France approves 'anti-Amazon' bill

3 October 2013 Last updated at 12:33 ET

France's new bill supporting independent bookstores against competition from web-based retailers introduces "discrimination against online consumers", said Amazon.

Companies like Amazon are restricted from offering combined 5% reductions and free deliveries under the new laws.

Amazon said the measures would "reduce French people's spending power".

The country's 3,000 independent bookshops had complained they can't compete with cut-price offers online.

The opposition right-wing party UMP proposed the bill, but it also has the support of the left.

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Some will question whether it's legal to regulate the price of books under European competition law; not to mention the fixing of a market to the detriment of one of its major players.

But, others will see it is a welcome extension of France's exception culturelle - those subsidies, quotas and tax breaks that support French films, television and music.

The view in parliament is that the invisible hand of the free market won't protect French language and culture on its own. The state must lend a hand. For 30 years the Lang Law has worked well.

But the on-line market is taking its toll - particularly on the small foreign book shops that are NOT protected by the Lang law.

The Parisian "Village Voice Bookshop" for one; it closed last year, the owner blaming the advent of the iPad. France can't hold back the popularity of the e-book, but it can - it thinks - regulate the online sale of the written equivalent.

It has been approved by the lower house and will now be sent to the Senate.

The BBC's Paris correspondent Christian Fraser said the bill "might be seen as payback" for Amazon's practices of reporting European sales through a Luxembourg holding company, to take advantage of comparatively low corporate tax rates.

French Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti has criticised Amazon's practices in the past, particularly free deliveries or its policy of "tax optimisation."

Amazon insists the arrangement is legal under the European Union's single market rules.

In June, Ms Filippetti said: "Today, everyone has had enough of Amazon."

She added that the company, "slashes prices to get a foothold in markets only to raise them once they have established a virtual monopoly."

Britain has a third of the number of France's independent bookshops.

France is known for being proud of its local stores, considering them essential to bring culture to small villages.

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Fewer children owning mobile phones

3 October 2013 Last updated at 08:34 ET

The number of children owning mobile phones has fallen for the first time, according to figures from the regulator, Ofcom.

43% of youngsters aged five to fifteen now own a mobile, compared to 49% in 2012.

Does this mean children are playing outside more, or huddling around monopoly boards?

No. Instead of using mobiles, they are turning to tablet computers.

Ofcom said that tablets have become " a must have device" for children of all ages.

26% of children between the ages of twelve and fifteen now own a tablet, up from just 7% in 2012.

The statistics also suggest that the next generation is getting tech savvy not long after getting out of nappies: 28% of infants between the ages of three and four now use a tablet computer at home.

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Microsoft returns to CES tech show

2 October 2013 Last updated at 07:46 ET By Leo Kelion Technology reporter

The organiser of the US's biggest tech show has told the BBC that Microsoft is returning to the event.

Microsoft announced it was pulling out of CES in 2012, saying that its "product news milestones" did not align with the January tradeshow.

Although it is not scheduled to host a keynote speech at 2014's event, the firm has booked meeting rooms again.

One analyst said the news reinforced the Las Vegas show's claim to be the year's most important tech event.

Others had previously suggested Microsoft's departure might mark "the beginning of the end" of the show.

'Tactical blunder'

Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Electronics Association - the lobby group which hosts CES, disclosed the news during a visit to London.

"Microsoft is officially back in the International CES," he told the BBC.

"They are taking out significant space in meeting rooms - it's actually a larger presence than I believe they have ever had.

"Microsoft will have to make the decision who the rooms are open to or not, but I imagine they're very open to the press.

"We have had a tremendous partnership [with Microsoft] going back to the very beginning. You know, we had one little blip this year... but now we're happy to have them back with a physical presence."

However, a spokesman from Microsoft played down the idea that his firm was engaged in a major shift of strategy.

"Just like last year, we will be using CES 2014 to meet with key partners and customers," he said.

Microsoft was not totally absent at the event at the start of this year.

Chief executive Steve Ballmer made a brief surprise appearance during chipmaker Qualcomm's keynote event, and Microsoft's chief technology strategy officer spent a few minutes on stage at a Samsung press conference. The firm said that it had also paid to use some meeting rooms.

But one tech consultant who regularly attends the show said the US company had made a "tactical blunder" by not hosting its own event or having space to show off its wares.

"There was an opportunity to really assert the Windows 8 story and they completely missed it," said Ben Wood, from CCS Insight.

"So, you had a show floor full of convertibles, tablets and all-in-one Windows 8 PCs but no narrative to go with them. You can align that to the fact that Google's Android was omnipresent and Windows Phone didn't really get a look-in at all.

"If you look at the assets that Microsoft has now, I'd argue that it's virtually essential that it steps up its efforts at not just CES but also other shows like Barcelona's Mobile Wold Congress where its absence has been noted."

Microsoft is in the process of taking over Nokia's handset unit; recently launched the second generation of its Surface tablet, despite missing sales targets with the first one; and is about to put its Xbox One games console on sale.

Tech titans

More than 152,000 people attended 2013's CES, according to an independent audit, with 3,282 exhibitors taking part across a range of venues totalling 1.92 million sq ft (178,370 sq m).

The event is not open to the public, but presents an opportunity for firms to host public and private meetings with the media, analysts, retail chains and other industry professionals.

Although there has been a trend in recent years for tech-makers to hold special events to launch products, rather than competing for attention at a tradeshow, many of the industry's biggest names continue to hold gadgets and other announcements back for CES.

Intel and Audi are both holding what is termed "tech titans keynote" events at the forthcoming show, which runs from 7 to 10 January.

Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Huawei and Toyota are among others hosting both press conferences and stands. Google, Yahoo and Dropbox prefer to just book private meeting rooms. Apple does not attend in any formal capacity.

'Set the agenda'

Microsoft is currently going through a period of upheaval. Last week Mr Ballmer gave a tearful farewell to staff having previously announced his resignation.

Reuters is now reporting that some of the firm's biggest investors are pressing for Bill Gates, its chairman and co-founder, to also step down.

Mr Shapiro did not speculate whether changes in management might see Microsoft further bolster its presence in later years. However, Mr Wood had little doubt this would happen.

"I can see a renaissance, particularly given Microsoft's move into hardware," he said.

"It's going to be in the heartland of consumer electronics - you're looking at tablets, Xbox and mobile phones all working together for not just a mobile story but a connected homes story, and that's the epicentre of CES.

"It's all about how these different bits of gadgetry hang together, and CES helps set the agenda."

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Toothbrush 'cleans in six seconds'

2 October 2013 Last updated at 09:46 ET

A team of dentists has created a toothbrush they say can clean teeth thoroughly in less than six seconds.

Manufacturer Blizzident uses the same scans dentists use to fit braces and an extremely precise 3D printer to create a brush for each individual customer.

Each brush contains about 400 soft bristles and requires the wearer to grind their teeth in order to clean.

Its makers say it eliminates brushing errors that people typically make, but experts say more research is needed.

The technology comes at a price - a customer's first brush, which will last for a year, costs 299 euros ($405; £250).

Continue reading the main story

It's not what you use, it's how you brush"

End Quote Prof Damien Walmsley British Dental Association

Subsequent brushes are cheaper, and old ones can be reconditioned for less than 100 euros, the company says.

"Because you are brushing all your teeth at the same time, you are brushing extremely quickly," the company says.

"You brush all the difficult-to-reach and interdental regions without even having to think about it."

'Tooth-cleaning twig'

The typical toothbrush has long been considered fit for purpose by most people - but there have been several attempts to reinvent its design.

One recent example, from a former student of New York's School of Visual Arts, took inspiration from the traditional miswak stick, a "tooth-cleaning twig" used mainly in the Middle East and parts of Asia.

The miswak stick - which grows on a Salvadora persica tree - is used by biting off a small part of the stick for each use, exposing a fresh set of bristles.

But speaking about the Blizzident concept, Prof Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, said the key concern must always be safety.

"It's something out of the ordinary, a different approach," he told the BBC.

"It's not what you use, it's how you brush, it's your technique. It needs to be checked that it's completely safe."

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'Iran president' tweets Twitter head

2 October 2013 Last updated at 09:57 ET By Joe Miller BBC News

A Twitter account used by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has exchanged tweets with Twitter's chairman, fuelling speculation Iran's social media ban might be lifted.

Jack Dorsey tweeted the account on Tuesday, asking: "Are citizens of Iran able to read your tweets?"

The reply said he was working to ensure they would "comfortably b able 2 access all info globally as is their right".

Mr Dorsey replied: "Please let us know how we can help to make it a reality."

Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are banned in Iran, although many Iranians bypass restrictions using virtual private networks (VPNs).

Continue reading the main story

The exchange of tweets between Hassan Rouhani and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has caused much speculation.

But does this mean that social media will be unblocked in Iran soon? The short answer is not necessarily.

Mr Rouhani's preferred language on Twitter is English, not Farsi. He seems more eager to engage with the outside world than send a message back home.

And here lies the contradiction that most observers, including Iranian citizens, seem willing to ignore.

While President Rouhani and his government ministers are using Twitter and Facebook, access to social networking sites is banned for Iranian citizens.

We will have to wait to see how much of Mr Rouhani's rhetoric results in action. He will certainly have tough days ahead if he is to prioritise his promise of free access to the internet.

Authorship debate

Iran's new administration, which came to power in August, has taken to social media, using it as a diplomatic tool to engage with the rest of the world.

Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has an active Facebook page, as does Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh.

Mr Rouhani, whose campaign slogan was "moderation and wisdom", has had a presence on Twitter since running for election.

He made headlines for apparently posting a New Year message to Iranian Jews, and for chronicling his recent groundbreaking telephone conversation with US President Barack Obama.

But there has been some confusion over who is actually operating Mr Rouhani's Twitter account.

The president's Twitter handle has not been authenticated by Twitter, which puts a blue tick on profiles it confirms are genuine.

After Mr Rouhani's Jewish New Year tweet, his office told reporters that the account was controlled by those close to the president but that he did not personally author the tweets.

The BBC's Persian service said that exclusive pictures and news alerts tweeted by Mr Rouhani's account suggested it was run by the people in close proximity to Iran's president.

Critics have claimed Iran's reformist politicians are being intentionally vague about who controls their social media accounts, so they can disavow messages that anger hardliners.

Towards reform

The Iranian president has previously voiced his opposition to Iran's internet censorship, but does not have the lone authority to lift the ban.

Iranians were briefly granted access to Facebook and Twitter last month, but authorities claimed the incident was a technical glitch.

However recent developments have indicated that Iranian authorities are easing their grip on internet censorship.

Iranians accessing a filtered website without using a VPN used to be confronted with a message notifying them that the site had been filtered for "criminal" content.

Now, all surfers get is an index page with links to domestic websites and a "no access" message.

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Dell tablets shun Windows RT system

2 October 2013 Last updated at 14:15 ET By Leo Kelion Technology reporter

Dell has opted not to release a Windows RT device among its latest line-up of tablets and laptops.

The US manufacturer had been the last to support the operating system other than its creator, Microsoft.

Dell said the software had failed to "resonate" with its customers because it did not support legacy software available to the full Windows 8 OS.

The firm is in the process of being taken over by a group led by its founder, Michael Dell.

He plans to stop its shares being publicly traded and refocus Dell's operations on business-targeted software and services rather than consumer-focused hardware.

However, the company said it would continue to sell devices in order to provide its customers with an "end-to-end solution".

"We're not going to put all our eggs into different baskets - what we have to do is focus on our strengths," Adam Griffin, Dell's global product manager for commercial tablets, told the BBC.

"We've focused our attention on the Windows 8.1 operating system because that's where the majority of the applications are [in the] segment that we're after, which is the commercial consumer environment.

"RT, even by Microsoft's admission, is a little bit limited in terms of the amount of applications you can get."

Mr Griffin added that there had been resistance from corporate IT departments to the idea of supporting what was effectively another operating system on top of the various releases of the main Windows OS.

Missing programs

Windows RT was launched just under a year ago.

It is designed for machines powered by ARM-based processors rather than the x86 chip architecture used by Intel and AMD.

ARM's designs tend to deliver longer battery life at a cheaper price, but its chips need Windows programs to be recompiled to be able to run them.

New software can only be added to Windows RT devices via Microsoft's own online store or via special enterprise software made available to companies.

That has meant there has been no way to install high-profile programs such as the iTunes media library, the Chrome and Firefox browsers, and the fully equipped version of Photoshop.

Samsung, Lenovo, Acer and Asus were among the other companies to initially back the platform but later switch efforts elsewhere.

Dell continues to offer the XPS 10 tablet - which uses Windows RT - in some markets, but said it would only do so until its factories had used up all the relevant components.

'Fizzled out'

That leaves Microsoft as the only manufacturer to have released a Windows RT device in recent months.

It launched the Surface 2 in September having previously posted a $900m (£560m) write-down after acknowledging it had made more of the first-generation machine than it could sell.

According to market research company IDC, Windows RT only accounted for a 0.5% share of global tablet shipments in the April-to-June quarter.

Windows 8 itself had a 4% share. By contrast, Google's Android system had a 62.6% share and Apple's iOS 32.5%.

"The Windows RT concept seems to have fizzled out," said Benedict Evans, a tech specialist at consultants Enders Analysis.

"It lacks even the redeeming features of a Windows 8 tablet which can run all the legacy apps.

"There remains a lot of appeal to being able to take existing Windows applications out with you on a mobile device.

"If you are an insurance firm and you've got proprietary software coded for Windows - which a huge amount of companies do - it can be tough to make that work on an iPad and easier to put it onto a Windows 8 tablet.

"But that's one use case. The broader question is why not spend a little bit more and buy a touchscreen laptop."

Intel's efforts to develop more power-efficient chips have led some to speculate that Microsoft might ultimately cull Windows RT, leaving Windows Phone as its only ARM-powered platform.

But one tech consultant said it was too soon to say RT was doomed.

"Microsoft seems to believe that there will be more devices running RT in the future - I don't think it's dead yet," said Tony Cripps, principal analyst at tech advisers Ovum.

"RT leaves open the door to lower-cost tablets running the Windows platform and there are good reasons in the long run for Microsoft to maintain a position there."

Dell itself is leaving the door open to returning to the system at a later stage.

"If customers start to demand that product then we certainly may come out with future designs," said Mr Griffin.

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Tesla shares slump after car fire

2 October 2013 Last updated at 22:06 ET

Shares in the electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors fell more than 6% after one of its cars caught fire.

The incident was first reported by automobile blog Jalopnik, which published images of Tesla's Model S electric sedan in flames.

Tesla confirmed the authenticity of the images, but said the car caught fire after the driver ran over "an extremely large object".

The firm's shares fell 6.2% to $180.95, the biggest one-day decline since July.

Liz Jarvis-Shean, a spokeswoman for Tesla, said that there were no indications that the fire was caused by anything other than the crash.

"This was not a spontaneous event,'' she was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

"Every indication we have at this point is that the fire was a result of the collision and the damage sustained through that.''

'Hiccups in execution'

Earlier this year, the company posted its first profit in its 10-year history, boosted by the sales of the Model S sedan.

It made a profit of $15m (£9.65m) in the first three months of the year, as total revenues hit $562m, a huge rise on the $30m reported a year ago.

While reporting its results, Tesla said it was receiving worldwide orders for the Model S in excess of 20,000 vehicles per year.

Meanwhile, Tesla's chief executive, Elon Musk, has also made a number of comments about making electric cars more affordable.

As a result, investors have been betting on further growth, sending the firm's shares up by more than 440% since the start of this year.

The company is also expected to launch a new car, the Model X, in the coming months.

Some analysts said that any hurdles to its plans may hurt investor sentiment.

"Tesla has several significant milestones over the next 18 months including continued production ramp and the introduction of the Model X," said Ben Kallo, an analyst with Robert W Baird & Co.

"We believe solid execution on both of these fronts is already priced into the stock, and any hiccups in execution present stock price risk in the near to intermediate term."

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Google buys gesture start-up Flutter

3 October 2013 Last updated at 06:09 ET

Google has bought a start-up that develops gesture-recognition software.

Flutter, founded three years ago in San Francisco, detects simple hand signals via webcam, using them to control apps such as iTunes and Netflix.

The acquisition has caused speculation that Google will integrate the technology, used by some of its rivals, into its ranges of Chromebook laptops and Nexus handheld devices.

The search giant has not released any details of the deal.

Continue reading the main story

It could be particularly useful as a tool for older people"

End Quote Dr Richard Picking Glyndwr University

Gesture-recognition technology is widely used in gaming consoles, such as Nintendo's Wii and Microsoft's Xbox Kinect.

It is also used in some smart TVs, and Samsung recently introduced gesture recognition for its Galaxy S4 smartphone.

The phone's Air Gesture technology allows users to scroll through web pages, accept calls, and control music by waving their hands.

Widespread use

An expert told the BBC that despite Google's acquisition, it remained to be seen whether gesture recognition would become a mainstream technology.

"The more interface styles we can develop the better, but whether gesture recognition becomes the norm depends on how well it can be personalised and whether people embrace it," said Richard Picking, of Glyndwr University.

"It could be particularly useful as a tool for older people, or those with disabilities," he added.

Flutter was initially funded through Y Combinator, a company that nurtures start-ups.

'Rocket fuel'

Co-founder Navneet Dalal, who used to work at Google, announced the deal on Flutter's website.

"Today, we are thrilled to announce that we will be continuing our research at Google," the statement read.

"We're excited to add their rocket fuel to our journey."

Flutter said it would continue to support its current app.

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Bitcoin falls after Silk Road arrest

3 October 2013 Last updated at 08:37 ET

The value of bitcoins has dropped after the closure of the clandestine Silk Road online marketplace.

The FBI seized bitcoins worth approximately $3.6m (£2.2m) on Tuesday.

The price of a bitcoin, a virtual currency for use online, fell steeply after the arrest of suspected website administrator Ross Ulbricht.

Investor confidence may have been shaken by the association of bitcoins with illegal activity, according to a security expert.

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"When there's a big bust, that's going to knock people's confidence in investing," said Rik Ferguson, a senior researcher at security company Trend Micro.

"The more a currency is associated with illegal activity, the more people will be nervous about using it," he said.

Silk Road, which allowed users to trade in illegal drugs, required transactions to be made using the virtual currency.

Continue reading the main story

Bitcoin is often referred to as a new kind of currency.

But it may be better to think of its units as being virtual tokens that have value because enough people believe they do and there is a finite number of them.

Each bitcoin is represented by a unique online registration number.

These numbers are created through a process called "mining", which involves a computer solving a difficult mathematical problem with a 64-digit solution.

Each time a problem is solved the computer's owner is rewarded with bitcoins.

To receive a bitcoin, a user must also have a Bitcoin address - a randomly generated string of 27 to 34 letters and numbers - which acts as a kind of virtual postbox to and from which the bitcoins are sent.

Since there is no registry of these addresses, people can use them to protect their anonymity when making a transaction.

These addresses are in turn stored in Bitcoin wallets, which are used to manage savings. They operate like privately run bank accounts - with the proviso that if the data is lost, so are the bitcoins contained.

Price drop

News of the closure was followed by a rapid drop in the price of bitcoins, according to figures from the Mt. Gox bitcoin exchange.

The going rate for the virtual currency dropped from more than $140 (£86) to around $110, before climbing back up to $123 (£75).

Investors may have been concerned about the FBI's ability to confiscate bitcoins, said Mr Ferguson.

"Knowing that a currency could be seized or shut down could pressure people to look for alternative investment vehicles," he said.

The FBI seized the virtual currency by getting hold of encryption keys for the bitcoins, according to Jerry Brito, George Mason University's technology policy director.

The keys were made available through seized computer equipment, Mr Brito said in a blog post.

The FBI then transferred the bitcoins to an address controlled by the US government, according to the seizure order (PDF).

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'Build-a-baby' patent criticised

3 October 2013 Last updated at 10:47 ET

A US patent for a database that uses DNA testing to tell prospective parents which traits their future offspring may inherit has been criticised by experts.

23andMe says its Family Traits Inheritor Calculator can predict the risk of inheriting specific diseases as well as details such as height, weight, eye colour and even personality.

Couples send the firm a saliva sample to see what their babies might be like.

But critics have called the project "ethically and socially treacherous".

Designer babies

The patent suggests the database could also be used by fertility clinics to find appropriate donors.

But the Mountain View, California-based firm was quick to say this was no longer part of its plan.

"At the time 23andMe filed the patent, there was consideration that the technology could have potential applications for fertility clinics so language specific to the fertility treatment process was included in the patent," it said in a blog post.

"The company never pursued the concepts discussed in the patent beyond our Family Traits Inheritance Calculator, nor do we have any plans to do so."

Instead it described the tool for prospective parents as "an enjoyable way to dip their toes into genetics".

But critics remain concerned that such technology could be misused.

"It would be highly irresponsible for 23andMe or anyone else to offer a product or service based on this patent," said Marcy Darnovsky, executive director of the Center for Genetics and Society.

"It amounts to shopping for designer donors in an effort to produce designer babies.

"We believe the patent office made a serious mistake in allowing a patent that includes drop-down menus for which to choose a future child's traits.

"A project like this would also be ethically and socially treacherous."

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