Manufactured by TCT with BlackBerry’s version of Android, new BlackBerry Press gets teaser before Las Vegas reveal at CESBlackBerry may have stopped making smartphones, but that hasn’t stopped BlackBerry smartphones from being made, with one expected to be called the BlackBerry Press to be announced at CES in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
As a Peter Thiel-funded group moves to build a colony in a local lagoon, residents fear wealthy Americans just want to use their home to avoid taxesA futuristic plan to build a floating techno-libertarian city in a French Polynesian lagoon has left some local residents worried they could be the next unsuspecting inhabitants of a peaceful planet in a science-fiction movie.“It reminds me of the innocent Ewoks of the moon of Endor who saw in the Galactic Empire a providential manna,†said Tahitian TV host Alexandre Taliercio. “They let them build what they wanted on earth and in orbit, but that’s not to say that the Empire shared the blueprints of the Death Star with them.†Continue reading...
Do you want to see more gigs, get more sleep, keep a diary, or learn a language this year? Here’s a roundup of the best goal-oriented appsBookout (iOS – free)
The president-elect has repeatedly proven that an understanding of the complex problems presented by technology eludes him, but that hasn’t stopped him tweeting about it. The consequences could be direTechnology? Bah humbug: “I think we ought to get on with our lives,†said Donald Trump on Wednesday, summing up his take on the complex problem of apparently Russian phishing attacks on multiple Democratic party groups during the 2016 election.As the White House’s current resident prepared to impose sanctions on Russia for hacking, Trump said: “I think that computers have complicated lives very greatly. The whole age of computer has made it where nobody knows exactly what’s going on.†Continue reading...
Alexa v Siri | Why so prudish? | Snow shame | Monster Raving classroom sizes | Floundering over FlanderSamuel Gibbs’ piece about the internet of things (How I turned my home into a sci-fi dream, theguardian.com, 24 December) omits an important warning: Alexa and Siri must never be left alone in the same room. The Bluetooth/Wi-Fi version of scratching each other’s eyes out is not pretty, but only Siri has that blood-curdling scream.
The International Drone Robot Contest is taking place in Incheon in South Korea. Humanoid bots battle it out in a martial arts contest while drones and rolling robots complete physical tasks. Six hundred pupils are taking part in the competition, which began on Tuesday Continue reading...
From the high-end Oculus Rift to Google and Samsung’s cheaper offerings, VR is aiming for the mainstream. What next?Virtual Reality is ... well, real. The last year has seen the launch of every major VR platform, from high-quality tethered systems like HTC’s Vive and Facebook’s Oculus Rift, through to cheap-and-cheerful smartphone-based platforms like Google’s Daydream and Samsung’s Gear VR.The early adopters have bought in, the launch games have been launched, and now that the initial flurry of excitement has died down, the more pressing questions are left: how will the platforms evolve? What will you actually be able to do with them? And is VR just a stepping stone anyway, to the even more science-fiction future of augmented reality tech? Continue reading...
The social network says it must encourage better behaviour otherwise users will stop using itIt is widely held that people are meaner on the internet than in person. Now Facebook is attempting to teach its users how to play nice.Its newly updated safety centre, including its “bullying prevention hub†are central to its strategy to improve the quality of discourse on the platform – for the sake of its future as much as for its users’ experience. Continue reading...
An open letter is urging the online retailer to follow Walmart and drop the sale of the T-shirt, which carries the words ‘Bulletproof: Black Lives Matter’The biggest US police union is pressing Amazon to follow Walmart and remove from third-party sale a shirt that seeks profit in relation to the Black Lives Matter protest movement.
For decades, sci-fi has told us voice operation is the way forward. Now AI butlers are here – and you don’t have to be Mark Zuckerberg do build your ownThe Internet of Things is here, they cried. Great, but do I really have to pull out my smartphone to do everything? Pushing a button was so much easier. Can’t I just talk to my house now? Can I scream “red alert†and have my lights flash red? The Star Trek dream.For decades we’ve been shown that voice is the future. From Star Trek’s computer to Iron Man’s Jarvis, science fiction has put voice control at the forefront of man-machine interaction. But until recently the best we could do was shout at a smartphone and hope for the best. Continue reading...
Company is taking its fleet of self-driving cars to Phoenix at the governor’s invitation, after California regulators struck down the unauthorized trialOne week after launching its self-driving pilot program in its home town of San Francisco, Uber is packing up its failed trial and taking its fleet of autonomous vehicles to Phoenix, Arizona.“Our cars departed for Arizona this morning by truck,†an Uber spokesperson said in a statement. “We’ll be expanding our self-driving pilot there in the next few weeks, and we’re excited to have the support of Governor Ducey.†Continue reading...
Growing concerns of fake news on the social network see CEO relent on protest that Facebook is not a media companyFacebook’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, appears to have finally conceded that the social network is a media company, just not a “traditional media companyâ€.In a video chat with Facebook’s COO, Sheryl Sandberg, Zuckerberg said: “Facebook is a new kind of platform. It’s not a traditional technology company. It’s not a traditional media company. You know, we build technology and we feel responsible for how it’s used.
Stuart is getting his daughter a Windows 10 laptop for Christmas, and would like some advice on setting it upMy daughter has asked for a Windows laptop for Christmas, for schoolwork and games. I used to follow the same procedure when setting up a PC for the first time: I’d install AVG anti-virus, Zone Alarm, CCleaner, Spybot Search and Destroy etc. I’m a Mac user and haven’t set up a Windows machine for many years so I’d appreciate any advice … except “get her a Mac/Linux†from below the line! StuartWindows 10 already includes almost everything the average PC user needs, with three different types of software. First, there are traditional Windows programs such as WordPad. Second, there are new-style apps such as Mail and Sticky Notes. Third, there are in-browser programs that work with your log-on email address, which is your Microsoft Account. Continue reading...
by Justin McCurry in Tokyo and agencies on (#2664Q)
Honda says proposed deal with Google’s parent company did not mean abandoning its own efforts to develop driving systemHonda and Google’s parent company, Alphabet, are in formal talks to develop self-driving vehicles, the Japanese carmaker said on Thursday, months after the US firm signed a deal to use its technology in Fiat Chrysler minivans.The prospect of a deal between Honda and Alphabet’s self-driving unit Waymo, which was spun off from Google earlier this month, is part of attempts by some car manufacturers to address the high cost of developing reliable automation software by teaming up with technology firms rather than going it alone. Continue reading...
Kickstarter-funded game blends physical and digital gameplay, with a stack of animals finding hybrid forms in a companion appThis Christmas, don’t expect to see Sir David Attenborough balancing an octopus on top of a warthog while trying to mate a toucan with a shark. Although if the BBC needs a festive ratings boost, it’s a thought.You might see it happen on your kitchen table, though, if you own Beasts of Balance. The new augmented board game sits somewhere in between Jenga and Skylanders, with your efforts to build a tower of animals reflected in the digital world of its companion app. Continue reading...
The company is accused of breaching labour laws with its internal policy banning workers from writing about workplace concernsGoogle is being sued over its internal confidentiality policies which bar employees from putting in writing concerns over “illegal†activity, posting opinions about the company, and even writing novels “about someone working at a tech company in Silicon Valley†without first giving their employer sign-off on the final draft.
Ministers propose measures to prevent potential collisions with passenger jets and increase in fines for violating ‘no-fly zones’Anyone who buys a drone in the UK may have to register it and take a safety test under new measures to prevent potential collisions with passenger jets.Measures proposed by ministers also include criminal liability for anyone who flies a drone in “no-fly zones†surrounding airports and prisons, and an increase in fines, which currently cannot exceed £2,500. Continue reading...
Kurt Eichenwald, who has epilepsy and is an outspoken Trump critic, called on Twitter to identify person responsible for a tweet he says led to personal injuryA Newsweek reporter who has epilepsy said he had a seizure after being sent a message on Twitter intended to trigger such an episode and is seeking information from the social media company to identify the person responsible for the tweet.The image in question – which included a strobe effect and the words, “You deserve a seizure for your posts†– was apparently sent in response to Kurt Eichenwald’s outspoken criticism of President-elect Donald Trump. Eichenwald, who has a home in Texas, said in court documents that the image triggered a seizure. Continue reading...
New standards could reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 65m tonnes by 2030, government claimsThe Turnbull government has opened discussions on new fuel efficiency standards for vehicles which it says could cut consumer fuel spending by up to $28bn by 2040.
by Olivia Solon and Sam Levin in San Francisco on (#25WK9)
Gurbaksh Chahal got NIN Ventures gig less than six months after he was given a year in jail for violating probation by allegedly assaulting second womanGurbaksh Chahal, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who pleaded guilty to assault after police said he punched and kicked his girlfriend 117 times in 2013, has been appointed an adviser at a venture capital firm, something domestic violence organizations say sends a “disturbing messageâ€.The appointment by Chicago-headquartered NIN Ventures comes less than six months after Chahal was sentenced to a year in jail for violating his probation by allegedly assaulting a second woman months after pleading guilty to the first case. His sentence is suspended pending an appeal. Continue reading...
This film adaptation of the successful videogame, in which Fassbender must battle Templars after the original apple from Eden, is an interminable, lifeless mess“What the fuck is going on?†mutters Michael Fassbender’s character through clenched teeth, reasonably early on in the course of this interminable film, based on the lucrative video game series Assassin’s Creed. You can imagine each of its stars – Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Essie Davis – saying much the same thing while looking through the script, before being directed to the fee on the last page of their contract. It’s an action movie, with dollops of thriller and splodges of Dan Brown conspiracy; and hardly five minutes go by without someone in a monk’s outfit doing a bit of sub-parkour jumping from the roof of one building to another. And yet it is at all times mysteriously, transcendentally boring.I bet playing the game is much more exciting. But then getting Fassbender to slap a coat of Dulux on the wall of his hi-tech prison cell and monitoring the progressive moisture-loss would be more exciting.
by Owen Bowcott, legal affairs correspondent on (#25SW4)
Ombudsman role would serve to protect companies from spurious complaints and prevent excessive censorshipFrance is considering appointing an official internet ombudsman to regulate complaints about online material in order to prevent excessive censorship and preserve free speech.A bill establishing a “content qualification assessment procedure†has been tabled in the French senate and the initiative was debated last week at a high level meeting attended by senators and judges as well as policy officers from Google and Twitter. Continue reading...
Treasury select committee says existing vulnerabilities and accountability need to be addressed in the wake of Tesco Bank hackingMore action may be needed to protect the financial services industry from a devastating cyber-attack, the head of the Treasure select committee has suggested.Andrew Tyrie MP wrote to Ciaran Martin, head of the new cybersecurity centre of UK surveillance agency GCHQ, saying the lines of responsibility and accountability for reducing cyber-threats are opaque. Continue reading...
by Olivia Solon and Julia Carrie Wong in San Francisc on (#25J2N)
Operation prompted scrutiny about process and site’s apparent unwillingness to pay for fact-checking that relies on users and non-partisan organizationsFacebook’s new effort to flag news deemed to be “fake†began on Friday, as new questions emerged about the limitations of the system the social media giant has put in place to outsource the fact-checking process.The tech company’s decision to swiftly test a system to identify fraudulent news stories has won plaudits from fact-checking experts, including some involved in the project. Continue reading...
President Barack Obama says the US will retaliate against Russian cyber-attacks during the presidential election. Speaking in an interview aired on National Public Radio on Friday, Obama says he has spoken to Vladimir Putin about the issue. The CIA says it has evidence that Russia intended to influence the US election in Donald Trump’s favour
Press secretary Josh Earnest argued Donald Trump knew Russia was engaged in cyber-attacks, and Trump went on the attack at a Pennsylvania rally to label him ‘foolish’
Over the course of a year, our tester tried several pairs of cable-free earbuds. Fledgling technology with plenty of flaws – are any worth your money?Completely wireless earbuds are the future of in-ear music, freeing us from the shackles of cables even between the ears. But while many have tried to make wireless earbuds that work, very few actually do. Others haven’t even got theirs to market yet, with even Apple being forced to delay its AirPods for six weeks. Continue reading...
Benchmark Akamai report ranks Australia 50 globally on average connection speed and 57th on peak connection speedThe company that operates the national broadband network has downplayed new findings on global internet speeds that show Australia continues to lag behind other Asia-Pacific countries.Akamai released its third-quarter “State of the Internet†connectivity report, acknowledged as a benchmark for broadband performance within the industry, on Thursday. Continue reading...
Wheeler, who championed strong net neutrality rules, will likely be replaced by a more conservative FCC chairman under Donald TrumpFederal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler, who championed strong net neutrality rules, resigned on Thursday, calling his service “during this period of historical technological change†a particular honor.“It has been a privilege to work with my fellow commissioners to help protect consumers, strengthen public safety and cybersecurity, and ensure fast, fair and open networks for all Americans,†Wheeler wrote. Continue reading...
by Roland De Wolk in Mountain View, California on (#25D78)
The Martinellis try to preserve their family history and the agricultural spirit of the valley that is now surrounded on all sides by the tech companyA Bay Area family is holding on to its ramshackle farmstead in the heart of Google’s sprawling headquarters despite reason to believe it has been offered $5m to $7m by the tech giant for the tiny patch of land.The land – which is home to battered pickups, a crumbling ice house, and a handful of renters – is now surrounded on all sides by the tech company’s more than 25-acre campus in Mountain View, California. Continue reading...
The latest incident to emerge – which happened in 2013 – is probably distinct from the breach of 500m user accounts in 2014Yahoo said on Wednesday it had discovered another major cyber attack, saying data from more than 1bn user accounts was compromised in August 2013, making it the largest such breach in history.The number of affected accounts was double the number implicated in a 2014 breach that the internet company disclosed in September and blamed on hackers working on behalf of a government. Continue reading...
Louise Haigh, Labour MP for Sheffield Heeley, tells parliament on Wednesday that an internet troll told her he ‘would not rest until I was murdered’ after she proposed a debate on the far-right group Britain First. Police are investigating the threats
From using unique passwords for everything to utilising two-step verification and enabling encryption, here’s how to guard your privacy and stay safeWhat: Stop kidding yourself that you only re-use passwords on accounts that don’t matter, or that you have an unbreakable password scheme that no one else can guess. Every single thing with a password needs to have a unique password, shared with nothing else. Continue reading...
Writer Kate Gray spent the year exploring indie game events around Europe; what she learned about creativity and community has left a lasting impressionOver the summer, I spent a month at Stugan, a Swedish “game development acceleration campâ€. That may sound like a faintly sinister concept, but it was in fact stupidly idyllic. The eight-week event, organised by alumni from game publishers Rovio and King, took place in adorable red wooden cabins perched on a hill overlooking a lake – apparently called “Bjursenâ€, although we just called it The Lake, because we couldn’t pronounce anything correctly. While not working on our game development projects, we watched meteor showers from a nearby mountaintop, swam beneath the Northern Lights, and sat around a campfire getting sloshed on schnapps.The Stugan attendees were from all over the world, but we’d ended up in this tiny corner of Scandinavia, brought together by the one thing we shared: the desire to create and play video games. I turned up three weeks late, and already an outsider as the only journalist, but within a few days I felt like I’d been welcomed as one of the team. There with me were people like Ivan Notaros, an incredibly talented Serbian developer who was ostensibly making a game called House of Flowers based on his experience and knowledge of the war in Yugoslavia in the 90s, but spent much of his time making tiny games, procedurally generated art, and incredible low-res photogrammetry of us as a group. There were Michael and Laura, a married team who were making a game despite being animators rather than programmers, using their artistic style to inform what their project, Thin Air, would become. Continue reading...
ISPs must ‘take reasonable steps to disable access’ to Pirate Bay, Torrentz, TorrentHound, IsoHunt and streaming service SolarMovieThe federal court has ordered internet providers to block major illegal download or torrenting websites, such as Pirate Bay and Torrentz, in a bid to crack down on online copyright infringement.Justice John Nicholas handed down his judgment on Thursday afternoon in Sydney, ordering internet service providers to “take reasonable steps to disable access†to Pirate Bay, Torrentz, TorrentHound, IsoHunt and the streaming service SolarMovie within 15 working days. Continue reading...
In the run-up to the US election, aide to John Podesta spotted phishing email but flagged it as ‘legitimate’ instead of ‘illegitimate’Russian hackers were able to access thousands of emails from a top-ranking Democrat after an aide typed the word “legitimate†instead of “illegitimate†by mistake, an investigation by the New York Times has found.The revelation gives further credence to the CIA’s finding last week that the Kremlin deliberately intervened in the US presidential election to help Donald Trump. The president-elect has angrily denied the CIA’s assessment, calling it “ridiculousâ€. Continue reading...
Standalone unit Waymo will have more power to set its own priorities, but move comes after key employees walked awayGoogle’s self-driving cars have graduated from the company’s “moonshot divisionâ€, X labs, to become a full-blown subsidiary of umbrella group Alphabet, called Waymo.The new company, headed by X alumni John Krafcik, is charged with turning the self-driving car technology that Google has been developing behind closed doors into a viable business for the future. Continue reading...
As factory manager in the 1970s for Pye Unicam, a manufacturer of scientific instruments in Cambridge, my dad, Bill MacKenzie, introduced advanced equipment from around the world. His talents were noticed by Philips when they bought the company in the mid-1970s, and Bill’s international career began.For 20 years Bill, who has died aged 82, managed and modernised factories for Philips in Turkey, Venezuela, Brazil and Quebec. He was an excellent linguist, and his success and achievements were due in part to communicating with his teams in their own languages. However, he was also a forward thinker, practising corporate social responsibility long before it became commonplace. His genuine desire to improve conditions for people working in those factories earned their admiration and respect. Continue reading...
Sharing economy helping to mitigate blows dealt by 2008 financial crisis and dwindling middle class that Trump warned about, says head of global policyAirbnb says it is a solution to the problem of growing middle-class inequality that Donald Trump campaigned on, as it attempts to persuade local governments around the world of what it has to offer.Chris Lehane, head of global policy, told media in Sydney on Tuesday that a struggling middle class was a concern for both the Democrats and the Republican party in the recent presidential election campaign. Continue reading...
Patients and staff use a wide range of new technologies, from smart watches to virtual gaming. Let’s see how the NHS can use itImagine a world where doctors and nurses glance at their watch to see patient updates, where virtual reality headsets are used to consult on medical procedures, or where patients could interact with their doctor through their television or media console.All of this, and a great deal more, is achievable with the technology we have today, but both the NHS and its technology suppliers are yet to embrace what’s possible and make these scenarios happen. Continue reading...