BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Meta releases social VR space Horizon Worlds
Meta has released its social virtual reality space, Horizon Worlds, after more than a year in private test mode. It is the first major such release since Facebook renamed itself Meta and announced its plans to "build the metaverse" of connected digital worlds. The app lets users build their own mini-games and activities on top of Meta's base game - similar to Roblox or other creator-fo ... Read more
2021-12-10 18:21:18
Irish health cyber-attack could have been even worse, report says
An independent report into a cyber-attack on Ireland's health service in May has found the consequences could have been even worse than they were. Ransomware locked staff out of their computer systems and "severely" disrupted healthcare in the country. But the report said it would have been worse if data had been destroyed or Covid-19 vaccination systems or specific medical devices had ... Read more
2021-12-10 18:20:46
Canadian man charged over ransomware attacks
A Canadian man has been accused of co-ordinating ransomware and other cyber-attacks on individuals, businesses and government agencies. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced that 31-year-old Matthew Philbert had been charged with fraud and unauthorised use of computers. The US State of Alaska has also brought charges against Mr Philbert. He was arrested on 30 November and remains in pol ... Read more
2021-12-09 18:33:45
Maker of suicide pod plans to launch in Switzerland
The company behind a 3D-printed pod which can help carry out assisted suicide has said it is confident it could be used in Switzerland as early as next year. Sarco commissioned a Swiss legal expert, who found that the machine did not break any laws in the country. But other lawyers questioned his findings. And assisted-suicide organisation Dignitas said it would be unlikely to meet "much a ... Read more
2021-12-09 18:33:17
UK to phase out 2G and 3G by 2033
The UK will phase out 2G and 3G mobile services by 2033, the government says. The switch-off date has been agreed with mobile-network operators Vodafone, EE, Virgin Media, O2, and Three. In July, EE owner BT revealed plans to phase out 3G by 2023, and 2G later in the decade. And many other companies have already begun phasing out technology that support the services. Culture Secretary Nadine Do ... Read more
2021-12-08 19:51:17
TikTok jumps on online shopping bandwagon
The social media platform TikTok is making a big push into shopping. The video sharing app is famous for its short lip sync videos, dance routines and humour. And its popularity has soared during the pandemic. TikTok is now producing its first live shopping and entertainment event on Wednesday where people can buy products directly on the platform, tapping into the rise of "social shopping ... Read more
2021-12-08 19:50:53
Instagram announces changes ahead of political grilling
Instagram has announced new features it says will help teenagers and parents manage time spent on the app. Parents will be able to see how much time their children spend on Instagram and set time limits, while teens will get reminders to take a break. It comes a day before Instagram chief Adam Mosseri is due to appear before US Senators investigating online safety. Instagram has been under incr ... Read more
2021-12-07 19:04:52
Byju's and the other side of an edtech giant's dizzying rise
Digambar Singh says he has been chasing Byju's, an online tutoring firm and the world's highest-valued edtech start-up, for a refund for months now. Mr Singh, an accountant, says he paid 5,000 rupees (£48; $66) up front and borrowed an additional 35,000 rupees - a loan he claims was facilitated by Byju's - to buy a two-year math and science programme for his son. "A sales representative cam ... Read more
2021-12-06 18:45:59
Wall Street watchdogs probe Trump media firm deal
Donald Trump's deal to float his social media firm on the stock market is being investigated by Wall Street watchdogs. Regulators are probing Digital World Acquisition Corp, the firm set to merge with Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG). According to a filing on Monday, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requested documents about its investors and trading. TMTG plans to launch ... Read more
2021-12-06 18:45:10
Far-right target critics with Twitter's new media policy
Far-right groups are using Twitter's new private media policy to target anti-extremism accounts, activists say. The social media giant last week said images or video of private individuals shared without permission would be removed on request. Activists report that members of the far-right are using the policy to have accounts identifying them suspended. Twitter said a number of accounts were m ... Read more
2021-12-06 18:44:52