Topping tech headlines on Thursday, The Washington Post released a story that said the National Security Agency (NSA) is tapping directly into the servers of nine U.S. Internet firms - from Facebook to Apple - via a program known as PRISM.Many of the firms named in report, however, denied that the government has access to their networks. The Post published slides from a presentation on PRISM, which reportedly collects data from Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, Facebook, PalTalk, YouTube, Skype, AOL, and Apple. An unnamed "career intelligence officer" provided the information to the paper to shed a light on what this person considered to be a serious invasion of privacy.
Meanwhile, Microsoft on Thursday laid out the licensing framework for new and used games on its upcoming Xbox One console. Purchasers of physical discs have the right to resell them through retailers without being charged a platform fee. The software giant also provided some more details on the revamped controller that will come with the Xbox One, which execs said will be more precise, immersive, and comfortable.
Also on the gaming front, evil will be reborn this September when Blizzard releases Diablo III for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 gaming consoles. The popular good-versus-evil game, which is currently only available on the PC, will make its global console debut on Sept. 3.
In security news, Microsoft announced yesterday that, in coordination with the FBI, it has disrupted more than 1,000 botnets used to steal people's banking information and identities. The malware, dubbed Citadel, resulted in losses of more than $500 million and affected more than 5 million people.
Here's some other news you might have missed yesterday:
- Justin Bieber Signs On for Virgin Galactic Spaceflight: For his next trick, Justin Bieber will be traveling into space.
- Google Releases Stock Android Keyboard as App: The Keyboard app includes Gesture Typing, which lets users glide a finger over the keyboard to form a word.
- Obama Makes Big Push for Broadband in Schools: The president announced a new program, dubbed ConnectED, that is intended to provide 99 percent of U.S. students with access to broadband Internet service within five years.
- Netflix Unveils Trailer for 'Orange Is the New Black' Original Series: Netflix is the new cable TV, and Orange Is the New Black.
- Kiefer Sutherland Takes on Role of Snake in Metal Gear Solid V: The actor is lending his voice and motion-captured acting to the lead role of Snake in the upcoming Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
- BlackBerry NOT Launching BBM for iOS, Android on June 27: A spokeswoman for the company said that date is "completely inaccurate."
- Snapchat for iOS Gets Swipe Navigation, In-App Profiles: The new swipe navigation feature should help you more access the camera, your inbox, and friends with fewer clicks.
- Tango Opens Platform, Embraces Social Gaming: Tango is breaking out of its video-chat shackles in an effort to reach a new audience — social gamers.
- Galaxy S 4 Update Reportedly Addresses Storage Issue: Samsung is reportedly rolling out a software update to the Galaxy S 4 in an effort to patch early issues that have cropped up since the phone's April launch.
- Amazon Brings Super-Sized Kindle DX Back From the Dead: If you thought you'd seen the last of the Kindle DX, think again.
