Also, parking apps battle each other and the law in San Francisco, Google Glass lands in the UK, Second Life is being rebuilt from the ground up, Bono compares Apple to "a religious cult," and British Airways introduces Slow TV to some flights.
Google Enters GoDaddy's Domain
Brilliant. Let Google control absolutely aspect of online life: http://t.co/794Fuy1kKd
— Leon Paternoster (@leonpaternoster) June 24, 2014
Google has quietly launched a domain registration service, muscling in on a market currently dominated by GoDaddy. Google Domains is being tested on an invite-only basis. Interested parties can request an invite by clicking on 'Manage My Domains'.
Once fully up and running, Google Domains will allow you to buy and sell domains with no extra charge for private registrations. While Google won't be offering hosting, it has teamed up with a number of third-party website builders such as Squarespace and Weebly to simplify the process.
Google's impetus for entering this lucrative business is its own research suggesting 55 percent of small businesses still don't have their own domain. And once Google has a business in its grasp it can then start up-selling its other online products and services. Clever.
Scientists Simulate Time Travel
I'd be far more interested in time travel if I could bring air conditioning.
— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) June 19, 2014
Scientists from the University of Queensland in Australia have simulated time travel on a quantum level [Paywall], showing how individual particles of light (photons) would behave under such circumstances.
The simulation focused on a photon interacting with its older self while stuck in a closed timelike curve (CTC). The fuzzy, uncertain properties of photons means paradoxes potentially affecting macroscopic organisms such as humans can be avoided.
Which means that, on a quantum level at least, time travel isn't beyond the realms of possibility. But as this was a simulation rather than a real-world experiment, don't hold your breath waiting for Doctor Who to materialize out of thin air.
Apps Spark New Parking War In SF
http://youtu.be/tf4TIWECZ30
A new parking war has broken out in San Francisco, with apps battling each other and the city battling the very practice of helping people find parking spaces. Monkey Parking, an app which lets drivers auction off their spots, has already received a cease-and-desist, while Sweetch and ParkModo are also alleged to be breaking the law by effectively selling public parking spaces. Do we have another Uber-like game-changer on our hands here?
Google Glass Launches In The UK
http://youtu.be/Z3AIdnzZUsE
Google Glass is now available in the U.K., the first market outside the U.S. to be offered the controversial wearable tech. The Google Glass Explorer Edition is being sold through Google Play for £1,000 per pair, with a load of accessories also available for those with cash to burn. To promote the UK launch, Google is holding an event in London between June 27-28.
A New Second Life Is Being Built
http://youtu.be/FQVXl-jOKqQ
Linden Labs is building a new version of Second Life from the ground up in order to appeal to a wider audience. A beta is expected in 2015, with a full launch set for 2016. Oculus Rift support was added to Second Life in May, and virtual reality is set to be a big part of the new Second Life. Or Third Life. Whatever.
Bono Compares Apple To "A Religious Cult"
Jony Ive hanging with Bono. Tim Cook hanging with Jimmy Iovine. Apple has so jumped the shark.
— Brian S Hall (@brianshall) June 21, 2014
Many of us have been comparing Apple to a religious cult for many years, but it's taken Bono this long to realize the truth. Speaking at the Cannes Advertising Festival, the lead singer of U2 made the comparison while revealing Apple has raised $75 million for his nonprofit organization (Red). This despite the late Steve Jobs hating the parentheses around the name. Oh, (Steve Jobs), we do miss you.
British Airways Introduces Slow TV
http://youtu.be/zZ7LORizfZg
And finally, British Airways is introducing the Slow TV genre to select flights. For those unaware of Slow TV, it's a genre that details the minutiae of everyday life. Typical Slow TV fare includes footage of old people knitting, birds feeding, and sun worshippers sitting on a beach.
The first video on British Airways flights will be a seven-hour train journey between Bergen and Oslo, the first half of which is embedded above. Slow TV originated in Norway, where it remains extremely popular; the Bergen to Oslo trip attracting one million viewers in 2009.
This may all sound extremely boring but it's probably more taxing on the brain than the latest Michael Bay film. And if it sends you to sleep then it's surely a bonus.
Your Views On Today's Tech News
Are you interested in using Google Domains? Do you think time travel will ever be possible? Is Bono correct about Apple being a religious cult? Do you see the appeal of watching boring videos on long flights?
Let us know your thoughts on the tech news of the day by posting to the comments section below. Alternatively, let us know of any technology news stories we may have missed.
Image Credit: Marcin Wichary via Flickr