Category: Tech
ShinyShiny snippets: Apple’s verification technology promises end of ‘Captcha’
An annoyance, an important security feature, an uncomfortable existential request: however you feel about being asked to prove you are not a robot, it has become a daily occurrence for most of us, but perhaps not one we would miss. A new feature in the upcoming versions of iOS and macOS, Apple’s operating systems for…
ShinyShiny snippets: Apple sued for software update that ‘slowed down older phones’
A consumer champion is suing Apple for £768m over a software update in 2017 that effectively slowed down older iPhones. Justin Gutmann is seeking damages on behalf of up to 25 million iPhone owners in the UK who were affected by Apple's practices. Apple has admitted that a software update released in 2017 hampered the…
Kindred partners with Virgin Media O2 for Feel Good Shopping
Kindred, a tech for good revenue and loyalty solution for app publishers, has joined forces with Virgin Media O2, to help customers save money and support eco-projects while online shopping. The exclusive ‘Feel Good Shopping’ feature is now live in the ‘My O2’ app giving customers discounts and deals at over 70% of the top UK online retailers and more…
ShinyShiny snippets: UK Government axes EV car grant
The Government has axed the plug-in car grant, meaning EV buyers will no longer receive taxpayer-funded financial support towards the purchase price of their vehicles. Announcing the end of the scheme, the Department for Transport (DfT) boasted that the grant had helped to increase the sales of fully electric cars from less than 1,000 in the whole…
Top 50 Women in European tech revealed by EQL:HER
Dr Gioia Rau, Research Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre. IMAGE: LinkedIn EQL:HER, the global network committed to securing an equal future for women in STEM, has revealed its ‘InspiringFifty’ list of the 50 most influential women in European tech. With Google and PwC among its supporters, the InspiringFifty initiative…
13 Tips for Saving Money on Clothes and Shoes
With the cost of living crisis putting pressure on household budgets - and the cost of clothes and shoes rising even faster than some other consumer goods - many are looking to be more budget-savvy when shopping for wardrobe-essentials.... Some popular brands have already raised prices to offset inflation, with Dr Martens announcing earlier this…
Shiny snippets: Uber helps UN deliver food and water in Ukraine
Uber has built a "private-label" version of its delivery platform to help the United Nations deliver food and water supplies to war-torn areas of Ukraine. The tech firm is working with the UN's World Food Programme (WFP). It's difficult for large delivery trucks to access some parts of Ukraine because of structural damage and the…
ShinyShiny snippets: Gaming loot boxes branded ‘exploitative’
Consumer groups in 18 European countries have backed a report calling gaming loot boxes "exploitative." The contents of the virtual boxes are only revealed through either gameplay or by making a payment. While some contain useful tools or desirable extras which improve the experience, others are worthless. The report authors, the Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC),…
ShinyShiny snippets: Cinemas accept Digital ID cards
Being turned away from a 15 or 18 rated film for not having the right identification with you might be a thing of the past. The UK Cinema Association - which includes Cineworld, Odeon, Showcase Cinemas, and Vue - are partnering with digital ID firm Yoti. The free app will be accepted as proof of…
ShinyShiny snippets: Meet the tiny crab robot that’s smaller than a flea!
This tiny robot crawling on a coin is smaller than the size of a flea. Pic: Northwestern University Engineers have unveiled the smallest remote-controlled walking robot ever created - even tinier than a flea. The tiny robotic crab can "walk, bend, twist, turn and jump" according to engineers from Northwestern University…