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Game changers: Egyptians and their gadgets in 2012
Is there such a thing as revolutionary technology? Many Egyptians believe there is. A year ago, they used mobile phones, social networking and banned TV channels to spread word of the protests in Tahrir Square. Hearing the news, thousands of young people risked their lives to join in and overthrow the dictator Hosni Mubarak. To mark the revolution's anniversary, Engadget caught up with five Caireans of different ages and backgrounds to find out about the gadgets they use to keep in touch with their world. For the love of freedom, democracy and at least one bar of mobile reception, please read on.
Chinese government to track users of free WiFi, small businesses react with service cutoffs
Thought Google had a mountain-sized stack of your up close and personal online habits? Think again, because the omnipresent search king's all-seeing eyes are nothing compared to the Chinese government, which recently enacted stricter regulations to identify free WiFi users. The government-issued monitoring software will cost the cafes and restaurants it targets $3,100, putting small business owners in a sticky situation -- pay up, or shut down the free surfing. An informal survey conducted by the New York Times found not one owner willing to bow to the Republic's pressure, citing the out-of-pocket cost and low number of actual users. It's possible the move to clamp down on anonymous browsing was spurred by recent youth-embraced, social networking-backed uprisings, like the one in Cairo earlier this year. Seems a loophole in China's net management policy allows "laptop- and iPad-owning colleges students and expatriates" -- the very same group behind recent revolts -- to go online undetected. It remains to be seen if the Communist Party will make this new measure widespread, or just restrict it to central Beijing. For their sake, we echo one owner's hope that "official fervor [will]... soon die down."
"Pregnant" mother found smuggling cellphones
We already know that Wal-Mart is tightening the leash on prepaid phone purchases in a presumed attempt to slow illegitimate reselling and prevent dicey communications from arranging less-than-pleasant activities, so it's probably not the best time to be walking around airports with a stash of unclaimed mobiles beneath your jacket. Apparently an Egyptian woman wasn't notified of the heightened awareness, nor had she attended any acting classes of late, as security guards at a Cairo airport found 48 cellphones tucked under her clothing when she unsuccessfully claimed to be experiencing "labor pains." While trying to brush through customs untouched, curious personnel caught onto her scheming when they saw "too many" travel stamps in her passport "for a woman in her condition," and discovered "over $17,000 worth" of mobile phones instead of an impregnated belly. Notably, no connection was found between this smuggler and the quick-footed fellow who fled with 39 iPods in just his pants.
