The European Union has adopted new regulations regarding batteries that could extend the lifespan of gadgets, cut back on electronic waste, and generally improve sustainability. While the regulations apply to all sorts of batteries and covers things like waste collection and use of recycled materials, one section has been gathering a lot of attention: smartphones […]
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The EU wants to make it easier to replace your laptop or smartphone battery
In a few years it’s possible that nearly every new battery-powered product sold in the European Union may need to have a user-replaceable battery. Members of the of the EU Parliament have drafted an agreement that would take effective three and a half years after the final legislation is passed. While the rule would apply […]
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5 Comments on Apple could allow third-party app stores on iPhones and iPads to comply with EU regulations
Apple could allow third-party app stores on iPhones and iPads to comply with EU regulations
5 Comments on Apple could allow third-party app stores on iPhones and iPads to comply with EU regulationsWant to install an app or game on an iPhone or iPad? The only official ways to do that are to get them from the App Store or set up a developer account. And that’s been the case since the App store first launched in 2008. But according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark […]
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All phones sold in the EU will need USB-C ports starting December 28, 2024
Most modern Android smartphones feature USB-C ports, but soon that might be a requirement for all phones sold in Europe… including iPhones. After announcing a provisional agreement in June  to create “a single charging solution for certain electronic devices,” the European Union has finalized that agreement and announced that starting December 28, 2024 all new […]
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Lilbits: PC shipments are falling, 16 inch iPad rumored, and the Fire TV Cube 3 is now shipping
6 Comments on Lilbits: PC shipments are falling, 16 inch iPad rumored, and the Fire TV Cube 3 is now shippingDemand for personal computers rose toward the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, as a growing number of people found themselves working and taking classes from home. But now it looks like demand is falling considerably. According to a report from Counterpoint, shipments fell by double-digits between Q3, 2021 and Q3, 2022. Most top PC makers […]
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Lilbits: EU could mandate longer life-spans for phones, Motorola Edge 30 Ultra and Fusion leaked
3 Comments on Lilbits: EU could mandate longer life-spans for phones, Motorola Edge 30 Ultra and Fusion leakedA growing number of phone makers are promising to support their phones by offering as many as five years of software updates. In some cases they’re even making spare parts and repair manuals available for folks who want to fix their own hardware at home. But European officials are considering regulations that would make long-term […]
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Lilbits: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 and Flip4 leaked just as global smartphone shipments are falling
2 Comments on Lilbits: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 and Flip4 leaked just as global smartphone shipments are fallingSamsung’s next foldables are on their way… and a series of leaks give us a pretty good idea of what they’ll look like. Unsurprisingly, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 will look like a small tablet that folds in half like a book to give you a pocket-sized smartphone, while the Galaxy Z Flip4 will […]
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Lilbits: Psion 5MX meets a Raspberry Pi Zero, EU court overturns Qualcomm’s €1 billion antitrust fine
6 Comments on Lilbits: Psion 5MX meets a Raspberry Pi Zero, EU court overturns Qualcomm’s €1 billion antitrust fineThe Psion Series 5 line of PDAs released in the late 90s looked like tiny laptop computers, complete with QWERTY keyboards laid out in a way that even let you touch-type on a device small enough to fold in half and put in your pocket. While they never really became as popular as the smartphones, […]
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Lilbits: What Europe’s antitrust crackdown on big tech could mean for users around the globe
1 Comment on Lilbits: What Europe’s antitrust crackdown on big tech could mean for users around the globeThe European Union is poised to adopt new antitrust rules for the biggest tech companies that could have widespread consequences for online advertising, app stores, and interoperability of messaging apps. Imagine being able to install a third-party app store on an iPhone, for example, or use Signal to send messages to your contacts who only […]
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Netflix to temporarily reduce streaming quality in Europe to cut down on network congestion (Update: YouTube, Amazon, Apple, and Disney too)
4 Comments on Netflix to temporarily reduce streaming quality in Europe to cut down on network congestion (Update: YouTube, Amazon, Apple, and Disney too)One side effect of the coronavirus pandemic is that a lot of people across the world are staying home… and getting online. In Europe, that’s led to increased network usage… and congestion. So EU officials reached out to Netflix, and asked the company to do its part to reduce network congestion in order to ensure […]