BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Tech Tent: An experiment on the Isle of Wight
An island off the south coast of England is now the focus of the world's attention - or at least that part of the world that wants to know whether contact tracing apps can help deal with the coronavirus. On this week's Tech Tent we hear how a trial on the Isle of Wight could determine which kind of app - if any - is the best way forward. Listen to the latest Tech Tent podcast on BBC Sounds Li ... Read more
2020-05-08 20:25:56
Coronavirus: NHS reveals source code behind contact-tracing app
The NHS has released the source code behind its coronavirus contact-tracing app. More than 40,000 people have installed the smartphone software so far. The health service is targeting the Isle of Wight only, at this stage, but it says this is the first stage of the app's rollout - not a test. Tests carried out on behalf of BBC News confirm the developers have found a way to work round restricti ... Read more
2020-05-07 22:01:55
Coronavirus: Will offices be safe for a return to work?
As lockdowns start to ease in many countries, so the tentative return to work begins, leaving people understandably concerned about how safe a space an office will be in the middle of a global pandemic. Alongside some mouldy old food in the communal fridges, there is likely to be an increase in the amount of technology used to monitor employees. From thermal cameras taking your temperature when ... Read more
2020-05-06 20:33:10
Sonos Arc soundbar makes jump to Dolby Atmos audio
Sonos has announced a new flagship soundbar with the latest surround-sound technology. The Sonos Arc is the firm's first model to incorporate Dolby Atmos - which bounces audio off the ceiling to create the impression that sounds are being emitted from different heights. The launch comes nearly five years after Yamaha was first to bring an Atmos soundbar to market. Sonos may benefit from the cor ... Read more
2020-05-06 20:32:47
Coronavirus: Hands on with NHS Covid-19 contact-tracing app
For an app with so much riding on it, NHS Covid-19 is at first sight very simple and extraordinarily unexciting. At this stage it is only available to NHS and council workers on the Isle of Wight. On Thursday, other residents of the island will get a leaflet containing a link that will trigger a download. And eventually anyone will be able to download it directly from the UK versions of Apple's ... Read more
2020-05-05 20:28:12
Coronavirus: Cyber-spies hunt Covid-19 research, US and UK warn
The UK and US have issued a joint warning cyber-spies are targeting the health sector. Hackers linked to foreign states have been hunting for information, including Covid-19 data and vaccine research, they say. UK sources say they have seen extensive activity but do not believe there has been any data theft so far. Those behind the activity are not named in the alert but are thought to include ... Read more
2020-05-05 20:27:42
Facebook and Twitter allow scammers 'free rein'
Social-media companies are failing to clamp down on scammers selling people's personal details through their platforms, an investigation from consumer watchdog Which? has shown. It found 50 profiles, pages and groups on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram offering stolen credit-card details, and Netflix and Uber Eats accounts. And much of the content had remained on the platforms after being reporte ... Read more
2020-04-29 21:16:15
Tesla warns on shutdown as Musk calls for end to lockdown
Demand for Tesla's electric cars held up in the first three months of the year, despite upheavals caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Quarterly revenues jumped 30% from last year to $5.9bn (£4.7bn), allowing the firm to turn a small profit of $16m. It is the third quarterly profit in a row for the company, marking a turnaround after years of losses. But Tesla said forced shutdowns and limits on ... Read more
2020-04-29 21:15:38
Coronavirus: UK contact-tracing app 'ready in two to three weeks'
Building a coronavirus contact-tracing app that might help the UK emerge from lockdown has been a titanic effort - and it has largely taken place in private. But now the NHS chief responsible has told MPs he hopes the first version will be ready in a fortnight's time. Matthew Gould also disclosed plans to log the location of whenever two or more people are in close proximity for minutes at a tim ... Read more
2020-04-28 21:25:07
Coronavirus-themed game banned in China
A coronavirus-themed game has been blocked on Steam in China because of its politically motivated content. In order to win Coronavirus Attack, players have to stop "selfish zombies" from escaping a country infected with the virus. Players reported the game for using the same colour scheme as the Chinese flag, with virus-shaped animations in place of its stars. The game has been inunda ... Read more
2020-04-28 21:24:44