The system, comparable to Braille, uses pressure points on the skin to relay information.
“One day, not so far away, it may be possible for me to think in Mandarin, and you to feel it instantly in Spanish,” Ms Dugan said.
With these announcements, Facebook is envisioning technology that is far in advance of anything currently possible. To achieve sophisticated brain control with today's technology requires the implanting of a computer chip into the brain, something Ms Dugan joked "simply won't scale".
There are already external brain-control technologies on the market, but these are simplistic in comparison. Electroencephalogram tech - known as EEG - can monitor electric impulses in the brain, but only for very basic, structured output - such as moving a dot up or down a computer screen.
"We'll need new, non-invasive sensors that can measure brain activity hundreds of times per second," Facebook said in a statement.
"From locations precise to millimetres and without signal distortions. Today there is no non-invasive imaging method that can do this."

Microsoft ‪Windows 10 update to bring 3D gaming and other features

NEW YORK: A major update to Microsoft's Windows 10 system will start reaching consumers and businesses on April 11, offering 3-D drawing tools, game-broadcasting capabilities and better ways to manage your web browsing. This "Creators Update'' also aims to make future updates less disruptive.
Microsoft said Wednesday that it will roll out the Creators Update to some 400 million Windows 10devices worldwide over time. Though there's no set schedule, devices that came with Windows 10installed will likely get the update first. That will make it easier for Microsoft to work out kinks for older devices, which are potentially more problematic.
Once you get it, here are five things to check out. Website clutter Throughout the day, you're likely using your web browser for a variety of tasks _ researching a trip, checking the news and, gasp, doing actual work. Having all those websites open at once could prove cumbersome. Windows 10's Edge browser now has a small icon on the upper left corner for setting aside a group of websites. Say, your deadline on a work project is rapidly approaching. Just hit the button to clear out website tabs for your Caribbean getaway. When you're ready to return to trip planning, hit an adjacent icon to restore those tabs you've set aside. You can set aside multiple groups; the most recent ones appear on top. When things get rough, you can scroll down to check the set of job search sites you set aside weeks ago. Though browsers let you bookmark sites, you probably don't want permanence for trips and short-term projects. Once you restore tabs using the new feature, you'll need to set them aside again when you're done for future access. And tabs won't sync across devices. Digital doodles Last year's "Anniversary Update'' introduced Windows Ink, the ability to highlight, mark and otherwise doodle on documents with a finger or stylus, provided you have a touch-screen computer. Updated Windows apps for Microsoft's Maps and Photos will let you do more. Though the apps are available separately, getting the Creators Update ensures you have them. In Photos, you can draw on photos and videos with virtual markers and share your creations with friends. For example, you can circle that guy in the background and call attention to how goofy he looks. For maps, you can mark a specific spot in a park for friends to meet. Technically, you can already do that with web versions of Google, Bing and other maps, so long as you're using the Edge browser and its doodling function. Microsoft's Maps app offers extras. For instance, you can have the app calculate the distance of the bike route you're tracing; be sure to first hit the "measure distance'' icon (the one with the red diagonal). Ink would have been great for a new e-book feature coming to Windows. Microsoft is now selling e-books through its online store, and books open as a tab in Edge, with no separate app needed. But Microsoft says Ink is disabled on e-books because of publisher restrictions. In 3-D Paint, a graphics app Microsoft first shipped with Windows 1.0 in 1985, is getting a major refresh. You can now create images in 3-D. Start by pressing the cube icon at the top. You can create 3-D images from scratch or choose an object, such as a cylinder, a fish or a person. You can get additional models from a 3-D online community called Remix and even share your creations there. You can add stickers, such as eyes, by tapping the icon to the right of the cube. Play around to get a feel for all the capabilities. Expect lots of trial and error _ and frequent use of the "undo'' button. 3-D images created through paint will be compatible with 3-D printers and printing services.

This country is planning to 'ban' Facebook for six hours every day

NEW DELHI: The government of Bangladesh is planning to block popular social network Facebook for six hours, starting midnight. According to a report by a Bangladeshi daily, the government is considering the step for the 'betterment of students and youth'. As per a report by The Daily Star, the cabinet has forwarded a letter to Telecom Ministry, saying that Facebook is "affecting the students" and "dimming the working capabilities of the youths".

The report further adds that the telecom division has asked Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission's opinion on the issue.
Shyam Sunder Sikder, secretary of the telecom division, confirmed to The Daily Star that the telecom division has received the letter and will have to assess whether the decision will hamper the business communications. According to The Daily Star's report, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has said that the ban should not be imposed. The regulatory body feels that instead of imposing ban on the social network, the government should try involving parents and educational institutions in this matter. BTRC has further stated that blocking of Facebook will be ineffective when other services like WhatsApp, Viber are there. Moreover, the blocking will hamper the businesses of people who rely on Facebook. As per the report, BTRC has recommended that parents should use parental control software, security software and privacy features to stop their children from accessing Facebook. This is not the first time that the Bangladesh government is thinking of banning a digital service. In 2012, the government had imposed a ban of 260 days on video-sharing platform YouTube.

Samsung's foldable smartphone could land in the summer

Samsung's elusive folding smartphone could finally see the light of day in summer 2017 in a handful of trial markets, according to a Chinese Twitter account (@mmddj_china) specializing in Samsung-related leaks. In the Samsung calendar, the folding phone would land well after the launch of the Galaxy S8 (from April 21) but before the Galaxy Note 8 (expected this fall). For months, specialist Samsung news websites have been talking about patents reportedly filed by the manufacturer at the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), hinting at a possible design for the firm's future folding smartphone. Such a device has supposedly been in the pipeline at Samsung for years, ever since the firm showed off its first flexible plastic screen prototypes at CES, Las Vegas (USA) in 2011. One of the leaked patents features an original hinge system for folding the smartphone in half, echoing old-school flip phones but with a large display spanning the phone's front face when open.

Long referred to as "Projet Valley," the handset now looks like it could get the "Galaxy X" moniker. Samsung could initially roll out the device to Asian markets to test the water, before evaluating the potential of a folding handset on a global scale in 2018. Other manufacturers, like LG or Lenovo, could also follow suit.
Samsung has previewed flexible screens on various occasions and now fully masters flexible OLED technology. The South Korean tech firm has always sought to stay at the cutting edge of innovation, bringing Super AMOLED technology to the Galaxy S in 2010, and curving the Galaxy S6 edge's display around the sides of the handset in 2015. This type of device could also pave the way for a whole host of innovations on which Samsung is already working, such as flexible tablets with entirely transparent screens

WikiLeaks Exposes CIA's Device Surveillance Tricks

WikiLeaks on Thursday announced that it had released more Vault 7 documentation online, including details about several CIA projects to infect Apple's Mac computer firmware and operating system.

The site unloaded its first batch of stolen Vault 7 data earlier this month.

The CIA's Embedded Development Branch developed malware that could persist even if the targeted computer were reformatted and its OS were reinstalled, according to data WikiLeaks exposed.

The newly released files shone a spotlight on the CIA's efforts to gain "persistence" in Apple devices, including Mac computers and iPhones, via malware designed to attack their firmware.

One of the documents highlighted in Thursday's data dump exposes the "Sonic Screwdriver" project, which likely was named for the handheld tool wielded by the science fiction character "Doctor Who," as the device seemingly can bypass any digital or mechanical lock.

The CIA described it as a "mechanism for executing code on peripheral devices while a Mac laptop or desktop is booting," accordingly to WikiLeaks, to allow the attacker to gain access even if a firmware password were enabled.

Who Is Listening

The CIA has been infecting the iPhone supply chain of specific targets since at least 2008, a year after the release of the first iPhone, WikiLeaks claimed.

It also released the CIA's manual for "NightSkies 1.2," described as a "beacon/loader/implant tool" designed for use in infecting iPhones.

"Today's release appears to confirm that the CIA had developed tools to hack the iPhone well before most people ever owned one," warned Ed McAndrew, cybersecurity partner at Ballard Spahr and former cybercrimes prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney's Offices for the Eastern District of Virginia and for the District of Delaware.

"Infection within the supply chain illustrates how committed the agency was to widespread and persistent exploitation of these devices over the long term," McAndrew told TechNewsWorld.

"With malware development moving at light speed, it is frightening to think of how the CIA's hacking capabilities have likely advanced from back then to today," he added. "Unfortunately, this release may provide little that will be useful to Apple or its development partners in eliminating vulnerabilities in today's devices."

Controlling the Firmware

Also among the data released on Thursday is information on "DarkSeaSkies," a project that could implant UEFI (User Extensible Firmware Interface) -- a specification that defines a software interface between an operating system and platform firmware -- on an Apple MacBook Air computer.

EFI/UEFI, which is expected to replace BIOS as the connection between firmware and a system's OS, typically is installed at the time of manufacturing and is the first program that runs when a computer is turned on.

Controlling the UEFI would make it virtually impossible for anyone to remove the installed malware.

"If you want persistent access -- which is an exploit that will remain available to you even after a user updates her software -- then there is almost nothing better than control of the firmware," said Jim Purtilo, associate professor in the computer science department at the University of Maryland.

"This gives you control of the device even before the user's software starts to run on it, and your defensive measures will guard digital premises that have already been violated," he told TechNewsWorld.

Bridge Between Hardware and Software

The boot process reflects the increased complexity of modern devices -- that is, how many bridges between hardware and software must be erected when a device is powered up.

"It starts when a modest amount of hardware is used to load and execute commands which are stored in a special type of memory reserved just for this process, and these in turn will cause yet more commands to be loaded from the device's storage -- perhaps a flash drive," explained Purtilo.

"This is where it gets really complex, because there is s

Samsung Galaxy S8 hides home button and gains Bixby AI

Samsung's latest flagship phones have ditched the physical home button found in their predecessors and introduced a new virtual assistant.
The screens of the Galaxy S8 and bigger S8+ are also larger despite the devices being about the same size as last year's S7 and S7 Edge.
This time, both models feature displays that curve round the phones' sides.
The launch follows Samsung's botched release of the Note 7, which was recalled twice after fires.
The South Korean firm blamed the problem on battery faults and said it had since put in additional safety measures, including X-ray scans of batteries.
The company has also become mired in a corruption scandal in its home country.

The Galaxy S8 is arguably the most important launch of the last 10 years for Samsung and every aspect will be under the microscope following the Note 7 recall," commented Ben Wood from the CCS tech consultancy.
"The S8 is a unquestionably a strong product but Samsung must now deliver a faultless launch to move on from its earlier difficulties. If this happens it will emerge in an even stronger position."
The new devices will be released on 21 April.
The S8 is priced at £690 and the S8+ at £780 - a jump on last year's entry prices of £569 for the S7 and £639 for the S7 Edge.
Samsung was the bestselling handset manufacturer for 2016 as a whole, according to market research firm IDC.

However, Apple overtook it in the final three months.

Longer screens
The displays of the S8 and S8+, measuring 5.8in (14.7cm) and 6.2in (15.7cm) respectively, mean a more stretched aspect ratio than before, pushing the screens closer to the top and bottom of the handsets.

The Galaxy S8+ has a longer screen than last year's S7 Edge
As a consequence, Samsung's logo no longer features on the front, and the physical home button is replaced with an on-screen icon - in a similar manner to rival Android phones from Huawei and LG.
A pressure sensor and vibration module have, however, been built into the space behind the new virtual button to provide feedback.
Samsung suggests the displays' 18.5:9 ratio makes them better suited to running two apps side by side. For example, there is now space to watch a video, use a chat app and still have room for a full touch-keyboard.

The new home button appears as an icon on the screen but has a pressure sensor behind it
The screens are the same resolution as before but are now brighter, supporting high dynamic range (HDR) playback of videos for extra clarity.
The S8's body is a little narrower than that of the S7, while the S8+'s is a bit wider than the S7 Edge but lighter - Samsung says both new devices can still be used one-handed.

Hello Bixby
The phones also introduce Bixby - a virtual assistant based on technology acquired from some of the original developers' of Apple's Siri.

Samsung intends to expand Bixby's capabilities over time
The helper is activated by a dedicated side-button and allows 10 built-in apps - including a photo gallery, messages and weather - to be controlled by voice.
It is "context-aware", meaning users can ask follow-up questions and assume it is aware of what is currently displayed.
Samsung said it expected owners to mix together voice commands and physical controls - for example asking to see all the photos taken today, then tapping the ones they want, before verbally requesting they be messaged to a friend.
The software can also be used to recognise objects seen via the phone's camera. This can be used to identify a landmark, for example, or tell the owner how much a product would cost to buy online.
Image copyrightSAMSUNG
Image caption
Bixby can be used to recognise nearby objects and show where they are on sale
Bixby works with Google Play Music, and Samsung intends to open it up to other third-party apps in the future but has not said when.
At launch, it is only designed to recognise US and Korean voices.
"If what Samsung demoed works well in practice, Bixby will be interesting because it offers features absent from Siri and Google Assistant," commented Francisco Jeronimo from IDC.
"The race is on to have the best digital assistant, since that will drive hardware sales.
"But in the past, some of Samsung's features have looked great in presentations, but when you use them on a daily basis they have not been as good."
While Bixby offers new ways to control a phone, it lacks Google Assistant's pre-emptive smarts - it does not interject in chats to suggest places to visit, for example.
However, the search giant's rival artificial intelligence can still be summoned via the home button.
Enhanced cameras

The rear camera combines data from several frames to enhance detail
Other improvements over last year's models include:
a more detailed eight megapixel front-camera with faster autofocus
the rear camera remains 12MP but promises to take photos with improved sharpness and contrast by snapping additional frames from which extra data is extracted
new processors - the central processing unit (CPU) is said to be 10% more powerful and the graphics processing unit (GPU) 21%. A shift to 10 nanometre-chip technology should also make them more energy efficient
an iris scanner, allowing "eye-prints" to be used as an ID alternative to fingerprints
a new Samsung Connect app that can be used to control smart home appliances

Elon Musk creates Neuralink brain electrode firm

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has launched Neuralink, a start-up which aims to develop technology that connects our brains to computers.
A report from the Wall Street Journal, later confirmed in a tweet by Mr Musk, said the company was in its very early stages and registered as a “medical research” firm.
The company will develop so-called “neural lace” technology which would implant tiny electrodes into the brain.
The technique could be used to improve memory or give humans added artificial intelligence.
According to the Journal, leading academics in the field have been signed up to work at the company which is being funded privately by Mr Musk.
Specialists in the field envision a time when humans may be able to upload and download thoughts.
In a tweet on Tuesday evening, Mr Musk confirmed the existence of the company and said more details about the firm would be made public next week via WaitButWhy - a site known for illustrating its lengthy post with often crude but charming stick figure drawings.
Mr Musk is considered one of Silicon Valley’s most visionary figures - and surely now its busiest.
As well as heading electric carmaker Tesla, Mr Musk is involved with running space exploration company Space X, a project to reinvent transport called Hyperloop and, most recently, a firm investigating the feasibility of boring tunnels underneath Los Angeles - and a new project to power Australia.
Tweeting about Neuralink, Mr Musk conceded it would be “difficult to dedicate the time, but existential risk is too high not to”.

Uber suspends self-driving cars after Arizona crash

Uber has pulled its self-driving cars from the roads after an accident which left one of the vehicles on its side.
Pictures posted online showed the car on its right side on an Arizona street, next to another badly damaged vehicle.
The car - a Volvo SUV - was in self-driving mode at the time of the crash, on Friday, Uber said. No one was hurt.
A spokeswoman for the police in Tempe, Arizona said the accident occurred when another vehicle "failed to yield" to the Uber car at a left turn.
"There was a person behind the wheel. It is uncertain at this time if they were controlling the vehicle at the time of the collision," spokeswoman Josie Montenegro said.
Uber's self-driving cars always have a human in the driving seat who can take over the controls.
The company pulled its self-driving vehicles off the road in Arizona at first, followed by test sites in Pennsylvania and California - all three states where it operated the vehicles.
The incident follows a tumultuous few weeks for the car-hailing app service, after several negative stories about workplace practices and ethics.
A number of executives have quit in recent weeks, including the president, Jeff Jones.

Linux Academy Rolls Out New Cloud-Based Training Platform

Linux Academy, an online training platform for the Linux OS and cloud computing, on Tuesday announced a public beta rollout of its Cloud Assessments platform, which is designed to let large enterprise firms train and assess their IT workers and prospective job candidates.

The academy offers training on a variety of cloud-based platforms, including Amazon Web Services, Open Stack, DevOps, Azure and others.

The Cloud Assessments platform will focus initially on training and testing of AWS, due to the strong demand for that cloud-based computing platform and the large skills gap of existing knowledge among IT workers.

"Since AWS is a leader in the market, companies and individuals are rushing to ensure they can handle these technologies," said Linux Academy CEO Anthony James.

AWS Demand

The academy's current focus is preparation and validation for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate level exam, James told LinuxInsider. However, there are other in-demand areas that it is beginning to explore.

Hands-on learning has been very important to professionals who have taken these courses, James said. "We came to understand that not only do people want to learn, but they also want to validate their skills in a way that our industry would recognize."

Another critical aspect of the Academy's approach is what it calls "lean learning," which involves recommending specific training based on a user's specific performance, he continued. The new training efforts target specific areas that need improvement.

The Cloud Assessments platform offers a different approach to teaching IT professionals by using live servers in existing work environments. Workers actually learn skills they can use on the job in real time. They're not limited to responding to questions in a test environment.

Individuals also can use Cloud Assessments to earn micro-certfiications for AWS skills.

Linux Academy and Cybrary last month conducted a survey of 6,000 IT professionals, and 35 percent said that micro-certifications would help them get a job or advance in an existing position.

In addition, 85 percent said they would pursue micro-certifications if their employers helped facilitate the training.

Skills Gap

"The launch of this program is another indication of the accelerating adoption of cloud services," noted Jeffrey Kaplan, managing director of ThinkStrategies, "and there is no question that initial focus on AWS specialists is because of its dominant position in the market at this time."

As the demand for multi-cloud services increases, the academy's program likely will broaden to include training courses for additional cloud platforms, he told LinuxInsider.

Certification programs directly from AWS are exam-based, said Paul Teich, principal analyst at Tirias Research.

However, Linux Academy has created a more practical "live assessment" environment in which users are graded on actually using AWS rather than just answering questions correctly, he told LinuxInsider.

"Cloud services really don't care about certification, but enterprise does," Teich pointed out. "Enterprise needs these certifications to start implementing hybrid cloud business models. Upleveling certification to demonstrate practical experience should play well with enterprise IT shops."

Amazon Web Services last year announced an effort to enhance its AWS Educate program to offer additional modules, called "cloud career pathways," to help educate students about cloud-based skills, as well as connect them with specific cloud-based jobs offered by various employers, including AWS, Salesforce, Cloudnexa and Splunk.

Twitter considers paid membership option

Twitter is considering adding a paid membership option for businesses and power users.
The micro-blogging service, which has struggled to grow its user base in recent years, is carrying out surveys to “assess interest” in the idea.
Paying members would get access to an enhanced version of Tweetdeck, Twitter’s souped-up interface that offers more functionality than Twitter.com.
The company has not made any indication it is considering charging regular users of the service.
But a premium membership scheme could offer Twitter a new revenue stream at a time when users are increasingly turning to other networks such as Snapchat.
Twitter’s active user base has plateaued - and advertising revenues, currently the firms only meaningful income stream, are in decline. Twitter’s struggles come despite the online advertising market growing considerably in the past year.
'More valuable'
Twitter has surveyed a small selection of its users about the idea.
In a statement, the company said: "We regularly conduct user research to gather feedback about people’s Twitter experience and to better inform our product investment decisions, and we're exploring several ways to make Tweetdeck even more valuable for professionals.”
In an email to selected users, the company described how the new tool would work.
"This premium tool set will provide valuable viewing, posting, and signaling tools like alerts, trends and activity analysis, advanced analytics, and composing and posting tools all in one customizable dashboard,” the note said.
"It will be designed to make it easier than ever to keep up with multiple interests, grow your audience, and see even more great content and information in real-time.”
If it goes ahead with premium accounts, Twitter will be competing with more established players like SocialFlow and HootSuite - companies that have offered enhanced ways to use Twitter for many years.
Why it has taken the company this long to roll out its own initiative is not clear. In 2009, co-founder Biz Stone said the firm had hired a product manager to develop premium features, but these never materialised - and Mr Stone left the company in 2011.

WhatsApp building new app for businesses

WhatsApp last week introduced its revamped Snapchat-esque Stories feature, but that's not all the Facebook-owned messenger has up its sleeve.

The company late last week announced it's working on a new commercial messaging platform specifically for businesses, according to the Hindustan Times.

"WhatsApp for Business is all about small and medium businesses, WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton reportedly said, "where you have a small employee count and have a large customer count, and the goals are very different."

The new app will reportedly launch first in India, where there are over 200 million WhatsApp users. Many US companies are looking to get a slice of India's growing digital market -- most recently, Microsoft launched Skype Lite in the country last week. Facebook has also tried its hand at penetrating India, last year attempting to bring its Free Basics imitative to the country.

WhatsApp, which has over a billion active users, is also the latest to take a play out of Snapchat's playbook, last week introducing feature that lets you post photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. Facebook, which bought WhatsApp for $19 billion, is trialling a similar feature over in Ireland.

Google Play store update to help you find gaming's hidden gems

Google Play is getting a power-up for its games.

Google's app store service is revamping how it looks at games while adding new tools for developers to earn more and analyze its performance, the company announced on Monday during its Developer Day event.

Gaming on devices powered by Google's Android mobile software boomed internationally in 2016, with the help of Pokemon Go and Clash Royale. Last year, up to 300 million new users on Android played games in countries like Brazil, India and Indonesia. Google is looking to put the spotlight on hidden gems with its latest update, expected to arrive soon.

When people head to Google Play, the games will be organized by engagement instead of downloads, meaning that less-popular games could have their time to shine.

"There are many instances when great games don't get the visibility and attention they deserve," Paul Bankhead, Google Play's director of product management said in a statement. "We've begun tuning our algorithms to optimize for user engagements, not just downloads."

Google Play will now be looking at a game's star rating, along with how often players come back to the game and how often it's played to decide how it should be promoted. It will also be launching new editorial pages for games in February, with editors highlighting high-quality games.

Game developers will also be able to adjust their own prices and run promotions on their own starting Monday through the Google Play Developer Console. When Google tested out the feature, developers saw up to 20 times more downloads during the deals.

The company is hosting a series of lightning talks on Monday with a focus on virtual reality and augmented reality. Google's Daydream View VR headset is an emerging platform for VR games through the Play store.

The Nougat update for Android improved graphics for mobile games, and Google is showing it off with three new games it previewed at Developer Day, including:

Transformers: Forged to Fight, a fighting game featuring the Autobots and Decepticons, which will be available on April 5.
Battle Breakers, a board game styled RPG from Epic Games powered by Unreal Engine 4, where you build a team of heroes to battle monsters.
Injustice 2, the sequel to NetherRealm Studios' superhero fighting game where DC Comics characters battle it out.
For the Google Daydream:

Virtual Rabbids, a light-hearted VR game by Ubisoft where you play around with Rabbids.
Beartopia, a co-op VR game where you live in a village as cute, square bears to grow a community.

SpaceX to fly two tourists around Moon in 2018

        US private rocket company SpaceX has announced that two private citizens have paid to be sent around the Moon

The mission is planned for late 2018, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said, adding that the tourists "have already paid a significant deposit".
"This presents an opportunity for humans to return to deep space for the first time in 45 years," he said.
The two unnamed people will fly aboard a spaceship which is set for its first unmanned test flight later this year.
Mr Musk said the co-operation of America's Nasa space agency had made the plan possible.
He said the two passengers "will travel faster and further into the solar system than any before them".
Mr Musk declined to reveal their identities, only saying that they knew each other and that "it's nobody from Hollywood".
"Like the Apollo astronauts before them, these individuals will travel into space carrying the hopes and dreams of all humankind, driven by the universal human spirit of exploration.
"We expect to conduct health and fitness tests, as well as begin initial training later this year."

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The first mission would be unmanned, and the next one - with crew - was expected in the second quarter of 2018, the billionaire entrepreneur and inventor said.

He also said the first passengers "are entering this with their eyes open, knowing that there is some risk here".
"They're certainly not naive, and we'll do everything we can to minimise that risk, but it's not zero."
The space tourists would make a loop around the Moon, skimming the lunar surface and then going well beyond, Mr Musk said.
The mission will not involve a lunar landing.
If Nasa decided it wanted to be first to take part in a lunar flyby mission, then the agency would have priority, Mr Musk said.
The US has not sent astronauts to the Moon since the early 1970s.

MWC 2017: Google brings Assistant to more Android phones

Google's voice-activated digital assistant will soon be available on smartphones running the latest versions of the Android operating system.
Until now, Google Assistant had only been available on the firm's own Pixel phones.
The service, like Siri on iPhones, allows users to interact with apps and ask questions.
LG was one of the first smartphone makers to reveal it would feature the assistant on its new device, the G6.
Google's update will starting rolling out this week to users with Android 6.0 Marshmallow or 7.0 Nougat installed.
"With this update, hundreds of millions of Android users will now be able to try out the Google Assistant," said Gummi Hafsteinsson, product lead for Google Assistant, in a blog post.
But other virtual assistants are out there. At the Mobile World Congress tech show in Barcelona, Lenovo Moto revealed that Amazon's Alexa assistant would be coming to the Moto Z phone.
This will happen via an alternative back - known as a MotoMod - that Amazon will sell for the Moto Z later this year.
And at the CES tech show in Las Vegas last month, Chinese tech giant Huawei announced it would include Amazon's rival Alexa assistant on its phones.

'Natural step'

Google Assistant differs from its competitors slightly in that it is designed to prompt conversations with users and respond to follow-up queries.
"It is a natural step for Google to offer Google Assistant to as many smartphones as possible because AI is at the heart of Google's strategy, said tech analyst Ian Fogg at IHS Technology.
"With the machine learning that underpins Google Assistant AI, the more people that use Assistant, the smarter it will become."
Initially, Assistant will be available to English-speaking users in the United States.
English-speaking users in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom will receive the update next.
Support for other languages will follow, Google said.

Nokia 3310 mobile phone resurrected at MWC 2017

Nokia's 3310 phone has been relaunched nearly 17 years after its debut.
Many consider the original handset iconic because of its popularity and sturdiness. More than 126 million were produced before it was phased out in 2005.
The revamped version will be sold under licence by the Finnish start-up HMD Global, which also unveiled several Nokia-branded Android smartphones.
One expert said it was a "fantastic way" to relaunch Nokia's phone brand.
"The 3310 was the first mass-market mobile and there's a massive amount of nostalgia and affection for it," commented Ben Wood from the technology consultancy CCS Insight.
"If HMD had just announced three Android devices they would have barely got a couple of column inches in the press.
"So, the 3310 is a very clever move and we expect it will sell in significant volumes."

However, its advantage over more powerful handsets is its battery life. HMD says the colour-screened phone has up to a month's standby time and delivers more than 22 hours of talk time.
It also comes with the modern version of the classic game Snake preinstalled.
Its launch price is €49 ($51,75; £41.51).
"It's almost like a digital detox or a holiday phone," HMD's chief executive Arto Nummela told the BBC.
"If you want to switch off to an extent but you still need to have a [mobile] lifeline, it's a brilliant solution.
"Why wouldn't you buy this like candy? If you see this hanging on the shelf at the checkout in a [see-through] package, then you'd just buy it as an accessory.

HMD also confirmed the Nokia 6 Android smartphone would be released worldwide following its China debut in January.

The device has a 16 megapixel rear camera, a 5.5in (14cm) 1080p "full definition" screen and includes the Google Assistant helper - the search engine's rival to Apple's Siri.
It is priced as a mid-tier device at €229, alongside a glossy black special edition that costs €299.
In addition, the firm showed off smaller, lower-range Nokia 5 and Nokia 3 models.
Taiwan's Foxconn will manufacture the phones, which may offset concerns that networks might have about HMD's capacity to deliver.
"Foxconn - with its experience working with Apple and Samsung - is certainly the standout device manufacturer," commented Tim Coulling from the tech research firm Canalys.
"It's ability to help HMD go from small to large scale will be a critical factor in their partnership.
"It also means if HMD wants to locate manufacturing in different regions to take advantage of pockets of demand, that's something Foxconn will allow them to achieve."

However, another market watcher said HMD's success was far from guaranteed.
"Resurrecting one of Nokia's feature phone bestsellers seems like a good beachhead to attack the smartphone market.
"But another part of Nokia's heritage was its high-end devices.
"What HMD needs next is a higher-end [Android smartphone] that is different, and that's always a problem with Android: how do you differentiate?
"Nokia's brand will get them so far - especially in emerging markets - but trying to push into the high-end versus Apple, Samsung or even Huawei will be tough."

Apple's new $5bn headquarters to open in April

Apple has announced that it will begin moving staff into its new $5 billion (£4 billion) headquarters in April, opening a futuristic campus that has been more than six years in the making.

The company said that a new 1,000-seat auditorium at the facility will be named the Steve Jobs Theatre in honor of its co-founder, who died four months after he presented plans for the spaceship-spaced building and tree-filled park in 2011, his last public event.

The donut-shaped building will be the centre of the 2.9 million "Apple Park" in Cupertino, California, near Apple's current headquarters. The building was originally scheduled to open in 2015 but like many large construction projects faced budget overruns and delays.

It will take six months to move all of its employees from the current Apple Campus, and construction of the buildings and surrounding park land is slated to continue through summer, Apple said Wednesday.

It will ultimately hold over 14,000 employees, with two miles of running and walking paths and a café and visitor centre that will be open to the public. The building is naturally ventilated, so requires no heating or air conditioning.

Jobs said in 2011 that he wanted the campus to be the "best office building in the world." He said he hoped architecture students would come to visit it for inspiration. The building's outside walls are made entirely of what Apple says are the world's largest panels of curved glass.

"Steve’s vision for Apple stretched far beyond his time with us. He intended Apple Park to be the home of innovation for generations to come," said Apple's chief executive Tim Cook. "The workspaces and parklands are designed to inspire our team as well as benefit the environment. We’ve achieved one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the world and the campus will run entirely on renewable energy."

Apple's design chief Sir Jony Ive has taken a hands-on role designing the headquarters, working with architecture firm London + Partners.

WhatsApp adds a touch of Snapchat with 'Status' feature

Facebook seems to have a thing for Snapchat Stories. The popular feature, on the social network that's giving Facebook a run for the money, lets people post a string of photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. In August, Facebook-owned Instagram introduced its own version, called Instagram Stories. And Facebook is currently testing Facebook Stories in its mobile app in Ireland.

Now a similar feature is coming to another Facebook-owned app. WhatsApp, which has more than a billion users, on Monday introduced a revamped version of its Status feature. Users will be able to share a string of photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. Where have we heard that one before?

Previously, the Status feature let you display only simple things like "at school" or "at the movies" or some similar snippet you'd written yourself.

With the revamped feature, you can share photos, videos, and GIFs and punch them up with emojis, text and drawings. You'll be able to share them with all your contacts. WhatsApp also said the new feature is encrypted end-to-end.

Snapchat, which announced its filing for an IPO earlier this month, is manna for young people. Nearly 70 percent of all 18- to 24-year-olds in the US use the app, according to ComScore. Facebook has noticed.

Instagram's version of Stories has been popular. The feature has 150 million daily users, and last month Instagram said Stories would start showing ads.

WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum said in a blog post that the new version of Status is meant to coincide with the app's eighth birthday, on February 24. Facebook bought the app in 2014 for $19 billion.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai writes back to girl, 7, who wants a job

An "entrepreneurial" seven year old wrote to Google for a job and its CEO replied.
After discussing her father's work, Chloe Bridgewater decided she would like to work for Google and penned a letter beginning "dear Google boss".
It was only the schoolgirl's second letter, after her first missive to Father Christmas, but the search engine's CEO Sundar Pichai wrote back.
Her father Andy said the girl "took it all in her stride".

"We were gobsmacked, but I don't think Chloe could understand the magnitude of the reaction she'd got afterwards," said father Andy, a sales manager from Hereford.
"She's got a great entrepreneurial spirit. Ever since nursery, she's always been told in school reports she's bright, hard-working and polite - we're very proud of her and her younger sister [Hollie, five] is similar," he said.

Mr Pichai's full reply
"Thank you so much for your letter. I'm glad that you like computers and robots, and hope that you will continue to learn about technology.
"I think if you keep working hard and following your dreams, you can accomplish everything you set your mind to - from working at Google to swimming at the Olympics.
"I look forward to receiving your job application when you are finished with school! :)
"All the best to you and your family."

Mr Pichai, who rose from humble beginnings in India, was appointed Google's CEO in 2015.
The inspiration for Chloe's letter had been internet research showing Google's offices including bean bags, go karts and slides but she also highlighted a keen interest in computers in her application.
Chloe also admitted to an interest in a job in a chocolate factory or as a swimmer at the Olympics in the letter, and Mr Pichai's reply said "if she kept working hard and following her dreams, she could accomplish everything she set her mind to."
Mr Bridgewater said he and his wife Julie, a HR advisor, had seen Chloe's business acumen in action already.
Besides her love of swimming - 20 lengths on Tuesdays with her mum - Chloe has also volunteered to clean the kitchen for 20p, he said.
"She is only young so she needs to play with her friends, jump on a trampoline but whenever she shows an interest in something else - like this letter - we want to encourage her," Andy said.