Month: August 2019
Huawei Mate 30 smartphones ‘cannot use Google apps’
Huawei’s next flagship smartphone will not be able to use Google apps and services under the current US trade ban, Google has said. The Chinese firm is expected to launch its new Mate 30 line of smartphones in the autumn. However, Google has told the Reuters news agency that, under the current US restrictions on…
Underwater highways to become common claims Samsung report
Self-cleaning homes and flying taxis will be commonplace by 2069, a new Samsung report into life in the future predicts... Underwater highways, hoverboard-based sports and holidays in space will be available in 50 years’ time, a new report on the future of technology has predicted. The report also predicts the mass-scale production of 3D-printed organs,…
Telltale Games makes comeback
Telltale Games is being revived, almost a year after the name behind games such as The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us shut down. Remnants of the brand have been acquired by two veteran gaming executives, Jamie Ottilie and Brian Waddle, who plan to re-release some of Telltale’s previous titles, as well as developing…
Fitbit unveils Alexa-enabled Versa 2 smartwatch
Fitbit has announced its first smartwatch with Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant built in, alongside a new subscription service for personalised fitness programmes and well-being tools. The fitness tech firm’s new Versa 2 smartwatch contains a microphone which allows users to issue voice commands to Alexa to start workouts, help find a local gym, and control…
Will drivers be banned from using hands-free kits in their cars?
With the Brexit deadline looming and Boris Johnson settling into life at Number 10, you can be forgiven for overlooking any news coming from the House of Commons. However, there may be a story or two that evokes your interest. MPs have suggested that drivers may soon be banned from using hands-free kits while on…
Toyota and Suzuki announce self-driving car technology partnership
Japan’s top carmaker, Toyota, and smaller rival Suzuki, have announced they are partnering in the development of self-driving car technology. The move comes as manufacturers around the world grapple with innovations in the industry. They said that Toyota will take a 4.9% stake in Suzuki Motor Corp, valued at 96 billion yen (£744 million), and…
Facebook Pop-Up Cafés to offer free privacy checks
Facebook is launching its first pop-up cafés aimed at encouraging users to personalise their privacy settings. The firm is opening pop-ups in London and Manchester, which will offer a free drink to visitors who choose to be guided through a privacy check-up on the site, with further branches to open in Brighton, Edinburgh and Cardiff…
Ex-Google engineer charged with trade secrets theft
A former Google engineer has been charged with stealing self-driving car technology from the company shortly before joining Uber. The indictment filed on Tuesday by the US Attorney’s office in San Jose, California, is an offshoot of a lawsuit filed in 2017 by Waymo, a self-driving car pioneer spun off from Google. Uber agreed to…
Google Maps to offer cycling and ride-sharing options
Finding the fastest way from A to B across multiple modes of transport is about to get easier with the latest update on Google Maps. The app will now allow users to pair transit directions with ride-sharing options, as the tech giant aims to make the first or last mile easier. Cyclists will also be…
The new era of online gaming
As technology becomes more advanced, the way we play games and interact with one another is set to change even more dramatically. Technology is changing everything, from the way we interact with one another via social media instead of talking face-to-face to the way we work using online tools and apps rather than pen and…