Google is looking at Chicago as a possible site for a major operations center, which could employ anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people, according to Crain's Business News.Chicago is "on the short list" for the facility, Crain's says, along with several other cities.If it is chosen, that would be "fantastic," said Zach Brandon, president of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce.He said a Google center in Chicago would boost the tech presence of the entire Midwest.Google, based in Mountain View, California, already has more than 800 employees in Chicago, Crain's says. It also has a small office in Madison. At a recent Chamber event, the head of Google's Madison site, Jeff Naughton, said the office has been adding staff, but Google has not said much about how many employees it has here or what they do.Meanwhile, Amazon, which has been conducting a very public search for a second headquarters site, appears to be headed to the East Coast. The Boston Globe says Amazon is negotiating to … [Read more...] about Google eyes Chicago for a big, new location, Chicago news service says
Chicago
Niantic settles class action lawsuit following last year’s disastrous Pokémon Go Fest in Chicago
Last summer, Niantic Labs celebrated the first year of Pokémon GO with an in-person event in Chicago, with others to follow in Europe. It didn’t go well: spotty cell signals and overwhelmed servers turned the event into a disaster, and two dozen attendees launched a class action lawsuit to try and recoup travel expenses. TechCrunch is reporting that Niantic has reached a settlement, to the tune of $1.5 million. The company will end up paying $1,575,000 for attendees’ flights, hotel rooms, car rentals, parking fees, milage, and tolls. The company will put up a website by May 25th for individuals affected by the problems, and it will notify users via e-mail. To qualify for the settlement, users have to have checked into the festival in the game, and anyone who has expenses that total more than $107 will need to provide receipts. … [Read more...] about Niantic settles class action lawsuit following last year’s disastrous Pokémon Go Fest in Chicago
At Chicago ‘Field Trip’ event, Apple emphasized education remains ‘a big part of who we are’
By Stephen Silver Wednesday, March 28, 2018, 04:07 am PT (07:07 am ET) Apple CEO Tim Cook and other company executives repeatedly cited the company's commitment to education, as it unveiled new products and initiatives designed to capture the hearts and minds of students and educators. In between introductions of a new iPad, new apps, and other initiatives, Apple's top brass had strong things to say about education, its importance, and Apple's place in it. "We know our products can help bring out the creative genius in every kid," Cook said towards the beginning of the event. "That's why education is such a big part of who we are as a company, and has been for 40 years." Indeed, education is a major part of the story of Apple's rise, as well as its various lulls and rebirths over the years, from the original Apple II-in-school programs of the late 1970s through the eMac and eMate all the way to the education initiatives that accompanied the original iPad launch in 2010. Of late, … [Read more...] about At Chicago ‘Field Trip’ event, Apple emphasized education remains ‘a big part of who we are’
Live from Apple’s ‘Field Trip’ education event in Chicago
By AppleInsider Staff Monday, March 26, 2018, 03:00 pm PT (06:00 pm ET) Join AppleInsider as we provide live coverage of Apple's "Let's take a field trip" event from Chicago's Lane Tech College Prep High School on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. CDT (11:00 a.m. EDT, 8 a.m. PDT), where the company is expected to discuss educational initiatives and perhaps unveil new hardware.If you are not automatically forwarded, click here to view the archived livestream. Announced earlier this month, Apple's March event is unusual for a company that typically holds public presentations within the confines of California. As usual, not much is known about the event aside from its focus on education. Apple in a media release invited attendees to learn about "creative new ideas for teachers and students," but failed to detail what, exactly, would be discussed. Reports last week suggest a new low-cost iPad model will see release, potentially with Apple Pencil support. The tablet is expected to be a variant of … [Read more...] about Live from Apple’s ‘Field Trip’ education event in Chicago
Samsung Galaxy S9 On AT&T Hits 537Mbps Speeds In Chicago
March 30, 2018 - Written By Mark Real A test conducted by PCMag shows that the Licensed Assisted Access technology has been effective in improving the download speeds achieved on the LTE network of American carrier AT&T. The test was conducted using a retail smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S9, and the download and upload speeds were then repeatedly measured in a number of locations across Chicago where small cells that support LAA are located, including Kinzie and Dearborn, Merchandise Mart, and two locations in the South Loop area. The publication noted that in the South Loop area, they were able to obtain a maximum download speed of 537Mbps. Meanwhile, an average download speed of 273Mbps was recorded in Kinzie and Dearborn, and an average download speed of 424Mbps was achieved in the Merchandise Mart.The relatively high download speeds were made possible through leveraging LAA. The LAA technology allows network operators to aggregate unlicensed spectrum with licensed bands … [Read more...] about Samsung Galaxy S9 On AT&T Hits 537Mbps Speeds In Chicago