BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Xbox Series X: Microsoft tailors launch plans for the pandemic
The biggest challenge facing Microsoft and Sony's next generation consoles - the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 - might not be proving the most powerful or having the best games at launch but the fallout from Covid-19. Many gamers will have less spare cash to spend. And there has been speculation supply-chain problems caused by the pandemic will lead to manufacturing delays and higher costs. Th ... Read more
2020-06-08 20:54:57
Huawei launches media blitz as UK weighs its role in 5G networks
Huawei is launching a newspaper and internet campaign to mark 20 years of business in the UK. In an open letter to the public, the Chinese telecoms company says it is "as committed as ever" to provide "the best equipment" to the UK's 5G mobile and full-fibre broadband providers. It comes amid a new security review that could lead the UK government to ban use of Huawei's 5G ne ... Read more
2020-06-08 00:02:31
Coronavirus face mask lights up with moving mouth shapes
A light-up face mask that responds to the sound of the wearer's voice has been developed by a games developer in California.
The BBC's Chris Fox spoke to designer Tyler Glaiel and had a go at making the mask himself - although he keeping his purely as a novelty.
2020-06-08 00:02:02
Snapchat stops promoting Donald Trump's account due to 'racial violence'
Snapchat says it has stopped promoting President Donald Trump's account. As a result, it will no longer feature in the app's Discover section. The firm said it would "not amplify voices who incite racial violence and injustice". The decision follows Mr Trump saying that "vicious dogs" and "ominous weapons" would have been used on protesters if they had breached the ... Read more
2020-06-03 20:58:18
Coronavirus: France's virus-tracing app 'off to a good start'
France's digital minister has said its coronavirus contact-tracing app has been downloaded 600,000 times since it became available on Tuesday afternoon. StopCovid France is designed to prevent a second wave of infections by using smartphone logs to warn users if they have been near someone who later tested positive for the virus. But a last-minute launch delay led some citizens to download the w ... Read more
2020-06-03 20:58:00
Grindr removes 'ethnicity filter' after complaints
Dating and hook-up app Grindr says it will remove the "ethnicity filter" from the next version of its app, following years of criticism from its users. The app currently lets people filter potential matches according to their age, height, weight and ethnicity. But critics say the ethnicity filter fuels discrimination and that the app does too little to tackle racism. Announcing the ch ... Read more
2020-06-01 21:13:26
George Floyd death: Jake Paul denies looting Arizona mall
YouTuber Jake Paul has denied looting during a protest against racial inequality in Arizona. The 23-year-old says he was only there to film content for his 20.1 million YouTube followers. Photos and videos seen on social media claim to show Jake, whose estimated wealth is over $11 million, involved in looting an Arizona shopping mall. "Neither I nor anyone in our group was involved in any ... Read more
2020-06-01 21:12:59
Amazon UK website defaced with racist abuse
Amazon has blamed a "bad actor" for racist abuse that appeared on multiple listings on its UK website. The abuse, now removed, appeared when users searched the online shop for Apple AirPods and similar products. It was unclear how long the racist language remained on the site, but it sparked outrage on Twitter and the sharing of screenshots and video grabs. "We investigated, remo ... Read more
2020-05-31 23:55:40
Microsoft 'to replace journalists with robots'
Microsoft is to replace dozens of contract journalists on its MSN website and use automated systems to select news stories, US and UK media report. The curating of stories from news organisations and selection of headlines and pictures for the MSN site is currently done by journalists. Artificial intelligence will perform these news production tasks, sources told the Seattle Times. Microsoft sa ... Read more
2020-05-31 23:55:19
Trump signs executive order targeting Twitter after fact-checking row
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at removing some of the legal protections given to social media platforms. It gives regulators the power to pursue legal actions against firms such as Facebook and Twitter for the way they police content on their platforms. President Trump accused social media platforms of having "unchecked power" while signing the order. T ... Read more
2020-05-28 20:29:57