Why FinTech is the key to a much-needed makeover in African aid February 10, 2015 Aid in Africa is big business, but one that is often mired in scepticism. Global companies pour money in through corporate responsibility programmes, alongside government aid, which can be accused of supporting private sector ambitions too closely. Some estimate that every £1 in aid costs the same to administer. This means that the sector is [...]
London FinTech startup Kantox flies past $1bn forex transfers thanks to currency woes and economic uncertainty February 9, 2015 Businesses hit by currency volatility and worried by economic uncertainty are increasingly turning to alternative finance services, helping one London FinTech startup fly. Kantox, a peer-to-peer forex platform for business, has flown past $1bn (£657bn) in currency transfers since setting up shop in the capital in 2011 with an astonishing 20 per cent of that- [...]
ESA races ahead in space travel with Europe’s first space taxi launch February 9, 2015 Until its Space Shuttle programme was closed down in 2007, the US was the dominant force in the development of space taxis. Operated by Nasa, the 40-metre-long vehicles delivered satellites into space, conducted science experiments in orbit and helped construct the International Space Station. At the time, Europe had created nothing capable of [...]
Alibaba moves into smartphone market with £400m investment February 9, 2015 Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has bought a $590m (£388m) minority stake in Chinese smartphone maker Meizu. The move signals Alibaba’s first major foray into smartphone hardware as it looks to build a platform for its YunOS mobile operating system. In a joint statement, the two companies said they will collaborate “to achieve [...]
Samsung admits its Smart TV will capture your personal conversations and send it to third parties February 8, 2015 Samsung’s Smart TV is a pretty swish product. It comes with on-demand TV, mobile applications and a screen resolution four times higher than average HD. The one setback? You just need to make sure you don’t hold any private conversations in front of the internet-connected TV, as its voice recognition technology will record your [...]
UK becoming a tech nation led by London boom February 4, 2015 Brits working in the digital and technology sectors now account for 7.5 per cent of the entire UK workforce, some 1.46m people. Tech is the country’s fastest-growing occupation category. Of this growth, London’s tech cluster, which itself has seen an explosive 92 per cent growth in the number of new digital companies since 2010, is the [...]
Total Amateur: Boost your mobile photography and video skills with these super-snappy camera gadgets February 4, 2015 iBlazr £29.99 Ever wanted to take a selfie in the dark? With most smartphones it’s impossible, as the flash only works for the camera facing away from the screen. The multifunctional Iblazr flash can help. Four LEDs plug into the headphones jack and can be synced with iOS or Android smartphones and tablets using the [...]
Get even more from your smartphone pix February 4, 2015 You’ve taken the picture – but that’s just the beginning. Now you can make sure every aspect of it is perfect with these smart apps. Camera360 Free, iOS and Android This app not only allows you to put a host of filters on your pictures – it also allows you to improve your face. By [...]
Ebola cases rise for the first time in 2015 in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia February 4, 2015 Cases of the deadly disease have increased for the first time in 2015 after weeks of encouraging declines. The number of new cases rose last week in all three of the hardest hit West African countries affected by the outbreak, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. Aid worker’s efforts are still being hampered by unsafe [...]
Penta-graphene: Scientists simulate what could be the strongest super-material yet February 4, 2015 It is incredibly strong, mechanically stable and capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures. Penta-graphene is the latest super-material to be simulated by scientists, and it could prove to be even more useful than graphene – the carbon-based super-conductor whose strength and flexibility have caused a stir ever since it was discovered in 2004. [...]