response

Apple has severed its relationship with a China-based third-party labor supplier after discovering a conspiracy to employ dozens of underage workers there, Apple reported in its latest Supplier Responsibility report, which was released this evening.

The iPhone maker said it discovered the violations during an audit of the supplier, Guangdong Real Faith Pingzhou Electronics (PZ). In addition, Apple reported the labor agency that knowingly provided the child labor to PZ to local authorizes.

The agency, which allegedly conspired with the children's families to falsify age-verification documents, had its license suspended and was levied a fine.

"The children were … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Guardian on the Go, a mobile application launched today on iPhone, gives people immediate access to a network of trusted contacts and professional services when they're confronted with an emergency situation.

The iPhone application, made by Proteg-Go, is designed to work in all crisis situations, natural disasters and medical emergencies included, and offers people a one-click way to get help faster than if they were to dial 9-1-1.

After first configuring their contact network, users simply click the red "Crisis" button to message friends via SMS. They can also opt to push an update out to … Read more

Got cold hands and a really hot wallet? Chaval Outdoor is showing off a pair of $390 heated ski gloves that regulate temperature independently for each finger. Say you're one of those people with a chronically blazing-hot thumb and perpetually shivering pinkie. These luxury gloves are here to tend to your tempermental digits.

Instead of the standard wire-heating technology you'd find in many heated gloves, the Chaval Response-XRT wireless gloves rely on a paper-thin, flexible nanotech polymer film to deliver heat to each individual finger (much like this technology from Aevex). The Seattle-area company calls its system AlphaHeat.

"Think of this like having independent temperature control in each room of your house," Chaval co-founder Mark Boone tells me.… Read more

France has assessed its first fine under the antipiracy law known as Hadopi.

Alain Prevost must pay the equivalent of $194 after being found liable for failing to secure his Internet connection and for ignoring warnings that the connection was being used to illegally download copyrighted content, according to a report in Ars Technica.

Prevost is the first person convicted under the "law promoting the distribution and protection of creative works on the internet." But he may not be the last. There are 13 other cases scheduled waiting to be tried. This is the French version of the … Read more

The Google Crisis Response team has built a Hurricane Isaac Google map that provides a great deal of information and help for those experiencing Isaac's moderately powerful Category 1 intensity, capable of 95 mph wind speeds, heavy rain, and flooding from dangerous storm surge.

Compatible with nearly all modern Web browsers (including Android and iOS), the interactive map provides a clear look at the path of the storm, as well as the latest warnings for residents of impacted cities and counties. The dynamic map offers many helpful options, including the ability to display current radar and cloud imagery, evacuation routes, and active shelter/recovery center locations. … Read more

When you're mobile, running errands, or even traveling, there may not always be time to write a response to those who contact you. It's easy to forget what you need to do with an e-mail you've already read sitting in your inbox. Maybe a family member sent you something they want feedback on, or maybe a business client needs a question answered. In either case, you want to let the person on the other end of the e-mail know what's going on with you and when you'll be able to devote time to … Read more

Apple has decided to stop participating in a major program devoted to the production of environmentally friendly products, reportedly saying that its design direction is no longer in line with the program's requirements.

Late last month, Apple told the nonprofit EPEAT group that the company would no longer submit its products for green certification from EPEAT and that it was pulling its currently certified products from the group's registry.

According to The Wall Street Journal's CIO Journal site, 39 of Apple's products had received EPEAT's green stamp of approval, including laptops such as the MacBook … Read more

A little more than half of Internet stakeholders surveyed by Pew Internet expected -- or more likely were optimistic about -- a future with greater corporate responsibility when it comes to supporting human rights through technology, according to a study released today (PDF).

The study highlights the ongoing discussion of the tech industry's role in politics, activism, and freedom speech. Recent news highlighting growing discontent of censorship and unethical business practices further push the issue.

The study examined how far tech companies will go to help oppressive governments when it comes to controlling access to technology or following unethical … Read more

Driving tests are a little like the law. They fail to keep up with the technological times. There is surely a myriad of committees that must approve every detail before they enter the real world. By that time, the real world will have moved on.

So Responsible Young Drivers, a safety organization in Belgium, thought it might be amusing to infiltrate a few driving tests in order to make them a touch more contemporary.

I am grateful to Neatorama for discovering this fine video on YouTube, one in which fine young people are told during their driving tests that they … Read more