Tech round-up for Oct. 1

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Categories Consumer technology | Video games

Here’s a look at the week that was in the world of technology.

Lots riding on BlackBerry’s new Passport mobile device

BlackBerry had a pretty good first week with its new Passport. The company claims it sold 200,000 of the passport-sized devices in its first week, which outstripped supply. That, combined with a narrower loss than was predicted by financial analysts, helped the share prices of the Canadian tech company to jump a bit.

This week, the Passport launched in India, the territory where BlackBerry CEO John Chen says is critical to the revival of the company.

Concern over bending iPhone 6 Plus

Among the other important topics of discussion last week was whether Apple’s new iPhones were subject to bending. To my horror, a new hashtag was born: #bendgate.

First, a bending mobile device is not even close to being the same level of importance as something like the break-ins at the Watergate office complex in 1972, and to co-opt that term is offensive.

Second, aluminium is pliable, and will bend when enough force is applied to it. People who want to be able to carry a mobile in their front pocket should probably choose a smaller device.

Third, it’s not even a big deal, as Consumer Reports proved using the scientific method.

Hooray for science.

Social networks for the rest of us

There’s a new social network that, as with all social network things these days, became all the rage in just a few days last week. Part of the appeal is the fact to to join Ello you need to be invited. A similar strategy has been used by many other companies to drive demand. Remember when Google first started handing out email addresses?

The thing that sets Ello apart is it’s manifesto. An excerpt:

Your social network is owned by advertisers…. We believe there is a better way. We believe in audacity. We believe in beauty, simplicity and transparency. We believe that the people who make things and the people who use them should be in partnership.

Ello is not to be confused with Netropolitan, “the world’s most exclusive online community” where it costs US$9,000 to join and another $3,000 annually to be a member.

For the record, I’m not a member of either network. Yet.

Self-driving cars are coming

Google’s been experimenting with driverless cars, and now Elon Musk claims that his company, Tesla Motors, will have “autonomous vehicles” available within six years. He also told the Wall Street Journal that they will be “a factor of 10” safer than when people are behind the wheel. The biggest hurdle to overcome? The legal issues.

I’m all for autonomous cars. As long as everybody’s using them. Even blind people can use them. Just watch.

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