As developers for tablets and smartphones we like to keep abreast of the latest mobile technology developments . This is a daily digest of mobile development and related technology news gathered from the BBC, the New York Times, New Scientist and the Globe and Mail to name a few. We scour the web for articles concerning, iPhone, iPad and android development, iOS and android operating systems as well as general articles on advances in mobile technology. We hope you find this useful and that it helps to keep you up to date with the latest technology developments.
China's Huawei sees sales jump 19%
Chinese telecom equipment and smartphone maker Huawei reports a 19% jump in sales to 135.8bn yuan ($21.9bn; £12.8bn) for the first six months of the year.
In Comcast/Time Warner Merger, Public Interest Is Paramount
New York State’s Public Service Commission (PSC) is currently reviewing Comcast’s plan to purchase Time Warner Cable for over $45 billion, a merger which would link the nation’s two largest cable companies. This merger has the potential to affect millions of New Yorkers who rely on Time Warner Cable for TV, phone, and internet access at home and at their place of business. As a result, it is critical that state and federal regulators review the proposal to determine whether it is truly in the best interests of consumers.
On Monday, I submitted testimony to the PSC, urging it to do just that. For Comcast, this is an opportunity to do the right thing by introducing itself to the New York market as a company that values equitable access and understands that its product–the fourth utility of the modern age–must be available to all New Yorkers. If Comcast fails to provide a detailed, practical plan to both address the ongoing digital divide in New York City and ensure its long-term commitment to net neutrality, the PSC should reject the merger.
As Gotham’s residents know all too well, our city is stuck in an internet stone age. According to a study by the Open Technology Institute at the New America Foundation, New Yorkers not only endure slower internet service than similar cities in other parts of the world, but we also pay higher prices for that substandard service.
Today, nearly 3 million New York City residents lack internet access at home and many entrepreneurs who hoped to launch businesses in former industrial districts within the five boroughs have had to abandon (PDF) those plans after discovering high-speed internet connections were not available.
While there is a significant digital divide in New York on socioeconomic lines, the truth is that no neighborhood is immune from poor internet. As a report (PDF) I issued last year found, from Tribeca to Tompkinsville, the Upper East Side to East Flatbush, the South Bronx to Sheepshead Bay, communities across the city and throughout the state are affected by poor broadband.
To date, Comcast’s effort to close the digital divide have focused on its “Internet Essentials” program, which provides internet access to low-income Americans for $10 a month. However, the program’s limited eligibility has kept connectivity beyond the reach of millions of Americans. For instance, the program is not offered to childless couples or low-income individuals.
A recent analysis of customers in Time Warner Cable’s service area found that of the 4.6 million households that earn less than the amount that would qualify them for the federal government’s free and reduced-price lunch program, only 1.7 million would qualify for Internet Essentials.
The PSC should press Comcast to significantly expand the reach of Internet Essentials and to provide a concrete outreach plan to communities that have low rates of internet use.
Comcast not only has a duty to work to close the digital divide, but also must ensure that the internet remains a place where all people can engage in robust discussion on an equal footing and where the power of ideas, rather than the size of one’s pocketbook, guides the marketplace. That’s why the PSC must carefully examine Comcast’s commitment to net neutrality.
In recent months, Comcast has squeezed additional payment out of content providers, such as Netflix, in exchange for preferential access to its network.
This type of arrangement is concerning, because if fiber-optic networks are up for sale to the highest bidder, it both threatens to undermine the entrepreneurial energy of the internet and could also lead to higher prices for consumers to access content. Simply put: a merger without a commitment to the principles of net neutrality is not in the public interest.
Under a new law signed by Governor Cuomo in April, cable companies must affirmatively demonstrate that mergers are in the public interest in order to secure approval.
As a result, the PSC has a duty to hold Comcast’s feet to the fire and ensure that its proposed merger with Time Warner will not only protect consumers, but will contribute to an internet infrastructure that can support a 21st century economy in all five boroughs.
Rewriting the Innovation Code for Latinas in Technology
In preparation for the upcoming Latinas Think Big Innovation Summit this October, at Google’s campus in Silicon Valley, I have been on a quest to identify Latinas around the country who are innovating in technology and across STEM fields.
I admit I stepped into this search with some trepidation – informed by reports and articles that continuously characterize Latinas as avid consumers and early adapters of technology, but significantly less engaged in the creation of new technology tools, in tech entrepreneurship or innovation.
But, as I delved deep into my social media networks, inquiring for names of Latinas who were innovating in technology, I began to see the new faces of innovation. Online research also revealed these new faces – as I pieced together “Top Latinas in STEM or Technology” lists, articles and interviews from online magazines, news digital platforms and blogs. Not surprisingly, I also found many of these women actively engaged on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ communities.
THE REVEAL: OBSERVATIONS AND INSIGHTS
My talent scout for Latinas in technology revealed some interesting observations and insights, three of which I outline below, followed by some recommendations to be considered.
Latinas are Not Just Consumers of Technology,
They are also Technology Innovators
Undeniably, Latinas over index non-Hispanics in the consumption of digital and mobile technology (Nielsen’s report presents robust data on this). But, it is important to recognize that Latinas are, indeed, contributing to and creating new technology tools across college campuses, at work and online. Furthermore, they are leveraging technology to grow their businesses, advance their careers, and create social impact in their communities. To illustrate this point, I highlight three women I recently came across – they will all be speaking at the upcoming Latinas Think Big Innovation Summit.
Meet Lisa Morales-Hellebo, the co-founder of the New York Fashion Tech Lab, an accelerator that she launched with Springboard Enterprises and the Partnership Fund for NYC. Her previous fashion tech startup, Shopsy, leveraged patent pending, smart data, remix technology to allow women to shop online the way they shop offline. Lisa is an alumna of both Springboard Enterprises and TechStars, and currently serves on the Board of Advisors for SNOBSWAP and Voysee.
Meet Zoraida Velasco, the Co-Founder of Dinnergy, an app created to introduce carbon budgeting principles into real world solutions, to bring awareness and foster real action towards energy reduction. The Dinnergy team will be launching the mobile application through a pilot program in partnership with Tufts University Dining Services. The program will focus on reducing emissions across the entire supply chain, providing energy and emissions data to dinning services and students across the campus.
Meet Judy Tomlinson, the CEO of FashionTEQ, a fashion-forward, wearable technology company, which combines high-tech with high fashion in conjunction with smartphone technology. Judy is also the Founder of CCO for AvocSoft, a company focusing on the development of mobile applications featuring simple user interfaces and powerful functionality. AvocSoft has launched a variety of successful applications, some of which have been ranked #1 in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.
There many more Latinas in technology like Lisa, Zoraida and Judy. And, there are a greater number of aspiring and emerging women who are innovating in isolation, detached from the resources, networks and ecosystems necessary to advance their technologies.
Current Accelerator Models Are Not a Good Fit
It is no secret that the high-tech world is ideally suited for white, privileged males (often young and single). Consider the traditional models of accelerators – these are highly selective infrastructures especially designed to help launch and scale new startups. These programs connect tech entrepreneurs to mentorship, advice, practical training, resources, influential networks and investors.
There is a plethora of barriers obstructing women and, especially Latinas, from gaining access to top accelerators like the Y Combinator and TechStar. First, getting into these programs is fiercely competitive, with admissions rates as low as two percent. Second, female founders are a hugely underrepresented minority. In 2011, only four percent of Y Combinator companies had a female founder, increasing to 10 percent in 2013 – an all-time high. We can safely assume that the stats on Latina founders within these accelerators are staggeringly lower. This is precisely why Manos Accelerator, an organization that exclusively focuses on Latin American tech entrepreneurs, matters. Manos’ inaugural class had seven startups – five of them with Latina co-founders.
Yet, even with increased access to these programs, Latinas (and many women, in general) are faced with another limiting barrier: the 12-week commitment to leave their homes (often travel out of state) to immerse themselves in a highly intensive, long hours program. For Latinas, who place a salient value on family, the 12-week commitment is often a deal breaker.
Embracing the “Tech Startup” Label Matters
Consider Airbnb, an online platform that helps connect people who have space to rent with those who are looking for a place to stay. It was recently featured as a tech startup in Fortune Magazine. There are other similar examples of online ventures labeled “tech companies,” including Huffington Post, Care.com and AngiesList.com. Which brings me to Latina bloggers and digital media publishers.
For years, thousands of Latina bloggers and online publishers have been making their mark on the blogosphere, publishing relevant and informative content across all life-style areas. For a significant number of Latina bloggers, these online platforms are a business – they connect brands to targeted audiences, write product reviews, promote brand campaigns, write advertorials, and monetize incoming traffic with a range of ads and affiliate programs.
Yet, their business models have remained constrained within the blogging practice when, in fact, a large percent of Latina bloggers are tech entrepreneurs. Clara Gonzales is a good example. She is the Founder of DominicanCooking.com, a hugely popular online collection of traditional Dominican recipes. Since 2001, Clara, an Industrial Designer by profession, has monetized her platform using smart business models and scaling up to reach millions of people. She is, indeed, a tech entrepreneur running a tech company.
Do the tech startup and tech entrepreneur labels matters? Absolutely. Identifying Latina bloggers (who monetize their platforms) as tech entrepreneurs allows them to be included in a new conversation, and opens up new opportunities for business growth, support and funding.
RECOMMENDATIONS
How do we begin to address and close the innovation divide, as it pertains to Latinas in this country? This is an important conversation, and one that includes a policy-driven top-bottom approach, in combination with a grassroots bottom-up approach. Below, are three recommendations as starting points.
Local/Regional Latina-Focused Tech Networking Events Are Needed
Face-to-face connections with other like-minded Latinas and tech influencers can have a profound impact on the retention of Latinas’ enthusiasm and aspirations as tech entrepreneurs. Creating networking spaces and networking opportunities fosters role modeling, collaboration, guidance and exchange of ideas/resources. The upcoming Latinas Think Big Innovation Summit aims to achieve these goals.
Bring the Incubator/Accelerator to Her
Given Latinas’ high digital connectivity, virtual incubators/accelerators are an ideal model for reaching Latinas who do not have luxury of participating in traditional program models, where in-person attendance is required. While virtual accelerator programs are beginning to emerge, none are exclusively focused on the specific needs of Latina tech entrepreneurs.
One Size Accelerators Do Not Fit All
The level of expertise, experience and resources among Latina tech entrepreneurs is wide ranged. Programs designed to help advance their startups need to be flexible and accommodating, without sacrificing quality of training and mentorship. Besides flexibility in program structure, flexibility in time to achieving milestones is key. Programs need to meet Latina founders where they are at – in their startup journey. While some women might need 12-weeks to complete the program, others might need much more than that. Flexible incubators will offer Latina tech entrepreneurs more control over their startup experience, and a greater sense of self-efficacy, as they are able to better manage both their personal and professional commitments.
College Campuses as Pre-Incubators for Aspiring Latina Innovators
An increasing number of colleges are offering coding courses, computer science majors, entrepreneurship programs and access to innovation labs. Connections to mentors, resources and even seed funding might also be available through colleges, making these educational environments ideal tech ecosystems and incubators for aspiring Latinas innovators. Creating these opportunities at Hispanic-serving institutions, in particular, will help level the playing field for aspiring and emerging Latinas in tech.
REWRITING THE INNOVATION CODE FOR LATINAS IN TECH
Efforts to significantly advance Latinas in technology will require the identification and implementation of disruptive models to meet their needs and circumstances. The tech space needs an innovation makeover, with women – and Latinas of all walks of life – in mind. Most importantly, the technology industry needs to recognize that an industry without women representation is an industry in crisis.
Our country’s global economic power and influence greatly depends on our innovation competitiveness. Investing in the innovation of the fastest growing female population might yield the best return-on-investment in this country’s recent history.
Join us at the Latinas Think Big Innovation Summit, to continue this conversation.
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Wall Street Journal's Facebook Page Hacked
The Wall Street Journal’s Facebook page was hacked by an unknown source Sunday morning.
The hacker made false claims that a U.S. Air Force One crash had occurred. The post came on the heels of the Malaysian Airlines plane that was shot down on Thursday, killing all 298 people on board.
A second hacked post said that Vice President Joe Biden was set to address the nation regarding the crash.
Looks like The Wall Street Journal’s Facebook page got hacked. pic.twitter.com/elCUBVOzKF
— Erica Peterson (@erica_RPC) July 20, 2014
The Wall Street Journal eventually deleted the posts and informed its readers that it had been “compromised.”
Post by The Wall Street Journal.
The hacking was reminiscent of a similar incident in April 2013, when the Associated Press’ Twitter account was hacked by the Syrian Electronic Army. The tweet claimed that President Obama was injured after two explosions hit the White House. This past December, the Washington Post was also hacked, compromising employee usernames, passwords and other personal information.
(h/t: Mashable)
5 Livestreams from the Hackers on Planet Earth Conference You Can Watch Now
Here’s today’s essential livesetream for anybody really interested in governmental and corporate, well, dominance, of our private lives, the use of technology to fight for human rights here and overseas, or net neutrality — which to be certain, isn’t merely about traffic speeds, it’s about the idea that like humans, “All bytes are created equal” and when a company can shut down a site for donating to Wikileaks but you can still donate to the KKK via, say, PayPal (whatever your view of either), Net Neutrality is irrefutably already DEAD. Here’s a link to the live-stream to the HOPE — Hackers On Planet Earth conference’s final day, happening now, in New York City. Here’s to a Sunday well-spent, binge-streaming.
To watch the live feed which can be switched from three rooms: The Manning Room, The Serpico Room and The Oslen Room click HERE The Manning room is the default room; when you arrive there, you can click on the options above the video window to go to another panel.
Here’s a select listing from today’s twenty-five panels which might be of interest and can all be streamed live:
Teaching Electronic Privacy and Civil Liberties to Government 12PM
A look at the differences and commonalities twixt privacy rights advocates and well-meaning government employees who want to do their jobs faithfully whilst respecting the rights of their fellow citizens, to ensure that, as the program guide notes “privacy and civil liberties are as important to democracy as is security”
The Science of Surveillance, 1PM
A data-based examination of the limits placed on The NSA, measured against actual practices, measured against constitutional parameters.
Travel Hacking with The Telecom Informer 2PM
Starting from the premise that “If you think like a hacker, travel doesn’t have to be expensive” this panel promises to teach you how to score “tickets for an around-the-world trip for under $219, and how you can also travel for little or nothing.”
North Korea – Using Social Engineering and Concealed Electronic Devices to Gather Information in the World’s Most Restrictive Nation 4PM
The title is self-explanatory
Self-Publishing Success 4PM
Again the title is self-explantory; many of us have become jaded about self-publishing and this panel expaining how to use existing platforms for fun and profit may give you some new ideas, and restore your faith in that book you’ve been meaning to write.
The schedule for today’s panels, all of which can be live-streamed, can be found HERE
New App eEcosphere Aims To Change How We Share Sustainability Ideas
There are many websites, phone apps, and books telling us how to “be green,” “save energy” or “reduce your carbon footprint.” There are dozens of labels claiming a product is ecofriendly or carbon neutral. But just having that information doesn’t mean that we will use it. Which sources can we trust? Why should we be motivated to do what they say? These questions continue to plague those in the advocacy community and those who just want to help others live a more sustainable lifestyle.
Andrew Krause, co-founder of eEcosphere, hopes the app can help address these problems. It offers sharable, easy advice on how to make your life more sustainable.
“Our vision is to help people, specifically millennials, connect with actionable ideas in their network so they can work together, near each other or from afar, on the causes that matter to them,” Krause told The Huffington Post. He says he knows they cannot compete with general social networks like Facebook and Twitter, so they hope to use them as a tool to spread sustainable ideas.
When it comes down to it, Krause says, trust is more important than information in decision making. On top of this, the main source of behavior change is social comparison — “people like to be similar to others,” he says. That’s why sharing and seeing what others are doing makes up a big part of eEcosphere. The app will allow users to cooperate on different sustainability goals that are straightforward and specific, for example suggesting that you “bring a takeout container to a restaurant” instead of just “reduce food waste.”
eEcosphere’s developers hope to use collaboration and planning to make you and your friends more sustainability-minded. The app allows you to complete “challenges” to figure out how to green a certain area of your life and add these ideas to your “plan.” It also allows any user to post ideas for being more sustainable. User’s suggestions range from the familiar – “hang your clothes to dry” – to the more out there “stop washing your jeans.”
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The app also features ideas from businesses with sustainable ideas – for example, a challenge by Justin’s, an all-natural nut butter company, helped users figure out how to make their homes more bee-friendly to help protect vital bee populations.
Once you complete an idea, you post a picture of it. When you complete “the eat less meat” idea, for example, post a picture of the water-saving, emissions-reducing vegetarian dinner you made. This then shows up as a completed idea on your plan. You can see what your friends and others are completing and share on Facebook and Twitter. The app’s developers hope that because sharing is easy and because photos add transparency and accountability, they will be able to create a network of sharing personal, actionable ideas.
The app has been released for iOS and you can download it here. Krause says they hope to build the app and its community “around the lifestyle that people want using sustainability as a lens, not a destination.”
Rand Paul Mocks Obamas For Wanting Daughters To Have Minimum Wage Jobs
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) questioned President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama for wanting their children to have minimum wage jobs, telling a crowd of Silicon Valley Republicans that he has “opposite” hopes for his own sons.
Speaking at San Francisco’s Reboot conference Saturday, Paul criticized the Obamas for wanting their teenage daughters, Malia and Sasha, to experience minimum wage work.
“The minimum wage is a temporary [thing],” Paul said, according to Politico. “It’s a chance to get started. I see my son come home with his tips. And he’s got cash in his hand and he’s proud of himself. I don’t want him to stop there. But he’s working and he’s understanding the value of work. We shouldn’t disparage that.”
Paul’s remarks came in response to an interview the Obamas gave to Parade Magazine in June, during which the president and first lady described their own experiences with minimum wage work.
“I think every kid needs to get a taste of what it’s like to do that real hard work,” Michelle Obama said when asked if she wants her daughters to get similar work experience.
“We are looking for opportunities for them to feel as if going to work and getting a paycheck is not always fun, not always stimulating, not always fair,” the president added. “But that’s what most folks go through every single day.”
Paul, who has been a somewhat frequent visitor to Silicon Valley in recent months, also knocked the president as unfriendly to the tech industry and questioned the logic of Bay Area residents voting Democratic.
“I come out here and people say, ‘We loved President Obama, you know. We’re all for President Obama. We’re from the tech community,’” Paul said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “Why? Why would you be? He’s not for innovation. He’s not for freedom. He’s for the protectionism crowd. You know he’s for the crowd that would limit the activities of these companies.”
He also urged tech executives to take a stand against the National Security Agency’s controversial surveillance tactics, pressing Silicon Valley leaders to “pledge that they will fight tooth and nail against the government” in favor of civil liberties.
“If someday the public thinks that Gmail equals government mail, and you’re not being protected, the backlash will not only be against government – it will be against private entities,” Paul warned, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Thanks for reading our digest. Opinions in the articles above are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Digital Workshed ltd.