Return of the Typewriter: Kremlin Style

Russia's agency responsible for the Kremlin security is buying typewriters - a move reportedly prompted by recent leaks by WikiLeaks and Edward Snowden. A 486,540-rouble (almost NZ$19000) order for electric typewriters has been placed by the FSO agency on the state procurement website. The FSO has not commented on why it needs the old-fashioned devices. But an agency source told Russia's Izvestiya newspaper the aim was to prevent leaks from computer hardware. "After scandals with the distribution of secret documents by WikiLeaks, the exposes by Edward Snowden, and reports about Dmitry Medvedev being bugged during his visit to the G20 London summit in 2009, it has been decided to expand the practice of creating paper documents," the source said. The source added that typewriters were already being used at Russia's defence and emergencies ministries for drafts and secret notes, and some reports had been prepared for President Vladimir Putin by typewriter. It's nice to see that the old gadgets still have a use in this smartphone- and tablet-dominated era, but typewriters can't compare to the camera on Nokia's Lumia 1020. The new handset has a 41 megapixel sensor which Nokia claims can record "details never thought possible from a smartphone". It says consumers will be able to zoom in and reframe their photos without worrying about the image quality suffering. Analysts who have tested the device said that it was "without doubt" the best smartphone camera on the market. But they added that was not a guarantee that it would be a bestseller, especially considering there can only be one bestseller in that department: the iPhone. But their App Store is populated by many "zombie" programs which get next-to-no downloads, new research suggests. Figures from tracking service Adeven indicate over two-thirds of apps in the store are barely ever installed by consumers. However Apple has said that 90% of all apps in the marketplace - which is marking its five-year anniversary - are downloaded at least once a month. Just remember, guys, that it only needs as little as 12 downloads each year to come to at least one a month. Nevertheless, Apple boss Tim Cook said the store had "fundamentally changed the world". Speaking to app developers at the firm's recent developer's conference, the chief executive said: "Customers love the buying experience and they love your incredible apps. And they have now downloaded 50 billion apps. "That's a lot of zeros and a truly staggering number." Too bad none of those are being ordered by the Kremlin.