BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Apple says UK could 'secretly veto' global privacy tools
Apple has attacked proposals for the UK government to pre-approve new security features introduced by tech firms. Under the proposed amendments to existing laws, if the UK Home Office declined an update, it then could not be released in any other country, and the public would not be informed. The government is seeking to update the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) 2016. The Home Office said it su ... Read more
2024-01-29 18:22:30
Microsoft video games division lays off 1,900 staff
Almost 2,000 workers in Microsoft's gaming division are to be laid off after its $69bn (£54.3bn) merger deal. A memo from Xbox boss Phil Spencer to workers says the company plans to shed 1,900 of its 22,000 staff. It was sent three months after the software giant acquired Activision-Blizzard, known for the Call of Duty and Warcraft series. In the letter, verified as genuine by Microsoft, Mr Spe ... Read more
2024-01-28 18:37:02
Samsung's Upgraded 256GB Galaxy Tab S9 Models Hit New Lows, Drop Below 128GB Prices
The Samsung Galaxy S9 is a solid Android tablet and now you can upgrade to 256GB of storage and pay even less than the base model. If you want a premium Android tablet, Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 lineup offers some of the best options and we just came across a deal that needs to be seen to be believed. The base-spec Galaxy Tab S9 normally ships with 128GB of storage for around $799 (or $699 if there ... Read more
2024-01-26 18:08:04
Apple to allow rival app stores on iPhones in EU
Apple will allow alternative app stores to be used on its devices purchased in the EU from March. Currently, anyone with an iPhone can only download apps from the firm's own App Store. Apple has always maintained that its rules protect users' security. But it has been accused of creating a monopoly, giving customers and developers no choice but to go through its own channels, and charging devel ... Read more
2024-01-25 18:08:31
The Apple Macintosh was first released 40 years ago: These people are still using the ageing computers
David Blatner still has practically every Macintosh computer he ever bought. But one in particular stands out – the first. He remembers the neat way the screen was laid out; the glossy manual; the cassette tape tutorials explaining how to use the machine. It was everything he felt a computer should be. He had seen early iterations of personal computers as a young child. He used to ride his bicy ... Read more
2024-01-24 18:10:49
US regulator admits cyber-security lapse before rogue Bitcoin post
The US financial regulator has confirmed a key security procedure on its X account had been suspended for six months when hackers made a fake post about Bitcoin in January. The cryptocurrency surged in value before the post was deleted. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) did not have multi-factor authentication (MFA) in place when hackers gained access to the account. Cyber-security e ... Read more
2024-01-23 18:35:29
Galaxy S24 Ultra: One Day With Samsung's New Phone
Circle to Search and Instant Slow-Mo are my favorite new features so far. The Galaxy S24 Ultra may look a lot like the Galaxy S23 Ultra at first glance. But Samsung's newest phones are the first to come with Galaxy AI. It's an umbrella term for tools and features powered by generative AI that can generate content and responses that sound conversational (but aren't always accurate) after being tra ... Read more
2024-01-22 18:24:51
What happens when you think AI is lying about you?
Imagine the scene: you're at home with your family and your phone starts pinging... people you know are warning you about something they've seen about you on social media. It's not the best feeling. In my case, it was a screenshot, apparently taken from Elon Musk's chatbot Grok, although I couldn't verify it, placing me on a list of the worst spreaders of disinformation on X (Twitter), alongside ... Read more
2024-01-21 19:05:09
I've Worn Apple's Vision Pro Headset 4 Times. Here's What You Need to Know Before Buying
Apple's new take on immersive headsets is available to order now -- for a considerable fee. At some point, I'm going to live inside the Apple Vision Pro: doing work in it, checking messages, playing games, watching shows. Apple's $3,499 mixed reality headset aims to be the computer of the future, but I don't know if it will be my computer of the present. In the meantime, I've had demos to give me ... Read more
2024-01-19 18:31:32
I Test Drove Apple's Vision Pro Again, and It Showed Me My Facial Future
The new take on immersive headsets is available to try -- for a considerable fee. At some point, I'm going to live inside the Apple Vision Pro: doing work in it, checking messages, playing games, watching shows. Apple's $3,499 mixed reality headset aims to be the computer of the future, but I don't know if it will be my computer of the present. In the meantime, I've had demos to give me a feel fo ... Read more
2024-01-18 18:23:39