TechStuff

Apple still plans to launch a more affordable mixed reality headset before the end of next year, but the Vision Pro sounds like a one off. Plus, Nvidia, Microsoft and Apple vie for the title of most valuable company in the world. And much 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.

Smart Talks with IBM returns with a new season on Tuesday, June 25th. This season, we’re diving back into the world of artificial intelligence, but with a focus on the powerful concept of “open,” and how it applies to AI. Host Malcolm Gladwell will invite curious colleagues from Pushkin Industries to explore how openness is already reshaping industries, ways of doing business, and our very notion of what's possible. This is a paid advertisement from IBM. Visit us at ibm.com/smarttalksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geomagnetic disturbances and electromagnetic pulses have the potential to cause a lot of problems for us. We learn what causes these events and how they can impact electronic systems.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk says he'll ban Apple products from his company following the announcement that Apple is partnering with OpenAI. Plus, Microsoft recalls Windows Recall before it can launch next week. And much more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in the late 1970s, toy company Mattel waded into the video game console market with the launch of the Intellivision. This year, Atari SA purchased the rights to the Intellivision brand and IP. We look at the story behind this early video game console.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While Elon Musk owes much of his wealth to Tesla, the truth is that he's not the company's founder. That honor goes to a pair of engineers named Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. We explore the origins of Tesla.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two different consumer products with AI integration have flopped recently, and even big companies like Google have had to backtrack on AI implementations. Is AI just not yet ready for the public? And if so, who the heck will tell AI companies? Plus lots more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've got more data breaches and leaks to talk about. From an attack that targeted Microsoft corporate customers to one affecting three billion accounts, we look at how hackers and poor data security practices put people and their information at risk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TicketMaster recently acknowledged a massive data breach that has affected more than half a billion customers. Where would it fall on a list of the worst data breaches in US history? We look at instances from LinkedIn to Home Depot.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reuters reports that TikTok is developing a US-only version of its recommendation algorithm, but the company disputes the report's accuracy. Plus, could AI make your next favorite TV show?See 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We learn who invented the lawnmower, how lawnmowers evolved, and why we even have lawns in the first place. Hint: it has to do with castles in the Middle Ages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OpenAI is in the hot seat. Scarlet Johansson thinks OpenAI might have used her voice without her permission. Former employees are compelled to sign non disparagement agreements or face losing their equity in the company. And much more! Plus, non AI stories too!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a tumultuous 2013, Hulu would enter the next phase of its evolution. But corporate maneuvers in huge media empires and growing competition in the streaming space would determine Hulu's path forward. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2007, News Corp and NBCUniversal announced a joint venture. It would be a video streaming service that would deliver film and broadcast TV content online. Detractors called it the Clown Co, but it took the name Hulu and would become an important force that would shape the business of online streaming.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Both OpenAI and Google dominated the tech news this week with announcements relating to AI, and like it or not it seems like AI is bound to become deeply integrated into our tech in the near future. Plus, Elon Musk tussles with the SEC (again) and two brothers are accused of stealing around 25 million dollars in cryptocurrency.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From always-on DRM to the heartbreak of online games getting shut down, we look at the issues gamers encounter with the live service game model.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently, Microsoft shut down four video game studios. The industry as a whole has seen major disruption this year. And some worry that a shift toward live service games could be a big part of the problem. What's going on? Part one of two!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Microsoft announced that game studios like Austin Arkane and Tango Gameworks are closing their doors. Google and Tesla are both dealing with consequences following layoffs. And OpenAI may have plans in the works to rain on Google's I/O conference parade next week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are early adopters, and why are they important? In this episode, we look at Everett Rogers theory of the diffusion of innovation and how new ideas get adopted by a population. Plus, we revisit the sad tale of the HD DVD format.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TechStuff gets in the Wayback Machine to look at the origins of the Internet Archive, which preserves information stored on the Internet. How does it work and how did it get started? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk starts making drastic cuts at Tesla -- is he trying to salvage his enormous compensation package? Plus, Microsoft tells the cops that they aren't allowed to use Asure services for facial recognition. And much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advancements in AI technology have made it possible to create virtual representations of our real-world environments, and these digital twins could change how we experience just about everything in our lives. These digital twins can create everything from more efficient workplaces to smarter traffic lights, and on the first episode of Season 2 of Technically Speaking: An Intel Podcast, digital twin expert Tony Franklin discusses what’s required to create a digital twin and how different industries can use this technology to create a safer future for everyone. Learn more about how Intel is leading the charge in the AI Revolution at intel.com/AIeverywhereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tech industry has no shortage of buzzwords and jargon. Some of the terms common in tech are ones that people have come to hate for various reasons. From AI to blockchain to the metaverse, we explore buzzwords that drive some people bonkers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do some films shot in higher frame rates look so weird? We explore the history of the 24 frames per second standard, the filmmakers who are pushing the envelope on frame rates, and how those technological changes affect the viewing experience of film.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several tech companies held Q1 earnings calls this week, with wildly different reactions from investors. Tesla profits are down, but investor hopes are high. Meta keeps spending money on the metaverse and investors are not happy about it. Plus an update on the Voyager 1 and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The thing I said probably wouldn't happened did happen -- the US Senate voted in favor of a bill that will force the Chinese company ByteDance to divest itself of TikTok or face a US-wide ban. But how the heck did we get here, and how does a political megadonor play into it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Officially, the United States has lost nuclear weapons in six incidents in which the nation couldn't retrieve or destroy them. We look at these six incidents and learn how nuclear weapons work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some tweaks to the bill that would require TikTok parent company to divest itself of the app or face a US-wide ban could be closer to becoming a law. AI takes to the skies in simulated dogfights. And about half of all online traffic comes from bots. Plus lots more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do theatrical lighting control systems work? From early attempts to automate lighting through mechanical systems to sleek computer-controlled rigs of today, we look at the evolution of concert lighting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While Jonathan works on a new episode about stage lighting systems, take a listen to this classic episode in which he and his old cohost Chris Pollette talk about the history and workings of electric guitars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our news stories today include SBF filing an appeal on his recent sentencing, a UK court denies Apple's request to dismiss a huge lawsuit and Microsoft may soon make the Copilot AI feature an auto-launch program in Windows 11. Plus much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Entire industries are being reshaped around the new capabilities of generative AI. In this specialbonus episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Tim Harford leads a conversation between two leadersin the field. Srinivasan Venkatarajan is the Director of Global Partner Business at Microsoft,focusing on Azure Data & AI and Azure OpenAI. And Chris McGuire is the General Manager ofthe Global Microsoft Partnership for IBM. They discuss the efforts by IBM and Microsoft in the generative AI space, how this relationshiphas been providing value to clients, and why collaboration is necessary for technologicalprogress. Visit us at: ibm.com/smarttalks Learn more about IBM Consulting for Microsoft This is a paid advertisement from IBM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Journalist Ernie Smith got an odd DMCA takedown notice for a picture he included in his tech newsletter. It turns out that the notice was a ploy to try and trick Smith into including a backlink to another site in an effort to boost that site's search rankings. What the what?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Nintendo Virtual Boy was one of the company's infamous flops, but why? Why did the system fail so hard that Nintendo killed it off after just one year? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Net neutrality goes through another flip in the flip-flop history with the FCC announcing it plans to vote to reinstate some of the rules established during the Obama administration but overturned during the Trump administration. Plus, Google agrees to destroy billions of data records and Ford decides to hold off on producing EVs for a bit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My blood runs cold, my computer memory has just been sold -- my test image is the centerfold! Today, we look at the story of the "Lenna image," a scan of a Playboy model that has been used in countless papers and articles, and why there's a movement now to bring an end to that practice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes, folks want to take a short cut. And sometimes that shortcut is illegal. This episode is about companies, managers, employees and others who engaged in some shifty behavior to get access to data that didn't belong to them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TikTok is turning up the heat on the US Senate to get a proposed bill that would ban the service tossed out. The US government announces new policies relating to the use of AI in federal agencies. And a streaming service tries to clamp down on butts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it true Harry Snyder, founder of In-N-Out, invented the intercom? Not quite. But he was the first credited with using a system to create what would become the model for the modern drive-thru. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The End User License Agreement is that thing you click "I agree" to without having read the whole thing. But you can be forgiven -- some companies make their EULAs freakishly long, hiding some nefarious terms in the process. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US government is cracking down on Big Tech. From a House bill that would make it illegal for data brokers to sell American citizen info to foreign adversaries to a massive monopoly lawsuit against Apple, we look at some of the battles the Tech industry faces in the near future. Plus more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After navigating numerous controversies and setbacks, Rooster Teeth attempted to return to a more stable existence. But it was not to be. The corporate overlords at Warner Bros Discovery have decided to shut down the company after it reportedly spent a decade being unprofitable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As artificial intelligence progresses, healthcare providers are exploring how the technology can be used to offer personalized care at scale. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Dr. Laurie Santos sits down with Alice Crisci, co-founder and CEO of fertility-care provider Ovum Health. They discuss the barriers to healthcare access, the ways in which AI can be leveraged to expand the reach of healthcare providers, and how Ovum Health’s partnership with IBM and their use of watsonx has been enhancing the patient experience. Visit us at: ibm.com/smarttalks Learn more about watsonx Assistant This is a paid advertisement from IBM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fullscreen's acquisition of Rooster Teeth would bring with it new challenges, including corporate bureaucracy, a push for new kinds of monetization, and changes in company culture. Meanwhile, the folks at Rooster Teeth kept making content. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the House of Representatives in the US voted overwhelmingly in support of a bill that would force TikTok owner ByteDance to divest itself of the app or else face a national ban. What's going on, where does the bill go from here and why am I so exasperated by it all?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warner Bros Discovery is shutting down the online media company Rooster Teeth just as it nears its 21st anniversary. We look back on the history of the company, how it made an impact on internet culture, and where things went wrong.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ed Zitron of the Better Offline podcast joins the show, and boy is he mad! Ed and Jonathan get angry over the state of the tech industry, the focus on short term gains at the cost of long term benefits, and why the tech we have at our disposal sometimes just feels like it's not as good as it should be.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OpenAI said they didn't wanna do it, but they're sharing emails written by Elon Musk that imply he was totally okay with OpenAI making a ton of money if it also was part of Tesla. Plus the US President speaks out against AI. And much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.