New documents reveal Facebook is looking to change people’s perception of the world. The firm appears to be planning for wearers of its smart glasses to be absorbed in their own ‘artificial reality’ as they go about daily life. Some critics are calling the plan ‘very black mirror’ but others welcome the tech as a new way to stay connected. Plus, Amazon’s new security drone raises privacy fears, the world’s first hydrogen powered commercial airplane takes flight, and Fortnite prepares to celebrat...
Sep 25, 2020•8 min
The UK’s health secretary, Matt Hancock, has already been forced to defend technical issues with the rollout of the contact tracing app. After months of delay, now people with older phones say they’re having issues downloading it. But Matt Hancock says this is a ‘tipping point’ in the fight against coronavirus, which is seeing a second wave across Britain. Plus, Google launches a Covid-19 data layer for maps, downloading iOS 14 could mean losing Fortnite, and a new project means you can ‘listen’...
Sep 24, 2020•7 min
Elon Musk has claimed a more affordable electric car from Tesla will be ready ‘in about three years’. But, his claim at his annual ‘Battery Day’ event did little to excite investors who wiped $50 billion from its market value. Plus, Facebook removes fake accounts that tried to disrupt US politics, Tom Cruise is heading to space, Nasa astronauts avoid a potential collision with space junks and, and Last of Us celebrations renamed amid the pandemic. Listen to our other podcasts: Women Tech Charge ...
Sep 23, 2020•8 min
Twitter is investigating after a ‘horrible experiment’ appeared to suggest its image cropping tool was racially biased. A San-Francisco-based programmer tweeted two examples of a picture where President Barack Obama was cropped out when he appeared in an image with Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, saying it was ‘another example of racism manifesting in machine learning algorithms’. Plus, a ‘crazy’ year leads to record sea ice melt in the Arctic, the Halo Infinite delay could mean new fe...
Sep 22, 2020•7 min
Britain’s top coronavirus advisers warn of a need to get new infections under control. President Trump’s WeChat ban blocked over free speech claims. TikTok gets a reprieve through a Oracle/Walmart deal and a promise to give money to US education. 28 days without spots on the sun – as we enter a new solar cycle. The asteroids flying by. China is losing Australian space tracking stations. Electric and hybrid sales over take diesel cars in the UK for the first time. Could banks verify your identity...
Sep 21, 2020•8 min
A German hospital is thought to have recorded the first death - directly or indirectly - from a ransomware attack. A woman died after the hospital’s IT systems failed following an attack by hackers and she had to be transferred to another city for treatment. Plus, 53 million tonnes of plastic waste could enter waterways every year by 2030, a new reality show plans to send the winner to outer space, the Ig Nobel prize winners are announced and, All Stars Super Mario 3D launches to mixed reviews. ...
Sep 18, 2020•7 min
Sony has revealed its PlayStation 5 will be released just two days after XBox Series X and have the same price tag as its rival. It marks the start of 2020’s next-gen console war - and Sony’s armed itself with the latest instalment of Final Fantasy as well as the highly anticipated Hogwarts Legacy . Plus, hackers target the global video game industry, the discovery of a new mass extinction event and Nasa makes a surprise discovery in the orbit of a dead star. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...
Sep 17, 2020•8 min
Apple unveiled a number of new products at its latest virtual event but its the new Fitness+ service that experts say should have rivals worried. The subscription-based workout platform runs off the Apple Watch, which saw two new models released on Tuesday evening. But, iPhone fans will have to wait a few more weeks to see any new updates. Plus, Kim Kardashian West boycotts social media, Scientific American endorses a presidential candidate for the first time and scientists discover the oldest k...
Sep 16, 2020•8 min
Nasa's so excited, it wants to make the planet a priority for space missions. And will Mars be next? the Evening Standard talks to the UCL team recreating the red planet's extreme conditions in London’s commuter belt for a future search for life. If 2020 wasn’t stressful enough, an asteroid is entering earth's orbit on Thursday. Creating super livestock from super sperms. LG’s winged phone to rival Samsung. YouTube’s TikTok rival soft-launches in India. And what are big tech companies doing to n...
Sep 15, 2020•8 min
The parent company of the video app TikTok has opted for Oracle over Microsoft after Trump forced it to sell the app. British chips bought by the Americans – they’ve promised jobs for the UK. Should social media companies be doing more to combat harmful online video? Worrying news out of Greenland as ice breaks off. Coronavirus surging again – how long can this go on for? And could Instagram start charging? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 14, 2020•7 min
US political parties were among those targeted, after Microsoft security software thwarted most of the attempts. And travel firms are also being blasted for failing to secure their websites despite previous cyberattacks. Reforms have been proposed to alter laws in the UK targeting online abuse. A new study suggests the public's confidence in vaccines is improving in the UK and Europe, but there are "hesitancy hotspots". The professional gamer, Ninja, returns to Twitch, while Ubisoft announces a ...
Sep 11, 2020•8 min
China is demanding Twitter investigate a ‘hack’ after the account of its ambassador to the UK liked a pornographic post. Liu Xiaoming retweeted an official statement condemning the ‘attack’, saying: ‘A good anvil does not fear the hammer’. Plus, Portland bans facial recognition tech, Apple makes its own face mask, the world’s animal populations are in ‘freefall’, and a search of 10 million solar systems has turned up no signs of life. Listen to our other podcasts: Women Tech Charge : interviews ...
Sep 10, 2020•8 min
Oxford scientists have had to put the stoppers on their trials of a new Covid vaccine as a UK Patient has had an adverse reaction, Apple files a counter lawsuit accusing the makers of Fortnite of being greedy, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is back - this time in virtual action, plus Sonic the Hedgehog is about to turn 30 and we could be about to get some extra added bonus games, and a very unusual earthquake appears to have rocked the states all the way from New jersey to Broo...
Sep 09, 2020•7 min
After PUBG Mobile and Mobile Lite were banned in India last week citing security concerns, the corporation now wants to work directly with the Indian government to find a solution. New reports suggest businesses of the future will be based on a mix of AI tech, and robots could be introduced to help care for the elderly after Pepper was a hit with older adults. And talking of bots, Amazon's autonomous delivery vehicle Scout has a development boost. Also, an aquanaut wants to build the marine vers...
Sep 08, 2020•7 min
UK health secretary Matt Hancock has dramatically raised hopes of a Covid-19 vaccine in the coming months. He told LBC radio it was ‘looking up’ that a jab could be available soon after trials if it's approved - potentially by early next year. Plus, Virgin Galactic’s next crewed test flight planned for October, 90s game Doom played on a pregnancy test and, cheating on Fall Guy: Ultimate Knockout to be stamped out. Listen to our other podcasts: Women Tech Charge : interviews with incredible women...
Sep 07, 2020•7 min
Experts warn Facebook’s bid to stop misinformation in the week leading up to the US election by banning paid political ads will do little to stop the organic spread of fake news. They also say - and the President agrees - it’ll limit the ability to counteract bogus claims at crunch time. Plus, the FTSE 100 makes gains despite a sudden sell off of tech stocks across the Pond, the moon is rusting and it might be Earth’s fault and, grinning turtles make a comeback. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...
Sep 04, 2020•7 min
The Center for Countering Digital Hate and Restless Development said their Failure to Act report shows social networks are failing in their own misinformation policies. A new £500-million funding package will support trials of a 20-minute test for Covid-19. Also as tensions continue to escalate between India and China along its disputed land border, the Indian government has blocked more Chinese phone apps. A quantum breakthrough means the world is one step closer to having a totally secure inte...
Sep 03, 2020•8 min
The FBI says its foiled attempts by a group with links to the Kremlin to "interfere in US public debate" with the shutdown of several accounts on Facebook and Twitter. In India, Facebook execs face a grilling over hate speech and political bias. New research suggest steroids could reduce risk of death by 20% in Covid patients, ZTE drops the worlds first Selfie camera phone and Joe Biden jumps into Animal Crossing on Nintendo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 02, 2020•7 min
New Australian media laws could mean Facebook rips news sharing from its pages there in a row over whether the social networking giant, and Google, pay for certain services, Ubisoft's apologising for imagery that showed a terrorist using a fist raised in a similar way to Black Power activists. Actress Bella Thorne says sorry for leading OnlyFans users up the garden path about $200 photographs; plus Elon Musk's latest invention for Tesla means speed limit signs will be detectable while on autopil...
Sep 01, 2020•7 min
Doctors and dentists are among medical experts in the UK warning people not try some Tik Tok beauty hacks at home. They say advice encouraging people to do things like whiten their teeth with bleach, or use eyelash glue on lips, can be harmful. Also, Amazon's new fitness band can analyse your emotions by listening to your voice, Countdown's Susie Dent's been giving Alexa lessons in local dialects, and Katy Perry's busy week's rounded off with the release of a new video game. Hosted on Acast. See...
Aug 28, 2020•5 min
Today sees the launch of the new season of Fortnite , which as teasers had previously revealed will have a Marvel theme and it’s the first time in Fortnite's history that an entire season will be themed around an existing IP. The White House has announces significant funding over the next 5 years in a dozen scientific centres dedicated to the study of artificial intelligence and quantum information science and why flat faced dog breeds popularity may be their undoing. Hosted on Acast. See acast....
Aug 27, 2020•8 min
Beijing has accused the US of sending a U-2 spy plane into a no-fly zone to "trespass" on live-fire exercises. Also, AI vs. a human fighter pilot... who won? Scientists find out how our perception of probability changes our ability to make decisions. Then in gaming, possible new modes for Call of Duty have been leaked, and ArenaNet bring Guild Wars 2 over to Steam. How much has Bella Thorne made on OnlyFans in less than a week? Could you handle less screen time if it meant winning $1000? And a 1...
Aug 26, 2020•8 min
Google’s UK boss Ronan Harris insists the tech giant will always pay the tax that it's required to… but that it was up to the government to decide on the amount. Tech firms are facing accusations they don’t pay enough in the countries where they operate but Harris says for Google, the ‘bone of contention’ is that most of their payments go to California. Plus, UK police are getting a new Taser ‘that’s more painful and has a higher risk of hitting passers-by', the Earth has lost 28 trillion tonnes...
Aug 25, 2020•8 min
Donald Trump has issued an emergency order making it easier for doctors to treat Covid-19 using the blood plasma of those who’ve recovered from the disease. But, while the president may hope this new push could help him make up ground in the polls… studies show the treatment is far from a breakthrough. Plus, AI could block harmful content as its being live streamed and, did a Russian cosmonaut spot UFOs from the ISS? Listen to our other podcasts: Women Tech Charge : interviews with incredible wo...
Aug 24, 2020•7 min
It's emerged Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg's faced more questions in congress over why the company bought rival Instagram. Netflix has apologised after thousands campaigned to get a poster for new film Cuties removed due to its portrayal of an 11 year old girl, US news providers ask Apple to take less of their profits through subscription services and China's Alibaba tries to smooth the path for long term peace with Donald Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 21, 2020•7 min
As 950,000 pupils receive their GCSE results, “the dream” is to land a job in tech, according to a new Samsung survey, Google's tackling troubles with its G-suite services including Gmail, Its official, Apple is the world's biggest company, Elon Musk’s Space X has raked in some extra funding, AirBnB's gearing up for what would be the biggest share sale of the year, and much to residents disgust Florida Keys is about to be invaded by 750 million genetically modified mosquitos. Hosted on Acast. Se...
Aug 20, 2020•8 min
Scientists think losing your sense of smell with Covid-19 could be an indication the disease affects sufferer's brains and nerve centres. Is Honey better than an antibiotic? President Trump’s TikTok battle rumbles on. Apple Music is getting a remix. Will your car be driving you to work? Do antibiotics affect birth control medicines? Meanwhile, Californian Uber users may not be able to ride from this week after a dispute over workers rights. And after a quarter of a century, we say goodbye to Int...
Aug 19, 2020•7 min
SpaceX is launching a record-breaking rocket mission, with an emphasis on recycling, Kanye West's taking on Tik Tok with ideas for a religious themed rival, the US tightens restrictions on Huawei’s access to chip technology, and Epic v Apple - who will win the gaming battle? Listen to our other podcasts: Women Tech Charge : interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths The Leader : a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important st...
Aug 18, 2020•8 min
Google pens a letter to Australians saying new laws could harm their internet freedom. The Wakashio splits in two – endangering Mauritian wildlife. Is mindfulness doing more harm than good? Facebook's under fire for alleged ‘political bias’. Cornavirus research questioning whether lockdowns are making kids more susseptible to allergies. And your country needs you! UK coronavirus vaccine trials need more people. Listen to our other podcasts: Women Tech Charge : interviews with incredible women le...
Aug 17, 2020•7 min
One of the world's most popular games on iPhones was taken down after makers Epic games offered an update that let players buy in-game currency at a lower rate if they bought direct - bypassing Apple. TikTok's US employees are planning to take on the Trump administration, as they say its executive order would make it illegal for their employer to pay them, but the administration has yet to reply to the accusations and find out why life’s a beach with new tech for flip flops. Listen to our other ...
Aug 14, 2020•8 min
