New Black Cab Unveiled in London

The city of London has welcomed a new black cab for public transportation. The 1.6 litre petrol engine will be emit lesser fumes than the diesel powered cabs in the city according to manufacturer, Nissan. In August 2012, the new cab was unveiled but was taken back to the manufacturer due to the Mayor's feedback report.

According to the manufacturer, the new cab conforms to Transport for London (TfL) regulations on black cabs which include a requirement for a 25ft (7.6m) turning circle. Modifications include: radiator grille and LED lighting to improve visibility of the traditional taxi sign, and new front bumper panels.

Skype under Attack

A group of hackers known as Syrian Electronic Army (SEA) has hacked the media platform, Skype, which permits voice and video calls. The group hacked Microsoft owned Skype and posted messages warning people not to use email services (hotmail, outlook) provided by Microsoft. The hackers also claimed Microsoft monitors users email account and sell their data to the government.

Skype has confirmed the hack but denied the allegations by the hackers group. The Syrian hackers were responsible for the recent attack on New York Times and Twitter and have also revealed threat to attack BBC, CNN, Guardian and others.

Report has revealed that Skype has been providing information to the US surveillance even before Microsoft bought the company.

A man named Edward Snowden leaked that US National Security Agency (NSA) has access to the servers of nine major technology companies which include Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube and Apple. However, all these companies denied their involvement in the backdoor access.

Song Writer and Singer, Alicia keys, Ends Deal with BlackBerry

Few weeks from now, the talented song writer and singer, Alicia Keys, will end her deal with the once-giant phone manufacturer, BlackBerry. Ms Keys has served as the company's creative director for one year and the agreement is set to end by the ending of January 2014. One of her contributions to the company is to assist women get Blackberry scholarship programme in other to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Recently, the phone manufacturer was seen rolling off the ladder due to loss of almost a billion dollars as a result of failed BlackBerry 10 sales. The company has decided to move into business and government customers rather than consumer market.

Google diversifying into Robotics

The tech giant, Google, just concluded a purchase of a company, Boston Dynamics, which develops running robot and other animalistic mobile research machines. The purchase is an indication that the tech giant is interested in robotics.

The company, Boston Dynamics, was founded in 1992 by a professor from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. One of the robots that the company produced is named BigDog. This could move over rough terrain such as snow and ice.

Another robot is named WildCat. The robot is able to gallop down a car park at high speed and pivoting quickly on the spot.

Fast and Furious Actor, Paul Walker Dead.

It saddens my heart to inform you that, Paul Walker, a co-star in one of my favourite movies, Fast and Furious passed on after a ghastly auto crash. The deceased who was named Brian O'Conner in the movie, Fast and Furious, was a passenger in his friend's car, Roger Rodas, a Pirelli World Challenge driver and co-founder for Walker's Always Evolving team. Both of them were confirmed dead after Walker's friend, Roger Rodas, lost control of the Porsche they were both inside.

Vin Diesel, Middle, Paul Walker, Right.

According to report, Walker was in Santa Clarita to attend a car meet hosted by Always Evolving Performance, an event that was also a charity toy drive. Since inception in 2001, the Fast & Furious movie directors have released six movies with the seventh movie to be released in 2014.

Rest In Peace Paul Walker.

 Credit: MotorAuthority

FIFA Out With iOS and Android apps ahead of Next Year's World Cup Final

The governing body for nations's football, FIFA, has rolled out apps compatible with iOS and Android enabled gadgets ahead of the 2014 World Cup Final. The apps according to FIFA will feed football fans with updated news, videos, and photos of match results from nearly 200 leagues. The app will be available for free and user can select up to three favorites national teams, clubs and competitions. This will allow easy access to information from selected team. The app is also capable of streaming the 2014 World Cup Final Draw.

Samsung Sued For Copying Apple Devices

Two device manufacturers, Samsung and Apple, are at war over patent infringement mostly found in older Samsung tablets and smartphones. Samsung was allegedly sued for copying iPhone and iPad features in its devices. However, a US jury has found Samsung guilty and has ruled that Samsung must pay $290m (£180m) to Apple. Previously, a jury asked Samsung to pay $1.05bn to Apple for patent infringement. Recently, Judge Lucy Koh, ordered a retrial on the ground that the former judge miscalculated the amount Samsung must pay. 

According to Apple's spokesman, "For Apple, this case has always been about more than patents and money. It has been about innovation and the hard work that goes into inventing products that people love. While it's impossible to put a price tag on those values, we are grateful to the jury for showing Samsung that copying has a cost."

As if that was the end, another separate trial is scheduled for March 2014 as Samsung was found to have infringed Apple's patent that allows users to "pinch and zoom" on smartphone and tablet screens.