Chinese regulators have banned financial institutions from using Bitcoin, warning that the virtual currency could be used for illegal activities and speculation. China's central bank, the People's Bank of China, announced the decision in a statement released Thursday, though it stopped short of banning Bitcoin altogether. Individuals are still free to use the digital currency in China, albeit at their own risk. Bitcoin prices fell in response to today's announcement, dropping to as low as $970.62 on Thursday after trading at over $1,100 prior to the central bank's decision.
Google is inviting existing Glass owners to swap their existing head-mounted display for a free updated version. While the new version of Google Glass looks identical, Google says it has made it “a bit faster and more durable.” Importantly, it’s also compatible with upcoming prescription frames for the device, and is designed for new accessories including the new shades and a mono earbud that’s included with the updated version. The wearable device isn’t expected to launch for consumers until early next year, but developers who joined the Explorer program have been invited to switch to the latest Google Glass version.
China Mobile has finally signed a deal to offer Apple iPhones on its network, an agreement that took years to reach, reports the Wall Street Journal. China Mobile is the world’s largest mobile carrier, with more than 700 million subscribers, and is the last of China’s three major carriers to offer the iPhone.
Nintendo's yearlong celebration of its often-overshadowed plumber, Luigi, will continue into 2014, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime told Siliconera.On Feb. 14, Nintendo announced the Year of Luigi to mark the 30th anniversary of Luigi's debut. To finish out its time, Nintendo has a few more specials planned."There are some Year of Luigi activities that will continue into 2014 — including some of the special products that we've launched (the Luigi remote and the Mario and Luigi 3DS XL) — so there will be some Luigi products to carry the Luigi banner into the next calendar year," Fils-Aime said.
Twitter has named former Pearson CEO Marjorie Scardino as the first female member of its board, according to an SEC filing surfaced this morning. For 15 years, Scardino headed one of the largest multinational book publishers in the world, bringing Twitter much-needed media connections as it looks to expand internationally. Before Pearson, Scardino served as CEO of the Economist Group, publisher of the influential British magazine of same name.
Fast & Furious 6 actress Gal Gadot has been cast as Wonder Woman in the forthcoming Man Of Steel sequel, it has been confirmed.
Gadot, a previous winner of the Miss Israel competition, will take on the role opposite Henry Cavill's Superman and Ben Affleck as Batman, although it is yet to be confirmed whether she'll play the superhero warrior princes from the Amazon or her alter-ego Diana Prince.
Foursquare released a new version of its iOS app today sporting an all-new look for iOS 7 and a few new location-based features, including the proactive recommendations that were announced back in August.The most obvious and radical change to the app is on the home screen. The feed of check-ins, split into ‘Worldwide’ and ‘Nearby’, now takes up the entirety of the screen, stripping away the map and trending events or check-ins that used to reside in the upper third of the app.
