electronics

Apple Bans Phone Story App, Game That Shows the "Dark Side" of Smartphones

September 28, 2011

Image: Screenshot via PhoneStory.org

A game called Phone Story, released this week, is designed to allow players to see the dark sides of the technologies we use everyday—from coltan mining in central Africa to high

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Check Your Tech Before You Come To Greenbuild

September 28, 2011

Image credit: screen shot from The Wicker Man

For people coming to Greenbuild and dependent on their electronics, life can be a bit like that bad horror movie where Nicolas Cage is wandering around looking for affordable coverage; it is surprising ho…

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The Acoustic Alarm Plucks A Tune To Wake You Up

September 28, 2011

Images credit Jamie McMahon

Alarm clocks and clock radios are not a pleasant way to start your day. But product designer Jamie McMahon has reinvented it, with a softer, natural tone generated by a rotational pick that plucks guitar strings to wake yo…

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10 Awesome and Cheap DIY Projects for Geeks

September 27, 2011

Photo by rarebeasts via Flickr CC

I’ve been going into craft mode lately. I think it stems from a combination of clinging to summer weekend fun and knowing the holidays are quickly approaching and I need to whip up some gifts. With that in mind I’ve …

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Solar-Powered iPhone Case from Mobius Is A Good Back-Up Plan

September 20, 2011

Image via Amazon.com

Back in early 2009, a solar-power skin for the iPhone was huge news. Now, it’s not quite as unusual but it’s still pretty exciting for iPhone owners. This time, the company is Mobius, and they’re offering a pretty sweet looking c…

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Samsung Evergreen Cell Phone Earns Platinum from UL Environment

September 20, 2011

Images via Samsung

Finally, a green(er) cell phone that looks good. Typically, cell phones that boast green credentials look like something that was on the market in 2005. But the Samsung Evergreen looks up-to-date — and it can brag about earning Pl…

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New E-Waste Recycling Opportunities

September 19, 2011

Photo credit: Logitech

As new electronics are introduced all the time, the piles of e-waste grow and grow. According to the EPA, the United States on the whole throws out over 2 million tons of e-waste a year, which equals nearly 216 million units. W…

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Ask Pablo: Will iPads in the Cockpit Really Lower Airlines’ Paper Use?

September 19, 2011

Photo by comedy_nose via Flickr CC

Dear Pablo: Two airlines have recently switched from paper flight records to iPads. Is this really an environmental improvement?

TreeHugger recently covered news of two airlines (

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Study: Energy Efficiency of Computers Doubling Every 18 Months

September 17, 2011

Photo by bfishadow/CC

Those of us fighting the battle with computer batteries will appreciate this. Batteries have come a long way since the 1990s. For instance, if a MacBook Air were as efficient today as a 1991 computer, the battery would last for …

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Smartphones As "Digital Keys" Coming To Doors Near You

September 15, 2011

Photo by Keith Williamson via Flickr CC

The dematerialization continues, right down to our keys. The plastic ID badges that people hold up to readers at doorways to get into secure areas could soon be replaced by simply holding up your cell phone. Pl…

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