ShinyShiny snippets: Paralysed man can walk again thanks to ‘digital bridge’

A paralysed man has been able to walk again after communication was re-established between his brain and spinal cord using a wireless "digital bridge". The so-called brain computer interface is made up of two electronic implants, one each in the brain and spinal cord. The former is placed above the region of the brain responsible…

Amazon announces Fire Max 11 tablet from £249

  Amazon today announced the new Fire Max 11 tablet which it claims is its biggest and most powerful tablet yet. Featuring an 11-inch screen, an octa-core processor, and 4 GB RAM, Fire Max 11 starts at just £249.99. A new optional magnetic attach keyboard and stylus enhance productivity and creativity to help you get…

ShinyShiny snippets: Meta fined €1.2bn for mishandling data

Facebook's owner, Meta, has been fined €1.2bn (£1bn) for mishandling people's data when transferring it between Europe and the United States. Issued by Ireland's Data Protection Commission, it is the largest fine imposed under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation privacy law. GDPR rules require companies to seek people's consent before using their personal data.…

ShinyShiny snippets: Tesla issues Optimus robot update

Tesla Optimus Humanoid Robot. Image: Tesla Having first revealed the new Roadster some six years ago and the Cybertruck in 2019 – but having thus far delivered, er, neither – it might not surprise you to hear Tesla's released a progress report about... robots. Last year Musk stated in an earnings call that Tesla's Optimus humanoid…

7 in 10 young adults want to start their own business

  Seven in 10 young adults claim working for someone else is their ‘worst nightmare’ - and intend to start their own business within the next three years. A poll of 2,000 adults from a spectrum of age groups found 23 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds ‘hate’ the idea of the traditional nine to…

Amazon introduces new Echo devices including Echo Pop, Echo Show 5

Amazon has introduced a new lineup of Echo products —the all-new Echo Pop, Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 5 Kids. In addition, Amazon announced that the latest generation Echo Auto is now available in the UK. Says Eric Saarnio, vice president, Amazon Devices International: “These new devices give customers more options and more utility…

ShinyShiny snippets: Wind is main source of electricity for first time in UK

Wind turbines have generated more electricity than gas for the first time in the UK. In the first three months of this year a third of the country's electricity came from wind farms, research from Imperial College London have shown. National Grid has also confirmed that April saw a record period of solar energy generation.…

Bumble launches mental health features for dating app

Bumble, the women-first dating app, has released a new suite of profile prompts and interest badges centred around mental health and selfcare. It is hoped that the addition of profile prompts and badges will give people on Bumble the space to easily highlight what’s most important to them and encourage an open dialogue around mental…

ShinyShiny snippets: Brit pleads guilty to 2020 Twitter hack

A British national extradited to the US last month has pleaded guilty in New York to a role in one of the biggest hacks in social media history. The July 2020 Twitter hack affected over 130 accounts including those of Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Joseph James O'Connor, 23, known as PlugwalkJoe, pleaded guilty to…