Uber covered up 2016 hack that exposed personal data of 57 million users

Uber has covered up a massive 2016 hack to its system that compromised the personal data of over 57 million users and drivers globally. The ride-hailing service declined to notify affected users and instead paid hackers $100,000 to hush up the hack and delete the data. This is the latest in a string of shady practices from Uber.Bloomberg reported that fired Uber CEO Travis Kalanick was aware of the hack as early as November 2016, just a month after it occurred. Uber Chief Security Officer Joe Sullivan, and a key senior deputy to the CSO, have also been removed from the company this week, specifically for their roles in keeping the cyberattack secret.

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Microsoft is being sued for ‘willfully’ ignoring holographic imaging patents

Microsoft’s HoloLens just ran into some legal issues in the US. The company’s mixed-reality device is at the center of a patent infringement lawsuit filed by HoloTouch for infringing on two of its patents. The tech is built to let users interact with holographic images. According to the Connecticut-based company, Microsoft “willfully” knew of and ignored HoloTouch’s patented technology, which have been dated back to over a decade already. The company is seeking a jury trial and triple damages (without the specific amount being outlined).

In the filing, it’s said HoloTouch first approached Microsoft back in 2006 for a partnership but never heard from them. Microsoft later on allegedly filed its own patent in 2013, which cited HoloTouch’s patents as “prior art,” meaning the company was aware of HoloTouch’s work. According to HoloTouch, they reached out again in 2015 and 2016 to discuss a licensing agreement for the patents but didn’t hear from Microsoft then either. If proven, this could cause some financial damage to Microsoft, especially with the company’s patents extending beyond the US to include Canada, Australia, the UK, and Japan.

Source: Engadget

Netflix’s live-action take on anime ‘Mob Psycho 100’ gets first poster

Anime seems to be an integral part of Netflix’s agenda. One of its latest ventures involve a partnership with TV Tokyo to create the live-action series based on the anime Mob Psycho 100. The supernatural-themed anime was based of the webcomic made by artist One, who is best known for creating One Punch Man (if you watch the anime or read the comics, you can see the similarities in style). Now, the live-action series gets its first poster. In it we see Tatsuomi Hamada as main protagonist Shigeo Kageyama standing with his classic bowl cut and black uniform on. On his left we see Tsubomi (played by Yoda Yuki) and on his right is Arataka Reigen, Kageyama’s supposed mentor. Mob Psycho 100 will be airing first in Japan in January 2018 before hitting Netflix.

Source: Comicbook.com

Apple buys AR startup for $30 Million to bolster its own AR headset

Apple has bought Vrvana for $30 million. The AR development company has likely caught Apple's eye for its work on AR headsets which can help the company in its own efforts to create their AR headset. Apple is famously pushing AR as a future interface and its ARKit framework has fueled various apps used on iPhones and iPads and which will likely translate to a headset provided the right components and input mechanisms are available.

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