We’re talking about circular smartphones and ambitious tech job plans and definitely not the Apple Watch. This is all the news you may have missed yesterday right here on BitStream.
This round smartphone is called the Runcible, and it’s been a year’s work of one three-person startup working out of Berkeley, California. They call it the “anti-smartphone”. The team describes the phone as a challenge to the centuries old rectangle shapes of our books, movie theatres, televisions, laptops, and now smartphones and to get designers and developers thinking in different ways. Although a circular smartphone may seem ridiculous, this isn’t the only company trying to reverse our rectangular consumption habits. With the advent of the smartwatch (especially the round ones), the screens we ceaselessly stare at every day are beginning to change, so maybe Runcible isn’t such a crazy idea after all. [Wired]
Obama has a $US100 million plan to help fill the tech skill job gap. Maybe a four-year college isn’t the answer. [Whitehouse.gov]
Tesla may be the epitome of auto envy in the States, but in China? Not so much. [WSJ]
Apps and Devices
If you don’t have a Z-level Sony smartphone, give up on your dreams of Android Lollipop. Sony isn’t even trying to care about mobile anymore. [Xperia Blog]
Android just pushed out Android 5.1, which overall is just a “stability and performance” update and should be rolling out to Nexus devices first pretty soon. [Android Blog]
VSCO Cam now lets you edit in batches, so you can get shit done, yo. [VSCO Cam]
Need a camera flash attachment for your smartphone? Of course you do. [Kickstarter]
Rumours!
Oppo, creator of the weirdly great N3, also has a smartwatch (of course) only this one can supposedly charge within 5 minutes…I’m listening. [Weibo]
Twitter may buy Periscope, a streaming app that hasn’t even launched yet. RIP Meerkat? [Business Insider]
In other news, this video is all I’ve ever wanted:
What You Might Have Missed on Gizmodo
The New MacBook Isn’t What You Think
Apple’s New MacBook Hands-On: Gorgeous, Featherlight, But a Bit Awkward
A Beginner’s Guide to the Secret Language of Runways
Top Predator’s May Be the Most Important Animals on Earth
Picture: Monohm