Facebook has applied to patent a ‘modular electromechanical device’. It’s vague to say the least, but the idea seems to be to make consumer electronics last longer. The application talks about having a chassis and then space for multiple ‘functional modules’ to attach to the chassis, the idea being that exactly what the device is […]
Google is rolling out a security measure called Play Protect for Android devices. It’s actually just a clearer way of informing users about security scans that were already being made. Play Protect is effectively a higher-profile user interface for the existing Verify Apps tool that regularly scans in the background to look for any potentially […]
Grab a cup of hot java and relax with this explanatory video… then find out why you can’t relax. [Via: Laughing Squid]
The BBC has issued a formal response to people complaining about the casting of a female actor as the next incarnation of Doctor Who, pointing out that it’s already been established that Time Lords can switch gender. The comments come as part of the BBC’s formal complaints review process in which it publicly responds on […]
Ron Howard, director of the Han Solo spin-off movie, has shared several images of shooting. Above is a wardrobe shot which he titled “Care to guess whose closet this is?” The consensus is that there’s little mystery and it’s Lando Calrissian’s. The shot below is of Chewbacca actor Joonas Suotamo reviewing a shot. Look very carefully […]
Volvo has confirmed its self-driving car is baffled by kangaroos because they bounce. The company is working on autonomous vehicles with a planned 2020 release. Because of the markets it plans to target, it’s including a system to detect large animals such as deer and elk, which can be calamitous for animal and driver alike […]
Stan Lee has become the latest figure from the movie world to imprint his hands and feet outside the famed Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. His name is already among the 2,500 stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame but this latest honor is more exclusive, putting him in a club of around 300.
Melbourne University researchers are working on a self-healing gel that could mean cracked phone screens could repair themselves. The gel is made from poly(hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate), which is one of the key materials used to create contact lenses. The researchers have manipulated it such that it is normally firm, but can flow more like a […]
Disney is to build a Star Wars-themed hotel with staff in character and costume. There’ll also be new Star Wars sections in Disneyland and Disney World. The hotel won’t just be a place to stay, but a full-on immersive experience. It’s designed to replicate travelling on a spaceship, so there’ll be no external views: instead […]
22,000 WiFi users in the UK have unwittingly agreed to unblock sewers by hand. They failed to read a clause placed in terms and conditions as a stunt. Purple provides Wi-Fi services that businesses and other facilities offer as public Wi-Fi for customers. To access the connection, customers need to confirm they accept a set […]