Kape and ExpressVPN agree near $1bn deal after pandemic fuels cybersecurity demand September 13, 2021 Cybersecurity firm Kape has agreed to a nearly $1bn buyout of private network operate ExpressVPN ahead of a capital rally to help fund the deal. The deal, worth around $936m (£676m), should see the enlarged group’s annual revenue climb to as much as $624m next year. Kape is set to raise some $354m through [...]
Apple sales worth billions of dollars at risk after App Store ruling September 11, 2021 Apple has been declared “anticompetitive” by a US judge who has ruled that the tech giant must let developers use alternative payment methods, according to widespread reports. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said Apple “engaged in anticompetitive conduct” by stopping apps from using payment methods other than its own, which charges fees of up to 30 [...]
Facebook accused of gender discrimination in job adverts September 9, 2021 Campaign groups have accused Facebook of breaking UK equality laws by allegedly allowing businesses to target job ads based on gender. Campaign group Global Witness submitted complaints to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and Information Commissioner, after finding that posts for jobs, traditionally associated with particular genders such as mechanics or psychologists, were [...]
Game over: China suspends approval for all new online video games September 9, 2021 China has suspended approval for all new online games in a bid to curb a gaming addiction among young people, the South China Morning Post reports this afternoon. Watch the full report.
Is Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes a villain? No, she is just naive, says her lawyer September 9, 2021 Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is not a villain but rather a hard-working, young and naive businesswoman whose company simply failed, her lawyer told jurors at the former Silicon Valley star’s trial on fraud charges involving the now-defunct blood-testing startup once valued at $9bn. Watch the full report.
Auto Moves: Ford poaches Apple car project lead Doug Field September 8, 2021 The leading vice president behind Apple’s car project, Doug Field, has reportedly been poached by rival car manufacturer Ford. Field, a veteran in the automotive industry, most recently served as vice president of special projects at Apple and was formerly senior vice president of engineering at Tesla. Set to lead Ford’s software and connectivity strategy, [...]
Intel to inject up to €80bn into its chip making capabilities amid drought September 8, 2021 Technology heavyweight Intel is looking to invest as much as €80bn into shifting its focus onto bolstering its chip making capacity, amid a global shortage. Semi-conductor chip supplies, which are used in a wide variety of electrical products, have dwindled during the pandemic. But Intel’s boss, Pat Gelsinger, said the company is due to announce [...]
UK chip maker takeover by Chinese firm halted on ‘national security grounds’ September 7, 2021 The merger between UK-based chip maker Perpetuus Group China’s Taurus International has been halted by the business secretary on “national security grounds”. Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng on Sunday issued a public interest intervention notice to intervene in the proposed acquisition. The Competition and Markets Authority is now set to form a report into the transaction [...]
US Nvidia’s $54bn UK Arm buyout faces EU competition concerns September 7, 2021 European Union officials have reportedly voiced competition concerns over US tech giant Nvidia’s purchase of UK chip design company Arm, in the deal’s latest wave of opposition. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) echoed the EU’s sentiment last month, saying the sale raises “serious competition concerns.” The California-based company is preparing to file for regulatory [...]
World’s first roboworms: Glasgow scientists develop stretchy robot worms September 6, 2021 UK scientists have developed stretchy wormlike robots inspired by the movements of worms which could be used in the fields of industry and prosthetics. A team of engineers from the University of Glasgow say the “roboworms” can stretch up to nine times their own length and are capable of a form of proprioception, the method [...]