Category: Gadgets
Fourth generation espionage: How spy agencies are turning to Quantum computing and AI
The head of MI6, Alex Younger, says there is a need for “fourth-generation espionage” as adversaries take advantage of “blurred lines” between the cyber and physical worlds. Here are some of the ways Britain’s security services are adopting, and responding to, modern technology. – Artificial intelligence and quantum computing These are potentially valuable tools for…
ibis hotels in Switzerland offer Instagram ‘sitters’ to post your holiday photos
Hotel chain ibis has launched a new service that offers guests “social media sitters” to post holiday photos on their behalf. The service has been introduced at 16 hotels in Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland, and offers guests the chance to hire a local Instagram celebrity to take and upload photos for on their behalf.…
Snapchat ‘avoids popularity contest pressure of social media’, founder argues
Yui Mok/PA Unlike other social media platforms, Snapchat puts less pressure on people to be popular, app co-founder Evan Spiegel has argued. The 28-year-old entrepreneur believes that the social messaging app has an advantage over the likes of Facebook and Twitter because it does not include public likes or comments. “That’s…
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,…
