John Lister

Google's global search market share has dropped below 90 percent according to one estimate. It's the first time it's consistently been below that threshold in a decade. Some analysts have suggested the drop may be down to users preferring AI large ... language model chatbots such as ChatGPT to search for information. However, that's not factored directly into these figures. They come from Statcounter, a respected online activity tracking company. While it only gathers data from a sample of users, the sample is generally accepted as representative of the Internet as a whole and its archive of data ... (view more)

A gadget that gets phones up to full battery strength in two seconds was among the eye-catching displays at a recent trade show. "Swippitt" does actually live up to the maker's claims, but isn't quite what it seems. Visitors to the CES show each ... January are used to seeing spectacular gadgets, many of which are demonstrations of works in process using technology that won't necessarily work in everyday life. However, Swippitt was a functional demonstration. It's a rectangular box with a slot in the top that makes it look a little like a toaster. Users can put a depleted phone in and within a ... (view more)

If you've used an Apple device which had the Siri assistant, you could be in for a cash bonus. Apple has agreed to pay $95 million compensation for recording users' conversations without their intentional consent. The case relates to the "Hey Siri" ... voice command to activate the assistant. In theory the device would be constantly "listening" but would only process a few seconds of data at a time, check whether it heard "Hey Siri" and then delete the data if not. The problem came with cases when the device misheard a user and began recording and analyzing the subsequent speech under the ... (view more)

A court has blocked the FCC's attempts to reinstate net neutrality rules . It's a decision about procedure rather than policy but likely means national rules are off the table for years to come. Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service ... providers (ISPs) should treat all lawful Internet traffic equally. At its most basic principle, that could mean an ISP doesn't block its customers from visiting a particular website. The idea has evolved as technology has developed. For example, Internet carriers slowing down connections when people are using torrent sites, or excluding particular ... (view more)

Imagine a device that not only tracks your health but also actively supports you in overcoming one of the toughest habits to break - smoking. Researchers are now exploring how smartwatches, equipped with advanced sensors and AI-driven apps, can ... provide personalized, real-time interventions to help people quit smoking more effectively. How Smartwatches are Different from Traditional Methods While traditional approaches to smoking cessation such as reminders or support messages sent to your phone have shown some success, they come with limitations. Messages sent at arbitrary times may miss the ... (view more)

Google has made its case for less drastic measures to resolve its breach of antitrust laws. Not surprisingly, it rejects suggestions it should sell off the Chrome browser . A court has already ruled that Google held an unlawful monopoly in search ... engines and in selling search-related advertising. The argument now is about the remedies: ways of putting the situation right or punishing Google, depending on your viewpoint. The Department of Justice has called for wide ranging measures, including forcing Google to sell the Chrome browser, banning it from buying other search engines, and banning ... (view more)

Scammers are using bogus Google Calendar invites to distribute malicious links. Google has urged users to check a setting in their Calendar account. The campaign, spotted by security company Checkpoint, takes advantage of the way the Google Calendar ... lets users invite friends, family or other contacts to an event. An acceptance will add the event to the invitee's own Google Calendar and automatically update it with any changes of time, date or other details. Usually it's possible to invite somebody just by knowing their email address. The scam involves sending an email that's been manipulated ... (view more)

Google says it's created a processor that can complete a task in five minutes that would take existing supercomputers an effectively infinite time. But it will likely be five years before the processor is ready for commercial use and experts say ... Google's boasts are somewhat selective. The Willow chip is Google's attempt at quantum computing, which is likely to be the next major advance in computing technology. In very simple terms, most traditional computers work by storing and processing data as 0s or 1s, represented by something physical (usually an electronic "gate" in a circuit) that can ... (view more)

Travel site Booking.com says one customer getting access to another customer's bookings was not a security breach. The problem appears to be a system that was set up without considering the possibility of human error. Website Arstechnica.com ... reported the case of a customer identified only as "Alfie," who received a confirmation email for a trip he knew nothing about. He was surprised to login to his account and find the details of the booking. (Source: arstechnica.com ) Typo Trouble After Alfie made multiple enquiries to Booking.com's support staff, he received no useful response. ... (view more)

Microsoft is making two key changes to app stores in Windows 11. It's making it easier to update non-Microsoft apps, but withdrawing distribution of Android apps. The Microsoft Store is a Windows feature that works similarly to app stores on mobile ... phones and tablets. It means users can find and install apps from a central source rather than the "traditional" Windows system of downloading software direct from a developers website and running an installation program. The theory behind the Microsoft store is to improve security while making it easier for Windows to keep track of the different ... (view more)