United Arab Emirates Aims to Colonize Mars by 2117

Potentially named City of Wisdom, a fully functioning outpost for 600,000 people on Mars is a new goal for the United Arab Emirates. And the target year happens to be 2117. Appropriately named “Mars 2117,” the project aims to be a multinational effort according to program director Saeed Gergawi. For such an effort to work, transportation to the planet and sustainability efforts would need to …

Putting Light Phone to the Test

Disconnecting from the "pocket computer lifestyle" with this credit card-sized device

When it was announced in 2015, the concept behind the Kickstarter-funded Light Phone felt much like a breath of fresh air. Roughly the size of four stacked credit cards, the device proposed a mobile world free of internet, apps and even texting (unlike the Punkt. MP 01 which was announced a few months later). The Light Phone has its own SIM card and number, but …

Essential Products, the Anti-iPhone, and the Future of Tech

With a few important mantras—one being “simple is always better”—Sidekick- and Android-creator Andy Rubin has launched a new tech company today. Essential Products was born out of the realization that even though tech gadgets are meant to help simplify our lives, they oftentimes do the opposite. Today two products (both set for a summer release) have been announced: an edge-to-edge and top-to-(almost) bottom screen smartphone …