10 tech stories you need to read right now
Ten nuggets of knowledge to take away for the weekend, including: robots, disappearing SIMs and Siri gets sassy about Caitlyn Jenner.
1. Caitlyn Jenner, not Bruce, insist Siri and Google Now
Siri has been in the news a bit lately after becoming quite sassy, and the virtual assistant is definitely sure of what it’s talking about when it comes to Caitlyn Jenner.
2. Apple and Samsung to make the traditional SIM card disappear
The SIM card as we know it is about to disappear forever. Apple and Samsung are in talks with the GSM Association (GSMA) about plans to launch electronic, embedded SIM cards to replace the traditional, removable SIM card.
3. 15 small businesses to share €150k OPTIMISE e-commerce fund
Fifteen small businesses across Ireland have been selected to take part in the IE Domain Registry’s €150,000 OPTIMISE Fund, which will increase the level of e-commerce activity by these firms.
4. UK creates visionary £10m ‘internet of cities’ fund
Cities and businesses in the UK are being encouraged to take part in bidding for a £10m government fund to revolutionise the way the internet of things can benefit citizens in cities.
5. Check out these amazing 16 rarely-seen Apollo 11 photos
As we approach the 46th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, let us take a moment to look at 16 rarely-seen photos from just before take-off to returning to Earth as heroes.
6. UK surveillance legislation ruled unlawful by High Court
The rushed through Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014 (DRIPA) has been ruled as unlawful by the UK High Court, exactly one year since its inception.
7. Amateur astronomers spot ultra-rare cataclysmic star collapse
A team of researchers, helped by amateur astronomers, managed to capture on a European Space Agency (ESA) telescope an incredibly rare star that increased in brightness five times in one day.
8. €25k ESB Spark of Genius Award 2015 call-up begins
If your tech start-up has what it takes to battle your peers and vie for a €25,000 prize fund, your time is now. The call has been issued for the ESB Spark of Genius Award 2015.
9. Robot journalists get it wrong too. Sure, they’re only human
It appears that human journalists don’t have to fear their jobs being completely ruled obsolete by the rise of robot journalists after a robot journalist got the figures of a recent Netflix earnings report terribly wrong.
10. Robot brain could soon have bacteria controlling its movements
It might seem like the plot to a mad science-fiction film, but researchers have shown early evidence that bacteria grown through synthetic biology (synbio) can be used as the brain of a robot, controlling its movements.
