Hasta La Gadget!

After the closures of Lavabit and Silent Circle, we had wondered which online service would be next to wind down after Edward Snowden’s PRISM revelations. Turns out that we’re losing Groklaw, the technology and law blog, which is stopping operations from today. In an impassioned sign-off, founder Pamela Jones has said that she cannot keep running the site knowing the extent to which her private communications are subject to public scrutiny. She has also advised others to spend less time on the internet and use Kolab, a Swiss email service, which is apparently safe from the NSA — at least for now.

Filed under: Internet

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Via: TechDirt

Source: Groklaw

When Astrid was acquired by Yahoo in May, it warned us that its task management service would close within 90 days. Today, it has a more specific date: customers have until August 5th to export any data they can’t afford to lose. Astrid suggests alternative services like Any.DO, Sandglaz, Wrike and Wunderlist for those who want to import their tasks and pick up where they left off. The firmer schedule won’t ease the pain for Astrid loyalists, but it should prevent any rude surprises in the weeks ahead. Check out Astrid’s email to users after the break.

[Thanks, Alex]

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet

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Source: Astrid, Sandglaz, Wrike

Today, Renesas is announcing that it’s going to “discontinue” the wireless unit it acquired from Nokia. Finnish state media outlet YLE is reporting that all 808 of Renesas’ employees in Finland will be let go, of which more than two-thirds are located in the northern city of Oulu. Three years ago, Nokia decided to focus on designing and manufacturing mobile phones. It sold its wireless modem division to the Japanese semiconductor firm Renesas for roughly $200 million. The idea was, with wireless modem R&D moved out of the way, the company could concentrate on developing blockbuster handsets.

Unfortunately, the sale took place half a year before Android phones outsold Symbian devices for the first time and Nokia announced that it was going to switch to Windows Phone — this put Renesas in the awkward position of being a modem supplier to a company with collapsing sales. Nokia Siemens Networks has large offices in the same city where most of Renesas’ employees are located. Though, engineers looking for a change of scenery might want to head south to Espoo where Samsung just opened its own R&D center.

Filed under: Nokia

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Source: The Wall Street Journal, YLE

Remember when you were holding it wrong? Remember when Apple was supposed to compensate you for holding it wrong? No? Well, if you didn’t opt for the free rubber bumper back in the day, apparently that $15 “we’re so sorry your iPhone 4’s antenna sucked” settlement check alternative’s finally being sent out via snail mail. So, case closed iFans. It’s time to move on to greener, 5S pastures.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Apple

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Source: TUAW

It’s almost inevitable as breathing: a tech powerhouse acquires a clever yet small startup solely for its talent or technology, and lets any leftover services wither away. Posterous’ decision to shut down following its 2012 acquisition by Twitter is very nearly a textbook example. The 4-year-old firm will close its Posterous Spaces service on April 30th to shift all of its attention to Twitter, giving customers just over two months to back up their content. There is an unusual twist to this seemingly predictable story, however. Those still using Spaces will have a place to go — along with Squarespace and WordPress import tools, Posterous founders Brett Gibson and Garry Tan are planning to launch Posthaven as a (not entirely intentional) refuge. Diehards will still have reason to mourn the end of an era, but the closure at least won’t be the end to their creations.

Filed under: Internet

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Posterous