http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Thu, 23 May 2013 15:16:10 +0200 Thu, 23 May 2013 15:16:10 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/sap-to-hire-hundreds-of-people-with-autism-by-2020-a-901230.html#ref=rss German software development giant SAP is planning to hire hundreds of people with autism by 2020. The company hopes to benefit from their unusual skillset and says it's ready for any practical challenges. Advocates hope the program could set an example for others. Wed, 22 May 2013 13:39:06 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/sap-to-hire-hundreds-of-people-with-autism-by-2020-a-901230.html German software development giant SAP is planning to hire hundreds of people with autism by 2020. The company hopes to benefit from their unusual skillset and says it's ready for any practical challenges. Advocates hope the program could set an example for others.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/speed-of-innovation-and-automation-threatens-global-labor-market-a-897412.html#ref=rss Past warnings about how technological innovation threatens jobs have proved exaggerated. Yet the digital revolution now has many scholars warning that this time things are different, and that the breakneck speed of automation could wreak havoc on the global labor market. Fri, 03 May 2013 10:49:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/speed-of-innovation-and-automation-threatens-global-labor-market-a-897412.html Past warnings about how technological innovation threatens jobs have proved exaggerated. Yet the digital revolution now has many scholars warning that this time things are different, and that the breakneck speed of automation could wreak havoc on the global labor market.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/critics-propose-economy-with-less-growth-and-environmental-damage-a-897550.html#ref=rss For years, economists have posited that prosperity requires growth, with environmental damage as the regrettable but unavoidable consequence. A growing number of critics are now challenging this equation, though, calling for a radical revamping of the economic system. Thu, 02 May 2013 16:23:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/critics-propose-economy-with-less-growth-and-environmental-damage-a-897550.html For years, economists have posited that prosperity requires growth, with environmental damage as the regrettable but unavoidable consequence. A growing number of critics are now challenging this equation, though, calling for a radical revamping of the economic system.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/stephen-wolfram-analyses-personal-facebook-data-a-896981.html#ref=rss British scientist Stephen Wolfram has already developed two highly influential computational systems: Mathematica, an algebraic software program, and the popular search engine Wolfram Alpha. Now he's taking on Facebook's treasure trove of data, with results that would interest Mark Zuckerberg. Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:32:17 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/stephen-wolfram-analyses-personal-facebook-data-a-896981.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/hackerspace-helps-keep-appliances-from-garbage-dumps-a-895326.html#ref=rss When household appliances and technological devices break, they often end up in the trash. But at a "hackerspace club" in Wuppertal, engineers, computer buffs and DIYers are helping locals save them from the garbage dump -- and strengthening the community in the process. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:13:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/hackerspace-helps-keep-appliances-from-garbage-dumps-a-895326.html When household appliances and technological devices break, they often end up in the trash. But at a "hackerspace club" in Wuppertal, engineers, computer buffs and DIYers are helping locals save them from the garbage dump -- and strengthening the community in the process.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/boom-of-digital-currency-bitcoin-raises-questions-of-stability-a-893342.html#ref=rss In the midst of the euro crisis, particularly daring investors are putting their faith in the Internet currency bitcoin. A boom in the virtual coins has made some into millionaires. But central bankers are wary of its potential, and the currency is everything but crash-proof. Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:21:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/boom-of-digital-currency-bitcoin-raises-questions-of-stability-a-893342.html In the midst of the euro crisis, particularly daring investors are putting their faith in the Internet currency bitcoin. A boom in the virtual coins has made some into millionaires. But central bankers are wary of its potential, and the currency is everything but crash-proof.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/santander-a-digital-smart-city-prototype-in-spain-a-888480.html#ref=rss Cities around the world aim to become "smart cities," but in Santander, Spain, the goal has already become a reality. Thousands of sensors help alert residents to traffic jams, regulate the watering in city parks and dim the street lamps. Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:28:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/santander-a-digital-smart-city-prototype-in-spain-a-888480.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/european-union-anti-trust-authorities-fine-microsoft-561-million-euros-a-887276.html#ref=rss The European Union on Wednesday fined Microsoft over half a billion euros for failing to comply with a 2009 agreement relating to the company's Internet Explorer browser. It's the first time the EU has penalized a company for such a violation. Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:23:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/european-union-anti-trust-authorities-fine-microsoft-561-million-euros-a-887276.html The European Union on Wednesday fined Microsoft over half a billion euros for failing to comply with a 2009 agreement relating to the company's Internet Explorer browser. It's the first time the EU has penalized a company for such a violation.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/driverless-cars-are-a-reality-but-face-acceptance-obstacles-a-880716.html#ref=rss The technology needed for driverless cars is here and could be ready for the market in less than a decade. Automation holds the promise of revolutionizing the automobile industry and making our streets safer, but will it spell the end of <i>Fahrvergnügen</i>? Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:44:44 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/driverless-cars-are-a-reality-but-face-acceptance-obstacles-a-880716.html The technology needed for driverless cars is here and could be ready for the market in less than a decade. Automation holds the promise of revolutionizing the automobile industry and making our streets safer, but will it spell the end of Fahrvergnügen?]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/how-russian-virus-hunters-tracked-down-a-global-espionage-network-a-879467.html#ref=rss For five years now, the Red October computer virus has embarked on a new brand of espionage, stealing emails and other encrypted classified documents undetected from diplomats around the world. Though the virus may now be in hibernation, it's designed so that it can strike again at anytime. Fri, 25 Jan 2013 18:31:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/how-russian-virus-hunters-tracked-down-a-global-espionage-network-a-879467.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/3d-printing-technology-poised-for-new-industrial-revolution-a-874833.html#ref=rss 3-D printing technology, used industrially for the last few decades, is poised to break into the mass market. Its endless and swiftly developing possibilities -- from entrepreneurial manufacturing to the potential sculpting of human organs -- could become the next industrial revolution. Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:05:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/3d-printing-technology-poised-for-new-industrial-revolution-a-874833.html 3-D printing technology, used industrially for the last few decades, is poised to break into the mass market. Its endless and swiftly developing possibilities -- from entrepreneurial manufacturing to the potential sculpting of human organs -- could become the next industrial revolution. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/the-secret-ways-of-little-known-chinese-telecoms-giant-huawei-a-875297.html#ref=rss Almost a third of the planet is thought to be using its products and yet few know much about the highly secretive Chinese telecommunication equipment company Huawei. Should customers be concerned about the company founder's military background or the security vulnerabilities of its products? Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:52:17 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/the-secret-ways-of-little-known-chinese-telecoms-giant-huawei-a-875297.html Almost a third of the planet is thought to be using its products and yet few know much about the highly secretive Chinese telecommunication equipment company Huawei. Should customers be concerned about the company founder's military background or the security vulnerabilities of its products?]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/thyssenkrupp-faces-major-restructuring-in-response-to-mismanagement-a-872069.html#ref=rss German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp has just posted a loss of 4.7 billion euros and huge writedowns on mills in the US and Brazil. The supervisory board, responding to an internal report that exposed major errors and cover-ups, has sacked half the management board. The group faces a tough restructuring. Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:43:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/thyssenkrupp-faces-major-restructuring-in-response-to-mismanagement-a-872069.html German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp has just posted a loss of 4.7 billion euros and huge writedowns on mills in the US and Brazil. The supervisory board, responding to an internal report that exposed major errors and cover-ups, has sacked half the management board. The group faces a tough restructuring. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/yo-mobil-hybrid-car-latest-of-russian-high-tech-projects-to-stall-a-869790.html#ref=rss Russian President Vladimir Putin has been pumping billions into efforts to revive his country's reputation as a high-tech powerhouse. The Yo-mobil hybrid minicar is just the latest in a series of ambitious projects to stall soon after being unveiled. Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:50:07 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/yo-mobil-hybrid-car-latest-of-russian-high-tech-projects-to-stall-a-869790.html Russian President Vladimir Putin has been pumping billions into efforts to revive his country's reputation as a high-tech powerhouse. The Yo-mobil hybrid minicar is just the latest in a series of ambitious projects to stall soon after being unveiled. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/project-rehabilitates-europe-s-largest-open-sewer-in-ruhr-region-a-867406.html#ref=rss For over a century, cities and companies have been dumping waste into the Emscher River in Germany's industrial heartland. But a massive project is bringing life back to Europe's dirtiest river and diverting the sewage into an ultra-modern, underground drain complete with water elevators and cleaning robots. Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:04:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/project-rehabilitates-europe-s-largest-open-sewer-in-ruhr-region-a-867406.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/microsoft-development-leader-craig-mundie-on-the-future-of-computers-a-863103.html#ref=rss With Windows 8, its own tablet and a new smartphone system, Microsoft has launched an offensive against Apple and Google. The company's development director Craig Mundie tells SPIEGEL ONLINE what went wrong at the IT giant in the past, and how it plans to catch up with its competitors. Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:49:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/microsoft-development-leader-craig-mundie-on-the-future-of-computers-a-863103.html With Windows 8, its own tablet and a new smartphone system, Microsoft has launched an offensive against Apple and Google. The company's development director Craig Mundie tells SPIEGEL ONLINE what went wrong at the IT giant in the past, and how it plans to catch up with its competitors. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/us-government-and-internet-giants-battle-eu-over-data-privacy-proposal-a-861773.html#ref=rss The US government, together with Google and Facebook, have launched a lobbying offensive against a proposed EU data privacy law that would strengthen users' rights to have information deleted. The issue has divided Germany's government, and privacy advocates think it still doesn't go far enough. Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:29:54 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/us-government-and-internet-giants-battle-eu-over-data-privacy-proposal-a-861773.html The US government, together with Google and Facebook, have launched a lobbying offensive against a proposed EU data privacy law that would strengthen users' rights to have information deleted. The issue has divided Germany's government, and privacy advocates think it still doesn't go far enough.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/txtr-beagle-german-company-to-launch-e-reader-for-less-than-10-euros-a-860536.html#ref=rss Weighing in at just 128 grams and costing a fraction of the price of comparable products, the German company Txtr announced its new light-weight, low-cost e-reader this week before the start of the Frankfurt Book Fair. Bundled with a mobile-phone contract, the reader will cost just under 10 euros. Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:24:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/txtr-beagle-german-company-to-launch-e-reader-for-less-than-10-euros-a-860536.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/largest-technology-and-computer-festival-under-way-in-berlin-a-851457.html#ref=rss Thousands of tech enthusiasts began gathering this week on the grounds of Berlin's former Tempelhof Airport for a massive festival for computer and technology fans. Visitors are expected to include World Wide Web pioneer Tim Berners-Lee and 10,000 others. Still, the event has failed to generate much attention among the German net community. Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:41:17 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/largest-technology-and-computer-festival-under-way-in-berlin-a-851457.html Thousands of tech enthusiasts began gathering this week on the grounds of Berlin's former Tempelhof Airport for a massive festival for computer and technology fans. Visitors are expected to include World Wide Web pioneer Tim Berners-Lee and 10,000 others. Still, the event has failed to generate much attention among the German net community. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/eu-opens-antitrust-investigation-into-microsoft-a-844872.html#ref=rss The European Commission said on Tuesday it had launched an antitrust investigation into Microsoft. Competitors have complained that the US software giant did not comply with its commitment to offer users a choice screen to let them easily select their preferred Web browser. Tue, 17 Jul 2012 15:33:26 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/eu-opens-antitrust-investigation-into-microsoft-a-844872.html The European Commission said on Tuesday it had launched an antitrust investigation into Microsoft. Competitors have complained that the US software giant did not comply with its commitment to offer users a choice screen to let them easily select their preferred Web browser.]]>