Battery-free IoT devices could be in the near future
Provided is a weekly snapshot of the recent data security, electronic waste, and mobile technology news that HOBI’s blog reported on during the week 7/09-7/13.
Your smartphone may be spying on you, just not how you might suspect
At some point, you’ve probably wondered if your smartphone has been listening in on your calls or tracking and logging away all of your random google searches. And it is safe to say that you’re not alone. There has been a long-standing paranoia that our mobile devices are spying on us and researchers at Northeast University have found that yes, our smartphones are indeed spying on us, just not the way we think they are. The study shows that some apps are actually taking screenshots and screen-recordings of our activity on specific apps to send user activity data to analytic platforms. From beating the next level in Candy Crush to browsing for a new pair of sneakers, everything we do on these types of apps is being recorded, stored away, and studied.
Is trying to perfect recycling actually just making the issue worse?
Are you pretty strict about recycling? If you’re aiming for a perfect recycling record, one electronic waste industry expert thinks that may actually be doing more harm than good. In fact, he argues that while it is good to recycle and reuse materials, especially when it comes to e-waste, there is a need for leaks in the waste stream where virgin materials are used and then tossed into incinerators or landfills. It might not sound very eco-friendly, but the only way to find an adequate solution to the ever growing waste stream, is to begin to address the issue and generate conversation that will hopefully lead to action.
Sales data indicates cheaper handsets aren’t really what consumers want
How much are you willing to spend on a new smartphone? Currently, prices are higher than they have ever been before, but mobile industry experts say that steep prices aren’t keeping consumers away. Despite multiple reports of the lack of sales for Apple’s thousand dollar iPhone X and consumers are turning towards refurbished and used devices, sales data collected by Counterpoint Research actually shows that the high-end and most expensive smartphones on the market are exactly what consumers are spending their money on.
How to take care of your laptop battery
Looking to truly go mobile and ditch your bulky laptop charger? There is nothing more aggravating than cracking open your laptop only to find that the battery is quickly depleting, which means you need to pull out your charger and find an outlet ASAP. But instead of taking your anger out on your device, ask yourself: How well am I taking care of my laptop battery? We’re willing to bet that there are a few maintenance practices that you’re overlooking. Provided are a few tips on how you can ensure that your battery is performing to its fullest potential.
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