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Geoff Duncan

Geoff Duncan

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member of the Digital Trends staff who's played on hit records and had code running in space. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.

Bring out your dead: What to do with your old iPhone

There are many things you can do with an old iPhone, regardless of its age. Here, we lay out some different possibilities for you.
americans even more dissatisfied with cable and isps acsi scores tv internet

Amazing: Americans grow even more dissatisfied with cable and ISPs

The ASCI finds consumer satisfaction with service from cable and ISPs is reaching new lows, while smartphones have a satisfaction new leader. (Hint: it's not Apple.)
north america set to run out of ipv4 numbers icann fadi chehade

Can the inmates run the asylum? The U.S. plan to stop ruling the open Internet

As the United States signals it's ready to relinquish authority over the Internet's core operations, is ICANN ready to step up and take charge?
democrats sit in live stream joint session of congress

Can the government regulate Internet privacy?

As massive data and security breaches become a commonplace, consumers are demanding that government do something. But can the feds do anything meaningful, and what's stopping them?
Samsung vs Apple

Why are Apple and Samsung throwing down? A timeline of the biggest fight in tech

Can't keep track of how Samsung and Apple have been duking it out in courts all over the world? Here's a cheat sheet recalling all of the major clashes the two companies have had throughout the last four years.
1287318 autosave v1 2 apple big store

What an Apple-Comcast deal could mean for the future of TV

If Apple and Comcast hook up, will they be able to revolutionize television? Or will the whole thing fall apart over net neutrality and money?
ICANN domains

Why is the U.S. surrendering control of the Internet? (And why should you care?)

The US government has decided to give up control over key portions of the Internet's central functions. Why? And, more importantly, what next?
keeping data safe eternity how to backup and keep your

Ditch the shoebox for a vault: How to preserve your digital life for decades

Our devices and data are becoming our memory books, filled with photos, videos, laughs, major events, and important documents. How can we preserve all that?
apple imessage ios lightning icloud security

From iMessage to Lightning cables, here’s how Apple secures your digital life

A detailed look at how Apple protects your passwords, messages, and data in iCloud and on your iOS devices.
seven ways apps put risk cant really 7 your you at

7 ways your apps put you at risk, and what you can do about it

Even the most trusted tablet and smartphone apps can be risky. Here's what to look for, and how to protect yourself.
can indie developers still make flappy bird

Are Flappy Birds an endangered species? The perils of indie app developers

The Wild West of app stores is changing, and huge corporations are moving in. Can the little guy still find a way to thrive in the complex, crowded market for apps?
dot com has company

.com has company! What new top-level domains like .bike mean for you

Thousands of new top-level Internet domains like .bike and .voting are starting to become available. Will they change how we use the Internet, or are they just a fad?
google sells motorola winners and losers headquarters

Who are the real winners and losers in Google’s Motorola sale to Lenovo?

Lenovo is buying Motorola Mobility from Google for $2.9 billion. But who comes out ahead in this new world, who loses, and does it all mean for the Android ecosystem?
google deepmind collaboration head and neck cancer treatment artificial intelligence

How DeepMind’s artificial intelligence will make Google even smarter

With the acquisition of DeepMind, Google will acquire a whole new set of technologies related to artificial intelligence. But what will it use them for, and should we be concerned?
Internet of Things

You can’t avoid the ‘Internet of things’ hype, so you might as well understand it

Adding Internet capabilities to everyday appliances is all the rage, but don't expect to wake up in a science fiction automated home anytime soon.
seven companies get left behind 2014 sony building 2

9 companies that need to make a turnaround in 2014

Technology is always changing, and some big names are going to have to work very hard to stay relevant to consumers in 2014.
Freelance writing

Thinking of online freelancing for some spare cash? Be prepared to work for it

Looking for holiday cash? Online freelancing might be an answer, especially if you've got strong skills in a small niche.
tech ghosts holidays past of header

Remember these terrible tech gifts from holidays past?

Technology has always been a favorite holiday gift, but the most well-intentioned gifts don't always pan out in an industry that changes so quickly. Here are some of the most notable gifts that might have looked great under the tree in years past, but probably ended up stashed in a closet in no time.
Meka UT Dreamer

Why is Google building a robot army?

Google's acquisition of Boston Dynamics is just the latest in a long series of robotics companies it has been snapping up left and right. So what does Google see in robots ... and should we be scared?
six apps use smartphone good ways avoid scammed year charity

Charity made mobile: How to give from your phone without getting scammed

Smartphones aren't just good for avoiding the malls this holiday season. While you're loading a virtual shopping cart with goodies, stop and check out some of the ways you can use your phone to give back the smart way.
hypothetical stalker

Who needs malware? I could have wrecked this kid’s life with a notepad

We talk on our phones all the time, everywhere. Maybe we should watch what we say.
what secrets were revealed by twitters ipo filing twitter founders feature

Co-founder drama, burning cash and more secrets revealed by Twitter’s IPO filing

Twitter's going public, and that means revealing more than ever about about company's strategy and financials. Want the interesting bits?
microsoft black friday deals surface windows store problems fix

4 Problems The New Surface Better Figure Out How To Fix

Let's face it: Microsoft's Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets have been a flop. What can Microsoft do to make its Surface platform relevant?
how facebook wants to control the horizontal and vertical of social tv second screen

Facebook wants a piece of Twitter’s “social TV” action, but what does that mean for you?

Now that we've all given up and just watch TV with phones in hand and tablets on lap, Twitter has reaped the rewards of second screen engagement. But here comes Facebook ...
is stephen elop microsofts next ceo and steve ballmer

Did Microsoft just buy a new CEO along with Nokia?

Microsoft just plunked down $7.2 billion for Nokia's devices business and 32,000 employees - including former Microsoft exec Stephen Elop. Is Elop now Ballmer's most likely replacement?

Here’s why your email is insecure and likely to stay that way

Email is the Internet's original killer app, but it wasn't designed with security or privacy in mind. Can email ever be truly secure?
huawei were not a security threat just pawn china

Huawei: We’re not a security threat, we’re just a pawn

Is the U.S. government blackballing Huawei just because it's headquartered in China? Huawei's William Plummer thinks so - and wishes the U.S. government would just grow up.
Ren Zhengfei

Why is the former head of the NSA convinced Huawei is a threat to the US?

A former head of the NSA says China's Huawei is a threat to the United States security - but nothing's ever been proven. Is Huawei just a scapegoat?
What-Microsoft's-reorg-says-header

What Microsoft’s reorg says about its future (Hint: It’s not trying to be Apple)

Steve Ballmer's latest Microsoft re-org is the largest in decades. Will it lead the company to the forefront of consumer technology? Don't hold your breath.
Hackintosh (watercooled desktop)

Mac pros: Is it time to consider a hackintosh?

Apple's limited Mac lineup can be frustrating, especially for pros who need to get stuff done. Could "hackintoshes" – PCs running OS X – be a solution?

Computing pioneer Douglas Engelbart dead at 88

Douglas Engelbart may not be a household name, but he among the first to conceive of hypertext, online collaboration, graphical user interfaces, and - oh yes - the mouse.
Mac Pro inside

The new Mac Pro changes the game for creative pros – will they keep playing with it?

Apple's forthcoming Mac Pro is a radical redesign, but will it meet the needs of professionals who rely on Apple's top-of-the-line Macs?

Big Brother has always been watching, but how much can he see?

The U.S. government has been collecting detailed info on the phone calls and Internet communications of millions of citizens for years. Is it legal? What do they do with the data?

Dear Apple: Can iCloud ‘just work’ already?

Steve Jobs promised iCloud would be the center of Apple users' digital lives. Two years later, are we any closer to a service that "just works" — and that can propel the next generation of great apps?