The absurd backdoor

China passed a controversial new anti-terrorism law on Sunday that requires technology firms to help decrypt information, but not install security “backdoors” as initially planned, and allows the military to venture overseas on counter-terror operations. Counter-terrorism efforts are beginning to be infuriating. Most countries are passing laws against encryption and privacy that for lots of

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You will no longer buy a phone. You will lease it.

Samsung is planning to launch a program for leasing its Galaxy phone hardware in the U.S. market, similar to the one Apple announced in early September. It was not difficult to see others were going to follow the new smartphone leasing trend. I see it coming for other makers as well. That will have a

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Rice won’t save your wet phone. It won’t damage it either.

Fantastic piece from The Verge that analyses the myth behind the “rice treatment” to wet phones. Three lessons learned: Never, ever, try to power on the phone after it getting wet. Wait until it dries completely. The idea is to “expel fluids out” from the phone. Rice doesn’t help, but at least “hides” the phone

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iPhone 6S/Plus will still start at 16GB, even if they now can record 4K video

Apple pricing strategy was disappointing last year: starting with a 16GB model allows them to 1) get higher profit marginsĀ and also 2) tempt/force people to avoid the 16GB and get the more expensive 64GB model. The story is about to repeat itself next week: according to trusted sources, the new iPhones will also start with

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