SAFE TECH

  Amazon    has been granted an approval by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that will allow it to start trialing commercial deliveries via drone,   Bloomberg reports . This certification is the same one granted to   UPS and a handful of other companies , and while it doesn’t mean that Amazon can immediately start operating a consumer drone delivery service for everyone, it does allow them to make progress toward that goal. Amazon has said it’ll kick off its own delivery tests, though it hasn’t shared any details on when and where exactly those will begin. The FAA clearance for these trials is adapted from the safety rules and regulations it imposes for companies operating a commercial airline service, with special exceptions allowing for companies to bypass the requirements that specifically deal with onboard crew and staff working the aircraft, as the drones don’t have any. These guidelines are at best a patchwork solution designed by the agency ...

  Over the past year,   Netflix    has attempted to expand its appeal in part by making a title or two free to non-paying users in select markets. Now the American giant is extending this test to users across the globe — with a larger free catalog. The on-demand video streaming service is currently offering select Netflix Original movies and TV shows, including “Stranger Things,” “Murder Mystery,” “Elite,” “Bird Box,” “When They See Us,” “The Two Popes,” “Our Planet” and “Grace and Frankie”  to non-paying subscribers  across all the nearly 200 nations and territories where it is operational. Only first episodes of the shows are available for free viewing, though, after which Netflix prompts users to become subscribers. Movies are available in full-length, however. There is also a 30-second ad that rolls before you play the title, but it can be skipped. “We’re looking at different marketing promotions to attract new members and give them a great Netflix expe...

Anthony Levandowski, the  former  Google  engineer and serial entrepreneur who was at the center of a lawsuit between   Uber  and Waymo, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison on one count of stealing trade secrets.  Judge Alsup said that home confinement would “[give] a green light to every future brilliant engineer to steal trade secrets. Prison time is the answer to that.” During court proceedings today, Levandowski also agreed to pay $756,499.22 in restitution to  Waymo   and a fine of $95,000. “Today marks the end of three and a half long years and the beginning of another long road ahead. I’m thankful to my family and friends for their continued love and support during this difficult time,” Levandowski said in a statement provided by his attorneys after the sentencing. The U.S. District Attorney’s office had recommended a 27-month sentence, arguing in court today that Levandowski had committed the crime for ego or greed, and that he ...