"It's a growing trend, especially in Asia, and a lot of these phones are favoured by women, women who don't have to worry putting it into their pockets, they carry it in their purse," -- Ken Hong, Communications Director at LG.

Smartphones and tablets meet in 'phablet' mania (via AFP)

The "phablet" phenomenon is taking the mobile world by storm. Manufacturers at the world's biggest mobile fair in Barcelona, Spain released a slew of outsized smartphones that can barely fit in one hand and tablets that have shrunk dramatically. Further blurring the lines between smartphone and tablet…

---

 

From all of us at STEP, we hope you have a fantastic Valentine's Day!

"Together, we have cleared away the rubble of crisis, and can say with renewed confidence that the state of our union is stronger." - Barack Obama

Obama stakes second term on progressive goals (via AFP)

President Barack Obama staked his second term on an ambitious bid to mend America, pledging to narrow inequality, reignite the economy, fight gun crime and fix immigration. Anchoring his annual State of the Union address on domestic priorities, Obama dealt only in passing with churning foreign policy…

---

 

"If what they’re doing is going to save post offices, then go ahead and eliminate Saturday deliveries. I don’t see it as a major disruption.”

Sleet and snow can't stop the Postal Service – but Saturdays can (via The Christian Science Monitor)

In one of its boldest cost-cutting measures yet, the United States Postal Service announced Wednesday that it will eliminate Saturday mail delivery later this year, a move that should save the agency $2 billion in costs annually. Saturday mail delivery is scheduled to stop the second week in August…

---

 

"We had some patients who got just a little bit of benefit and others who could do amazing things like reading newspaper headlines, mostly they see in black and white, but we have demonstrated more recently we can produce color vision as well."

Bionic eye gives hope to the blind (via AFP)

After years of research, the first bionic eye has seen the light of day in the United States, giving hope to the blind around the world. Developed by Second Sight Medical Products, the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System has helped more than sixty people recover partial sight, with some experiencing…

---