At present, millions of dollars are earned by armed groups in eastern Congo by selling conflict minerals. They use this money for buying more weapons, which are used for brutal violence to continue controlling the mines. The minerals that they trade end up in electronics such as mobile phones and laptops. Dutch firm FairPhone intends to change this situation with their new smartphone made with conflict-free tin and tantalum.
They have met their goal of 5,000 pre-orders for the device which will start to ship within Europe this October. The handset, with dual-SIM support for GSM networks, features a 4.3-inch screen, a quad core CPU, an 8 MP cam, 16GB of internal storage, and an almost stock Jelly Bean, though you can go for any other OS.
Those specs are certainly not the best out there, but their intention is to spread the message for more ethically made electronics. The handset is repairable and they have used materials from artisanal mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which are not run by armed groups. Though the device is not 100% conflict-free, due to the complexities of supply chains, this is surely a good start. They might even be able to launch the device with a case made of recycled plastic.
And the company also cares for those who make the device. They have promised a “living wage” and improved overall working conditions for factory workers who assemble the phone.
If interested, you can pre-order the device here. It costs €350 (about $458). For each phone sold, €3 will go to Closing The Loop, a UK-based foundation which aims to maximize electronics recycling.
Today in Samsung rumours: the Galaxy S4 mini will cost £389.99 according to a UK retail website.
Hand Tech, a UK consumer electronics website, has made the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini available for pre-order with the £390 price tag.
The handset will be available in "black mist" and "white frost". With current frost and mist prices higher than ever, it's not clear if you'll pay less for regular black and white models.
Adding fuel to the raging rumour furnace, a similar price has shown up on the aggressively named Ukrainian tech website, Mobile Arsenal.
Loose lips sink ships
Like a one-handed plumber on his first day, Samsung has had difficulty patching up multiple leaks at once. Information about the Galaxy S4 mini, Galaxy Zoom and the Galaxy Note III has been leaked in recent weeks.
Samsung is expected to unveil many of these devices, and a number of others, at its event on the 20th June in London, which TechRadar will be attending. Check back here for more information.
When EE unleashes its double speed 4G in 10 UK cities in a few weeks time, EE reckons it will see cloud computing come to the fore thanks to speeds up to 80Mbps.
You're unlikely to see that top speed, with EE predicting an average of 24-30Mbps - but that's still faster than a lot of people's home broadband connection.
Mansoor Hanif, EE's director of network integration & LTE, spoke to TechRadar about the real world uses for the faster connection.
"With the double speeds there are applications that use it today, especially with really high quality video, the uplink is amazing. With up to 40-50Mbps uplink, it's fantastic for the cloud," he said.
"That's power in the cloud and it's really going to make the cloud take off."
So you better strap yourself in and assume the brace position.
Power to the devs!
The network is not resting on its laurels either, with Hanif explaining: "We're already focussing on the next steps.
"What we want is an ecosystem which is ready for the next step and the application world needs to follow us. What we'd like to do in London is give a window to the future.
"This means developers in London can test out their apps with the new speeds in advance. We can give them an API and say 'Look, this is coming soon, test it out'.
"By testing it they'll see that they can change the whole way they structure, for example, adaptive video content and they can make it more compelling for the user.
"That is, we believe, a nine month head start for developers in the UK and that's what really makes us passionate as it's an opportunity to bring the centre of the internet from Silicon Valley here to Britain."
That's a pretty bold claim by EE to drag the core of the internet out of the States, and while it may have the ambition it needs to hope developers are up for following it.
Apparently having the 4G playing field to yourself isn't all it's cracked up to be, as the UK's only LTE provider is getting a bit lonely.
Speaking at a press briefing in London EE's Director of Network Integration & LTE, Mansoor Hanif explained the network's position in the market and what it makes of the competition.
"I think they've [O2 and Vodafone] been a little bit unfair with us. We all got a fair shot at rolling out 4G networks fast," he said
"We're happy and we're actually quite surprised the others have been slow, we're feeling a bit lonely."
Join us, but we'll be better
So EE is welcoming the 4G competition and seemingly can't wait for the likes of O2, Three and Vodafone to join the fray later this year, with Hanif adding: "we want clear, fair competition".
There's still plenty of consumers to convert to 4G, as EE confirmed it had hit the half a million mark and is on track to have a million super-fast customers by the end of the year.
That said Hanif still believes EE will offer the best service out there at every stage of 4G's development: "our ambition is to be ahead of everyone else".
It's a taunting battle cry from EE to the other carriers in the UK and you can be sure O2, Vodafone and Three will come out all-guns-blazing when their 4G services launch.
Does Project Glass represent the next big step in mobile communications?
Back in early 2012, before the world had heard of Google Glass, the tech world was ablaze with rumours that the search giant was beavering away on augmented reality goggles.
As the days went by, it was clear that not only was this true, but that Google's dream of wearable technology was far, far closer to release than anyone would have guessed.
TechRadar has had time with the Google Glass Explorer so you can find plenty more information right there.
But what exactly is Google Glass? Why is it attracting all this attention and what are the implications - both good and bad - of having a Google-eye view of the world?
Google Glass and its prism display
What is Google Glass?
Google Glass is an attempt to free data from desktop computers and portable devices like phones and tablets, and place it right in front of your eyes.
Essentially, Google Glass is a camera, display, touchpad, battery and microphone built into spectacle frames so that you can perch a display in your field of vision, film, take pictures, search and translate on the go.
The principle is one that has been around for years in science fiction, and more recently it's become a slightly clunky reality. In fact, the "heads-up display" putting data in your field of vision became a reality as early as 1900 when the reflector sight was invented.
Google Glass options
Google Glass uses display technology instead to put data in front (or at least, to the upper right) of your vision courtesy of a prism screen. This is designed to be easily seen without obstructing your view. According to Google the display is "the equivalent of a 25-inch high definition screen from eight feet away". There's no official word on native resolution, but 640 x 360 has been widely mooted.
Overlaying data into your vision has obvious benefits; many of which are already functional in Google Glass. Directions become more intuitive (although it sounds like there is no GPS on board so you will have to pair it with your phone), you can view real-time translations or transcriptions of what is being said, and you can scroll through and reply to messages - all on the fly.
Google Glass - certainly capturing plenty of attention
The embedded camera obviously does not need a viewfinder because it is simply recording your first-person perspective, allowing you to take snaps or footage of what you are actually seeing.
Any function that requires you to look at a screen could be put in front of you.
Controlling this data is the next neat trick. With a microphone and touchpad on one arm of the frame, you can select what you want to do with a brief gesture or by talking to the device, and Google Glass will interpret your commands.
Google Glass can also provide sound, with bone-induction technology confirmed. This vibrates your skull to create sound, which is both more grisly sounding and much less cumbersome than traditional headphones.
What can Google Glass do?
As well as Google's own list of features, the early apps for Google Glass provide a neat glimpse into the potential of the headset.
As well as photos and film - which require no explanation - you can use the Google hangout software to video conference with your friends and show them what you're looking at.
You'll also be able to use Google Maps to get directions, although with GPS absent from the spec list, you'll need to tether Glass to your phone.
"Is Glass cool and entirely novel? Yes, it certainly is. Is it a device that will change the life of, or even just prove useful to, the average consumer? That's doubtful."
To do that, Google offers the MyGlass app. This pairs your headset with an Android phone. As well as sharing GPS data, this means messages can be received, viewed on the display, and answered using the microphone and Google's voice-to-text functionality.
That functionality will also bring the ability to translate the words being spoken to you into your own language on the display. Obviously you'll need a WiFi connection or a hefty data plan if you're in another country, but it's certainly a neat trick if it works.
The New York Times app gives an idea how news will be displayed when it's asked for: a headline, byline, appropriate image and number of hours since the article was published are displayed.
Google Glass - another reason not to miss your flight
Other cool ideas include a air carrier's suggestion that you could have flight flight details beamed to you while you are waiting at the airport. Basically, the sky's the limit.
If you want to know if Google Glass is any good - TechRadar's Alex Roth spent time with the device and said the following:
"Is Glass cool and entirely novel? Yes, it certainly is. Is it a device that will change the life of, or even just prove useful to, the average consumer? That's doubtful."
What are the Google Glass specifications?
As well as a mooted 640 x 360 display, the built-in camera is a 5MP snapper that can film at 720p.
Battery life is apparently a day, although that's with the usual "typical use" caveat, which probably excludes a lot of videoing.
There's 16GB of flash memory built into the device, although only 12GB will be available for user storage. The device will sync to your Google Drive in the cloud
Bluetooth and WiFi will be built in, but no GPS chip - so the Glass will probably work best alongside an Android phone, although you can pair with any Bluetooth enabled phone.
The frame will come with replacement and adjustable nosepads, and is expected to be both lightweight and extremely robust. It will also have a touchpad along one arm.
The sound will be produced through bone conduction transfer - vibrating your skull to transmit to your ears.
There is a Micro USB cable and charger for the dev versions, and all of the above specs are expected to be replicated in the consumer versions when they arrive.
Lastly, Google Glass will come in five colours: Charcoal, Tangerine, Shale, Cotton and Sky. Using Glass's translation ability to turn that list from marketing speak to plain English, that's black, orange, grey, white and blue.
Google Glass will come in five colours
How much will Google Glass cost?
The Google Glass Explorer (the developer version being sent out now) costs $1,500 - around £985 or AU$1,449.
The consumer versions, which are expected to arrive by the end of 2013, are expected to be a little cheaper, although any actual prices remain speculative. They are unlikely to be super-cheap - but Google's success with the Nexus 7 tablet may prompt the company to subsidise some of the cost.
Google Glass - coming to a developer near you (if you live in the US)
I already wear glasses. Will Google Glasses work for me?
Yes - Google is already working on designer versions which will include prescription lenses.
Google Glass with glasses
Who is providing the competition?
Of course, with something as high profile as Google Glass, every major company has been linked with building a competitor.
Apple and Microsoft are Google's most obvious rivals - and both are rumoured to be working on their own equivalents. Sony has gone so far as to patent a Glass-alike offering. Vuzix, Oakley and Baidu are other numbered among the potential Glass rivals, and they won't be the last.
There is going to be plenty of competition going forward
Interestingly, Google might already be considering its own successor to Glass if this patent is to be believed. The patented design looks more like regular glasses, following the style of Google's potential competitors.
Is Project Glass evil?
Obviously with any new technology there is the potential for misuse - and Google Glass is, of course, a little problematic when it comes to privacy.
Of course, Google would say that it is merely taking the functionality that we already have in our portable devices and making it more readily accessible.
Google Glass - is it evil?
A lot will come down to personal preference. For many, the prospect of being filmed by someone from their glasses will make them uneasy, having conversations logged and transcribed will be divisive, and the inclusion of facial recognition would clearly be problematic.
