ShinyShiny tech roundup: Facebook blames ‘faulty configuration change’ for outage
Facebook has blamed a “faulty configuration change” for an outage that prevented the company’s 3.5 billion users from accessing its apps and services, including Whatsapp and Instagram, for nearly six hours. The platforms crashed on Monday afternoon, with users unable to send or receive messages or refresh their news feeds. In a Facebook post after the service had been restored, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg wrote: “Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger are coming back online now. “Sorry for the disruption today – I know how much you rely on our services to stay connected with the people you care about.” Security experts have said an inadvertent mistake or sabotage by an insider were both plausible reasons for the unprecedented outage. Sky News
Nearly $50bn (£36.7bn) was wiped off Facebook’s value after its social media platforms went down for several hours due to a “faulty configuration change”. Facebook and Instagram were partially reconnected to users around the world around 10.45pm on Monday, nearly six hours into a global outage. Facebook issued an apology for the outage which impacted the social media giant, along with Instagram and WhatsApp, which Facebook also owns. Facebook Engineering said in a statement on Twitter late on Monday: “To the huge community of people and businesses around the world who depend on us: we’re sorry. Telegraph
Sky’s “something magical” is a new product range called Sky Glass, and taking pride of place is a Sky-branded QLED TV with Sky TV built in. That’s according to ISPreview.co.uk. It’s claimed the TV will let you watch Sky channels without the need for a satellite dish. Sky has been talking about streaming its channels via broadband for years, and has launched such a service in Italy, Austria and Germany. But Sky Glass would be a whole different proposition. The TVs will come in 43, 55- and 65-inch sizes, according to ISPreview‘s sources, and will come with built-in Dolby Atmos soundbars and 4K and HDR support. What HiFi
Windows 11, the latest version of Microsoft’s computer operating system, launches worldwide on Tuesday as a free upgrade for Windows 10 users. Windows chief product officer Panos Panay, told the BBC the latest version was built to be “clean and fresh and simpler” for the user. He promised that the new operating system would not be an “extreme departure” from what people know. And even the least tech-savvy users can upgrade easily, he added. “I use the frame of my father – he’s 89,” Mr Panay said. “I’m so excited for him to hit that button and upgrade, you have no idea. “Not because he’s my dad – because I just want it to be easy for him.” BBC
Dyson’s last vacuum cleaner, the oddly-named 360 Heurist, skipped a US release, apparently because its design was ill-suited to the layout of American homes. But it looks like the company is planning to launch a new robovac in the US soon, after filing details of an unannounced product with the FCC. Photos in the filing seem to show a new design that is wider and flatter than its predecessors, with a squared-off rear and bulkier charging base. The unnamed robovac comes in the same striking nickel blue color as its predecessor, and has tank treads and a detachable dust bin, just like Dyson’s previous forays into this product category. It also looks like the device (labelled RB03) has the Heurist’s 360-degree camera with LED lighting ring. Those LEDs are important, as they ensure the device can navigate in the dark — handy if you want your robovac to clean when you’re out or asleep. The Verge
