Mobility

Amazon Extends Its Platform Mentality Even Further Into Devices

Yesterday Amazon unleashed a tidal wave of new products, from clocks and microwaves, to an in-car Echo, and a bevy of music devices. But what is most interesting is likely not the overwhelming quantity or specifics of every item, but the clear path Amazon continues to take in both owning and partnering within its ecosystems.

Big Screens, Big Data: The Future For Smartphones

As Apple’s annual September launch event draws closer, hearsay around device specs continues to swirl. When it comes to this year’s iPhone news, form factor sizing has risen the ranks to the most heavily speculated aspect. Assuming what is being reported is true, Apple is expected to debut devices on Wednesday with bigger screen sizes, which means accessory manufacturers are busy designing new peripherals.

Elevator Music For The Soul

I bought my first walkman-like music player when I was 16 years old. It was bigger than a Sony Walkman – in fact, clunky may be the best description – but it let me immerse myself in my music. The Stranglers, The Jam, and more travelled with me wherever I went. Indeed, I remember walking in the rain for several hours listening to Marillion's latest album, so I could truly get the peace and quiet to appreciate it. And, when I had saved up enough money, I finally bought a real Walkman with its full glory of Japanese technology miniaturization. Life was good.

Welcome Back, Triple Tap

It’s been a long time since I felt a true affinity to any of my phones. Yes, each phone comes with a slightly sharper screen and more intelligence (that I’m not sure I understand how to use), but when all is said and done, they are monolithic slabs of dullness. Until yesterday, that is, when I felt the romantic tug of a phone.

The Way of Android

While wandering the streets of Tokyo this past weekend, I came up with a theory that a city - and the people within it - is made up of alternating layers of the strange and the expected. At the most obvious level, any foreign city is filled with strange sights, smells, language and, of course, people; all of which feels increasingly alien as you move farther from wherever you consider home to be. Sometimes, the Android OS feels exactly the same to me.

Where Angels Fear To Tread

Last week, SpaceX received permission from the FCC to use spectrum to create a satellite-based broadband service known as Starlink. I can’t help but think that the timing of the deal was quite perfect – as SpaceX talked about superfast broadband from space, China’s old space station, the Tiangong-1, was hurtling out of control towards Earth, reminding us that this space stuff is not that easy, and doesn’t stay up there forever.