Google insists it’s doing what it can to purge Play Store of malicious apps
Google is continuing with efforts to provide a secure and safe app store, this week revealing that rejected app submissions increased by 55 percent in 2018 compared to 2017, while those that did get through were spotted and removed more quickly than before — often before anyone could install them.
Instagram test reveals direct messages may be coming to browsers
Instagram for the web has always been a minimalist affair compared to the feature-rich mobile app, but in the last few years that's started to change. Instagram is now testing direct messages for browsers, which, if it goes live, could prompt more people to use it as their go-to messaging service.
Own a drone? New rule means you have to change the way IDs are displayed
Registered drone owners will need to place their machine's ID number on the outside of their aircraft from February 23 in accordance with a new rule from the Federal Aviation Administration. Terror-related concerns mean the ID can no longer be placed inside the drone's battery compartment.
Ford’s ingenious bed for couples keeps mattress hogs in their own half
Drawing on its autonomous-car technology, Ford has come up with a smart bed that promises a better night's sleep for couples. Using sensors and a conveyor belt, Ford claims its high-tech bed can prevent so-called "space invaders" from straying onto the other half of the mattress during the night.
500px reveals almost 15 million users are caught up in security breach
Almost 15 million members of portfolio website 500px have been caught up in a security breach, the company said on Tuesday. The hack occurred in 2018 but was only discovered last week. As a precautionary measure, users are being told to change their 500px password as soon as possible.
The house where Jeff Bezos started Amazon is up for sale
The Seattle home where Jeff Bezos started Amazon is on the market for $1.5 million. Bezos spent the first few months running Amazon from the property's garage back in 1994 before it went on to become one of the most valuable companies in the world. It's the first time in 10 years that the house has gone on sale.
LinkedIn finally gets around to launching its own live video tool
Live video is coming to LinkedIn for businesses and individuals to broadcast to one another. The livestreaming feature is launching in beta in the U.S. before rolling out to the entire community. LinkedIn said livestreams have been the most requested feature for the site.
Gmail adds lots of new functionality to its right-click menu
Right-click on an email in Gmail and the list of actions is pretty limited. That's about to change, though, as Google has just announced it's expanding the list of options to make its email client that little bit more useful. The extended right-click menu is rolling out to all desktop users in the next couple of weeks.
Virgin Galactic donates record-breaking SpaceShipTwo rocket to the Smithsonian
Private space company Virgin Galactic recently donated the record-breaking rocket motor of SpaceShipTwo — aka VSS Unity — to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The rocket powered Unity to the edge of space at almost three times the speed of sound in a test mission on December 13, 2018.
Self-driving startup Aurora attracts major Amazon investment
Amazon is showing a growing interest in autonomous tech, having recently taken part in a $530 million funding round for Silicon Valley-based self-driving startup Aurora Innovation. Aurora was founded in 2016 by contributors to driverless-car projects run by Google (now Waymo) and Uber, among others.
FaceTime bug: Apple rolls out a fix to enable group calls again
FaceTime group calls are back, so long as you update your iDevice with the fix that Apple just rolled out. It fixes a FaceTime flaw that let people eavesdrop on the people they were calling. Lawmakers are now asking Apple to explain the background to what they described as a "significant privacy violation."
Skype’s new ‘blur background’ feature could help keep you from blushing
Skype has launched a new feature that lets you blur your background during video calls. The idea is that it keeps you as the focus instead of distracting others with whatever embarrassing things you might have on show behind you. Skype's background blur works on desktop and can be activated in a couple of clicks.
FaceTime bug: Lawmakers demand answers from Apple’s CEO
A House of Representatives committee is demanding answers from Apple regarding the recently discovered FaceTime bug, describing it as a "significant privacy violation." The vulnerability, which let FaceTime users eavesdrop on the person they were calling, was discovered at the end of last month.
Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts is leaving after five years in the job
Apple's retail chief is leaving the company in April after five years in the job. Angela Ahrendts joined Apple from Burberry to become the company's highest paid executive. She will be replaced by Apple's human resources boss, Deirdre O'Brien, who has been at the tech company for 30 years.
YouTube boss admits even her own kids gave the ‘Rewind’ video a thumbs down
YouTube's annual "Rewind" video is supposed to be a celebration of “the videos, people, music, and moments” that define the given year, but last year's ended up becoming the most disliked video on the service. And now YouTube's CEO has admitted that even her own kids thought it was pretty darn awful.
Waymo may take a ride with Nissan-Renault for robo-taxi services
Autonomous car company Waymo is reportedly preparing to partner with the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance to develop robo-taxis and other services linked to the technology. Waymo has already inked deals with several automakers, though this latest deal could help it to take its self-driving tech to more markets.
Apple is now selling refurbished iPhone X handsets from $769
Refurbished iPhones direct from Apple can be a worthwhile buy, though you have to get in there quick when one lands in its online store. The tech company has just started selling refurbished iPhone X handsets — the first iPhone to offer a truly "all screen" experience — with prices starting at $769.
‘Instagram egg’ embarks on a new adventure as man behind it is unmasked
The Instagram egg made headlines around the world last month after it became the most-liked post on the photo-sharing service, knocking Kylie Jenner off the top spot. The identity of the person behind the account has now been revealed, as has his reason for choosing an egg for the stunt.
Twitter boss again teases the idea of a button to edits tweets
A recent interview with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey suggests the company is still looking at a range of options for allowing people to edit tweets. Ideas include a function that gives you up to 30 seconds to recall a tweet to fix any typos or other issues before it goes live on the service.
Drone pilots are already getting caught ignoring Super Bowl flight ban
A restriction on drone flights is already in place around Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl, but cops have already confiscated six quadcopters from those ignoring the temporary ban. Those responsible could face hefty cash fines, and even jail time.
Nasty FaceTime bug lets you hear call recipients before they’ve answered
A FaceTime bug lets you listen to the audio of the person you're calling before they've even answered. Besides the obvious privacy concerns, the issue could lead to awkward situations if anyone tries to replicate the bug and the recipient utters something untoward when their name flashes on the display.
Shark attack: Drone-based research may help ease swimmers’ fears
Researchers in Australia used drones to learn more about what kinds of sea creatures come close the shore, and their findings may go some way to easing the fears of swimmers worried about shark attacks. Fact is, that mysterious creature you saw glide by is far more likely to be a dolphin.
Puma’s self-lacing sports shoe gives Nike’s Adapt BB a run for its money
Puma has unveiled a self-lacing shoe to take on Nike's Adapt BB. The fit can be adjusted via a smartphone app or the Apple Watch, with additional changes possible via a small touchpad on the top of the shoe. Puma's "Fi" footwear launches with a $330 price tag, $20 cheaper than Nike's offering.
Uber seeks to be a ‘one-stop shop for transportation’ with new app feature
Uber is adding public transit options to its app in a bid to become a one-stop shop for public transportation. Part of the idea is to make it easier for those who want to start or finish a journey in an Uber while using public transit in between. The new feature has arrived first in Denver, Colorado.
Tesla: Model Y to share 75 percent of its parts with Model 3, coming in 2020
Tesla boss Elon Musk on Wednesday confirmed the Model Y crossover is expected to arrive in 2020, with the vehicle sharing about 75 percent of its parts with the Model 3. He said the Model Y is likely to be made at its massive Gigafactory 1 facility in Nevada. The tentative unveil date is March, 2019.
Watch this SpaceX ship come tantalizingly close to catching rocket parts
SpaceX has come tantalizingly close to catching a rocket nose cone in a giant net. The system, which uses a ship called Mr. Steven, is designed to save the nose cone from damage by keeping it out of the water when it returns to Earth. The team is now hoping to achieve its first successful catch next time around.
FaceTime bug: A teen and his mom spent a week trying to warn Apple
News of a serious FaceTime bug that let iPhone users eavesdrop on the person they were calling went viral on Tuesday. It now appears that a teen and his mom tried to warn Apple about the flaw multiple times, but the "poorly set-up" bug-reporting process made it difficult to make contact.
Cool or creepy? Panasonic floor lamp has a ‘secret’ security camera built in
Panasonic's new HomeHawk floor lamp comes with a smart security camera built in. The lens sits at the top of the stem, just below the light, so you wouldn't even know it's there. Yes, it's a design that may well send a shiver down the spine of Airbnb renters everywhere.