KANE'S TECH TIPS:
SUNDAY 3RD MARCH 2024
Welcome to another low down on all the latest Tech news, Tips and Tricks to help you keep up to date with the latest from the Tech world!
You can hear the feature On Air on a Sunday with Mark, and throughout the week.
Playstation To Axe 900 Jobs
Sony has announced it will lay off 8% of PlayStation employees globally, amounting to approximately 900 people.
In addition to cuts in the US and Japan, the gaming giant said this would mean closing PlayStation's London Studio entirely.
In a blog post sharing an email sent to employees, boss Jim Ryan called the move "sad news" and said it was "a difficult day at our company".
"We have concluded that tough decisions have become inevitable," he said.
Read More: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-68404704
Source: BBC News
Curry's Rejects Second Takeover Approach
Currys has rejected a second takeover approach from US firm Elliott, saying the offer "significantly undervalued" the electronics chain.
The US company is up against Chinese rival JD.com which has also expressed an interest in buying the British firm.
Currys has more than 800 stores globally, but has seen slowing sales due to the cost-of-living crisis.
It said that over the Christmas period, which is usually busy for retailers, it saw a 3% drop in sales compared with the same period a year earlier.
Read More: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68416951
Source: BBC News
More Songs Removed on TikTok
TikTok says it has started removing more music from its platform as part of a continuing row over royalties with Universal Music Group (UMG).
The app has already silenced songs by artists signed to the label, but is now having to do the same with writers too.
This means that videos featuring songs by artists such as Harry Styles and Adele, who have written with Universal-signed artists, could soon be muted.
TikTok says up to 30% of what it calls "popular songs" could be lost.
But some industry estimates say up to 80% of all music on TikTok could be muted.
Read More: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68412642
Source: BBC News
App Of The Week
This weeks app of the week is called Superlist.
The user interface is clean. You will be able to work with to-do lists, write down detailed notes, and even assign tasks to others.
All tasks can also be arranged on pages to make things neater and better organized.
Superlist's is available on IOS and Android Devices for free.
Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.superlist.superlist
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/superlist-tasks-lists/id1547585270
🛡️ Security Corner 🛡️
Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber crime reporting service, has launched a holiday fraud campaign ahead of the summer months, urging holiday goers to play it safe online and do their research before booking their trip.
Last year, 6,640 reports of holiday fraud were made to Action Fraud and data shows July and August saw highest number of reports made, at 804 and 781 respectively.
Holiday makers lost a combined total of £12.3 million, meaning there was an average loss of £1,851 per victim.
Top tips to help prevent falling victim to holiday fraud:
- Do your research: before committing and booking your dream holiday, make sure that you do a thorough online search to ensure the company is credible.
- Pay safely: use a credit card when shopping online, if you have one. Most major credit card providers protect online purchases.
- Look for the logo: make sure they're a licensed company and check that they are properly accredited. Look for an ATOL (Air Travel Organiser's Licence) or a membership of ABTA, The Travel Association.
- Stay safe online: use three random words to create a strong password for your email that’s different to all your other passwords. If a 2-step verification option is available, always set it.
- Beware of suspicious messages: be cautious of unexpected emails or messages offering unrealistic holiday deals. If you receive a suspicious email, report it by forwarding it to report@phishing.gov.uk
- Protect personal information: only fill in the mandatory details on a website when making a purchase. If possible, don't create an account for the online store when making your payment.
- Book with confidence: be sceptical of unrealistic holiday deals. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Exercise caution and research before making purchases.
