CrackGate: Why I Cancelled My iPhone Duo Order and Switched to the iPhone 18 Pro Max

I was going to buy the iPhone Duo. I had the order page bookmarked. My credit card was ready. As an iOS developer who has been building apps since 2014, I don't just want the latest Apple device — I need it. Every new form factor means updating my apps, testing new screen sizes, and making sure everything works. The iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable, was supposed to be my next daily driver.

Then the screens started cracking. Three days after launch. And I cancelled my order.

I switched to the iPhone 18 Pro Max instead. Here's why — and why you should probably wait before buying an iPhone Duo too.

My History with iPhones (It Goes Way Back)

I've been reviewing iPhones on this site since the beginning. My first iPhone review in 2009 covered the iPhone 3G — I even wrote about jailbreaking it and the wild idea of installing Linux on it, because of course I did. I compared the iPhone 5 against the Galaxy S3 and Nokia Lumia 920 back when Windows Phone was still trying to be a thing. I pitted the iPhone 6 Plus against the Nexus 6 and Galaxy Note 4 in the original phablet wars. I even argued that the Samsung Galaxy S2 was better than the iPhone 4S and made the case for choosing Android over iPhone - back when I was still a Linux purist who viewed Apple with deep suspicion.

Then I became an iOS developer, bought a MacBook, and never looked back. The irony writes itself.

Point is: I've been through every major iPhone evolution. I've seen the good launches, the bad launches, and the "Apple Maps in 2012" launches. What's happening with the iPhone Duo right now reminds me of that last category — except the stakes are much higher when the defect physically breaks your $1,999 device.

What the iPhone Duo Gets Right

Let me be clear: on paper and in early reviews, the iPhone Duo is a remarkable piece of engineering. Apple made people wait years for a foldable, and when they finally delivered, they delivered big.

1. The displays are stunning.

The 7.6-inch inner Super Retina XDR OLED is the largest screen Apple has ever put in an iPhone — 50% bigger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The 5.4-inch cover display covers 90% of the iPhone 18 Pro's screen area, making it a fully usable phone even when closed. Both panels hit 120Hz and 3,000 nits peak brightness.

2. The crease is nearly invisible.

Apple's nano-texture matte finish on the inner display hides the fold line better than any foldable I've seen. Reviewers consistently praised this — you can barely see the crease, and you can't feel it. Samsung should be taking notes.

3. The hardware is premium.

Grade 5 titanium frame, A20 Pro chip (same as the iPhone 18 Pro), 12GB of RAM, up to 2TB of storage, IP68 rating, and a 4,883 mAh battery. The hinge uses over 100 components. When folded, it's roughly passport-sized at 84.1 x 117.8 x 11.3mm. Unfolded, it's just 5.2mm thin — the thinnest iPhone ever.

4. The cameras are solid.

Dual 48MP rear sensors with Photonic Engine, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 5, and computational photography features. The "Duo Preview" feature uses the cover screen to show your subject a live preview while you photograph them. Clever.

5. Apple Pencil support is coming. 

A 7.6-inch foldable that fits in your pocket and supports Apple Pencil input? For note-taking and document markup, genuinely compelling.

6. iOS 27's foldable optimizations are thoughtful.

Multitasking on the inner display, app continuity between screens, and fold-specific camera modes. Apple clearly thought this through on the software side.

Tom's Guide said Apple "nailed it" and "put everyone else on notice." Under normal circumstances, I'd agree. But circumstances aren't normal.

CrackGate: The Problem Nobody Saw Coming

The iPhone Duo went on sale October 23 — last Thursday. Within hours, reports started appearing on Reddit, MacRumors forums, and X from owners whose inner screens had cracked along the hinge.

This isn't a scratch. This isn't cosmetic wear. The inner display physically cracks down the center line of the hinge, producing a visible fracture and a horizontal band of bright, stuck pixels across one side of the screen. The device becomes unusable.

Here's what I've gathered from investigating Reddit, Apple community forums, X, and reporting from MacRumors, 9to5Mac, The Verge, PhoneArena, and The National News:

1. The damage pattern is identical across all affected units.

A vertical crack along the hinge center, followed by a line of dead or bright pixels. This isn't random breakage from drops. It's a specific, repeatable failure mode — which makes it far more concerning than isolated bad luck.

2. It happens shockingly fast.

An Australian owner reported his screen cracked after fewer than 20 opens — roughly six hours of ownership. He described feeling something near the hinge under the screen, then hearing "an audible crack." Others report it happening during the initial setup process. Some demo units in Chinese Apple Stores cracked before customers even touched them.

3. The leading theory: a defective hinge batch.

According to 9to5Mac, the working explanation is that a hinge component is slightly misaligned in certain production units, pushing upward into the inner display as the device opens. Max Weinbach examined a friend's broken Duo on X and identified a specific mid-hinge part that appeared to have snapped and pierced the display panel.

4. Dust is getting past the IP68 seal.

JerryRigEverything's Zach Nelson found during durability testing that dust entered the hinge mechanism despite the IP68 rating. Dust particles trapped in a folding mechanism that applies pressure to a flexible display is a recipe for exactly the kind of cracking people are experiencing.

5. The scale is growing.

9to5Mac counted about ten unique verified instances by Saturday. The iPhone Duo subreddit has a pinned "CrackGate" thread collecting reports from five countries. PhoneArena ran a headline saying iPhones Duos are "breaking left, right, and center." The consistency of the failure pattern strongly suggests a manufacturing batch issue rather than random user damage.

6. Replacement isn't always smooth.

While Apple Stores have been replacing affected units, one US customer reported on X that T-Mobile told them parts won't be available until January. PhoneArena reported a case where Apple initially refused to honor the warranty on a device that broke after just three hours. Apple's parts list shows no separate hinge component — the hinge and screen are replaced as a single unit, likely meaning a $999 out-of-warranty repair.

7. Not every unit is affected.

Joanna Stern of The Wall Street Journal ran a folding machine that opened and closed an iPhone Duo over 32,000 times without cracking. Multiple reviewers with early units had no issues. This points to a manufacturing batch problem — but that's cold comfort if your $1,999 unit came from the bad batch.

My Apps Are Already Duo-Ready (Even If I'm Not Buying One Yet)

Here's the developer side of this story: regardless of whether I personally own an iPhone Duo, my apps need to work on it. I've already updated several of my iOS apps to support the Duo's foldable display, including LawPH  - my Philippine legal reference app for law students and legal professionals. The layouts adapt properly to both the 5.4-inch cover screen and the 7.6-inch inner display, with smooth app continuity when you fold and unfold.

If you do buy an iPhone Duo and your screen doesn't crack, my apps are ready for you.

Why I Switched to the iPhone 18 Pro Max

The iPhone 18 Pro Max shares the same A20 Pro chip, the same camera system (with a better telephoto), and runs the same iOS 27. It has a proven form factor with zero moving parts that can crack your screen on day one. It costs $800 less. And it'll be the device I develop and test on daily without worrying whether today is the day my $1,999 investment spontaneously fractures.

For testing the Duo's foldable layout, Xcode's simulator works fine. That's what simulators are for.

My Advice: Wait

If you're planning to buy an iPhone Duo, here's my honest recommendation as someone who has been reviewing iPhones on this site since 2009: wait.

Not forever. Not because the device is bad — the underlying engineering is genuinely impressive. Wait because:

1. CrackGate needs resolution first.

Apple hasn't publicly acknowledged the problem. Until they confirm whether it's a batch issue, a design issue, or something else, you're gambling $1,999 on the possibility that your unit isn't from the bad production run.

2. Even a free replacement costs you time and sanity.

Let's say Apple immediately swaps your broken Duo — great. You still dealt with a broken $1,999 phone, made a trip to an Apple Store (or shipped it), spent hours restoring your data and setting up a new device, and now carry the lingering anxiety of wondering whether the replacement has the same defect. Peace of mind has value, and right now, the iPhone Duo doesn't offer it.

3. First-gen foldables always improve.

Samsung's original Galaxy Fold in 2019 had screen failures so severe they delayed the launch and redesigned it. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 was dramatically better. Apple's second-generation Duo will almost certainly have a refined hinge, improved durability, and CrackGate lessons baked into the design.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is excellent. Same chip, same software, proven reliability, $800 cheaper. It'll serve you perfectly while Apple sorts out its foldable growing pains.

I say this as someone who loves early adoption. I bought a Tesla in the Philippines before service centers reached my island. I run local AI on an old Mac Mini with 8GB of RAM. I bought a VinFast VF3 knowing its charger infrastructure was shaky. I'm not afraid of first-gen products. But even I know when to wait — and a $1,999 device with screens cracking on day one is a clear "wait" signal.

Apple will fix this. They always do. But let them fix it before you hand over your money.

— Jun

The Age of AI: Exciting Times Ahead for Humanity… If We Do It Right

A paralyzed British Army veteran is raiding dungeons in World of Warcraft using nothing but his thoughts. A robot that learned to fold laundry by watching YouTube videos is now building BMWs. An AI designed a drug compound in weeks that would have taken human researchers a decade. And a car drove itself across San Francisco without a human touching the wheel.

All of this happened in the last twelve months.

We are living through the most concentrated period of technological advancement in human history, and it's moving so fast that breakthroughs that would have dominated headlines for weeks now get a single news cycle before the next one lands. If you're a tech enthusiast — and if you're reading TechSource, you probably are — this is the most exciting time to be alive.

But excitement and anxiety are not mutually exclusive. The same AI that designs life-saving drugs can also design cyberweapons. The same robots building cars could eventually displace the workers who used to build them. The same brain-computer interface restoring a veteran's digital life raises questions about who controls the data flowing from your neurons.

This is the duality of 2026: the future is arriving faster than we can process it, and whether it's wonderful or terrible depends entirely on the choices we make right now.

The Breakthroughs That Should Blow Your Mind

1. Robots are no longer science fiction.

I wrote about this in detail in my recent post on Linux-powered robots, but it bears repeating: humanoid robots are now building cars in BMW factories, stocking shelves in Amazon warehouses, and approaching consumer pricing. Tesla's Optimus Gen 3 entered production in January. Unitree filed a $610 million IPO with 335% revenue growth. You can pre-order a home robot for $499 a month. Prices have dropped from $85,000 to $1,400 in three years. The "robot butler" that every sci-fi movie promised us is no longer a fantasy — it's a product roadmap.

2. Self-driving is quietly becoming real.

While most people are still debating whether self-driving cars work, Waymo is completing over 200,000 paid rides per week across multiple US cities. Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is navigating city streets, handling intersections, and making lane changes with increasing competence. The technology isn't perfect — it still requires human supervision — but the trajectory is undeniable. Within 3-5 years, the question won't be whether autonomous vehicles work, but whether humans should still be allowed to drive manually given how much safer the machines are becoming.

3. Neuralink is giving paralyzed people their digital lives back.

This one hits different. Twelve patients have now received Neuralink's N1 brain implant. Jon Noble, a British Army veteran paralyzed from the shoulders down after a car accident, received his implant in December 2025. Within weeks, he was controlling a MacBook cursor with his thoughts. By day 100, he was playing World of Warcraft using only his brain-computer interface. He described the experience as "science fiction that somehow became my everyday reality."

In May 2026, Neuralink achieved another milestone: implanting electrode threads through the brain's dura membrane without removing it — a less invasive procedure that could make the surgery safer and faster. The company is targeting high-volume production and near-fully automated surgical procedures this year, with Musk aiming for 1,000+ implants in 2026. Competitor Synchron is taking a different approach entirely, threading its device through blood vessels to avoid brain surgery altogether — lower signal quality, but dramatically lower risk.

The implications extend far beyond helping paralyzed patients (though that alone would be enough to justify the technology). If brain-computer interfaces can decode thought into digital action, the long-term possibilities — restoring speech, treating neurological disorders, even augmenting human cognition — are staggering.

4. AI is rewriting medicine and longevity research.

The global anti-aging market surpassed $85 billion in 2025, and for the first time, the science is keeping pace with the money. AI platforms are accelerating drug discovery at unprecedented speed. Insilico Medicine — an AI-driven biotech company that went public in Hong Kong in December 2025 — formed the industry's first Longevity Board in April 2026 to oversee AI-enabled aging research. Eli Lilly paid $115 million upfront (with up to $2.63 billion in milestones) for rights to develop therapeutics from Insilico's AI platform.

The numbers are striking: AI-discovered drug compounds show 80-90% Phase I success rates, compared to the historical average of 40-65%. Senolytic therapies that clear damaged cells from the body are showing strong clinical results. Low-dose rapamycin studies continue to demonstrate promising longevity effects. AI-designed compounds achieved a 70% hit rate in validating lifespan extension in laboratory organisms. Many researchers now believe adding 10-20 healthy years to the human lifespan is achievable within the next two decades.

We're not talking about immortality. We're talking about spending more of your life being healthy, active, and functional — dying at 95 feeling like 70 instead of dying at 75 feeling like 95. As someone who has run marathons and an ultramarathon and become deeply invested in personal health, this is the AI application that excites me most.

The Part Where I Stop Smiling

Now here's the thing about powerful technology: it doesn't come with a moral compass. A hammer builds houses and breaks skulls with equal indifference. AI is the most powerful hammer humanity has ever created, and the skull-breaking potential is keeping a lot of very smart people up at night.

1. Cybersecurity is becoming an AI-vs-AI arms race. 

Global cybersecurity spending surged past $240 billion in 2026 — up 12.5% from last year — and it's still not enough. AI has "democratized high-level hacking," enabling attackers to craft realistic phishing emails, generate deepfakes indistinguishable from real people, and create self-modifying malware that evolves to evade detection. Anthropic (the company behind Claude, the AI I use daily) published a report analyzing 832 banned malicious accounts and found that AI significantly amplifies attacker capabilities while making attacks increasingly autonomous.

The scariest development: autonomous cyber agents that can scan networks, exploit vulnerabilities, and make tactical decisions independently — at machine speed. These aren't theoretical. They exist now. Palo Alto Networks notes that autonomous AI agents already outnumber human operators 82:1 in some enterprise environments. One forged command from a deepfake "CEO doppelganger" can trigger an automated chain reaction before any human notices something is wrong. Organizations using AI-driven security detect breaches 98 days faster than those relying on manual methods, but the attackers are using the same AI to move faster too. It's an arms race with no finish line.

2. Autonomous weapons are no longer hypothetical.

Military AI systems capable of identifying, targeting, and engaging threats without human intervention are in active development by multiple nations. The same computer vision that lets a Tesla identify a pedestrian can let a drone identify a target. The same neural networks that help a robot learn to fold laundry can help a weapons system learn to navigate a battlefield. The ICRC has called for international regulation of autonomous weapons, but progress has been glacial while the technology accelerates.

3. Robots in your kitchen sounds great until it doesn't.

The same humanoid robot that helpfully carries your groceries is a 125-pound bipedal machine running on software in your home. Software has bugs. Networks get hacked. As any Linux user who has experienced a kernel panic can tell you, "it runs on software" is not always reassuring. What happens when a home robot malfunctions? What happens when someone hacks a fleet of delivery robots? What happens when the AI controlling a warehouse robot makes a decision that injures a human worker? These aren't paranoid fantasies — they're engineering problems that need to be solved before we put these machines in every household.

4. Job displacement is real and accelerating.

AI can now write code, generate marketing copy, create images, compose music, handle customer service, analyze legal documents, and diagnose medical images. Each of these capabilities threatens jobs held by real people. The optimistic view is that AI creates new jobs to replace the ones it eliminates. The realistic view is that the transition will be painful, uneven, and particularly hard on people without the resources to retrain. History tells us that technological revolutions ultimately create more prosperity — but history also tells us that the "ultimately" part can take decades, and the people caught in the transition often suffer.

5. The concentration of power problem.

The companies building the most capable AI systems — OpenAI, Google, Meta, Anthropic, and a handful of others — are accumulating an unprecedented concentration of technological power. The compute required to train frontier models costs hundreds of millions of dollars, creating a barrier to entry that effectively limits who gets to shape the future of intelligence itself. Open-source models (which I wrote about in my Ollama post are a crucial counterweight, but the gap between open-source and frontier models remains significant.

Doing It Right

So how do we navigate this? How do we capture the upside — the cured diseases, the restored mobility, the extended lifespans, the freed-up human potential — without the downside consuming us?

I don't pretend to have all the answers. But after nearly two decades of writing about technology on this site, watching Linux go from underdog to dominant, watching Bitcoin go from joke to asset class, and watching AI go from academic curiosity to civilization-altering force, I've noticed a pattern: the technologies that serve humanity best are the ones that are open, transparent, and distributed rather than closed, opaque, and concentrated.

Open-source AI matters. Regulatory frameworks that move at the speed of the technology (not the speed of government) matter. International cooperation on autonomous weapons matters. Investing in workforce transition programs before the displacement hits matters. Ensuring that brain-computer interface data is owned by the patient, not the company, matters.

The technology itself is neither good nor evil. It's a mirror that reflects the intentions of whoever wields it. The same AI that can generate a deepfake to steal millions can generate a drug compound to save millions. The difference is governance, ethics, and the choices we make as a society about what we build and who gets to control it.

The View from Home

I'm writing this from a small town in Bohol, Philippines. I have solar panels on my roof, a Starlink dish for internet, a Mac Mini running open-source AI in my living room, and a Tesla Model Y L now in my garage. I track my health with a Garmin and an Apple Watch. I build iOS apps using AI-assisted tools. I've been blogging about technology since 2007.

From where I sit, the age of AI feels like every other technological revolution I've witnessed and written about — thrilling, terrifying, and utterly dependent on the humans involved. Linux won because it was open and people built on it collectively. Bitcoin survived because decentralization made it resilient. The technologies that endure are the ones that empower people rather than control them.

AI will be the defining technology of our lifetime. It will cure diseases we thought were untreatable. It will give paralyzed veterans the ability to play video games with their minds. It will put robots in our factories and eventually our homes. It will extend human lifespans and redefine what it means to age. It will also be weaponized, exploited, and misused in ways we can't fully predict.

Exciting times ahead for humanity. If we do it right.

— Jun

What Tech Lovers Can (and Cannot) Expect from Microsoft's New CEO

Microsoft appointed Satya Nadella as their new CEO recently. He succeeded Steve Ballmer to become the third CEO of the company. Being one of the biggest companies in the world, Microsoft chose an internal candidate to undertake the huge responsibility. They wanted someone who knew the company very well and also someone who values Microsoft's vision for the future. And, Satya Nadella was exactly the man they were looking for.

The 46-year-old is an electrical engineer who studied in India before continuing his education in the United States. Working for Microsoft since 1992, Satya took on many roles in the company, his recent one being that of executive vice president of the Cloud and Enterprise group. Many people credit Microsoft's success in the cloud to him. Considered as a "safe choice" by some critics while a deserving successor by many in the tech industry, Satya has a huge responsibility given the company's steady decline.

We, as tech lovers, have a lot of expectations from him. Despite the FOSS community's torn relationship with Redmond, Ballmer's departure was seen as a positive development by many Linux lovers. That's why, we've compiled a list of things we can -- and cannot -- expect from the new CEO.


Things to Expect from Satya Nadella

1. More Focus on Cloud Computing

Satya is a cloud-first guy. His cloud expertise is known even outside of Microsoft. It's highly unlikely that he'll lose focus on one of his (and the company's) core competencies. Expect more cloud-based services rolling out from Redmond in the coming years. Also, we can hope to see many improvements in existing cloud-based services Microsoft provides.

2. New Challenges

Microsoft will explore new markets under Satya's leadership. In fact, Satya Nadella recently announced that Microsoft is trying to build an economy smartphone for emerging markets. In other words, expect some out-of-the box thinking as well as action from Satya Nadella.

3. More Mistakes

Yep, you heard that right. Mistakes are a part of taking brave challenges. Satya Nadella is known to be a lifelong learner who constantly buys books and signs up for online courses. What does this mean for Microsoft? It means that he will go for the bold ventures very few people have thought. For the first few years of his tenure, he'd probably be doing a lot of trial and error and then learning from them.

4. More Innovation

Microsoft is not well known for innovation. Many people in the tech world call them monopolistic copycats. Even the late Steve Jobs once remarked that Microsoft lacked taste. How well is that going to change? We don't know. But given Satya's liking for innovation, we might see some creative products come out of Redmond.

“Our industry does not respect tradition – it only respects innovation.” -- Satya Nadella

5. Major Shuffle in Mobile Strategy

The CEO recently announced that he would be focusing more of his efforts on the mobile front. Microsoft is already developing a mobile phone for the developing market. Expect some major changes in Microsoft's mobile strategy. Satya might be able to breathe a new life into Microsoft's mobile business that has barely managed to get the attention its other products get. 


Things Not to Expect from Him

1. Microsoft Cozying up to Linux

Though there is a slight possibility of this happening, Microsoft is a company that is steadily going downhill. At this point, they can't afford to take any big risks that would hurt their market share. After all, Linux still is a Microsoft competitor, especially in the server market. We might see a version of Office for Ubuntu, but there is a very slight chance of that happening.

2. Microsoft becoming a role model for honest business

Despite how friendly and charming Satya seems in comparison to the brutal Ballmer, Microsoft still is Microsoft at its core. It's not a communist country run by a single leader that you'd expect a dramatic turnaround of core philosophies in just a couple of years. Microsoft still is, Microsoft at its core. It's a business and it will do anything it needs to do in order to keep its foothold in the marketspace.

3. Making Off-the-wall Comments

Ballmer made some pretty snarky comments during his tenure, going so far as to call Linux a cancer. He was known for his bad temper and his infamous chair-throwing tantrum. Compared to Ballmer, Satya seems to be a very positive and pragmatic guy. It's highly unlikely to see him badmouthing his competitors. 

4. Doing the "developers" Dance

Because only Ballmer can pull it off. Period.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Samsung Galaxy S6 to Feature a Metal Detector and X-ray Scanner

Just a few weeks after Samsung Galaxy S5's launch, reports about the next Galaxy phone have already started surfacing. Galaxy S6, the successor to the Android-based device will be the sixth flagship phone in the Korean giant's massively popular Galaxy line. With "bigger and better" being a consistent motto throughout the product's timeline, Samsung plan to launch the S6 with some rather unique features.

Galaxy S5's launch didn't impress as many fans as Samsung expected. Though packed with a heart-rate monitor and fingerprint sensor, Galaxy fanatics didn't think the additions were enough to make them spend their hard-earned cash on it. As with every smartphone in the Galaxy line, this time too, Samsung has shown that it is indeed listening to its fans. As a result, they will be launching the Galaxy S6 with two main features: S-metal, a built-in metal detector and S-ray a portable X-ray scanner.

Citing security and health as the two main areas of focus for the Galaxy S6, the Korean mobile behemoth plans to turn your phone into your very own bodyguard and your doctor. We talked to a Samsung representative and he has finally confirmed the two features:

"We all know how helpful X-ray machines are. But who has the time to go to a doctor? That's why Samsung has added S-ray, a new X-ray feature that is built right into the Galaxy S6's camera. Just snap a picture of any part of your body using the "S-Ray mode" and it will instantly show you an X-ray image of that part on your phone. The image is then matched with hundreds of X-ray images of normal, healthy patients to diagnose any abnormality in your body. The diagnosis is instant so that you won't need a doctor to tell you what problem you have. You can also share that image to Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram or add cool filters to it. Overall, we believe that this feature will revolutionize smartphones," said the representative.

The S-Ray mode, according to reports, will integrate tightly with the heart-rate monitor and S-health. Samsung also has plans to launch more features that will help users diagnose complex diseases. When asked about the metal detector, Samsung added:

"Every time you turn on the S-metal mode, your phone will start scanning for suspicious metallic objects in your proximity. It's best used like a handheld metal detector by hovering over a suspicious person's body. As an added security measure, you can also opt to send the data to NSA to help them fight the war on terror"

Samsung plans to launch the Galaxy S6 by early 2015. It will feature the latest version of Android with some heavy modifications


Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Amazon Drone Delivery: Technological Leap or Privacy Invasion?

Jeff Bezos is a man who loves to be misunderstood. Selling Kindle devices with little profits, the man behind the shopping company behemoth Amazon makes it look as if he has pulled some sort of a magic trick on his investors. The company takes so many risks; in fact, many rumors suggest that the company still isn't profitable; however, investors have been banking on Amazon for years. Much to every MBA's surprise, Bezos runs with a business model that's completely unique. He loves taking risks, and yes, he thinks out of the box.

Taking his famed consumer-first approach, last year Bezos unveiled an innovation that can be seen as the beginning of a new era of technology. The robot-driven future that we all dream about when we were kids is finally here as Amazon plans to bring drone-delivery to its customers. This means that instead of a human delivering your shipment, you will now have a drone flying right to your doorstep, dropping the box, and buzzing away to the Amazon warehouse. Amazon Prime Air, the shipping giant's move into robotics is designed to help cut the manual labor that is required to drop small objects like CDs or small computer parts.

Though the idea looks good on paper, it raises some serious concerns about privacy. Drones are flying in your backyard, equipped with a camera, thereby taking away your privacy. Though on the outside Prime Air looks like a technological marvel, it comes with its own flaws. Let's take a look on the pros and cons.



Why Amazon Prime Air is a Technological Leap

Prime Air is a great example of Amazon's consumer-oriented innovation. The company is well known to aggressively focus on delivering the best quality to its customers, and drone delivery is simply a by-product of that vision. Not only does it save time and labor for Amazon, it's also ensures that you get your product within just an hour. So, instead of running to the supermarket to buy a toothbrush, Amazon Air will fetch you your item using its robotic drone.

Furthermore, Prime Air also opens a gateway for other companies to innovate in robotics. Robotics is an area that has millions of enthusiasts. For them, drones going mainstream would be a good news as it will give them a good incentive to start innovating more. In other words, Prime Air is the innovation the tech industry needs.


Why Prime Air is a Privacy Concern

Every great technological boon comes with its share of flaws. Prime Air, since its announcement, has raised a lot of security concerns. Within days a bill was pushed hoping to protect the citizens from such "innovations." An excerpt from a speech by Republican member of Congress Ted Poe pretty much sums up what the controversy is about:

"The issue of concern, Mr. Speaker, is surveillance, not the delivery of packages. That includes surveillance of someone's backyard, snooping around with a drone, checking out a person's patio to see if that individual needs new patio furniture from the company. "

Furthermore, not only is the drone surveillance a potential privacy threat, it's also an object that can easily be hacked. Anyone with good computer skills can hack a drone and use it for their own personal gain. This is a big issue not only in terms of privacy but also in terms of security.


Will it work?

The FAA has some strict regulations about drones and Bezos will have a tough time getting them convinced that this is possible. Another problem with drones is that they can get stuck into branches thus delaying or having your shipment cancelled. Similarly, there are many problems Amazon needs to overcome in order to make this dream a reality. Though Bezos aims for 2015, we find it highly unlikely that it will be possible that soon. The controversy, however, raises a big issue, can the US government trust its citizen's safety and privacy in a company for the sake of innovation?

"One thing that I learned within the first couple of years of starting a company is that inventing and pioneering involves a willingness to be misunderstood for long periods of time." -- Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.com

Is Bitcoin The Next Open-source Software Revolution?

Bitcoin: The next big thing. Imagine a currency that is free from any government restrictions! Imagine a virtual currency that you can use to buy anything off the Internet. No more carrying cash! No more remembering your credit card passwords! Wow! Doesn't it sound too good to be true?

"Bitcoin is a techno tour de force." - Bill Gates

“It's money 2.0, a huge huge huge deal.” - Chamath Palihapitya (venture capitalist)

But wait something doesn't seem right. Bitcoin seems a bit too perfect... a bit too utopian right? Well yes, it certainly does. Bitcoin has been one of the most polarizing topics recently. Some see Bitcoin as the "next Internet" while others see it as a giant bubble just about to burst. Everywhere you go, there is a certain amount of hype about this new "virtual currency". After all, if this thing really takes off, it will change our future forever. And yes, much like the Internet, it would be open to everyone.


What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a digital currency that is generated using a computer program and can be converted into cash by depositing it into a virtual wallet. The transactions that are made using this currency are independent of any bank or government.

How did it begin?

Unlike Bill Gates or the charismatic Steve Jobs, the inventor of Bitcoin is rather a reclusive personality. Satoshi Nakamoto, the man behind the digital currency doesn't like to reveal himself to the public. Very little is known about him and his whereabouts. According to Nakamoto, he started working on Bitcoin since 2007. In 2008, he published a paper on The Cryptography Mailing List at metzdowd.com describing the functioning of Bitcoin digital currency. Then, in the following year, Bitcoin's first version was released to the public as open-source software.

From then on, began the rapid growth of this open-source digital currency. In 2011, Wikileaks, Free Software Foundation and many others foundations began to accept donations in Bitcoin. In 2013, many hosting companies and online merchants were accepting payments in Bitcoins.

But, but, but. There's a catch here. Bitcoin, despite its soaring growth, has attracted a huge amount of controversy. This is mainly because it's a decentralized mode of commerce, thus escaping from the clutches of tight government regulations, which are many times fair and sometimes downright evil. The main source of this controversy is the fact that Bitcoin has no central authority, and countries fear, especially those like China, that Bitcoin can facilitate a new world order wherein the global economic control is disrupted.

“Right now Bitcoin feels like the Internet before the browser.” - Wences Casares, Technology Entrepreneur


How does it work?

Once you download the Bitcoin software client, you can generate a set of unique keys without the help of any external resources. These keys can then be used to exchange Bitcoins with other users by mathematically linking your keys with theirs. You can have two or more keys. One can be a public key and others can be private keys. The public keys can be shared with anyone on the Internet for accepting payments, much like using a PayPal address.



Is it just another bubble?

Probably yes, probably no. Bitcoin, as far as a currency is concerned, is a utopia for consumers and merchants. It's completely decentralized and doesn't fall into the clutches of the governments. That's why many governments are scared of it. It has a potential to create a major disruption in the world economy. 

Open Source Software Revolution?

If Bitcoin really makes it, it will be a huge revolution, probably a bigger revolution than Linux itself. It will set a big role model for future technology enthusiasts about the power of open-source software. Open-source, slowly but steadily is spreading its wings into the technology of the future. Be it Android's dominance in the mobile market or the rise of Bitcoin, the future looks more open than we thought it would be.

Google Glass: The End of Privacy?

A year ago, Sergey Brin showcased a futuristic piece of hardware that could literally change the way you see the world. Every techie was excited because let's face it, no other technology rivals a pair of Internet-powered glasses that can let you make calls, take pictures, search the web, and much more. What's more, you won't have to carry a smartphone in your hand every time.

At present, journalists are busy churning out articles after articles debating whether Google Glasses are a privacy threat or not. Further dampening the excitement of a Google-lover like me comes the news of Google Glass bans that are surfacing in many places across the United States. Casinos and cafes have already banned the futuristic eye-wear and more bans are expected to follow. So, is the advent of this new technology already putting us into a 1984-esque environment wherein our every move is watched? That’s maybe a gross exaggeration, but aren't these new technologies doing more good than harm?

Google Glass: A Marvelous Modern-day Invention

Despite what the critics and the privacy paranoids say about Google Glass, it is, indeed, a marvelous piece of technology. Without using your hands, you can now search the whole web, take pictures, shoot a video, send an email...whoa...a few years ago an iPhone app looked like a modern marvel. Another great thing about Glass is that developers can create app for this eyewear, thus making it even more lucrative for people who swear by web applications. Overall, Google Glass promises to be the next big thing after Android. And yes, if it takes of very well, who knows, we might have a Microsoft and Apple killer on our hands.

But wait...what about our privacy?

Google Glass and privacy...these two words have been mentioned hand-in-hand a lot these days. As modern as the technology seems, Google Glass is definitely a privacy threat. Imagine a stranger walking into a cafe and taking pictures of you without you knowing it. That would definitely turn any person off. The power that Glass gives a normal person is mind blowing; however, this can also lead to an active misuse of the technology.

Not just cafes, many places are banning this technology for being too intrusive. The very fact that a piece of eyewear can see and record everything that a person looks at is scary for many people. Every time you see a person opposite you wearing such a device, it's natural to feel a bit cautious since everything you do might be watched.

That said, many people have claimed that the Google Glass privacy scares are nothing but exaggerations. Famous blogger Robert Scoble is a huge proponent of the technology and he doesn't mind seeing a widespread adoption of technology. At this stage though, it would be wise to wait till Glass gains a significant market share. Then and only then the privacy issues can be discussed.

Other Issues:

Apart from issues with privacy, Google Glass may also cause some other problems. The eyewear can let people cheat in casinos, exams, and many other areas. Also, a recent New York Times article stated that Google Glass might actually be potentially dangerous. The reason behind this is that it may not allow its users to see something that is utterly obvious thereby causing accidents.

Moreover, having a conversation with a person using Google Glass might seem a bit awkward. You're looking into the person's eyes while he or she is intermittently looking up thus leaving you a bit confused and uncomfortable.

Conclusion:

Despite what many critics say, Google Glass is a revolutionary product. Whether it gets the recognition it needs is another story, but it surely has got everyone excited. Also, it has ushered in a new era wherein tech products are becoming an integral part of our daily lives. Google Glass, despite its privacy issues, is something that should pave way for other products that will let us further integrate our lives with technology. Overall, Google Glass is a potential privacy breach, but it's also something that marks a dramatic shift in how we see the world.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Canonical Announces Ubuntu for Washing Machines

After announcing Ubuntu for phones and tablets, it seems like there's no stopping to Canonical's growth. Following a 2-day countdown that teased its impatient fans, Canonical finally unveiled its latest innovation: Ubuntu for washing machines (Ubuntu WM OS). Targeted at both front-loading and top-loading washing machines, this newest iteration of the open-source operating system plans to revolutionize the way clothes are washed. 

Ubuntu WM OS is a brand-new innovation that plans to change the way clothes are washed. With a uniquely designed Dash menu along with online integration, the new OS comes with a promising set of features. One of the biggest features is its amazing ability to multitask. You can Skype with your friends, check your email, and monitor your laundry at the same time.  

Shuttleworth, who announced the news on his blog, seemed very excited and positive about the new project. For him, this is just another step in bringing Ubuntu to every device possible. Though hybrid washing machines are not supported, Ubuntu WM OS will run perfectly well across most front-loading and top-loading machines. Like Ubuntu for Tablets, this version of the OS shares the same codebase as the desktop version. This means that you'll be able to run the same apps across all of your devices. So, you can casually check the photos of last night's party on Gwibber while the machine washes away the stains from your clothes.

Though Ubuntu WM OS lets you use your device as a stand-alone washing machine, it can also serve as a full-fledged desktop. Simply connect a monitor to your machine (placing it on top of the machine is recommended) along with a mouse and a keyboard and then you can have a full-fledged desktop that also takes care of your laundry. The Canonical chief seemed pretty happy about the project. "We want to bring Ubuntu everywhere," wrote Shuttleworth on his blog, "This project is an enormous and concentrated investment in making a core platform that can be widely consumed. I’ve absolutely no doubt that Ubuntu will completely revolutionize the way washing machines work."

Though as ambitious as the project sounds, there aren't many hardware manufacturers ready to invest in this project. LG and IFB are partners Shuttleworth would ideally aim for, but at the moment, they're alone in this battle. "Partners have expressed interest," Shuttleworth told us, but refused to elaborate too much on it. It remains to be seen whether manufacturers will take interest in a platform that is so new and challenging that even Apple has refused to touch.

Not everyone was happy with the announcement, though. While many Ubuntu fans rejoiced at the decision, many called it an "utter failure" thus sparking a huge debate among Linux fans. Richard M. Stallman, was quite vocal when expressing his discontent with Ubuntu's decision. "I have never owned a washing machine, and now I have one more reason not to buy one," said the free software activist.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Rumors, Hype, and Expectations

Samsung's flagship device, the Galaxy S4 will finally be unveiled several hours from now. Successor to the insanely popular Galaxy S3 device, this new offering from the Korean giant is all set to wow the Android fanbase. Speculations, rumors, and even "confirmed" features are all that you see on tech news sites. After all, this is the best smartphone in the world and it has to live up to the expectations.

Samsung, on the other hand, has taken all efforts to ensure that there is enough hype created before the release. They have launched a couple of ads that help in building up the excitement towards the big event. Furthermore, banners, ads, and giant hoardings are all indicating that Samsung is bringing something big for its fans.

As big as the hype seems, passionate Android users are satisfied only with the best. So, needless to say, we have our own expectations from of this upcoming Android super smartphone. We want the device to be a blend of all the things we have on our "secret smartphone wishlist" that we keep tucked right under our beds. Rumors are that the last Samsung device was also a result of our idea to send our secret smartphone wish list to the Korean giant (this will be our little secret shhhh..). Anyways, before you start wondering whether we expect Samsung to make intergalactic phone calls, it is time to unveil what we really expect from our beloved Samsung. 

My favorite rendered image of the Galaxy S4

Performance and Processor:

Duh! If it's a new device, it will have a new processor. No, seriously. We want the fastest in the market. The breeziest one that can do ten things at once. Okay, let's slow down. What we really expect from Samsung is a processor that hasn't been used in any other device and is the fastest one around. What the rumor mills are saying is that the Galaxy S4 will feature the new Exynos 5 Octa mobile processor that Samsung tweeted out recently.

Many rumors are pointing towards this processor being included in the final version. The chip has eight cores and is based on AMD's big.LITTLE architecture. One of the smartest things you'll find in this chip is that some cores will automatically shut down whenever they are not in use thus conserving the battery life. As far as the RAM is concerned, 2GB or more would be great.


Looks / Design:

We expect Samsung to deliver a slimmer smartphone than the previous Galaxies; however, it shouldn't be any bigger than the Galaxy S3. With the recent trend of "Grand" phones taking over, the Galaxy S4 should shy away from making an almost phablet-looking phone. Instead, it should be a phone that fits nicely into our palms and lets us reach all corners of our device using simply one hand. As to how the device will finally look like, no one knows; however, pictures of the device were allegedly leaked on a Chinese forum pointing towards a much slimmer device that looks almost the same as the Galaxy S3.

Now many tech experts are saying that the reports are fake and that the phone in the pictures is nothing but Samsung Galaxy S3. We'll have to wait and see as to how the device actually looks like when it comes out.


Display:

It is rumored that Samsung will launch a full-HD 5-inch display for its new device. One rumor from Sammobile suggests that the Galaxy S4 will feature a floating-touch display. This new feature will let you use your finger as a cursor so that you can hover over a photo album to get a preview of what is inside it. Another rumor about the display is that the S4 will use a new AMOLED material known as green PHOLED that will make the standard AMOLED display 25% more efficient. What we want is a display that tops the Apple's retina display yet saves an insane amount of battery life.


Camera:

Rumors suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will have a 13-Megapixel camera with new Samsung Orb technology that lets you capture 360-degree photos like Photosphere. What we expect from Samsung is a camera that is quick and lets you capture multiple snaps without any lag. Also, full HD recording and other standard features would be good to have. Another feature we might see is a better front-facing camera from Samsung.


Price:

Let's hope Samsung doesn't bring something that burns a hole into our pockets. With the launch of Nexus 4, many people are expecting Samsung to lower the prices of its devices. But again, Samsung is known to be on the expensive side so, you never know.


OS / User Interface:

One thing that SHOULD be there is Android Jelly Bean updated to the very latest version. What we also need is a newer version of the TouchWiz UI. If you compare the vanilla Jelly Bean UI to the TouchWiz UI of say Galaxy S3, you'll be disappointed at what Samsung has done. Many rumors are also suggesting that the Galaxy S4 will have an updated version of the TouchWiz UI. Let's keep our fingers crossed for this one.



Conclusion:

We are all excited about the Samsung event in New York. With its soaring popularity, Samsung is raising the bar of smartphones each year. It looks like Samsung is becoming the new Apple in the eyes of consumers. Let's hope the Galaxy S4 will not disappoint.

4 Futuristic Google Projects To Look Out For

Google, which started as a humble search engine, has now become an integral part of our life. Its flagship services such as Gmail, YouTube, Chrome, Maps, Docs, and of course search make up a significant part of our daily web browsing experience. Then of course there is our beloved Android, which covers almost half of the U.S. smartphone market. In short, without Google, technology wouldn't be the same as it is now.

Yet, despite all those accomplishments, Google is not only improving its existing technologies, it is also coming up with new ones. Of those new inventions, most of them are related to smartphones and tablet computers. However, little do many people know that Google is also working (secretly of course) on some amazing futuristic projects that might change the world in the very near future.

If you too, like us, are excited to find out what some of Google’s futuristic inventions are, then read on as we cover the most exciting ones that you need to watch out for.

Project Glass

One of the most talked-about projects announced this year is Project Glass. These futuristic Terminator-style goggles give you an augmented reality Head-Mounted Display (HMD). The glasses will have the capability to notify you of any upcoming appointments, give you directions, and even allow you to make and receive video calls.

Showcased at Google I/O recently, this product has drawn a lot of attention from users as well as tech enthusiasts. Running on Android, Project glass will also let you talk to your gadget using natural language commands almost like you do with Siri. The ambitious project is not available to consumers yet; however, reports have suggested that the futuristic goggles will be available to public by early 2013 and would cost nearly as much as smartphones.

Having said that, it’s not as if everyone’s happy about the arrival of Google Glass. Privacy advocates and concerned users have suggested that the project might give Google yet another window to invade into our daily lives. Others fear that Google might insert advertising into your gadget thereby ruining the whole experience. You may also read our previous post about Google Glass.

Google Driverless Car

Google Driverless Car is another ambitious project by Google that makes the futuristic vision of self-driven cars a reality. The technology behind the project is quite interesting. Data is gathered from Google Street View with state-of-the-art AI software. Then, the input from video cameras inside the car and the input from various sensors fitted in and around the vehicle are combined by the AI for accurate navigation.

Though a self-driving car sounds scary at first, rest assured that Google has successfully test-driven the car covering almost 1609 km without any human intervention. The vehicle has been driven over the Golden Gate Bridge, Pacific Coast Highway, and many other places. Though still in testing, there’s no announcement from Google as to when this project will be available for consumers. Also, there are a significant amount of difficulties in bringing this dream to reality, as many of the current traffic laws would need to be changed to allow the Google driverless car on the road.

Machine Learning

If you sift through thousands of YouTube clips, there’s very little doubt that you would be able to spot a cat in every video that comes along. But what if computers could spot a cat in a YouTube video without the help of any human? Well, that’s what Google’s been busy doing. Researchers at Google’s X Lab, which is Google’s clandestine lab for all futuristic projects, have built a network of 16,000 processors in order to emulate the capabilities of the human brain. The computer probed through 10 million YouTube clips and successfully identified, well, cats. The point of the whole exercise was not to point out cats, but rather to demonstrate the immense power that computers possess these days. Imagine just searching for all the videos on YouTube where Tux (mascot of Linux) appears? Well, that would be a treat for penguin fanboys like us, wouldn't it? Hurry up Google!

Space Elevator

Well, as far-fetched as it sounds, Google is actually planning to put some effort into this adventurous endeavor. Though nothing much is known about this project, don’t forget to tell us if you take a trip to the moon with your great-grandchildren Googling everything along the way.

Samsung Galaxy S III / S3 Rumors And Expectations

Despite Android’s soaring success, the Droidian rumor scene hasn't really gotten as big as the one on iOS. Mac and Apple fanboys in general are perpetually clamoring to get the slightest of glimpse of what goes on inside their walled garden. Apple, which meticulously guards its every little move, leaves no stone unturned in making sure that no one except its employees knows about its next product. And though some might see this as borderline compulsive behavior, it’s actually a great marketing move that helps Apple wow crowds with the magical element of surprise.

However, Apple’s not the only one diligently protecting its upcoming secrets, its arch rival Samsung too has been keeping things under the wraps just to surprise the Droid-loving fanboys and fangirls. As the successor of the Samsung Galaxy S II / S2 is due to be launched in front of impatient Android users, many rumors about the yet-to-be-named smartphone have started to emerge. Given the fact that it’s most likely that the successor will be called Samsung Galaxy S III / S3, Samsung is yet to confirm any of these rumors.

So, if like us, you too are excited about Samsung's upcoming offering, here’s a roundup of all the Samsung Galaxy S3 rumors and expectations:

It will be called Samsung Galaxy S III GT I9300

Following Samsung's usual naming conventions, the next phone will most likely be called Samsung Galaxy S3 GT I9300. Multiple sources have confirmed this, and it’s quite improbable that the phone will follow any other nomenclature.

It will run Ice Cream Sandwich: Since a bit of time has passed since the launch of Android 4.0, there’s very little doubt that ICS will be the preferred OS for the highly-anticipated smartphone.

The Samsung Galaxy S III GT I9300 will sport a Quad-Core processor

Multiple reports have suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S3 will come with a Quad-core Exynos 4412 processor. Furthermore, rumors have hinted at an ample 2GB worth of RAM, and a 2250mAh battery. The processor is clocked at 1.5 GHz thus making Galaxy S3 one of the fastest devices in the market.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 will have a 12 MP camera

Yes, if most of the rumors are to be believed, S3 will, in fact, come with a spectacular 12 MP camera. Cool huh?

The Samsung Galaxy S III will feature wireless charging

Whoa! This just keeps getting better and better doesn't it? I mean wireless charging, that would permanently end my frantic searches for the elusive charger! If reports of a Korean site are to be believed, wireless charging might be the killer feature that the S3 will wow the crowd with.

Launch Date is May 3rd

Samsung has confirmed that the launch event will take place on May 3rd in London. As for what will happen at the event, Samsung had the following things to say:

"Samsung is looking forward to introducing and demonstrating exciting new mobile products at Mobile World Congress 2012. The successor to the Galaxy S2 smartphone will be unveiled at a separate Samsung-hosted event in the first half of the year, closer to commercial availability of the product."

Leaked Photos of the Samsung Galaxy S3

A Reddit user has leaked a photo of what appears to be the Samsung Galaxy S3. Though we’re not sure of its credibility, it does, nonetheless, provide some more information about the upcoming product. Engadget has also shared a leaked photo of an unreleased Samsung smartphone that could also be the Galaxy S III.

What to expect? Will it be a success?

So, what can we expect from the Galaxy S2 successor? Well, there is very little doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S3 will get huge amount of pre-orders and sales, unless, of course, they screw things up real bad. Besides Google/Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the S3 may become the second most popular high-end smartphone that can compete directly with Apple’s iPhone 4S. Also, as days go by, rumors about the upcoming iPhone 5 have started popping up thus making the smartphone market hotter than ever. We don’t know yet whether the Samsung Galaxy S III will beat the next generation iPhone, but one thing’s for sure, it will make every Android fan drool.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Google Glasses: Hot or Not?

When it comes to wowing the crowd with technological innovations, there’s no company as successful as Apple. No one can forget those breathtaking moments when the great Steve Jobs unveiled yet another revolutionary product captivating the crowd like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. No company, so far, have managed to achieve that ‘magician’ status until very recently. -And that company, if you’re wondering, is none other than the search giant Google.

It has been more than a week since Google unveiled the amazing new Google Glasses, and the world is already going crazy over it. The demo video was uploaded on 4th April, and so far, it has got more than 13 million views. Moreover, almost every major newspaper and news channel covered the story, thus making Google Glasses one of the most coveted innovations of the decade.

So, what's Google Glasses?

Google Glasses, or Project Glass, is an under-development project by Google that brings augmented reality to a head-mounted display (HMD). As compared to other HMDs, this one looks more like goggles and less like some Robocop accessory, which is one of the biggest USPs of the project. Despite all the awesomeness that comes packed with Google’s ‘pet project’, there have been growing concerns about privacy along with some hilarious parodies openly suggesting a dystopian Google-owned future.

Here’s a quick rundown of points that make Google Glasses hot, and ones that don’t.


3 Reasons Why Google Glasses is Hot:

1. Augmented reality done right... finally

Voice commands have existed for a long time now, but it wasn't until Siri came along and showed the world the right way of doing things. Same is the case with Google Glasses, a project which, if works as demoed, will revolutionize the concept of augmented reality. You see, augmented reality, like voice commands, has existed for a long time now; however, no project has managed to really impress us so much so that we’d make it a part of our daily lives. Google Glasses promises to change that paradigm and make augmented reality an integral part of our life.

2. Welcome to the future

If you've ever envied that Terminator eyesight, Google Glasses is like a dream come true for you. To be fairly honest, it is the most innovative thing we've seen in a very long time.

3. Google services integration

Google already has an amazing lineup of products. From the classic text search to news updates, Google’s got it all. So, it won’t be hard to imagine you walking down a street, seeing a rare flower, then just looking at it for a few seconds and knowing its name. Moreover, you could lookup where you could buy those flowers using Google Maps, navigate to the shop, and buy them using your Google Wallet-integrated phone. Finally once you've fitted them neatly in that beautiful vase, you can snap its picture and share it with your friends on Google+ or any other social network. Cool huh?

3 Reasons Why Google Glasses is Not Hot:

1. Privacy concerns

Google hasn't got a good track record when it comes to dealing with users’ privacy. In this department, the search giant has messed up many times before and it has been a concern amongst many of its users. Privacy advocates have prophesied a much more dystopian future wherein everything you see is recorded and sold to advertisers. Moreover, it’s really hard to put up with ads or ‘sponsored content’ popping up in front of your eyes the moment you wake up. Even if Google assures us otherwise, there will always be concerns about the project’s privacy handling.

2. Distraction

Imagine riding a bicycle on the streets of New York wearing one of those Google Glasses? Yes, it’s crazy!! As awesome as it looks, there’s a huge chance you’ll bump into something -- or someone? -- unexpected and make them wonder if you’re drunk. Also, walking around with notifications popping up in front of your eyes isn't something you’ll put your money into.

3. It’s not the actual product

The demo video shows all the great features of the product; however, it would be really hard to say anything overwhelmingly positive about it unless the we get to see the actual product hands-on. For now, let’s just hope Project Glass lives up to its expectations.

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” -- Arthur C. Clarke


Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Awesome Android Smartphones Unleashed at MWC 2012

We've already covered a lot of Android phones and tablets in our gadgets section, and now, we’re going to do the same thing again; that is, to keep you abreast with all the latest that’s happening in the Droidian universe. Mobile World Congress (MWC), the coveted event for mobile enthusiasts, comes on the heels of a somewhat surprising announcement from the folks at Canonical.

Last week, if you've been following us regularly, we discussed the pros and cons of Ubuntu for Android, Canonical’s latest attempt at wowing non-Ubuntuers. The most important component of this endeavor is a high-end, dual-core Android device. In MWC 2012, there was no shortage of such devices, thus making the Ubuntu for Android booth somewhat hard to ignore.

Now, we’re not here to talk about Ubuntu, nor are we here to discuss much about the Android operating system. We’re here to showcase some of the most lust-worthy and awesome smartphones that were showcased at the event. So, if the gadget fanboy inside you is dying to check them out, here are some of the best Android smartphones announced at the Mobile World Congress 2012:

HTC One X

HTC’s latest offering, the One X is a high-end Android smartphone due to be released in Q2 2012. With a Super IPS LCD2 capacitive display and a 4.7-inch screen, the phone will come loaded with a customized version of Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Being a powerful device, One X comes with NVIDIA Tegra 3 chipset and a 1.5 GHz Quad Core processor (yep, that’s more than perfect for running Ubuntu on Android). Furthermore, the smartphone also has ULP GeForce graphics card so that gaming on it won’t be a disappointment. The camera on the phone is 8MP and has features like geo-tagging, face detection, and simultaneous HD video and image recording.

Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus

The Galaxy Ace Plus comes with a 3 GB storage and 512 MB RAM. Equipped with a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 processor, this Ace successor comes loaded with Android 2.3. The camera on this device is 5MP and the screen size is quite smaller than any of the other devices on this list. Expect the smartphone to arrive anytime this month.

Sony Xperia P

Also launching in Q2 2012 is Sony’s Xperia P. The beauty of the device comes with an LED-backlit LCD and a 4-inch screen. To make sure you get the optimum display, the phone comes with mobile BRAVIA engine and Sony’s Whitemagic technology. Coming to the core specs, you get a dual-core 1GHz processor and 1 GB RAM. The most disappointing thing, though, is the fact that the phone will come loaded with Android 2.3 Gingerbread. (Yep, I know, quite a bummer right?). However, that’s not a big reason to shun this device yet as Sony has promised an ICS upgrade for it in the near future.

Samsung Galaxy S Advance

Successor to the highly popular Samsung Galaxy S, Advance comes with some amazing set of specs. The 4-inch device surprises us with a Super AMOLED display protected by Corning Gorilla glass. On the inside, the phone comes loaded with a dual-core, 1 GHz Cortex-A9 processor along with 768 MB RAM. The UI, obviously is TouchWiz 4.0, and it’s not completely clear as to when the phone will get an ICS upgrade.

Samsung Galaxy Beam

Beam, the sleek projector phone has been getting quite a lot of attention lately. The device that costs around $610 (SIM-free) lets you use your Droid for giving presentations using the built-in projector. Though loaded with Android 2.3, this 4-inch stunner comes with a crystal clear Super AMOLED screen. The phone was showcased at MWC 2012; however, not much is known about its complete specs and there’s also confusion whether the device will come with a 5 Megapixel camera or an 8 Megapixel one. The projector that comes with it has an output of 15 lumens.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Ubuntu For Android: Do We Really Need it?

After Canonical’s decision to venture into the TV and mobile market, another surprising -- or rather shocking to some news started circulating on the Internet. Ubuntu for Android, Shuttleworth’s latest endeavor at wowing non-Ubuntu users was unveiled. Mainly aimed at corporate customers and mobility freaks, this desktop-in-a-phone marvel allows you to use your Android smartphone as a full-fledged desktop.

So, in short, you simply walk in to your office empty-handed, plug-in your smartphone to a sleek-looking dock, and fire up an Internet-capable desktop running your favorite operating system. Though, as a concept, this sounds really brilliant, it really depends much on how the whole product is brought in the market. Also, as the needs of the desktop consumers are more inclined towards anything that’s made by Apple and Microsoft, it’s really hard, at this point in time to predict whether the project will be a success or a failure. The main question, however, still lingers around: Do we really need it?


The target audience

Ubuntu for Android is, quite surprisingly, aimed at corporate customers and people who want to have a complete desktop experience at their disposal wherever they go. The desktop will be the verily familiar Ubuntu along with some added functionality like unified contacts, calendar coordination, call/SMS management and more. Now, of course, simply plugging in your Android smartphone and being welcomed with a shiny yet familiar desktop does feel like magic; however, the technology driving it is pretty simple. Ubuntu will leverage the high-end dual-core capabilities your Droid and bring you -- well, hopefully -- an innovative desktop experience.

Though all seems perfect on paper, there are a few caveats here and there. Agreed that Android is the dominating champion as far as mobile devices are concerned, also agreed that Android is the closest potential ally to Linux enthusiasts. However, when it comes to the target audience, the product only reaches a select set of customers. That is, only the high-end Android users will be able to benefit from this novelty. Also, only the phones that have docking capability and hardware support for HDMI and USB will work with Ubuntu. So, even though it’s our omnipresent Android that’s been used here, it’s only the select few models that would work with Shuttleworth’s idea.


Is it necessary?

Now, another question that seems to be lingering in every consumer’s mind is that, is it necessary? Do I really need to buy it? Oh, okay, it’s the beloved Ubuntu we’re talking about, but can’t I just install Ubuntu on my work computer and have everything synced using Dropbox and UbuntuOne?


Will people buy it?

There’s no point in guessing whether people will buy it or not. One reason why people may buy it is because it will help them have a personalized computer anywhere they go. Also, people who are already using Ubuntu or are die-hard Ubuntu fans will love to have this novelty at their home.

That, however, doesn't imply that everyone will buy this device. There are folks who prefer syncing everything with Dropbox and they might not need it. Also, there’s the generic excuse of needing Windows or Mac to run a particular application that isn't yet available on Linux. The pros and cons are aplenty; it really depends on how the market will respond to such a product.

Also, the success of Ubuntu on Android rests on the very fact that the product must be as stable and as usable as possible. The corporate crowd won’t tolerate a half-baked product like Unity in Natty, they’d want something that would be worth their every penny. So, Mr Shuttleworth, if you’re reading this, please make it as stable as possible.

Finally, it also boils down to the price. From the looks of it, the product will be targeted at high-end consumers; thus, the pricing may be a tad higher than we’d expect. But let’s hope that it’s not so high that it would be inaccessible to Ubuntu fanboys like us.


Will you buy it?

So, are you all excited about Ubuntu on Android? Will you be buying one for your Droid when it comes out? Leave your responses in the comments section.

Awesome Android Smartphones and Tablets Showcased at CES

2012 starts off on a geeky note, with the most awaited technology event around called CES (Consumer Electronics Show). The event, considered as the Mecca for geeks, nerds, and tech journalists, has been hailed as the ultimate place to showcase your innovative products.

This year, CES saw some big changes taking place. The most important one was that this was the last CES event for Microsoft. On the other hand, our beloved Ubuntu made its first ever appearance at the event, and yes, it was a huge success.

Now, moving on from Ubuntu to another Linux-based OS, our much-adored Android showcased some amazing new tablets and smartphones at the event. And yep, we’ve got the best of those head-turners in this article just for you.

Toshiba Excite X10

Toshiba Excite X10, the thinnest tablet computer at CES, has become quite popular among tablet computer enthusiasts. The most ‘exciting’ thing about Excite X10 is that it comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which is the latest and the greatest that Android has to offer. Weighing in at just 1.2 lbs., this sleek beauty is powered by a dual-core 1.2 GHz OMAP 4430 processor. To make sure you can multitask smoothly, there’s about 1 GB of RAM. For the photo-enthusiast in you, there’s a 5 MP camera at the back, and a 2MP at the front. The price of this coveted device is $520 (16 GB model) and $600 (32 GB model).

Acer Iconia Tab A700

The Acer Iconia Tab A700 is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and comes with 1GB of memory. Running a Tegra 3 chip, this beast of a tablet also comes with a revolutionary anti-glare technology that makes it the perfect e-book reader. Iconia A700 will run on Ice Cream Sandwich Android 4.0 with some Acer customizations. It has an HDMI port, a microSD card slot, and a 1080p display to make sure that you enjoy your movies and videos in style.

Asus Transformer Prime 700 Series

The Transformer Prime 700 Series is a variant of the original Asus Transformer Prime which we’ve talked about earlier. It comes with specs almost the same as Prime except for a full 1080p HD display. Apart from that, there are a few other changes here and there; but nonetheless, it’s still pretty much the same thing as Prime. In my opinion, it should have been called Transformer Prime HD instead of giving it a misleading name. That said, if you’re planning on buying a Prime, I’d suggest you to go for the 700 instead of its predecessor.

Samsung Galaxy Note

The Samsung Galaxy Note is a cross between a tablet and a smartphone. Though the phone has been around for a while now, it was officially launched for the US market at CES. Running on AT&T’s network, Note features a 5.3-inch WXGA Super AMOLED HD display with a 1280x800 resolution. With a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, it can give a lot of tablets a run for their money. Also included in the package is the innovative new S-pen that allows users to write, draw, and doodle on their Droid just like they do on paper. Though the dated Gingerbread is kind of a bummer, Note still is one of the best Android smartphones -- oh wait tablets -- around.

Sony Xperia S

Sony’s latest offering, the Xperia S, besides being backed by some powerful specs, does come with a few unique features of its own. On the specs front, the 4.3-incher comes with a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon processor along with an ample 1 GB of RAM. The most awesome feature about this phone is its 12 MP back camera that can make this phone quite popular amongst photography enthusiasts. However, the 1.3 MP camera could have been better.

Other unique features include Mobile BRAVIA engine (similar to the technology found in Sony TVs), Active Noise Cancellation, and PlayStation certification. The phone runs on Android 2.3 but Sony has promised an ICS upgrade in Q2 2012.

Motorola Droid Razr Maxx

We’ve already talked about the lamentable battery life of Android smartphones, and how, to an extent you can fix them. Droid Razr Maxx, as the name aptly suggests, endeavors to get rid of that problem by promising you a 21 hours of talktime and 368 hours of standby time. Not just that, the Maxx comes with a 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 processor along with an 8 MP camera. The phone weighs just 145g and is quite thin as compared to other Android devices. Maxx is a smartphone that’s totally worth the wait if you’re a Moto Razr fan.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.