Technology Archives – Page 3 of 4

Hyped Audio-Networking App Clubhouse Taking Off in the Czech Republic

Clubhouse is an exclusive audio communication app that has gained popularity in recent months. In the Czech Republic, it became one of the most downloaded app for iPhone this week. Clubhouse advertises itself as a “space for authentic conversation and expression.” In essence, the app offers a live, interactive podcasting experience. Users can set up virtual “rooms” (růmkách in Czech) on a topic of their choice, which anyone with an account can then join. Listeners can virtually raise their hands to chip in, but the host or hosts decide who is allowed to speak. Hundreds or even thousands tune in to discussions on popular topics or with celebrity hosts, but there is no function to chat, “like” or comment on discussions. Barbora Balášová, a young businesswoman, is also trying to direct the Czech community at Clubhouse. She got an invitation from abroad and already founded the Facebook group Clubhouse Česko. Clubhouse is an interesting platform for making new contacts. I like how interactive it is, and the connections you create there are closer than, for example, on LinkedIn. In the first week, I already feel like I’ve made new friends,” said Balášová. How to get Clubhouse invite? It’s no secret that...

by Prague Morning Jan 23, 2021

Slovak Designer Wins Top Prize for Ocean Station Prototype That Removes Plastic From the Sea

A prototype ocean cleaning facility by Slovak designer Lenka Petráková has scooped the highest award in an architectural competition for projects posing creative solutions to environmental challenges. Called The 8th Continent, the floating station designed to solve one of the world’s most pressing pollution problems: ocean plastic waste. Marine debris currently covers a surface of approximately 1.6 million square metres in the North Pacific — known as the Great Pacific garbage patch — which, as Petráková suggests, could be considered the world’s eighth continent. The 8th Continent was awarded the 2020 Grand Prix Award for Architecture and Innovation of the Sea from Foundation Jacques Rougerie, a French institute that awards visionary projects that encourage sustainable collaborations between scientists and designers. Petráková’s model consists of interconnected petal-shaped buildings that stand on tentacle-like platforms, and all work together to collect plastic debris from the water surface and transform it into recyclable material. The prototype also features a research and education centre that studies and showcases marine environments, a greenhouse where plants are grown using hydroponic cultivation — a method for growing plants without soil just using water — and living facilities for the station’s researchers. Petráková prototype is conceptualized to be self-sufficient...

by Prague Morning Jan 16, 2021

Prague Shopping Centres Switch Off Wi-Fi to Deter Teenagers

A group of shopping centres in Prague have decided to temporarily switch off their wifi in an attempt to stop students from gathering there. While rules are in place for bars and restaurants, no restrictions have been made on shopping centres. According to some shopping centre managers, this has resulted in young people using these spaces to hang out with their friends. They believe that the existence of free wifi makes it a more attractive place to spend their time. Petra Valentová, marketing manager of Westfield Chodov, explains that the network will be switched off in all centres of the Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield group, including Černý Most Center, and the Metropole Zličín. He continued: “We monitor the movement of teenagers and high school students, and in the event of non-compliance with some of the safety rules, we warn customers and seek redress on the spot.” Prague is under a state of emergency, which means that universities and secondary schools in high-risk areas are now providing distance learning. Primary schools are still asking students to come in, but with new, tighter restrictions being announced by Czech Health Minister Roman Prymula on Friday, this could change. In Prague, there have been 277 new COVID-19...

by Sian Bradley Oct 08, 2020

Confirmed: Apple to Open its First Store in Prague

More than one year ago, during the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Apple CEO Tim Cook met with Czech Republic Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. Amidst discussion of progress in the Czech economy and advancements in artificial intelligence, the Prime Minister suggested Apple establish an official retail location in Prague. This week, Apple posted a job position ad on its official website, which confirms the opening of the store. The iconic California-based company is looking for an “Apple Shop Leader” in the Czech Republic. Babiš noted that Cook was “absolutely enthusiastic” that the country has more than 500 scientists working on artificial intelligence before stating that he offered Apple to build a store in Prague. Babiš added the ideal place for the Apple Store would be the Ministry of Regional Development building in the Old Town Square, but should Apple move forward with plans, it’s not clear where the store would be located. Apple doesn’t currently operate first-party retail stores in the Czech Republic. While Apple expanded its online store to the country back in 2011, locals must still rely on a network of Apple Premium Resellers for brick and mortar sales and service. Apple stores currently operate in eleven...

by Prague Morning Aug 26, 2020

Czech Start-Up Developed Waste-Free Packaging System

The Czech start-up MIWA has developed a solution that could help reduce the amount of disposable plastic used by manufacturers

by Prague Morning Jan 08, 2020

Five Apps to Make Your Life Easier in Prague

Prague Morning has chosen 5 that will help you use your phone to its fullest extent with a local touch!

by Lidia T. Dec 06, 2019

Skoda’s First All-Electric Car Enters Production

Volkswagen Group’s plant in Bratislava witnessed the rollout of the first-ever Skoda CITIGOe iV. The electric hatchback is the first all-electric model from the Czech brand. Initially unveiled in May 2019, the mini hatchback is capable of delivering a driving range of 260km while also providing high torque and potent dynamic traits. The CITIGOe iV production commences shortly after parent Volkswagen recently began production of the ID.3 electric vehicle (EV) at their Zwickau plant. Being a small, zero-emission vehicle featuring an above-average amount of space for occupants and their luggage, the CITIGOe iV is suited for inner-city journeys. Its real-life range allows drivers to cover up to 260 km. Despite its compact external dimensions with a length of 3,597 mm and a height of 1,645 mm, there is plenty of room in the interior for four people. The city car uses a 32.2kWh lithium-ion battery that powers an electric motor pushing out 83PS and 212Nm of torque. These figures are transmitted to the front wheels helping the CITIGOe iV achieve 0 to 100kmph in 12.3 seconds. The hatchback can also be charged to 80 percent in an hour using a 40kW DC fast charger. Although fairly small, the hatchback comes...

by Petr B. Nov 29, 2019

Facebook Buys Czech VR Studio Behind Beat Saber

Facebook announced today that it will be buying Beat Games, the Czech game studio behind Beat Saber, a rhythm game that’s equal parts Fruit Ninja and Guitar Hero — with lightsabers of course. Terms were not disclosed. The company will become part of Oculus Studios but will also produce games for other platforms at their HQ in Prague. Beat Saber is described as a light-saber-endowed spin on the game Dance Dance Revolution. It is regarded as one of the more accessible titles to be produced during the VR era and is available on multiple platforms in addition to Oculus. Buying Beat Games and bringing it into the fold of Oculus Studios suggest Facebook may be interested in following the strategies Microsoft and Sony have employed as they’ve bought up small studios and funded new titles. The VR outpost of Facebook said the deal was unlikely to be a one-off. “We’re exploring many ways to accelerate VR, and we think next year is going to be an incredible one of VR game launches and announcements,” Verdu wrote. “We are thrilled to have Beat Games join our team. This is just the beginning.” Beat Games had begun expansion by partnering with musicians to...

by Prague Morning Nov 27, 2019

Foodgroot: Your App for Food Rating and Personalized Grocery Shopping

Food quality is an increasingly discussed topic in Czech society because Czechs are becoming more interested in and aware about what they eat. They could have been skeptical about certain foods entering their bodies, but they never knew for sure. And that was the biggest problem: there was no such database in which to find detailed information about most foods. Then came along Petr Václavek and his latest, innovative application— Foodgroot. Foodgroot has become the gateway in helping customers figure out from a wide range of products what is exactly in them. The app is able to learn your habits and help you choose according to what foods you just want or needs to eat, and while shopping at a store it then immediately recommends which foods are suitable for you. Moreover, it determines the overall quality, origin(s) of the food, and their impact on the environment or effect on your health. In the app, you scan the bar code of the selected food which then runs the information about its quality, origin, or environmental impact. All in maximum detail. The app rates products on over 70 parameters. “What Google did to the internet, we’re doing for the food market,” Václavek...

by Shelsea D. Nov 22, 2019

Czech Republic to Impose 7% Tax on Global Internet Giants

The Czech government has approved a plan to adopt a tax on internet giants like Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple. Joining France and some other countries, the measure would impose a 7% annual tax on companies’ digital business revenues in the Czech Republic. It would apply to companies with global sales worth more than 750 million euros and Czech revenue exceeding 100 million Czech crowns. The proposed tax covers revenue gained from targeted advertising, providing digital market places, and user data sales. The finance ministry has estimated the tax could bring in some 5 billion crowns ($216 million) a year, starting in 2020. “Internet giants do not pay taxes in our country to an extent that would match their profits, which is unfair to other companies in the Czech Republic that pay taxes,” said Finance Minister Alena Schillerová. “We have long supported the search for a common international solution, but unfortunately negotiations at EU and OECD levels will take some time. And because we can no longer wait and see the unequal competition of global giants with other entrepreneurs, we come up with our own temporary digital tax adjustment until an international compromise will be found.” The Czech Republic is following the...

by Petr B. Nov 19, 2019

All Prague Trams Škoda 15T ForCity to Get Air Conditioning

Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) will install air conditioning to all the trams Škoda 15T ForCity. The air conditioning in the Škoda 15T ForCity will work in an almost automatic mode due to the manufacturer’s settings. The driver can only increase or decrease the passenger compartment temperature. Tram windows can be opened, but this will affect efficiency. The total cost will exceed 400 million crowns. In 2011, during the administration of then-mayor Tomáš Hudeček (TOP 09), the DPP started negotiations regarding the installation of air conditioning in the passenger compartment. The tram, which is 31.4 m long and almost 2.5 m wide, has the capacity of 180 passengers – of which 61 are seated. Thanks to its ability to ride in arcs smoothly, the tram cuts travel time and speeds up traffic. This is also helped by six wide double-leaf doors which enable passengers to get on and off very quickly. They are also 100% low-floor, offering problem-free transport for passengers with reduced mobility. This is in line with Prague’s strategic priority to ensure barrier-free access throughout the city’s public transport network by 2025. At the moment, DPP is gradually launching the EMA system, which shall automatically, without the driver’s intervention, control selected functions of the vehicle, such as e.g. stops announcements, wheel and rail lubrication, reduction of speed to the prescribed value when...

by Prague Morning Nov 05, 2019

Car Sharing is Booming in Prague

Shared services thrive in the capital. The same is true of so-called carsharing. The number of cars in this segment could almost double in the coming months. The first foreign player entered the market this past spring. The Anytime multinational service first deployed a hundred cars to Prague’s streets. Now it intends to expand its fleet by another two hundred vehicles. Next year, the German Volkswagen is considering entering the Prague market with the WeShare service, whose electric car has already proved its worth in Berlin. The Hungarian GreenGo is also planning to expand this year, which will also offer around a hundred electric vehicles in the capital. According to experts, carsharing services, along with well-functioning public transport and taxis, can make part of society decide not to own a car. “In a large Prague-like agglomeration, one shared car can replace up to ten parked cars in the streets,” explains Kryštof Kruliš, Chairman of the Consumer Forum Board. Car sharing will soon find a use for small entrepreneurs, as well. At least the director of the Institute of Circular Economy Soňa Jonášová thinks so. “It is important not to try to apply these new concepts in every area and field....

by Shelsea D. Nov 04, 2019

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