Apple, Google, and Amazon have all announced price increases for UK enterprise customers specifically designed to offset a new “digital services tax” introduced by UK government. This increases tax on any revenue produced by “search engines, social media services and online marketplaces” by 2 percent. In response, Apple is increasing its cut of developer fees […]
Mozilla have reportedly renewed their search partnership with Google for another three years. Mozilla haven’t disclosed the financial details, but have said that it will be significant and mutually benefit both parties. The move comes as Mozilla just announced plans to lay off 250 employees, representing about a quarter of its workforce. Mozilla CEO Mitchell […]
Google has announced intentions to turn Android devices into mini seismometers that can be used to issue a warning to other devices in the region when shaking has been detected. Modern smartphones include a wide array of sensors, one of which is an accelerometer to detect motion. It’s this sensor that Google is relying on […]
Google on announced it is building a new private subsea cable to link the US with other parts of the world. Google is partnering with subsea cable provider SubCom on the project, which is named Grace Hopper after the American computer scientist by the same name. Hopper, who died in 1992, was a pioneer in […]
Google has signed on five new developers to make exclusive titles for its Stadia cloud gaming service. Two of those five already have fully realized projects, with one ready for release. Developer Splash Damage, which developed the recent Microsoft exclusive Gears Tactics, is now making an online multiplayer game called Outcasters, while popular strategy and […]
Google announced that its second-generation Pixel Buds are now available in more countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Singapore, Spain, and the UK. The true wireless headphones have only been available in the US since their April 27th release date. Google also said it will offer Pixel Buds in more colors starting next […]
Google is piloting a new Verified Calls feature for its Phone app in Brazil that shows call recipients a business’ name, logo, and the reason for its call. News of the feature first appeared on a Google support page that was spotted by Android Police. When a business calls you, your device will check the […]
The UK is changing its mind on its coronavirus contact tracing app. Going forward, the UK will use the Apple and Google API, BBC reports. This means rather than use a “centralized” model as planned, the UK will adopt the “decentralized” approach that’s been gaining traction across Europe. Contact tracing apps exchange keys between phones […]
Google and Apple have launched their coronavirus contact-tracing system on smartphones around the world. This gives public health agencies, including the NHS, the option of building contact-tracing apps based on the companies’ technology. “This technology is in the hands of public health agencies across the world who will take the lead and we will continue […]
The next version of Chrome for desktops is shaping up to be a much bigger update than usual. In addition to tab grouping and automatically blocking battery-killing ads, the browser is also getting a big set of improvements for security, safety, and privacy. Chrome is restructuring its Site Settings page. Controls will be grouped into […]
Google is rolling out a light-on-dark option for its Search app. Dark mode starts rolling out today and will come to more and more phones throughout the week, so if you don’t see it now, you may have to wait a few days. The feature has been part of the beta version of the app […]
Google is doing more to combat resource-intensive ads that can dampen the overall user experience. Google wrote in a blog post. So beginning this summer, Google will cap the resources a display ad can use in Chrome in order to protect users’ batteries and data plans. The search giant said it is experimenting with setting […]
Google and Facebook join Amazon and Microsoft in allowing their employees to work from home for the foreseeable (where feasible). Last week Amazon announced its plans to let HQ staff work from home until “at least October 2nd,” while Microsoft said two days ago that staff had the option of working remotely until the end […]
Countries around the world are scrambling to create contact-tracing apps that will help track the spread of COVID-19. But a beta app launched by the UK this week shows the huge challenges they face and, crucially, the difficulty in designing an effective app without the help of the tech giants that make our phones. The […]
Apple and Google have stipulated how public health authorities around the world can use their upcoming coronavirus tracking system in an effort to preserve user privacy. Representatives from the two companies announced today that, in addition to standard reviews on Apple and Google’s app stores, public health authorities will have to sign legal addendums to […]