TechStuff

At the Meta Connect event, the company showed off the new, more advanced and very expensive VR headset formerly known as Project Cambria. Plus we learn about what soldiers think of Microsoft's HoloLens.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a zombie computer? What is a botnet? And what the heck is a DDoS attack? We look at a common tactic used by hackers to silence or inconvenience a target, how it works, and the measures companies like Cloudflare take to mitigate them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meta is holding its Connected conference today and we expect to see the new VR high-end headset codenamed Project Cambria, plus updates on the metaverse. In other news, CNN dumps NFTs, Delta invests in air taxis, and the US government might redefine the gig economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nothing Technology, Ltd released the Nothing Phone (1) in July 2022. What sets this phone apart, and is it really going to transform smartphones forever? (Spoiler: No it is not).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dylan is back to talk about the post-digital age of photo manipulation, when Photoshop and other programs began to allow more people to change images. Learn about famous disasters in photo edits and funny uses of Photoshop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk, Twitter, Tesla, ultrasonic, autonomous, self-driving, China, Great Firewall of China, TLS, nuclear fusion, social media, depression, critical thinking, Activizion Blizzard, Blizzard, Overwatch 2, quantum computing, Intel, Uber, Amazon, unionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It pays to think critically about claims folks make about technology. In this episode, we look at how the sunk cost fallacy can lead people to make very bad decisions, how cryptocurrency resembles an MLM and how to temper enthusiasm for tech with careful consideration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Supreme Court agreed to look at a case that involves Section 230, a rule that protects internet platform from being held liable for stuff posted by users. Plus news about Google Translate in China, a supertanker that is using sails to offset fuel consumption and whether a deepfake company really did purchase the likeness rights of Bruce Willis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google announced that Stadia, its cloud-based gaming service, is shutting down in January, 2023. What does that mean for Stadia customers? Are there Stadia customers? And could Google's own history of abandoning products be the root of the problem? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HowStuffWorks photo editor Dylan joins the show to talk about the pre-digital age of photo manipulation. Learn about airbrushing, composite photos, double exposure and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do the theories of special relativity and general relativity apply to satellites? Why is the speed of light constant, but time and distance are not? We get all Einstein up in here!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being left-handed in a world primarily shaped by and for right-handed people can be a challenge, particularly with technology. In this episode, we look at how a right-handed bias can create frustrations for left handers, and how bias in tech can take on more sinister aspects. That was a pun.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sustainable supply chains are good for the planet and good for business. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell takes on this topic with Tim Harford, host of Cautionary Tales, and guest Sheri Hinish, IBM’s Global Sustainability Services Leader and Offering Leader for Sustainable Supply Chain, known as the “supply-chain queen.” They discuss the supply-chain crisis and why transparent, responsible supply chains are imperative for our future. This is a paid advertisement from IBM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's a Generative Adversarial Network? How can a program create a deepfake video? And how do we tell the difference between what's real and what's computer-generated?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is Periscope? What's the technology behind the company? And did Jonathan livestream a podcast?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The makers of Grand Theft Auto are responding to a hacker who leaked dozens of videos of the next title in the series. Russia implies it might shoot down Starlink satellites. And Iran cracks down on the Internet in the wake of civil protests.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the ping tool, what is it used for, and where did it come from? We learn about the man who first created ping, why it's not an acronym for anything, and why gamers care about it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An appeals court is preparing to hear arguments from Epic, Apple, the State of California and even the US Department of Justice in the ongoing battle between developers and Apple. Hackers gained access to Uber's systems and we're not sure how bad it was yet. And Nvidia is announcing new GPUs today! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The promise of autonomous vehicles and machinery has been on the minds of industries, consumers and science fiction writers for many years. While advancements in AI, Robotics, Edge Computing and 5G Connectivity have gotten us closer to that vision, we are still quite far from computers solely running the show. The brain’s ability to compute and react to real-life situations is still a critical component to most operations, and companies such as Phantom Auto are working hard to combine these two forces - the advancements in machine learning and the power of human decision making, opening entire sectors of the labor force previously unseen. In this episode of The Restless Ones, I had the pleasure of sitting with the founding partners of Phantom Auto, Elliot Katz and Shai Magzimof who are actively merging the world’s needs for autonomous machine operation and dynamic employment opportunities. With skilled labor as a key problem for their clients, Phantom specializes in creating remote controlled solutions for everything from forklifts, to factory and warehouse vehicles and more, all made possible through connecting the power of technology and human intelligence. Their work is also bridging the worker divide, allowing blue collar workers to enjoy the benefits of remote work that their counterparts enjoy, avoiding the hazardous and other physical challenges typically associated with their work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fairphone company's mission is to make smartphones that are repairable, rely on sustainable and recycled materials, and that aren't contributing to troublesome operations in your typical electronics supply chain. So we take this opportunity to turn a critical eye to the tech industry to understand why Fairphone's mission is so important.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What was HitchBot all about and what happened to it? From hitchhiking across Canada to a violent end in Philadelphia, we tell the robot's story. Scott Benjamin guest hosts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twitter shareholders voted to approve Elon Musk's acquisition bid for Twitter even as a whistleblower testified in front of Congress that Twitter has terrible security practices. Plus Senators put social media in the hot seat, California sues Amazon and EA's anti-cheat strategy is scary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listener Ryan Barrier asked how advertising works in podcasting, and how even old episodes can have current ads in them. So in this episode, we look at dynamic ad insertion and the tricky challenge of balancing business with content.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twitter's shareholders are expected to approve Elon Musk's proposed Twitter acquisition even as Musk continues to try and extricate himself from the deal. Meta spins off the PyTorch project into a new, independent foundation. Square Enix announces that a computer game is going to shut down prematurely. And much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One challenge with data preservation is that the way we store information changes rapidly. In this episode, we look at some media formats that are now obsolete, including some that Jonathan had never heard about before!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Google Plus heading off into the sunset? What happened? In this update to a classic episode, TechStuff looks at what went wrong.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple held its Far Out event and unveiled new iPhones, Apple Watches and Airpods. Google is telling employees to cut back on company travel. Microsoft has invested in Travis Kalanick's next company. And Twitter is going to let a subset of users finally edit their tweets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Way back in 1939, GM proposed a highway system that would allow cars to travel rapidly down highways with no danger of traffic congestion or accidents. What would it take to create an automated highway system, and why is the focus instead on making vehicles themselves autonomous? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We'll have to wait a while longer before the first of NASA's missions to return us to the Moon takes off. Plus, Brazil tells Apple to include phone chargers or else, a human rights group tells Meta to step up against Brazilian President Bolsonaro's misinformation campaign, and the hardware chief who oversaw the development of the PS5 is retiring. And more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Special guest Jack Pattillo joins the show to talk about the former Disney Hollywood Studios attraction, The Great Movie Ride. From immersive storytelling to the implementation of a new kind of animatronic, Jack and Jonathan explore this long-gone ride.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does radiocarbon dating work? And why might it be less reliable in the future? Learn about carbon-14 and how it can be used to guess when ancient things were alive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA is going to try again with the Artemis I launch, part of the program to return humans to the Moon's surface. Microsoft faces potential resistance to its acquisition of Activision Blizzard among UK regulators. And Dungeons & Dragons sends a D20 to space. Kind of.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a cam? How do cams fit into mechanical systems, and why do we use them? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world’s first autonomous vessel to cross the Atlantic Ocean is signaling a new era in maritime technology. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell takes on this topic with Lauren Ober, host of The Loudest Girl in the World, and guests Brett Phaneuf and Don Scott, the engineers behind the Mayflower Autonomous Ship project. The two explain how automation and AI allowed them to reimagine the design and use of a ship at sea and their implications beyond maritime navigation. This is a paid advertisement from IBM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A listener asked to learn more about the Facebook/Meta Pixel, an ad tool that is incredibly powerful (and invasive). What is the Pixel, how does it work, and is there any escape from it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been an Event. What sort of tech can you rely upon after the zombie outbreak? Or solar flares? Or whatever?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Facebook and Twitter have been shutting down fake accounts spreading pro-US narratives in the Middle East and Asia. Google warns us of a hacking tool that can download your entire email inbox. And in most of the world it's about to get more expensive to buy a new PS5.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How could a music video's audio shutdown a computer? Why did the Tacoma Narrows bridge collapse in 1940? And did Nikola Tesla build an earthquake machine?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple's 3 nm chips are on the way. A former Apple employee pleads guilty to industrial espionage. Oracle allegedly knows everything about you. And Sony announced its new VR hardware will be out in early 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Televisions weren't always smart. You might argue they still aren't. But there's a surprisingly long history behind them and of the effort to bring extra information to televisions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been an Event. What sort of tech can you rely upon after the zombie outbreak? Or solar flares? Or whatever?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tanzania has installed high-speed internet on Mt. Kilimanjaro, providing more resources to mountain climbers and influencers alike. Facebook and TikTok are cracking down on political misinformation in the lead up to US elections. And a Janet Jackson music video was once the scourge of laptop hard drives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we look at some of the issues with VR that could act as a stumbling block on the journey to the metaverse. How will VR play a part in the metaverse, and will it create a new and more dramatic digital divide?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple reportedly has a new deadline requiring corporate employees to come back to the office. Some Signal users had their phone numbers exposed in a phishing attack. And a hacker partnered with a Doom modder to bring the first person shooter to tractors. Plus moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does the fintech company Affirm work? And what's the story behind its founder, Max Levchin? From Chernobyl to Peloton, our story takes some pretty crazy twists and turns.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What was the Manhattan Project all about? What went on during the Manhattan Project and who were the influential people involved? Ben Bowlin joins the show to talk about it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ransomware hackers got access to some Cisco systems but forgot to actually do the ransom part. Streaming services are grappling with the problem of managing costs and becoming profitable. And SpaceX's Starlink won't be getting hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid after all. Plus more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did a nuclear engineer end up inventing the Super Soaker water gun? This is the story of Lonnie Johnson, an inventor and engineer who, among many other things, revolutionized the backyard water pistol fight.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google's software update caused a brief but widespread outage of services. The US government stalls on passing an antitrust bill that would have a massive effect on the tech sector. And the semiconductor shortage continues to disrupt the automotive industry, plus more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listener Charlie wants to know about X, the Alphabet subsidiary where Google engineers conduct super secret research and development on everything from jetpacks to augmented reality headsets. We learn about its history and some of its successes and failures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.