Alibaba invests $1bn in cloud computing arm Aliyun to compete with Amazon Web Services July 29, 2015 Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is planning a $1bn push into the cloud, taking on Amazon by expanding its cloud computing unit Aliyun into international markets. The company, often described as the “Chinese Ebay”, is expanding its cloud computing arm from its current bases in China and Silicon Valley to the Middle East, Europe and Japan, [...]
Amazon proposes drone-designated airspace for commercial deliveries July 29, 2015 Amazon wants a designated airspace zone for drone deliveries, the company told a Nasa convention in California yesterday. Read more: Five reasons delivery drones won't take off Under the company's plans, a slice of the sky between 200ft and 400ft would be designated for whirring drones zipping past each other to deliver parcels. In order to avoid [...]
ING Netherlands bank uses voice biometrics to allow customers to log in to online banking using just their voice July 29, 2015 Online banking can be a chore, largely thanks to the process of remembering complicated pin codes, secret questions or passwords. Shouldn't there be an easier way? If you live in the Netherlands, there is, after a bank in the country introduced a system which allows customers to log into online banking using just their voice. [...]
It’s in the science – here are six proven ways you can make someone fall in love with you July 28, 2015 We've all heard about “The Game” – the so-called ultimate guide for men looking to become God's gift to women. Needless to say, the rules rarely manage to turn their female targets weak at the knees. Read more: It turns out the marketing industry's oldest adage isn't true: Sex doesn't sell Similarly, Glamour magazine's recent “13 [...]
HSBC and First Direct customers can finally use Apple Pay July 28, 2015 The mobile payment system launched in the UK in mid-July to great excitement, but not all banks supported it from the start. Although HSBC was supposed to be a launch partner, when the day came, customers were told the service had been delayed, and that the bank was “working hard” to get it running by [...]
Mobile network switching is about to get much easier thanks to Ofcom July 28, 2015 Switching your mobile network provider is about to get much easier as the regulator looks at changing the rules because companies are currently making it too difficult switch. Ofcom last month introduced new rules making it easier for people to switch broadband providers and is now looking at a similar move when it comes to [...]
Nike partially refunds FuelBand customers to settle lawsuit alleging wristband claims are inaccurate July 28, 2015 Nike will give partial refunds to customers who bought its FuelBand fitness tracker in the past three-and-half years, settling a lawsuit which alleged the device was inaccurate. The wristband, which costs around £100 in the UK, was designed in collaboration with Apple to keep track of a users' sleep patterns, calories burned and steps taken, [...]
Best UK mobile network: EE crowned fastest and most reliable mobile operator against Vodafone, Three and O2 in study by RootMetrics July 28, 2015 Here’s some news that’ll put a smile on any EE customer’s face: the operator has been crowned the best-performing mobile network in the UK in an independent study by RootMetrics. EE won a clean sweep of all categories, providing customers with both the best speed and reliability. But competitor Three proved a strong rival, coming [...]
London food delivery startup Deliveroo takes away $70m series C funding from Greenoaks Capital, Index Ventures, Accel and Hoxton Ventures July 28, 2015 A London startup which delivers food from some of Britain's favourite high-street restaurants such as Wagamama and Gourmet Burger Kitchen straight to your door, has landed $70m (£45m) of new investment to expand internationally, including backing from the firm behind Just Eat. Deliveroo's series C round was led by Greenoaks Capital and existing investor Index [...]
Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking and Steve Wozniak call for ban on killer robots warning “the stakes are high” July 28, 2015 As far as we're aware, the Terminator was never brought to a halt by a petition. But that hasn't stopped more than 1,000 high profile artificial intelligence experts attempting pretty much that. Tesla’s Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Google DeepMind chief executive Demis Hassabis and professor Stephen Hawking are among those to have [...]