Month: September 2014
Five situations in which we’d like to taste and smell with our phones (and three we really wouldn’t)
This week Adrian Cheok, professor of pervasive computing at City University London and the inventor of the Scentee, a Japanese iPhone attachment that emits pre-programmed scent, revealed that he's working on technology that will allow our smartphones to transmit taste and smell electronically. Considering how much of our youths we spent excitedly waiting for the…
Google’s modular phone will let you swap modules while it’s still on
The idea of a modular phone has been floating around for years, a phone with hardware that can be customised to suit you. Google's Project Ara is one such device, and it was recently revealed that the modules can be changed while the phone is still on. The display and CPU are exceptions to that,…
Next-gen data storage could be based on our brains
Researchers have built a new platform that could be the basis for data storage that’s smaller and faster than ever. Their inspiration? The human brain. Scientists from RMIT University in Melbourne and the University of California, Santa Barbara worked together to make a structure using a thin, oxide film that’s 10,000 times thinner than a…
China’s great firewall: the major websites that are currently blocked
As pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong continue into a fifth day, the world's attention has honed in on China. The Chinese government is well-known for its tough censorship and heavy media intervention, and has attracted international criticism for often-unexplained decisions which restrict the freedom of expression outlined in China's constitution. It has threatened artists, blocked popular websites and regularly bans Western films.…
Another iOS 8 bug could end up deleting your iCloud files
Cloud storage is wonderful since it takes all the thinking out of backing up your stuff, but it does have the issue of not being as secure and reliable as backing files up on an external hard drive. As the recent iCloud breach should have told you, the cloud isn't very secure and is prone…
The first seven apps you should download on your Android phone
[nextpage title="Next"] So you've just bought yourself a shiny new Android phone, and you're setting it up ready to use in your day-to-day life. But there's one important thing you should be thinking of at this point, 'what apps should I download?' There are an awful lot of apps available, and barring the usual services,…
Apple may be slapped with an enormous fine for tax-dodging in Europe
When profit is your key goal you want to do everything to can to not spend money, and this happens all the time with corporations trying their best to avoid taxes. Apple is one such company, it it means that it could be given a record fine by the EU for avoiding its tax obligations.…
The OnePlus One sequel could be released in mid-2015
The OnePlus One showed that a phone needn't have terrible specs for it to be a reasonable price. That and the fact that it was almost impossible to get hold of one meant that it generated quite a bit of buzz in the tech circles. It's hardly surprising that another one is on the way.…
How restaurant app Twizoo will make sure you never have a mediocre meal again
I can’t eat at a restaurant unless I’ve heard that it’s good. I need a Grace Dent endorsement, at least two trusted friend recommendations or at the very least a crinkled Time Out review blu-tacked up in the window before I can risk putting my stomach and wallet in an eatery’s hands. As afflictions go,…
Scientists have built the best invisibility device yet
Scientists have developed a new device that can make objects invisible (yes, just like in Harry Potter. OK, a bit like in Harry Potter. Either way, I think we can all agree that JK was a tech prophet). A team from the University of Rochester led by professor of physics John Howell, and graduate student…
