Mobile Technology

Back in 2020, Google kicked off a project to crowdsource signals from Android phones that an earthquake might be imminent. This global earthquake detection grid worked rather well, and delivered millions of alerts ahead of a shake.

The Fairphone Gen 6 is here, and in addition to being repairable at home, it packs a neat little trick. A bright lime green physical slider instantly activates a dumbphone mode so you can focus on more important things than doomscrolling.

If you've been hankering to type on a physical keyboard on your phone again, Unihertz wants to sort you out. Its Titan 2 phone looks like it's modeled on beloved BlackBerry handsets, while packing Android 15 and up-to-date hardware.

Portable projectors can bring moving pictures to the campsite or presentations to isolated work places. Smartphones add comms and cameras to the equation. And powerbanks can keep things going. The Tank 4 Pro from 8849 combines all three, and more.

Ricoh's Theta 360-degree camera has come a long way since it first appeared in hammerhead concept form at CES 2013. Now the company has toughened up the panoramic immersion machine so it can get to work in extreme environments.

They're chunky and heavy, and not the most attractive handsets around. But rugged phones are designed to shake off abuse, while boasting huge batteries and useful tools. The latest model from Ulefone has all that in spades, plus pocket cinema chops.

Though slim is in as far as smartphones are concerned, they're probably not going to be the first choice for adventurous types. That's likely to be a multi-function rugged phone, such as the latest night-vision beast from FossiBot.

Oukitel has launched what it's calling as the world's first industrial-grade modular rugged phone, the WP300. It's seriously tough, but also the most fun I've had with a smartphone in a long time.

Unlike current translation devices that focus on one speaker, researchers have just developed a pair of headphones that can determine how many people are speaking, follow them through space, and translate each person's words as a separate stream.

Rugged smartphone specialist Doogee has added a new model to its V Max family, which is pitched as the first starter-level flagship phone. As well as being a tough cookie, the handset packs a huge battery, 120-Hz screen and dual camping lights.

Working all day on a laptop with a backlit display can be very tiring for the eyes, but what if you have more than one screen in front of you? E Ink monitors can help, and the latest from Dasung boasts a fast refresh rate and enhanced color.

Onyx Boox has launched a color ePaper version of its 13.3-inch Tab X productivity slate, which can be used with the new stylus input or optioned with a keyboard case for a laptop-like experience.

Back in 2023, tech startup Sightful developed a hardware/software system that put a huge virtual computer screen in front of your eyes. Now the company has dropped the hardware component and tweaked the software to work with AI laptops.

Once the domain of paperback replacements, E Ink has branched out to try and compete with tablets and monitors. But low refresh rates can be frustrating. Improving this has been a focus for Dasung, and now its quick-refresh monitor has launched.

Storing 100s of books on a digital device is a great way to satisfy your thirst for adventure without needing lots of shelving. But e-readers don't feel book-like. Now E Ink has partnered with Readmoo to launch the first foldable color e-book reader.