How financial services Goliaths can survive the threat of fintech Davids May 11, 2016 Fintech disrupters versus traditional financial services incumbents. To some, this supposed rivalry resembles that of the battle where the smaller and more agile David slays the large and mighty Goliath. But is this necessarily the fate that lies ahead for the big banks? It’s easy to understand how this rivalry has been built up, with fintech [...]
Neil Woodford has invested more cash in this tech startup May 11, 2016 Neil Woodford has increased his stake in Drayson Technologies, a UK startup specialising in wireless technology. The top fund manager's Patient Capital Trust is among investors to plough £8m into Drayson in a new round of funding, bringing the tech firms investment to date to £26m. Read more: This Woodford-backed estate agent is on course for triple-digit growth The [...]
Amazon’s new Top Gear finally has a name (and it’s kind of meh) May 11, 2016 Car fans have been waiting a while, but the new version of Top Gear finally has a name. Featuring the former hosts of the BBC car show Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, The Grand Tour will soon make its debut on Amazon Prime. Yep, The Grand Tour. Read more: Jeremy Clarkson helps Amazon Prime promote [...]
After the EU’s O2-Three merger decision, five questions for the UK mobile market May 11, 2016 Hutchison’s bid for O2 has been turned down in Europe. Here are five questions the UK mobile market is asking today Continued competition… Ofcom initially rejected the merger based on evidence that fewer competitors results in less pressure to keep prices down. It’s that same fear which informed today’s decision, despite assurances from Hutchison of a five year [...]
Gtech eBike review: The battery-assisted push bike that takes the effort out of uphill slogs May 11, 2016 Getting around London has become remarkably easier in the last couple of years, thanks to our old friend electricity. Not content with powering our homes, the popular energy source has turned its attentions to bikes, scooters and weird little unicycle things of every conceivable shape and size, allowing us to zip around the city with [...]
Apple’s just patented a second screen for your iPad with smart cover display May 11, 2016 As if we aren't already assaulted by screen after screen on a daily basis – such is modern life – Apple wants to give you another one. The iPad helped create the concept of "second screening", but Apple thinks you need a second screen for your second screen, raising the prospect of third screening as an actual thing [...]
WhatsApp’s new desktop app is about to ruin workplace productivity May 11, 2016 As if an Internet full of listicles, cat videos, Twitter storms (and perhaps the odd bit of news) weren't enough of a distraction while you're trying to get some work done, there's a new diversion from the daily grind coming to your desktop. Messaging app WhatsApp is escaping the confines of your smartphone and has now arrived on Windows PCs and Apple Macs [...]
Airbnb books place among young savvy travellers May 11, 2016 The tourism industry has been shaken up in dramatic fashion in the past couple of years by the pioneering startup company Airbnb. The company operates in 34,000 cities in 191 countries and has a value of around $25bn (£17.3bn). It allows ordinary homeowners to rent out rooms to holidaymakers, and is popular among those looking [...]
Star Wars game helps boost Electronic Arts’ sales and earnings May 11, 2016 Shares in video games maker Electronic Arts (EA) shot up by over seven per cent in after hours trading last night, after the US firm revealed quarterly revenue and profit had come in ahead of analysts' expectations. The company reported revenue of $924m (£640m) for the fourth quarter of its 2016 financial year, up from [...]
Visa Europe records three billion contactless payments over the last 12 months May 10, 2016 Card company Visa has recorded three billion contactless transactions in Europe over the past year. In April alone, European consumers used their cards 360m times, clocking in at almost 140 transactions per second. Contactless now accounts for one in every five Visa card payments in Europe, up from one in 60 in 2013. In the [...]