Japan is about to start trialling driverless cars under the guise of “Robot Taxis”, and hopes they’ll be on its roads by 2020 October 5, 2015 Robot taxis are about to be put to the test in Japan – and they could be introduced onto Tokyo's roads by 2020. Robot Taxi, a joint venture by mobile internet firm DeNA and driverless car technology company ZMP, has been given the green light to start tests in 2016, a spokesperson from ZMP [...]
The world is cutting its carbon emissions – but which countries are doing the most to help? October 3, 2015 Today, India revealed its plan to signficantly cut its carbon emissions by 2030. In its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution plan, it says it will reduce the release of harmful gases by between 33 and 35 per cent relative to 2005 levels over the next 15 years. It isn't the only country to deliver [...]
Scientists come a step closer to creating the world’s first male contraceptive pill – but there’s a strong chance the pharma industry won’t be thrilled October 2, 2015 For years, scientists have attempted to create a male version of the contraceptive pill. They haven't quite managed it yet, but a new discovery by a group of researchers at Osaka University in Japan has given them a big push in the right direction. By carrying out tests in mice, they managed to [...]
TV wars: Amazon banishes Google Chromecast and Apple TV to “avoid confusion” as it focuses on Prime October 1, 2015 Is this the new war of the smartphones? Amazon, which has increasingly placed a focus on its Prime Instant Video TV offering, has banished Apple and Google's TV streaming offerings from its shelves. Businessweek reported today that the company has decided to stop stocking both the Apple TV (a new version of which is due [...]
Why middle age is the unhappiest time of your life (but things get better after 65) October 1, 2015 They say school years are the best of a person's life – but what about the worst? A researcher has suggested people are at their lowest ebb during middle age – although there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Dr Ioana Ramia, a researcher at the University of New South Wales, said [...]
Mike Lynch launches $150m lawsuit against Hewlett-Packard in UK High Court October 1, 2015 Another chapter in the never-ending saga that is Hewlett-Packard's fight with former Autonomy boss Mike Lynch, after Lynch announced today he was launching a $150m lawsuit against the US printer manufacturer in Britain's High Court. In a statement today, Lynch accused HP of making "many statements that were highly damaging to me and misleading to [...]
Hailo sides with London cabbies in Uber dispute as it ditches private hire October 1, 2015 The battle between black cabs and taxi apps has just ramped up another notch. Hailo, a mobile app which lets users hail a black cab or private minicab, today announced it had resigned its private license and is returning to black cabs only in London. This comes as Transport for London is initiating a consultation on [...]
Tesla Model X SUV price and release date UK : Everything you need to know about Elon Musk’s new electric car priced at £90,000 October 1, 2015 Three years after it first unveiled the prototype, Silicon Valley electric car makers Tesla have finally launched the Model X. It's the company's third car and has arrived two years later than initially planned due to difficulties posed by the ambitious design behind the world's first luxury electric SUV. Tesla are now taking reservations with [...]
Starbucks lets you order coffee via mobile app in London stores September 30, 2015 Londoners rejoice, no longer will you have to queue for a coffee – in Starbucks at least. The coffee chain is introducing a new service which will let you order your cup of joe via mobile, meaning you can avoid having to queue with everyone else and just pick it up when you walk in. [...]
Twitter set to name Jack Dorsey as new permanent chief executive September 30, 2015 Twitter's search for a new chief executive may have finally come to an end, and it turns out it didn't have to look too far. The social media site is set to make current interim boss and co-founder Jack Dorsey its permanent chief executive, according to tech website Re/Code. Twitter are reportedly poised to make [...]