You can now add “save your life” to the numerous reasons to miss your old Nokia brick phone. When 70 year old Liu Quanming first acquired his Nokia 3310, aka the “brick phone,” he had no way of knowing a decade later it would save his life. On a hiking trip in Taiwan, Quanming slipped…
Children are the future, especially when it comes to environmental issues. It seems the majority of today’s youth consider themselves “environmentally conscious,” yet electronics recycling rates have been struggling to improve. In a survey of 500 young adults in Ontario between the ages of 18 and 29, a relatively high 62 percent consider themselves “environmentally…
A few years ago, sustainability was more of a fad than a movement, especially in the corporate world. Many companies and their executives were left to figure out how to be seen as green. Sustainability, in corporate terms, is really about helping companies thrive forever. The point of corporations is to make a profit. The…
It’s no secret PC shipments have been coming in short during the last couple years due to innovation in other areas of mobility, but is Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 the right tablet for replacement? Consumers have found its “lapability,” a term coined in an effort to promote the Surface Pro 3 is fully capable of…
Combined shipments of mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets and PCs, will climb in 2014, but Gartner predicts deterred innovation will leave PCs with the short end of the stick. Global shipments of personal computers will total 276.7 million in 2014, which is a 6.6 drop from last year. On the flip side, tablet shipments will…
Students at South Portland High School in Maine learned first-hand the importance of electronics refurbishment and recycling. The school district recently converted to a more mobile device, trading its laptops in for iPads. However, instead of returning the leased laptops to the state, they were purchased for refurbishment and repair. More than twenty students on…
HOBI International President, Craig Boswell, participated in a panel discussion at the most recent ISRI Convention in early April. The subject ‘How To Make Money In Electronics Recycling,’ brought up some interesting points on the processing of cathode ray tube (CRT) devices by electronics recyclers. At E-Scrap 2014 in September, the CRT debate will continue.…
It’s clear to see small changes are making a difference as police say Apple’s anti-theft switches have dramatically reduced iPhone thefts Did you know an estimated 1.6 million smartphones stolen in U.S. in 2012? And the number continues to rise. The FCC indicates smartphone thefts account for 30% to 40% of all robberies nationwide. Not…
When was the last time you revamped your data erasure methods for tablets? #1 Incorporate tablets into your IT asset management process While they are the epitome of mobility, tablets are still part of the IT asset spectrum and should be treated as such. As with any office IT equipment containing sensitive data, mobile devices…
Significant disruptive forces come into play that impact IT asset management costs for CIOs. State and government statutes on the disposal of IT equipment have become progressively more stringent leaving corporations with the burden of responsibly handling their assets. States including California, Illinois and Colorado have taken strides toward being more environmentally responsible. Cell phone…
Earlier this month, R2 Solutions, the group that up until now has administered the R2 certification, dissolved to make way for SERI (Sustainable Electronics Recycling International). This new organization intends to open the door to safer handling of used electronics in developing nations. While the vast majority of R2 facilities are located in North America…
Soccer enthusiast or not, people all over the world have been going crazy cheering on their favorite teams at this year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Those fortunate enough to have scored tickets to the events are in the midst of the action, but Brazilians without tickets are at home watching on new televisions. Through…
Do you have a hot hand when it comes to new technology or do you play it cool until the kinks are fixed? Kick the habit of risky investments in technology too early in the game. Gartner’s Technology Hype Cycle is a great way to know when to snatch your share of new technology. The…
And you may now kiss the…ring? Yes. Ringly, a fashionable smart ring that alerts wearers of calls, texts, and emails, gives a whole new meaning to the idea of being ‘married’ to your tech. You’ve seen smart watches, wallets, glasses and fitness bands, but Ringly CEO, Christina Mercando wants to wrap your tech around your…
What sets your IT asset management and ITAD organization apart from the sea of others? At HOBI International Inc., it’s our Responsible Recyclers (R2) certification. Industry standards are an important part of insuring a level playing field within the ITAD industry. Companies requiring electronics recycling services need to be confident that their ITAD vendor is…