Consumers, beware the consequences of blocking ads August 13, 2015 Blocking the ads we see on the Internet may sound like a very appealing prospect to many readers, but the reality is that there are long-term consequences that the majority of people simply aren't aware of. People don’t expect to pay to access to internet services they so dearly love, such as Facebook, Twitter, emails, [...]
Your future commute: Forget wearables, the tech trend of the moment is rideables August 13, 2015 ZBOARD From $1,199, zboardshop.com This weight-sensing electric skateboard is the brainchild of five US engineers from the University of Southern California who wanted a device that’s easier to ride than a skateboard, but less taxing than a bike. Funded by a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $600,000, there’s even a Zboard 2 out now [...]
Twitter drops 140 character limit on direct messages August 13, 2015 Behold, social media fans: a revolution has taken place, after Twitter announced plans to scrap its 140-character limit. Well, on direct messages, anyway… Read more: Jack Dorsey just bought $875,000 of Twitter shares Yep: in a blog post last night, Sachin Agarwal, a product manager at the company, confirmed Twitterers can now "chat on (and on)" [...]
Finally, the world’s first reversible micro-USB cable is here, from startup MicFlip August 12, 2015 Android users, you know the struggle: Trying to connect your phone to a charger in the dark, but always getting it wrong side up. Well, now you can wave goodbye to that first-world problem, as a company called MicFlip has designed the world’s first reversible micro-USB charger, meaning there is no more “right” or “wrong” [...]
Alibaba share price plummets on disappointing revenue figures August 12, 2015 Alibaba's share price is set for a continued slump after its revenue and sales growth came in weaker than expected in the first quarter. The figures The Chinese e-commerce company's stock opened over seven per cent down on the New York Stock Exchange this morning after it reported a 28 per cent increase in revenue [...]
Quiz: How well do you know Google’s Alphabet? August 12, 2015 Is it as easy as ABC? As Google transformed into Alphabet, the rest of its vast empire that isn't the money-spinning search or advertising side took the spotlight. We've put together this fiendishly tough quiz so you can test just how well you know the mysterious and ever so slightly secretive Alphabet. Think you know [...]
Uber offices raided in Hong Kong after driver arrests in illegal taxi crackdown August 11, 2015 Uber's offices in Hong Kong have been raided by police following the arrest of five drivers in the country. An operation cracking down on illegal taxis lead to the arrests, AP reports citing a police statement. The drivers are being held on suspicion of illegally carrying passengers and driving without insurance, it said. It's just [...]
Google name change to Alphabet shocks Wall Street August 11, 2015 Google stunned investors last night by unveiling a radical restructuring that will see it become part of a holding company named Alphabet. Shares in the global tech giant jumped in after-hours trading after co-founder Larry Page published a blog post detailing the new plans. The move is designed to differentiate between Google’s core [...]
Gene-editing startup Editas just raised $120m from Bill Gates, Google Ventures and 12 other investors August 10, 2015 A gene-editing startup has just raised $120m to learn more about replacing faulty genes, gaining support from Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates and 13 other investors. The startup Editas Medicine want to tackle grave illnesses by removing our defective genes, and plan to use the recently raised capital to study a new technology that could finally [...]
Lexus hoverboard video: Manufacturer says it has created a levitating board called Slide, using superconducting magnets August 10, 2015 Has Lexus just created a hoverboard? The company has released details of a “frictionless movement” vehicle called Slide, which it says uses magnets inside a chassis to levitate. The Lexus Hoverboard operates using magnetic levitation to achieve amazing frictionless movement. Liquid nitrogen cooled superconductors and permanent magnets combine to allow Lexus to create the impossible. [...]