Skip to main content

Popular device leaker @evleaks calls it quits (to find a more stable job)

two years evan evleaks blass calls quits
After two years of leaking countless devices, the most recent being several press shots of the Moto 360, Evan Blass, known as @evleaks in every corner of the Internet, is calling it quits.

While his tweet revealing the news wasn’t at all specific, the main reason for his retiring was due to financial instability, according to Blass’ interview with The Next Web. He felt as if he needed a more traditional full-time job in order to not only provide for his family, but also fight his multiple sclerosis (MS), which was first revealed in a piece by The Verge which detailed Walgreen’s blacklisting of some drug buyers.

While Blass attempted to monetize his leaking ways through his website and sponsored tweets, the effort wasn’t a stable-enough form of payment for him to continue it. In addition, in the interview, Blass noted that his audience tended to use ad-block software, which prevented an even flow of revenue.

While he noted that the decision is final, with the fate of his website up in the air, he did reveal that his well-known @evleaks Twitter handle will now be for personal use. Blass started off in 2005 as an editor for Engadget before working his way up to senior editor. He then had a three-year stint at Pocketnow as a managing editor before converting his leaking tendencies into a full-time gig in 2012.

As early as 2009, Twitter was a hotbed for leaks. Unfortunately, for these early leakers, legal threats from phone manufacturers and the high difficulty of publicizing leaks, as well as failure to monetize such a path, were enough to ward them away. What made Blass stand out from the rest was not only his success with the latter, but also how accurate his leaks were. This is why outlets such as Engadget, The Verge, and we here at Digital Trends aren’t hesitant on reporting whatever he leaks.

TK TechNews, a website run by T.K. Connor, launched an Indiegogo campaign to help fund Blass’ MS treatment. The campaign is asking for $100,000, with three people who give $500 getting a leaked phone and two people who give $1,500 getting box seats for a New Jersey Devils hockey game and the chance to meet up with the team. The campaign has raised $1,746 as of this writing.

Editors' Recommendations

Williams Pelegrin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Williams is an avid New York Yankees fan, speaks Spanish, resides in Colorado, and has an affinity for Frosted Flakes. Send…
VoxEra is a tiny device that makes international calling and texting essentially free
voxera roaming rsz voice device 03

As any smartphone-touting traveler who's flown abroad can tell you, international roaming isn't cheap. And when you add voice to the mix, the charges can really start to add up. But VoxEra, an Egypt-based startup, wants to solve that problem once and for all.

The VoxEra, with its four flashing indicator lights and connectivity ports, looks a little like a home router. The diminutive device connects to Wi-Fi or a spare Ethernet port. And once a SIM card is inserted into its designated rear slot, the VoxEra works its magic: All calls placed while you're traveling are charged at domestic rates.

Read more
Ultra Mobile’s $19 calling plan includes data, texting in more than 60 countries
uk drug enforcement phone shutdown smartune antenna tuners

Ultra Mobile, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that sells cellular service atop major carriers, has operated largely under the radar. But it's angling for disruption with The New $19, a dirt-cheap plan that includes international calling, texting, and data in more than 60 countries worldwide.

There's no catch to speak of. Starting today, $19 a month on Ultra Mobile nets you 100MB of 4G LTE data in the aforementioned 60 countries, $1.25 in international calling credit, and $5 in one-time international roaming credit. The new pricing takes effect in Brazil, India, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Mexico, Canada, the Dominican Republic, and more. Ultra Mobile says The New $19 plan covers almost 4 billion people around the globe.

Read more
More than a billion people can now make video calls on WhatsApp
More than a billion people can now make video calls on WhatsApp

The wait is finally over. After teasing users with the launch of video calling on the beta version of its Android app late last month, WhatsApp is now rolling out the update to the entirety of its user base. That means iOS, Windows Phone, and regular Android users will be able to make and receive video calls once they've update the app.

Seeing as it already boasts messaging, group chat, and voice calling functionality, video calling was the only missing feature essentially stopping the Facebook-owned app from becoming an all-in-one communications tool. Thankfully, that's finally changing. If you don't see the update immediately, worry not, WhatsApp promises it will be available to everyone in the coming days. You've waited this long, we're sure you can hold out a bit longer.

Read more