Apple introduced its latest iPhones, including the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and the iPhone X, featuring wireless charging and facial recognition. Google purchased a portion of HTC for $1.1 billion to bolster its smartphone business and is contesting a €2.4 billion EU fine for allegedly favoring its shopping service in search results. Slack's valuation reached $5.1 billion after a $250 million investment, primarily from SoftBank's Vision Fund. Bitcoin's value recovered to $4,000 after a significant drop due to the Chinese government's crackdown on bitcoin exchanges.

Apple unveiled its latest product range, including the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X, which features an edge-to-edge display and facial recognition software. Google is appealing a significant fine from the EU and has acquired part of HTC for $1.1 billion. Helen Merriott from EY discussed the use of technology in the retail space.

The article discusses the ongoing disputes between tech giants Amazon and Google, which have resulted in a lack of YouTube support on Amazon Fire TV devices. It also touches on Facebook's efforts to become more child-friendly and YouTube's initiative to clean up its platform. Additionally, the article mentions the persistent news around bitcoin, suggesting that it remains a topic of interest in the current week. The focus is on the tech industry's latest developments and the conflicts between major companies, as well as the broader implications for users and the market.

This week's top technology news includes significant UK tech investments, a major acquisition, and innovative product modifications. Liverpool-based LivingLens raised £1.3m, PropTech startup Goodlord secured £7.2m, and Evrythng closed a $24.8m Series B round. Simply Business is being sold to The Travelers Companies for $490m. A report highlights the growing cyber threat to UK businesses. Internationally, Google Ventures founder Bill Maris is creating a $100m health and biotech-focused venture capital fund. The car maintenance app Engie is featured as the Download of the Week. Additionally, a tech enthusiast transformed his Amazon Echo into a talking skull.

The UK ranked second globally for tech exits in 2016, with notable exits including Skyscanner and MyOptique Group. Trussle raised £4.5m in a Series A round, while Spoke and Idea Drop also secured significant investments. Zoopla acquired Hometrack for £120m. Internationally, Airbnb offered free accommodation to those affected by Trump's immigration ban. The download of the week is JigTalk, a blind dating app, and Royal Mail introduced 'Realmoji', a concept to send real-life emoji equivalents as gifts.

In 2008, amidst the financial crisis, a paper by Satoshi Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin, a decentralized digital currency, aiming to bypass traditional financial institutions and government control. This innovation emerged as a response to the global economic turmoil and loss of faith in governmental financial management. Bitcoin's creation marked a significant milestone in blockchain technology, highlighting its potential to revolutionize the financial landscape.

The article humorously recaps the funniest moments from the US election, highlighting satirical takes on Donald Trump by John Oliver, the viral fame of Ken Bone, and memorable sketches from Saturday Night Live. It also touches on Gary Johnson's infamous Aleppo gaffe and Hillary Clinton's dance moves on The Ellen Show. Despite the toxic and contentious nature of the election, the article finds comedic relief in the events leading up to election day.

In 2008, the financial crisis led to a loss of faith in government-managed money. In November of the same year, Satoshi Nakamoto published a paper on The Cryptography Mailing List introducing Bitcoin, a decentralized digital currency. This article explores the history and impact of Bitcoin, highlighting its emergence as a significant application of blockchain technology.

The article provides an overview of the highlights from the Bitcoin2014 conference, which took place in Amsterdam on May 16th and 17th, 2014. The conference was a significant event for those interested in cryptocurrency, technology, and finance, bringing together enthusiasts, experts, and industry leaders to discuss the future of Bitcoin and its impact on the global financial landscape. The article likely covers key speeches, panel discussions, and announcements made during the conference, although specific details are not provided in the text snippet.

Democrat Jared Polis has started accepting Bitcoin for his re-election campaign following the FEC's approval of Bitcoin donations for political campaigns. Polis, a vocal advocate for digital currencies in Congress, responded to Senator Joe Manchin's call for a Bitcoin ban with a satirical letter suggesting a ban on physical dollars. Polis' campaign, Jared Polis for Congress, is among the first to accept digital currency donations. Republican entrepreneur Paul Dietzel also announced his acceptance of Bitcoin donations for his congressional campaign.

More than 40 independent and local shops in the UK are now accepting bitcoin through We Deliver Local, a UK-based e-commerce solution. The company allows customers to buy products online from local shops and provides a delivery service. We Deliver Local's director, Lee Parkinson, highlights the benefits for both local shops and the bitcoin community, noting increased traffic and customer engagement. The company, launched in April 2013, is expanding its network across major UK cities.

A panel at London's O2 venue, comprising bitcoin enthusiasts and sceptics, discussed various aspects of cryptocurrency, including security, education, and regulation. The event, titled 'How Bitcoin Can Fight Back Against the Hackers and Recent Setbacks', was co-organised by CoinScrum, Firestartr.co, and HardBTC.org. Despite technical issues and a reduced panel size, Chris Ellis, Ben Dyson, Gautam Dhillon, and Simon Dixon covered topics from security concerns in the wake of the Mt. Gox incident to the responsibilities of entrepreneurs in increasing bitcoin adoption. The debate also touched on the nature of bitcoin as a prototype and the potential for a multitude of cryptocurrencies to exist.

Global Bitcoin ATM has introduced the first two-way Robocoin bitcoin ATM in Europe, located at Worldwide Connection in central London. Despite challenges in delivery, co-founder Jean Paul sees it as a great business opportunity. The machine features advanced security measures and charges a 7% commission. Competition in London's Bitcoin ATM market is heating up, with FutureCoin's Lamassu machine already in place and SatoshiPoint planning to enter soon. The presence of multiple ATMs is expected to benefit the bitcoin ecosystem in the city.

In 2012, Max Albrecht, a student at Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany, created a low-tech bitcoin vending machine as an art installation. This machine, which converted €1 coins into bitcoin, was inspired by the financial crisis and aimed to address the instability of the euro. Albrecht's machine allowed users to send bitcoin to WikiLeaks, circumventing blocks by Mastercard and PayPal. Despite the rise of advanced bitcoin ATMs by companies like Robocoin and Lamassu, Albrecht's simple, non-hackable machine remains unique. He plans to install a version in Zurich and may incorporate QR codes and paper wallets.

Consumers in the UK can now use cryptocurrencies to buy gift cards for major online retailers through Pock.io, a service launched in January. Pock.io, led by CEO Rusty Nash, aims to make digital currencies more mainstream in the UK and plans to expand across Europe and North America. The service accepts multiple cryptocurrencies and has zero percent commission. Pock.io recently removed Apple from its gift card selection due to a controversial decision by Apple and is working on adding more merchants, including a major UK supermarket.