Month: March 2019
Facebook moves to ban white nationalist hate speech
Content related to white nationalism and separatism will now be banned by Facebook, as the social network broadens its definition of hate speech following the mosque attack in New Zealand and pressure from civil rights groups. White supremacy has long been banned by the company, but it had held back from restricting white nationalism and…
Smartphone sensor used to detect poisonous levels of arsenic in water
A sensor that connects to a smartphone could help prevent millions of people from drinking water contaminated by arsenic. Developed by researchers at the University of Edinburgh, the biosensor uses bacteria to detect unsafe arsenic levels in water. It uses visual cues to warn of the presence of high levels of the metal in water,…
McDonald’s buys AI tech to automatically adjust drive-thru menu
American fast food chain McDonald’s has bought an AI machine-learning company that will automatically change its drive-thru menu panels depending on factors such as weather, time, restaurant traffic and trends. The technology means that it could suggest McFlurry ice cream products on hot days, or show what is popular at that particular restaurant at the…
UK set to adopt new EU speed-limiting rules for cars
New cars sold in the UK from 2022 will have devices fitted which stop them breaking the speed limit. The Department for Transport (DfT) said new EU rules that have been provisionally agreed would apply to the UK despite Brexit. Intelligent speed assistance (ISA) is one of a raft of safety measures set to become…
Volkswagen working with Amazon to improve worldwide factory efficiency
Volkswagen is partnering with Amazon to develop cloud computing capacity aimed at improving efficiency and co-ordination across the carmaker’s global factory network. Volkswagen, the world’s largest carmaker by unit sales with 10.83 million vehicles sold last year, says that combining data from its 122 factories will allow it to standardise production planning and management of…
Huawei previews smart glasses to rival Snapchat Spectacles
Huawei has previewed a new range of smart glasses designed by a Korean eyewear firm that want to challenge Snapchat’s Spectacles. Built in tandem with fashion firm Gentle Monster, the glasses include Bluetooth pairing capabilities which enable users to tap the frame in order to answer calls as well as use the built-in speakers to…
Huawei P30 Pro v Samsung Galaxy S10+ v Apple iPhone XS Max
Huawei has unveiled its newest flagship smartphone, the P30 Pro, claiming it is the best available device for phone photography. Here is how it compares to its two biggest rivals. Huawei P30 Pro The new Huawei P30 Pro (Martyn Landi/PA) Price from £899 6.47in curved full HD+ OLED HDR display Quad Leica engineered rear camera…
Huawei announces P30 flagship smartphones in challenge to Samsung
Huawei has claimed its new flagship P30 Pro smartphone includes the best camera on the market as it unveiled the device for the first time. The new high-end smartphone boasts four rear cameras, engineered by German camera firm Leica, and has been designed to take better photos in low-light and offer up to 50 times…
Manchester becomes ransomware hotspot, as London cyber attacks fall
MediaCity UK: More ransomware cases were detected in Manchester than London in 2018 (Dave Thompson/PA) The overall number of ransomware attacks targeting the UK has dropped significantly in the last year, with Manchester overtaking London as the country's ransomware hotspot. In the UK, attacks fell by 59% in 2018 compared…
Plume makes UK direct to home debut with PowerPod WiFi boosters from £99
US smart home platform Plume has announced its direct-to-consumer debut in the UK with a new IoT security service as well as the launch of its new PowerPod WiFi boosting devices. Its Advanced IoT Protection service is an AI-powered security network designed to protect home IoT devices. It uses artificial intelligence to identify all devices…