Samsung smartphones are being reused as surveillance cameras in a pilot project based on a South African wildlife reserve, with members of the public encouraged to help conservation efforts by acting as “virtual rangers”. As part of a pilot project (‘Wildlife Watch’) to protect endangered species from poachers, several recycled Samsung Galaxy S20 FE phones have … Read more
A team of engineers based at the University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering are exploring a new sub-area of mobile technology based on sophisticated and connected earphones. “The leap from today’s earphones to ‘earables’ would mimic the transformation that we had seen from basic phones to smartphones,” explained Professor Romit Roy Choudhury, an expert … Read more
Apple is set to pay $113m (£85m) to a coalition of 33 US states over its decision to intentionally slow the processor speeds of ageing iPhones. In 2017 it emerged that, following a software update, older iPhone models were having their performance gimped, with Apple claiming this was to enable the processor to continue to operate … Read more
Wellbeing defines the latest design evolution. It is five years since Apple launched its first Watch. Though the recently launched Series 6 family looks virtually identical to its immediate predecessor (and Watch has retained the same rectangular profile throughout), it underlines how the product has evolved in terms of its target market. Where Samsung seems … Read more
Researchers are looking to recruit young people to use their MyMoodCoach app in order to assess the effectiveness of digital self-help apps. The app is designed to prevent anxiety and depression and improve wellbeing and brings together the latest research on self-monitoring, self-help techniques and cognitive behavioural therapy. The team from the University of Exeter … Read more
Ofcom has said it will ban mobile networks from selling ‘locked’ handsets to consumers, as part of a new set of rules intended to make switching simpler. Currently, firms including EE, Tesco Mobile and Vodafone sell mobile phones that cannot be used on other networks unless they are unlocked. The potentially complicated process can cost … Read more
PayPal has been granted a licence by the New York State Department of Financial Services, allowing it to roll out cryptocurrency payments via PayPal accounts from early 2021. The Department granted PayPal a Bitlicense, which regulates any company or individual based in New York which uses virtual currencies. A limited number of companies have been … Read more
Huawei’s new range of smartphones could be the company’s ‘last hurrah’ outside China, according to an industry expert, as US sanctions continue to squeeze its business. Huawei unveiled its new Mate 40 line-up of smartphones yesterday, along with a new smartwatch – the GT 2 – and augmented reality glasses. However, the ongoing sanctions imposed … Read more
Apple is taking legal action against Geep Canada, which it contracted to recycle its used devices. Apple alleges that Geep stole and resold more than 100,000 of these devices. Quantum Lifecycle Partners subsidiary Geep received more than 500,000 Apple devices (iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches) between January 2015 and December 2017 and was paid by … Read more