Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi revealed a smartphone with a difference. On Wednesday, Senior Vice President Wang Xiang tweeted a video of Xiaomi President Bin Lin with a double folding smartphone. It is just a short clip, but it is pretty cool. The clip shows a video playing on the phone, and continuing to play as the sides of the device are folded back. The screen appears to take up almost the entire front of the device. There is also a longer video on Weibo. No word from Xiaomi on when it will be available to consumers though.
Microsoft CEO Said Data Should be 'Like Electricity'
Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said data should be “democratized” and his firm is a “platform company”.
Visible is a New Prepaid Carrier Selling iPhones
Visible is a new Verizon-owned prepaid carrier, and it recently announced it will start selling iPhones at 0% APR.
As for what Visible is actually offering, you pay $40 a month for unlimited text, voice, data and hotspot usage at speeds of up to 5 Mbps. There’s no contract, no extra fees and you manage everything through an app on your phone.
I’m tempted to sign up for Visible. Last year they reached out to me to test the service but I never heard back. Time to test it on my own.
Arizona Porn Bill Would Force Consumers to Fund Border Wall
A porn bill [PDF] introduced in Arizona called the Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act would require all internet devices sold in Arizona to be installed with a porn blocker.
Amazon Launched a Pilot of its Delivery Robots
Amazon will pilot its Scout delivery robots, with six devices undertaking deliveries in Snohomish County, Washington.
Alien Blackout Game Launches Today
The terror of Alien is brought to life in Alien Blackout. Try to stay alive while trapped aboard a crippled Weyland-Yutani space station carrying a deadly Xenomorph as it tirelessly hunts you and the crew. Outsmart the perfect hunter by making perilous choices. Players must rely on the damaged controls of the space station or risk sacrificing crew members to avoid deadly contact, permanently altering the outcome of the game. Survive seven fear-inducing levels by remotely guiding Amanda Ripley’s crew through increasingly challenging tasks using only the station’s emergency systems. The uncertainty and unpredictability of both the alien and her crew can impose total defeat for Amanda and the entire station. Alien Blackout is a unique fear-inducing horror mobile game experience that will test the inner nerves of both Alien and horror fans alike, where life can end in an instant. App Store: US$4.99
New 'Original Tweeter' Tag Could Come to Twitter
Twitter is testing a tag for accounts called Original Tweeter. It would help people tell the difference between fake and real accounts.
35 Years Ago Today Steve Jobs Launched Macintosh
The Macintosh turns 35 today. Steven Jobs unveiled the product on January 24, 1984 during Apple’s annual shareholders meeting.
The original Macintosh was priced at $2,495 in the United States, equivalent to just over $6,000 today, and was a big deal because of its graphical user interface rather than command-line interface. Tech specs included an 8 MHz Motorola 68000 processor, 128 KB of RAM, and a 400 KB floppy disk drive.
Filemaker wants Everyday to be Casual Friday
Apple subsidiary Filemaker is fed up of hype. Its latest Workplace Innovation film features a firm using Filemaker to try and resolve the issue of lost deliveries. Oh, and a new, casual, office dress-code. I like the idea of cutting away from a lot of the hyperbole that accompanies tech innovation these days, and this clip is rather fun. The less said about the man-bun the better though!
Apple Just Fired 200 Project Titan Employees
In the latest shakeup of Project Titan, Apple fired 200 employees and moved others elsewhere in the company.