BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Six announcements from Google I/O
Last year Google's developer conference was cancelled. Google I/O was back this year with several new announcements. Here are the things that caught our eye. More inclusive camera Google says it is creating a smartphone camera that more accurately depicts skin tone. "For people of colour, photography has not always seen us as we want to be seen, even in some of our own Google products&qu ... Read more
2021-05-18 20:09:08
Google AI tool can help patients identify skin conditions
Google has unveiled a tool that uses artificial intelligence to help spot skin, hair and nail conditions, based on images uploaded by patients. A trial of the "dermatology assist tool", unveiled at the tech giant's annual developer conference, Google IO, should launch later this year, it said. The app has been awarded a CE mark for use as a medical tool in Europe. A cancer expert said ... Read more
2021-05-18 20:08:12
Why is Huawei still in the UK?
It's not just the unseasonally cold weather that's creating a somewhat chilly climate for Huawei's UK operations. It's been banned from the UK's 5G infrastructure and it faces ongoing scrutiny from the National Cyber Security Centre over its security practices, and whether it has links with the Chinese government, which it denies. On a consumer level, its handset sales have plummeted all over Eu ... Read more
2021-05-17 19:59:26
Four men arrested in anti-Semitism video investigation
Police have arrested four men in connection with a video which appeared to show anti-Semitic abuse being shouted from a car in north London. Boris Johnson earlier condemned the "shameful racism" aimed at British Jews, which had "no place" in society. The person who filmed the video told the BBC they cried after witnessing the scene, adding: "I don't feel safe." Lab ... Read more
2021-05-16 19:46:36
Cyber attack 'most significant on Irish state'
A cyber attack on Irish health service computer systems is "possibly the most significant cybercrime attack on the Irish state", a minister has said. Speaking on broadcaster RTÉ, Ossian Smyth said the attack "goes right to the core of the [health] system". However, he also said that it was "not espionage". Taoiseach (Irish PM) Micheál Martin said that he had consul ... Read more
2021-05-14 19:57:59
Reminders on rise as WhatsApp update deadline looms
Users yet to accept new terms and conditions for the messaging platform WhatsApp will now receive "persistent" reminders ahead of the 15 May deadline. The changes relate primarily to the way businesses interact with customers. Since they were announced, in January, there has been concern about the prospect of increased data sharing with WhatsApp's parent company, Facebook, but this wil ... Read more
2021-05-13 19:54:45
Tesla will no longer accept bitcoin over climate concerns, says Musk
Tesla has suspended vehicle purchases using bitcoin due to climate change concerns, its CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet. Bitcoin fell by more than 10% after the tweet, while Tesla shares also dipped. Tesla's announcement in March that it would accept the cryptocurrency was met with an outcry from some environmentalists and investors. The electric carmaker had in February revealed it had bought $1 ... Read more
2021-05-12 21:56:48
NHS app ready to become vaccine passport next week
England’s NHS app will be available to use as a vaccine passport from Monday, the government has said - but only for those who have had both doses of the jab. A paper version will also be available - by calling 119 but not through a GP. Both will be available from Monday, 17 May, when the ban on foreign travel is eased. The NHS app is separate to the NHS Covid-19 app, which is used for contact ... Read more
2021-05-11 19:52:40
Tesla crash: Autopilot was off, says preliminary report
The autopilot function on a Tesla car involved in a fatal crash in Texas in April was "not available" at the time, according to a preliminary report. Police said one victim was found in the front passenger seat, the other in the back after it crashed and caught fire. The early findings suggest the car's autopilot was "not available" on the road where the accident happened. B ... Read more
2021-05-11 19:50:08
Colonial hack: How did cyber-attackers shut off pipeline?
Investigators at the largest fuel pipeline in the US are working to recover from a devastating cyber-attack that cut the flow of oil. The hack on Colonial Pipeline is being seen as one of the most significant attacks on critical national infrastructure in history. The pipeline transports nearly half of the east coast's fuel supplies and prices at pumps are expected to rise if the outage is long ... Read more
2021-05-10 20:10:49