What just happened? Did we suddenly move to a new universe where spending minimum $300 on a gimmicky technology gadget is normal? Actually that isn’t new at all – the gadgets seem to change with the season. It seems as though the latest “it” gadget with a $300 price tag can easily go to $15,000 for the fancy version – and this device likely won’t last for more than 3 years!! Even if it does, it will have become obsolete.

Let’s jump back to the fanfare of announcements on Monday, March 9th where Apple staged another of their famous adjective shows. (For the last year adjective show, check this video out – https://youtu.be/ZWPqjXYTqYw)

So what ‘game changer’ products has the innovation giant Apple unveiled? Wow. A watch and a laptop.

As per usual, Apple was certainly able to pack many engineering wonders into very smaller and slicker packages. Both devices are an example of a feast of design and engineering wonders which shows just how much design talent billions of dollars in a bank can buy. Interestingly enough, the day of release of the “Apple Watch” (please note that it is not an iWatch), replicas were released on Alibaba website for about $40, fake gold and all.

With the watch widely expected to be released and competing “smart watches” available at your local Best Buy for months, was this whole event a big waste of time? Well quite contrary, it turns out that it wasn’t.

Apple released ResearchKit, which went almost completely unnoticed. What is it? It is software that enables researchers to write mobile applications and collect data through iPhone about your health and your surroundings (stupid Apple Watch is optional). All the data will be collected anonymously through ResearchKit and transferred directly to the scientist. There are already numerous health and other research organizations involved in the program. So far, the initial research targets are Asthma, Parkinson’s Disease, Diabetes, Breast Cancer and Heart Disease. Since Apple has sold over 70 million iPhones during the first quarter of 2015, that means that we have at least 70 million people around the world who can help to find cure for at least one disease.

And that part of the announcements was pretty cool, Apple.

Trending this week …

This week brought us some interesting, note-worthy articles and news:

  • Can the content of your smart phone be considered private property or can be subject of search by custom border officials? Do you have to disclose your password? These are the questions which will determine if Alain Philippon will go to jail. He is charged under section 153.1 (b) of the Customs Act for hindering or preventing border officers from performing their role under the act. –> http://g3t.ca/IJiBK3
  • FREAK is the name for the latest security bug. Won’t bore you with details, but, please, update your browser with the latest security patch –> http://g3t.ca/bWOUoP
  • Estonia is light years ahead of many nations when it comes to eGovernment (http://g3t.ca/3xha1k). Unfortunately with that comes new type of threats. For all of you interested in Business Continuity for your company, read this –> http://g3t.ca/RBzXdF
  • MindMaze company introduced a new gaming console controller, the MindLeap. What’s so special about it? You can now control the games only with your mind. One wonders if all minds are created equally and will be able to take the advantage of this device –> http://g3t.ca/MQ3Aeu
  • Paris has a problem. The iconic city is attracting not only lots of tourists but also drones. Nobody knows who is behind these flying machines, but it makes people really nervous –> http://g3t.ca/tbLfpj
  • Do you remember Rosetta, the probe catching up with the Comet 67P? Well, it is still there, still working and taking picture of its own shadow –> http://g3t.ca/doNY29
  • Bloodhound – the world’s fastest car, which aims to go over the 1,000 mph limit – is build in England. Industry and universities are taking part in this great project. Here is the status update –> http://g3t.ca/lwpy29
  • Since the late 80’s, we start living in the dark ages. Digital dark ages that is. The more data we are trying to accumulate, the less we know how to properly archive it –> http://g3t.ca/tewoGt
  • Qualcomm (the mobile chip maker) introduced a new fingerprint sensor, which can read prints through glass, metal and plastic smartphone covers. The quality and security of biometric sensors is increasing, which is good news for all of us –> http://g3t.ca/1B9CI8
  • IKEA introduced charging furniture for your wireless devices. The premise is that you won’t need the cable snake nest for every single device in your household. The reality is that there are numerous competing wireless charging standards on the market. Does it mean that for each device, we have to buy extra coffee table? We are moving to times where with a new version of iPhone we have to upgrade our furniture –> http://g3t.ca/cRzBF4
  • Security breache hit Uber. 50,000 of the driver’s records were stolen. Was it identity theft or was it competition, trying to get a list of potential new hires? –> http://g3t.ca/47ERoy
  • Check out even more trending topics here –> http://g3t.ca/Gubr8w