TECH TALK
• FACEBOOK has added the option to play games with your contacts on the messaging app. You can access the feature in the latest version of the app by tapping a game controller icon.
Samsung in a further spin over washing machine recall
IN ANOTHER blow to one of the world’s leading consumer brands, US authorities have announced a recall of nearly three million Samsung washing machines following several reports of injuries - including a broken jaw - due to “excessive vibration”.
TECH TALK
• LG IS stepping up its Android game, beginning the rollout of Android 7.0 Nougat to the G5 smartphone yesterday.
Dubai bids for first hyperloop transport system
THE futuristic city-state of Dubai announced a deal yesterday with Los Angeles-based Hyperloop One to study the potential for building a line linking it to the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi.
Uber hails new direction for taxi app
UBER is taking its ride-hailing app down a new road in an effort to make it smarter, simpler and more fun to use.
Director focuses on 120 frames-per-second
OSCAR-winning film director Ang Lee believes the new faster frames-per-second technology that makes for hyper-realistic action is worth trying again and will use it in his next project, the boxing movie “Thrilla in Manila”.
Robots showcased by China
BEIJING – The Canbot can say its name, respond to voice commands, and “dance” as it plays Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” Other robots China is displaying at the World Robot Conference can play badminton, sand cell phone cases and sort computer chips.
TECH TALK
• Anheuser-Busch says it has completed the world’s first commercial shipment by self-driving truck, sending a beer-filled tractor-trailer on a journey of more than 120 miles through Colorado.
Nintendo combines portable and home gaming with Switch
Nintendo has announced a new gaming system that combines a portable handheld device with a dock to use at home. Nintendo Switch will be released in March.
Mirai malware simplifies internet attacks like last week’s
A massive internet attack that paralysed Twitter, Netflix and other services last week is being blamed on a specific kind of malware designed to harness the power of ordinary consumer devices.
Goodbye Note 7, hello Pixel
GOOGLE’S ambitious new smartphone, the Pixel, does not offer a lot that is new, yet it’s still one of the best out there.
TECH TALK
• AMAZON has launched a paid streaming music service, the latest entry in an increasingly crowded field.
Patriots coach to ditch tablet on the sidelines
NEW ENGLAND Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is admitting defeat in his ongoing fight with the use of tablets on the sideline during NFL games.
Speeding towards a 5G future
5G MAY be in your phone sooner than you think.
.Google could start new domain boom
GOOGLE is helping to usher in a new way for companies to tout their brand names in the digital realm.
