BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Ride hailing app Grab falls in $40bn market debut
Grab - the Uber of South East Asia - has made its stock market debut on New York's Nasdaq trading platform. Shares initially rose in the Singapore-based operator of the ride-hailing and payments app, before falling sharply. The share sale valued Grab at more than $40bn (£30bn), making it the largest ever US listing by a South East Asian firm. Instead of a conventional share sale, Grab went publ ... Read more
2021-12-02 19:13:17
Microsoft Edge buy now pay later scheme met with criticism
Microsoft is under fire from angry users after announcing plans for a built-in "buy now pay later" function in its Edge web browser. Such schemes let buyers divide payments into smaller chunks over time - but have been criticised for their risk of users getting into debt. Microsoft has added one provider to the checkout page of shopping sites as a default payment option. But users hav ... Read more
2021-12-01 23:25:49
Cryptocurrency executives to be questioned in Congress
Executives of eight major cryptocurrency firms have been called to testify before a US congressional committee on 8 December. Witnesses called to appear include Coinbase's Alesia Haas, Circle's Jeremy Allaire and Bitfury's Brian Brooks. It will be the first time companies representing the controversial sector have been questioned in this way. US politicians across the political spectrum have ca ... Read more
2021-12-01 23:25:09
Reith Lectures: AI and why people should be scared
Prof Stuart Russell, founder of the Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence, at the University of California, Berkeley, is giving this year's Reith Lectures. His four lectures, Living With Artificial Intelligence, address the existential threat from machines more powerful than humans - and offer a way forward. Last month, he spoke to then BBC News technology correspondent Rory Cellan ... Read more
2021-11-29 18:53:32
Facial recognition firm faces possible £17m privacy fine
An Australian firm which claims to have a database of more than 10 billion facial images is facing a potential £17m fine over its handling of personal data in the UK. The Information Commissioner's Office said it had significant concerns about Clearview AI, whose facial recognition software is used by police forces. It has told the firm to stop processing UK personal data and delete any it has. ... Read more
2021-11-29 18:52:42
Black Friday: Will you get the tech you want for Christmas?
As people rush to snap up their Black Friday deals, there are mounting worries that some gadgets won't be available for Christmas. Silicon, which is in most products, is in short supply because of high demand and manufacturing problems since the start of the pandemic. The world now faces one of the most extreme chip shortages it has seen. It means that this year, people may be disappointed when ... Read more
2021-11-28 19:05:22
Amazon protests: 31 arrested as Extinction Rebellion targets retailer
More than 30 people have been arrested after climate change activists blocked UK Amazon warehouses on Black Friday, the retailer's busiest day of the year. Extinction Rebellion targeted 13 UK sites, including the retail giant's largest distribution centre in Dunfermline, Fife. It said it was to draw attention to alleged exploitation of Amazon workers and wasteful business practices. Amazon said ... Read more
2021-11-28 19:04:38
Amazon protests: 31 arrested as Extinction Rebellion targets retailer
More than 30 people have been arrested after climate change activists blocked UK Amazon warehouses on Black Friday, the retailer's busiest day of the year. Extinction Rebellion targeted 13 UK sites, including the retail giant's largest distribution centre in Dunfermline, Fife. It said it was to draw attention to alleged exploitation of Amazon workers and wasteful business practices. Amazon said ... Read more
2021-11-26 18:57:35
Mr Goxx, the cryptocurrency-trading hamster, dies
The cryptocurrency-trading hamster Mr Goxx has died. The rodent, who shot to internet fame for his ability to often outperform human investors using a specially built trading cage, died on Tuesday. The furry financier's official Twitter account announced the hamster's death to his 18,000 followers on social media. "You proved to us, that the internet doesn't necessarily have to be a toxic ... Read more
2021-11-26 18:56:39
US restricts trade with a dozen more Chinese technology firms
The US government has added a dozen more Chinese companies to its restricted trade list, citing national security and foreign policy concerns. Washington says that some of the firms are helping develop the Chinese military's quantum computing programme. This latest move comes as tensions grow between the US and China over the status of Taiwan and other issues. Trade was among the items discusse ... Read more
2021-11-25 18:44:16