Month: January 2015
Closing your eyes can improve memory
If you’re struggling to remember something, especially a stressful event, you’ll probably have more success if you’re not visually stimulated. That’s according to new research from the University of Surrey which found that people who witnessed crimes were able to remember the incidents more accurately and in more detail when they closed their eyes. Dr…
ASUS Transformer Book review: a tablet/laptop hybrid that’s ideal for work
At ShinyShiny, we like to give devices a good, proper, hands-on review before we give an opinion. So I've been using the ASUS Transformer Book (model T200TA-CP004H) as my main work computer for more than a month now, testing not just first impressions but how it actually performs, day-to-day, when you're relying on it. I…
Three is apparently getting ready to bid £9 billion on O2
Before Christmas a story broke that BT wanted to up its game in the mobile world, and was having to choose between buying O2 or EE. Another smaller rumours popped up claiming that the people who own Three were considering buying the network that BT didn't want. Now that BT has formally declared that it…
Our phones could help us make decisions in future
Computer scientists from MIT have developed software that could help us make decisions by predicting the probability of success of different options. Brian Williams, from the university’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, says he and his colleagues wanted to make ‘a better Siri’. So rather than just retrieve information, it can help you make…
Sexuality, family & Jeffrey Tambor: Why you need to start watching Transparent
Despite what the media may tell you, the most important take away from Sunday's Golden Globes ceremony wasn't the risky sartorial choices, it wasn't the proliferation of asymmetrical 'LOBs' and it wasn't even Poehler and Fey's unstoppable comedy duo that's hell-bent on smashing the sexism out of Hollywood. For me it was that Amazon show…
Ofcom’s planning for 5G to be available by 2020
4G is readily available and affordable these days, so don't you think it's time we started thinking about the next generation of mobile internet? Ofcom certainly thinks so. Today Ofcom announced that it was beginning consultation with key members of the mobile industry with the goal of preparing the UK for arrival of 5G services…
Be My Eyes app lets sighted people help blind people with quick queries
If you’re blind, and especially if you live alone, there could be dozens of situations where you need to ask a sighted person for help: to check if the milk in your fridge is out of date, find out what a street sign says, or make sure the photo you’re framing is the right way…
Will Bethenny Frankel really make ‘Skinnygirl Marijuana?’
You can’t accuse former Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel of letting business opportunities pass her by. Having created a successful brand with her ‘Skinnygirl’ range – because how can you enjoy yourself knowing your favourite cocktail has more than 1 calorie? – according to Us magazine, she’s now turned her attention to another intoxicating substance: marijuana.…
Onda claims to have built a tablet running Android and Windows side-by-side
There are countless Chinese companies out there building smartphones and tablets, but not many of them actually get much recognition here in the UK. Chinese company Onda claims that it has developed a device none of us can actually ignore: a tablet supposedly running Windows 8.1 and Android KitKat side-by-side. The V919 3G air, as…
In defence of the selfie stick
If there's one thing that grinds the gears of the angry Twitter masses more than TFL and a brand tweeting a typo, it has to be the selfie stick. These little inventions have developed a bad rep over the past year or so, you'd think that they'd been spawned by the devil. Admittedly many of…
