CUPERTINO — Apple is finally taking on Netflix with its own streaming television service and, uncharacteristically for the company, offering it at a bargain price — $5 a month beginning on Nov. 1. Walt Disney Co. is launching its own assault on Netflix the same month, for just $7. It...
Apple Apologizes for Use of Contractors to Eavesdrop on Siri
SAN FRANCISCO — Apple is apologizing for allowing outsiders to listen to snippets of people's recorded conversations with its digital assistant Siri, a practice that undermined its attempts to position itself as a trusted steward of privacy. As part of the apology posted this week, Apple reiterated an earlier pledge to stop...
Researchers: Websites Infected iPhones With Spyware
Researchers say cyberspies exploited security vulnerabilities to plant spyware on Apple iPhones when users merely visited a small group of malware-infected websites. Sensitive data accessed included text messages, photos and real-time location. Security experts are calling the just-announced vulnerability, which Apple fixed in February, the worst yet affecting iPhones. Google...
Leather Wallets, Loose Change Pose Danger for New Apple Card
NEW YORK — Apple tried to make the new Apple-branded credit card attractive, copying the heft and sleekness of higher-end cards like the Chase Sapphire. But cardholders are discovering that with such a design, they'll have to give it special care. Leather wallets and loose change pose danger for new Apple Card, for instance....
The Apple Credit Card Is Here. Will You Sign Up?
NEW YORK — The Apple credit card designed primarily for mobile use is here. Some iPhone users who requested a notification about Apple Card will get invites Tuesday to apply through Apple's Wallet app. The company plans to expand sign-ups more broadly in the coming weeks. The card, announced in...
Facebook's New Currency Plan Is Under Scrutiny in Congress
WASHINGTON — Facebook's ambitious plan to create a financial eco-system based on a digital currency faces questions from lawmakers, as it's shadowed by negative comments from President Donald Trump, his treasury secretary and the head of the Federal Reserve. Congress begins two days of hearings Tuesday on the currency planned by Facebook,...
State Government's Tech Has Been a Mess for Decades. Can Newsom Fix It?
California government’s technology drastically pales in comparison to Silicon Valley, but Gov. Gavin Newsom is betting $40.8 million and a new office will change that. Even though California is home to innovative tech giants like Google and Apple, its government historically has used technology that can’t handle simple tasks–like accepting...
It's Heating Up. Want to Control Water Use? There's an App for That.
As triple-digit temperatures begin to creep into Fresno forecasts, the city is allowing lawns and gardens to be watered more often. At the same time, City Hall hopes residents take an active role in keeping water use on a tight leash. That's where a new digital tool promoted by the...
If California Stopped Giving Away Billions, It Wouldn’t Need New Taxes
You'd think that California, which boasts the world's fifth-largest economy, would have ample tax revenue for schools, roads, and a public safety net. But, in some people's eyes, the taxes and fees generated by our $2.75 trillion economy aren't sufficient to cover the Golden State's needs. Thus, on the 2020...
Apple Announces Its Long-Awaited Streaming TV Service
CUPERTINO — Apple announced a new streaming service, Apple TV Plus, which will house its original shows and movies and could compete with Netflix, Amazon and cable TV itself. Apple is making the announcements at its Cupertino, California, headquarters, in a Monday event studded with celebrities including Steven Spielberg, Jennifer...