| Hurricane Harvey: Technology, how we need you |
| Hurricane Harvey showed the power of technology — and just how much we suffer when it lets us down. |
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| The response of computer and mobile-phone users to the heartbreaking stories from what may be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history raised millions for the homeless and displaced residents of Texas, nearly overnight. Tapping on links supplied by the companies, users donated $3 million via Facebook, Google and Amazon. The companies also matched the donations, bringing the tally to $6 million. Apple helped raise $3 million as well. |
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| Michael Dell, the founder of the Dell Computer company, which is based in Austin, Texas, promised a donation of $36 million from his foundation, including matching gifts. "I used to ride my bike there," the Houston native told USA TODAY. |
| Dell hopes to eventually raise $100 million. |
| When it comes to donations, our Elizabeth Weise suggests being careful before you respond. Scam alert, right? |
| As folks struggled with a connection, due to downed power lines and water-soaked phones, the walkie-talkie app Zello proved a lifeline, helping volunteer responders organize fleets of powerboats, party boats and canoes to find those caught by the rising waters. |
| An even bigger issue, soaked cellphones, prompted a cellphone drying company's staff to drive 1,000 miles to Houston from Denver to set up shop. Residents rescued by dinghy and kayak arrived in shock at shelters, only to find their phones — their lifeline to work, family, friends and jobs — unresponsive after a dunk in floodwaters. |
| "My phone's got everything, my emails, my Instagram, my family contacts. Everything," said Bernard Scott, 56, whose phone was dried out by staff from TekDry, which was working out of a truck parked next to Houston's George R. Brown convention center. |
| Technology is increasingly blamed for a range of social ills, from distracted parenting, and rude behavior in children, to disturbing trends like murders and torture broadcast on Facebook Live and ISIS recruitment on YouTube. |
| But for a few days, it seems to have done less harm than good. |
| Finally, read this before the next rainstorm: What not to do first if you have a wet phone. |
| Meanwhile, in other top tech news of the week: |
| —Apple confirmed September 12th to debut new iPhone models. The maker of the best-selling consumer device in the United States is expected to introduce three new iPhone models, including a top-of-the-line re-designed iPhone with wireless charging, improved camera and the elimination of the longtime Home button. The event will be held at the Steve Jobs Theater, on the new Apple spaceship campus. For a fun read, check out our columnist Jennifer Jolly's open letter to Apple on what she'd like to see at the event. (And for historical context, here's the Talking Tech letter that went out last summer as well, begging for innovation!) |
| —Ride-hailing company Uber finally has a new CEO, Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, and deposed co-founder Travis Kalanick played a big hand in choosing him, reports our Marco della Cava. |
| —Nearly 22 million comments were received by the Federal Communications Commission concerning the possible and probable repeal of rules that prevent Internet providers from adjusting the speeds of big-time users. Proponents of ending Net Neutrality, including the current FCC chairman, argue that it stifles innovation. |
| —Get your selfie on. Researchers at the University of Washington are working on an app that could analyze selfies from your smartphone to detect early signs of pancreatic cancer. The BiliScreen app uses the smartphone's camera along with a series of algorithms to check for levels of bilirubin in the whites of a person's eyes. This buildup of bilirubin is one of the earliest signs of pancreatic cancer, as well as other diseases such as jaundice or hepatitis. |
| —That big boxing fight from last weekend turned into a black eye for pay-per-view promoters. Nearly 3 million people watched Saturday's Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight for free on live streaming services, according to security firm Irdeto. Many fans found it really easy to hold up their phone and show the $99 live broadcast on apps like Facebook, Twitter's Periscope and YouTube. |
| —Fine-tune your TV. Finally, we love this piece from our sister publication Reviewed.com about the guys behind Netflix's spooky Stranger Things TV series, the Duffer Brothers, and their obsession with TV tunings. And of course, Reviewed is here to help with tuning tips and how to make your set look its best. |
| Your week in Audio: |
| —Smugmug CEO Don MacAskill joined us on the Talking Tech podcast to chat augmented reality, and the role it will play in photography. |
| —The GasBuddy app has a new payment program, promising a savings of 5 cents a gallon at nearly every gas station in the U.S. CEO Walt Doyle explains how it works. |
| —Who's ready for President Tim Cook or Mark Zuckerberg of the USA? We rate how tech titans would do--and thank CNN for the shout-out on this one! |
| —Selling a used-car online. We report on the experience of selling a 2004 Toyota via eBay, Craigslist, Letgo and Facebook. Which site produced the biggest response? You'll be surprised with the answer. |
| —Our look at the future of parking, with shopping mall cameras that recognize your car as you pull into the lot. |
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| We also invite you to subscribe to the #TalkingTech podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Tunein and wherever else you like to hear great online audio, and please follow me on Twitter, @jeffersongraham and on Facebook. |
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