Month: August 2014
Huawei dumps Windows Phone
Bad news for Microsoft as it has emerged that Chinese handset makers Huawei has dumped Windows Phone - and won't be releasing any more phones running Microsoft's operating system. The reason? Money, of course - with Huawei's Richard Yu telling the Wall Street Journal that: "We have tried using the Windows Phone OS. But it…
Apple already readying iPhone *6S* chip for production?
We're now less than a month away from when we're expecting to hear about the iPhone 6 - perhaps even the release of the iPhone 6 itself, but it appears Apple may be looking even further forward, to the production of the iPhone 6S. According to Know Your Mobile, the "A9" chip will be entering…
Europe launches two navigation satellites into the wrong place
Embarrassing news for European scientists as it has emerged that two satellites that form part of Europe's new "Galileo" navigation system have been put in the wrong place. Whoops. According to Sky News the satellites were launched on Friday - with the plan being to join the network of other satellites that will eventually create…
Spotify now free on Windows Phone
Music streaming service Spotify is now free on the Windows Phone app, after unveiling an ad-supported and shuffle-mode which came to iOS and Android earlier this year. Previously, Windows Phone users were only able to stream via the Spotify app with a premium subscription, which includes ad-free mobile and offline listening. Now, Windows Phone streams…
Facebook got annoyed by click-bait and you’ll never believe what happened next…
Facebook has announced a tweak of its newsfeed algorithm that will cut down on the amount of "click-bait" you see on your news feed. You might never see Upworthy ever again. Apparently Facebook's intention is to give users more information when deciding whether to click on something - rather than have slightly misdirected "Upworthy" style…
Qantas and Virgin loosen their in-flight phone rules
The airlines Qantas and Virgin Australia will now allow passengers to keep phones and other electronic devices powered on during flights. Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority has approved applications from both airlines that will allow passengers to keep their phones, tablets and e-readers on even during take-off and landing. The devices will need to remain…
5 reasons why Amazon might have bought Twitch
Big news overnight from Amazon, which has bought streaming service Twitch for a cool $970m. Yes - that's right - Amazon. Twitch had multiple suitors, but it seems that in the end Twitch went for the one we least expected. (We were all expecting Google). So why did it happen? For Twitch, it appears that…
Feminist Frequency shines another depressing light on the videogames industry
Last night the latest episode of Anita Saarkeesian's Feminist Frequency series was posted. Spoiler alert: It'll make you despair for the industry you love. The series looks at the portrayal of women in videogames - and in the latest episode focuses on the role of women characters as "background decoration". As someone who loves videogames,…
Samsung Galaxy Alpha UK release and pre-order details announced
Samsung has announced that the Galaxy Alpha will be available for pre-order in the UK from August 28th (that's a week today) and will be on sale generally from September 12th. Pre-orders will be available from the Samsung e-store and "select partners", and the shop release will actually be slightly staggered: With Samsung "Experience Stores"…
GoFundMe’s Ferguson controversy raises more questions about the limits of internet speech
Over $200,000 has been raised on crowdfunding platform GoFundMe in support of Officer Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot Michael Brown, which has led to the widespread and well publicised unrest in Ferguson, Missouri. The fund was started on August 17th and apparently the proceeds will go to Wilson and his family to pay…