Online bullying can be traumatic. This is especially true for young people who often are reluctant to seek help when targeted or harassed, leaving themselves open to potential mental health issues. But an Australia-based group hopes to change that with a free mobile app called Goalzie. Goalzie is part of a four-year online campaign to […]
Android vs. iOS; Virtual Reality: Hype or Promise?
Posted February 25th, 2016 at 11:58 am (UTC-5)
Today’s Tech Sightings: Android vs iOS: The Great Security Debate Traditional thinking has it that iOS is the most secure of the mobile operating systems. That is no longer the case as more malware and other malicious software target that ecosystem. On the other hand, the fragmented Android operating system is, at best, a security […]
Worldreader Pushes Digital Literacy in Sub-Saharan Africa
Posted February 12th, 2016 at 10:25 am (UTC-5)
Mobile technology has put digital books in the hands of people in developing regions who otherwise have limited reading resources. But millions of schoolchildren in places like Africa still have few or no books to help them develop reading and writing skills. Worldreader aims to change that. Focusing mainly on Sub-Saharan Africa, Worldreader is a non-profit […]
Mobile Apps Challenge Open Web; The New Internet Digital Gap
Posted February 3rd, 2016 at 11:30 am (UTC-5)
Today’s Tech Sightings: Why Mobile Apps Are the Biggest Challenge to Internet Freedom Smartphone users spend up to 90 percent of their phone time in mobile apps. And while that may not necessarily be a bad thing, writer Matt Asay argues that it is not a healthy or open web environment if one company owns […]
Modular Devices Coming, But Don’t Hold Your Breath
Posted December 18th, 2015 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
When desktops ruled, upgrading individual computer parts instead of buying a new machine was probably the closest users ever got to having a modular PC with interchangeable parts. But in today’s mobile-driven, disposable-tech world, the only way to upgrade a smartphone is to buy a new one. “We’ve created an environment where it’s just so […]
VTech Under Fire; Apple’s Awkward Battery Case Raises Eyebrows
Posted December 8th, 2015 at 11:50 am (UTC-5)
Today’s Tech Sightings: VTech Slammed for ‘Unforgivable’ Security Lapse Toy maker VTech is in the crosshairs following the November hack attack that compromised account data for more than six million kids in the company’s app store. Some experts claim a lot of the stolen information was available online for a while before it was taken […]
Wireless-tracking Chip; Kids, Parents’ Info Hacked in VTech Products
Posted December 1st, 2015 at 12:03 pm (UTC-5)
Today’s Tech Sightings: Former BlackBerry Execs Create Wireless-Tracking Chip Developed by Cognitive Systems Corp., the chip, called R10, can pick up and analyze wireless radio signals from various devices, including routers and television remote controls. Built on top of that is Amera, a wireless tracking technology that can sense motion by detecting changes in wireless […]
Nigerians Take to Mobile for Better Media Content
Posted November 27th, 2015 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
As Nigeria’s mobile penetration continues to grow, more Nigerians are turning to smartphones and other mobile devices to get their choice of videos, entertainment and news, anytime, anywhere. Nigerians love their videos, particularly music videos. But only one-third of their viewing time is spent on television screens. More often, they prefer to watch videos on […]