Global internet speed is picking up. In 2017, world internet speeds increased more than 30%. Adriane Blum, Head of Communications at Ookla, a company specialized in broadband testing, network diagnostic applications, and data, was with us to discuss what's driving this improvement.
With the FCC rolling back net neutrality regulations, many questions about the future of the internet are beginning to surface. Internet speed is one of the factors that could potentially be impacted by the vote. Blum says the key takeaway is transparency of data, as we face new risks.
Despite improved global speed, Ookla says there were far too many countries and regions where internet speed decreased. Hurricane Maria put a dent in Puerto Rico's internet capabilities, contributing to the island's 39.8% drop in mobile download speed over the past year.
After Facebook and its family of platforms were down for nearly eight hours on Monday, other social media platforms like Snapchat saw a surge in usage. The social media platform already popular with teens saw a 20 percent jump in activity during Facebook's global outage.
Google's users will now have extensive greener options. The updated services across platforms will allow users to look for eco-friendly routes in Google Maps, book flights with low carbon emissions, and reduce energy usage at home with Nest thermostats.
The recent California oil spill has wreaked havoc on the shores of Huntington Beach as wildlife habitats and potentially some people have been exposed to the 140,000+ gallons of oil in the ocean. Cheddar News was joined by Dr. Deborah Bronsan, President of Deborah Bronson & Associates to learn more about the environmental dangers and how the area can recover from this tragedy.
Shares for Netflix ($NFLZ) surged on survey data that showed people still saw the streaming platform as offering the best content compared to its competitors. A report by investment banking company Cowen Inc. reported the findings, rating it an outperform, and expects Netflix to garner 3.6 million new subscribers in Q3.
Banks are calling on Apple to lower fees for processing payments. The current model allows the tech giant to collect 0.15 percent on each transaction processed through Apple Pay.
