Secret Service bought location data pulled from common apps

The Secret Service paid a private company for access to location data generated by common smartphone apps, Motherboard reports. Internal documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request show that the agency spent $35,844 for a o...

Rotary Cellphone: Galaxy Note Senior

It’s a pain to teach older folks how to use a smartphone again and again. It’s time we had a phone that they can use easily, so they stop bothering us. This is perfect. YouTube’s Mr. Volt built a custom cellphone out of aluminum, brass, and wood with a working rotary dial – just like the old days!

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It’s super old-school, thanks to its brick-like form factor and hefty weight. The other features are equally dated, like a tiny OLED display, enough memory to store one phone number, and an FM radio. Your grandparents are going to love this. If I’m being honest, it looks pretty damn cool and retro. I would use it.

Who are we kidding? Grandma is still going to have questions. Hopefully not as many.

[via Gizmodo]

This Samsung G8 Concept has us Salivating

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While anticipation for the Samsung Galaxy S7 is building, designer Steel Drake is cooking up ideas for the 8! This next-gen Galaxy features all new dimensions, a new “pointier” edge, and it’s been stripped entirely of connector holes for charging or PC syncing. In an effort to go almost entirely wireless, it relies solely on inductive charging and cordless connectivity. All that and a spiffy new logo to match the new look. So what’dya think? Is this the G of tomorrow?

Dimensions:
141.0 mm
72.0 mm
6.8 mm

Designer: Steel Drake

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A Step Towards Phone-Freedom

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Without a screen or a keypad, the design of this phone aims to strip away all the excess functions of a modern mobile phone and only keep its most fundamental parts. As such, the device can also serve as a wallet or a business card case, allowing one to carry less in the pockets. This design also addresses the issue of global smartphone addiction. The designer deliberately suppressed the components that made the phone convenient to use in order to free people from their reliance on their smartphones, while still offering them a device which has the essential functionalities of a mobile phone to communicate with each other wirelessly.The exterior of the device is made of wood, linen, and straw fabric to express an eco-conscious and environmentally friendly motif. The screen-less and keypad-less design makes it easy to answer a call but difficult to dial a call. It is easy to remember the location to press to pick up the call, but more difficult to remember the sequence to dial a number. This embedded complexity will reduce the number of unnecessary calls one makes.

This concept is a Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2105 winner.

Designer: Guo Qing

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Less Than One

The latest from OnePlus enthusiast, Hege, this modern redesign of the One, called “11”, imagines the fledgling Chinese company’s minimalist smartphone as… well… more minimal! Focusing on the tangible user experience, the concept features embedded buttons that require a slightly more aggressive push to activate. All physical buttons are integrated into the side of the phone, giving it an even thinner profile than its predecessors. Hit the jump for the specs —>

Display size: 4.5, 4.7, 5.0

Designer: Hege








A Phone for Throwback Thursday

From the designer of the uber-hip Macintosh Phone comes another tribute to devices past. The Sony Talkman Smartphone takes inspiration from the brand’s iconic 1979 Walkman. Although the concept sports a 5″ screen & has dimensions comparable to today’s flagship models, it sets itself apart from the more “minimalist” competition through the use of chunky & tactile buttons within an asymmetric aluminium housing sporting a two tone colour scheme. High end DAC, an analogue volume controller, a dedicated line out as well as front spacing stereo speakers mean audiophiles will love!

Designer: Pierre Cerveau

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Yanko Design
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(A Phone for Throwback Thursday was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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Sustainable Shell Smartphone

The HTC GO GREEN is an evolution of Peter Dudas’ HTC ONE M8 that focuses on sustainability. Rather than a brushed aluminum unibody frame, the design features precision-bent bamboo for a look that’s natural, warm and more eco-friendly. Like its predecessor, users can expect the same warp speed performance, serious battery life and a super HD display.

Designer: Peter Dudas

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(Sustainable Shell Smartphone was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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A Blast from the Past Phone

The Macintosh Phone Concept is exactly as it sounds! This novel device explores how Apple’s flagship product might’ve looked and worked had it been released 20 years before the first iPhone. The concept revolves around a vintage-looking dial that can be used to scroll up/down the screen or used like a rotary phone. Practical for our reliance today? Probably not. But with this, you’re sure to be the most dedicate fanboy hipster on the block.

Designer: Pierre Cerveau

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Yanko Design
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(A Blast from the Past Phone was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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Android that Makes Sense

Inspired from the original hTc ONE M8, this simplified concept is immediately recognizable in terms of its functionality. Main parts of its aesthetic character include a brushed metal unibody frame, dual front-facing speakers, and a contoured rear side. As for usability, users can expect warp speed performance, serious battery life and a super HD display.

Designer: Peter Dudas

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Yanko Design
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(Android that Makes Sense was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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Go Totally Wireless!

From the creators of the acclaimed Augment modular charging solution comes ON: the phone case that adapts your iPhone to charge wirelessly! Of course, the charger works with any Qi device, but it’s the case that rids you of that one cumbersome peripheral… the cable! See it in action —>

Designer: Rubix

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Yanko Design
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Shop CKIE - We are more than just concepts. See what's hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(Go Totally Wireless! was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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