Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary: Voters were “lied to” by Brexit campaigners over staying in the Single Market January 8, 2017 Michael O'Leary hasn't shied away from criticism of Brexit, and has warned the impact on the airline industry could be substantial. He said people were promised they could leave the EU and stay in the Single Market. "It's now absolutely clear that they were lied to by the exiters. That offer is not on the [...]
Focus On Bayswater: Why Notting Hill’s overlooked neighbour is the next big central London investment opportunity January 6, 2017 Around any piece of prime central London, you’ll find a forlorn district on the outskirts whose fortune has improved immeasurably in recent years. Priced out of premium areas, buyers are increasingly moving to these formerly unpopular areas in search of space and affordability – and changing these areas in the process. Bayswater is a prime [...]
Amazon’s Alexa totally infiltrated CES this year January 5, 2017 Amid gimmicky gadgets that may never make it to the shelves (smart whistle, anyone?) Amazon's Alexa artificial intelligence voice assistant has stealthily become the stand out winner of the Consumer Electronics Show. The technology which first appeared in Amazon's own smart home speaker Echo and Echo Dot made surprise appearances almost everywhere, from fridges and cars to robots and baby monitors. [...]
“Alexa, what’s an annuity?” Insurance company Aviva is using Amazon Echo January 4, 2017 "Alexa, what's an annuity?" Now your Amazon Echo can tell you the answer to burning questions about insurance and guide you through the unfamiliar jargon of the industry. The Insurance giant Aviva has developed a so-called skill (like an app for smartphones) for the voice activated speaker which proved a big hit for Amazon over Christmas. Read more: [...]
Ryanair passenger numbers soar again January 4, 2017 It seems Ryanair is about to have a good day: the airline has said passenger numbers soared 20 per cent in December, as passengers went berserk for lower fares. In an update this morning, Ryanair said it flew 9m customers last month, bringing its total for 2016 up to 117m, 15 per cent higher than the [...]
Vinyl comeback led by David Bowie helps UK music to vintage 2016 January 3, 2017 The vinyl comeback, David Bowie and streaming helped 2016 become a vintage year for UK music consumption. Industry body the BPI counted a total of 123m album equivalent sales (AES) last year, a 1.5 per cent increase on 2015’s figures. This corresponded to an estimated retail value of £1bn. There were 45bn audio streams served in 2016, [...]
With diverging monetary policy and more political uncertainty, should investors expect 2017 to be the year that growth makes a comeback? January 3, 2017 This year is being heralded as a new dawn for markets. The economic malaise which has dogged developed economies since the financial crisis will finally subside; the battle against deflation has been won; fiscal stimulus is firmly on the agenda, and real growth will return. Such optimistic assessments may prove to be on the money. [...]
Move over Sherlock, your fridge could soon help solve crime January 2, 2017 Security experts are worried that the increasing number of devices connected to the internet are a gift to cyber criminals, but in a twist worthy of any good crime novel, these smart devices could actually help the police solve crimes. Detectives are being trained to inspect the digital footprints left behind at crime scenes on Internet of Things devices, the [...]
Amazon wants to create giant airship warehouses to speed up your drone deliveries December 30, 2016 The year is 2050. You've just thought your order into your MindModule. A dark mass lurches in front of the sun as a giant airship floats into view overhead. Seconds later, you hear the familiar whine of a drone outside your front door as your package is delivered. Welcome to Amazon's vision of the future… This morning [...]
Goals on demand: Why we’ll get an Uber for sports in 2017 December 23, 2016 We’ve all been spoilt by Uber, admit it. We now expect to get whatever we want from the touch of a button. Not several clicks, but one single touch. With fingerprints unlocking screens and the rise of voice control like Siri, even that touch will soon be one too much and next year, instant gratification [...]