Tech Digest daily roundup: Instagram pauses TikTok style makeover
Instagram says it is pausing a rollout of new features on its app following backlash online from users, influencers and celebrities. Among the new features was an increase in recommended video content, in a similar style to rival app TikTok. The display and feeds were criticised as people felt they were not seeing photos from…
Online platforms failing to weed out fake reviews, claims study
Facebook, Google and Trustpilot can be easily infiltrated with fake reviews with unscrupulous brokers selling them for as little as £4 each, a Which? investigation suggests. The consumer watchdog's latest investigation involved setting up a fake business and approaching brokers to boost its pages on the three platforms using bogus five-star reviews – which revealed…
Sky Glass adds updates including voice search for YouTube
Sky Glass - a smart TV with Sky inside - is getting smarter, with a range of updates including integrated voice search for YouTube and the launch of Sky Sports Box Office. Here’s what’s arrived: Sports fans can now enjoy the best pay-per-view sporting entertainment with Sky Sports Box Office now on Sky Glass, meaning…
EVs now account for 10% of car registrations in EU
According to MoneyTransfers.com, battery electric cars (BEV) accounted for 10% of all passenger car registrations in the European Union (EU) in the second quarter of 2022. The EU's battery electric vehicles (BEVs) sales increased by 11.1% in the second quarter of 2022, totalling 233,413 vehicles. Spain and France, two of the region's most important markets, saw…
Tech Digest daily roundup: Netflix to remove ‘worst horror film ever made’
A film dubbed the “worst horror film ever made” is set to be removed from Netflix UK’s streaming catalogue in a matter of days. Polaroid, first released in 2019, tells the story of a cursed polaroid camera. According to the official synopsis, the plot is as follows: “High school loner Bird Fitcher finds a vintage Polaroid camera…
Internet sensors to reach 4.6 billion worldwide by 2027, claims study
According to global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, by 2027 4.6 billion sensors of various types will be available in smart home devices, robots, and appliances, up from 1.8 billion in 2021. Some of these sensors are already key to the functionality of devices, while others support additional functionality that will push into more products…
Doogee launches two rugged phones, including sub-£100 model
Chinese company Doogee is introducing two new rugged phones to its line-up, including the S89 Pro and the affordable and customizable S61. Both smartphones are ultra-rugged with MIL-STD-810H military protection, claims the manufacturer. The new S89 Pro boasts a 12000mAh battery and will come bundled with a 65W fast charging brick. A 'robot-inspired' camera bump…
Tech Digest daily roundup: ‘Gaming has little effect on short term mental health’ – study
The short-term mental-health impact of playing video games "is probably too small" to be noticeable, according to a major study by the University of Oxford published Wednesday. "Our study finds little to no evidence of connections between gameplay and well-being," said Andrew K. Przybylski, a researcher at the university's Oxford Internet Institute. The study surveyed…
5 Tips to Save Money on your Monthly Subscriptions
With the news that Amazon is set to increase the monthly price of its Prime service for UK customers for the first time since 2014, we look at ways in which you can save money on your monthly subscriptions... From September, Amazon Prime's subscription will go up an extra £1 to £8.99. Its annual membership…
Different Ways to Make Money Directly from Your Phone
We could all use some additional money. And, since many people spend so much time scrolling, you may as well take advantage of those fingertips and convert them into opportunities to generate money from your phone. There are several applications, tools, and resources available to assist, but it may be challenging to determine which ones…