BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Facebook's VR ads test loses first game after backlash
The first game developer signed up to test Facebook's plan to put adverts into Oculus VR games has reversed course after a backlash from players. It comes days after Facebook announced it would place adverts inside players' headsets, starting with shooter game Blaston. It was the only named title listed to take part. But its maker, Resolution Games, has now said its game "isn't the best fi ... Read more
2021-06-22 20:16:01
Snapchat removes controversial speed filter
Snapchat is removing a feature that displays how fast a user is travelling when taking a picture or video footage. Parent company Snap said it was because the speed filter was "barely used". But the company is being sued by the parents of two young men, who allege the filter encouraged their sons to drive at dangerous speeds and three deaths were due to "negligent design". S ... Read more
2021-06-21 19:36:08
German watchdog probes Apple's market dominance
Apple is under investigation by the German competition watchdog. The Federal Cartel Office (FCO) said the initial investigation will look at whether the company is of "paramount significance across markets". Apple said it looked forward to "having an open dialogue" with the FCO about any of its concerns. Facebook, Amazon and Google have faced similar probes this year, after ... Read more
2021-06-21 19:35:42
German watchdog probes Apple's market dominance
Apple is under investigation by the German competition watchdog. The Federal Cartel Office (FCO) said the initial investigation will look at whether the company is of "paramount significance across markets". Apple said it looked forward to "having an open dialogue" with the FCO about any of its concerns. Facebook, Amazon and Google have faced similar probes this year, after ... Read more
2021-06-21 19:35:35
TikTok owner ByteDance sees its earnings double in 2020
ByteDance, the Chinese company behind the smash-hit video app TikTok, saw its earnings double last year. An internal memo released to staff showed that the firm's total revenue jumped by 111% to $34.3bn (£24.7bn) for 2020. The figures underscore TikTok's continued global popularity. It comes as ByteDance and several other Chinese technology giants have come under increasing pressure from govern ... Read more
2021-06-20 19:38:46
Food-delivery apps up to 44% more expensive, survey finds
Food-delivery apps have experienced a huge boost during the pandemic - but a snapshot investigation from consumer watchdog Which? suggests they may not be the cheapest option. It compared the costs of meals from five eateries, bought directly and ordered on apps Deliveroo, UberEats and Just Eat. On average, a takeaway cost 23% more on an app than ordering directly. The app companies said their ... Read more
2021-06-20 19:38:20
HarmonyOS: Hands-on with Huawei's rival to Android
Huawei has revealed a new tablet and smartwatch running HarmonyOS, its new operating system that it is developing to replace Google's Android.
The Chinese communications giant said it would develop new software after former President Donald Trump put the company on a US trade blacklist.
BBC Click's Chris Fox went hands-on with HarmonyOS and found it had a lot of similarities with Android.
2021-06-18 19:48:09
Chloe Khan and Jodie Marsh rapped by watchdog
The Advertising Standards Authority has named and shamed four influencers it said repeatedly failed to disclose when their Instagram posts were actually advertisements. The four - Chloe Khan, Jodie Marsh, Lucy Mecklenburgh and Chloe Ferry - had previously been warned about breaking advertising rules, the ASA said. It is part of its new policy of listing repeat rule-breakers on its website. The ... Read more
2021-06-17 20:09:01
How market research reveals what you really think
Traditional market research, based on clipboards and questions, has a glaring weakness, according to Carl Wong, who has worked in the industry for more than 20 years. He says people cannot answer some questions honestly because they are not aware of their own deep underlying motives. "We are all influenced by things we're not able, or willing, to reflect on at the time a purchasing decision ... Read more
2021-06-17 20:08:42
Digital ad industry accused of huge data breach
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties is suing a branch of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and others over what it describes as "the world's largest data breach". The IAB Tech Lab, based in New York, develops digital ad industry standards. IAB members include Facebook, Google and Amazon. The case brought by Johnny Ryan centres on the data shared between ad brokers and other f ... Read more
2021-06-16 21:36:44