Author: Daniel (The Tech Blog UK)

Google Redesigns Sign-in Page Google has redesigned its sign-in page for logging into your accounts. The company had been promising for several months that “a new look” was coming soon, and was aiming to roll it out to everyone by 4 March. It says the new page has a “more modern look and feel” based on its Material Design design language, which it introduced in 2014. The steps for signing in remain the same – you still enter your email address and password. However, the words and boxes are now aligned to the left-hand side rather than centred – see…

Temu’s Cash Giveaway Raises Data Privacy Concerns Data protection experts are urging people to think carefully about whether it is worth receiving free money in exchange for giving away vast amounts of their personal information. Social media users were left sceptical after their feeds were flooded with links encouraging them to sign up to Temu’s free money giveaway. Temu is a fast-growing online marketplace, known for its regular special offers and for selling a wide range of products at very low prices. In its most recent giveaway, Temu is promising to give users £50 in Paypal or web tokens. In…

Saying Goodbye to 3G: EE Completes Network Switch Off in the UK Farewell, 3G! The era of third-generation mobile networks is drawing to a close in the United Kingdom as EE, one of the leading telecom providers, has bid adieu to its entire 3G network. This monumental shift marks a significant milestone in the evolution of telecommunications technology, paving the way for faster, more efficient connectivity experiences. The transition didn’t happen overnight. EE embarked on this journey last July, gradually turning off masts across the country. After months of meticulous planning and execution, the closure reached its culmination in Belfast…

Amazon Denies Closure of Freevee TV-Streaming Service As reported by Amazon Overview Amazon has refuted reports suggesting the closure of its free TV-streaming service, Freevee. Despite speculation from marketing publication Adweek, Amazon stated that there are no plans to shut down Freevee, particularly amidst the integration of advertisements into Prime Video. Key Points Amazon denies rumors of Freevee’s closure, dismissing claims made in Adweek. There are no plans to discontinue Freevee, as it continues to offer a free TV-streaming service supported by advertisements. The decision comes amid Amazon’s efforts to streamline its streaming services, notably integrating advertisements into Prime Video.…

Apple Announces WWDC24: Entire Conference Available Online for Developers As reported by Apple Overview Apple has announced that its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will take place online from June 10 through 14, 2024. The event will be free for all developers and will showcase the latest advancements in iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. Additionally, a special in-person event will be held at Apple Park on opening day. Key Highlights Free for all developers, WWDC24 will spotlight the latest advancements in Apple’s software platforms. Developers will have access to Apple experts, new tools, frameworks, and features. The event…

Instagram Users to See Less Political Content Unless Opted In, Meta Implements Change As reported by The Guardian Opt-In Required for Political Content In a recent update, Instagram users will now see less political content in their recommendations and feed suggestions unless they specifically opt into it through their settings. The change, announced by Meta on 9 February, requires users to navigate to their preferences to opt in to political content. It was rolled out in the past week, affecting explore, Reels, and in-feed recommendations. What Constitutes Political Content? Meta defines political content as related to “laws, elections, or social…

Warning: Beware of Scams Claiming to Offer Life Expectancy Predictions As reported by AFP The AI Death Calculator and Scams The team behind an ‘AI death calculator’ that can predict life expectancy and wealth have issued a stark warning regarding fraudulent apps and websites claiming to offer similar services. Danish researchers unveiled the Life2vec AI chatbot in December, claiming it accurately predicts how long individuals will live and their wealth. However, copycat apps have emerged online, posing as scams, while the original chatbot remains unreleased to the public. Warning Against Scammers The researchers caution that scammers have created fraudulent websites…

Uber Eats Driver Receives Payout Over Discriminatory Facial Recognition Checks As reported by BBC News Background A black Uber Eats driver has received a payout after “racially discriminatory” facial-recognition checks prevented him from accessing the app to secure work. When Pa Edrissa Manjang began working for Uber Eats in November 2019, its app did not regularly ask him to send selfies to register for jobs. However, the Microsoft-powered Uber Eats app increased these verification checks over time. Outcome and Settlement In 2021, Uber Eats notified Mr. Manjang that his account would be removed due to “continued mismatches” after “careful consideration.”…

Introducing Video-Based Courses on Spotify in the U.K. As reported by Spotify Introduction Today, we’re launching a test for video-based courses on Spotify in the U.K. We’ve partnered with educational tech companies including BBC Maestro, PLAYvirtuoso, Skillshare, and Thinkific to bring video content directly to Spotify users. Content Overview U.K. users will now find video courses for purchase alongside their favorite music, podcasts, and audiobooks. The content for courses on Spotify covers a variety of topics categorized into four main themes: make music, get creative, learn business, and healthy living, giving listeners an abundance of options to expand their knowledge.…

EU Launches Investigations into Tech Giants Over Uncompetitive Practices As reported by the BBC Overview The EU has announced investigations into some of the biggest tech firms in the world over uncompetitive practices. Meta, Apple, and Alphabet, which owns Google, are being looked into for potential breaches of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) introduced in 2022. Investigations Announcement EU antitrust boss Margrethe Vestager and industry head Thierry Breton announced the investigations on Monday. Just six companies have obligations under the DMA, but they are also the world’s largest tech firms: Alphabet, Apple, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft and ByteDance. Recent Events It…