Technology

  AFP An array of Apple services including the App Store and Apple TV were knocked offline for several hours due to an unexplained technical glitch. An official Apple status webpage confirmed the outage, which appeared recently. However the issue was resolved in California, Apple’s online shops and game center were back in operation, but its iCloud online data storage ...

  Relaxnews The developers announced that the Sequel chatbot platform has launched out of beta. The bot’s advantage over other competitors is that it promises customisable personae. These days, content creators can engage with their users on a large scale with the help of chatbots —computer programmes engineered to simulate conversation, typically over the internet. Sequel has become the first ...

  Tribune news service Microsoft is lending a hand to a dozen companies working to spread affordable Internet access to underserved communities around the world. The initiative is related to Seattle-based Microsoft’s commitment, announced earlier this year, to donate US$1 billion in services over three years primarily to nonprofits. As part of that effort, Microsoft said it would seed projects ...

  Relaxnews Microsoft is to unveil a plan that would see the Xbox One undergo not one but two revisions in relatively short succession, say reports. With PlayStation tipped to produce a ‘PlayStation 4k,’ it’s clear that console manufacturers are looking to keep up with the pace of innovation in both PC and mobile. Two new versions of the Xbox ...

    Relaxnews Like the big-hitters of Silicon Valley, the Chinese manufacturer whips up a buzz ahead of each new product launch, as rumours of what’s to come get the internet chatting. The firm’s upcoming handset, the OnePlus 3, is no exception. The Chinese manufacturer, OnePlus, released its first smartphone in 2014, making an impression with its minimalist and innovative ...

  Relaxnews HP has unleashed a new line of products, dubbed Omen, in a bid to tackle the gaming world with a range of updated laptops, desktops, and accessories. The line, which launched recently with four key products — two laptops, a tower, and a display —also adheres to an aggressive pricing structure, starting at US$899.99 for the smaller 15.6-inch ...

  Relaxnews Etihad Airways has released its highly anticipated 360-degree virtual reality film starring Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, and helmed by renowned husband and wife directing duo Anthony Atanasio and Valerie Martinez. The five-minute clip, titled ‘Reimagine’, follows Kidman on a fully experiential journey on one of Etihad’s new Airbus A380s flying between New York and Abu Dhabi, and marks ...

  Relaxnews Hyundai has announced that as of this week, it is adding smartphone integrations to several existing models via do-it-yourself installation. The free software update is compatible with CarPlay and Android Auto and is available now. To complete the update users will need their VIN number and a USB memory stick or the SD card from their Navigation system, ...

  Bloomberg First Look Media, a news organisation founded by Silicon Valley billionaire Pierre Omidyar, said it’s seeking to join a lawsuit in support of Gawker Media LLC in the high-profile case brought by wrestler Hulk Hogan. Peter Thiel, another technology billionaire and co-founder of PayPal, said this week that he’s helping finance Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, ...

  New York/ AP Upcoming virtual-reality headsets based on Google’s new Daydream VR system won’t be as sophisticated as Facebook’s Oculus Rift. But they could give more people a taste of VR and make better games and applications affordable. Google stated that it will develop a range of VR headsets that promise to be more comfortable and durable than its ...