Month: June 2014
Shiny's daily Instagram download: Iran, Bitpay and Jawbone
Today's digital download has the latest from Bitcoin, fitness company Jawbone and Iran. Don't forget to subsribe to our Instagram channel.
Instagram 6.0 update unveils new editing tools, filter intensity sliders
On Tuesday Instagram unveiled a whole range of updates that will completely overhaul its popular photo app, while staying true to its simple interface. The exciting changes include a filter intensity slider and a huge range of editing options that provide you with more control over your photos than ever and are likely to give…
Half of Twitter inadvertently admit to taking drugs, as 'god of ecstasy' Alexander Shulgin dies
Alexander "Sasha" Shulgin, who earned the nickname "Godfather of ecstasy" for developing a new method of synthesis for MDMA and introducing it to psychologists in the 1970s, died today from liver cancer, aged 88. Shulgin's work has obviously been controversial, as he's been cited as the creator of ecstasy, which he tested on himself, his…
10 Things you need to know about Apple's announcements at #WWDC: Yosemite, iOS8, Continuity
Apple kicked off its Worldwide Developer Conference with an exciting look at the future of OS X and iOS on Monday. Although rumours had been circulating about possible hardware launches (two sizes of iPhones, an iWatch and a new MacBook), the event was all about the big software announcements and here's our roundup of everything…
Why Apple gluing the smart home together with HomeKit isn't so dumb
As Apple unveils its latest smart home initiative, we look at how we could all soon be using our iPhones to bark instructions to our home. While those expecting a raft of new Apple gadgets, such as the iWatch, may have been left disappointed, for fans of home automation there was much more to cheer…
Cat launches world's first super tough KitKat phone in the UK
Cat, the company behind those big yellow diggers, also makes super tough smartphones, and this week has unveiled its latest handset, the B15Q. According to Cat, the B15Q is the world's first rugged smartphone running on Android's latest operating system, KitKat 4.4. It's packing a faster quad core processor than its predecessor, the B15, will…
OwnFone: First ever Braille phone goes on sale in the UK
Smartphones are getting ever more advanced and impressive, but shiny new touch screens aren't always so easy to use for people who are blind or partially sighted, which is an estimated 285 million people worldwide. Now British inventor Tom Sunderland has designed the OwnFone to make things simpler. A Braille phone the size of a…
10 best tweets about the Oxford Circus octopus
As you may have heard, a giant octopus stranded right in the centre of Oxford Circus in central London caused havoc for commuters this morning. It has now been revealed that it was part of a PR stunt for Betfair, presumably a tribute to Paul the "oracle octopus" who made headlines during the 2010 World…
Misfit Shine's Bloom necklace wearable accessory comes to the UK
We're big fans of wearable activity trackers here at shinyshiny, and although we felt the Misfit Shine was outperformed by the Jawbone Up 24 in our battle of the wearables, it ticks all of the boxes when it comes to style and versatility. Well, it looks like the Shine is about to become even more…
Sony unveils Xperia T3 smartphone – UK launch in July
A bit of a surprise this morning as Sony has announced the Xperia T3, a 5.3-inch smartphone which it is billing as the thinnest in its category. The phone comes in at 150.7 x 77 x 7 mm and weighs 148 grams. Is essentially a bit of a revamp of the Xperia Z2, though of…
