BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Black Friday: Will you get the tech you want for Christmas?
As people rush to snap up their Black Friday deals, there are mounting worries that some gadgets won't be available for Christmas. Silicon, which is in most products, is in short supply because of high demand and manufacturing problems since the start of the pandemic. The world now faces one of the most extreme chip shortages it has seen. It means that this year, people may be disappointed when ... Read more
2021-11-28 19:05:22
Amazon protests: 31 arrested as Extinction Rebellion targets retailer
More than 30 people have been arrested after climate change activists blocked UK Amazon warehouses on Black Friday, the retailer's busiest day of the year. Extinction Rebellion targeted 13 UK sites, including the retail giant's largest distribution centre in Dunfermline, Fife. It said it was to draw attention to alleged exploitation of Amazon workers and wasteful business practices. Amazon said ... Read more
2021-11-28 19:04:38
Amazon protests: 31 arrested as Extinction Rebellion targets retailer
More than 30 people have been arrested after climate change activists blocked UK Amazon warehouses on Black Friday, the retailer's busiest day of the year. Extinction Rebellion targeted 13 UK sites, including the retail giant's largest distribution centre in Dunfermline, Fife. It said it was to draw attention to alleged exploitation of Amazon workers and wasteful business practices. Amazon said ... Read more
2021-11-26 18:57:35
Mr Goxx, the cryptocurrency-trading hamster, dies
The cryptocurrency-trading hamster Mr Goxx has died. The rodent, who shot to internet fame for his ability to often outperform human investors using a specially built trading cage, died on Tuesday. The furry financier's official Twitter account announced the hamster's death to his 18,000 followers on social media. "You proved to us, that the internet doesn't necessarily have to be a toxic ... Read more
2021-11-26 18:56:39
US restricts trade with a dozen more Chinese technology firms
The US government has added a dozen more Chinese companies to its restricted trade list, citing national security and foreign policy concerns. Washington says that some of the firms are helping develop the Chinese military's quantum computing programme. This latest move comes as tensions grow between the US and China over the status of Taiwan and other issues. Trade was among the items discusse ... Read more
2021-11-25 18:44:16
Amazon workers plan Black Friday strikes
Amazon workers in 20 countries - including the US, UK, and several in the EU - are planning protests and work stoppages on Black Friday. The shopping-centric day is among Amazon's busiest all year. The Make Amazon Pay group says: "Amazon takes too much and gives back too little." It is backed by a coalition of labour groups, trade unions, grassroots campaigns and non-profit-making org ... Read more
2021-11-25 18:43:53
Apple digital-ID scheme delayed to 2022
Apple's much promoted digital driver's licence feature is now to be delayed to early 2022. Announced in September, the scheme will allow residents in eight US states to store state IDs and driver's licences inside the Apple Wallet app on their iPhone. The delay follows Apple's announcement it was looking for "sole control" over how states rolled out the feature. Reports have stated th ... Read more
2021-11-24 18:59:50
Apple sues Israeli spyware firm NSO Group
Apple is suing Israeli spyware firm NSO Group and its parent company for allegedly targeting iPhone users with a hacking tool. NSO's Pegasus software can infect both iPhones and Android devices, allowing operators to extract messages, photos and emails, record calls and secretly activate microphones and cameras. NSO Group said its tools were made to target terrorists and criminals. But it has a ... Read more
2021-11-24 18:59:27
Italy fines Apple and Amazon over Beats headphones
Italy's competition watchdog has fined Amazon and Apple more than €200m (£168m) for allegedly flouting competition regulations. The fine relates to Beats headphones, a brand bought by Apple for $3bn (£1.8bn at the time) in 2014. A 2018 agreement between the tech giants meant only selected resellers could sell the products on Amazon's Italian website. Both Apple and Amazon said they plan to appe ... Read more
2021-11-23 19:47:14
Crypto US constitution bidder refunds hit by high fees
The people behind a failed bid to buy a rare original copy of the US constitution are facing an avalanche of refunds - up to $40m for 17,000 donors. The ConstitutionDAO team used a "decentralised" approach - largely unregulated and using cryptocurrency - to amass the fortune. But large fees for those crypto-transactions are eating up huge sums of money in the refund process. The group ... Read more
2021-11-23 19:46:57