Meta to launch ‘Twitter-Killer’ app, Threads, this Thursday

Facebook owner Meta is launching its new app to rival Twitter and says it will go live on Thursday. The app, which is called Threads and is available for pre-order on the Apple App Store, will be linked to Instagram. Screengrabs show a dashboard that looks similar to Twitter. Meta describes Threads as a "text-based…

Google claims quantum computing breakthrough, Tesla delivers record number of EVs

Left: Artist's rendition of the Sycamore processor mounted in the cryostat. (Full Res Version; Forest Stearns, Google AI Quantum Artist in Residence) Right: Photograph of the Sycamore processor. (Full Res Version; Erik Lucero, Research Scientist and Lead Production Quantum Hardware) Google has developed a quantum computer that instantly makes calculations that would…

My Fitness Pal tops list of highest-earning wellness apps

The wellness industry is a fast-growing market, with digital wellness apps providing millions of people with solutions to improve their sleep, fitness, mental and menstrual health. But which wellness apps are the most successful in 2023? Tipalti has analyzed a range of wellness apps, from fitness to women’s health, and determined which apps are seeing…

Virgin Galactic rocket plane begins operations

Italian members of the team aboard Unity hold up their country's flag in space. Image: Virgin Galactic It's taken just shy of 20 years but Sir Richard Branson has finally begun commercial operations with his Virgin Galactic rocket plane, Unity. The vehicle soared high over the New Mexico desert on Thursday…

Top 5 ways to stay productive when working from home

New research shows that employees who primarily work from home feel twice as disengaged as those in the office... In light of our shifting work patterns we talk to Andrew Jackson and David Tinker, co-founders of Rethinkly, about their top tips for remaining productive when working from home:     1  Establish a routine    Research surrounding the…

Paedophiles using AI technology to create life-like child porn

Image: BBC Paedophiles are using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create and sell life-like child sexual abuse material, the BBC has found. Some are accessing the images by paying subscriptions to accounts on mainstream content-sharing sites such as Patreon. Patreon said it had a "zero tolerance" policy about such imagery on…

NHS AI tool ‘could slash waiting times for cancer treatment’

The new AI tool could be rolled out across the entire NHS. Credit: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Radiotherapy waiting times for NHS cancer patients could be drastically reduced thanks to the development of a new health tool which uses artificial intelligence. Known as OSAIRIS, it is claimed the tool…

10 ways to keep your mobile phone safe at University

Mobile phones are a crucial part of everyday life for all of us, including students, providing a lifeline in terms of communication, entertainment, and also education. But, mobile theft is a real concern for students, with a recent Uswitch survey revealing more than half (56%) of Brits have lost or had a mobile phone stolen…

ShinyShiny snippets: Is Amazon set to buy online grocery store Ocado?

Ocado’s share price has surged amid reports that Amazon could be lining up a potential bid for the owner of the online grocery store.  Shares in Ocado Group spiked by around 40pc on Thursday after claims emerged that Jeff Bezos’s online empire had taken an interest in the technology and grocery business.   The Times said Amazon…

ShinyShiny snippets: EU votes for replaceable smartphone batteries

The European Parliament has voted yes to replaceable battery legislation, putting Apple on a path to a second redesign just over a year after USB-C charging ports were mandated in the bloc. Unlike the USB-C redesign, which has a 2024 deadline, the "portable battery" rule will come into play in 2027 at the earliest. That rule, by…