Technology

Bloomberg Google unveiled a new landline telephone service aimed at helping consumers stay connected in the Internet cloud. The new Fiber Phone service will be made available to a few US markets and later expanded to other cities where Google offers high-speed Internet. The new service adds a few high-tech features to the landline, such as transcribing voice mails and ...

Bloomberg Samsung Electronics Co. is “actively looking” to acquire developers of artificial intelligence (AI) and other software as the world’s biggest smartphone maker tries to overcome flat-lining sales for its devices. Samsung, which has US$61 billion in cash and equivalents, wants to morph into more of a software-driven company, Executive Vice President Rhee In Jong said in an interview. The ...

Relaxnews After Apple revealed its new smaller iPhone SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro earlier this week, both devices are now available for pre-order reports Tech Crunch. Although only up for pre-order in selected countries so far, Apple fans in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK and the US, can now put ...

AFP An estimated seven million drones will fly in US skies by 2020, nearly tripling the number expected to be in circulation by the end of the year, the Federal Aviation Administration said. “Unmanned aircraft systems will be the most dynamic growth sector within aviation,” the agency said in a report, which forecast that some 2.5 drones million will be ...

Relaxnews While more millennials are joining Snapchat and the usage of Live Stories and Discover remains high, according to a new survey for Variety, the app still benefits the most from its messaging feature. Among the 1,117 Snapchat users aged 13 to 24 surveyed in the US in February, around 44 percent used the app’s Live Stories and/or Discover features ...

AFP Google’s developer preview has revealed that the company may be coming out with a nighttime viewing mode for its smartphones and tablets in the near future, reports Mashable. iOS users are already benefiting from the feature since Monday in iOS 9.3, with Apple naming the new option “Night Shift.” Google is calling theirs “Night Mode.” Night Mode will be ...

Relaxnews A new A.I.-powered chat bot called Tay.ai is helping researchers learn more about humans’ ability to converse, reports Tech Crunch. Microsoft unveiled the bot, which uses various applications such as Twitter, Kik and GroupMe to assess conversation and social interaction of 18 to 24 year olds. Users can engage in conversation with Tay — as it is known for ...

AFP As Twitter marks its 10th birthday on Monday, it is somewhat of an awkward child — having become a powerful communication tool but still struggling to win users and reach profitability. Since making a star-quality entrance a decade ago, Twitter has become a must-have tool for journalists, activists and celebrities but has struggled to show it can expand beyond ...

Emirates Business Microsoft Gulf highlighted the opportunities open to the region’s small and medium enterprises in adopting enabling technologies, as it remarked on the success of the SME World Summit 2016, held in Dubai earlier this month. Speaking after company’s participation as exclusive technology partner at the summit, Haider Salloum, SMB Director, Microsoft Gulf, said, “Microsoft is committed to becoming ...

AFP A new iPhone, new iPad, Apple Watch features, and iOS update are expected to form the bulk of Apple’s livestreamed presentation from Cupertino at 1pm EST (8pm UTC) on March 21, 2016. The iPhone SE is the highest probability candidate for Apple’s March 2016 Special Event, if the reports by tech sites like 9to5mac and Apple Insider prove correct.Rather ...