Phonebloks - Mobile Technology Designed To Last

Disposable electronics aren't a very good way to respect the planet. They poison the environment and the just in time distribution logistics are a huge burden on the Earth's resources, even though the products are small.

They also fund a lot of conflict in places like the Congo (DRC) but you wont hear about that as the media are too busy telling people that Israel is the important country where the Master Race now reside. 

More important than the six million who died in those mineral conflicts anyway.

Oh and don't forget the 100 000 rapes a month when you stroke your next new, touch screen electronics purchase.

Phonebloks is a simple idea and I hope people can get behind it. I've long been uninterested in the latest mobile though I do look at tablets from time to time and ask myself. 

Do I really need it?

Usually the answer is no. But maybe you're into Alicia Keys being a phone when she's not touring apartheid Israel as a black entertainer.

University Students Demolish NSA Recruiters

Being paid to tell lies is a bubble that few can puncture. These students give me hope that smart intelligent, awake and aware young people are often times superior to my own generation. I include myself because the level of articulation here is impressive given they are taking on the global security state. That takes courage and conviction.

Rare Earth Coltan - The Smart Phone Material 5 Million Died In The Congo For

Ten minutes ago I didn't know why the DRC war happened or what Coltan was. Now I know.

The war beginning in 1998 that pitted the armies of Congo, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola against those of Uganda and Rwanda induced the largest humanitarian disaster since World War II, with an estimated four million Congolese lives lost. Congo's first national elections since 1965 have taken place, but true peace and democracy remain elusive goals.

Uganda - More Mobiles Than Light Bulbs

Last week, Mark Kaigwa gave one of the most interesting presentations at the Media Evolution conference in Sweden. Naturally, I missed the session entirely because I was attending another one at the same time, but I’m very happy to say I caught up with him to hear him out.

Kaigwa is a Nairobi, Kenya-based digital marketing expert, consultant, startup founder and advisor, writer, short film maker and online media entrepreneur.

The man runs a few popular sites, including African tech and innovation blogAfrinnovator and online artist community AfricanDigitalArt.

He’s also a super nice guy.

We talked about mobile usage and penetration – there’s expected to be 735 million mobile phones in Africa alone by the end of this year – and a number of interesting technology services coming from and stats about Africa.

Via Robin Wauters/Next Web

Lenovo Mobile Phone Advertising

There's lots I could say about this, but before the world screams "lame" take a closer look to the advertising that worked in the 60's and 70's in developed economies where media literacy was about the same as it is in China's cities. I posted about it over here. That doesn't mean I like this kind of commercial, it just means that everything is contextual. As those who know me are well aware of.