1. RIM’s Imminent Demise Could Extend
the Casualty Toll beyond Fiscal Figures
Things are looking up in the world of technology, with every other advancement
bringing the present closer and closer to the future promised by past
speculations. Nowhere was this more apparent than at Apple’s recently
concluded World Wide Developers Convention (WWDC) 2012, where despite the
palpable absence of the iPhone 5, crowds were nevertheless wowed by the iOS
6 presentation and its take on what “future awesomeness” we can expect in the
coming months after the mobile operating system sees a commercial release
(and hopefully, alongside the iPhone 5).
The BlackBerry World 2012 convention held the month prior, however, wasn’t
doing Research In Motion any favors. While the BlackBerry 10 presentation may
have put some people’s hopes up for a possible resurgence for the company,
the WWDC quickly dashed those propitious notions, possibly even prompting
some former Berry stalwarts to finally trade in BlackBerrys for iPhones.
Source: TechnoGoBlog
http://technogoblog.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/rims-imminent-demise-could-extend-the-casualty-toll-beyond-fiscal-figures/

2. What each company brought to the technological table is a topic for another
time. Instead, I thought I’d delve a bit into what an inevitable consequence of
this development will be. Strictly speaking, the consequence I will be talking
about isn’t anything new. However, it will be significantly magnified by Apple’s
exciting upcoming forays and RIM’s supposed eventual downfall.
Yep, I’m talking about the impact this will have on the environment. Whether it’s
in selling BlackBerrys and other gadgets to purchase the upcoming iDevices, or if
it’s in throwing away old gadgets to make way for the new arrivals, the end
result is the same: E-waste.
E-waste (short for electronic waste) is a type of pollution where not only are
plastics and silicon filling up dumpsites (with both already notoriously difficult to
recycle as they are), but harmful chemicals as well. These chemicals like lead,
cadmium, and beryllium leak from batteries, capacitors, and other electric
components, endangering the environment with direct-damage effects right
out of the gate. This two-pronged attack by e-waste (the solid and the chemical
varieties) has become a major concern since the proliferation of personal
electronic gadgets, necessitating a specific counter-solution: E-recycling.
E-recycling has a few major elements to it that define it. The first is that it is a
refurbishing and reselling of discarded electronics to prolong their lifespan, and
by extension to also delay the accumulation in landfills. The second is that since
the gadgets sold are essentially second-hand despite looking and working like
brand new, they go for lower price points than usual, making them a more
attractive choice for budget-conscious consumers. The last element – and
probably the most important one – is that parts which aren’t usable get
disposed of under the strictest compliance of green standards. These three
elements combine to give the most effective solution yet to the threat of e-
waste.
With Research In Motion’s end becoming more and more apparent, I am
tempted to sell my BlackBerry back for an iPhone 5 myself should the 5 finally
arrive. If I do, I’ll be sending my discarded Berry over to the nearest e-recycling
center instead of eBay, and you should too. You’ll be glad you did.
Source: TechnoGoBlog
http://technogoblog.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/rims-imminent-demise-could-extend-the-casualty-toll-beyond-fiscal-figures/