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WordPress At War!

Following a (very public) recent spat between WordPress founder and Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg, and WP Engine, we look at what’s happened and why, and what the effects have been WordPress users.  WordPress and WP Engine  To better understand the story, it may be a good idea to first look at the two sides in […]

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Personal Activities … On Work Laptops (Part 2)

In this second part article, where we review the issues around employees engaging in personal activities on company-issued devices, we look deeper into the legal and compliance implications and provide real-world case studies of security breaches. We also examine how businesses can protect themselves against these growing threats.  Last Week  In the previous article, with […]

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Sending WhatsApp Messages To Other Messaging Apps

In response to changes in the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (which came into force in March), WhatsApp users will soon be able to send messages from WhatsApp to people using other messaging apps, e.g. Messenger, Telegram, and Signal.  What Change In The Digital Marketing Act?  Meta-owned WhatsApp is making this major change because the […]

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Microsoft Re-Launching Controversial ‘Recall’ Feature

Following Microsoft having to postpone the release of its ‘Recall’ screenshot feature in May over privacy concerns, it now plans to re-launch an updated version in November on its new CoPilot+ computers.  Recall – What Happened?  At its Microsoft Build 2024 developer conference back in May, Microsoft announced that it planned to introduce the ‘Recall’ AI-powered feature […]

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Apple Launching UK Roadside Assistance (Via Satellite)

Apple is set to extend its satellite messaging service, introducing a Roadside Assistance feature in the UK through a partnership with Green Flag. This new service, launching with the iPhone 16, will enable drivers to get help in areas with poor or no cellular coverage, using satellite connectivity.   Previously available only in the US, the […]

Sustainability-in-Tech : UK Startup Makes ‘Lab’ Leather

Cambridge-based startup ‘Pact’ has raised £9 million in (seed round) funding to expand its factory space and scale-up production of its “world-first” biomaterial – a skin made from collagen that’s a convincing alternative to leather.  Oval  Oval, developed by Pact, is a pioneering biomaterial made from natural collagen, designed to be a sustainable and scalable alternative to […]

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Musical Misconduct

In a first-of-its-kind case, a US musician has been charged with fraud for allegedly using thousands of automated bot accounts to stream AI-generated tracks from which he made more than $10m in royalty payments.  Which Tracks?  The music tracks that 52-year-old Michael Smith from North Carolina in the US allegedly used came from a co-conspirator, […]

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Personal Activities … On Work Laptops (Part 1)

CEO and founder of messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, was recently arrested in France over allegations that Telegram facilitates illegal activities, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and the distribution of child sexual abuse material.  Pavel Durov  Pavel Durov is a 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire tech entrepreneur, known for founding the social networking site VKontakte (VK) and […]

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Backlash Against 300% Canva Price-Hike

Popular online graphic design platform Canva is facing a backlash from customers following a price hike of up to 300% for its Teams subscription.  What Is Canva Teams?  The subscription-based Canva Teams feature within the Canva platform (an alternative to image editing platforms like Adobe), allows multiple users to collaborate on designs, share projects, and […]

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Data Centres Now ‘Critical National Infrastructure’

Prompted by the effects of the global IT outage caused by CrowdStrike, the UK has moved to protect UK data centres by classing them as ‘Critical National Infrastructure’ (CNI).  CrowdStrike  Back in July, a global IT outage caused by a faulty update (impacting Windows systems) from the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike significantly affected multiple sectors in […]

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Security Concerns For New AI Powered iPhones

As highlighted recently by the Wall Street Journal, the range of AI-driven features in Apple’s latest iPhones could transform how enterprises operate, provided company data is protected and businesses understand how best to use these new features.  Unveiled in their new iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro models, the new “Apple Intelligence” tools offer improved capabilities […]

Rapidly Growing Water Demand For Data Centres

Information recently obtained (by the Financial Times) has revealed that a huge spike in water consumption by dozens of facilities in Virginia’s “data centre alley” likely means new initiatives to replenish or conserve water resources are urgently needed.  Usage Up By Two-Thirds  The county authority figures show that water consumption at the data centres of […]

Tech Tip – How To Use “Print to PDF” to Save Files as PDFs

Windows has a built-in “Print to PDF” feature, allowing you to save any file or webpage as a PDF, which is useful for sharing professional, non-editable documents, without the need for additional software. Here’s how it works: If you would like to discuss your technology requirements please: Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call 020 8778 […]

Getting Rid of E-Waste

In this feature article we explore how e-waste is currently disposed of, what happens to it afterwards, plus various initiatives and strategies aimed at reducing the ever-increasing pile of discarded electronics.  What Is E-Waste?  Electronic waste (e-waste) refers to any electronic device that has reached the end of its useful life and is discarded. This […]

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What’s All The Fuss About Telegram?

CEO and founder of messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, was recently arrested in France over allegations that Telegram facilitates illegal activities, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and the distribution of child sexual abuse material.  Pavel Durov  Pavel Durov is a 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire tech entrepreneur, known for founding the social networking site VKontakte (VK) and […]

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Dublin Says No To New Google Data Centre

South Dublin County Council has refused Google Ireland planning permission for a new data centre at Grange Castle Business Park in South Dublin.  Why?  The reason given for the refusal was “the existing insufficient capacity in the electricity network (grid) and the lack of significant on-site renewable energy to power the data centre”.  What Data Centre?  […]

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Warning Against Giving Smartphones To Under 11’s

Mobile network provider EE has launched a smartphone age guidance initiative in which it advises that children under 11 should only use non-smart devices with limited capabilities.  Children With Smartphones  EE says its new initiative is in response to concerns about children’s online safety and the impact of device usage on their well-being. Back in […]

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Finally – Mac Apps Can Be Installed on External Drives

In the latest macOS Sequoia developer beta, Apple has introduced a new feature that allows users to install Mac App Store apps directly onto external drives, thereby saving storage space and costs.   This change, though appearing minor, has significant implications for storage management and offers users more flexibility in how they use and manage […]

New Device Could Reduce AI Energy Consumption By 1000 +

Engineering researchers at the US University of Minnesota Twin Cities claim to have demonstrated a state-of-the-art hardware device that could reduce energy consumption for artificial intelligent (AI) computing applications by a factor of at least 1,000!  AI’s Massive Energy Consumption  The issue the researchers were aiming to tackle is the huge energy consumption of AI, […]

Tech Tip – How To Quickly Connect to Wireless Displays and Audio Devices

If you frequently connect your computer to wireless displays or audio devices, the Windows key + K shortcut provides a quick way to access these connections without navigating through multiple menus. Here’s how: If you would like to discuss your technology requirements please: Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call 020 8778 7759 Back to Tech News

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What Can Microsoft 365 Do?

Microsoft 365 is packed with numerous apps designed to save time, boost productivity and help you work smarter. Here’s a closer look at some essential (yet often under-utilised) applications that can make a significant difference in your daily workflow.  Planner  This app is a task management tool that helps teams create detailed plans, assign tasks, […]

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Windows 10 vs Windows 11

In this insight, we compare and contrast the Windows 10 and 11 operating systems, focusing on how they perform in key areas like user interface, performance, security, compatibility, and cost.  Rolled Out 2021  Since Microsoft’s rolled out Windows 11 in October 2021, many businesses have been deciding whether to upgrade or remain on Windows 10 […]

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New Fear Unlocked – Robot Dentists

AI-driven automated dental technology company Perceptive has announced the completion of the world’s first fully automated dental procedure on a human using its robotic dentistry system.  Perceptive  Boston-based Perceptive is an innovative dental technology company that has developed an AI powered dental robotics system to complete restorative dental procedures (e.g. crown replacements) faster and more […]

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Hacked MSP Fined £6m (Provisionally)

A provisional £6m fine has been imposed on an NHS software provider Advanced Computer Software Group following a 2022 data breach that affected more than 80,000 people.  Advanced Software Group  Founded in 2008, Advanced Computer Software Group, often referred to as “Advanced,” is a UK-based software and IT services company that provides a range of […]

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10 Top iPhone Tricks

Here are 10 top iPhone tips / tricks you may not know about that could make your life easier and help you to be more productive: 1. Digitally Sign Documents Gone are the days when you needed a printer or scanner to sign important documents. With your iPhone, you can quickly add your signature to […]

Floating Solar Panels Could Power Entire Countries

New research has concluded that floating solar panels could have the potential to meet the entire electricity needs of certain countries.  Helping To Decarbonise National Economies  The findings of the research (from Bangor and Lancaster Universities and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) suggest that with a conservative 10 per cent surface area coverage, […]

Tech Tip – How To Sync Your Clipboard Across Devices

You may not know that Windows allows you to sync your clipboard across devices so you can copy content on one device and paste it on another. This is especially useful if you work across multiple Windows devices. Here’s how it works: • To enable Clipboard Sync, go to Settings > System > Clipboard.• Toggle […]

Is Automated Driving Safe Yet?

In light of two recent reports of motorcyclists being killed in collisions with Tesla vehicles in Autopilot mode, we look closely at the issue of whether automated driving is really safe.  Death of Two Motorcyclists  If automated driving is a factor in death on the roads, it seems legitimate to ask the question ‘is automated driving […]

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New Index Reveals Cyber Criminal Countries

In this insight, we look at how a recently developed ‘World Cybercrime Index’ appears to show the globe’s key cybercrime hotspots by ranking the most significant sources of cybercrime at a national level.  Three Years To Develop  The world-first World Cybercrime Index (WCI) was developed by following three years of intensive research as part of a joint […]

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EU Funds 15 Blockchain Startups To Fight Misinformation

As part of the NGI TrustChain initiative, 15 startups have been awarded €1.8 million in funding to use blockchain to tackle online misinformation, fraud and fake identities.   What Is Blockchain?  Blockchain technology (first released in 2009 and the technology behind Bitcoin) is the decentralised digital ledger system that securely records transactions across multiple computers, ensuring […]

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Global Call-Spoofing Operation Shut Down

The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has shut down a global call-spoofing operation called ‘Russian Coms’ which is believed to have been used to swindle more than 170,000 victims.  Russian Coms  Russian Coms is the name of the major caller ID spoofing platform used by criminals to make over 1.8 million fraudulent calls to victims […]

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Apple More Responsible In Training Its AI Models?

Following concerns about AI companies scraping data from the web to train their AI models, Apple has sought to present itself as being a better and more ethical AI provider by highlighting how the training and development of its AI models have been done responsibly.   Apple Intelligence   At its 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference, the […]

Marvellous Microplastics Magnets

UK startup ‘The Tyre Collective’ has developed a tyre-dust magnet to attach to electric vehicles (EVs) to tackle the often-overlooked problem of tyre-dust microplastic pollution.  The Problem – The Dangers Of Tyre-Wear  As explained by The Tyre Collective, “Tyre-wear is the second-largest source of microplastics in our oceans, toxic to marine life, and air particulate […]

Tech Tip – How To Save Time With Double and Triple Clicks

Rather than manually highlighting and deleting blocks of text, Microsoft Word lets you quickly select words and entire paragraphs using simple mouse clicks. This can really help to save time and increase your efficiency when editing documents. Here’s how it works: Double click to highlight individual words Simply double-click on any word to highlight it. […]

CrowdStrike : What Happened?

Following 8.5 million Microsoft devices being hit by a faulty software update from CrowdStrike causing global chaos, we look at what happened, how, and why.  The Worst Cyber Event In History  The scale of effects of the disruption caused make this event, which began on 18 July (Microsoft) or 19 July (according to CrowdStrike), makes […]

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Lessons Learned

Following the massive after-effects of the faulty CrowdStrike update, we take a look at the lessons learned so far in this ongoing situation.  What Happened?  On July 19, a faulty software update from cyber security technology company CrowdStrike affected approximately 8.5 million Microsoft devices globally causing chaos across multiple industries globally as key systems were disabled. […]

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King’s Speech Highlights Security Laws

Following the State Opening of Parliament, the King’s Speech on 17 July included news of significant new legislative proposals to address cyber security concerns, focusing on supply chain risks, particularly in the public sector, and improving incident reporting.  What Concerns and Risks?  The kinds of concerns and risks the new legislation has been drafted to […]

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New “Privacy-First” Email Writing Assistant

Swiss app company Proton has introduced ‘Proton Scribe,’ an AI-powered private writing assistant that writes and proofreads emails for you.  Why?  Proton says that with most of us sending emails daily, finding the right words and tone can be time-consuming. Also, other popular email programs process data on remote servers, thereby posing a risk that […]

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iPhone Smishing Scam Warning

Apple has warned iPhone users to be on their guard against a new ‘smishing’ (SMS phishing) scam where the perpetrators are posing as Apple. The scam involves the scammers contacting iPhone users with the excuse of needing to sort out a login issue.  The targeted users are sent a URL which actually leads to a […]

Amazon’s Energy Success

Amazon recently boasted reaching its 100 per cent renewable energy goal seven years earlier than the 2030 goal. However, with Microsoft and Google disclosing an increase in greenhouse gasses due to infrastructure expansion, we look at whether the prospects of hyperscalers actually hitting their renewable energy targets (and carbon reduction targets) are realistic.  Amazon Hits […]

Tech Tip – How To Avoid ‘Link Rot’

When Google closes its URL Shortener service next year, this could leave many web pages with ‘link rot’ (a 404 error page where the shortened link once worked). Here we look at how you can find and fix link rot in your web pages, maintain a good user experience, and avoid re-direct problems and the […]

‘Pay or Consent’ Model Breaches Rules

Following an investigation into whether the big tech companies are complying with the new Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules, the European Commission’s preliminary findings say that Meta’s ‘Pay or Consent’ model for data-sharing is in breach of its new rules.  Investigation  The European Commission (EC) launched an investigation into Google, Apple, and Meta to determine […]

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Gemini… Overblown Hype?

Two new studies show that Google’s Gemini AI models may not live up to the hype in terms of answering questions about large datasets correctly.  Google Gemini  Google Gemini is an advanced AI language model developed by Google to enhance various applications with sophisticated natural language understanding and generation capabilities. It features multimodal capabilities, enabling […]

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AI Test For Parkinson’s

Researchers, led by scientists at UCL and University Medical Center Goettingen, Germany, have developed an AI-enhanced blood test that can predict Parkinson’s in at-risk patients up to seven years before the onset of symptoms.  What Is Parkinson’s?  Parkinson’s disease is a condition caused by the progressive breakdown of certain nerve cells in the brain, resulting […]

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SpaceX To Destroy International Space Station

NASA has given Elon Musk’s SpaceX the contract to ‘deorbit’ (and destroy) the International Space Station at the end of its operation as NASA transitions to commercially owned space destinations closer to home.  SpaceX To Develop The Deorbit Vehicle  US space agency NASA has chosen SpaceX to develop and deliver the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle that […]

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EU Rules and Regulations Hit Apple

Apple has announced that because of regulatory uncertainties due to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), it will be delaying the EU region rollout of three new AI features – Phone Mirroring, SharePlay Screen Sharing enhancements, and Apple Intelligence – until later this year.  Phone Mirroring allows users to display their iPhone screen on other […]

New Bioplastic Straw Degrades Faster Than Paper

Massachusetts-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) research scientists, in partnership with bioplastic manufacturing company Eastman, have reported developing a new a prototype bioplastic straw that degrades even faster than paper.   The Problem With Drinking Straws  The problem with plastic drinking straws is that they are now one of the most commonly found sources of marine […]

Tech Tip – How To Use Windows Key Shortcuts to Snap Windows

Snapping windows allows you to quickly arrange open windows on your screen, making multitasking more efficient by giving you a better overview of multiple applications simultaneously. Here’s how to do it: To snap a Window to the Side: To snap a window to a Corner: To snap to quadrants: If you would like to discuss […]

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Apple Avalanche!

Following Apple’s 5-day Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC24) recently at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, we take a look at the many new products announced and their key features.   Showcasing New Products  At Apple’s WWDC24 from June 10 to June 14, Apple showcased a variety of updates and advancements across its software platforms, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, […]

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Why Microsoft 365 Backup is Essential

In this Tech Insight, we look at why, as reliance on cloud services like Microsoft 365 grows, ensuring robust data backup has become a critical component of business security and continuity, then we look at some best practices for your 365 backups.  The Misconception – Microsoft 365 Backup Myths  Many businesses are surprised to learn […]

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Musk Reacts To Apple & OpenAI Partnership

Following Apple’s recent announcement that it is partnering with OpenAI for its new AI system (which will see ChatGPT on Apple’s new phones), Elon Musk has threatened to ban Apple devices from his businesses.  Apple And OpenAI  Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, announced at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference that, as part of its new personalised […]

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NHS Cyber Attack Prompts Blood Donor Appeal

A recent ransomware cyber-attack on a provider of lab services to the NHS led to so much disruption in several major hospitals that an urgent appeal for donations of O-type blood was issued.  What Happened?  On Monday 3 June, Synnovis, a provider of lab services, was the victim of a ransomware cyber-attack. The attack on […]

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Apple Announce Latest Version Of OS

Apple’s macOS Sequoia, the latest version of its OS for Macs and the successor to macOS Sonoma, has been given a range of new features including a new Passwords app, redesigned Reader view in Safari with machine learning integration, upgrades to Messages and Notes, and improved window management. The update also includes enhancements to Continuity, […]

New Apps Tackle World’s Fishing Sustainability

With the world facing challenges like tackling overfishing while trying to support those in local communities who rely on fishing for a living, a South Africa-based company has developed apps to address both issues and more.  What Are The Issues?  Today’s ocean and coastal communities are now threatened by rising temperatures, overfishing and biodiversity loss. […]

Tech Tip – How To Pin Websites to the Taskbar Using Microsoft Edge

Pinning frequently used websites to your taskbar using Microsoft Edge allows you to access them quickly, just like any other app, enhancing your workflow efficiency. Here’s how to do it: If you would like to discuss your technology requirements please: Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call 020 8778 7759 Back to Tech News

Data and AI Strategies For SME Success

Following a recent AWS survey showing that data-driven SMBs who also adopt AI more quickly and make better use of it are financially outperforming their peers, we look at ways your business could do the same.  The Key Findings Of The Report  A recent study by S&P Market Intelligence, commissioned by Amazon Web Services (AWS), […]

Google Maps Alternatives

In this insight, we look at what’s good about Google Maps, what may be less ideal about it, plus we provide 10 examples of alternative mapping and navigation apps.  What’s Good About Google Maps?  Before we look at potential reasons for trying alternatives, it’s worth acknowledging why Google Maps (with 1.8 billion monthly active users […]

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ChatGPT Says Labour Has Already Won

A recent Sky News report said that when ChatGPT was recently asked by a journalist “who won the UK general election 2024?”, the chatbot replied that Labour had won a “significant victory”, even though the general election hasn’t happened yet.  Context Too  The Sky News report highlights how, despite being asked the question by one of their journalists several […]

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Google Acquisition Means Windows App Support For ChromeOS

Following the success of their partnership last year, Google has announced that it has acquired Cameyo, thereby enabling virtualised Windows apps to be integrated into ChromeOS.  Why?  Google says that its research (such as a new Forrester study) has highlighted a “fundamental shift in how businesses operate”. Google says that businesses are now turning to “web-based applications” to unlock […]

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New Standalone Apple Password Manager App

At Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC24), the company announced the launch of its new, standalone, homegrown, password manager app for iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro, Mac and Windows.  The free app, simply called ‘Passwords’, an extension of Apple’s iCloud Keychain feature, is set to debut with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15, and is […]

China Set To Dominate World Green-Energy Budget

New research from the International Energy Agency (IEA) has revealed that even though Europe may outspend the US on clean energy this year, China’s clean energy spending plans will massively surpass that of Europe and the US combined.  China In First Place  The ‘World Energy Investment 2024’ report from the IEA, which tracks capital flows […]

Tech Tip – How To Customise Quick Access in File Explorer

Quick Access in Windows File Explorer allows you to pin frequently used folders and files, making them easily accessible. Customising Quick Access can save you time when navigating to commonly used locations. Here’s how to do it : If you would like to discuss your technology requirements please: Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call 020 […]

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New Windows Screenshot Feature Sparks Privacy Concerns

The new AI-powered Windows ‘Recall’ feature that takes 5-second screenshots to generate a searchable timeline of everything a user has interacted with has prompted security and privacy concerns.  What Is Recall?  The Recall feature for Windows (currently in preview status) is a new feature that’s exclusive to Microsoft’s forthcoming Copilot+ PCs. Recall takes snapshots of […]

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Windows 11 Updates & VBScript Kill-Off ?

In this insight, we look at the implications of Microsoft’s announcement that the Windows 11 24H2 update is being tested in a pre-release stage and the deprecation of VBScript is being initiated by making it an optional feature.  What Did Microsoft Say?  Microsoft has announced that it is making this year’s annual feature update Windows […]

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EE and Plusnet Customers To Get Refund From BT

After an Ofcom investigation that found BT didn’t give clear and simple information to customers who signed up to deal with its subsidiaries EE and Plusnet, BT has been told it must refund early exit fees and let existing affected customers walk away penalty-free.  What Happened?  Under new consumer protection rules, known as ‘General Conditions’ […]

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Microsoft/Truecaller Now Answers Phone Using Your Voice

A new partnership means that Truecaller’s AI Assistant can use Microsoft Azure AI Speech technology to enable Truecaller to answer your phone (via the Truecaller app) using an authentic AI version of your voice.  Truecaller  Truecaller is a mobile app, available on iOS and Android, that offers caller identification, call blocking, and spam filtering services. […]

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DMCC Bill May Force Apple To Open Up

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (DMCC) which becomes law later this year (autumn) and is aimed at promoting fair competition, regulating digital markets, and protecting consumer rights in the UK, may mean that Apple will need to open up its business practices.  Similar to being a ‘gatekeeper’, for example, if the CMA’s Digital […]

Finns Finally Fabricate Fungus Fodder

Finish company Enifer is bringing back a protein made from fungus (a microprotein) that was first developed and used in the 1970s for animal feed but could now work as a sustainable protein source for the human diet.  Pekilo ®  Enifer’s Pekilo ® microprotein was developed from fungus in the 70s and used for fifteen […]

Tech Tip – How To Set Up Dynamic Lock to Automatically Lock Your PC

Dynamic Lock uses the proximity of your Bluetooth-paired phone to automatically lock your Windows PC when you step away. This helps enhance security by ensuring your device is locked when you’re not around. Here’s how to set it up: If you would like to discuss your technology requirements please: Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call […]

Microsoft Asks Hundreds Of Employees In China To Re-Locate

It’s been reported in Chinese state media that Microsoft has asked at least 100 employees to consider relocating to other countries.  Why?  It’s been reported that Microsoft has asked hundreds of its China-based employees, particularly those involved in cloud computing and AI, to consider relocating to other countries. It’s thought that this decision was prompted […]

Tasty Offering : Raspberry Pi

With Raspberry Pi Ltd considering an Initial Public Offering, we look at what this kind of computer is, its value in promoting computer literacy, and what similar alternatives there are.  Raspberry Pi  Raspberry Pi, the most well-known Pi, is a series of small, affordable, single-board computers (SBCs) developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in the United […]

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UK Company Scammed $25 Million Via Deepfakes

It’s been reported that an employee at London-based design and engineering multinational, Arup, was duped by a deepfake video call into paying a staggering $25.6 million to fraudsters.  What Happened?  According to reports published on CNN, back in January, a finance employee in Arup’s Hong Kong office received what they suspected was a phishing email, […]

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Booking.com Becomes “Gatekeeper”

Online travel marketplace, Booking.com, has been designated a ‘gatekeeper’ company by the EU under its new Digital Markets Act (DMA) competition law, meaning that Booking.com now has six months to comply.  Gatekeepers?  Under the EU’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA), ‘gatekeepers’ are large digital platforms that play a pivotal role in the digital economy. They […]

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iPhone Bluetooth Stalking Warning

Apple says it has worked with Google to create an industry specification that can alert users across both iOS and Android if a Bluetooth tracking device is being used to track them (also known as Bluetooth Stalking).  The new capability, which is being implemented in Apple’s new iOS 17.5 (and on Android 6.0+ devices) will […]

Underwater Data-Centres Vulnerable to Soundwaves

A study by cybersecurity and robotics researchers at the University of Florida and the University of Electro-Communications has revealed how powerful sound waves could disrupt the operation of underwater data-centres.  Why Underwater Data-Centres?  With demand for data-centres growing due to increasing demand for cloud computing and AI, plus with data-centres producing large amounts of heat, […]

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Currys Selects Accenture and Microsoft to Deliver Core Infrastructure for Gen AI

International omnichannel retailer of technology products and services, Currys, has selected Accenture and Microsoft to deliver the core cloud technology infrastructure that will enable it to leverage the latest generative AI technologies.  Accenture?  Accenture is a US multinational professional services company (IT services, cloud, data, AI, and consulting) headquartered in Dublin, that helps leading businesses, […]

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What Are ‘Deadbots’?

Following warnings by ethicists at Cambridge University that AI chatbots made to simulate the personalities of deceased loved ones could be used to spam family and friends, we take a look at the subject of so-called “deadbots”.  Griefbots, Deadbots, Postmortem Avatars  The Cambridge study, entitled “Griefbots, Deadbots, Postmortem Avatars: on Responsible Applications of Generative AI in […]

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OpenAI To Boost Training With Stack Overflow Data

A partnership deal between OpenAI and Stack Overflow (the question-and-answer website for programmers and developers) will see the Stack overflow Q&A data used to train and improve AI model performance, potentially benefitting developers who use OpenAI’s products.  Stack Overflow  Stack Overflow is the world’s largest developer community, with more than 59 million questions and answers. […]

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Wales Has Put A SOC In It

The UK’s first national security operations centre (SOC) known as CymruSOC, has launched in Wales to protect the country’s local authorities and fire and rescue services from cyber-attacks.  SOC  The Welsh government has announced that the new SOC service will be managed by Cardiff-based firm Socura, with the intention of ensuring key organisations can continue offering critical […]

World’s Largest Carbon Vacuuming Plant Opens

The world’s largest direct air capture (DAC) plant, dubbed ‘Mammoth’ (which can suck polluting carbon from the air to help tackle global warming) has started operating in Iceland.  Mammoth  Started on the 28th June 2022 and now completed and operating, Mammoth was designed to remove 36,000 tons of carbon from the air per year – […]

Tech Tip – How To Use Windows Security to Check Device Performance and Health

Windows Security provides a comprehensive overview of your device’s health and security, including storage capacity, battery life, and apps and software that may affect your device’s performance. Here’s how to use it: If you would like to discuss your technology requirements please: Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call 020 8778 7759 Back to Tech News

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Microsoft’s $10 Billion Renewable Energy Deal Fuels AI & Cloud

Microsoft has agreed to back $10bn in renewable electricity projects by Brookfield Asset Management to help it meet clean-energy commitments and provide its data-centres with the extra energy requirements of cloud and AI.  Global Framework Agreement  The deal, which is a five-year agreement called the “global framework agreement” (“the agreement”) is a commitment by Microsoft, working in […]

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New UK Law To Eradicate Weak Passwords

Here we look at the new UK cybersecurity law that will ban device manufacturers from having weak, easily guessable default passwords, thereby providing extra protection against hacking and cyber-attacks.  The Problem  With 99 per cent of UK adults owning at least one smart device and UK households owning an average of nine connected devices, but […]

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Millions Defy WhatsApp Bans

In a recent BBC World Service interview, Head of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart, claimed that tens of millions of people in countries where WhatsApp has been banned continue to use it.  Where Is WhatsApp Banned And Why?  WhatsApp is banned Iran and North Korea, has been blocked at times in Syria, Senegal, and Guinea, and recently […]

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Apostrophes Dropped From Street Signs

North Yorkshire council has said it’s having to drop apostrophes from its street signs to avoid problems with its computer database!  Must Meet BS7666  The reason given for North Yorkshire council for dropping the apostrophes (e.g. in its street name signs), is that including apostrophes can affect geographical databases and that when street names and addresses […]

Designer-Material Absorbs Carbon Faster Than Trees

Scientists at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University have published details of the discovery of a new material that can absorb carbon faster than trees, giving hope to efforts to tackle the climate crisis.  Can Absorb The Most Potent Greenhouse Gasses  Detailed in a paper published in the journal ‘Nature Synthesis,’ the scientists report how the new porous […]

Tech Tip – How To Streamline Your Workflow with Virtual Desktops

Virtual Desktops in Windows are a good way to extend your workspace without needing multiple monitors and can be useful for separating different types of tasks or projects to keep your workflow organised. Here’s how they work: Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call 020 8778 7759 Back to Tech News

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Realtime Deepfake Dating Scams

Here we look at how scammers are now reportedly using face-swapping technology to change their appearance in real-time to conduct video-based romance scams.  Yahoo Boys  Recently, tech news site ‘Wired’ featured a story about romance scammers dubbed ‘Yahoo Boys,’ a slang term for a Nigeria-based collective of scammers who are now using deepfakes and real-time […]

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Don’t Try Hiding Money in Crypto

The Home Office has announced that in an attempt to tackle the issue of drug dealers, fraudsters and terrorists using crypto to hide and raise money, it’s giving new powers to the police. Over £1 Billion In Illegal Crypto Transactions  With over £1 billion in illegal crypto transactions taking place in the UK each year, the […]

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Jail Coder Course Shows Positive Results

US-based researchers have reported that the ‘Brave Behind Bars’ college-accredited, zoom-based web design course for prisoners has improved their sense of self-worth and given them digital literacy skills that help them stay out of prison.  Brave Behind Bars  The 12-week Brave Behind Bars computer science and career-readiness program was expanded in 2022 to include 40 […]

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World’s Largest (House-Sized) 3D Printer

Maine University in the US has announced that its new 3D printer has smashed the former Guinness World Record to become the largest 3D printer in the world, making it a significant step forward in the next generation of advanced manufacturing.  Factory of the Future  The new printer, dubbed Factory of the Future 1.0 (FoF […]

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Apple / OpenAI iPhone Talks Renewed

It’s been reported (Bloomberg) that Apple is (back) in discussions with OpenAI about potentially using OpenAI’s generative AI technology to power some new features being introduced in the iPhone later this year.  Although Apple is reported to be talking to OpenAI, it was also reported last month that Apple was talking to Googe about licensing […]

Tech Tip – Restore Points For System Recovery

Creating ‘restore points’ regularly in Windows could save you from unexpected system failures and software installation issues and allow you to undo system changes by letting you return your computer to a previous state. Here’s how it works: Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call 020 8778 7759 Back to Tech News

LinkedIn Testing Premium Company Pages

LinkedIn is testing a ‘Premium Company Page’ subscription service for SMEs which includes AI-produced content and tools to grow follower counts, as well as other features to raise the profiles of subscribers.  What Is It?  LinkedIn says the LinkedIn Premium Company Page is: “a subscription to help you make your Page stand out and convert more […]

‘Networkless’ Attacks?

In this article, we look at why and how networkless attacks (which target cloud apps and identities) have created new opportunities for attackers and new risks for businesses, plus what your business can do to mitigate these risks.  The Move To SaaS and Cloud  In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, one of the key drivers […]

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Microsoft Deepfakes Too Dangerous For Release

Microsoft says its new VASA-1 AI framework for generating lifelike talking faces of virtual characters is so good that it could easily be misused for impersonating humans and, therefore, Microsoft says it has “no plans” to release any aspect of it until it can be sure it can be used responsibly.  What’s The Problem?  2024 is an […]

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Amazon Launches Amazon Live FAST Shopping Channel

Previously available on desktop, mobile and Fire TV, Amazon has now extended the reach of its “Amazon Live” FAST free ad-supported, interactive TV “shoppable” channel by launching it on Prime Video and Freevee, for US customers.  What Is Freevee?  For those who aren’t familiar with Freevee, it’s an Amazon-owned, ad-supported, premium, free streaming service that offers a […]

Ultra-Fast Charging Sodium Battery Developed

Research by a team of doctoral candidates, supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea, has resulted in the development of an ultrahigh-energy density and fast-rechargeable hybrid sodium-ion battery.  Why?  As highlighted in the published research paper, there is now an increasing demand for low-cost electrochemical energy storage devices with high energy-density for prolonged operation […]

Google Deleting Millions Of Users’ Incognito Data

As part of a deal to resolve a class action lawsuit in the US dating back to 2020, Google has said it will delete the incognito mode search data of millions of users.  What Lawsuit?  In June 2020 in the US, three Californians named Chasom Brown, Christopher Castillo, and Monique Trujill (along with William Byatt […]

A Dozen Handy Google Maps Tricks

With Google Maps now one of the most popular mapping services globally, used by millions of people every day, plus having new features regularly being added, here we look at a dozen top Google Maps (Android) tricks to help you on your way.  Driving  Since Google Maps can be extremely useful in the car, the […]

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The OpenAI Voice Cloning Tool

OpenAI has announced the preview of its (two years in the making) ‘Voice Engine’ voice cloning tool, although there’s no firm release date yet.  What Can It Do?  OpenAI says Voice Engine uses “text input and a single 15-second audio sample to generate natural-sounding speech that closely resembles the original speaker.”  OpenAI says this “small model” with a […]

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Amazon Fined Over “Dark Patterns”

Amazon’s (Luxembourg-based) Polish e-commerce site, Amazon.pl (Amazon EU SARL) has been fined by Poland’s competition and consumer protection watchdog following customer complaints that their orders were being mysteriously cancelled.  Massive Fine  Following an investigation about the complaints, the President of Poland’s UOKiK consumer protection watchdog found Amazon EU SARL guilty of infringement of collective consumer […]

iPhone Users Targeted With Password Reset Scam

It’s been reported that some iPhone users have recently been targeted with an MFA bombing / multi-factor fatigue phishing attack.   The attack (which uses a bug in Apple’s password reset feature) bombards the user’s phone with password reset requests and ‘Allow’ or ‘Disallow’ options. If the user eventually clicks on ‘Allow’ in an attempt to […]

600% Data-Centre Electricity Increase In a Decade

In a speech shared on LinkedIn, National Grid Chief Executive, John Pettigrew, highlighted how demand for electricity from commercial data centres will increase six-fold, within just ten years.  Double The Demand On The Grid By 2050  Comparing today’s problem of grid network constraint to that of the 1950s, Mr Pettigrew identified the key challenges of […]

How To Quickly Access Symbols and Special Characters

Trying to find and insert particular symbols or special characters into something like a Word document can often be awkward and time-consuming, but Windows provides a quick-access character map for these symbols and characters to streamline this process. Here’s how to find it and use it: Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call 020 8778 7759 […]

‘AI Washing’ – Crackdown

The US investment regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has dished out penalties totaling $400,000 to two investment companies who made misleading claims about how they used AI, a practice dubbed ‘AI Washing’.  What Is AI Washing?  The term ‘AI washing’ (as used by the investment regulator in this case) refers to the practice of […]

What Is Customer Journey Mapping Software?

In this tech insight, we look at what customer journey mapping is, its benefits, the challenges of using it, and also we look at some of the popular customer journey mapping software solutions available.  What Is Customer Journey Mapping?  Customer journey mapping refers to a strategic process (that’s used by marketers) to visualise and understand […]

Glassdoor Site Shows Real Users’ Names

It’s been reported that Glassdoor (the website that allows current employees to anonymously review their employer) posted users’ real names to their profiles without their consent.  What Is Glassdoor?  By allowing users to register anonymously, Glassdoor is a website that allows current and former employees to anonymously review their companies and management. Founded in 2007 […]

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Your AI Twin Might Save Your Life

A new study published in The Lancet shows how an AI tool called Foresight (which fully analyses patient health records and makes digital twins of patients) could be used to predict the future of your health.  What Is Foresight?  The Foresight tool is described by the researchers as a “generative transformer in temporal modelling of patient […]

Serious Apple Chip Vulnerability Discovered

US researchers have reported discovering a hardware chip vulnerability inside Apple M1, M2, and M3 silicon chips. The unpatchable ‘GoFetch’ is a microarchitecture vulnerability and side-channel attack that reportedly affects all kinds of encryption algorithms, even the 2,048-bit keys that are hardened to protect against attacks from quantum computers.  This serious vulnerability renders the security effects of constant-time programming (a […]

World’s First Bio-Circular Data Centre

French data centre company, Data4, says its new project will create a world-first way of reusing data centre heat and captured CO2 to grow algae which can then be used to power other data centres and create bioproducts.  Why?  The R&D project, involving Data4 working with the University of Paris-Saclay, is an attempt to tackle […]

Use Task Scheduler to Automate Tasks in Windows

Automating routine tasks can save time and ensure that critical operations aren’t overlooked. The Windows Task Scheduler allows you to automate tasks such as daily backups, weekly disk cleanups, off-hours software updates, periodic service restarts, and sending reminder emails for events by setting them to occur at specific times or when certain events happen. Here’s […]

Don’t Ask Gemini About The Election

Google has outlined how it will restrict the kinds of election-related questions that its Gemini AI chatbot will return responses to.  Why?  With 2024 being an election year for at least 64 countries (including the US, UK, India, and South Africa) the risk of AI being misused to spread misinformation has grown dramatically. This problem […]

DMARC Diligence (Part 3) : Implementing and Optimising DMARC for Maximum Security

In this third and final part of our series of ‘DMARC Diligence’ insights, we explore the detailed process of DMARC deployment, its monitoring, optimisation, and preparing businesses for future email security challenges.  Last Week …  Last week in part 2 of this series of ‘DMARC Diligence’ articles, we looked at the crucial yet often neglected aspect […]

Bogus Bitcoin Boffin

A High Court judge has ruled that Australian computer scientist Dr Craig Wright is not the inventor of the Bitcoin cryptocurrency, despite him claiming to be so since 2016. Real Bitcoin Inventor A Secret The challenge with trying to conclusively identify Bitcoin’s inventor is that, from the outset, Bitcoin’s creator has only been known by […]

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Chrome’s Real-Time Safe Browsing Change

Google has announced the introduction of real-time, privacy-preserving URL protection to Google Safe Browsing for those using Chrome on desktop or iOS (and Android later this month).  Why?  Google says with attacks constantly evolving, and with the difference between successfully detecting a threat or not now perhaps being just a “matter of minutes,” this new […]

Apple Pays Norfolk Council £385 Million

Following a class action lawsuit led by Norfolk County Council over the effect of an alleged cover-up by Apple’s boss about iPhone demand in China, Apple has agreed to pay £385m to settle the lawsuit.  The lawsuit related to comments by Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, to investors back in 2018 where he told them there was […]

First For Energy-Saving Magnetic Levitation Train

Italian firm IronLev has claimed to have completed the first-ever magnetic levitation (maglev) test on an existing train track.  Energy Saving Potential  The use of maglev technology for trains is particularly valuable because, if scaled up, it has the potential to reduce costs and energy usage as the industry seeks more efficient systems. This is […]

Optimise Power Plans For Your Battery Life

Windows allows users to customise or switch between different power plans based on their current needs, balancing performance with energy consumption. This is especially useful for laptop users who may need to maximise battery life or require full performance during intensive tasks. Here’s how works: Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call 020 8778 7759 Back […]

TikTok Termination?

A recent US congressional vote means that TikTok and its parent company’s alleged ties with the Chinese Communist Party must be severed within six months or the popular TikTok app must be sold, thereby banning it in the US.  The Vote   The unanimous Energy and Commerce Committee vote (50-0) in favour of forcing TikTok’s […]

DMARC Diligence (Part 2) : The Forgotten Domains : A Hidden Vulnerability

In this second article of the “DMARC Diligence” series, we shift our focus towards securing non-sending or “forgotten” domains and outline a strategy for their protection through DMARC implementation.  Recap Of Part 1  You may remember that in part one of this DMARC Due Diligence series of articles we laid the groundwork by exploring the […]

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New Quantum Attack-Proof PCs

At its Annual Partner Conference 2024, HP announced the world’s first business PCs to protect firmware against quantum computer attacks.  This Issue  As highlighted by Global Risk Institute research, 27 per cent of experts think there is a 50 per cent likelihood of a cryptographically relevant quantum computer (CRQC) by 2033. HP says that “when that […]

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Bitcoin Value Hits New High

With the famously volatile Bitcoin cryptocurrency briefly hitting a new all-time high value of $69,000 recently, we look at the reasons why this happened and what could happen next.  Why?  This latest surge in the value of Bitcoin has been attributed to US finance giants like Grayscale, BlackRock, and Fidelity investing billions of dollars into […]

Apple Fine and Sideloading

In two recent blows to Apple, it’s just been fined £1.5bn for breaking EU competition laws over music streaming, while its latest iPhone update means allowing developers to offer their own ‘app stores’.  The Fine  Following a complaint by Swedish music streaming service Spotify, Apple has been fined £1.5bn by the European Commission for abusing […]

How Cheese Helped Extract Gold From E-Waste

ETH Zurich researchers have reported discovering an effective method for recovering gold from e-waste with the help of by-products from the cheesemaking process.  Protein Fibre Sponge  The group of researchers, led by ETH Professor Mezzenga, have reported using a sponge made from a protein matrix (a cheesemaking byproduct) to extract gold from e-waste.  The protein […]

Easy Batch Renaming of Files in File Explorer

Renaming multiple files one by one can be tedious and time-consuming. Windows File Explorer offers a simple way to batch rename files, which can be especially useful for organising documents, photos, or project files efficiently. Here’s how it works: Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call 020 8778 7759 Back to Tech News

Try Being Nice To Your AI 

With some research indicating that ‘emotive prompts’ to generative AI chatbots can deliver better outputs, we look at whether ‘being nice’ to a chatbot really does improve its performance.  Not Possible, Surely?  Generative AI Chatbots, including advanced ones, don’t possess real ‘intelligence’ in the way we as humans understand it. For example, they don’t have […]

Exploring E-Signatures

In this tech-insight, we look at what e-signatures are, their benefits plus some of the main e-signature providers, as well as what to consider when choosing an e-signature service.  Popularity of E-signatures  The initial growth of e-signatures happened in the early 2000s, due to the passage of laws such as the US Electronic Signatures in […]

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Firm Ordered To Stop Employee Face-Scanning

The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered Serco Leisure to stop using facial recognition technology (FRT) and fingerprint scanning to monitor employee attendance.   Not Necessary or Proportionate  An ICO investigation found that public service provider Serco Leisure, Serco Jersey and seven associated community leisure trusts had been “unlawfully processing the biometric data of more than […]

Google Pauses Gemini AI Over ‘Historical Inaccuracies’

Only a month after its launch, Google has paused its text-to-image AI tool following “inaccuracies” in some of the historical depictions of people produced by the model.  Inaccuracies An example of the inaccuracy issue (as highlighted by X user Patrick Ganley recently, after asking Google Gemini to generate images of the Founding Fathers of the […]

Quantum-Proof iMessage Update

Apple says it’s rolling out an update to its iMessage texting platform that can defend against future encryption-breaking technologies such as decryption by quantum computers.  Apple says its PQ3 “groundbreaking post-quantum cryptographic protocol” offers Level 3 security, i.e. it provides protocol protections that surpass those in all other widely deployed messaging apps. Apple says PQ3 (post-quantum cryptography […]

‘Gasification’ of Waste Tea Powers Factories

The ‘gasification’ of waste tea pruning’s is being used to both provide free energy for factories in Kenya and to decarbonise the tea sector.  Gasification  UK-based waste-to-energy company Compact Syngas Solutions (CSS) has developed a ‘gasification’ process which can convert biomass and other feedstocks into synthesis gas (syngas), which can be used to generate heat […]

Make MS Word Spellcheck Uppercase Too

You may not know that Microsoft Word doesn’t spellcheck uppercase words by default so, if you’d like to make sure your entire document (even your uppercase words) is fully spellchecked, here’s how: Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call 020 8778 7759 Back to Tech News

Doorbell Ding-Dong

After the Amazon-owned ‘Ring’ video doorbell company’s recent major subscription price hike across its range caused anger and made the news, we look at what customers have said and if there’s a way to beat the price hike.  Ouch!  Ring has angered customers and received some negative publicity after announcing that starting on 11 March […]

What Are ‘Virtual’ Credit Cards?

In this tech-insight, we take a look at the world of virtual cards, who offers them, their benefits, and other secure payment alternatives. What Are Virtual Credit Card Numbers?  Virtual credit cards and their card numbers (as the name suggests) only exist in the virtual world, e.g. in an app on your phone, and are […]

OpenAI’s Video Gamechanger

OpenAI’s new ‘Sora’ AI-powered text-to-video tool is so good that its outputs could easily be mistaken for real videos, prompting deepfake fears in a year of important global elections.  Sora  Open AI says that its new Sora text-to-video model can generate realistic videos up to a minute long while maintaining visual quality and adherence to […]

Google Waits On Hold For You Until A Human Answers

Google’s new “Talk to a Live Representative” feature will call a business for you, wait on hold for you, and call you when a human representative is available.  Being Tested  Similar to Google Pixel’s existing “Hold for Me” feature, “Talk to a Live Representative” is currently in testing in the US by Google’s Search Labs […]

Instagram and Facebook Ads ‘Apple Tax’

Meta has announced that it will be passing on Apple’s 30 per cent service charge (often referred to as the “Apple tax”) to advertisers who pay to boost posts on Facebook and Instagram through the iOS app.   This move is a response to Apple’s in-app purchase fees, which apply to digital transactions within apps available on the […]

Dirt-Powered ‘Forever’ Fuel Cell

Researchers at Northwestern University in the US have created a fuel cell that harvests energy from microbes living in soil so that it can potentially last forever (or as long as there are soil microbes).  Why?  As Bill Yen (who led the research) suggests, the value may lie in its ability to supply power to […]

Developing A Consistent Brand Voice Using ChatGPT

If you want to develop a comprehensive guide on your brand’s voice and writing style to ensure consistency across all company communications, you can use ChatGPT to help you. Here’s how:  Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call 020 8778 7759 Back to Tech News

What Are ‘Blockchain Identifiers’?

In this insight, we look at what blockchain identifiers are, their roles, users, and relevance to businesses, plus how they could work with the domain name system.  What Are Blockchain Identifiers?  Blockchain, the technology behind cryptocurrencies, is the decentralised, secure, incorruptible ledger system that enables transparent and tamper-proof transactions. Its value is in providing enhanced […]

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Robo-Calls Now Illegal In The US

The US The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that robo-calls using AI-generated voices are now illegal. What Are Robocalls And Why Make Them Illegal? A robo-call is a call made using voice cloning technology with an AI-generated voice, i.e. it is a telemarketing call that uses an automatic telephone-dialling system and an artificial or […]

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Google Launches Gemini Subscription

Google has rebranded its Bard chatbot as Gemini, the name of its new powerful AI model family, and launched a $20 per month ‘Gemini Advanced’ subscription service.  Gemini Advanced  To compete with the likes of ChatGPT, Google has launched its own monthly Chatbot subscription service for the same price but with some extras thrown in. […]

Stolen Device Protection Update Rolled Out

Apple iPhone users are being urged to use a new feature called ‘Stolen Device Protection’ which was rolled out in a recent update to iOS.  As the new feature’s name suggests, it can help prevent someone who has stolen your device and knows your passcode from making critical changes to your account or device. It […]

Promising Lithium Breakthrough For EV Market

Stanford researchers have discovered a simple way to boost the range of lithium metal batteries to twice the range of conventional lithium-ion batteries which could provide a massive boost to the EV market.  Lithium-Ion Batteries  Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are currently used in a wide array of electronic devices, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, power tools, […]

Recover Unsaved Word Documents

If you use Microsoft Word on the desktop, it’s worth knowing that Word automatically saves versions of documents as you work even if you don’t, allowing you to save yourself time and trouble by recovering any unsaved documents. Here’s how this last-ditch lifesaver feature works:  In Word, go to ‘File’ > ‘Info’ > ‘Manage Document(s).’  […]

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Google Offers Protection From AI-Related Lawsuits

Google Cloud has announced in a blog post that if customers are challenged on copyright grounds through using its generative AI products (Duet AI), Google will offer limited indemnity and assume responsibility for the potential legal risks involved.  Why?  With the many different generative AI services (such as AI chatbots and image generators) being powered […]

How A Norwegian Company Is Tackling ‘AI Hallucinations’

Oslo-based start-up Iris.ai has developed an AI Chat feature for its Researcher Workspace platform which it says can reduce ‘AI hallucinations’ to single-figure percentages.  What Are AI Hallucinations?  AI hallucinations, also known as ‘adversarial examples’ or ‘AI-generated illusions,’ are where AI systems generate or disseminate information that is inaccurate, misleading, or simply false. The fact […]

What’s In The New iOS 17 iPhone Update?

With the recent release of the latest update of Apple’s iPhone software, iOS 17, we look at many of the useful new features and their benefits.  What’s Happened?  Apple recently released a new updated version of its iOS (iOS 17), which contains many new features, security updates and fixes for Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and smartwatch. […]

October 23rd 2001 : “A Thousand Songs In Your Pocket”

On October 23 2001, Steve Jobs promised to give people “A Thousand Songs In Their Pocket”. His timing couldn’t have been better because at the time, Apple was primarily known for its computers and was struggling financially. Arriving eight months following the Macintosh version of iTunes, and lasting 20 years, iPods were discontinued last year […]

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Create Shortcuts for Important WhatsApp Chats 

If there’s a particular and important chat you access frequently, you can create a shortcut for it on your device’s home screen. Here’s how: This will create a shortcut icon on your device’s home screen, so you can save time by accessing the chat directly without opening WhatsApp first.   Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call […]

What Are ‘Deepfake Testers’ ?

Here we look at what deepfake videos are, why they’re made, how they (might) be quickly and easily detected using a variety of deepfake detection and testing tools.  What Are Deepfake Videos?  Deepfake videos are a kind of synthetic media created using deep learning and artificial intelligence techniques. Making a deepfake video involves manipulating or […]

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$900,000 For Netflix AI Product Manager

Leading Streamer Netflix has added more fuel to the fire in the actors and writers’ union strike by advertising for an AI product manager with a salary up to $900,000.  Could Have Paid For Actors  With US actors and writers who are members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) […]

Sotheby’s to Auction $50,000 Apple Trainers

Renowned auction house and brokers of art, collectibles, jewellery, and real estate Sotheby’s is selling a super-rare pair of Apple-branded trainers for a guide price of $50,000 (circa £39K).  A One-Time Giveaway In The 90s  Sotheby’s says the Omega Sports Apple Computer Sneakers (Size 10.5 / 9.5 UK), boxed and with an alternative pair of […]

August 6, 1997 – Microsoft & Apple Cooperate

By the mid-1990s, Apple was in dangerously bad shape. The company’s market share was dwindling, its product line was confused, and it was bleeding money. Their future looked bleak, and it needed a lifeline and they all knew it. Enter Microsoft, led by Bill Gates (the then-richest man in the world). On August 6, 1997, […]

Buildings Made Of Re-Usable Parts

Dutch architecture firm MVRDV and start-up Madaster have taken sustainable design to new levels by creating a whole office building that’s made of 90 per cent re-usable parts.  Matrix One – Made of Re-Usable Components  The ‘Matrix One’ six-storey, 13,000-square-metre laboratory and office building acts as the main campus hub of the Matrix Innovation Center […]

Convert Handwritten Meeting Notes To Typed Text With Google Keep

Rather than spending time typing out your handwritten meeting notes, Google Keep’s OCR means you can quickly convert them into typed text simply by taking a photo of them using your phone. Here’s how to use it:  Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call 020 8778 7759 Back to Tech News

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AI Fears Prompt Hollywood Actors To Strike

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the US actors’ union with 160,000 members has gone on strike mainly over fears that AI will reduce earnings and damage their profession.  New Agreement Needed  One of the Union’s main roles is negotiating terms between actors and the studios, and the last agreement […]

What Are ‘Zero-Day’ Attacks?

In this tech insight, we look at what ‘zero-day’ attacks are, then look at some recent high-profile examples and ultimately at what businesses can do to protect themselves from zero-day attacks.  Sophisticated Attacks That Highlight Vulnerabilities  In the ever-evolving landscape of digital threats and cyber warfare, one term often sends chills down the spines of […]

New Sketch-To-Image AI Tool Launched

London and San Francisco–based start-up Stability AI has announced the launch of ‘Stable Doodle’, a sketch-to-image AI-based tool that converts a simple drawing into a dynamic image.  Creates An Image From A Simple Doodle and Text Description  The new tool from Clipdrop by Stability AI, creates images from a simple doodle (sketched with a mouse) […]

Avoiding Enemy Aircraft … Or The Car in Front!

In July 1940, a Bristol Blenheim was the first aircraft to successfully use radar to detect enemy aircraft, proving that radar could help provide an effective electronic defence whilst being deployed in the air. It’s often been said that Britain would have lost the Battle of Britain had it not been for RADAR. Yet (like […]

Art Solar Panels That Are Practical And Beautiful

A group of solar panel start-ups is producing panels that enhance the look of buildings by combing them with art or making them as coloured cladding, facades, or roof tiles.  Solar Panels That Blend In  A group of Dutch startups is creating innovative solar panels that not only generate electricity but fit in well with (and […]

Quick Access To Emojis

If you’d like a really fast way to find and use particular emojis on a Windows PC, here’s how:  Email: hello@gmal.co.uk Visit our contact us page Or call 020 8778 7759 Back to Tech News

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Should You Make An ‘E-Will’?

In the past, people have primarily focused on their physical belongings and financial assets when planning for the future. However, as more and more of our lives move online, digital assets have become just as important to consider. So, do you need to make an ‘e-will’? What Are Your Digital Assets? Digital assets can include […]

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The UK’s New AI Taskforce

In this article, we look at the reasons for the government’s formation of the Foundation Model Taskforce, and how the DeepMind and Google Brain tie-up could solve some big issues for Alphabet in the AI world. £100 Million Investment In Taskforce Start-Up The UK government has announced that it will be investing £100 million in […]

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Microsoft Miffed: Monumental Gaming Merger Muzzled by UK’s CMA

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has blocked Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of US-based video game holding company Activision Blizzard over fears of stifled competition in the cloud gaming market. What Happened? Back in January 2022, Microsoft entered a £68.7 billion deal to buy Activision, one of the most popular video games publishers globally. This […]

WhatsApp Wows: One Account Accessible on Multiple Mobiles

WhatsApp has announced that it is introducing the ability to use the same WhatsApp account on multiple phones. Message Seamlessly Across All Devices WhatsApp says that this change gives users globally the ability to message seamlessly across all their devices without signing out, and to pick up their chats where they left off. Employees Can […]

Computers, Margaret Thatcher & Ice Cream

On 6th May 1949, the Electronic Delay Storage Calculator (EDSAC) ran its first set of programs. This historic British computer calculated a table of square numbers and a list of prime numbers. It was developed by Maurice Wilkes with his team at the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. The computer was built on the top floor […]

Pioneering Power: Solar Panels Float In The North Sea

Dutch start-up ‘Oceans of Energy’ has been awarded the contract for installing and operating an offshore solar farm inside the Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind park by CrossWind, a joint venture between Shell and Eneco. World First Oceans of Energy says it will be the first offshore solar farm in the world to be connected, […]

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‘Sentient’ Human/Mouse Brain Plays Video Pong

Dr Brett Kagan, of Cortical Labs, claims not only to have grown the first ‘sentient‘ lab-grown mini-brain in a dish, but also that it can play vintage 1970s video game’ Pong’… albeit badly.  What??  Believe it or not, as explained in the ‘Neuron’ journal, Dr Kagan and his team claim to have lab-grown a ‘DishBrain’ system, made […]

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Re-Branding Means Microsoft Office Becomes Microsoft 365

After 30 years of Microsoft Office, a major re-branding will see it being re-named as Microsoft 365 as part of Microsoft’s expansion of its productivity suite.  What, Who, And How?  Microsoft has announced that starting in November, Office.com (the Office mobile app and the Office app for Windows) will all become part of the re-branded […]

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Politicised PayPal Problems

After PayPal first announcing that it would fine customers for using its services to spread misinformation and then, following a backlash, saying this had been an error, we look at what happened and why.  Policy Update – Fines for Misinformation  Just over a week ago, PayPal was reported to have published an update to its […]

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WhatsApp For Business?

In this article, we look at the features, pros and cons of the business-focused version of WhatsApp.  Launched in 2018  The business-focused Android version of ‘WhatsApp Business’ was launched in January 2018 in the UK, and the iOS version was launched in early 2019. Available for free, but with pricing per message and a cost […]

Venue Uses Human Heating for Renewable Energy

Glasgow arts venue SWG3’s innovative new heating and cooling system uses the captured body heat emitted from its visitors to provide a renewable energy source.  The BODYHEAT System  As part of its drive to become a net zero venue, the first of its kind BODYHEAT system took 3 years to develop. The system is now […]

Tech Tip – Save Time in Gmail by Using ‘Smart Compose’ 

If you regularly use Gmail, switching-on ‘Smart Compose’ in your Gmail settings can enable time-saving predictive writing suggestions to appear as you compose an email. Here’s how to switch it on:  In Gmail, top right, click on the cog icon – Settings > See All Settings.  Scroll down and ensure ‘Smart Compose’ is toggled on.  […]

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AI Scan Predicts Your Heart Disease Risk

A new AI-based 60-second retina scanning tool can predict a person’s risk of heart disease by looking at the veins and arteries in their eye.  Level Of Risk Revealed by Looking at Blood Vessels  The test findings of the new ‘Quartz’ tool, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, show that the AI software takes […]

Universal Charging Cable Gets EU Vote

Following a provisional agreement in June, the European Parliament has voted in favour of a law to ensure that all devices have a single universal charger.  Why? Back in June, the EU Parliament highlighted the following reasons why having a single universal charger is necessary:  Consumers currently face the inconvenience and costs of needing a […]

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Forget Hacking, What About Tracking?

In this article, we look at the many different ways we are being tracked online, plus which measures users can take to avoid being tracked.  Why Are We Being Tracked?  Internet tracking is used for a number of reasons, including:  Improving user browser experiences on websites.  For analytics to improve business performance and inform/feed-into marketing […]

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What Are ‘BEC Campaigns’?

In this insight, we look at what BEC campaigns are, their characteristics, together with what businesses can do to protect themselves from the threat of BEC campaigns.   What Is A BEC Campaign?  A business email compromise (BEC) campaign is a kind of text-based, impersonation, social engineering scam where, in most cases, the victim is forwarded […]

Tech Tip – Annotating, Signing, And Saving PDFs in Firefox 

The release of Firefox 104 in August gave users the ability to annotate PDFs, e.g., sign PDFs directly in the browser and save them. Here’s how:  Open a PDF in Firefox, i.e., drag it into the Firefox Window, or right click on the file and select ‘Open with’ and choose Firefox.  In the top right […]

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Microsoft Outlook’s Self-Updating Emails

As part of its roll-out of the collaborative working ‘Loop’ app, Microsoft has announced that included in its ‘365 Roadmap’, self-updating Loop elements can now be used in Outlook emails. What Is Loop? In November 2021, Microsoft unveiled its ‘Loop’ collaborative app which it described as “a flexible canvas with portable components” designed for assisting with new […]

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How To Stay Focused Among The Chaos

In this insight, we look at some of the Microsoft Windows features that can be used to minimise distractions and help you to stay focused.    Minimise Interruptions, Stay Focused   Being able to stay focused during work can help productivity, keep a flow, and can help improve the quality of your output. Finding ways to minimise […]

What’s All the Fuss About : Musk & Twitter?

Following SpaceX and Tesla boss Elon Musk becoming Twitter’s largest shareholder after recently acquiring a 9.2 per cent stake in the social media company, we look at the news, issues, and implications relating to this move.  9.2 Per Cent Stake  Elon Musk, who already had 80+ million followers on Twitter’s platform, has now acquired a 9.2 […]

Tech Tip – Organise Windows Using ‘Snap Groups’

Windows 11 has upgraded Snap Assist to Snap Layouts and Snap Groups. You can use these features to customise the sizes of apps on the desktop, and to snap other apps into your chosen layout. Here’s how it works: Hover the mouse over a window’s maximize button or press Win + Z. Click on a […]

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What Is 5G And What Does It Offer?

In this article we look at 5G and what it offers businesses? 5G refers to the fifth generation of technological standards for broadband networks (hence its suitably apt name). Broadband networks – the last generation of which was known as 4G – work by connecting digital devices to one another via radio waves, which are […]

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European Oil Facilities Targeted By Cyber Attacks

In a worrying trend, oil facilities in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands have all recently been targeted by cyber-attacks. Germany The attack on German oil, vehicle fuel and petroleum products company Oiltanking Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG happened just over a week ago. Some reports have suggested that the company’s systems were hit by ransomware, […]

What Are Disposable Emails?

In this article, we look at what disposable email addresses are, their benefits and disadvantages. We also look at a few examples of disposable email address services. What Are Disposable Email Addresses? Disposable / temporary email addresses (DEA), also known as ‘burner’ email addresses, are (mostly free) services that allow the user to set up […]

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Some Unmissable Chrome Extensions

In this tech insight, we look at what Chrome extensions are and how to access them. Then we look at 10 examples of popular and useful Chrome extensions. What Are Chrome Extensions? Extensions for Google’s Chrome browser are software programs, built using technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that give Chrome more functionality. Enabling the […]

Tech Tip – Create And Share A Form Using Google Forms

For occasions where you need to create surveys, quizzes, or get other quick and easy responses, you may not have tried Google Forms. Here’s how to use them: Go to forms.google.com and sign-in with your Google login. Select the type of form you need from the gallery (Blank, Event Registration, Contact Information, RSVP, and more). […]