Several iPhone users say their phones have been hijacked by extortionists who’ve managed to ‘hack’ the Find My iPhone security tool. The victims have discovered that the tool — which is meant to be used by phone owners if their handset is lost or stolen — has been activated and their phone locked. They’ve then […]
A California firm hopes to launch an iPad add-on tool to let children combine the on-screen tech with physical toys. It works in a similar fashion to the Eye Toy range on the Playstation. Osmo is made up of a dock to hold the iPad vertically upright and a clip-on mirror that effectively points the […]
A new app that allows drunk people — and only drunk people — to communicate on their smartphones has been confirmed as a spoof designed to satirize the start-up community. LIVR was announced amid the excitement of SXSW Interactive, the tech geek offshoot of the film and music event in Austin, Texas. News of the […]
Apple is developing a new system for connecting iPhones to cars that goes beyond simply hooking up iTunes. CarPlay, which will work only on cars that ship with the technology built-in, will let users access music apps, make calls, get spoken directions from the Maps app, and access messages. Apple explains that voice control will […]
A California court has ruled that it’s OK to look at a map app on a phone while driving. It’s another example of problems with the wording of traffic laws struggling to keep up with technology. Steven Spriggs successfully appealed against a $165 ticket issued by a highway patrol officer because he’d been looking at […]
Apple has successfully applied for a patent on a set of headphones that combine fitness tools such as a pedometer and a heart rate monitor. The tech could replace existing fitness monitors based in watches, wristbands and training shoes. The patent filing actually dates back to 2008. suggesting it may have been something of a […]
Apple had already agreed to settle a class action suit over children making in-app purchases without parental consent. Now it’s agreed to pay at least $32.5 million to settle a government action. The case again involves the way Apple changed its app store policies such that once you enter your password you (or more concerningly […]
Eight of the biggest online tech firms have formed a campaign group calling for a major overhaul of the way the government uses the Internet for gathering intelligence. The group has urged President Obama and Congress to follow five principles to defend individual freedoms. The “Reform Government Surveillance” group is made up of AOL, Apple, […]
American Idol host Ryan Seacrest has invested a million dollars in a company that plans to sell slip-on physical keyboards for the iPhone. As well as funding the company, Seacrest is the co-founder alongside Laurence Hallier, chief of tech marketing firm Show Media. It’s reported that the company plans to raise $5 million to get […]
Samsung is reported this week to be on course to spend around $14 billion on advertising during 2013. That’s led to questions about how effective the spend is compared with that of rival firms. The figure comes from the Reuters news agency, though it doesn’t make clear if that is an actual number from Samsung […]