USA - SlashGear

TSA put to the DHS undercover test, fails 67 out of 70

JC Torres | Jun 2, 2015

Some posit that the events of 9/11 has made America paranoid, and that the security measures applied at airports are over the top, invasive, and excessive. Now, they might be adding "ineffective" to that litany. The US' own Department of Homeland Security went undercover to put these airport security checkpoints to the test, seeing if they can beat the system that the government has put in place. The results might be shocking for some while expected for others, but worrying nonetheless. Out of 70 undercover tests, the TSA failed 67.

NASA White House budget up (and down)

Chris Burns | Feb 3, 2015

Even with a $500-million-dollar boost compared to last year's total, NASA is only being provided with a potential 0.46% of the Federal Budget. While you'll hear many hearty claps and hoorays at the targets for this budget, this would be another in a long line of drops in percentage-of-total for the federal budget for NASA. The last time NASA received any amount over 1% of the total federal budget was back in 1993. Not that NASA could use the money for anything important like saving humans from an extinction level event, or anything like that.

US Postal Service employee, customer details hacked

JC Torres | Nov 11, 2014

If you thought only retail chains like Home Depot and Target or commercial services like Apple's iCloud are the only victims of data breaches, better thinking again and rethink your outlook on personal information security. The US Postal Service has just disclosed that it was the target of a cybercrime that compromised personal information stored in its databases. But unlike other data breaches, this one actually didn't affect customers as much as it did the USPS' own employees, with attackers able to run off with critical pieces of information.

Sony Xperia Z3 will boost US presence with T-Mobile launch

Brittany A. Roston | Sep 3, 2014

Sony's Xperia Z3 smartphone will be launching with T-Mobile near the end of the year, ensuring buyers in the United States will be able to get their hands on the new flagship without lengthy waits. This is a big deal for Sony, which has seen lackluster carrier support for its flagship handsets, which are often difficult or out of reach for many fans in the US.

VIN Lookup makes it easier to search for recalled cars

JC Torres | Aug 20, 2014

With millions of vehicles, motorcycles included, recalled in the US alone every year, owners sometimes have a hard time trying to keep updated. In order to give owners the weapon of knowledge, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has introduced a new search tool on their SaferCar.gov website that makes checking such kind of information easier.

Snowden considered leaks earlier, held off for Obama election

Chris Burns | Aug 13, 2014

Edward Snowden has revealed this week that if it had not been for an impending election of Barack Obama in 2008 as President of the United States, he might have leaked NSA documents earlier. He speaks up this week on how he began to consider whistle-blowing in 2007, during "the Bush period, when the war on terror had gotten really dark."

iMessage is down for iPhone users inside USA – how about you?

Chris Burns | Aug 8, 2014

This afternoon Apple’s iMessage platform has had some trouble staying active across the United States. While most reported outage areas seem relegated to the United States in heavily populated areas like Los Angeles, Detroit, and New York City, we’ve also seen reports overseas. Most reports of outage with iMessage outside of the USA seem set in or around the UK and Europe.

Sony Xperia Z2 finally makes its US debut

JC Torres | Jul 21, 2014

Just a few weeks after Sony made available the Xperia Z1 Compact in the US, which itself came 6 months after it was announced, the OEM is making another one of its high-profile smartphones available in this market. Delivering on its promise of a Summer 2014 release, Sony has put up its Xperia Z2 flagship on its online web store, complete with a time-limited $50 discount.

USA and UK airports ban electronics with no power

Chris Burns | Jul 9, 2014

While just this 6th of July, the Transportation Security Administration in the USA banned "powerless devices" from flights, the UK has joined in the battle this week. Attempting to go through security at an airport going into or out of the UK through "certain airports" will result in your devices being checked (as per usual.) If you are asked to power your device on, and you can’t, your device will be confiscated.

TSA checkpoints overseas ban gadgets that won’t turn on

JC Torres | Jul 6, 2014

The TSA's long-reaching arm has gotten longer and just a tad more inconvenient. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has directed its already unpopular TSA force to perform additional security checks on electronic devices, requiring owners to power on their gadgets and disallow the devices from the flight if they are not functional. And, of course, TSA agents can then take the passenger aside for further investigation.

US satellite imaging rules now allow high-quality maps

JC Torres | Jun 17, 2014

Soon, you might be able to see that manhole on the road or you neighbor's mailbox across the street in Google or Bing maps. This will all be thanks to the US government lifting the restrictions it imposed on satellite imaging, giving companies like Google and Microsoft the legal leeway to take satellite images with quality higher than they have been previously allowed.

Parrot Jumping Sumo rolls into the US in August

JC Torres | Jun 12, 2014

Parrot will be bringing two new MiniDrones into the US market in two months, and these two are nothing like its most popular product, the AR Drone. Unlike its flying cousin, the two-wheeled Parrot Jumping Sumo prefers to keep to the ground but is ready to leap into action should its controller, that's you, tell it to.