Rapid John
PositionMedia Relations Manager
Joined20 November 2013
Articles2,723
Rapid John has a quarter of a century in programming for Government and Corporate bodies and is proficient in most major programming languages.
Changan

BlackBerry and BiTECH to build Digital LCD Instrument Cluster For Changan’s UNI-K SUV

BlackBerry's QNX Neutrino Realtime Operating System (RTOS), has been adopted in a new digital LCD cluster jointly developed with BiTECH Automotive (Wuhu) Co. The digital instrument cluster is being installed in Changan Automobile's new SUV, the UNI-K, which has entered mass production, providing a personalized user experience for drivers while ensuring the safety, security and reliability of the SUV's critical systems.
ChinaBlackBerryAutomotive
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Apple MacBookPro Xcode

Apple launches new developer tools

Apple today launched new tools and technologies designed to help developers create more engaging app experiences and make it even easier to build high-quality apps. Xcode Cloud brings together the multiple tasks and tools required to build, test, and deliver apps using powerful cloud services, enabling individual developers and teams to be more productive and provide great apps to their users.
DevelopersApple
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FaceTime

Apple bringing FaceTime video to Android and Windows

Apple today showed previews of its FaceTime video chat, adding the ability to schedule calls with multiple attendees and making the software compatible with Android and Windows devices. For the first time, FaceTime calls will extend beyond Apple devices.
AppsApple
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Vodafone Curve Bike light and GPS tracker

Vodafone UK launches Curve Bike light & GPS tracker

Vodafone has launched the Curve Bike light & GPS tracker. With an ultrabright LED and three light modes that automatically brightens when braking, Curve Bike light & GPS tracker gives cyclists a safer ride no matter what time of day it is. The device combines intelligent lighting with GPS tracking and connection to Vodafone’s global network with a built-in Smart SIM providing assurance that the rider is safer and that the bike is secure.
ConnectedUKVodafone UK
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Ericsson

Ericsson launches Ericsson Private 5G

Ericsson has launched Ericsson Private 5G, offering secure and simple 4G LTE and 5G Standalone (SA) connectivity primarily targeting – but not limited to – manufacturing, mining and process industry, offshore and power utilities, as well as ports and airports.
5GConnected
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Vodafone

Vodafone and Wix launch new ‘business boosting’ packages

Vodafone has launched new business boosting packages featuring tools powered by website creation platform Wix. The business boosting packages will enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to create or improve their online presence, reach new customers, and overcome the challenges they face to achieving growth online.
UKVodafone UKConnected
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Realme 8 5G

Realme 8 5G now available in UK

Realme 8 5G, the third device in the Realme 8 series, has been launched in the UK as the first phone in the UK to be powered by MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor. The Realme 8 5G is also now the cheapest 5G phone available in the UK.
AndroidUKDevices and OS5G
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University of Waterloo

BlackBerry and University of Waterloo to launch new innovation program

BlackBerry and the University of Waterloo are to launch a new, five-year, “multi-million dollar” innovation program designed to drive research-powered innovation in Canada. The two organizations will work together in a unique program designed to fast-track the development of research and technology into market-ready products.
CanadaBlackBerry
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Incognia

Incognia Launches free Developer Edition

Location identity company Incognia has launched its Developer Edition, a free version of Incognia’s mobile fraud prevention solution for mobile app developers. The offering allows mobile developers to add frictionless fraud prevention to fintech and mcommerce apps, enabling UX design and account security within their apps.
DevelopersAndroidApple
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Broadband

BT Home Essentials, a new broadband social tariff coming in June

BT is to launch BT Home Essentials in June, a new social tariff connecting those on low income with affordable fibre broadband and calls. The new low cost tariff comes as BT research reveals that since the pandemic, almost three quarters (74%) of Brits would not find it easy to improve their financial situation without connectivity.
ConnectedUKBT Group
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EE Repairs

EE launches next day Mobile Device Repair Service in West Midlands

EE has extended its next day mobile device repair service to 17 stores in the West Midlands as it welcomes customers back to the English high street. The new service comes as research from EE found that 1 in 3 UK consumers cannot go more than a day without their phones.
UKEE
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BlackBerry

BlackBerry Strengthens Management Team and Aligns Business Units

BlackBerry is taking steps to further align operations and go-to-market efforts to its key market opportunities as well as strengthen its management team. This follows the company's previous announcement to separately report revenues of its operating business units in the new fiscal year.
BlackBerry
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Samsung TV Plus

Samsung TV Plus launches in UK and Germany

Samsung TV Plus has launched, in the Galaxy Store and Google Play Store for select Galaxy smartphones, offering select Galaxy users instant access to 94 free channels with no need for any payments, sign-ups, subscriptions or additional devices.
TVAppsSamsungGermanyUK
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Connected

Virgin Media clocks up 2.2Gbps broadband speeds

Virgin Media has successfully delivered next-generation 2.2Gbps broadband speeds to homes in Southampton and Manchester in real-world trials. The multi-gigabit speeds – around 40 times faster than the local average broadband speeds.
ConnectedUK
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Volvo

Volvo Cars to use NVIDIA DRIVE Orin Across Fleet

Volvo Cars will use NVIDIA DRIVE Orin to power the autonomous driving computer in its next-generation cars, deepening the companies’ collaboration to even more software-defined model line-ups, beginning with the next-generation XC90, set to debut next year.
Automotive
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Stock Exchange

Canaccord Genuity upgrades BlackBerry to hold

When BlackBerry reported fourth-quarter 2021 and full fiscal year results Tuesday, the company missed quarterly and full-year revenue estimates. According to Canaccord Genuity analyst T. Michael Walkley, the miss was “primarily driven by licensing headwinds due to ongoing negotiations for the sale of part of its mobile device patent portfolio.”
FinancialBlackBerry
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cybersecurity

UK Cyber Security Council Begins Work

The UK Cyber Security Council today announced that the Formation Project to create the Council has completed, allowing the Government-mandated Council to officially become an independent entity, fully and only accountable to its Trustees.
ConnectedUK
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WWDC21

Apple will kick off WWDC21 on June 7

Apple will host its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) June 7 through 11, in an all-online format. WWDC21 is an opportunity for developers to learn about the new technologies, tools, and frameworks they rely on to build innovative and platform-differentiating apps and games.
DevelopersApple
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iOS 14

iOS 14.4.1 brings a security fix

Apple has unexpectedly released iOS 14.4.1, which fixes a vulnerability in WebKit, so that malicious web content won’t have its way. Apple describes this as “A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved validation”.
Devices and OSApple
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Competition and Markets Authority

CMA launches investigation into Apple’s App Store

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigating Apple’s conduct in relation to the distribution of apps on iOS and iPadOS devices in the UK, in particular, the terms and conditions governing app developers’ access to Apple’s App Store.
AppleUK
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eSIM

Report: Significant global eSIM growth in 2020

Data published by the Trusted Connectivity Alliance (TCA) showed 2020 had an 83% increase in eSIM shipments year-on-year, reaching 309 million units. TCA is the only organisation to provide a quantitative global view of eSIM shipments, reflecting the high representation of eSIM providers in its membership.
Opinion
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Ofcom

Ofcom proposes new seamless broadband switching plans

Following an Ofcom rule change in 2015, customers switching between providers such as BT, Sky and TalkTalk on Openreach’s copper network can already follow a process where their new provider manages the switch. But others are still left facing extra hassle to switch.
ConnectedUK
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BT Hybrid Connect

BT and EE unveil BT Halo 3+

BT has unveiled BT Halo 3+, the latest innovation in BT’s convergence story, offering what BT says is the UK’s only unbreakable wi-fi connection for the home backed up by the EE mobile network.
EEConnectedUKBT Group
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Apple Time to Walk

‘Time to Walk’ comes to Apple Fitness+

Apple today unveiled Time to Walk, a new audio walking experience on Apple Watch for Fitness+ subscribers, created to encourage users to walk more often and reap the benefits from one of the healthiest activities.
AppsApple
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Asda

Asda donating 7,000 laptops to UK schools

Asda is working with Dell to provide 7,000 laptops to schools across the UK to help those children who are at risk of falling behind in their education because they do not have the technology to take part in online lessons during lockdown.
ConnectedUKVodafone UK
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OnwardMobility

OnwardMobility has Expanded its Global Sales Team

Back in August of last year, startup OnwardMobility announced agreements with BlackBerry and FIH Mobile, a subsidiary of Foxconn, to deliver a new 5G BlackBerry Android smartphone with physical keyboard, in the first half of 2021 in North America and Europe.
NewsBlackBerry
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Microsoft

Microsoft launches 2021 Council for Digital Good

Microsoft is inviting applications for its newest Council for Digital Good, an 18-month engagement program for U.S. teens focused on understanding, recognizing and reducing digital risks and promoting safer, healthier and more respectful online interactions.
USMicrosoft
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patent trademark

MobileIron Drops Patent Extortion Claims against BlackBerry

MobileIron has agreed to drop both patent infringement and extortion claims it levelled against BlackBerry. In a four page joint filing, BlackBerry and MobileIron asked Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero to end MobileIron's case, which it filed against BlackBerry in April.
BlackBerry
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Competition and Markets Authority

CMA refers Virgin Media and O2 merger for an in-depth Phase 2 probe

UK competition regulator the CMA has referred the proposed merger of Liberty Global-owned Virgin Media and Virgin Mobile with Telefónica’s O2 for an in-depth Phase 2 probe following Virgin and O2’s request that the watchdog move quickly to this stage through a ‘fast-track’ process.
O2
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iphone-11 colours

Apple confirms iPhone Touchscreen Display module issues

Apple has confirmed that “a small percentage of iPhone 11 displays may stop responding to touch due to an issue with the display module.” The company has announced a replacement program and confirmed that affected devices were manufactured during a six-month period between November 2019 and May 2020.
Apple
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EE

EE launches same day in-store device repair service

EE has launched a same day in-store device repair service, as new research reveals half of UK consumers would rather buy a new phone than be without their device whilst it’s being repaired. The new service is available to everyone, on any network and includes the option to book appointments in advance to keep waiting time down to a minimum.
EEUK
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