Instagram’s history and internet in space: top tech stories you should read

When you snapped, cropped and filtered your last latté, did you stop to think about the company behind the retro photo app, and how it got to where it is today? Perhaps, instead, you took a moment to appreciate the simplicity of a touchscreen, and imaged what a life without physical keys would be like. But perhaps you should be thinking about what life would be like without the internet, on another planet.

Confused? These are just a few of the ideas raised by the writers in our latest round up of some of the top tech stories on the web.

The money shot

It’s become famous for its crazy popularity and the billion dollar Facebook acquisition, but how did Instagram start out before it was the go-to photo app for millions of filter-happy Android and iPhone users? Vanity Fair looks into the two founders — particularly Kevin Systrom — to tell the story of the retro photography app, from its genesis to its later pivot and the meetings with Facebook and Twitter that saw it become hot property for the two big blue social networks.

Finger-free phones, full body gesturing, and our “touchscreen” future

While some still long for the feel of ‘real’ buttons (we’re looking at you, Eric Schmidt), touchscreens are becoming the input option that’s being stuck on everything from aeroplanes to fridges. Ars Technica dusts of their crystal ball and looks into how ubiquitous touchscreens are becoming and what type of technology we can expect them to evolve into in the not-so-distant future.

Google’s chief internet evangelist on creating the interplanetary internet

You’d think, that as the father of the internet, Vint Cerf has done quite enough for one lifetime. But it seems he’s just setting his sights higher — way higher. Wired chats to the man who helped develop the TCP/IP protocols that underly the web about the work he’s doing to overcome the challenges space presents to universal connectivity, which involve everything from security to the time it takes for information to travel from earth to other planets.

Wikimedia’s small-screen future

Everybody knows what Wikipedia is, but how many know exactly how it works? All those editors from a crucial part of the crowd sourced encyclopaedia, but the next step to ensuring it can reach more volunteers to contribute to its archives lies in the device you carry in your pocket. In the run up to the launch of their new mobile app, Engadget speaks to the team about emerging markets, editing for the small screen and the challenges they face.

Foxconn tries to move past the iPhone

Foxconn has all but become a synonym for ‘Apple supplier’, after the Taiwanese company has played a major role in putting together the latest iDevices. But as Apple’s star begins to wane, can Foxconn find a new client — itself? The company has started to manufacture its own gadgets, but, as The New York Times points out, it could end up walking a fine line between being a supplier with additional interests and a competitor.