Notes

In Tech: Minecraft For Schools, Amazon Dash, Data Encryption

In Tech: Minecraft for schools, Amazon Dash, data encryption By Associated Press



Refreshed at 21:12 EDT on January 20, 2016



Microsoft has bought Minecraft's educational version, and plans to make a larger and more robust version for classrooms.



The Redmond, Washington, software company will join forces with TeacherGaming LLC, creator of MinecraftEdu to turn that game into "Minecraft Education Edition." Financial terms were not disclosed.



Microsoft claims that the new version will feature enhancements that make Minecraft classroom-friendly, such as better maps and coordinates to aid teachers and students navigate the Minecraft world together. Developers will also beef up the game's multi-player capabilities to ensure that a class with up to 40 children can collaborate.



The game lets players explore, fight monsters and build amazing structures - including electrical circuits out of blocks. Deirdre Quinstrom, Microsoft's director for Minecraft education, said that it could be used to teach math. Children could visit ancient temples or look at the inside of an eyeball during the game as part of a science lesson.



Teachers get perks like an online community and mentorship program that connects teachers familiar with Minecraft to those who are just starting out.



The game will be available this summer, with free trials available for teachers and students. Microsoft will announce pricing details prior to the closing of the current school year, but it has stated that it plans to keep the cost at $5 per year per user.



Amazon is expanding its smart-home ordering service to include a assortment of new appliances. Its Dash "replenishment" service lets customers reorder household items at the touch of one button. minecraft servers (Its first incarnation involved plastic "Dash buttons" dedicated to particular products; pressing one orders the quantity of, say, diapers or dishwasher detergent.)



The new Dash devices will function similarly but they won't be dedicated buttons anymore. Instead, Brother-connected printers will let you order refills for ink or toner on a regular basis. A GE washer will automatically order detergent when it is running out. Additionally, a Gmate glucose meter, which tests blood sugar levels for diabetics, will automatically order testing strips and blood-drawing lancets as needed. To activate the service, users can sign up online.



Amazon announced the expansion of the Dash line in October. Now the new products are on the market. Other products that are in development include Purell dispensers for hand-sanitizers Samsung laser printers, "smart" home locks from Austin and others.



- Mae Anderson, AP Technology Writer



While some government and police officials might be angry that encryption makes it difficult to catch extremists or criminals It turns out that a lot of companies do not bother to secure their data in the first instance.



Sophos released Tuesday a new study that surveyed 1,700 IT managers in mid-sized companies across the U.S. and Canada. Of those 44 percent, 44 percent are currently making extensive use of encryption, whereas another 43 percent use encryption in some way.



Encryption levels were lower among smaller businesses, with only 38 percent of companies that have between 100 and 500 employees claiming to be encrypting extensively.



The U.S. has higher encryption rates with 54% of respondents stating that they frequently use encryption. Australia was in second place with the rate of 49 percent, and Malaysia was the highest with 26 percent.



37% of respondents stated that they did not want to go through the process of encryption because of budgetary constraints while 31% mentioned performance concerns.



- Bree Fowler, AP Technology Writer



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Verizon is the most recent cell phone company to offer customers the ability to surf the web, which doesn't count against data caps.



In the event of caps, you can get charged extra charges or slower speeds if you exceed the limit of data on your plan. That's not particularly difficult, especially if you're often watching videos or listening to music while on the move.



Verizon stated that it is interested in "sponsored information" as an additional source of revenue. Verizon can pay a business to let users browse their websites and download their apps and view videos without the need to consume data. Verizon claims that brands have signed up with AOL and Hearst Magazines.



AT&T introduced a sponsored data program in 2012, however only a few companies are currently participating.



T-Mobile, however, exempts several dozen video and music providers from caps but does not charge them. It claims that it wants to draw customers who view lots of videos without putting strain on its network. To achieve this, it degrades video quality all over the board even for video which isn't a part of the caps. T-Mobile claims that its customers will be able to watch more.



AT&T and T-Mobile have been scrutinized by regulators from the government for more information on their strategies. The net neutrality rules passed in 2013 don't ban the practice of picking and choosing services that won't count against data caps, technically known as "zero rating," some advocates say it could hinder innovation or favor some companies over others. Net neutrality refers to the concept that apps and websites should be treated equally by Internet service providers.


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