BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Coronavirus: Call for apps to get fake Covid-19 news button
Social networks need a dedicated button to flag up bogus coronavirus-related posts, an advocacy group has said. The Campaign for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) said the apps had "missed a trick" in combating the problem. The call coincides with a study that indicates 46% of internet-using adults in the UK saw false or misleading information about the virus in the first week of the coun ... Read more
2020-04-08 21:58:01
Tesla cuts staff pay as coronavirus halts production
Electric car-maker Tesla will reduce staff pay and put non-essential workers on furlough while production of its vehicles is stopped due to coronavirus. Work at its factory in Fremont, California halted on 23 March. In a letter to staff, the company said it hoped to resume operations on 4 May, "barring any significant changes". Most remaining workers will face a pay cut of 10%, while ... Read more
2020-04-08 21:57:39
Zoom banned by Taiwan's government over China security fears
Zoom has been banned from government business in Taiwan in the latest setback for the hugely popular video-calling app. It follows revelations that some Zoom traffic was "mistakenly" routed through China, which does not recognise Taiwan's independence. Taiwan's government said public bodies should not use products with security concerns "such as Zoom". But competitors like G ... Read more
2020-04-07 21:00:11
Coronavirus: YouTube tightens rules after David Icke 5G interview
YouTube has banned all conspiracy theory videos falsely linking coronavirus symptoms to 5G networks. The Google-owned service will now delete videos violating the policy. It had previously limited itself to reducing the frequency it recommended them in its Up Next section. The move follows a live-streamed interview with conspiracy theorist David Icke on Monday, in which he had linked the technol ... Read more
2020-04-07 20:59:49
Coronavirus: Twitter boss pledges $1bn for relief effort
Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter and payment app Square, has said he will donate $1bn (£810m) towards efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. According to Mr Dorsey, the donation represented approximately 28% of his wealth. He made the announcement on Twitter, writing that the "needs are increasingly urgent". Mr Dorsey did not lay out exactly where the funds would be sent to he ... Read more
2020-04-07 20:59:24
Apps to help you stay social during lockdown
Having a social life while having to stay indoors could be a challenge.
BBC Click's Chris Fox comes to the rescue highlighting the apps and technology you can use to make a variety of video calls, play games with other people online, go dating and even share VR experiences.
2020-04-07 20:58:20
Airbnb hosts defy lockdown laws with 'Covid-19 retreats'
Airbnb hosts advertising properties as coronavirus hideouts are "dangerous and irresponsible", the government says. Owners have listed homes as being "Covid-19 retreats" and "perfect for isolating with family" in the British countryside. New coronavirus laws say holiday accommodation should be provided only to keyworkers needing to self-isolate. But some listings o ... Read more
2020-04-07 00:11:02
Coronavirus: Offline sex workers forced to start again online
Most sex workers meet customers in person. For them, the coronavirus spells economic ruin. "The virus is a disaster for client-facing businesses - and sex work is no different," says Goddess Cleo, a dominatrix from London. "Most of my income is generated from one-on-one sessions and events. I [normally] only make a bit of money through online avenues." But like many others, ... Read more
2020-04-07 00:10:41
Short-form streaming app Quibi launches to rival Netflix
The mobile-first streaming service Quibi launched in the US on Monday, despite concerns the coronavirus outbreak might impact its viewership. The company has raised $1.8bn (£1.47bn) for the project intended to rival Netflix and YouTube. Quibi's shows are 10 minutes or shorter and movies are broken into segments. It has lined up a host of Hollywood and showbiz stars including Idris Elba, Sophie ... Read more
2020-04-07 00:10:15
Coronavirus: Exercise bike firm Peloton stops live classes
Exercise bike company Peloton has cancelled its live classes, days after one of its employees tested positive for coronavirus. It sells exercise bikes, the cheapest of which costs nearly £2,000, for use with its online classes. Users must purchase a subscription for £39 a month to access both live-streamed and recorded classes. Peloton emailed members to announce it had suspended production in ... Read more
2020-04-07 00:09:53