Today’s Tech Sightings:

Mobile Isn’t Killing the Desktop Internet

The PC is dead? No, wait, it’s not dead – yet. Pundits have been going on for years about how mobile is killing the desktop PC and how people are increasingly using their mobile phones to get online. But according to comScore, mobile use might not be taking users away from their desktops. In fact, desktop online usage could actually be growing.

The Free Service That Will Change How You Think About Security

It’s called Volksverschlüsselun. And it is a new solution from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute to provide free encryption for everyone. The service, also available as a mobile app, provides users with a private and a public key for end-to-end email encryption. The public key is published in a directory and is used when someone sends an email. The private key is needed for the recipient to decode the incoming email.

Google’s ‘Chucky’ Teddy Bear to Control the Home

A recent patent obtained by Google sent a collective shudder through the Internet. According to the patent, Google is coming up with a new set of connected toys – dolls or teddy bears with cameras and microphones that keep eye contact, interact with the user, and can control various everyday devices.

Twitter Brings Live-Streaming App Periscope to Android

Twitter’s live-streaming app Periscope hits the Android platform today. The app lets users of mobile devices watch and record broadcasts. Periscope already has surpassed one million subscribers and has been favored by celebrities and media personalities.

Google Is Developing New OS for IoT Devices

Ahead of Google’s I/O developer conference this week, rumor has it the company is working on a new operating system to power Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The OS, codenamed “Brillo,” will eventually fold under the Android banner and could run on low-powered devices with as little as 64MB of RAM, with or without a screen.

Smartphone ‘Cold War’ Seen in Asian Moves on Patent Licensing

A tightening of antitrust policies in South Korea and China could change the mobile-phone industry balance of power. The two countries are enforcing rules that will make it easier and cheaper for companies like Apple to license inventions to rivals – a move that could bolster Asian companies against foreign rivals.

The Unrealized Vision of Google Glass

What happened to Google Glass? Somewhere between the geeky look and claims of privacy intrusions – Glass faded from the radar screen. Writer Richard Nieva takes a look at the Google Glass promise and what became of the innovative product three years after it was launched.

Apple Promotes British tech guru Jonathan Ive

If you are an Apple fan, then you should know this name. British tech guru Jonathan Ives, who helped conceive the iconic look of products like the iPod, iPad and Apple Watch, confirmed his promotion as the company’s chief design officer in an interview with the Daily Telegraph.