Amazon

Amazon Launching ‘Q’ Chatbot

Following on from the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Bard (and Duet), Microsoft’s Copilot, and X’s Grok, now Amazon has announced that it will soon be launching its own ‘Q’ generative AI chatbot (for business).  Cue…
Air bnb

Cameras In Airbnb Properties – What Are The Rules?

Following the Metro recently highlighting the issue of undisclosed cameras being used by a small number of Airbnb hosts, we take a look at what the rules say, reports in the news of this happening, and what you can do to protect yourself.  Do…
google

Google Files Fiasco

An issue with Google’s cloud that locked some Google Drive for desktop users out of some of their files from the last six months has led to some angry comments being left on Google’s community support site.  Reported Over A Week…
AI

AI Job Risks – Finance & Insurance

Analysis by the Department for Education’s Unit for Future Skills to try and quantify the impact of AI on the UK jobs market found the finance and insurance sector was more exposed than any other.   The Analysis  “The…
phone users

Police Warnings Over iOS 17’s NameDrop

It’s been reported that iOS 17’s new NameDrop feature has prompted the Police to issue warnings to parents on social media (in the US) about its potential to be abused, possibly posing a risk to their children.  NameDrop, introduced…
windows

Dynamic Window Breakthrough

Researchers at North Carolina State University in the US have developed a new dynamic window material that can tune out certain wavelengths of light and block heat to suit the conditions.  Three Modes Now Possible  The Dynamic window…
,

Use Chrome As A Simple Note-Taking App

If you’re using Google Chrome to browse the internet and want a quick way to jot down notes or ideas without needing a separate app, this trick will turn a Chrome tab into a simple note-taking app. Here’s how it works:  Open a…
Cyber handshake

3000% Increase in Deepfake Frauds!

A new report from ID Verification Company Onfido shows that the availability of cheap generative AI tools has led to Deepfake fraud attempts increasing by 3,000 per cent (specifically, a factor of 31) in 2023. Free And Cheap AI Tools  Although…
laptop

Tech Insight : A Dozen Ways Copilot Can Help Your Business

With Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant now embedded within the Microsoft 365 apps and services to help users save time and increase productivity, we look at a dozen things you can do with Copilot to help your business.  Microsoft 365…
cookies
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ICO Cookie Warning To Top Websites

The UK Information Commissioner has warned some of the UK’s top websites that if they don’t offer users fair choices over cookie use, as required by data protection law, they will face enforcement action.  Guidance Not Being Followed  The…
IT

Autumn Statement Suggests IT Spending Boost

The announcement of measures intended to boost investment in innovation and technology in UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement could mean increased spending on IT and AI.  Measures To Boost The Tech Sector The UK Chancellor’s…
ios

ChatGPT Voice Free To All iOS Users

OpenAI’s president and co-founder, Greg Brockman, has announced that ‘ChatGPT Voice’ in its ChatGPT app, previously only available to Plus and Enterprise subscribers, is now available free to all iOS and Android users.  ChatGPT…
battery

Friendlier Alternatives To Lithium-Ion Batteries

In this article, we look at what the issues around lithium-ion batteries are, why we need more sustainable alternatives, then we’ll look at some examples of the latest, environmentally-friendly alternatives.  What Are Lithium-Ion…
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Silence Distracting Website Notifications Using Chrome’s ‘Mute Site’

If you’re often overwhelmed by notifications such as customer service chats or discount alerts when you arrive on a website, Google Chrome has an in-built feature to instantly mute these. Here’s how it works:  When using Chrome…
AI 1

9 Smart Ways for Small Businesses to Incorporate Generative AI

There is no escaping the relentless march of AI. Software companies are rapidly incorporating it into many business tools. Many people are still concerned about where AI will go. But there is no denying that it makes certain work more efficient.…
roaming

Avoid Getting Stung With Roaming Charges

In the wake of the recent news that Scotland’s Health Secretary, Michael Matheson, received an £11,000 roaming charges bill from his holiday, here we look at some of main ways you can keep data roaming charges down.  What Are Data…
Antenae

Amazon’s Satellite Broadband :100% Success

Amazon’s ‘Project Kuiper’ satellite broadband moved one step closer following a reported 100 per cent success rate for its first two prototype satellites.  Project Kuiper  Like Elon Musk’s SpaceX, with Project Kuiper, Amazon…
Facial recognicion
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Warning Over Lessening Of AI Facial Recognition Supervision

Computer Weekly recently reported that in an interview with the outgoing England and Wales biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner, Professor Fraser Sampson, he warned of the declining state of oversight in AI facial recognition surveillance…
ad campaign

An Apple Byte # 1 :  Apple Gets 36 Per Cent Of Google’s Ad Revenue

During a recent court hearing where Google was trying to defend itself from monopoly claims, it was revealed that Google sends 36 per cent of the advertising revenue it makes on Apple’s Safari web browser to Apple.  The figure, which…
Kite

Tidal Energy ‘Kite’ That Can Power A Town

Swedish startup Minesto has developed a subsea ‘kite’ style mini power plant that generates renewable energy from tidal streams and ocean currents.  How It Works  The ‘wing’ technology, described by Minesto as a kind of “subsea…
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Filtering Video Searches In Google

If you need to search Google for a specific video, or for the best version of that video, Google Search lets you filter video results by duration, time, quality, source, and more. Here's how it works: Type the words into Google Search that…
chatgpt

Major Upgrades To ChatGPT For Paid Subscribers

One year on from its general introduction, OpenAI has announced some major upgrades to ChatGPT for its Plus and Enterprise subscribers.  New Updates Announced At DevDay  At OpenAI’s first ‘DevDay’ developer conference on November…
tech campus

New £1 Billion UK Tech Campus

Plans have been submitted for a new £1 billion development in Cheltenham that will include one of Europe’s largest tech campuses and will house the National Cyber Innovation Centre.  Cheltenham’s Golden Valley Development  Planning…
AI fingers

Musk Launches Preview of Grok AI Chatbot

Elon Musk’s ‘xAI’ company has launched the preview of ‘Grok’, a new and rebellious AI chatbot that’s modelled after the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.  Grok  Grok is Musk’s answer to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s…
Ball of Light

New Wearable Smartphone AND Virtual Assistant

Humane has announced the release of its Apple-style AI-powered badge/pin wearable that combines a smartphone with virtual assistant capabilities for when you’re on the move.  Humane  Humane, a startup founded by ex-Apple design…
Apple

Minor Stroke For Apple Legend

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, known for his revolutionary work in personal computing, was briefly hospitalised after a health scare in Mexico City. At 73, Wozniak suffered a fainting episode caused by a minor stroke last week while preparing…
apple watch

Battery Drain Complaints Around Apple Watches

Recent user reports indicate a perplexing battery drain in Apple Watches, affecting even the robust Apple Watch Ultra. The problem, linked to the WatchOS 10.1 update, has raised alarm among consumers and professionals who rely on the device’s…
Datacenter

London Data Centres To Heat New Homes 

A new £36 million UK government project is to use data centre waste heat to provide heating and hot water to 10,000 new homes and 250,000 square metres of commercial space in London.  Using Heat From Data Centres  Data…
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Use Google Translate To Check For Mistakes In Your Content

If you’ve written content such as blog posts, articles etc that you’d like to check thoroughly for any mistakes and hear more clearly how it sounds being read back, try using Google Translate. Here’s how.  Go to Google Translate.  Copy…
iphone low battery

UK Proceeds With iPhone ‘Batterygate’ Case

The so-called ‘Batterygate’ iPhone throttling case has been given the go-ahead by UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal which could mean a near $1 billion (£853 million) damages payout to affected Apple customers.  What Is ‘Batterygate’?  Batterygate…
conference room

UK’s AI Safety Summit : Some Key Takeaways

Following the UK government hosting the first major global summit on AI safety at historic Bletchley Park, we look at some of the key outcomes and comments.  Summit  The UK hosted the first major global AI Safety Summit on…
Hacker

Cyber Attacks Burn Out Security Experts

A new survey from CyberArk has revealed that increased workloads caused by a surge in cyber threats and attacks has led to 59 per cent of UK senior cyber security professionals facing burnout.  Cyber Crime Levels High  The results…
sat nav

New Sub-60cm GPS Accuracy

US Startup Zephyr’s claim that it has solved smartphone GPS positioning problems through a network and software-based solution with sub-60cm accuracy has attracted $3.5 million seed funding.  The Issue  Even though consumers have…
firefox

Firefox – What’s In a Name?

On November 9th 2004, the well-known web-browser ‘Firefox’ was released, although it had earlier been called something entirely different altogether. Originally created in 2002 by members of the Mozilla community, the browser had the…
house EPC

New AI Model Classifies Energy-Wasteful Homes

A new deep-learning AI algorithm, developed as part of a study by the University of Cambridge, can identify and classify ‘Hard to Decarbonise’ houses (energy-wasting homes) with 90 per cent accuracy.  What Are ‘Hard-to-Decarbonise’…

Enhance Password Security with Emojis

If you’d like to protect your privacy and prevent yourself from being tracked by websites other than the one you are currently visiting, there’s a way to automatically block third-party cookies in Google Chrome. Here's how: In Chrome,…
google
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Google Tests Tool Against IP-Based Tracking

Google is testing ‘IP Protection’, a feature for Chrome that sends third-party traffic for a set of domains through proxies to mask their IP addresses, thereby boosting privacy by fighting IP-based covert tracking.  IP Addresses  An…
Tech

Tech Nation Returns

After ceasing operations earlier this year when it lost its core funding grant, start-up network Tech Nation has announced it will be relaunching its brand with a £10bn investment. Tech Nation  Originally established in 2010 as…
Microsoft
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Copilot Can Attend Meetings For You

Following trials, Microsoft’s AI assistant ‘Copilot’, which can even attend meetings for you, will be generally available to all Microsoft 365 Enterprise customers from 1 November. Copilot First introduced in March 2023 and rolled…
drone delivery

UK Joins Amazon’s Fast Drone Delivery Expansion

Amazon has announced that it will be expanding its ultra-fast Prime Air drone delivery operations to the UK, Italy and also to an as yet unnamed US city by the end of 2024.  Prime Air Drone Delivery  Amazon Prime Air is a service…
TV

BBC Basics – 87 Years Ago

“Gentlemen, you have now invented the biggest time-waster of all time. Use it well.”, said Isaac Shoenberg, head of the EMI research team that developed the first fully electronic television system to be used in regular broadcasting. On…
wind farm

Fossil Fuels Peak as Solar & Wind Rise

Independent energy thinktank Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2023 reports that fossil fuel power generation has peaked for the half the world and that clean energy sources now account for nearly 40 per cent of the world’s electricity…

Automatically Block Third-Party Cookies In Google Chrome

If you’d like to protect your privacy and prevent yourself from being tracked by websites other than the one you are currently visiting, there’s a way to automatically block third-party cookies in Google Chrome. Here's how: In Chrome,…
phone ai
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Microsoft Launches New AI Content Safety Service

Microsoft has announced the launch of Azure AI Content Safety, a new content moderation service that uses AI to detect and filter out offensive, harmful, or inappropriate user and AI-generated text or image content.  What Kind of Harmful…
WhatsApp

Ways To Use ‘WhatsApp Business’ To Help Your Business

In this insight, we look at some of the many ways you can use ‘WhatsApp Business’ to boost your marketing and connect with customers to provide a more personalised service.  What Is WhatsApp Business?  WhatsApp Business is a…
Children with phones

Schools Urge : Protect Kids from War Content

It’s been reported that some schools, in the UK (as well as Israel and the US) have advised Jewish parents to delete social media apps from their children’s phones over fears that they may see distressing hostage videos or videos of civilians…
writing

21-Fold Increase in AI-Assisted Jobs

Human content writers have surged in demand recently, as part of a broader effect, where ‘prompt engineers’ have seen salaries of $300,000. LinkedIn’s figures show that job posts in English with references to “GPT” or “ChatGPT”…
Bluetooth

October 10, 2023 : “A Thousand-Year Name Extension”

Around a thousand years before electronics, a monk called Poppo was asked to prove his faith, because Sweyn Forkbeard was having doubts about his baptism. Legend has it that Poppo proved his faith by holding a red-hot metal glove, yet he remained…
solar panels

Giant Solar Space Farm By 2035

Oxfordshire based Technology firm, Space Solar, says that giant solar panel farms could be in orbit and operational above the Earth by 2035.  The Challenge  There are significant energy and environmental challenges facing everyone,…

How To Get A Full Long Page Screen Capture In Chrome

If you'd like to capture long web pages in their entirety, e.g. for use in documentation, presentations, or competitor analysis, Google Chrome has a lesser-known but built-in way for doing this. Here's how it works: Go to the web page you'd…
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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…

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…

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…
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TikTok Trend : AI-Enhanced Profile Photos For LinkedIn Job Seekers

It’s been reported that a TikTok video has started a trend of people using AI to enhance their appearance in their LinkedIn profile photos with a view to improving their chance of getting a job via the platform.  The TikTok Video  The…

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…
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AI Energy Usage As Much As The Netherlands

A study by a PhD candidate at the VU Amsterdam School of Business and Economics, Alex De Vries, warns that the AI industry could be consuming as much energy as a country the size of the Netherlands by 2027.  The Impact Of AI  De…
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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: Long-press on the specific chat in the chat list until it's selected. Tap on the three…
look at images
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Safety Considerations Around ChatGPT Image Uploads

With one of ChatGPT’s latest features being the ability to upload images to help get answers to queries, here we look at why there have been security concerns about releasing the feature.  Update To ChatGPT  The new ‘Image input’…
iphone

Apple Issues Fix For Overheating Problems

Following complaints from customers about an overheating issue with the Apple iPhone 15 Pro, Apple has issued an update to iOS 17 that provides security updates and bug fixes, including a fix for the overheating issue.  Overheating  Since…
Clock

1 Second Lost in 300 Billion Years

Researchers at European XFEL X-ray laser have reported creating an atomic clock with such a precise pulse generator that it has an accuracy of only 1 second lost in in 300 billion years!  How Atomic Clocks Work  Up until now, atomic…
pac man

October 1980 : Halloween, Early AI & Ghosts …

AI isn’t something that’s just emerged in the last couple of years. Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde had distinct personalities and if these names sound familiar it’s because they were the four ghosts that chased Pac-Man around his maze,…
Datacenter
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Microsoft’s Green Concrete In Data Centres

As part of its commitment to be carbon negative by 2030, Microsoft is trialling cement containing microalgae-based limestone in its data centre builds.  The Issue For Microsoft  The main issue for Microsoft is that it needs to decarbonise…
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Prioritise WhatsApp Messages By Pinning A Chat To The Top

If there's a particular WhatsApp chat you would like to prioritise, you can pin it to the top of your chats list. Here's how:  For Android: Tap and hold the chat you want to pin, then tap the Pin symbol at the top of the screen.  For…
AI

Live Information From ChatGPT

OpenAI’s ChatGPT has announced that as part of three big changes, it can now access current information by browsing the internet.  Previously   Prior to the new (Beta) change, ChatGPT had only been trained on information up until…
QR code

How To Make a QR Code

In this tech insight, we look at QR codes, the many different methods to generate them, the benefits of doing so, and the future for QR codes as the successor to barcodes.  What Is A QR code?  A QR (Quick Response) code, first designed…
diagrams

Zapier Launches New AI-powered Business Diagramming Tool

Zapier, the company behind the automation tool that lets apps link up to each other, has announced the launch of ‘Canvas,’ an AI-powered diagramming tool to help visualize, plan, and automate business-critical processes.  Why &…
Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop On The Web Arrives…With AI Features

After a long beta testing wait, Adobe Photoshop for the Web (which includes Firefly generative AI features) is now available as part of all Photoshop plans.  Major Milestone  The release of Photoshop on the web, which Adobe describes…
old tv

Stooky Bill

In days gone by, a Scottish person with a broken appendage might well have said their arm or leg was held in a ‘stooky’ (or ‘stookie’) which meant a plaster-cast. It’s thought the word comes from ‘stucco’ (plaster) although the…
Street Lamp

Smart 5G Street Lamps Trial

Six areas across the UK will receive funding to trial a new multi-purpose smart street lamps that house EV charging hubs and boost wireless coverage including 5G.  Funding  As part of The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology…

Google Chrome’s Link To Highlighted Text Feature

If you’ve found a specific passage of text in a web page that you’d like to show to another person, Google Chrome has a built-in feature that allows you to share a link that goes straight to that text. Here’s how it works:  In…
Bard
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Google’s Bard Now Manages Your Email

Google has announced that it is embedding its ‘Bard’ chatbot into its apps and services with the launch of ‘Bard Extensions’.  Bard  In a similar way to Microsoft’s Copilot, Google’s own ‘Duet’ (for Google Cloud…
e sign

Blockchain Bill

In this insight, we look at the introduction of the Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 (ETDA), what it means and why it’s so significant, plus its implications.  The ETDA  The Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 (ETDA), which…
robot
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Volunteer To Be A Cyborg, Anyone?

Elon Musk’s neurotechnology company Neuralink has announced that it’s looking for recruits for its first in-human clinical trial of a brain implant.  Approved  Neuralink says that it has received approval…
typewriter
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Copyrights Conundrum: OpenAI Sued

It’s been reported that a trade group for U.S. authors (including John Grisham) has sued OpenAI, accusing it of unlawfully training its chatbot ChatGPT on their work.  Which Authors?  The Authors Guild trade group has filed the…
SpaceX

Rocket Man!

This week on September 28 2008 SpaceX managed to finally get the Falcon 1 rocket into space. Founder Elon Musk was obviously thrilled, although curiously he wasn’t hungry – even though he’d skipped breakfast earlier that day. It was…
Coral

‘Cobots’ To Restore Reefs

With many of the world’s coral reefs being damaged by heat and acidification, one startup has developed a system to restore reefs at scale with the help of trained AI robots. Coral Reefs Struggling  The world’s coral reefs only cover…

How To Save Time By Sending Public (But Private-Looking) Messages In WhatsApp

If you’d like to use WhatsApp to save time when asking a group of people the same question, making it look as though you’ve asked each of them individually and not having to open each chat to ask them separately, here’s how:  For…
mobile sharing
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iPhone Radiation : What’s It All About?

Following the recent news that sales of Apple’s iPhone 12 in France have been banned over radiation fears, we look at where these fears came from and how much danger, if any, Apple iPhone 12 users may be in.  France, Fears, Ban, &…
Monopoly

Why Is There Only One Monopoly Commission?

In this insight, we take closer look at the subject of tech companies getting into trouble over antitrust issues, why it happens, what can be done, and what part organisations like the UK ‘Monopoly Commission’ plays.  The Monopoly…
TokTok
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€345m Children’s Data Privacy Fine For TikTok

Video-focused social media platform TikTok has been fined €345m by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) over the privacy of child users.  The Processing of Personal Data  The fine, as well as a reprimand (and an order…
IT confused

Study Shows 20% Of Time Wasted Within IT

A study by the University of Copenhagen and Roskilde University has revealed that computer problems are responsible for us wasting between 11 and 20 per cent of our time.  How The Study Worked  The study involved 234 participants,…
code and specs

Why Do Python Programmers Wear Specs?

A – Because they don’t see sharp! That’s a programming humour for you. And talking of programming, there’s currently an explosion of code being auto-generated by AI and before long, human-coders may go the way of the early switchboard…
seaweed

Disappearing Packaging Made From Seaweed & Plants

London-based Notpla Ltd makes sustainable, biodegradable, and home compostable packaging from seaweed and plants.  Naturally ‘Disappears’  Notpla Ltd, a start-up founded in 2014, manufactures different sustainable packaging…

Sharing How To Organise Your Bookmarks In Chrome

If you’ve got a long list of bookmarks in Google Chrome that’s not in order, using ‘Bookmark Manager’ can help get your bookmarks organised and easily navigable. Here’s how to use it:  In Chrome, top right, click on the three…
WatsApp

Temporary Climb-Down By UK Government

In an apparent admission of defeat, the UK government has conceded that requiring scanning of platforms like WhatsApp for messages with harmful content, as required in the Online Safety Bill, is not (currently) feasible.  The ‘Spy…
Spotify

Laundering Money Via Spotify?

In this insight, we look at how, according to an investigation by Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet (SvD), criminals may have been using Spotify to launder money since 2019.  How?  The reported money laundering process, which…
FitBit
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Fitbit Data Transfer Complaints

Vienna-based advocacy group ‘Noyb’ has filed complaints against Google-owned Fitbit, alleging that it has violated the EU’s GDPR over illegal exporting of user data.  Complaints In Three Countries  Noyb, which stands for ‘None…
MS Mobile apps

EU Teams To Be Unbundled From 365

Following pressure resulting from a formal investigation by the European Commission over a possible breach of competition rules, Microsoft has announced that it will begin unbundling Teams from Office 365 and Microsoft 365 in European markets.  Antitrust…
Google

25 Years of Google

Did you know that Google was incorporated 25 years ago, in September 1998?Or that it was originally made from Lego? (sort of) Google began as a research project by Larry Page and Sergey Brin when they were students at Stanford in 1996. Originally…
wind farm
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Offshore Wind Makes Green Renewable Hydrogen

German company Lhyfe is showing how the challenges of producing green hydrogen can be met by using offshore floating wind-to-hydrogen turbines and electrolysers.  The Advantages of Hydrogen  The great advantages of hydrogen as a…

Sharing Your Location In WhatsApp

If you’d like an easy way to let others know where you are, e.g. a group of friends on a night out, or as a safety precaution, you can choose to share your location on WhatsApp. Here’s how: Go to ‘Settings’ on your phone. Tap…
Google
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Google’s Answer To Copilot

In this article, we take a look at what Google’s ‘Duet’ is, it’s features and potential benefits to businesses, and the price.  Duet  Introduced in May this year, Duet AI in the Google Cloud is essentially Google’s answer…
data usage

How To Check Your Web Usage

In this insight, we look at the many ways to check how much bandwidth you’re using, thereby helping to avoid exceeding data caps, and providing other benefits.  Why Monitor Bandwidth?  As we move deeper into the digital age, internet…
AI
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Watermark Trial To Spot AI Images

Google’s AI research lab DeepMind has announced that in partnership with Google Cloud, it’s launching a beta version of SynthID, a tool for watermarking and identifying AI-generated images.  The AI Image Challenge  Generative…
hiding
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Firefox Helps You Hide (Your Emails)

Following several months of testing, Firefox users can now take advantage of the Firefox Relay email masking tool from within the browser to help preserve their online anonymity and boost security.  What Is Firefox Relay?  Firefox…
ebay

28 Years Ago : eBay (& Amazon by Comparison)

Whilst eBay’s market cap is dwarfed by that of Amazon (i.e. circa 24 billion dollars compared to circa 1.4 trillion dollars), it’s easy to forget eBay helped shape online purchasing too.Before it was rebranded as eBay in 1997, the site…
cargo ship
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Cargo Ship Sails Help Reduce Pollution

The recently launched Pyxis Ocean cargo ship uses giant foldaway ‘WindWings’ to help supplement engine power and could cut lifetime carbon emissions by 30 per cent.  The Cargo Ship  A Mitsubishi Corporation cargo ship is currently…

Backup ChatGPT By Exporting Your Chats

If you’d like to backup your ChatGPT chats, it’s possible to export them by email from within ChatGPT. Here’s how: In ChatGPT, click on the three dots (bottom left). Click on ‘Settings & Beta.’ Click on ‘Data Controls. Click…
Zoom
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Zoom Data Concerns

In this article, we look at why Zoom found itself as the subject of a backlash over an online update to its terms related to AI, what its response has been, plus what this says about how businesses feel about AI.  What Happened?  Communications…
Spreadsheet

Python in Excel … So What?

Following the announcement that Microsoft is releasing a public preview of Python in Excel, we look at what this will mean for Excel users and how it could help businesses.  What Is Python?  The initial version was created in the…
Jet

Google Flights Can Show Cheapest Times To Book

With last-minute holidays on people’s minds (as well as current delays and disruption) Google has announced a new money-saving feature for Google Flights which shows users the cheapest time to book.  What Is Google Flights?  Google…
AI
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Opting Out Of AI-Targeting

The EU’s new Digital Services Act allows social media users to opt out of AI personalised content feeds based on relevance.  What Is The DSA?  The Digital Services Act is a new EU Law designed to protect users. It applies to any…
EV Car Battery

World’s First “Superfast Charging” EV Battery

China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) has announced the launch of world’s first 4C superfast charging LFP battery.   The ‘Shenxing’ EV Battery  CATL says the ‘Shenxing’ battery can deliver 400…
burning building

Ancient Data-Disasters

So far in 2023, Canada’s had wildfires devouring over 30 million acres, an expanse comparable to Kentucky. This has already surpassed Canada’s earlier record set in 1989, where flames ravaged more than 18 million acres. As the wildfire-season…

Time Travel In Google

If you’d like to see, or remind yourself of what Google’s search engine was like back in 1998 when it started, here’s a fun, instant way to do just that:  Type ‘Google in 1998’ into Google’s search bar.  Google will…
Amazon

Subscription Sales Scrutiny

Following the news that US Federal regulators have sued Amazon, alleging that people have been “tricked” into buying hard-to-cancel Prime memberships, we take a closer look at ‘inertia selling’.  What Happened With Amazon Prime…
Traffic Camera

AI-Camera Captures More Motorists

A free-standing AI road safety camera system deployed in Cornwall caught 300 drivers in the first three days.  How It Works  The camera system, on the A30 near Launceston, implemented by road safety tech firm Acusensus in partnership…
iPhone

iPhone Battery Risk Warning

Apple has issued a warning to iPhone users about the dangers of practices like charging a phone under a blanket or pillow at night, risking overheating and posing a fire risk.  Danger From Prolonged Heat Exposure  In a wide ranging…
Open AI

70% Of Companies Used Generative AI

A new VentureBeat survey has revealed that 70 per cent of companies are experimenting with generative AI.  Most Experimenting and Some Implementing  The (ongoing) survey which was started ahead of the tech news and events company’s…
New York Times

This Message Sent Around The World

At 7:00 p.m. on August 20, 1911, a commercial telegram was sent by the telegraph operator at the Times, working on the seventeenth level of the newspaper’s headquarters in Times Square. The message made a westward journey from New York, and…
Solar Panels

‘Zero-Bills’ New-Build Properties

A new partnership between Octopus energy and sustainable housebuilder Verto aims to develop new homes across two south-west sites that will have no energy bills because all their energy and heating will come from with solar, battery and heat…

Assigning Roles To ChatGPT : The “Act As …” Prompt

If you're looking for a fast, easy, and effective prompt to make ChatGPT write in a specific stye, or the style of a specific person / type of person, try assigning a role. Here's how: To give ChatGPT a persona / a well-known personality,…
You Tube

YouTube Tests 3 Video Limits

YouTube’s testing of a scheme to stop ad blocker usage and limit video plays is being seen by many as a way to further monetise the platform.  How Does YouTube Make Its Money?  Google’s YouTube platform currently makes its…
Chat GPT
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New Chatbot Attack : “Unstoppable”

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have reported finding a simple way to exploit a weakness and disrupt major chatbots like ChatGPT, Bard, and others.  Incantation  The researchers discovered that if they add specifically…
zoom meeting

Zoom-Bosses Order Staff Return To Office

Following its growth during the pandemic, video communications company Zoom, which made remote working possible for many, has now ordered staff back to the office for two days a week.  Those Within A Commutable Distance  This move…

What Is ‘Synthetic Data’ ?

In this insight, focusing particularly on AI and ML, we look at what synthetic data is, where it comes from and what it’s used for, its challenges, and the implications for businesses.  What Is Synthetic Data?  Synthetic data…
HP

Some HP Source…

Hewlett-Packard registered HP.com back in 1986 but did you know that it could so easily have been PH.com instead? This $40 Billion brand was incorporated this month (August 18th) back in 1947. You’ll have heard of…

Aviation Fuel From Farm Waste

International Airlines Group (IAG) has announced another “significant” investment in Nova Pangaea Technologies (NPT), a company that makes aviation fuel from non-food agricultural waste and wood residues.  IAG & NPT  International…

Customise Your Google Home Page With A Favourite Photo or GIF

If you’d like to customise and personalise your Google home page to show your favourite photo or GIF, here’s how: Save a favourite GIF or photo to your device (you may already favourite photos and GIFs saved). On the Google home…
twitter

What The 𝕏𝕏𝕏𝕏 Does It All Mean ?

Elon Musk has stated that his “𝕏” social media platform will cover the legal expenses and initiate lawsuits on behalf of individuals who have been treated “unfairly “by their employers due to posts or likes on the site, previously…
girl and robot

Seven Safeguarding SamurAI ?

Following warnings about threats posed by the rapid growth of AI, the US White House has reported that seven leading AI companies have committed to developing safeguards.  Voluntary Commitments Made  A recent White House fact…
piggy bank

Money Saving Expert Chatbot

MSE Chat GPT is a recently launched experimental AI chatbot that can answer money questions using MoneySavingExpert guides as its primary source.   MSE ChatGPT – Get Fast Answers To Money Questions  Recently launched by TV’s…
paper files

Explosion In Subject Access Requests

Following the recent Nigel Farage and Coutts Bank row, we look at what a Subject Access Request (SAR) is, how to make one, and why there appears to have been an explosion of them in recent times.   What Happened Between Nigel Farage…

The Wonderful Wizard of Woz

Steve Wozniak – business partner of Steve Jobs and co-founder of Apple – was born on August 11, 1950. Most people know that Apple went on to become one of the most valuable companies in the world and even though Steve the company way…
datacenter

Data Centres May Have Their Water Restricted

The recent announcement by Thames Water that it may restrict water flows to London data centres and charge them more at times of peak demand may be the shape of things to come.  Thames Water Ltd – Considering Restrictions  The…

How To Quickly Check If Any Of Your Passwords Have Been Leaked

Google’s updated Password Manager in Chrome allows you check if any of your passwords have been compromised or involved in a data breach. Here’s how to use it:  In Chrome, click on the three dots (top right).  Select ‘Passwords’…

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…
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Government Pushing For Right To Spy On WhatsApp Users (and others)

The recent amendment to the Online Safety Bill which means a compulsory report must be written for Ofcom by a “skilled person” before encrypted app companies are forced to scan messages has led to even more criticism of this rather…
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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…

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…

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,…

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…

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:  If you have a Google…
Microsoft

36 Cents per Chat Query Prompts $30 Microsoft Fee

Microsoft’s announcement of pricing for its AI productivity suite 365 Copilot shows its intent to monetise its AI, ending any expectations of free AI provision.  Furthering Its (Monetising) Ambitions – Microsoft 365 Copilot &…

Snooper’s Charter Updated. (Poorly)

Amendments to the UK Online Safety Bill mean a report must be written before powers can be used by the regulator to force tech firms to scan encrypted messages for child abuse images.  What Is The Online Safety Bill?  The Online…
pen test

What’s Involved In a ‘Pen-Test’ ?

If you’d like to know what a ‘Pen Test’ is and the sorts of things you can expect from one, this article will give you a helpful overview. Pen Tests  Put simply, pen testing is short for “penetration testing” and in a virtual…
phone on plane

Tech Travel Trends

In this article, we take a look at a few examples of nascent travel and delivery options in action.  Many New And Innovative Options With so many innovative technologically advanced (and green) transport, travel, and delivery products…
atom

How Bright Is Your Toothpaste?

The Oppenheimer blockbuster launched with an IMDB rating of 9.0, so it appears lots of people liked it. Whilst the film made mention of many of the pioneers in physics who helped during the Manhattan project, it could perhaps have made more…

Hydropanels Produce Pure Drinking Water From The Air

Hydropanels are an innovative and sustainable way to extract clean, reliable drinking water from the air off-grid.  How Hydropanels Work  Hydropanels (such as those made by Arizona-based SOURCE®) work by using a solar panel to…