Spotify (SPOT) has finally filed for an IPO, and it’s aiming to raise $1bn February 28, 2018 Spotify, one of the most well-known music streaming services, has finally filed for its initial public offering (IPO). The Sweden-based company is aiming to raise up to $1bn (£726m) through its much-anticipated float on the New York Stock Exchange. According to Spotify, its shares have been trading at up to $132.50 apiece on private markets [...]
Samsung Galaxy S9, Nokia 8110, Sony Xperia XZ2, Asus Zenfone 5: The biggest announcements from this year’s Mobile World Conference February 28, 2018 Samsung Galaxy S9 ETA: 16 March £739, samsung.com Place the newly announced Samsung Galaxy S9 beside last year’s Galaxy S8 and you’d be hard-pressed to spot the difference. “Shoot him,” one phone would implore during a climactic fight scene in which you must decide to execute the phone you believe to be the impostor. “I’m [...]
Tech giants like Facebook and Google face UK tax shake-up focusing on revenues rather than profit February 22, 2018 Some of the world’s largest tech firms are set to face a significant tax shake-up from the UK government. The likes of Google and Facebook could see changes in the tax system that would mean a new tax on revenues, rather than profits – a smaller figure. A Treasury minister told the BBC that the [...]
The ‘big tech’ backlash: How sustainable is the success of Google, Facebook and Amazon? February 22, 2018 In recent months it has felt like the tide is turning against big tech. Google has been fined for market abuse in the EU. Silicon Valley heads have been hauled in front of the US Senate and the UK Parliament to answer for the abuse of their platforms by extremists and Russian saboteurs. The repeal of [...]
Brussels vows to push ahead with digital tax plans aimed at tech giants like Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple February 20, 2018 Brussels is pushing ahead with digital tax plans aimed at tech giants such as Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple. The economic commissioner for Europe Pierre Moscovici said efforts are moving forward to bring the taxation of digital companies in line with traditional firms: “this is happening” he said. Read more: EU competition chief threatens tech [...]
Here’s how you can avoid getting badly burnt in the cryptocurrency revolution February 20, 2018 Investing in cryptocurrency is not for the faint-hearted – a fact that has become increasingly apparent over recent weeks. After making some impressive gains at the end of last year, nearly all the major digital currencies have since come crashing down, only to gather momentum once again. These violent swings have triggered a fresh surge [...]
Telegram initial coin offering (ICO): WhatsApp rival raises $850m in token pre-sale February 18, 2018 A controversial messaging app that rivals WhatsApp has raised millions of dollars by issuing its own version of bitcoin. Telegram is one of several tech companies that has been singled out by the UK government – along with Facebook’s WhatsApp and Apple’s iMessage – after terrorist attacks in London and Manchester last year. Messages sent [...]
Apple HomePod smart speaker review: A hell of a speaker controlled by a mildly disappointing assistant February 16, 2018 Apple rarely gets to the party first. IBM built a smartphone 15 years before the iPhone. Tablet computers have been around since the 1980s. Just about every manufacturer had a stab at a smart watch before the Apple got around to it in 2014. But the iPhone will be remembered as the smartphone, the iPad [...]
Property of the Week: The Beatles’ Mayfair mansion on Charles Street is on sale with a mews house thrown in February 16, 2018 Forget Penny Lane and suburban skies, Mayfair was the hang out of choice for the Fab Four during the height of their fame. Charles Street, in particular, as this house was owned by the Beatles’ music company, Apple Corps, in the late 60s. Charles Street, Mayfair, £9m (Click or tap on the images to see [...]
Cashless society? Apple boss Tim Cook wants to see the end of money before he dies February 14, 2018 Apple boss Tim Cook has said that he hopes to see the elimination of cash within his lifetime. He was speaking at the shareholder meeting of the world’s biggest tech company in California on Tuesday evening. But, he revealed that Apple Pay, its efforts to get people to ditch cash for digital, had not taken [...]