Latest news with #Nokia3310
Elle
a day ago
- Elle
Ditch Your iPhone, Grab Your Kodak: Here's How To Have An Offline Summer
Once upon a time, Instagram used to be the place where I'd connect with the people I loved. I was at university and, for the first time, many of my closest friends were living in different cities. The app was like a virtual pub – I could see what my friends were doing and share pictures that captured my own new life. Fast forward 15 years, and my feed began to look very different: a jarring mix of nihilistic memes, targeted ads and escapist celebrity news. Somewhere along the way, I had become too self-conscious to post and my friends' updates felt curated and calculated. I feel mean writing that, which is exactly what social media brought out in me: a cruel, bitter cynicism. Then, in January, Mark Zuckerberg removed fact checkers from Meta platforms in a thinly veiled attempt to win Donald Trump's approval. I'd had enough. Reader, I deleted Instagram. For the past decade, we've been sleepwalking into a digital dystopia. But from the mass exodus of X (formerly Twitter) after Elon Musk's takeover, to the proliferation of digital detoxes and anti-tech tech, people are starting to push back. Across generations, increasing numbers are taking a stand and actively trying to reduce their dependence on technology and social media. It's a movement that prioritises human connection and mental health, and holds Big Tech companies accountable. Cue the rise of 'offlining' or digital minimalism, the latter defined by Cal Newport, journalist and author of Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, as 'a philosophy that helps you question what digital-communication tools add the most value to your life'. For the majority of us, the thought of cutting tech out of our lives completely is unrealistic. Instead, it's about being more intentional with the technology we do use and finding sustainable ways to spend less time online. For some, it's an embrace of all things analogue. Recent figures show specialist- and independent-magazine sales thriving. There's been a return to point-and-shoot cameras, with Kodak reporting demand for film has roughly doubled in the past few years. The growing popularity of phone-free bedrooms has led to renewed interest in alarm clocks and radios, while sales of CDs, cassettes and vinyl are on the rise for the first time in 20 years, largely driven by Gen Z. 'There's definitely a lot more younger people interested,' says Kevyn Long, owner of Hackney records store Jelly Records. 'I always think buying a record is the most engaging way of discovering music, rather than an algorithm telling you what you might like. It's about ownership, too – people like having an item to hold.' For others, it's time to ditch smartphones. Internet searches for flip phones surged by 15,369% in 2023 among Gen Z and younger millennials, while cult Noughties models like the Nokia 3310 and Motorola Razr have been reissued for a modern audience. Of course, the resurgence of these models taps into a broader thirst for nostalgia. Nineties and Noughties aesthetics have been an enduring trend across fashion and culture, but perhaps they also reflect our collective longing for a simpler life that contains less tech. Kaiwei Tang is CEO and co-founder of Light, a start-up making phones 'designed to be used as little as possible'. 'We always have options,' he says of our relationship with tech. 'We know burgers and chips aren't healthy, so we might eat them now and again and try to make healthier choices. For some reason, when it comes to phones, we think we're tied to smartphones.' Light is one of the most popular styles of 'dumb phones' – devices with limited capabilities compared to smartphones. There's no email or apps. You can make and receive calls and texts, set alarms, get rudimental directions and listen to music. 'It's not about going back in time, deleting apps or adding one more app from a third party to try and minimise your smartphone use,' says Tang. 'We wanted to create an entirely new phone that's designed to be in the background. It's like a hammer: it's there when you need it. When you put it back, it disappears. We wanted to return technology to a more utilitarian format.' The first model had a waiting list of 50,000 people after a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2015. Tang says people from all walks of life are buying Light models. Some make it their only phone, while others use it in tandem with a smartphone. Again, it's Gen Z – the demographic with the highest average screen time – that is driving the demand. 'Our customers are aware of how many hours they spend on smartphones and they are stressed and anxious. I think we all feel like, 'What happened? I just went to the toilet [with my phone]! Why can't I stop swiping?!'' Attracted to the idea of a background phone that wouldn't encourage doomscrolling, I ordered a Light Phone III. The first thing I notice when it arrives is how chunky and uncomfortable it is to hold. I realise it's not just what's on the screen: even the physical design of a smartphone promotes constant use. Once I'm set up, I text a friend, try out the camera and then… put it away. Without the option of endless scrolling and the pull of notifications, it becomes easy to put my phone down. Tang argues that exercising self-control on a regular smartphone is virtually impossible. 'Every social-media browser is thinking about the attention economy. They don't charge you, they track you. That's the business model: they collect your information, categorise you and give it to advertisers to target customers. Companies relying on that model want you to be online as much as possible. If you don't pay for the product, you are the product.' I have a newfound respect for the people who refuse to be 'the product'. Anna Burzlaff, 33, director of global research and insights at international fashion brand Highsnobiety, has never had social media. 'I've been told it's my green flag,' she says. 'At the start, I wasn't consciously opposing it – it just didn't interest me. I wouldn't join now for a lot of reasons. Anytime I have gone on friends' accounts, I find it impacts my mood negatively. And I still don't find it particularly interesting. What is actually happening there? What is exciting or new? No one has really shown me anything compelling that I can only discover through Instagram. I don't feel like there's much on there that I can't get from legacy publishers or going to an art gallery.' The average daily screen time for UK adults has been steadily rising and now stands at 5 hours and 36 minutes. By this point, we're all aware of the addictive nature of technology and its impact on our mental health; the dangers of digital worlds is a huge theme across popular culture. Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror, now in its seventh season, warns of a grim future if we continue being this online, while Netflix's Adolescence became one of the most talked-about shows of the year, with the first episode drawing in 6.45 million viewers. Set during the aftermath of a young girl's violent murder, it follows a group of teenagers whose lives are increasingly shaped by social media. While Adolescence doesn't explicitly point to a clear motive for the murder, it does highlight the radicalisation of young people through online spaces. So huge was its impact that Keir Starmer met the creators to discuss the issues it raised, with screenwriter Jack Thorne urging the Prime Minister to consider banning smartphones in schools. The increasing call for policy change around tech use feels like a rebellion rising. 'There's a growing attention to the mental and emotional impact of constant connectivity,' says Dr Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Centre in California. 'There is a concern that too much digital stimulation can come at the cost of meaningful, in-person experiences and deeper relationships.' While many of us fear slipping into 'digital dementia', a shorthand for the brain fog and reduced attention span associated with excessive phone use, Rutledge is more optimistic. 'There is no conclusive evidence that digital technology causes neurodegeneration or long-term dementia-like symptoms. The most frequently cited effects of 'heavy' digital use are short- to medium-term memory issues, however they are reversible with behaviour change.' While improving our mental health and reclaiming our attention span are huge drivers, there's also a creeping discomfort with Big Tech. Silicon Valley was once the heart of creativity and innovation; Sheryl Sandberg told us to lean in, and with couples such as Grimes and Elon Musk, or Serena Williams and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, dating a tech mogul was practically a status symbol. But, somewhere along the way, through unchecked growth and a disregard for the broader societal consequences, companies became monopolies, and the ecological toll reached new extremes: Amazon, Google and Microsoft all plan to build massive data centers in the world's driest regions, threatening communities already battling water shortages. Meanwhile, the pervasive power of algorithms has left privacy unprotected, with personal data being mined and manipulated in ways that feel less like innovation and more like exploitation. Not to mention news of data breaches breaking every other week. For many, participating in the great tech rebellion is an act of self-care. Ever since the Industrial Revolution, every generation has experienced the birth of a technology so profound it changes the way we live. When television sets became mainstream in the 1970s, allowing audiences to get global news and entertainment in real time, the way people interacted with the world changed fundamentally. By the time the internet became a mainstay in the late Nineties and early Noughties, we no longer needed to leave the comfort of our own homes for entertainment or socialising. As Andy Warhol put it: 'When I got my first television set, I stopped caring so much about having close relationships.' Today, the speed of digital innovation is so rapid that we've stopped getting excited about it. What is more thrilling is revelling in the joy and social connection of less tech dependence. 'Reducing time online can give people a greater sense of control over their attention and decisions, increasing satisfaction with life,' Rutledge says. Tang tells me about an annual survey of Light Phone users; customers report feeling happier and less stressed, and notice improved relationships with family: 'One man with a chronic health condition said his heart rate reduced.' For Burzlaff, 'the biggest thing is that I save an incredible amount of time. Every day, I'm probably saving an hour at least, and that's massive.' Embracing digital minimalism doesn't have to be daunting. 'Even small wins – like reclaiming 15 minutes in the morning – can help you build momentum,' says Rutledge. 'You're not breaking up with tech, you're just renegotiating the relationship.' There's also no one-size-fits-all approach. I couldn't quite hack the Light Phone as my only mobile device and, as a friend pointed out – via WhatsApp – I haven't totally managed to extricate myself from Zuckerberg's grip. While I ditched the platform that encourages endless scrolling, I kept the one that helps me feel connected to friends and family. The great tech rebellion is simmering, gaining momentum among the people who rely on it the most. This time, perhaps, the revolution will not be televised. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
The Sun
10-07-2025
- The Sun
Student caught using ChatGPT during exam sparks debate
A now-viral video showing a university student using ChatGPT during an exam has sparked widespread outrage online, fuelling discussions about academic integrity, AI misuse, and the declining seriousness of exam protocols. First posted by X user @hrfuturesnq and later reshared on Instagram by @ the clip captures a female student discreetly using her phone to generate answers. The lecturer confiscates, composed but firm, the device and another student's phone, suggesting the answers were being shared during the test. 'Good on the lecturer. It's unfair for those who studied properly to be outranked by those who cheat,' wrote @hrfuturesnq on the post. Online reactions ranged from anger to despair. The repost from @ post garnered the most comments, producing variety of feedbacks. Instagram user @perodua_mohd_khir reflected on stricter times: 'Back then, even bags weren't allowed. Phones had to go in a bin. I only had a Nokia 3310, and even that felt expensive. If students now rely on ChatGPT, then just let AI do your job too.' @meladynora90 questioned the basic rules: 'Why weren't phones collected before the exam started? Isn't that standard procedure?' Others praised the lecturer's restraint, with @amrycullen wrote: 'What's wrong is still wrong. But respect to the teacher for correcting them calmly. In Malaysia, the phone would've been smashed, and the student screamed at.' User @norakamlll voiced a deeper concern: 'Students sacrifice everything—money, energy, even selling off belongings for education—only to be replaced by AI. It's heartbreaking.' Meanwhile, @babyskin_syielayahya offered a rare moment of sympathy: 'Poor girl. After getting caught, how could she focus? Her brain probably froze from panic.' The university remains unidentified, though it was identified to be occurred in Indonesia, due to the lecturers' accent and the language of the ChatGPT prompt from the students' phones. The phenomenon has raised questions in students' reliance towards AI, concerning the productivity and critical thinking skills of future generations to be underdeveloped.
Time Business News
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Business News
IPTV in Norway: The New TV Norm – From General to Absolutely Awesome
Before we zoom in on specific providers, let's take a quick look at the IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) phenomenon itself and why it's taking Norway by storm. Simply put, IPTV delivers TV signals over the internet instead of via traditional terrestrial, satellite, or cable networks. This transition represents a significant shift from old broadcasting models. The fact that IPTV services have gained such a strong foothold is largely because we consumers demand more: more flexibility, better content, and lower prices. Norway, with its extremely good internet infrastructure, is perfectly suited for this. Think of it as upgrading from a Nokia 3310 to the latest smartphone – there's just more of everything, and it works better. It's not just in Norway that things are heating up. The entire Nordic region is seeing a massive increase in IPTV usage. This is no longer a niche; it's mainstream. People are tired of being tied down by rigid broadcast schedules and expensive packages. Massive Selection: Talk about freedom of choice! Often thousands of channels from all over the world, plus a VOD (Video On Demand) library that makes Netflix look small. Flexibility: Watch what you want, when you want, on almost any device – Smart TV, mobile, tablet, PC. Price: Often much cheaper than traditional TV packages, plus multiple streaming services. Picture Quality: Potential for crystal-clear HD and 4K, assuming a good connection and provider. Nothing's perfect, right? Stable Internet is a Must: No good connection, no good IPTV. A minimum of 20-25 Mbps for HD/4K is a good rule of thumb. Quality Variations: The market is large, and not all providers are equally reputable. Some might promise the moon but deliver choppy pictures and terrible service. The market can be described as 'chaotic' with many unreliable providers. IPTV isn't one-size-fits-all, but it's definitely a game-changer for many. Travel a lot for work or leisure? With a good IPTV Norway service, you can take your favorite Norwegian channels and series with you anywhere in the world, as long as you have internet. No more FOMO on the latest episode of your favorite show when you're on the road! This is a no-brainer. Imagine having access to all the sports channels you dream of – Premier League, Champions League, Formula 1, NHL, UFC – often included in the price, without expensive add-on packages. Users of quality IPTV report saving hundreds, if not thousands, of kroner each year just on sports. This is massive value! Forget scrolling endlessly to find something to watch. With VOD libraries that can contain an enormous number of films and series through leading IPTV Norway providers, you have entertainment for the rest of your life (almost). Okay, enough general talk. What makes certain IPTV Norway services stand out and be considered leaders in the Nordics? Let's look at the features. It's not just about the number of channels. A top IPTV Norway service distinguishes itself with a complete package: Massive Content: Over 33,000 TV channels and a VOD library with over 180,000 movies and around 28,000-30,000 series are not uncommon among the best. A focus on Nordic, UK, USA, Canada, and European channels is also a plus. Quality: HD and 4K streaming should be standard, with a promise of minimal buffering. Stability: A strong focus on uptime and automatic server updates for optimal performance is critical. Support: 24/7 customer service that actually responds and helps you when you need it. User-Friendliness: Easy setup (often via M3U link or account in 5-10 minutes) and broad device compatibility (Smart TV, PC/Mac, mobile, streaming devices, consoles) are expected. Extra Features: EPG (Electronic Program Guide), Catchup function (watch programs on replay), and in premium packages, often including integrated VPN and free activation of a premium player app. Big promises must be backed by solid delivery. Users of such high-quality IPTV Norway services regularly report a crystal-clear picture in Full HD and 4K without buffering, assuming a stable internet connection. Stability, even during major sports events, is often highlighted as a big plus in a market where many struggle. This indicates a solid investment in infrastructure and backend management. Price is always a factor when looking for the best IPTV subscription. The leading IPTV Norway services often claim to offer significant savings compared to subscribing to traditional platforms separately. There's talk of potential savings of up to a couple of thousand kroner per month . That's a deal that's hard to ignore. The last thing you want is to spend hours on a complicated setup. The best IPTV Norway providers make it easy, and users confirm that installation can take as little as 5 minutes. Broad device compatibility and responsive customer service (with reported wait times down to 10 minutes) build a positive user experience. Ready to Take the Plunge? Get the Most Out of Your New IPTV Subscription Whether you choose a top-rated IPTV Norway solution or another IPTV service, there are a few things you can do to ensure the best possible experience. We can't say it enough: Good and stable internet is key. Check that you have the speed needed for the quality you want (HD/4K). A good quality router, and perhaps even a wired connection to your streaming device, can work wonders. Even if the provider often has its own apps, or you use a generic M3U player, dedicated IPTV apps can really enhance the user experience with better interfaces and functionality. There's no doubt: IPTV Norway is here to stay. With superior flexibility, an insane content selection, and the potential for significant cost savings, it's easy to see why so many Norwegians are ditching traditional TV in favor of IPTV. For those of you hunting for the best IPTV subscription, and specifically considering the IPTV Norway landscape, services like the one we've described, offering the features mentioned above, emerge as very strong candidates. You can explore the possibilities and find a solution that fits your needs via reputable portals – for example, start your research at This company has definitely set the bar high for what you can expect from modern IPTV entertainment TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Daily Record
17-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
WhatsApp's major new feature dubbed 'worst idea ever' amid string of controversial updates
WhatsApp is the instant messaging app we all know and love. In the ever-changing digital landscape - like Trump Mobile launched by the US president just this week - WhatsApp has remained largely unchanged in recent years. That is until now. Meta has announced a major change - bringing ads to WhatsApp. This is despite founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton previously vowing to keep the platform free of ads when they created it in 2009. Advertisements will be shown only in the app's Updates tab, which is used by as many as 1.5billion people each day. However, they won't appear where personal chats are located, developers said. "The personal messaging experience on WhatsApp isn't changing, and personal messages, calls and statuses are end-to-end encrypted and cannot be used to show ads," WhatsApp said in a blog post. WhatsApp said ads will be targeted to users based on their age, the country or city where they're located, the language they're using, the channels they're following in the app, and how they're interacting with the ads they see. WhatsApp said it won't use personal messages, calls and groups that a user is a member of to target ads to the user. However, users are already not impressed, and have taken to social media to make their feelings known. One user wrote on X: "WhatsApp getting ads has got to be one of the worst ideas by Meta to come to life". Another scribed: "WhatsApp is bringing ads. Its time to get back to Nokia 3310. Welcome to the dumb phone era". A third admitted: "Ads on WhatsApp feel so weird". Others welcomed the change, with one tech head commenting: "Great to see them finally rolling out ads. WhatsApp is one of the greatest products ever. It isn't free to run it. "Ads continue to be the greatest leveller to ever exist for billions of people. High income people in rich countries will get on high horse about ads but who cares". Meanwhile, Dr Lukasz Olejnik, a cybersecurity and privacy expert, labelled the expansion potentially "risky". "It's an end-to-end encrypted messenger, so the critical trust factor relies on the design and communication of such choices," Dr Olejnik said. "Risky. It isn't clear how privacy is considered, but it sounds like profiled or contextual ads." It comes after two other advertising features were unveiled for WhatsApp in a bid to monetize the app's user base. Channels will also be able to charge users a monthly fee for subscriptions so they can get exclusive updates. And business owners will be able to pay to promote their channel's visibility to new users. "We've been talking for years about how to build a business on WhatsApp in a way that doesn't interrupt personal chats, and we believe the Updates tab is the right place to introduce that," Meta said in a release. Channel subscriptions is where "you'll be able to support your favourite channel, such as your favourite news network, by subscribing to receive exclusive updates for a monthly fee." Elsewhere, promoted channels "will help you discover new channels that might be interesting to you when you're looking through the directory." The changes will be rolled out slowly over the next few months.
Scoop
09-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
3G Shutdown: What Devices Are Affected, And How To Upgrade
Article – RNZ Consumers are being urged to get ready ahead of the shutdown of 3G mobile networks from the end of the are being urged to get ready ahead of the shutdown of 3G mobile networks from the end of the year. Telecommunications Forum chief executive Paul Brislen said most New Zealanders were already using 4G or 5G-compatible devices and would not need to take any action. However anyone with a 3G-reliant phone or device may be affected, including tablets, medical alarms, security alarms, business equipment, vehicle trackers and other devices connected to the internet. 'The 3G shutdown is a positive step for our digital future, but it's important that anyone with 3G-reliant phones or devices checks now so they can stay connected,' Brislen said. Consumers can text '3G' to 550, free of charge, to check if their device will work after the 3G network was switched off. Spark announced it would close off its 3G network on 31 March, 2026 and was upgrading 3G-only cell towers to 4G and 5G technology. While affected customers would be receiving direct communication from Spark, it issued a list of common devices likely to be affected. iPhone 6 Huawei Y5 HMD Global Nokia 3310 Mobiwire SAS Pocket 2 Oppo A5 (AX5) Samsung Galaxy J2 Pro iPhone 5S Alcatel 1B Brislen said consumers who need to upgrade to a 4G or 5G compatible device should recycle their old handsets through recycling service RE:MOBILE at 'Mobile phones contain valuable materials that can be reused, as well as components that are harmful to the environment if sent to landfill.'
