In the not too distant future, you could walk into the international terminal of almost any US airport and board a plane without showing anyone your passport. At the check-in counter, you'd pose in front of a camera that scans your face and sends your image to a remote system that matches it to a stored copy of your passport photo. You'd have your photo taken again at the security line, and again at the gate. If everything still matched up, you'd be onboard, quietly warring with your seat mate over the armrest.Part of that automated future has already rolled out at some US airports. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program, called Biometric Exit, includes a face-matching system and is used at departure gates in 17 airports. It's a start. The agency plans to have the system scan 97 percent of all outbound international travelers by 2021. Airlines and the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) also are testing facial recognition cameras throughout airports, meaning you might … [Read more...] about Facial recognition takes off at airports. Privacy experts want it grounded
USTelecom: Reinventing broadband mapping is needed to close the digital divide
Universal access to broadband is essential to our country's economic future and key to the opportunity for our families and communities across the nation. If policymakers are serious about permanently closing the digital divide and extending broadband to our hardest-to-reach communities, a comprehensive approach that maps every home and business -- with an exact geographic location -- across the country is necessary.Mapping has a rich history in America where we've always understood the value of exploring and surveying the country's sprawling territory and the resources they contain. As the United States added millions of new acres across the continent -- the Louisiana Purchase, Texas, California and the Pacific Northwest -- mapping and cataloguing our public lands, minerals and natural resources was always a top public priority.Predecessors to the Bureau of Land Management and US Geological Survey (USGS) were established for this express purpose because of the federal … [Read more...] about USTelecom: Reinventing broadband mapping is needed to close the digital divide
Millions of Americans still can’t get broadband. Here’s a potential fix
In these politically divisive times, there's at least one thing lawmakers on both sides of the aisle can agree on: The way we track who in America does or doesn't have broadband stinks. The Federal Communications Commission uses maps that are often wildly inaccurate, stating there's broadband service in places where there isn't and in other instances saying a location has no broadband when in fact it does, sometimes from multiple providers. These faulty maps don't just rankle lawmakers who are flooded with complaints from constituents. The lack of visibility means 19 million people in this country still lack broadband access at a time when the service is considered as important as water or electricity. USTelecom, an industry group representing carriers like AT&T, CenturyLink and others serving rural America, says it may have the fix that will provide far more granularity in the data than ever before and unveiled the details to CNET. The trade group will announce Thursday it's … [Read more...] about Millions of Americans still can’t get broadband. Here’s a potential fix
AirPods 2 vs. AirPods: What’s changed with Apple’s new earbuds?
Apple's new AirPods (or AirPods 2 if you prefer) have arrived, more than two years after the release of the original version. The wireless Bluetooth earbuds don't look any different from the old AirPods and miss out on a couple of our most-wanted updates. Here's a breakdown of the specs between the new AirPods and the first-gen AirPods. Now playing: Watch this: AirPods 2 vs. AirPods: What's the difference? 2:45 Wireless charging caseThe new AirPods offer a wireless charging case, as we expected. You can buy it with the new AirPods themselves ($199, £199, AU$319), or if you'd rather add wireless charging to your first-gen AirPods, you can buy the case separately for $79.The new AirPods are also available with a standard charging case for $159 (£159, AU$249).All the cases (wireless charge or not) can still charge via Lightning as well.The same familiar design Nothing new here apart from some cosmetic tweaks to the wireless charging case. The charging light is on the … [Read more...] about AirPods 2 vs. AirPods: What’s changed with Apple’s new earbuds?
Microsoft brings Windows 10 security to Apple Macs with Defender ATP
Apple is planning major changes for Mac, should buyers wait? Rumors that Apple is planning an architecture switch away from Intel chips to its own silicon have been circulating for some time now, but recent reports suggest that Apple's revamping will be widespread, and bring even tighter integration between iPhone, iPad, and the Mac. Read more: https://zd.net/2EViugP Microsoft's enterprise security platform Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) can now protect macOS devices in addition to Windows 10 ones, Microsoft announced today. Security '100 unique exploits and counting' for latest WinRAR security bug Cybersecurity: Don’t let the small stuff cause you big problems Why security is the top barrier in enterprise cloud adoption [Hybrid Cloud TV] Red Team to help secure open-source software To reflect its coverage of non-Windows operating systems, Microsoft has also decided to rename its next-gen anti-malware product Microsoft Defender ATP. … [Read more...] about Microsoft brings Windows 10 security to Apple Macs with Defender ATP