Virtual Instruments to add cloud storage monitoring by end of 2017

Storage performance and monitoring provider Virtual Instruments leverages Xangati functionality to add cloud storage monitoring to existing SAN and NAS capabilities in Virtual Wisdom

Human-centric technologies will dominate next three years

Accenture says businesses will develop technology and services to match human behaviour in the next few years

Security spending leaving data vulnerable, study finds

Cyber breaches are increasing despite increased security spending, a study shows, highlighting that security investment decisions are not aligned with actual cyber threats

Facebook ups security with Fido U2F two-factor authentication

Social media giant is enabling users to increase the security of their logins with Fido U2F USB security keys

MoD accelerator launches Enduring Challenge tech contest

Enduring Challenge seeks to bring innovative technology to the front line for the UK’s armed forces and security services

Mixed feelings on Australian enterprise app market

The enterprise mobile app development market is attracting big money despite a lack of corporate appetite

Growing UK's tech skills base will make or break prime minister's industrial strategy, panel claims

Speakers at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology's industrial strategy debate demand greater clarity on how the government intends to tackle the UK tech and science sector's skills, diversity and regional inequalities

Ring raises $109M to help build safer neighbourhoods, sights still set on IPO

 Video doorbell and connected security device startup Ring has raised $109 million in a Series D round, following its $61.2 million raise last year, when it also launched its Ring Pro smart doorbell. This time around, the new funding follows quickly on the heels of its launch of its connected video motion floodlight, which debuted at CES and will help Ring continue to pursue its goal of… Read More

The Amazon Echo is having its mainstream moment

 The little talking speaker that could, Amazon’s Echo, is moving into the breakout phase of its success, according to data collected by analysts firm Slice Intelligence. The Echo is coming off a tremendously successful holiday shopping season, which saw not only a high volume of sales, but a key evolution in consumer demographics that’s driving sales from a broader cross-section… Read More

Qualcomm reaffirms it will continue to supply Apple during its legal dispute

 Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf said today on the company’s call accompanying its first-quarter earnings report that Qualcomm would continue to work with Apple as a supplier despite a major legal battle between the two companies. “We intend to remain a good supplier to Apple even while this dispute continues,” Mollenkopf said on the call. “Our preference is to resolve… Read More

These genetically modified cyborg dragonflies could perform ‘guided pollination’

 We are now in a day and age where cyborg insects no longer even raise an eyebrow. Hell, you can order kits! But this particular cyborg insect is especially interesting: a dragonfly that has been modified inside and out to follow the path programmed into a solar-powered electronic backpack the size of a fingernail. Read More

States aim to legalize the “Right to Repair” your gear

 “Unofficial” product repair shops may be getting a leg up in Nebraska, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts, and Kansas. These states are working to legalize repair of devices from any manufacturer, including litigious Apple. Why is this necessary? Because Homeland Security raids repair shops on claims of counterfeit repair part importation and most devices are locked down,… Read More

Crocodile and lizard bots peep at their scaly peers for nature documentary

 If you want to walk among the crocodiles, first you must become a crocodile, as the saying goes. But short of an Ace Ventura-style setup, a robot is probably your best bet if all you want is some sweet footage for a nature documentary. That’s just what these Swiss roboticists did for a BBC show airing today. Read More

Boeing shows off the spacesuit astronauts will wear on the Starliner

 The commercial spaceflight industry is doing a great job creating new rockets, launch vehicles and all that good stuff, but spacesuits have seen few alterations. Until now. Boeing has publicly debuted what astronauts on its Starliner craft will be wearing, and it looks like a big improvement. Read More

Ford’s new SmartLink OBD accessory adds connected features to older cars

 Connectivity features are increasingly included as standard on new vehicles, with cellular modems in particular becoming a popular feature included even in base level trim. Now, connectivity is so important to Ford, that the automaker is actually offering an easy retrofit option to add connected features to Ford and Lincoln vehicles from model years between 2010 and 2016, with SmartLink, a… Read More

Netgear’s Orbi might be the best Wi-Fi router I’ve ever used

 I’m rarely this excited about a wi-fi router. I’ve used Apple gear for years now, replacing Airport after Airport until I found I hit a wall. My house is made of wood, brick, and lathe with a little horsehair and metal sheeting thrown in so I was unable to get good Wi-Fi throughout. I ran powerline Ethernet to the attic and added an Airport Express to speed things up but I was… Read More

Snap will reportedly file publicly for its massive IPO late next week

 Snap — the makers of Snapchat — had confidentially filed for its IPO late last year, but it looks like we’ll be getting a look at the inner guts of the company’s financials and workings as early as late next week. The company will file publicly for its initial public offering late next week, according to a new report from Kara Swisher over at Recode. This is yet… Read More

Saudi Arabian bank enables customers to print their own debit cards

Fingerprint scan at self-service units will authorise Al Rajhi Bank customers to print debit cards, statements and other documentation

Lloyds Bank hit by massive DDoS attack

It has emerged that UK banks have been targeted by a DDoS campaign that affected services intermittently only at the Lloyds Banking Group

No silver bullet for business IoT security

Good application design, adapting existing IT security and adopting some new ideas can protect firms from IoT threats

Schroders staff to complete daily tasks on mobile devices

The asset management company wants to make it easier for its staff to complete everyday tasks by linking mobile devices to enterprise systems

Lululemon turns to digital transformation to support consumer community

Athletic apparel retailer’s executive vice-president of digital explains how the brand has used digital transformation to support its core value of a community ecosystem

Government reaffirms broadband funding in industrial strategy plan

The government reaffirms previous commitments to further funding of rural broadband roll-out and 5G mobile networking in its post-Brexit industrial strategy plan

Government industrial strategy proposes £170m investment in tech institutes to boost Stem skills

The Prime Minister has claimed technology training and skills will be one of the key areas the government will focus on in its bid to boost the economy post-Brexit

Singapore and Indonesia stand out for IT spend in Apac banking sector

Singapore is the top spender on IT for banking of all developed economies in the Apac region, while Indonesia has the fastest growth rate in IT spending

Singapore bank offers online chat banking

POSB launches automated customer service platform that understands spoken language

All Chromebooks launching in 2017 will be compatible with Android apps

 All Chromebooks new in 2017 will support Android apps out of the box. An update will not be required. Owners will be able to take the Chromebook home, open it up and immediately access the Google Play Store. The news comes from a single line of text on Google’s list of Chromebooks compatible with Android apps. “All Chromebooks launching in 2017 and after as well as the… Read More

Go tell Neil Young that he can use the JustBoom DAC to play back his audio on a Raspberry Pi

 My, my, hey, hey lossless audio is here to stay thanks to JustBoom, a set of Raspberry Pi “hats” that connect to the mini computer and offer high fidelity audio playback and amplification. The $24 hats include a lossless DAC, a mini-amplifier, and a high-resolution audio output with COAX and optical audio out. If you, like Neil Young, require the utmost fidelity in your music… Read More

Axon VR promises real haptic feedback for your sojourns into virtual reality

 Have you ever wanted to feel a dragon breathe on your wrist? A tiny reindeer paw at your palm? A virtual robot skitter up your arm and burrow into your chest? Axon VR is about to let you. IEEE Spectrum’s Evan Ackerman checked out the Axon VR device at CES a few weeks ago and it looks like the sleeper hit of the show given how little it was covered and how amazing it looks. The box, a… Read More