IT & Security News
Big Tech Supporting Black-Owned Businesses
Big companies such as Google, Facebook and Netflix have committed to considerable financial support for black-owned businesses as Black Lives Matter gains momentum. Google In the wake of the killing of George Floyd by U.S. police, followed by world-wide support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) campaign, Google has announced a “set of concrete commitments” that are…
Custom Backgrounds and Live Captions in Microsoft Teams
Microsoft’s latest move in the battle between video conferencing and collaborative working online platforms is to add custom background effects and enable live captions. New Features Following on from its original announcement in April about the introduction of pre-selected backgrounds or a blur effect (introduced last year) in video calls on the platform, Microsoft Teams…
After Pressure, Zoom Offers End-To-End Encryption for Everyone
Pressure from privacy group The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Mozilla has led to Zoom offering end-to-end encryption to all its users, not just paying customers. A U-Turn The decision to offer end-to-end encryption to all customers is a U-turn for Zoom. Previously, and after capitalising on the huge surge in numbers of new Zoom customers…
Tech Tip – Start Menu Folders
Windows 10 users can help users to get organised with their current work by creating named Start menu folders that have a group of relevant live app Tiles in them. Here’s how to create your Start menu folders: – Click on the Start menu (bottom left). – Click and drag the app tiles that you…
Electric Vehicles, Batteries & Renewables
With 7 million electric vehicles already on the world’s roads and with predictions that 31 per cent of the overall car fleet will be electric by 2040 (i.e. 58% of all vehicles sold), how these vehicles are powered by (or can store) renewable energy are the subject of discussion, planning and speculation. Renewable Energy Renewable…
COVID Alerts From Google Maps
Google Maps is now issuing COVID-19 related alerts to those looking for public transport directions in cities, looking for medical facilities and testing centres, and for those crossing borders. New Alerts Google has announced on its blog that it is augmenting its Google Maps information with alerts relating to COVID-19 restrictions, requirements and advice depending…
Facial Recognition, Photo Identity and Privacy Protection
With phone cameras, surveillance cameras with facial recognition seemingly everywhere and the world entering a new phase of social change, many people are looking at how they can take simple steps to retain and protect their privacy rights. Faces As enshrined in data protection laws, such as GDPR, and with biometrics now being used widely,…
Flying Taxis – Major Tesla Shareholder Funding
German vertical take-off air taxi start-up company Lilium has just received a major funding boost from Baillie Gifford, the second-biggest shareholder in Tesla. Additional Funding Lilium, which had already raised $340 million, $240 million of which came from China’s Tencent, has boosted its coffers by a further $35 million thanks to funding from Scottish company Baillie…
Tech Tip – Better Video Chats
If you would like to improve your video conference calls in terms of how things look, sound and operate, here are a few tips: – Consider using a webcam rather than the built-in laptop cam. It may be better quality (picture and sound) plus it offers flexibility in positioning. – Consider using a slightly side-on…
New Tool Allows You To Bulk-Delete/Hide Old Facebook Posts
Facebook has announced the introduction of the ‘Manage Activity’ tool that allows users to archive or bulk-delete old Facebook posts based on a variety of filters. Change With most people being able to register with and become a user of Facebook over the last 14 years it is likely that over time, users posts on…
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