Tech
Apple invests millions to back entrepreneurs of color, part of racial justice effort
Apple Inc is putting $60 million into a fresh round of projects aimed at challenging systemic racism, including its first foray into venture capital funding to back entrepreneurs of color. Apple said it would invest $10 million in a fund with Harlem Capital, a New York-based early-stage venture firm, with… Read
WhatsApp to delay launch of new business features after privacy backlash
Facebook Inc's WhatsApp is delaying an update aimed at increasing business transactions on the platform after a storm of concern from users who feared that the messaging platform was watering down its privacy policy in the process. WhatsApp users received a notification this month that it was preparing a new… Read
'Walkable chair' makes standing on the job an easier prospect
If you or your employees have a job that requires standing for long periods of time, Japanese startup Archelis may have the device for you. The archelisFX - whose name derives from the Japanese for "walkable chair" - is a wearable exoskeleton being showcased at this year's CES virtual tech… Read
Samsung promises new phones will deliver more for less money
Samsung’s next crop of smartphones will boast bigger screens, better cameras, and longer-lasting batteries at lower prices than last year's lineup that came out just before the pandemic toppled the economy. The three Galaxy S21 phones unveiled Thursday at a virtual event will face some of the same challenges in… Read
Mini robot fish swim in schools, just like the real thing
Inspired by how schools of fish intuitively synchronize their movements, Harvard scientists have engineered miniature underwater robots capable of forming autonomous swarms. Each robotic fish, known as a "Bluebot," is equipped with cameras and blue LED lights that sense the direction and distance of others inside water tanks. They swim… Read
COVID-19 fueling education's tech disruption, deepening digital divide
The COVID-19 pandemic deepened inequities in accessing and benefiting from education but the future of learning could be a more equal one, participants told a Reuters Next panels this week. The pandemic hastened a rise in virtual learning and a disruption of the status quo already under way but probably… Read
Parler CEO says social media app, favored by Trump supporters, may not return
Social media platform Parler, which has gone dark after being cut off by major service providers that accused the app of failing to police violent content, may never get back online, said its CEO John Matze. As a procession of business vendors severed ties with the two-year-old site following the… Read
Google rolls out fix for issues with Android contact tracing apps
Alphabet Inc's Google said on Wednesday it has rolled out a fix for issues with some Android apps developed using the company's Exposure Notifications System that helps in COVID-19 contact tracing. The issue caused a delay in the ability of these apps to load or conduct regular exposure checks. It… Read
Pandemic's robot 'heroes' highlight their value at tech show
Robots that helped people survive and stay safe over the past year are touting their value at the tech industry's annual extravaganza amid a pandemic which has given fresh momentum to the robotics sector. The Consumer Electronics Show, which is being held online this year due to the global crisis,… Read
WhatsApp stresses privacy as users flock to rivals
WhatsApp on Tuesday reassured users about privacy at the Facebook-owned messaging service as people flocked to rivals Telegram and Signal following a tweak to its terms. There was "a lot of misinformation" about an update to terms of service regarding an option to use WhatsApp to message businesses, Facebook executive… Read
