In an attempt to attract more household goods shoppers, retail giant Amazon has unveiled a device that can place orders to replenish items such as washing powder and razors.
The Dash Button can be attached to appliances around the home, and when pushed, processes a delivery request.
The service will only be available to users of Amazon's premium subscription service, Prime.
The tech giant has recently focused on speeding up its ordering processes.
Prime Now, which guarantees one-hour delivery on essential daily items, is available in four US cities, and the company has also been trialling deliveries by drone.
On Monday, the firm launched Amazon Home Services, which allows customers to order professional services such as a handyman or computer technician.
The timing of Dash's launch led some to initially believe it might be an April Fool's joke. Even after it was confirmed as real, some were uncertain what to make of it.
"I'm not sure whether this is genius, or the stupidest thing Amazon has tried yet," commented John Gruber on the Daring Fireball blog.
But one expert was impressed.
"This is absolutely not a gimmick," Aidan Bocci, chief executive of the Commercial Advantage consultancy, told the BBC.
"It may have to go through iterations before it really works, but this is a way to disrupt the linkage that exists between consumption and purchase.
"People typically write a shopping list and then go to the supermarket, but this gives Amazon a way to break in before any of that happens. And it's exactly what the firm should be doing if it wants to have a different approach in the grocery sector."
Amazon hopes shoppers will use the device to replenish their cosmetics
The Surface 3 benefits from a clip-on keyboard and pen, but they must be bought as add-ons
Microsoft has refreshed its tablet line-up with a new entry-level device that runs more software, but is also more expensive than its predecessor.
The Surface 3 is powered by an Intel processor, unlike the ARM-based chip in the Surface 2.
That means it uses the Windows 8 operating system, rather than the more limited Windows RT.
Experts suggest the move could help Microsoft replicate the success of its higher-specification Surface Pro 3.
The bigger tablet, which was launched 10 months ago, features a 12in (30.5cm) screen, compared with the 10.8in display of the new Surface 3.
Shipments of Surface tablets rose from 1.8 million units in the last three months of 2013 to 2.1 million units for the same period in 2014, according to research group Canalys, with the Pro 3 accounting for the bulk of demand since it went on sale.
Microsoft's share of the tablet market has grown from 2.3% to 3.2% as a result, while Apple has seen sales of its iPad decline, although it remains the bestselling brand.
Microsoft markets the Pro 3 as "the tablet that can replace your laptop", and is using similar language for the new model.
But it will target the Surface 3 at those on tighter budgets such as students and schools, and mobile workers who may want a lighter, smaller design.
Last year's launch of the larger Surface Pro 3 helped boost sales of Microsoft's tablets
"For people that need to get stuff done, generally you need a keyboard and some people need a pen, and that's where our device plays," said Dale Perrigo, a Surface marketing manager.
"If you want a pure entertainment that's not what this device is."
The release date is 7 May.
Price shift
The basic version of the Surface 3 - featuring 64 gigabytes of storage, 2GB of RAM and an Intel Atom x7 processor - costs £419.
That is about a third lower than the £639 price tag of the cheapest Surface Pro 3, but about two-thirds more than the £259 that had been charged for the basic Surface 2, which had less storage.
Microsoft says that its touchscreen pen lets its Surface tablets be used instead of paper
The touchscreen pen and keyboard cover are not included, and add £155 to the cost.
"Because it's an Atom processor it is under-powered compared to the Pro 3, which has plenty of horsepower," commented Tim Coulling, an analyst at Canalys.
"So, it's not going to suit everyone as a notebook replacement and will be for people who only want it for lighter productivity tasks.
"But there are a lot of those people out there."
Fanless but thick
Using Windows 8 rather than Windows RT - with the offer of a free upgrade to Windows 10 when it becomes available - means the entry-level Surface gains access to more programs.
Asus's new Windows tablet is thinner but has micro USB ports rather than the more commonly used USB 3.0
The Surface 2, for example, had been unable to run the full version of Photoshop, CorelDraw, Spotify, World of Warcraft or Google Chrome.
The new model's Atom-class chip does, however, mean the Surface 3 will struggle with some processor-intensive programs - such as video editors, computer-aided design (CAD) software and graphics-intensive games - which the Pro 3 model will be more suited for.
The new tablet is fanless, but significantly thicker - at 8.7mm (0.34in) - than many of its rivals in order to incorporate a standard USB 3.0 socket.
That makes it 30% thicker than both Dell's Android-based Venue 8 7840 and Apple's iPad Air 2, and 13% deeper than the tablet part of Asus's Windows-powered Transformer Book T300 Chi.
"We optimised for a port that enables connections to the largest number of devices and peripherals possible," explained a Microsoft spokeswoman.
Apple and Google recently released computers with a smaller type of cable port that can transfer data at double the speed, called USB-C.
Google's Chromebook Pixel is one of the first computers to feature the new USB-C port
Mr Coulling said the technology could lead to slimmer Surfaces, but added that it might have been too early to adopt the technology.
"The Surface 3 would have been thinner had Microsoft included it, but then users would have had to worry about adding converters or upgrading their peripherals," he said.
"But I think it will be there in the next revision of the product."
Schools and offices
Another expert suggested the new tablets should further boost Microsoft's tablet sales, but warned they could put some of the firm's business relationships under strain.
"Right now there is a huge battle going on in the education space to ensure the next generations of users stay familiar with and loyal to Microsoft rather than solutions from Google and others," said Martin Garner from the CCS Insight consultancy.
The Surface 3 can be connected to a docking station to gain additional ports
"Microsoft is also clearly going after business users - with Office 365 bundled in, it's the sort of device companies will give to workers who are regularly on the move.
"So, the new Surface 3 is a welcome move, but it will put Microsoft into increasing competition with its partners who make Windows-powered products, such as Dell and Lenovo."
Asus will begin sales of the Chromebit computer-on-a-stick later this year
Google has announced new Chrome-powered computers, which are set to target budget-conscious consumers and schools.
The range includes a new type of device called the Chromebit, which looks like an oversized memory stick, and turns monitors and TVs into computers when plugged into their HDMI ports.
The tech firm also revealed the cheapest Chromebook laptops to date, costing $149 (£101).
The move is likely to intensify competition with Microsoft.
The announcements came less than a day after Microsoft revealed plans to sell a new entry-level tablet-laptop hybrid of its own.
Its Surface 3 costs more -$499, and £419 in the UK for the basic model - but provides access to a wider range of software made for the Windows platform.
"This is a booming sector of the market at the moment," commented Chris Green, a tech analyst at the Davies Murphy Group consultancy.
"With the falling cost of hardware, schools are looking to families to equip kids with their own computers - the idea of BYOD [bring your own device to class].
"This has prompted manufacturers to create low-cost entry-level laptops that parents then buy for their children as well as themselves."
Google has pledged not to display ads to children that use the education-related software it provides for its Chrome platform, and does not charge manufactures to use its operating system.
Microsoft's Surface 3 costs more but can be used with a touchscreen pen and run Windows software
But one expert said the company still hoped to financially benefit in the long-term.
"The key goal here for both Google and Microsoft is to put their brand and services out there in front of kids to build loyalty at a very early age," said Ronan de Renesse, a consumer technology expert at the Ovum consultancy.
"It's also a good way to to see whether or not to extend these types of devices to emerging markets, where they could be used outside education by people with very low disposable incomes."
For now, Google says the new Chromebooks and Chromebits will be limited to the US.
"We hope to make these widely available in the future, however we have nothing more to announce at this time," said a spokeswoman.
Stick computers
Chrome OS runs web-based software via the firm's Chrome browser and recently gained the ability to run a limited number of Android apps . The platform is designed to store most of its users' files in the cloud.
More than five million Chromebooks and Chromebase desktops were sold across the world last year, according to market research firm Gartner.
It forecasts that figure will grow to close to eight million units this year, and 16 million in 2018.
The Chromebits will be made by the Taiwanese manufacturer Asus.
Google said they would cost "less than $100" and go on sale before the end of the year.
Intel announced its rival Compute Stick in January
The search firm has already had success with the Chromecast, a media streaming dongle with a similar form factor.
In recent months both Intel and Hannspree have launched Windows-powered "PC-on-a-sticks", albeit at a slightly higher cost.
Such devices require their owners to provide displays, keyboards and other peripherals, but the idea is that many people will already own them.
"People seem to love the idea of having a working computer on something no bigger than a dongle that lets them do web browsing, media streaming and other tasks on a big screen, but can be out of sight, out of mind when needed," said Mr Green.
Great expectations
The two new laptops have already gone on sale.
The Asus Chromebook Flip will also go on sale shortly
The Haier Chromebook 11 is exclusive to Amazon while the Hisense Chromebook is being sold via Walmart.com.
Both feature an 11.6in (29.5cm) screen and between 8.5 to 10 hours of battery life, but keep their costs low by restricting themselves to 16 gigabytes of storage and 2GB of RAM.
Google also announced a slightly higher priced model, the Asus Chromebook Flip, whose touchscreen can be turned around. It will cost $249 when it goes on sale.
"The [ultra low-cost] sector is still a relatively small part of the entire PC market, but is growing fast, so is important," commented Mr de Renesse.
"What's key is to offer some of the lowest prices. But that has to be balanced against the fact that the US is a market with very high consumer expectation, even within schools."
Samsung and LG have agreed to try to end a lengthy legal battle, but prosecutors will have the final say
The rival manufacturers Samsung and LG have agreed to seek an end to their long-running dispute.
Each said it would withdraw legal complaints against the other and ask for leniency in continuing cases.
A war has been raging between the South Korean companies, including a battle over claims that LG staff damaged Samsung washing machines.
South Korean prosecutors refused to comment on proceedings against employees of both firms.
"Both sides have agreed to avoid legal action and resolve any future conflicts or disputes through dialogue and mutual agreement," the companies said.
LG employees admitted that Samsung appliances were damaged, but said it was accidental
Their accord raises the prospect of peace between the firms. But it does not officially resolve criminal cases brought by prosecutors.
LG appliances chief Jo Seong-jin has been indicted by Seoul prosecutors on a charge of deliberately damaging Samsung washing machines at a retail store in Germany last September.
While Samsung employees have been indicted on charges of stealing organic light-emitting diode (Oled) display panel technology from LG.
Each company has said, however, that it will withdraw its complaint and ask for leniency on behalf of the other.
The two firms have a longstanding and fierce rivalry. The bad feeling escalated when Samsung said that LG executives deliberately damaged its washing machines ahead of a major trade fair.
LG accepted that two machines were damaged, but said it was accidental and a result of poor manufacturing.
It said its employees examined the goods and that it offered to pay for four machines at one store, even though only two were damaged by them during the inspection.
After Samsung asked South Korean prosecutors to get involved, LG published surveillance video footage in an attempt to prove its employees' innocence. Samsung said the video had been heavily edited in the executive's favour.
The firms had previously argued over refrigerator capacity and which of the two has the bigger air-conditioning market share.
The agreement extends to Samsung Electronics subsidiary Samsung Display and to LG Display Co Ltd. Samsung Display employees were indicted in February on charges of stealing organic light-emitting diode (Oled) display panel technology from LG Display.
Samsung Display has said the technology was widely known in the industry and that the indictment was excessive.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' office declined to comment on the case against the LG Electronics appliances chief, and the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office declined to comment regarding its case against the Samsung Display employees.
The attack on software development site GitHub is understood to be weakening
Internet users outside China are unwittingly participating in a long-running cyber-attack on the coding site GitHub, security experts have said.
The researchers believe that the nature of the attack makes the Chinese government the only realistic source.
After five days, it was understood on Tuesday evening that the attack was decreasing in intensity.
The Chinese government said it was "odd" that it had been accused of being responsible.
GitHub said that it had first detected a large distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack - when a site is flooded with traffic, threatening to force it offline - last Thursday.
Four separate security researchers have said that international web traffic to sites that use analytics tools provided by search firm Baidu was being hijacked in China.
According to analysis published by Erik Hjelmvik of the firm Netresec, when browsers requested script from the Chinese firm's servers, as they normally would, malicious code was inserted into the reply.
"The upshot is that people from around the world... had their traffic redirected to swamp GitHub," Prof Alan Woodward of the University of Surrey told the BBC after verifying the research.
It is alleged that the attack was targeted at two pages on GitHub: one created by the anti-censorship group Greatfire.org, the other a Chinese-language edition of the New York Times.
Both are banned by the Chinese authorities.
Mr Hjelmvik's analysis was backed up by similar research published by Insight Labs, a global group of security organisations.
Their conclusions were ratified by both Rik Ferguson, from the cybersecurity firm Trend Micro, and Prof Woodward.
In a blog, Mr Hjelmvik described the attack step-by-step:
An innocent user browses the internet from outside China
One website the user visits loads an analytics script - a sequence of instructions - from a server in China, for example Baidu, something that often used by web admins to track visitor statistics
The web browser's request for the Baidu script is detected by Chinese equipment as it enters the country
A fake response is sent out from within China instead of the actual Baidu Analytics script. This fake response is a malicious script that tells the user's browser to continuously reload two specific pages on GitHub.com
The method could be used on a multitude of sites that passed into and back out of China, the researchers said.
"Any site that makes the request for a cookie related to Baidu's analytics, that request could be replaced with malicious code," said Mr Ferguson.
Visitors to sites that used Baidu analytics were being hijacked, according to researchers
Mr Hjelmvik told the BBC that, because the various internet service providers used by the foreign internet users were seeing the same results, the attacker could only be an entity with overarching control of telecommunications across China.
That, he said, made the country's authorities the most realistic suspect.
In a press conference on Monday, the Chinese foreign ministry's spokeswoman Hua Chunying was asked for her response to reports that her government was behind the attack.
"It is quite odd that every time a website in the US or any other country is under attack, there will be speculation that Chinese hackers are behind it. I'd like to remind you that China is one of the major victims of cyber attacks," she said.
Innocent internet users' browsers were being hijacked, the security researchers said
"We have been underlining that China hopes to work with the international community to speed up the making of international rules and jointly keep the cyberspace peaceful, secure, open and cooperative.
"It is hoped that all parties can work in concert to address hacker attacks in a positive and constructive manner."
The BBC understands that the attack appears to be weakening and GitHub is now said to be operating "at 100%".
A GitHub spokesman reiterated its earlier statement, highlighting that the attack was the "largest DDoS" in the site's history.
A new method of data compression could see ultra-high definition video - also known as 4K - being streamed to TVs and other devices using around 50% of the bandwidth currently needed.
V-Nova has gathered 20 large telecoms, broadcast and IT companies including Sky, Intel, and the European Broadcasting Union to back its new Perseus technology.
It could see the average home broadband speed in the UK - around 22 megabits per second (Mbps) - support three 4K streams simultaneously instead of just one.
The technique makes use of the multiple cores within processors found in today's mobile devices and smart TVs to process the picture more efficiently.
Movie streaming firm Netflix currently requests users of its 4K Ultra High Def service to have a steady 25Mbps broadband connection, with analysis of their video stream showing between 12 and 16Mbps is actually required.
V-Nova says it can deliver the same quality picture using just 7-8Mbps.
Media expert Ian Maude, from Enders Analysis, said: "This is cutting-edge technology that will be welcomed by pay TV companies, and TV manufacturers because it will help drive 4k sales.
"But there are still limiting factors to the take-up of 4K including whether networks are capable of meeting demand, having a device able to display an ultra-high definition picture, and the amount of content currently being shot in 4K.
"Ultra HD will still remain niche for some time but this technology will help."
The technology also allows HD video to be streamed to mobile phones by using a similar amount of bandwidth to that currently needed to play music.
It is hoped the new encoding technique will help social network users share video as easily as sending messages, and bring standard definition video to millions of devices in developing countries where cellular data rates make it too expensive to stream any quality of video.
The system will first be deployed in the US and several European countries this summer with UK content distributors and broadcasters introducing it before the end of this year.
Facebook says it has not been consulted over the report
Facebook has attacked a report that said its privacy policy may be in breach of EU laws.
The report, produced last month by academics at the request of the Belgian privacy commission, said that the site tracks people without their consent.
An annexe to that report, published last week, added details of Facebook's tracking and prompted fresh criticism.
Facebook said the report was "inaccurate" and complained that it was not contacted before its publication.
"This report contains factual inaccuracies," a spokesperson said.
"The authors have never contacted us, nor sought to clarify any assumptions upon which their report is based. Neither did they invite our comment on the report before making it public.
"However, we remain willing to engage with them and hope they will be prepared to update their work in due course."
The report's authors have said that they stick by their findings.
"To date, we have not been contacted by Facebook directly nor have we received any meeting request," Brendan Van Alsenoy and Gunes Acar said.
"We're not surprised that Facebook holds a different opinion as to what European data protection laws require.
"But if Facebook feels today's releases contain factual errors, we're happy to receive any specific remarks it would like to make."
No opt-outs
Facebook is regulated by the Irish Data Commissioner and says it has passed two audits of its data protection policies.
On 27 March, the report's authors - who include researchers from KU Leuven university and Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium - published a separate paper about Facebook's use of plug-ins to track people.
A plug-in, such as the follow button that Facebook provides to direct users to a company's Facebook page from its own website, can also act as a tracker, following the sites a person visits.
However, many online companies use plug-ins, as well as cookies, for tracking internet use.
Facebook was also criticised for not offering opt-outs on location data collations.
The authors said this may put Facebook in breach of EU laws that demand explicit consent from individuals for website tracking and the use of cookies.
'Too much burden'
Facebook updated its policies in January but the researchers said the changes were not significant.
"To be clear: the changes introduced in 2015 weren't all that drastic," they wrote in their original paper.
"Most of Facebook's 'new' policies and terms are simply old practices made more explicit."
The terms stated that Facebook could track its users across websites and devices, use pictures uploaded for commercial purposes and collate location data.
The report also claimed that the platform "places too much burden" on site members by presenting them with a "complicated web" of settings.
Facebook, however, has defended its approach.
"Cookies have been an industry standard for more than 15 years," said a spokesman.
If people want to opt out of seeing advertising based on the websites they visit and apps they use, they opt out through the EDAA [European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance], whose principles and opt out we and more than 100 other companies comply with.
"Facebook takes this commitment one step further: when you use the EDAA opt out, we opt you out on all devices you use and you won't see ads based on the websites and apps you use."
Cern scientists have become adept users of The Force since its discovery
The Force - the mysterious energy field used by the Jedi in Star Wars - has been discovered by researchers at the Cern laboratory.
The European research centre announced its spoof discovery with pictures showing its scientists using The Force in everyday life.
It was one of many April Fools jokes seen on websites around the world.
Others included a selfie shoe, driverless pizza delivery and thought-powered web search.
"The Force is what gives a particle physicist his powers," said Cern scientist Ben Kenobi of the University of Mos Eisley, Tatooine in a press release.
Many scientists at the centre were already using The Force, said the release, to communicate over long distances, influence minds and for "lifting heavy things out of swamps".
Microsoft used the background image for its main Bing search page to tout its April Fools joke in which it claimed the search system could read palms and minds to ensure people got the results they really wanted.
Anyone could try thought-powered search by putting their right hand on a screen where the Bing homepage indicated.
"The innovative new search function intelligently analyses the electrical signals transmitted through the hand to calculate the relevant search term," said the software firm.
Many other firms and sites produced spoof announcements and products for 1 April.
Microsoft's Bing can read nerve impulses to improve search results
Smartphone maker Samsung produced a spoof page for a Blade edge version of its Galaxy smartphone that, it claimed, was designed for cooks. The limited edition handset incorporates a diamond-edged blade so the phone can also be used to chop food when it is not being used for calls, texts, or browsing the web.
HTC joined in with fake product pages for the Re-Sok - the "world's first truly smart sock". The technology-enhanced footwear is engineered with GPS so pairs of socks can easily find each other and have an automatic hole warning system to alert owners when their intelligent footwear is running thin.
For its April Fools parody, Motorola went to the trouble of making a lavish video showing two craftsmen producing selfie-sticks out of wood and leather.
New York-based footwear maker Miz Mooz joined in and produced a pair of shoes that have smartphone docking ports in each toe so each one can be used to take selfies.
Other parodies included cab-calling firm Hailo introducing piggy-back rides around cities; Domino's pizza introducing a driverless pizza delivery system using autonomous scooters; BMW making the ultimate rugby mouth guard and Sony making a wearable add-on for the PlayStation so players can take part in games when they are swimming.
US President Barack Obama has ordered the creation of a programme that would allow the government to sanction foreign hackers.
The US Treasury will now be able to target those attempting cyber attacks on US assets and infrastructure.
Mr Obama said cyber-threats are "one of the most serious economic and national security challenges" that the US faces.
The White House did not announce any new sanctions, only the authority to impose them when it deems necessary.
In January, the US imposed new sanctions on North Korea in response to a cyber-attack against Sony Pictures.
The new programme is the product of an executive order issued by the president on Wednesday.
The authorisation gives the US Treasury Secretary - in coordination with the Attorney General and Secretary of State - the ability to sanction "individuals or entities" that pose a cyber threat to the "national security, foreign policy, or economic health or financial stability of the United States," Mr Obama said in a statement issued by the White House.
A masked hacker, part of the Anonymous group, hacks the French presidential Elysee Palace website in 2012.
Mr Obama created the new authorisations because of the "unusual and extraordinary threat" from cyber-attacks that the US faces from beyond its borders, the White House said.
"Today's Executive Order allows us to expose and financially isolate those who hide in the shadows of the Internet to conduct malicious cyber activities," US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said.
Officials at the White House and the Treasury Department stress that the tool will not be used to target free speech on the internet or to curtail digital innovation.
They also say that this new authority will not replace traditional law enforcement responses to cyber threats. Instead, it is another tool for combating the threats when they originate from places with weak cyber security laws, or that have otherwise eluded traditional responses.
Mr Obama's Special Assistant and Cyber Security Coordinator Michael Daniel said the tool is "not one that we are expecting to use every day, in most cases our diplomatic and law enforcements tools will be the ones we turn to first."
US officials are particularly concerned with cyber threats originating from China and a select few other countries, that they say are capable of mounting large-scale cyber attacks. They fear that these attacks could shut down the electrical grid or other critical systems.
In recent years, several major US retailers have been victims of data breaches that compromised the financial data of customers.
In December, Sony Pictures was initially forced to pull its comedy The Interview from theatres after hackers released the personal data of its employees and embarrassing emails written by executives. The hackers also threatened violence at cinemas. Sony eventually decided to release the film in theatres and online.
The White House blamed North Korea for the attacks on the movie studio and later imposed sanctions on the reclusive country.
Officials complained about Blood-C featuring a scene in which blood appeared to "spurt" into the lens
Some of China's biggest video streaming sites have been warned that they face punishment after failing to remove explicit Japanese cartoon video clips.
China's Ministry of Culture said the firms had hosted anime that glorified violence and terrorism, and contained "vulgar" erotic elements.
Net firms Baidu, Tencent and Youku were among those named as offenders.
The announcement coincides with the introduction of wider restrictions on the use of foreign online clips.
China's Ministry of Culture announced plans to punish the firms, at a news conference
Streaming sites now require publication licences to be able to add other countries' TV series and movies, which will be judged by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) on an individual basis. Unregistered clips must also be removed.
The official news agency Xinhua has noted that local TV stations rarely screen imported series because they are supposed to favour domestic productions.
Three specific examples of indecent anime cartoons are mentioned in a statement posted to the Ministry of Culture's website:
High School of the Dead was accused of being too sexually suggestive
Blood-C, a series about a sword-wielding teenage girl who fights monsters in her town. It is accused of containing a "particularly bloody" beheading scene that would cause "extreme discomfort"
Terror in Resonance, a series involving two teenagers who carry out a terrorist attack with a nuclear weapon. Officials said this glorified violence and criminal activities
High School of the Dead, a show about a group of students struggling to survive in a world overtaken by zombies. The programme, which was given a certificate 15 when released in the UK, is accused of being borderline-pornographic
The ministry noted that 12 offending clips on Todou alone had attracted more than one million hits.
The firms involved have been told they will learn what penalties they face at a later stage.
Officials also announced plans to issue a "blacklist" of banned content to help the firms meet their obligations.
The move was attacked by an editorial published on Shenzhen-based news site Qianzhan.com, which questioned why adult-themed content could not be restricted to the over-18s, as is the case in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Beijing is engaged in wider efforts to restrict what foreign online content its citizens can access, via the use of a system known as the Great Firewall of China.
But one expert suggested the fact anime had been singled out for criticism, might feed into specific concerns about the spread of that genre.
"The sexualisation of child-like women may be a legitimate concern to the Chinese government," said Professor Leslie Young from the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business.
