TechStuff

How was full motion video used in early computer and console games? And why is it so hilariously bad? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We pick up with the space suits designed for the Apollo program. We learn what the Apollo astronauts had to do in order to go to the bathroom in space. Warning: it isn't pretty. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan is joined by Daniel Whiteson of Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe. Daniel works in the field of experimental particle physics and conducts research using the LHC. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dallas Police Department accidentally deleted 22 terabytes of data. Hackers infiltrated T-Mobile servers and claim to have stolen the private information of 100 million customers. And we learn about a vigilante group targeting trolls on TikTok. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lack of new space suits is going to push back the Artemis Program. Where did space suits come from? What were the early ones like? We look at flight suits up through the early days of Apollo in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is FMV and how did it change video games? From the brilliant to the brilliantly awful, we take a look at FMV. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netflix tries to stop people from using VPNs to view region-locked material. Facebook faces new anticompetitive investigations in the UK. A report shows the New York Police Department spent more than 150 million dollars on surveillance tech without public oversight. And more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA is soliciting applications for its astronaut program in anticipation of sending men and women to the Moon. Learn all about the Artemis program, its goals and what comes next! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Senate has approved a 1.2 trillion dollar infrastructure bill, but contained within that bill are some amendments that could cause problems down the road. Also, Twitter uses a competition to root out problems with its photo cropping algorithm. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In late 2014, hackers stole an enormous amount of information from Sony Pictures, then wiped out thousands of computers and hundreds of servers. A group calling itself Guardians of Peace claimed responsibility. But what was really going on? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the good old days of roughing it to the high tech campsite of the future, we look at the tech of camping. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google researchers claim they can use quantum computers to study time crystals, and we figure out what that sentence means. We also cover stories about Facebook, Apple, and how the US is using artificial intelligence to predict the enemy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steven Lisberger, writer and director of the 1982 film Tron, joins the show to talk about the tech of making the film and the mythology of Tron itself. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tesla Autopilot may have averted tragedy in Norway, but it also thought the moon was a traffic light. And a massive Tesla battery caught fire, requiring four days of firefighting to extinguish it. In other news, the space station did some unplanned flips last week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It sounds like a paradox: a tech company is worth billions of dollars but operates at a loss year after year. We look at a few companies that have struggled with this and the challenges of turning a profit. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did a pair of programmers make a chatbot that passed the Turing Test? What exactly is the test and has anyone beaten it before? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Smart Talks, Malcolm talks to Jim Whitehurst, senior advisor at IBM and an expert in open source software and innovation. During their conversation, Jim reveals how embracing moments that initially feel like chaos can ultimately lead to more open organizations, and broader access to new ideas. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once upon a time, the US wasn't really fussed about energy conservation. So what happened? From wars to oil embargoes to environmental disasters, we look at the factors that would shape energy policy and a more responsible approach to energy consumption. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A company offering a VPN service has some explaining to do after Ukrainian officials seize some servers. Apple patches a zero-day vulnerability. And Alienware computers are just too powerful for six states. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the late 90s, the Y2K bug was a big news item. People worried that everything from toasters to airplanes would fail as computer systems mishandled the change from 1999 to 2000. But what was really going on, and why did Y2K come back last year? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may have seen the Indiegogo solar roadway project. What are the goals of solar roadways? Are they realistic? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A problem with a Content Delivery Network meant that several major web sites and services went offline on Thursday. The State of California brings a lawsuit against video game company Activision Blizzard. And the UAE zaps clouds to make it rain. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The word algorithm pops up a lot in tech discussions, but what the heck is an algorithm? From learning about an Arabic genius to discovering a way to figure out what day of the week falls on any given date, we look at algorithms. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeff Bezos takes a joyride on a rocket. Apple delays when employees will have to return to the office. And an illegal cryptocurrency mining operation turns out to be something completely different. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We make some time to celebrate some of the ideas and companies in tech that just didn't work out. From bad ideas to bad luck, we explore the factors that lead to failure in tech. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the manufacturing process for carbon fiber? What properties does carbon fiber possess? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Dogecoin co-founder speaks out against cryptocurrency. Android 12 takes a new spin on auto-rotate. President Biden signs an executive order supporting the right to repair. And what do emoji sound like? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do scam artists disguise their phone numbers when setting up robocalls? We look at Caller ID and spoofing and learn how companies and government agencies are trying to fight back. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ByteDance employees are about to have less work. Google faces a big fine in France. And Amazon just got permission from the FCC to watch you sleep. Plus more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A listener asked to learn more about fast recharging technologies, so we take a look at the history and evolution of batteries, what happens with rechargeable batteries and the complicated mess of fast recharging solutions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carbon fiber is an amazing material. Where did it come from? And were people really making it in the 19th century? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former president Donald Trump files legal complaints against YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. More than 30 states say that the Google App store is "monopolistic." China's WeChat shuts down LGBT channels on the platform. And Dodge announces an all-electric muscle car. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iyaz Akhtar joins the show to talk about his career in tech, his friendship with Jonathan and what it's like to have your finger on the pulse of the technology sector. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government in India says that Twitter could be held liable for illegal material posted to the network. The "King of Bitcoin" is under arrest. And learn why some major Internet companies say they might pull out of Hong Kong. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How were matches invented? From toxic chemicals to pee science, we learn about matches. And a fictional character stops by to irritate our host. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clothes dryers have evolved from precarious, fire-bellied devices to the increasingly green machines we know today. We cover the history of dryer tech, plus the newest innovations and NASA-funded research. And, of course, explain how they work. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The FCC cracks down on spoofing. Google has a digital COVID card. And companies that make autonomous vehicles in the US must report all major accidents moving forward. All this and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've reached the end of our primer on tech acronyms and initialisms (for now). In this episode, learn about search engine optimization, what an SSID is, why you should pick WPA over WEP and what Y2K was all about. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's news episode, we learn how one YouTube algorithm banned a legitimate channel and how over at Amazon an algorithm can fire employees. Plus ISPs and Netflix go to battle in South Korea and Apple has an extreme solution to information leaks. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's a PCB? What makes an RTF? What the heck is SaaS? We continue to demystify the acronyms and initialisms common in tech circles. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What goes into making a planetarium work and where did they come from? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John McAfee, the founder of McAfee Antivirus, was found dead in a jail cell in Spain after a court ruled he would be extradited to the US for tax evasion. We look at his life, plus stories about Amazon throwing out hundreds of thousands of products each month and how a change at Google might mean millions of links will go dead. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does MPEG stand for? What does MIDI do? And are P2P networks inherently bad? We learn some more tech initialisms and acronyms. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We got ourselves some Hubble Trouble. The US House of Representatives isn't a fan of SpaceX and Blue Origin. And cryptocurrencies keep taking a beating. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our series on tech acronyms and initialisms continue. From learning basics like input and output to what it is that ICANN does, we've got you covered. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently, a documentary crew went out to the desert to dig up some legendary Atari cartridges. It reminds us of this classic TechStuff episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here in the US, the government is looking at laws that could change how tech companies operate. Japan is looking into supersonic passenger flight technology. And Amazon is cracking down on fake reviews. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We continue learning about the initialisms and acronyms used commonly in tech and what they mean. From proprietary file extensions to global navigation systems, we work our way through the technological alphabet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2021 E3 is going on right now, and Microsoft is taking the opportunity to dominate conversations. A ransomware hacker group targeted a nuclear weapons contractor. And a group of tech companies wants the SEC to require corporations to submit a regular climate change performance report. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this new series, we take a look at acronyms and initialisms in tech and learn what they mean, plus get a little story behind them. Learn about ASCII and BIOS and CSS and more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.