Tag: amazon
Tech Digest daily roundup: WhatsApp says it will not ‘lower security’
The boss of WhatsApp says it will not "lower the security" of its messenger service. If asked by the government to weaken encryption, it would be "very foolish" to accept, Will Cathcart told the BBC. Government plans to detect child sex-abuse images include the possible scanning of private messages. The NSPCC has criticised WhatsApp's position,…
ShinyShiny snippets: Amazon closes all its physical bookstores
Amazon.com Inc said on Wednesday it plans to close all 68 of its brick-and-mortar bookstores, pop-ups and shops carrying toys and home goods in the United States and United Kingdom, ending some of its longest-running retail experiments. The news, which Reuters was first to report, marks a turning point for a company that began as…
Tech Digest daily roundup: TikTok ditches 3 minute video limit
TikTok is to ditch its three minute limit on videos and will soon allow all users to upload clips up to 10 minutes long, the Chinese social network has confirmed. It brought in the existing limit in July 2021, upping it from 60 seconds, having initially expanded it from the original 15 seconds. The app…
ShinyShiny snippets: Amazon and Nike ‘consider offer’ for Peloton
Exercise brand Peloton is attracting bid attention from the likes of Amazon and Nike, according to reports. They have been attracted by the soaring sales of Peloton’s exercise bikes and treadmills during the pandemic. Suitors have not been put off by the return to gyms post-lockdown, which has left the firm worth less than a fifth of…
ShinyShiny snippets: Amazon drops plans to block Visa credit card payments
Amazon has announced that it will not stop accepting Visa credit cards for UK payments later this week as had been planned. In an email to customers, the online retailer said it was "working closely with Visa on a potential solution". The move had been due to take effect on 19 January with Amazon blaming…
ShinyShiny round up: Apple allows customers to self-repair iPhones
Apple is now allowing some of its customers to self-repair their own iPhones - after long prohibiting anyone except approved technicians from handling its proprietary parts and software. In a sharp turnaround, the US tech firm announced on Wednesday that users will be able to access genuine Apple parts and tools for consumer repairs on the…
ShinyShiny roundup: Fancy a £500K hoverbike anyone?
ALI Technologies hoverbike costs nearly £500,000. Image: ALI Technologies A Japanese start-up is hoping to convince motorists to swap their cars for a $680,000 (£495,000) hoverbike. ALI Technologies' XTurismo Limited Edition went on sale in Japan, earlier on Wednesday. Electronics giant Mitsubishi and footballer Keisuke Honda are two backers of the…
ShinyShiny tech roundup: Tesla market value hits $1 trillion
Tesla surpassed a market value of $1 trillion on Monday, making it the fifth such firm to reach the milestone. Shares in the electric carmaker climbed 12.6% after it struck a deal to sell 100,000 vehicles to the car rental firm Hertz. Tesla has been the world's most valuable carmaker for some time, but brands…
ShinyShiny tech roundup: Amazon launches Billie Eilish Echo Studio
If you were in a tizzy about what to get the devoted Billie Eilish fan in your family for the holidays, Amazon might have just solved your problem — assuming you’re prepared to drop $230 on them. Announced today, the Billie Eilish Limited Edition Echo Studio is available for pre-order and features the melancholy-voiced singer pasted on…
ShinyShiny tech roundup: Amazon launch planned for September 28th
Amazon will hold its annual hardware and services event on September 28 at 9 am PST / 12 pm EST / 5 pm BST, the company announced today. The annual event is Amazon’s chance to show off its latest Echo devices ahead of the holiday season and is typically the place we hear about upgrades coming…
