Google knows that Android’s update system sucks
It has been long acknowledged in the tech industry that Android’s system of updates, which relies on phone manufacturers and carriers to roll out updates, …
Articles by Chris Mills
Don’t text and drive in Canada, or cops will bust you with this camera rig
Texting and driving is a menace that’s up there with chugging vodka while at the wheel, and cops the world over are slowly cracking down …
Robots could be the key to moving iPhone production stateside
A report today from the South China Morning Post claims that Foxconn, Apple’s longtime manufacturing partner, has replaced over half of its workforce with robots. That’s bad …
If the future of virtual reality looks like this, we’re all doomed
Our dystopian, tech-dominated future is always said to be an ad-invested hell where we’re all slaves to our devices. But what would that actually look …
Xiaomi’s new drone is insanely cheap
A couple years ago, DJI made quadcopter drones easy to fly, and just about affordable — its top-end models have always hovered around $1200. Xiaomi is a …
Fitbit’s inaccurate heart-rate tracking can ‘put consumers at risk’
Fitbit is currently embroiled in a class-action lawsuit over the accuracy of its heart-rate tracking. As part of their case, the plaintiffs commissioned a scientific …
These three dumb examples prove that copyright is broken
If you’ve spent a significant amount of time on the internet, you’ve probably heard of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), the badly-thought-out piece of …
The modular iPhone is here, and it’s ugly as hell
Modular phones are in vogue this year: Google’s pushing ahead with plans for its own handset with interchangeable cameras and speakers, while LG has already …
Twitter hopes changing its 140-character limit will Make Twitter Great Again
Twitter has been fighting for relevancy over the last few years: Snapchat took away its tweens, Facebook took away the argumentative uncles, and Twitter is …
India’s tiny space shuttle is adorably cute
The pinnacle of the space race was the shuttle battle: America’s flew repeatedly, and Russia’s…didn’t. India is the latest country to enter the space shuttle …
Courts use a ‘Minority Report’ crime prediction algorithm, and it’s incredibly racist
I was somewhat surprised to learn that courts use software to predict the likelihood of criminals reoffending. But I was far less surprised to learn …
Right now, Lyft is cheaper than the subway in NYC
Uber and Lyft have made taking a car to get around a surprisingly affordable method of transportation. But right now, the rivalry between the two is …
iPhones will finally get the OLED screens they deserve
Apple’s iPhones have long used LCD screen technology, which is great, if you like settling for second-best. OLED panels are lighter, look better, and can …
Indiegogo is trying to make itself suck less
Indiegogo is the lesser-known cousin of Kickstarter, and it has something of a bad reputation for harboring particularly unrealistic crowdfunding campaigns (Lazer Razor, anyone?). To …
This 3-D printed motorbike is absurdly light
3-D printing has been used to make all sorts of products of increasing complexity, including rockets for spacecraft and engine components. But it’s not until …
The five most important announcements from Google’s mammoth conference
Google I/O is finally winding down, after three days of announcements on announcements. I/O is a developer conference, so a lot of the features on …
Google and Levi’s will release a touch-sensitive jacket, out later this year
Touch-sensitive clothing has been one of the promised inventions coming in ‘just a few years’ for a while now. But with a partnership between Google …
Apple’s stores have gone from serious to absurd in 15 years
Yesterday, Apple unveiled the “future of retail” in its new San Francisco store. The new location is absurdly overhyped: it has “forums” and “groves” rather …
The best thing about Android N might be these stunning wallpapers
Android N won’t be released to the general public for a few months, but you don’t have to wait to get your hands on its …
While no one was looking, Chromebooks became surprisingly popular
For me, Chromebooks have always existed like flossing: I’m aware of it as a concept, and I know it’s a big part of some people’s …
Apple is stealing another great feature from developers for the next OS X
Apple has a strong history of taking ideas from third-party and adding them into later releases of iOS and OS X — just ask F.lux, …
‘Drive’ would be very different if Ryan Gosling was an Uber driver
Drive is a great thriller movie with just the right amount of leather gloves and sex for a criminals. But what if Ryan Gosling were an …
You can now use your phone to get cash from ATMs
There’s still a lot of places that can’t take mobile payments, but everyone likes cash. So it’s a big deal that starting today, select Bank …
Noted Apple critic Donald Trump secretly holds $1 million in stock
Donald Trump spent a large part of February bashing Apple over its battle with the FBI, and called for a boycott of Apple “until such time …
Researchers have created flexible batteries that never need to be recharged
One of my biggest gripes with today’s smartwatches is charging — specifically, that I have to plug in my wristputer every night, or it becomes …
This is why you shouldn’t livestream your baby’s birth on Facebook
A Facebook Live stream made headlines on Monday, as father-in-the-making Kali Kanongata’a livestreamed his baby’s birth on Facebook Live. Only, Kanongata’a didn’t realize he was livestreaming to …
This crazy photo from the Space Station helps put Canada’s wildfire in perspective
The Fort McMurray wildfire has captured devastation on a scale most of us can’t comprehend. Images from the ground and satellites have helped quantify the …
This is the worst smartphone gadget to ever grace the internet
In a world of Bluetooth-connected fart trackers and hipster-friendly tinfoil hats, I am aware that describing a Kickstarter as “the worst” is a bold claim. …
Google’s VR play is all about content, not hardware
The big arguments in VR right now are all about hardware: Oculus Rift vs HTC Vive, Gear VR against a phantom Apple VR, Playstation VR …
In the future, you won’t even have to install Android apps to use them
Google’s I/O is a developer conference, which means we get a lot of technical, behind-the-scenes details. Most of them aren’t interesting to people who don’t …
