Category: Gadgets
Regulator approves thousands of electric cars on UK roads to test energy grid
Uber is one of the partners on the project (Laura Dale/PA) Up to 3,000 electric cars are set to be deployed on UK roads in a bid to understand what the increased demand in electric power will mean for the country’s energy grid. Regulator Ofgem has approved the three-year project…
Instagram Stories adds Close Friends feature
Instagram users can now post Stories to a chosen close friends as part of an update to the social media app. The platform has introduced Close Friends, a new customisable list of friends which users can choose to share Instagram Stories with, instead of posting to all their followers at once. Instagram says it provides…
Smart keyboard app SwiftKey adds search engine feature
Keyboard app SwiftKey is adding a search engine to the Android version of its software, enabling users to search the web from directly within the keyboard. A new search option has been added to SwiftKey for Android, with search results gathered using Microsoft’s Bing search engine. The app says it now means users will be…
Instagram adds accessibility tools for visually impaired users
Instagram has announced the introduction of new accessibility tools designed to help users with visual impairments. The photo-sharing platform is introducing “automatic alternative text” which will describe photos posted to the platform to those who need it. Working with screen readers, it will describe images that appear in the Instagram feed, explore and profile sections.…
Big Mouth Billy Bass is back – this time with Alexa!
Looking for a novel Christmas gift for a loved (or maybe not so loved) one? How about this Big Mouth Billy Bass with a 2018 twist - Alexa connectivity! The animatronic singing prop, made popular in the early 2000s for singing and tapping its tail, is being released again - this time with Alexa compatibility…
Modern Web Design – How To Get A Contemporary Internet Presence
The Internet is developing continuously and at a rapid pace. Many websites whose designs were considered modern and sophisticated not so long ago already look like they have been developed decades ago. The technical intricacies that characterize modern web design are constantly evolving. However some unchangeable values will always remain. Even though modern websites are…
Two-thirds of Brits expect a robot in every home within 50 years, claims Anki report
Most UK adults believe there will be a robot in every home within the next 50 years, new research suggests. A report commissioned by artificial intelligence and robotics company Anki claims that 60% of the UK public believe robots will be deployed as helpers around the house in decades to come. Entitled The Good Robot,…
Amazon launches Speaker ID on Alexa for individual voice recognition
Amazon Echo owners in the UK can now receive personalised experiences with the arrival of Alexa Speaker ID. The feature means the smart assistant can recognise different voices when spoken to, serving up individual options for Alexa calling and messaging, news Flash Briefings, shopping and music. Users must set up the feature by asking Alexa…
NASA employees celebrate InSight Mars probe landing with elaborate handshake!
NASA's latest probe, InSight, made a successful landing on the red planet on Monday afternoon, triggering delighted celebrations across the globe. When the announcement was made that InSight had landed and the mission was a success, NASA employees were obviously thrilled, with two mission controllers launching into an impressive handshake to celebrate. The uplifting moment…
New BT Plus with Complete Wi-Fi ‘guarantees signal in every room of the home’
BT has revealed a new home broadband system it claims “guarantees” a strong, reliable connection in every room of the home. Called BT Plus with Complete Wi-Fi, it combines the new BT Smart Hub 2 router with up to three Wi-Fi 'discs'. These pair with the router to extend network coverage throughout the home. The…
