Elon Musk reportedly to cut quarter of Twitter staff in first round of layoffs as he reassures EU about removing illegal content
TECHNOLOGY POWERING BUSINESS
October 2022
ICO Warns Against Biometric Emotion Analysis Tech
Biometric technologies that analyse a person's emotions are 'immature' and may never work, warns data protection watchdog
Electric Vehicle Battery Start-Up Britishvolt ‘Near Collapse’
UK electric vehicle battery start-up Britishvolt said to be near to entering administration as funding talks reach dead end
Chip Sales Contract As Semiconductor Shortage Turns To Glut
Worldwide chip sales decline for first time since early 2020 amidst shrinking demand for PCs, smartphones and consumer electronics
Covid Walkouts At Foxconn Plant Affect iPhone Production
Workers at Foxconn's biggest iPhone plant in Zhengzhou, China, return to home cities amist rising Covid-19 cases
Musk Denies Cutting Twitter Jobs To Avoid Payouts
Elon Musk denies timing job cuts to avoid making end-of-year stock grant payouts to Twitter staff as he takes control of company
Australian Defence Contractor Hit By Ransomware
Ransomware attack on defence communications platform ForceNet is latest high-profile cyber incident to hit Australian organisations
Amazon To Construct Project Kuiper Satellite Factory, Near Seattle
Starlink challenger. Project Kuiper internet satellites are to be constructed at new factory in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland
Apple Rides The Storm With Solid Earnings
Amid investor tech gloom, Apple's Q4 and full year results prove to be a bright spot, but it admits holiday quarter may be weaker
Elon Musk Owns Twitter, Pledges It Won’t Become ‘Free-for-all Hellscape’
CEO Parag Agrawal and finance chief Ned Segal escorted out of Twitter HQ, after Elon Musk concludes acrimonious acquisition and gains control
A Quest Software Podcast: Mitigating Cyber Security Risk with CAF Resilience
CAF (Cyber Assessment Framework) enables businesses to have a systematic and comprehensive assessment of their current levels of cyber risk, and how potential attacks would be managed.
US Expects Deal With Allies To Implement China Chip Restrictions
Biden administration indicates a deal is near with key allies to also apply export restrictions on chip-making tools to China
Tesla Faces Criminal Probe Over Self-Driving Claims – Report
US regulatory investigation of Tesla's self-driving claims, reportedly also subject of a criminal investigation by US Department of Justice
Samsung Names Jay Y. Lee Executive Chairman
Heir to the Samsung empire, Jay Y. Lee, returns in symbolic move as executive chairman after receiving presidential pardon
Culture of Connection: Driving Impact Through Recognition Programmes
Intel’s Mobileye Raises $861m In Nasdaq IPO
Shares in Intel's self-driving firm Mobileye Global rose 30 percent after successful public listing on the Nasdaq
Meta Shares Plummet Over Costs, Weak Forecast
Investors take fright as Meta's revenues fall for second straight quarter, and warns of more costs ahead, forecasts weak holiday quarter
Elon Musk Enters Twitter HQ Carrying Sink, As Deal Deadline Nears
Ahead of Friday's deadline, Elon Musk visits Twitter HQ carrying sink – reportedly tells staff he doesn't plan to axe 75 percent of jobs
UKCloud Placed Into ‘Compulsory Liquidation’
Public-sector cloud provider UKCloud and parent Virtual Infrastructure Group has been forced into compulsory liquidation
Apple Confirms iPhones Will Get USB-C Charging
Goodbye to Lightning port and hello to universal charger, as Apple confirms it will comply with the European Union's law change
Twitter Losing Most Active Users – Report
Challenge for Elon Musk? Internal documents allegedly reveal Twitter is struggling to keep its most active users engaged
Apple Hikes Price Of Apple Music, Apple TV+
Apple users in the US and UK will have to pay a little bit more per month for their favourite streaming service
Alphabet To Cut Hiring By Half, As YouTube Declines
Second bellwether for tech sector posts its financials – Alphabet reveals disappointing ad sales, sparking fears for digital media sector
Silicon UK In Focus Podcast: The Infrastructure of the Metaverse
How does the IT infrastructure needed to support the Metaverse differ from the IT infrastructures that are currently in place? Is the infrastructure needed for fully immersive spaces different from a ‘3D internet’ that some have descri ...
Microsoft Shares Sink After Weak Forecast
Enterprise software giant Microsoft beat Wall Street expectations, but shares fell as it issued weak guidance for the coming quarter
Single Chip Transmits All Internet Traffic In A Second
More speed vicar? New chip design sees ultra-fast data transmission at a rate of 1.84 petabits per second...and more speed is possible
Starlink Terminals Smuggled Into Iran – Report
Amid Internet shutdowns and ongoing protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, Starlink terminals are reportedly being smuggled into Iran
Meta Shareholder Urges Job Cuts, Metaverse Spending Reduction
Investor says Meta has too many staff, and must reduce its hefty investment in metaverse tech in order to regain mojo
Apple Cuts iPhone 14 Plus Production – Report
Lukewarm demand for the iPhone 14 Plus, sees Apple cutting production of the handsets, according to market researcher TrendForce
US Charges Two Chinese Intelligence Officers In Huawei Case
BREAKING....multiple charges and arrests in US of mostly Chinese intelligence agents, in case involving a PRC telecoms firm
WhatsApp Down For Users Around The World
Global outage for one of the world's most popular messaging app, as WhatsApp goes offline for most users just before 8am BST
Hackers Breach Iranian Atomic Energy Network
Iranian hacking group, Black Reward, releases Iran nuclear documents in support of protesters in the country
Apple Begins Selling Door Lock Unlocked By Tapping iPhone
Smart door lock. Apple stores begin selling a smart door lock that can unlock exterior doors with the touch of an iPhone or Apple Watch
IT Spending To Grow 5.1 Percent In 2023, Says Gartner
Enterprise IT spending is forecast to shake off worries about a global economic recession, with growth predicted by Gartner
Shetland Isles Reconnected After Subsea Cables Repaired
Connectivity with the British mainland restored for the Shetland and Faroe Isles, after damage last week to two subsea cables
Jony Ive Successor Evans Hankey To Leave Apple
One of Apple's chief designers, Evans Hankey, is to leave the firm, three years after the depature of Sir Jony Ive
TikTok Denies Report It Can ‘Track’ US Citizens
Chinese owned TikTok has denied a media report that it had 'targetted' US citizens, and says it does not collect precise GPS location data
Amazon Faces $1 Billion UK Lawsuit, Allegedly Favouring Own Products
Legal trouble for e-commerce giant in the UK over its 'Buy Box' section, amid allegations it favoured its own products
Waymo To Launch Self-Driving Service In LA
Los Angeles is set to become the next US city for the ride-hailing service Waymo One, after Phoenix and San Francisco
Elon Musk To Axe 75 Percent Of Twitter Staff – Report
Twitter denies plans for large number of staff layoffs, as Elon Musk tells investors he plans to axe nearly three quarters of workforce
Texas Sues Google Over Facial, Voice Data Collection
Republican Texas Attorney General sues Google, alleging it unlawfully captured and used biometric data of millions of Texans
Amazon Enters UK Insurance Market With Comparison Site
Financial services push sees Amazon enter UK insurance market, with challenge to four established price comparison websites
Elon Musk Admits Tesla Driver System Won’t Gain Regulatory Approval In 2022
Not this year. Tesla's advanced driver assistant software won't gain regulatory approval in 2022, says Elon Musk
Australia’s Top Health Insurer Hacked
Hacker steals customer data from Australia's leading health insurer Medibank Private, in latest data breach down under
Major Incident Declared As Shetland Loses Internet
Police declare major incident, as damage to subsea cable cuts Shetland's communications including phones, internet off from British mainland
Starlink Aviation Targets Private Jet In-Flight Connectivity
Elon Musk's satellite internet service from SpaceX pushes into in-flight connectivity sector with rollout of Starlink Aviation
Quest Software Podcast: The Data Dilemma: How to Become a Data Centric Enterprise: Episode 2
Welcome to this second podcast in the series: The Data Dilemma: How to Become a Data Centric Enterprise from Quest Software.
Tensions With China Pose ‘Serious’ Challenges For Chip Sector, Says TSMC
TSMC chairman admits tensions between Taiwan and the US with China has posed “serious challenges” for chip industry
New York, Amazon Settle Pandemic Protection Lawsuit
Stand down. New York state's attorney general agrees to halt lawsuit against Amazon over alleged failures to protect workers during pandemic
Netflix To Begin Password Crackdown In 2023
Streaming giant Netflix beats Q3 expectations and adds 2.4 million subscribers, while confirming global password crackdown next year
Germany Fires Cybersecurity Head Over Allegations Of ‘Russia Ties’
German cybersecurity chief Arne Schoenbohm has been sacked by officials over allegations of ties to Russia
Apple’s Modest iPad Pro Upgrade, Comes Amid iPad Revamp
Modest upgrades to iPad Pro with some notable omissions, plus revamp of entry-level iPad and launch of new Apple TV box
Intel Slashes Mobileye IPO Valuation To Below $16 Billion
Chip giant Intel significantly lowers valuation for its self-driving car unit Mobileye Global, ahead of public listing on the Nasdaq
Apple To Deliver Foldable iPad In 2024 – Report
Foldable Apple iPad rather than a foldable iPhone is slated to arrive in 2024, at least according to analyst group CCS Insight
UK’s Final Decision Orders Meta To Sell Giphy
Facebook owner Meta is ordered by the CMA to sell Giphy - first time the British regulator blocks acquisition by a Silicon Valley tech giant
Apple iPad Pro With M2 Chip Expected Shortly
New iPad models are expected to launch “in a matter of days”, with the iPad Pro expected to boast the powerful new M2 processor
Intel Mulls Lower Valuation For Mobileye IPO – Report
Intel is reportedly eyeing a 'significantly lower' IPO valuation than previously expected for its self-driving car unit Mobileye Global
Microsoft Confirms Second Round Of Job Cuts
Confirmation of second tranche of job losses at Microsoft, as less than 1,000 staff are let go, amid worsening economic outlook
Kayne West To Acquire Right-Wing Parler App
Parler social networking app, favoured by the right-wing in the US, is to be acquired by controversial rapper Ye (Kanye West)
TikTok Competitor Triller Delves Into Metaverz
TikTok rival Triller kicks off Metaverz VR platform with electronic dance music concert and plans thousands of events in coming year
Spain Opens Competition Probe Into Booking.com
Spanish competition regulator opens investigation into whether Booking.com economic practices 'exploit' hotels
Apple Halts Plans To Use Chinese Memory Chips
Apple suspends plans to use memory chips from China's YMTC in iPhones after firm hit with sweeping US trade sanctions
Xi Calls For China To ‘Win Battle’ On Core Tech
China president Xi Jinping calls for country to 'win the battle' on core tech after US imposes sweeping trade restrictions
Google Shopping Competitors Demand Antitrust Rework
Dozens of online shopping companies demand European Commission apply new rules in antitrust enforcement row
South Korea To Offer Blockchain-Based IDs
South Korea set to roll out blockchain identity verification to citizens with smartphones in 2024 as it looks to boost economic growth
Musk To Continue Funding Starlink In Ukraine
Elon Musk says he will continue funding Starlink satellite broadband in Ukraine, a day after indicating he could pull the plug
UK To Probe Viasat’s Inmarsat Acquisition
In-depth phase two investigation of Viasat's Inmarsat deal officially confirmed by UK regulator, after finding competition concerns last week
Netflix Advert-Supported Plan To Arrive November
Lower priced ad-supported subscription plan set to arrive in November, to operate alongside existing ad-free plans
Elon Musk Under Federal Investigation, Says Twitter
US federal authorities are allegedly investigating the “conduct” of Elon Musk during his on, off, on again acquisition of Twitter
Texas Social Media Law Enforcement Paused By Federal Appeals Court
Federal appeals court pauses Texas social media law’s enforcement, as case heads to the US Supreme Court for ruling
UK Extends Huawei 5G Removal Deadline
Removal of Hauwei 5G kit from network 'cores' extended from January 2023 to December 2023, after BT warning
Donald Trump Truth Social Gains Google Play Store Approval
Return of the Donald? Truth Social app from former US President gains approval for release on Google Play Store
Sony Influenced UK Activision Blizzard Probe, Says Microsoft
Microsoft fires back at its gaming rival Sony, alleging its objections were used by UK's regulator to justify phase 2 probe
Russia Adds Meta To Terrorist Blacklist
Moscow declares Meta a terrorist organisation, so accessing Facebook or Instagram is now a criminal offence for Russian citizens
Amazon Project Kuiper Satellites Set For Early 2023 Launch
Competitor for Starlink edges closer, after Amazon confirms launch in early 2023 of two prototype satellites for Project Kuiper
Rollercoaster Rides Trigger iPhone 14 Crash Alerts
Doesn't happen on Android? Flagship iPhone 14's are reportedly triggering crash alerts for thrill seeking users riding on rollercoasters
UK Is Ninth Best Country To Live Digitally
The UK has risen one place in Surfshark's Digital Quality of Life index, but is ranked 32nd globally for 'Internet quality'
Twitter Reviews Permanent User Ban Policies – Report
Return of Donald Trump to Twitter? Platform is reportedly reviewing its policies over permanently banning users, amid Elon Musk acquisition
Elon Musk Denies Speaking To Vladimir Putin About Ukraine Poll
Tesla CEO flatly denies allegation that he spoke to Russia's Vladimir Putin before posting his controversial Twitter poll about Ukraine
Mark Zuckerberg Unveils Meta Quest Pro Headset
Mark Zuckerberg showcases the Quest Pro virtual and mixed reality headset, as Metaverse moves one step closer
Intel To Axe Thousands Of Jobs Amid PC Decline – Report
Chip giant is to begin a major headcount reduction this month, as Intel contends with falling PC sales, inflation, and supply chain
The State of IoT: Audio Roundtable
IoT has continued to develop and expand its reach to every industry and sector. Will IoT maturity deliver the connected ecosystem many have predicted will have transformative impacts, or is IoT still burdened by interoperability issues ...
GCHQ Boss Jeremy Fleming Warns Of China Tech Threat
No real threat from TikTok says GCHQ boss, but there is real concern over China's digital currencies and its Beidou sat nav network
Intel, Google Co-Designed Data Centre E2000 Chip
Google Cloud deploys its new C3 machine series, featuring the Intel infrastructure processing unit E2000, co-designed by Google and Intel
IT Bosses Cancel, Delay Projects As Workload Rises, SnapLogic Finds
Research from SnapLogic reveals growing pressure facing many IT departments, as IT budgets shrink and workload increases
Apple Store Staff Down Under Vote To Strike
Better conditions. Demand for better pay and settled rosters see staff in Apple stores in Australia call for a strike action
PC Shipments Declined 15 Percent In Q3, Warns IDC
Worrying decline in PC shipments continues, as IDC reports 15 percent year on year decline, with Apple only manufacturer to see increase
Apple iPhone 15 To Feature USB-C, Says Noted Leaker
Noted Apple leaker Mark Gurman says iPhones are moving to USB-C next year, but warns it is “just a stopgap”
Binance Hit By $570m Crypto Theft
Hackers steal $570 million of Binance BNB crypto tokens amidst soaring thefts from cross-blockchain bridges
Stellantis Signs Deal For EV Battery Nickel, Cobalt
Fourth-largest car maker signs memorandum of understanding with GME for nickel, cobalt from Western Australia development project
Amazon Halts Scout Delivery Robot Trials
Amazon halts trials of delivery robot and reassigns staff as company adjusts to slowing retail sales growth
Rivian Recalls Nearly All Vehicles Over Safety Issue
Electric start-up Rivian recalls 13,000 vehicles over fastener that could come loose, as it struggles with parts shortages and production problems
Amazon To Invest 1bn Euros In Europe Electric Fleet
Amazon to invest 1bn euros in European electric vans and HGVs, along with charging infrastructure and zero-carbon delivery hubs
Tesla Sales Hit Monthly High In China Amidst Taiwan Criticism
Tesla sales hit monthly record in China as Elon Musk faces criticism over suggestion that Taiwan become special administrative zone of mainland
US Targets China Semiconductor Industry With Raft Of Measures
US announces broad range of measures aimed at barring China from developing advanced chip manufacturing capabilities and modernising military
UK Flags Concern Over Viasat Purchase Of Inmarsat
British competition regulator, the CMA, to deepen investigation, after finding merger could lead to higher Wi-Fi prices for airlines
Apple Wins Huge Reduction Of French Antitrust Fine
French court lowers hefty 1.1 billion euros antitrust fine down to 371.6 million euros, over alleged price fixing with resellers
Judge Delays Trial, As Musk Says Twitter Won’t Take Yes For Answer
Elon Musk says Twitter won't take yes for answer, as judge rules he must complete acquisition by 28 October to avoid a trial
Google Unveils Flagship Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, And Pixel Watch
New Pixel 7 smartphones unveiled today by Google, including first-ever Pixel smartwatch with Fitbit included
Sentence For Capital One Hacker Slammed By US DoJ
“This is not what justice looks like,” says DoJ official, as judge issues probation sentence for hacker Paige Thompson (aka erratic)
Quest Software Podcast: The Data Dilemma: How to Become a Data Centric Enterprise: Episode 1
In this first of five episodes, we ask the question: Is data now a business’s most precious asset?
SWIFT Publishes Blueprint For Central Bank Digital Currency
Digital currency solution for the world? Potential blueprint for digital currencies offered by central banks published by SWIFT
The Wireless Imperative
For all enterprises, understanding how wireless technology factors into their digital transformation strategies is critical. Wireless communication also disrupts IoT, RPA and Machine Learning technologies as AI continues to influence b ...
Amazon Suspends 50 Staff At Staten Island Warehouse After Fire
Fifty workers at Amazon's only unionised American warehouse have been suspended after they refused to work after a fire
Apple To Move AirPods, Beats Headphone Production To India – Report
Another China move? Apple reportedly in talks to begin making its AirPods and Beats headphones in India from 2023
Former Uber Security Boss Found Guilty Of Breach Concealment
Jury finds former head of security at Uber guilty of criminal obstruction for failing to report massive data breach in 2016
ARM Cuts 40 Percent Of UK Staff Recruited Under Softbank – Report
Global reorganisation at ARM Holdings sees job cuts hit United Kingdom harder than other locations around the world
Data Sharing ‘Cloud Act’ Starts Between US, UK
Data sharing agreement will allow both UK, US law enforcement to request data from each other's Internet Service Providers
Amazon Freezes Corporate Hiring For Retail Operation
Confirmation from Amazon that it has paused hiring for corporate positions in its retail operation, after media report
TECIS
Micron To Spend Up To $100 Billion To Build New York Chip Fab
White House welcomes news that new chip “megafab” costing up to $100bn will be constructed in New York by Micron Technology
White House Publishes Blueprint For AI ‘Bill Of Rights’
Set of guidelines for AI released by White House, to encourage responsible development and deployment of artificial intelligence
Elon Musk Halts Fight, Agrees To Buy Twitter At Original Asking Price
Huge u-turn by Elon Musk less than a fortnight before his courtroom showdown, after now agreeing to buy Twitter at previously agreed price
Government Again Delays Decision On Newport Wafer Fab
Another delay to the government making a decision whether to allow a Chinese entity to acquire UK's largest chip factory
Elon Musk Shows Optimus Robot At Tesla AI Day
Not a man in a suit. Humanoid shaped robot Optimus will apparently cost just $20,000, as Elon Musk shows off early prototypes of robot
Nvidia Confirms Complete Russia Withdrawal
As fighting in Ukraine continues, Nvidia says it is to cease all operations in Russia and relocate local staff to other countries
EU Approves Common Charger For Mobile Phones
Final blow for Apple's Lightning connector, as European Parliament approves universal charger for mobile devices
Brand Voice
Unified Communications for a Smart Hybrid Working Future
For many enterprises, their post-pandemic future will see their businesses transformed into agile companies with dispersed workforces. These remote teams need tools to deliver integrated communications services that support hybrid work ...
Vodafone Confirms Merger Talks With Three UK
Potential merger between the UK's third and fourth largest mobile networks will likely face intense regulatory scrutiny
Elon Musk Slammed Over Ukraine Tweets
Tesla CEO widely criticised after he tweeted his thoughts about how Ukraine should appease Russia for its invasion of that sovereign nation
Silicon In Focus Podcast: Wireless Security
Discover solutions for the key security challenges facing businesses as they expand their use of wireless technologies. Sonicwall’s recent report revealed that IoT malware soared by 134% in the UK. Learn how businesses should build int ...
Prince of Wales Calls For Online Safety After Molly Russell Ruling
Prince William calls for online safety after coroner rules social media 'likely' to have played role in death of teenager Molly Russell
Amazon India Switches On Livestream E-Commerce
Amazon India launches livestream e-commerce feature to coincide with annual sale as it seeks to emulate huge success of feature in China
US To Clarify AI Chip Export Restrictions ‘Soon’
White House official says US planning to clarify China export restrictions on AI chips from Nvidia, others 'relatively soon'
Tesla Plans Ambitious Production Boost In Spite Of Economy Woes
Tesla reportedly planning ambitious boost to production of Model Y and Model 3 cars over next four quarters in spite of economic headwinds
Ride-Hailing Firm Bolt Protests Barcelona Rules
Ride-hailing firm Bolt adds bumper extensions to comply with 'counterproductive' new regulations in Barcelona
Hackers Compromise Corporate Chat Software
China-based hackers plant malware in installer of popular customer service chat software to breach corporate networks in North America and Europe
US Hosts Initial ‘Chip 4’ Meeting In Taiwan
US hosts initial 'Chips 4' working group meeting in Taiwan with participation of South Korea and Japan as it seeks to block China's chip progress