Tag: amazon
Twitter to prevent blocking users, driverless cars removed after accident
Users of X (formerly Twitter) will not be able to block people from seeing their posts or leaving comments, Elon Musk has said. The social media platform owner said the function "makes no sense" - adding that it will only be possible to block someone from sending direct messages. In the shake-up to the app,…
ShinyShiny snippets: Is Amazon set to buy online grocery store Ocado?
Ocado’s share price has surged amid reports that Amazon could be lining up a potential bid for the owner of the online grocery store. Shares in Ocado Group spiked by around 40pc on Thursday after claims emerged that Jeff Bezos’s online empire had taken an interest in the technology and grocery business. The Times said Amazon…
ShinyShiny snippets: AI deleting possible war crimes on social media sites
Image: BBC Evidence of potential human rights abuses may be lost after being deleted by tech companies, the BBC has found. Platforms remove graphic videos, often using artificial intelligence - but footage that may help prosecutions can be taken down without being archived. Meta and YouTube say they aim to balance…
ShinyShiny snippets: Half of female gamers face abuse while playing
One in 10 women feel suicidal because of the abuse they face while gaming. New research for Sky Broadband shows that of 4,000 female gamers surveyed 49% have faced abuse or harassment when playing or streaming online - rising to 75% of those aged 18 to 24. The levels of harassment are so strong that…
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: Amazon’s Book Depository to close down
UK-based online store Book Depository is being closed down by its parent company, the US technology giant Amazon. Book Depository has told customers it will cease operations later this month after almost two decades in business. It comes after Amazon announced plans to cut thousands of jobs as it shakes up its businesses globally. The…
ShinyShiny snippets: TikTok facing complete US ban
TikTok is facing a complete ban in the US over fears that China is using the app as a covert tool for spying and spreading propaganda. CEO Shou Chew will testify before Congress on Thursday, with members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee set to raise their concerns about how much access the Chinese…
ShinyShiny snippets: Apple Books launches AI-narrated audiobooks
Apple has launched a raft of audiobooks narrated by artificial intelligence to its Apple Books platform, but maintains it “remains committed to celebrating and showcasing the magic of human narration”. According to The Guardian, which said the tech giant had “quietly” uploaded the text-to-speech content in “an attempt to upend the lucrative and fast-growing audiobook…
ShinyShiny snippets: ‘Silent majority’ concerned by EVs, claims Toyota boss
Nearly 2,700 Toyota bZ4X SUV EVs had to be recalled earlier in the year. Image: Toyota A “silent majority” of car companies is concerned that electric vehicles will not alone be able to end reliance on fossil fuels, according to a senior Toyota executive. Akio Toyoda, the company's president and grandson…
ShinyShiny snippets: Google opens technology centre for disabled
An alarm clock for people who are deaf is on display at the Google tech centre. Image: Google If you design technology with disabled people in mind, you design technology better for everyone. This was the sentiment from Google as it opened its first UK research and development centre dedicated to…
