Needto Know
FIRST LOOK
10 10 - 23 July 2019
KanoPC
bit.ly/kanoKano has earned a solid reputation in
recent years for making products that
teach kids how to build computers
and write code. Now the company is
moving away from its Linux-based
Raspberry Pi devices to launch a
laptop that runs Windows 10 S.
The chunky computer features a
11.6in touchscreen tablet and fold-out
keyboard that will be familiar to
anyone who’s ever used an iPad
keyboard case or two-in-one device,
such as the Surface Go. The bold
orange keys give it a child-friendly
feel that’s also attractive.
The device uses custom parts that- in some cases, at least – can be
replaced easily if needed, which is
sensible in a device for children. It’s
isn’t something you can take for
granted these days).
The kit comes with everything
you need to build your own Kano PC,
including a Lego-style instruction
book to help you put it together.
There’s even a magnifying glass, so
kids can zero in on the finer parts
of the machine.
Explaining the shift from its
long-standing Kano OS to Windows,
Kano’s CEO and co-founderAlex
Klein said, “People want a real
computer. They want to have a
device that can run Netflix, a device
that can run Fortnite, a device that is
comparable to the higher-priced ones,
even if they are shopping at below
300 dollars”.
The Kano PC goes on sale in
October – just in time for Christmas –
and is priced at £299.99.What happened?
As we speculated in our What’s the
Rumour section in Issue 477, Facebook
is unveiling its own cryptocurrency,
Libra (libra.org). To be more precise, the
blockchain-based currency is controlled
by Facebook and other founding
members of the Libra Association,
which means the social network has a
single vote on a board that also includes
the likes of Visa and Uber.
According to Facebook’s white paper
(bit.ly/white479), the goal is to “enable
a simple global currency and financial
infrastructure that empowers billions of
people”. Globally, 31% of people have no
access to banking facilities. Libra’s
backers are hoping to change that by
offering quick and virtually free money
transfers between friends, family,
businesses and anyone else.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that
Libra is just another Bitcoin, however.
While popular cryptocurrencies
including Bitcoin are decentralised and
free from interference, Facebook’s
crypto-experiment runs on a private
ledger. This means members of the
Libra Association are to Libra what the
Bank of England is to the pound
sterling: a central bank. At best, this
may undermine the core appeal of the
cryptocurrency for many. At worst,
critics fear it could turn Facebook and
its cohorts into an online nation state.
Facebook launches Libra cryptocurrency
Bitcoin’s own price shot up in
response to the announcement.
Investors clearly believe that Facebook’s
move could legitimise the concept of
cryptocurrency, helping it to achieve
mainstream acceptance.How will it affect you?
Despite the advanced technology
behind Libra, the user experience is
expected to be similar to that of PayPal.
Once the Facebook currency rolls out in
June 2020, however, you can expect
microtransactions to hit the site, too.
Aware of its reputation for misusing
data, Facebook intends to keep Libra
separate from its social-media
operation. By using a subsidiary
company called Calibra, the companywill ensure transactions are locked away
from social media activity, protecting
your privacy and preventing Facebook
using data on your spending habits to
target you with adverts.What dowethink?
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it
again: anything that stops Facebook
making money from our data is fine by
us. And if it helps raise the profile of
cryptocurrencies, that’s no bad thing
either. However, we’re not sure that the
Libra Association’s chosen route –
turning itself into a central bank – is the
right move, and may deter those crucial
early adopters who are looking for a
true Bitcoin alternative. That could cost
Facebook – at least in the short term.certainly no powerhouse, though: as an
entry-level DIY kit, the Kano PC runs on
a quad-core Intel Atom x5-Z
processor, with 4GB of RAM. Most of its
64GB of internal storage will be taken
up by the operating system, but this can
be expanded by adding a microSD card.
The Kano PC is equipped with an
HDMI socket, USB 2 and USB 3 ports,
and a 3.5mm headphone jack (which