Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

Big Tech Archive

Archives for December 2014

Technology
Review: How to Use a Borrowed Phone With Your Own Phone NumberReview: How to Use a Borrowed Phone With Your Own Phone Number
Technology

The new app Hotel My Phone lets you create a virtual copy of your forgotten or dead phone on a borrowed phone.

By Walt Mossberg
Technology
Amazon Names Amazon Show as Best of 2014Amazon Names Amazon Show as Best of 2014
Technology

No. 2 on Amazon’s list? A show whose last episode aired in 2008.

By Jason Del Rey
Technology
Android Hardware Profits Tanked in 2014Android Hardware Profits Tanked in 2014
Technology

A drop in profits at Samsung, plus losses from Motorola and Sony, forced overall Android hardware profits down by half in 2014.

By Ina Fried
Technology
Re/code’s Year in Reviews: Readers Loved Apple, Google and GoProRe/code’s Year in Reviews: Readers Loved Apple, Google and GoPro
Technology

The top Re/code Reviews of 2014.

By Lauren Goode
Technology
More Than Half of Smartphones Activated on Christmas Were iPhonesMore Than Half of Smartphones Activated on Christmas Were iPhones
Technology

Apple sold three iPhones for every one smartphone that Samsung did, while Microsoft’s Nokia Lumia line finished third.

By Ina Fried
Technology
Five Things You Didn’t Know You Needed to Know About CESFive Things You Didn’t Know You Needed to Know About CES
Technology

No, the Adult Entertainment Expo no longer overlaps with the International CES.

By Lauren Goode
Technology
A Handful of Blockbuster E-Commerce Acquisitions That Could Happen in 2015A Handful of Blockbuster E-Commerce Acquisitions That Could Happen in 2015
Technology

Plus a bunch of honorable mentions.

By Jason Del Rey
Technology
Gmail Blocked in ChinaGmail Blocked in China
Technology

Large numbers of addresses were cut off Friday, and users reported the service was still down Monday.

By Paul Carsten
Technology
Newspapers, Taxi Medallions and Other Safer Investments Than Bitcoin in 2014Newspapers, Taxi Medallions and Other Safer Investments Than Bitcoin in 2014
Technology

Even camera film lost less in value than bitcoin.

By James Temple
Technology
Capital Gains: Xiaomi Grabs $1 Billion, Moovit Moola and MoreCapital Gains: Xiaomi Grabs $1 Billion, Moovit Moola and More
Technology

And Ginger.io raised a bunch of money, too.

By Noah Kulwin
Technology
Apple Starts Streaming “The Interview,” Too (Update)Apple Starts Streaming “The Interview,” Too (Update)
Technology

Sony generated $15 million in online sales before Apple signed on.

By Peter Kafka
Technology
Re/wind: Sony Lets People Suffer Through “The Interview,” Google’s Wi-Fi Warfare and MoreRe/wind: Sony Lets People Suffer Through “The Interview,” Google’s Wi-Fi Warfare and More
Technology

There was news while you were out holiday-making. Here’s your chance to catch up.

By Noah Kulwin
Technology
Re/code on TV: Holiday Gifts, Internet Delivery and GoPro DronesRe/code on TV: Holiday Gifts, Internet Delivery and GoPro Drones
Technology

Re/coders shared their thoughts on the latest tech headlines with TV audiences this week.

By James Temple
Technology
It Was a Merry Mobile ChristmasIt Was a Merry Mobile Christmas
Technology

Nearly 35 percent of Christmas day online sales occurred over phones and tablets.

By James Temple
Technology
Understanding the Christmas Attacks on Xbox, PlayStation NetworksUnderstanding the Christmas Attacks on Xbox, PlayStation Networks
Technology

What is a “denial of service” attack, and what’s the point?

By Eric Johnson