By April 19, 2021>TechVolvo is partnering with DiDi Chuxing's Autonomous Driving division to build a fleet of self-driving vehicles, the companies announced Monday. DiDi, a Chinese Uber competitor with and tens of millions of drivers, is providing its self-driving hardware platform called Gemini, which will be deployed into Volvo's XC90 SUVs. The companies expect for these vehicles to eventually be driverless robotaxis. "In expanding partnerships with global automotive industry leaders, we believe shared, electric and autonomous vehicle networks will be crucial for...…By April 19, 2021>TechVolvo is partnering with DiDi Chuxing's Autonomous Driving division to build a fleet of self-driving vehicles, the companies announced Monday. DiDi, a Chinese Uber competitor with and tens of millions of drivers, is providing its self-driving hardware platform called Gemini, which will be deployed into Volvo's XC90 SUVs. The companies expect for these vehicles to eventually be driverless robotaxis. "In expanding partnerships with global automotive industry leaders, we believe shared, electric and autonomous vehicle networks will be crucial for...WW…

LG might finally be giving up on its smartphone business. We've first , when it was said that the company is looking into either selling, downsizing, or shuttering its money-losing mobile division. Now, according to The Korea Times, the : LG is pulling out of the smartphone business. The outlet's sources say that LG has tried to sell its mobile division to several interested parties, but failed to reach an agreement with any of them. The company is expected to make an official announcement about shutting down its mobile division at its board meeting on Monday, April 5. LG declined to...…LG might finally be giving up on its smartphone business. We've first , when it was said that the company is looking into either selling, downsizing, or shuttering its money-losing mobile division. Now, according to The Korea Times, the : LG is pulling out of the smartphone business. The outlet's sources say that LG has tried to sell its mobile division to several interested parties, but failed to reach an agreement with any of them. The company is expected to make an official announcement about shutting down its mobile division at its board meeting on Monday, April 5. LG declined to...WW…

Apple's products typically been the easiest to repair, though the company is on this front. But being able to repair a product (or at least have a third party professional do it) is an important part of the experience of owning that product, and now Apple is at least forced to acknowledge it. (via ) reports that Apple has started adding repairability scores to its products on its Apple Store website and app in France. The scores, ranging from 1 to 10, are based on criteria such as the availability of documentation, availability of parts, and ease of disassembly.For example, the iPhone 12...…Apple's products typically been the easiest to repair, though the company is on this front. But being able to repair a product (or at least have a third party professional do it) is an important part of the experience of owning that product, and now Apple is at least forced to acknowledge it. (via ) reports that Apple has started adding repairability scores to its products on its Apple Store website and app in France. The scores, ranging from 1 to 10, are based on criteria such as the availability of documentation, availability of parts, and ease of disassembly.For example, the iPhone 12...WW…

Workers at Google's parent company Alphabet from across the globe are banding together in one big union. The new coalition, called , consists of 13 unions representing Alphabet workers in 10 countries, including the U.S., UK, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden. The coalition was formed in coordination with global union federation UNI Global Union, which has 20 million members. Alpha Global issued a saying its goal is to "see a world in which Alphabet respects human and labour rights across its global operations and supply chain."The statement says Alphabet is a "major incubator of innovations"...…Workers at Google's parent company Alphabet from across the globe are banding together in one big union. The new coalition, called , consists of 13 unions representing Alphabet workers in 10 countries, including the U.S., UK, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden. The coalition was formed in coordination with global union federation UNI Global Union, which has 20 million members. Alpha Global issued a saying its goal is to "see a world in which Alphabet respects human and labour rights across its global operations and supply chain."The statement says Alphabet is a "major incubator of innovations"...WW…

Alphabet's Loon is no more. Loon was launched in 2013 as one of Google's moonshot projects — experimental ventures which try to solve big problems — and was turned into an in 2018. The idea was to provide internet access to areas that are remote or have poor infrastructure using balloons that sail at about 65,000 feet of altitude. And though Loon did have in those — mostly in providing emergency access to areas that were struck by catastrophe — it is now shutting down. In a on Friday, the company said it made some "groundbreaking technical achievements," even managing to in Kenya in 2020....…Alphabet's Loon is no more. Loon was launched in 2013 as one of Google's moonshot projects — experimental ventures which try to solve big problems — and was turned into an in 2018. The idea was to provide internet access to areas that are remote or have poor infrastructure using balloons that sail at about 65,000 feet of altitude. And though Loon did have in those — mostly in providing emergency access to areas that were struck by catastrophe — it is now shutting down. In a on Friday, the company said it made some "groundbreaking technical achievements," even managing to in Kenya in 2020....WW…

TikTok, the social media site known for its among youth, is making its youngest users' accounts more private. On Wednesday, the company a new set of privacy rules for users under the age of 18. From now on, all registered users ages 13-15 will have their accounts set to private by default. This means that those profiles won't be accessible to anyone that hasn't been explicitly approved. Furthermore, users in this age group are losing the "Everyone" comment setting, and will now have to choose between "Friends" or "No One" for their comments. The setting "Suggest your account to others" will...…TikTok, the social media site known for its among youth, is making its youngest users' accounts more private. On Wednesday, the company a new set of privacy rules for users under the age of 18. From now on, all registered users ages 13-15 will have their accounts set to private by default. This means that those profiles won't be accessible to anyone that hasn't been explicitly approved. Furthermore, users in this age group are losing the "Everyone" comment setting, and will now have to choose between "Friends" or "No One" for their comments. The setting "Suggest your account to others" will...WW…

We're using cookies to improve your experience.Parler probably isn't coming back any time soon. The social network that still supports Donald Trump and his followers — one of the few to do so right now — has been shut down after it from its web-hosting services on Monday. have already removed Parler from their respective app stores, and the is completely inaccessible at writing time.  Ahead of the shutdown, Parler CEO John Matze said (via screenshot by author ) that the service will "likely be down longer than expected," in a post on the platform. Parler CEO announces their...…We're using cookies to improve your experience.Parler probably isn't coming back any time soon. The social network that still supports Donald Trump and his followers — one of the few to do so right now — has been shut down after it from its web-hosting services on Monday. have already removed Parler from their respective app stores, and the is completely inaccessible at writing time.  Ahead of the shutdown, Parler CEO John Matze said (via screenshot by author ) that the service will "likely be down longer than expected," in a post on the platform. Parler CEO announces their...WW…

The Apple Car is turning from a myth to a potential product. Following the recent report that Apple is looking into building a car and , Korean automaker Hyundai has that Apple has discussed the product with "a variety of global automakers, including Hyundai Motor."The discussions are still in early stages, and "nothing has been decided," Hyundai said.Hyundai's statement was a reaction to a report from Korean outlet (via ), which claimed that Apple is partnering up with Hyundai to launch an autonomous electric car as well as develop car batteries. The report said Apple Car would be equipped...…The Apple Car is turning from a myth to a potential product. Following the recent report that Apple is looking into building a car and , Korean automaker Hyundai has that Apple has discussed the product with "a variety of global automakers, including Hyundai Motor."The discussions are still in early stages, and "nothing has been decided," Hyundai said.Hyundai's statement was a reaction to a report from Korean outlet (via ), which claimed that Apple is partnering up with Hyundai to launch an autonomous electric car as well as develop car batteries. The report said Apple Car would be equipped...WW…

NEC says face masks aren't an obstacle to its facial recognition tech. The Japanese company (via ) claims its new facial recognition system can identify people with face masks in less than one second, with an accuracy rate higher than 99.9 percent. The system works by closely examining the parts of a person's face not covered by a mask, such as the eyes and surrounding areas. It does require the person to submit a photo in advance, though. According to assistant manager of NEC’s digital platform division Shinya Takashima, who spoke with Reuters, the technology was introduced due to the...…NEC says face masks aren't an obstacle to its facial recognition tech. The Japanese company (via ) claims its new facial recognition system can identify people with face masks in less than one second, with an accuracy rate higher than 99.9 percent. The system works by closely examining the parts of a person's face not covered by a mask, such as the eyes and surrounding areas. It does require the person to submit a photo in advance, though. According to assistant manager of NEC’s digital platform division Shinya Takashima, who spoke with Reuters, the technology was introduced due to the...WW…

LG's got a transparent OLED display, and if you're wondering how such a device could be useful, the company has a few ideas to share. Ahead of the upcoming CES 2021 show, LG shared a few ideas on how its transparent OLED products could fit into real-world situations. One idea is having a transparent OLED at a restaurant, where the display would pop up from the bar, between the customer and the waiter, allowing the customer to see the menu and order while still being able to see the waiter. LG also designed a Smart Bed with a frame from which a transparent OLED TV can rise up, and retract to...…LG's got a transparent OLED display, and if you're wondering how such a device could be useful, the company has a few ideas to share. Ahead of the upcoming CES 2021 show, LG shared a few ideas on how its transparent OLED products could fit into real-world situations. One idea is having a transparent OLED at a restaurant, where the display would pop up from the bar, between the customer and the waiter, allowing the customer to see the menu and order while still being able to see the waiter. LG also designed a Smart Bed with a frame from which a transparent OLED TV can rise up, and retract to...WW…