Category: Tech

China introduces app to prevent coronavirus from spreading

China has introduced a mobile app, “close contact detector,” allowing people to check whether they were in close proximity to a Coronavirus carrier. The application works by letting users check their status by scanning a QR code using applications like Alipay, WeChat, or QQ. The person is then directed to a page that requires them to enter their name and government ID number. Once all the information is added, the user’s status is displayed.

Imran Khan issues orders for building 40-acre Software City in Islamabad

Prime Minister Imran Khan has reportedly ordered the establishment of a massive 40-acre software city in the country’s capital, Islamabad. In a meeting held with high-profile officials from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Khan discussed various ways to strengthen country’s IT sector and shared his vision to boost the nation’s IT exports to $10 billion over the long term. 

Bill Gates is buying the world’s most expensive hydrogen-powered yacht

One of the richest men on earth, Bill Gates has ordered the first-ever hydrogen fuel cell-based yacht, the Sinot’s Aqua. The “Superyacht” costs $644 million, and is powered by two 1MW motors fuelled by supercooled hydrogen tanks. It has a 17-knot top speed (19.6MPH), it is capable of cross-ocean travel due to its 3,750-mile range.

California allows Uber’s self-driving cars to get back on its roads

Department of Motor Vehicles, California has granted a permit to the ride hailing-company to test its self-driving cars on public roads. The multinational giant was developing an autonomous program to be the next step in its business plan before the horrendous car accident of its fleet. It then drastically scaled back its self-driving car project in yhe face of public and government concerns. 

Apple fined for slowing down iPhones

Tech giant Apple were fined 25 million euros for deliberately slowing down older iPhone models. Critics accused the firm of surreptitiously forcing users to buy phones sooner than necessary. IPhone owners were not informed that installing iOS updates (10.2.1 and 11.2) could slow down their devices, according to the DGCCRF anti-fraud agency’s statement. 

Jeep is Making an Off-road Electric Bike

During the recently concluded Super Bowl, Jeep, the American carmaker, unveiled it’s electric bike in an ad showcasing its Gladiator pickup. As per the ad, the vehicle is an e-bile and is rumored to have one of the biggest-torque electric motors for a bicycle in the market. It will be capable of off-roading and will be fitted with extra-wide 4.8-inch fat tires and will be able to run 64km on a single charge. 

Apple is shutting down all its stores and offices in China temporarily

Apple is shutting down all of its stores in mainland China until February 9 amidst fears of the coronavirus outbreak, according  to an official statement provided to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Apple has also restricted employee travels to China and has put in new guidelines for the cleanliness of its stores and employee health. They have issued a new revenue forecast statement that is more uncertain than usual due to the virus situation.

Pakistan begins to manufacture electric rickshaws

Pakistan has started to manufacture commercial, environment friendly and fuel efficient electric rickshaws as the first manufactured electric three-wheeler was presented in a special ceremony held in Lahore. Advisor to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said on the occasion that the success of the project would depend on the financial benefits that the owner derived. He further said that if it was found suitable for its owner, more rickshaws could be converted into electric technology.

Preliminary reports suggest Saudi prince behind Amazon chief’s phone hack

hacked by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman through a message infected by spyware, according to a preliminary analysis released Wednesday. The forensic analysis by technical experts suggested that the Bezos iPhone was compromised by “tools” procured by a close associate of the Saudi de facto ruler.

TikTok dethrones Facebook to become second most downloaded app in world

Short-video platform, TikTok has dethroned Facebook to become the second most downloaded app in the world behind WhatsApp. Since launching in 2017, the app has been downloaded more than 1.5 billion times. Recently the app hit 1.5 billion downloads worldwide, outperforming Instagram. Anyone with a smartphone can use TikTok to tell their own story in under 60 seconds.