Month: August 2019
BBC to launch Alexa rival
The BBC is developing its own Alexa-style digital voice assistant for next year which it claims is capable of understanding regional accents. ‘Beeb’ is being considered as the wake-word used to get the attention of the voice-activated technology, which is designed to work on existing devices such as smart-speakers, mobiles and TVs instead of launching…
Mars Rover assembly complete ahead of 2020 launch
The assembly of the ExoMars Rover is now complete ahead of its proposed blast-off date next year. However, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ExoMars mission to the Red Planet could hang in the balance, as successful tests on the rover’s parachutes are yet to be conducted. The Rosalind Franklin rover’s supersonic parachutes will be put…
UK aims for Huawei 5G decision ‘by the autumn’
The fate of Huawei’s involvement in the UK’s 5G network could be decided by the end of the year, Digital Secretary Nicky Morgan has said. 5G equipment made by the Chinese firm is currently subject to security concerns amid accusations of links to the Chinese government, which the company has denied. The UK is considering…
What is 5G and how fast is it?
The Government has announced plans to speed up the roll-out of 5G technology and improve mobile phone signals in rural areas as part of efforts to increase innovation across the UK. 5G networks have already begun to launch across parts of the country, with several mobile operators switching on their networks in a number of…
‘Super Masts’ planned to improve rural phone signal
Scores of new super masts could be built across the British countryside as part of Government plans to eliminate mobile phone blind spots. Digital Secretary Nicky Morgan said she wanted to shake up planning restrictions to allow mobile phone networks to build ground-based masts exceeding the current rules prohibiting structures over 25 metres on public…
Scotland aiming to be leader in 5G technology
Nicola Sturgeon has said she hopes Scotland will become a leading country in embracing 5G technology. The First Minister spoke in Glasgow on Monday as the Scottish Government unveiled a new plan to support use of the technology. 5G is the next generation of mobile network and is expected to offer internet speeds several times…
Space station relocates capsule to help Soyuz
The crew of the International Space Station has successfully relocated a Soyuz space capsule to another docking port to facilitate the rendezvous with another spacecraft. The manoeuvre followed Saturday’s failed docking of the Soyuz MS-14 spacecraft. The docking attempt was aborted due to a suspected glitch linked to an automated control system on board the…
Russian capsule carrying robot fails Space Station docking
A Russian space capsule carrying a humanoid robot has failed to dock as planned with the International Space Station. A statement from the Russian space agency Roscosmos said the failure to dock on Saturday was because of problems in the docking system. It said the space station itself and the six-person crew are safe. Given…
Footage of Tesla driver ‘asleep’ in seat sparks alarm
A video appearing to show a Tesla driver asleep while his vehicle drove on auto-pilot has prompted criticism online. The footage, posted on Twitter by US journalist Clint Olivier and filmed by his wife Alisha, was filmed on Los Angeles’ busy interstate 5 last Saturday morning. As Mr Oliver drives past the car, which is…
Hacker who attacked Uber and Sainsbury’s hands over £1m in Bitcoin
A British hacker who led cyber attacks on massive companies including Uber, Asda and Sainsbury’s has had a Bitcoin stash worth £1 million confiscated. Grant West, 27, who operated on the dark web under the nickname Courvoisier – the name of a popular French cognac – attacked more than 100 companies worldwide, stealing financial data on…
