Singapore
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Singapore has deployed robots to patrol public areas
Singapore has started testing a robot named Xavier, putting a couple of them to work by having them patrol and survey a public area.
Singapore police can access data from the country's contract tracing app
With a nearly 80 percent uptake among the country’s population, Singapore’s TraceTogether app is one of the best examples of what a successful centralized contact tracing effort can look like as countries across the world struggle to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
Singapore is the first country to approve the sale of lab-grown meat
Singapore has become the first country in the world to approve the sale of cultured meat.
Apple's 'floating' store in Singapore will open on September 10th
Apple has some pretty stunning stores around the world, such as the one in NYC’s Grand Central Terminal and the one in Dubai with “Solar Wings” that respond to environmental conditions. Its newest location Singapore is its first ever “floating” store, though, and the tech giant has just announced that it’s set to open on September 10th. The floating Apple Store, its third retail location in Singapore, is located at the country’s posh Marina Bay Sands resort.
Apple is opening its first 'floating' store in Singapore
Apple has hundreds of physical stores dotted around the world, serving as stores, repair centers and community hubs where people can learn to be more creative. Until now, though, none of these glistening Apple meccas have been built on water. As The Straits Times reports, the company has confirmed plans to open a dome-shaped store near the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore.
Google's true wireless Pixel Buds are now available outside of the US
They're on sale in Canada, the UK, Australia and a few other countries.
Hype and hope: Wearables in the covid era
It’s a pretty cool idea, but my point is that it’s the app making the claim, and not necessarily the ring.
Singapore wants every resident to wear a COVID-19 tracing device
Singapore would like to give every resident a wearable device for COVID-19 contact tracing, bu it's raising privacy concerns in the process.
The surveillance profiteers of COVID-19 are here
Our worlds are so upside-down and backwards right now that Wired claims Surveillance Could Save Lives Amid a Public Health Crisis, and privacy activist Maciej Cegłowski flat-out stated We Need A Massive Surveillance Program.
Volocopter is researching the best air taxis routes in Southeast Asia
Volocopter is preparing for a feasibility study that will determine the best cities and routes for air taxis in Southeast Asia and evaluate different air taxi use cases. This next step is part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) necessary for Volocopter to bring commercial air taxis to the region.
Facebook labels a post as false to obey Singapore misinformation law
Facebook has voluntarily labeled fake news and other misinformation for a while, but in Singapore it now doesn't have much choice. The social site has labeled a November 23rd post as containing "false information" to obey a Singapore law meant to curb the spread of fake info. The government claimed that Australian citizen and States Times Review blog owner Alex Tan had made "false" and "scurrilous" claims surrounding election rigging and the arrest of a purported whistleblower. Tan had initially refused the order and is now under investigation, although there may not be much Singapore can do when Tan doesn't live in the city-state.
Singapore forgoes Tesla's electric 'lifestyle' for buses
Singapore is in no rush to adopt a certain brand of electric car. In an interview with Bloomberg published today, a government minister offered a rebuttal to Tesla founder Elon Musk's criticism that the city-state is "unwelcome" to electric cars. Investing in mass transit -- rather than Tesla Superchargers -- is how the nation of slightly less than 6 million inhabitants wants to tackle climate change.
Fitbit will play a key role in Singapore's public health program
Never mind getting a fitness tracker through your insurance company -- in Singapore, the government will encourage you to get one. Fitbit has unveiled a partnership with Singapore's Health Promotion Board on an initiative, Live Healthy SG, that will spur the city-state's residents to adopt fitness trackers. If you commit to a year's worth of Fitbit's Premium health coaching service and agree to share that data with the Board, you'll get a free Inspire HR tracker. The aim, as you might imagine, is to both keep Singaporeans in good shape and "enrich" the Board's health promos with useful info.
Apple releases iOS 12.4, watchOS 5.3 with Walkie Talkie bug fix
The releases of iOS 13, watchOS 6 and macOS Catalina are likely just a couple of months away, but that isn't stopping Apple from giving the current versions a big sendoff. The tech behemoth has released iOS 12.4, HomePod 12.4, tvOS 12.4, watchOS 5.3 and macOS 10.14.6, most of which bring important tweaks. The iOS update is most useful if you're setting up a new iPhone -- you can wireless transfer data directly from an old handset to a new one instead of restoring from iCloud or iTunes. Apple News has also seen some refinements, with downloaded issues showing up in My Magazines and all News+ publications appearing in the catalog at the top of the feed.
Facebook's political ad transparency tools roll out worldwide
Facebook's efforts to improve transparency in political ads are now a truly global affair. The social site has made its transparency tools available to advertisers worldwide, letting them post political and issue ads so long as they're authorized. The disclosure policies remain the same -- if someone else paid for an ad, you should see a "paid for by" disclaimer. The ads themselves will sit in an Ad Library archive for seven years alongside data like the view count and demographics.
Apple recalls older three-prong AC power adapters
Apple is recalling a batch of three-prong AC wall plug adapters. The company is aware of six incidents worldwide in which the adapters broke, creating a risk of electrical shock. As a precaution, Apple is allowing customers to exchange the potentially faulty plugs for a new version. It's not clear, though, just how many devices that could be.
Singapore plans to pass its own fake news law
Singapore is set to follow its South East Asian neighbor Malaysia's lead by introducing an anti-fake news law. The legislation will allow the city-state's government to take down content that violates the new rules, according to local newspaper The Straits Times. The "Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill" is among more than 20 recommendations put forward by a parliamentary select committee tasked with tackling misinformation. In less urgent cases, the law will force websites to publish corrections or warnings on fake news.
Singapore is testing Volvo's full-sized driverless buses
Universities have proven solid training grounds for self-driving shuttles in Michigan and Melbourne. Now, a campus in Singapore is set to test a full-sized autonomous bus from Volvo. The Swedish auto-maker's single-deck 7900 electric vehicle will carry up to 80 passengers at a time from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Volocopter will test its autonomous air taxis in Singapore next year
Volocopter is preparing to run inner-city tests of its autonomous air taxis in Singapore, starting in the second half of 2019. The company and the city-state's civil aviation authority are determining the scope of the tests, which Volocopter plans to conclude with public demo flights.
Dyson will build its electric cars in Singapore
Dyson will build a two-story factory in Singapore to assemble its highly anticipated electric cars. In a letter to employees, chief executive Jim Rowan said construction would start in December and be completed sometime in 2020. The nation was selected, he explained, because of its "significant advanced manufacturing expertise," supply chain benefits and access to high-growth markets. It also helps that Dyson has been building a workforce and facilities, including a research-focused Technology Centre, in the area since 2007. "We now employ 1,100 people and have made over 50 million high-speed Dyson digital motors in Singapore," Rowan said.
