Author: Daniel (The Tech Blog UK)
As reported by the BBC this week,, Apple made a significant move by allowing other companies to launch app stores on iPhones, a decision prompted by concerns from EU politicians about the tech giant’s potential market monopoly. Initially hailed as a victory for businesses and consumers in the EU, the decision is now facing criticism due to Apple’s strict new rules and fees, with Spotify branding them as “extortion.” Other companies, including Epic Games, have also been pushing for alternative app stores on iPhones. EU lawmakers hoped that this rule change would encourage smaller challengers to enter the lucrative iPhone…
The BBC is discontinuing its app that allowed users to download iPlayer shows to their computers. The app ceased allowing downloads on 2 February and will be completely removed on 11 March. However, existing downloads can still be watched until 8 April. This decision, announced on the iPlayer help page, means that viewers can no longer download shows from iPlayer to watch offline on their computers. Many frustrated users took to social media to express their disappointment and surprise. For instance, Steve Gerrard, on X (formerly Twitter), described it as “terrible news” and noted the inconvenience, especially when there’s no…
An iPhone enthusiast found themselves puzzled after noticing a peculiar blue icon at the top of their screen. This symbol, situated beside the clock in the top-left corner of the status bar, prompted them to seek answers in a Reddit thread: “What is this blue icon?” Sharing a photo of the discovery, they explained: “Came up on my dad’s phone and I have no idea what it is. He has a tendency to just randomly download a ton of apps and never use them, so no idea what it could be from. Any help is appreciated, thanks.” One user jokingly…
Victoria Atkins, our health secretary, has put forward a plan to tackle long-term sickness by encouraging more physical activity. How? Well, by using the data collected from our smartphones, particularly step counts. In a move to prevent serious illnesses and get more folks back to work, Atkins sees great potential in tapping into the wealth of data already gathered by our trusty smartphones. This means the NHS could soon be tracking our step counts and even heart rates to provide personalized advice and treatments. The government is pushing forward with a £3.4 billion technology and productivity plan, aiming to make…
Hey there! Guess what? There’s some exciting news for Chrome users! 🎉 Recently, eagle-eyed Twitter user Leopeva64 spotted a cool new feature in the latest Chrome Canary build. It’s called “Install page as app,” and you can find it nestled snugly in your Settings under Save and share. What does this nifty feature do, you ask? Well, it lets you turn your favorite websites, like YouTube and Reddit, into handy web apps with just a few clicks. And here’s the best part: if these sites already have their own web apps, they’ll automatically show up as optional installs in the…
Weekly doubleheaders begin with the New York Yankees at the Houston Astros, and the St. Louis Cardinals at the Los Angeles Dodgers. Apple and Major League Baseball (MLB) announced that “Friday Night Baseball,” a weekly doubleheader, will be available to Apple TV+ subscribers on Fridays throughout the 2024 regular season. Fans in 60 countries and regions can enjoy two marquee matchups over 26 weeks with no local broadcast restrictions. “Friday Night Baseball” will begin on opening weekend of the 2024 season — Friday, March 29 — with some of the game’s biggest stars taking center stage. Coverage begins at…
Researchers have discovered that hackers can infiltrate Google accounts without needing the password, according to the Indian cybersecurity company, CloudSEK. The vulnerability is found within Google’s cookies, which are designed to remember your login details for subsequent visits to a website. CloudSEK reports that attackers have figured out a method to exploit these cookies to circumvent the two-factor authentication (2FA) process, typically required to verify your identity. Intriguingly, this security loophole allows unauthorized access even after the account’s password has been changed. The issue first came to light in October 2023, when a hacker detailed the exploit on the messaging…
BT has announced it will no longer adjust prices based on inflation percentages, in anticipation of Ofcom’s potential prohibition of this approach. Starting from the upcoming summer, BT plans to adopt a pricing strategy that clearly outlines any adjustments in terms of actual currency amounts, aiming for transparency with “pounds and pence.” This new model predicts a £3 monthly increase for broadband services and a £1.50 rise for those renewing mobile contracts. Marc Allera, who leads BT Group’s Consumer Division, likened the adjustments to the cost of a coffee per month, emphasizing that, in practical terms, customers are paying less…
Hello there, fellow gamers! We’ve got some important news to share with you if you’re still hanging onto the beloved Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 operating systems. Steam, one of the gaming world’s go-to platforms, has recently made a big move that might affect your gaming experience. As of January 1st, Steam has bid farewell to these older Windows operating systems, which means it’s time for an upgrade if you haven’t already made the switch. This change means Steam will no longer be releasing security updates for Windows 7, 8, or 8.1. But that’s not all; they’ve also ceased all…
In recent news, BT and Virgin Media have received a strong message from government officials to halt the imposition of digital phone lines on vulnerable customers, particularly those who rely on telecare devices. This move comes after a series of “serious incidents” were reported, where individuals faced critical situations due to the failure of personal alarms during power cuts. Telecare alarms, used by approximately 1.8 million people, serve as a lifeline in emergencies. When activated, they connect users to a response centre for urgent medical assistance. Some telecare systems can operate with digital landlines, but they rely on internet access,…