BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Big tech names withdraw from Las Vegas CES conference
Amazon, Facebook and Twitter are among firms to announce that they will not send teams to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), due to take place in Las Vegas in January. It comes as concerns grow about the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. Other firms, including Google and self-drive unit Waymo, still plan to attend. The organisers said the conference would run from 5 January for four ... Read more
2021-12-22 19:50:27
US safety body to probe Tesla on in-car gameplay
An investigation has been launched in the US into more than half a million Tesla cars that are equipped with touchscreens. It follows a complaint filed by a user who discovered he could play games while driving. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is looking into some 580,000 Tesla Models 3, S and X made from 2017 to the current day. Tesla has not yet responded to the ... Read more
2021-12-22 19:50:10
Gaming disorder: Inside the clinic helping addicted teens
For Stephen and Louise, life with their 16-year-old son Alex can be tough. Alex's compulsive desire to play first-person shooters like Counter-Strike late into the night, has caused years of anguish for the family. He has also recently been diagnosed with autism. He has been a patient at the NHS's specialist clinic for treatment of addiction to video games, since earlier this year. The National ... Read more
2021-12-22 19:49:42
Boeing and Airbus warn US over 5G safety concerns
Bosses from the world's two biggest plane makers have called on the US government to delay the rollout of new 5G phone services. In a letter, top executives at Boeing and Airbus warned that the technology could have "an enormous negative impact on the aviation industry." Concerns have previously been raised that C-Band spectrum 5G wireless could interfere with aircraft electronics. US ... Read more
2021-12-21 18:48:56
Arsenal fan token posts broke advertising rules, says watchdog
A web page and a Facebook post by Arsenal football club promoting crypto-based fan tokens broke advertising rules, a watchdog has ruled. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) argued the club had "failed to illustrate the risk of the investment". It ruled "the ads must not appear again in the form complained about". Arsenal said it would seek an independent review of the ... Read more
2021-12-21 18:48:26
UK donates 225 million stolen passwords to hack-checking site
UK law enforcement has donated a tranche of 225 million unique passwords to a cyber-security project helping to protect users from hacking. The National Crime Agency (NCA) recovered the database from cyber-criminals who had collected real users' email addresses and passwords. That list has been added to free online service Have I Been Pwned (HIBP). It lets anyone search through hundreds of mill ... Read more
2021-12-20 18:56:10
Fake Covid passes advertised for sale online
Fraudsters are directing people on Facebook to sites claiming to sell fake Covid vaccine passes for those haven't been jabbed, the BBC has found. People in the UK are required to prove their vaccination status in order to access some places and to avoid self-isolation after travelling abroad. But posts on the social media site are offering unvaccinated people false certification to get around th ... Read more
2021-12-20 18:55:49
Amazon-owned Twitch bans Amazon account after breast revealed on air
Amazon-owned livestreaming site Twitch has banned an Amazon Prime Video channel after a presenter appeared to accidentally reveal her breast during a live show. The official Spanish-language Prime Video channel was suspended from Twitch on Sunday, with no public reason given. However, it followed a segment on the talk show Esto es un Late where the incident took place. Twitch has strict rules a ... Read more
2021-12-20 18:52:31
BBC Bitcoin mining report used in crypto-scam
Chiranjeevi lives in Hyderabad, India, with his young family. He is a smiley, glass-half-full kind of guy - naturally positive and full of energy. He's smart, too, and works in an Indian tech company. He's the least likely person, you'd think, to fall victim to an online scam. Yet in October he was defrauded out of his life's savings - $4,000 (£3,000). He couldn't believe it. "I was so ... Read more
2021-12-19 18:46:35
How to avoid gadget frustration on Christmas Day
Congratulations: you've outdone the chip shortage and conquered the crowds, or maybe Santa's due to be very good to you. Either way, you've got some new technology under the Christmas tree. But these aren't wooden blocks or teddy bears. Tech toys often need a little preparation before Christmas morning. Here's a quick crash course in what needs to be done before the day. Power: Batteries, brick ... Read more
2021-12-19 18:45:48