The number of smartphones sold worldwide has fallen for the first time, but it’s still a ridiculously huge industry. The figures come from Gartner and are (well-informed) estimates, though the trends should be accurate as the company has been tracking sales since 2004. They refer specifically to sales to users rather than shipments to retailers. […]
Google is extending its ‘smart reply’ feature to third-party apps. It’s also going to get a little smarter when suggesting replies. The feature is already available in the mobile Gmail app. When reading an incoming message, users see three suggested quick replies that are based on the content of the message. Tapping any of the […]
Facebook is resorting to old-school communication to make it harder for foreign agents to interfere with US elections. It will use postcard to send verification codes to would-be election ad-buyers. To start off, the move will affect anyone who wants to place an ad that mentions a candidate in the 2018 mid-term elections by name. […]
Blockchain enthusiasts often stress how the concept isn’t just about cryptocurrencies and a planned program in Africa could prove that point. The idea is to use a blockchain to boost the fight against child labor in cobalt mining. Cobalt is a key material in producing the lithium ion batteries that make pocket-sized cellphones practical. More […]
Apple’s new headquarters features numerous interior walls and doors made from glass. Unfortunately the seemingly obvious has happened. Apple Park took four years to build and reportedly cost more than $5 billion. Designed by famed architect Norman Foster, it followed on from the instructions of the late Steve Jobs who wanted a way to keep […]
Chrome is now blocking what Google calls the most annoying ads. It says the browser-based blocks will only apply to the ads that most disrupt people from browsing the web as they intended. The move has been almost a year in the making, with the development process leading Google to decide that in many if […]
A photograph showing a single atom has won a science photography contest. David Nadlinger achieved the shot primarily through patience and planning rather than gadgetry. The atom appears in the dead center of the photo: it’s the tiny purple dot in a black space with a pointy tip on either side. These tips are electrodes, […]
Verizon is to start locking new phones, something it calls an anti-theft measure. It’s raised some questions about whether the move breaches a deal it made with the FCC. According to Verizon, the idea isn’t that the phone will remain locked and forcing users to take its service. At first the phone can be unlocked […]
If your phone battery is about to run out, a new app lets you share the experience. Die With Me is a text chat room that’s only accessible when your battery level is below five percent. The creators describe it as an art project rather than a genuinely useful tool. It was inspired by the […]
Twitch says it may suspend users for hateful or harassing behavior on other sites and services. It’s also introducing a dress code for users who stream video of themselves. It’s part of a toughening up of the site’s community guidelines that will now involve an “immediate indefinite suspension” for conduct Twitch deems to be hateful. […]