BATTERYFORPC BLOG
China: Children given daily time limit on Douyin - its version of TikTok
Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, will limit use of the platform for children to 40 minutes a day. The rules will apply to users under 14, who have been authenticated using their real names, and who will be able to access it between 06:00 and 22:00. Parent company Bytedance announced the app’s Youth Mode in a blog post, saying it is the first short-video company in the industry to have these li ... Read more
2021-09-21 20:17:34
Tech Tent - what next for Wikipedia?
It's the go-to site for information on just about everything but until recently Wikipedia has mostly avoided the battles over abusive behaviour and fake news that have plagued the social media giants. Now, just as a new chief executive takes over, a bitter dispute has erupted between volunteer editors of the online encyclopedia's Chinese language edition over how events in Hong Kong are portrayed ... Read more
2021-09-17 19:36:53
High-speed internet via airborne beams of light
A novel way of delivering high-speed internet via beams of light through the air has successfully transmitted data across the Congo River. It means that citizens in Brazzaville and Kinshasa could get faster and cheaper broadband. Project Taara is one of Alphabet X's (formerly Google X) so-called moonshot ideas. It grew out of Project Loon, a broadband project using balloons in the stratosphere, ... Read more
2021-09-17 19:36:16
OpenSea admits insider trading of NFTs it promoted
An employee at OpenSea, the largest digital collectible marketplace, used inside knowledge to buy NFTs before they were promoted on the website. NFTs are unique digital tokens attributed to art which have risen in popularity over the past year, with some selling for millions. CEO Devin Finzer said the incident was "incredibly disappointing" and did not represent the team's values. An ... Read more
2021-09-16 19:49:16
Wikipedia blames pro-China infiltration for bans
Wikipedia has suffered an "infiltration" that sought to advance the aims of China, the US non-profit organisation that owns the volunteer-edited encyclopaedia has said. The Wikimedia Foundation told BBC News the infiltration had threatened the "very foundations of Wikipedia". The foundation banned seven editors linked to a mainland China group. Wikimedians of Mainland China ... Read more
2021-09-16 19:48:48
TikTok faces privacy investigations by EU watchdog
TikTok is under investigation by The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) - its lead regulator in the EU - over two privacy-related issues. The watchdog is looking into its processing of children's personal data, and whether TikTok is in line with EU laws about transferring personal data to other countries, such as China. TikTok said privacy was "our highest priority". The Irish DPC ... Read more
2021-09-15 20:04:26
Microsoft's passwordless plans lets users switch to app-based login
Microsoft has announced users can now delete all passwords from their accounts and instead login using an authenticator app or other solution. The technology giant made passwordless accounts available for business users of its products in March. And that system is now being made available to all Microsoft or Windows users. It said "nearly 100% of our employees" were already using the ... Read more
2021-09-15 20:03:42
Apple rushes to block 'zero-click' iPhone spyware
Apple has issued a software patch to block so-called "zero-click" spyware that could infect iPhones and iPads. Independent researchers identified the flaw, which lets hackers access devices through the iMessage service even if users do not click on a link or file. The problem affects all of the technology giant's operating systems, the researchers said. Apple said it issued the securi ... Read more
2021-09-14 20:09:46
Apple iPhone 13 brings portrait mode for video
Apple has announced its new iPhone 13, which can film "portrait mode" videos with a depth of field effect. The new cinematic mode "anticipates when someone is about to enter the frame" and shifts focus to them, Apple said - something known as "pull focus". It is the only smartphone that lets users edit this effect after shooting, Apple boss Tim Cook said. However, ... Read more
2021-09-14 20:09:02
Apple iPhone risk from powerful motorbike vibrations
IPhone owners should beware picking up bad vibrations from powerful motorbikes, as they may damage camera systems, Apple has said. The technology giant published a warning iPhones should not be attached to powerful bikes, in a support document spotted by MacRumors. Engine vibrations can harm phones' optical-image stabilisation or closed-loop autofocus systems, it says. Owners of scooters and mo ... Read more
2021-09-13 19:47:53