TechStuff

Today, HBO is known for its original programming that's so popular people can't stop pirating it. We look at the company's current strategy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hackers share billions of passwords while others infiltrate EA's internal systems. El Salvador moves to make bitcoin legal tender within the country. And politicians propose legislation that could mean huge changes for some major tech companies. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act or COPPA has been around since 1996. So why was it suddenly in the headlines in 2020? We explore this law, its purpose and what consequences it has on the world of online content and advertising. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A massive sting operation brings down 800 criminals around the world thanks to an "encrypted" messaging app. Bitcoin value sinks again after the US seizes a ransom paid in cryptocurrency. And in the future you might cruise Amsterdam's canals on a robotic boat. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is your phone eavesdropping on you? Does that smart speaker listen in on your conversations? Turns out, they don't need to, because companies can access enormous amounts of personal data in other ways. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happened to HBO once cable subscriptions hit a saturation point? We look at how the company transitioned from startup to corporate. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remote working has kept many businesses afloat over the last year, but has it kept employees productive, enthusiastic, and inspired? In this special episode of Smart Talks, recorded at IBM’s Think Conference, Malcolm spars with his longtime friend Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist and professor at the Wharton School, about what we’ve learned through remote working and how businesses can approach a hybrid model. Can we, and should we, return to “normal”? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Continuing our history of Warner Bros/Time Warner/WarnerMedia, we look at how the failed merger of AOL Time Warner shook out. Then we explore how the media landscape changed rapidly in the 2000s. And we learn why AT&T bought WarnerMedia only to turn around and sell it off again. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A report claims Google purposefully hit location tracking settings to discourage users from turning them off. Facebook funds a questionable report. And we learn about a military drone that attacked targets autonomously. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Disneyland attraction Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln originally started out as a World's Fair attraction before taking up residence in the Happiest Place on Earth. We look at the history, technology and evolution of this popular Disney attraction. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a time that’s been challenging for everyone, perhaps no other industry has been hit harder than healthcare. Anthem, one of America’s leading health benefits companies, needed to be ready to answer member questions at a moment’s notice. In this episode of Smart Talks, Malcolm talks to Anil Bhatt, Senior Vice President and CTO of Anthem, and Glenn Finch, Managing Partner of Global Business Services at IBM, about how AI is helping people interact with healthcare in a whole new way. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Human rights group urge Google to drop a cloud computing project in Saudi Arabia. UK Uber drivers now have a union they can join. And scientists think that your perception of time changes in virtual reality. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Continuing our episodes about the evolution of WarnerMedia, we look at a brief history of HBO and Cinemax. We learn about the Worst Merger of All Time. And we learn a bit about the cable business. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode includes many stories of how tech and politics are clashing. From police in India raiding Twitter offices to China cracking down on bitcoin mining, we learn about how tech has come under fire from various governments and why. Plus lots more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AT&T plans to spin off WarnerMedia and have it merge with Discovery Communications, but this is just the most recent example of corporate shuffling for Warner. We look at the origins of the Warner Brothers Studio and how it gradually mutated into Time Warner. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TechStuff listeners join hosts Jonathan Strickland and Ariel as they discuss sitcoms and movies. Knives Out 2 gets another amazing actor. Dear Evan Hansen casting becomes a joke on the Internet. And they go surprisingly dark with a mash up between Full House and Monsters Inc. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google held a virtual event for developers and we learned about a lot of software updates, but not much on hardware. Cryptocurrency values went through a major dip. And ByteDance has a new leader. All this and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the years, large companies have pressured governments (particularly the US government) to create strict laws that crack down on unauthorized copying and distribution of intellectual property. We look at the good, the bad and the really, really ugly consequences. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China lands a rover on Mars. Elon Musk contributes to another dip in Bitcoin's value. Apple and Amazon Music offer lossless audio options to subscribers at no additional charge. And more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No copyright infringement intended. Does that matter? Does it even mean anything? We look at the complicated issues of copyright and fair use. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did the Home Box Office network get its start? And how did it grow into the giant it is today? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Game developer Ubisoft is shifting toward more free-to-play titles, which generate revenue on a recurring basis. In this episode, we look at how video games traditionally made money and how that's all changing. And how will it affect the games that come out in the future? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Radio dramas brought audiences to places they could never go on their own, from collapsing mines beneath Wales to a Martian invasion hitting New York City. Today, we're seeing a resurgence in the art form. Learn about the history and evolution of radio drama. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hackers shut down Colonial Pipeline in the largest cyberattack on US infrastructure to date. Amazon responds to calls to crack down on counterfeiting. And a casual comment from Elon Musk causes the value of dogecoin to plummet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the late 19th century, a French experiment demonstrated the power of stereo sound. A century later, experiments in binaural audio would help create rich soundscapes that could immerse the listener in audio environments. We learn about the evolution and tech of 3D audio. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Solar Impulse 2 is scheduled to fly around the Earth in 2015 using only solar power. Say what? How is that even possible? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Facebook's oversight board says the company was justified in banning Donald Trump but needs to revisit the issue. Microsoft has never made a profit off of Xbox hardware sales. And Twitter wants you to think twice before tweeting out that mean thing you just typed. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it really possible for a machine to achieve consciousness? What does consciousness even mean? From philosophy to technological obstacles, we look at the problems and possibilities. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Verizon is looking to offload AOL and Yahoo (for about half of what the company paid for them). Facebook hates Apple's new iOS rules. Sony hates crossplay. And Jonathan hates thunderstorms. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a continuation of our story about Niantic, we learn how the company has grown thanks to Pokemon, and how a young wizard's spell totally failed to repeat its success. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are we using hydrogen today and how might we use it in the future? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, women represent approximately 22% of the AI workforce. But IBM is out to change that by increasing diversity not just in hiring but through programs such as Women Leaders in AI that celebrate diversity in the field. In this episode of Smart Talks, Malcolm Gladwell talks to IBM’s new SVP & CMO, Carla Piñeyro Sublett, and Chimka Munkhbayar, co-founder of Agrolly, about their challenges, achievements, and the steps they’re taking to create a more inclusive tech world. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the story of the founding of Niantic, the company behind the hit smartphone game Pokemon Go. From shipwrecks to corporate acquisitions, we learn about the early days at the company. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple has some new challenges. Google and Roku are having a spat. And a beaver in Canada decided to destroy the Internet. Kind of. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concrete is one of the most useful materials humans have ever made. But it also represents a big source of greenhouse gas emissions. How do we solve that problem? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could hydrogen be the fuel of the future? We look at the most plentiful element in the galaxy and discuss the possibility. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple holds a marketing event and I like what I see. TikTok is in legal hot water in the UK. The FCC is cracking down on robocalls in the US. And it looks like a beloved old video game is getting remade. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is it so hard to define concepts like artificial intelligence and machine learning? What do those even mean? And how does it work? We take a very high level look at AI and machine learning. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Okay, there are no flying spiders of Mars, but there is a flying drone that successfully flew on the Red Planet (and doesn't that deserve a David Bowie reference?)! We also learn why Bitcoin had a tough weekend and a new way to play Xbox games over web browsers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The modern QWERTY keyboard has had pretty much the same layout for more than a century. Why do we still rely on keyboards (and the computer mouse as well)? We explore input devices and the longevity of the keyboard. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes washers tick? How have they evolved over time to become more energy efficient and conserve water? And what's going on in there? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee 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. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After launching in 1992, Mortal Kombat would spawn a massive franchise. It would also burn out the creators of the franchise and the company that spawned it would go out of business. And yet the tournament survives! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran reports that a cyber attack shut down the Natanz nuclear reactor. A former Facebook employee says that the company turned a blind eye to state-backed misinformation campaigns. And if you live in Houston, Texas, your next pizza might come via robot delivery. Plus more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The company that created Mortal Kombat has a complicated past that intertwines with lots of other companies. This is part one of the story of Midway. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is Tor? What's the web under the web? What's really going on? We dish out the details. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's going on with the Facebook data breach that saw personal data from half a billion accounts compromised? Why are Signal app users upset? And why oh why is Yahoo Answers going away? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ford Motor Company and the Model T transformed America and the world. From 1908 to 1927, Ford would produce and sell more than 15 million Model T automobiles. This is the story of the Model T, Henry Ford and the birth of modern manufacturing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does Apple CEO think augmented reality will make conversations better? Did Amazon terminate two employees illegally because they criticized the company? And Google addresses an old issue that let Android apps know about all the other apps on an Android phone. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After several delays, we expect to launch the James Webb Space Telescope later this year. Where is it going, what is it looking for, and how did it lead to Jonathan getting a tattoo? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.