In This Episode: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy is scheduled for its first flight tomorrow, and attempt to soft-land all three rocket cores: will it land in three pieces, or millions? Amazon has set up some interesting tech to keep Alexa from responding when they don’t want it to (and users have figured out other interesting hacks). Youtube to label propaganda items as “state-sponsored” — and that includes PBS?! How ads work on Youtube — and most web sites. Microsoft removes a useful backup capability from Windows. And an update on cell phone safety.
Podcast
TEH 009: Skynet’s Self-Awareness is Behind Schedule
In This Episode: Will the U.S. government nationalize the 5G network? Probably not. Celebs/politicians buy Twitter followers to look more important. How to tell Google to stop showing you ads and articles that don’t actually interest you. Online memes can be valuable. HomePod, and more on Spectre.
TEH 008: Go to Amazon
In This Episode: Amazon’s Go store in Seattle is open to the public, and you can take stuff and walk out. Facebook is going to try crowd-sourcing its news bias. A startup called Cargo is making it possible for rideshare drivers to put little vending machines in their cars. Fire TV can be frustrating if you want to watch YouTube since Amazon and Google remain in a feud. Google develops an AI voice that sounds real.
TEH 007: The Hawaii Fiasco (and Other Expensive Things)
In This Episode: What happened in Hawaii (ballistic missiles incoming, oh my!) was more of a tech problem than human error. Changes in Facebook’s news feed (again?) The “Internet Sales Tax” goes back to court. And later this year, you won’t have to sign for credit card purchases anymore.
TEH 006: Having a Meltdown over Spectre
In This Episode: Scare headlines over new exploits that will result in all your passwords and credit card numbers being swiped by Bad Guys? Maybe not. Same with the password manager autofill “problem.” And the headlines about how cell phones are some sort of health risk. Alexa is everywhere! And Tech that died in 2017.
TEH 005: Make Sure Your Bugs Are Current
In This Episode: Should you follow Computerworld’s advice and “Make sure Windows Auto Update is turned off”? (No!) Patreon’s mighty back-pedaling: is it enough damage control, and what will non-techie creators do now? The new iMac Pro: a “$13,000+ computer”? Does Bitcoin actually use as much power as all of Denmark, or is something fishy about this? And: Did Facebook really “admit” that using Facebook is “bad for you”? (Not exactly….) Note we’re breaking for the holidays: back in early January!
TEH 004: Say ‘Please’ to Alexa, et al.
In This Episode: Patreon changes how they charge contributors, and everyone is mad. Amazon and Google feud over Chromecast not being allowed in the Amazon store. Google serves up video answers from celebrities. Should we be nice to our digital assistants? Man creates art using Microsoft Excel as his canvas.
TEH 003: The Chatbot Will See You Now
In This Episode: The Macintosh “Root Password” problems, and the scare-tactic headlines. Why Windows isn’t “about to get a game-changing feature” despite a clickbait headline. Can chatbots help deter child sex exploitation? Google’s new Android app helps limit mobile data usage. And saving bits of computer history: ironically, much of it isn’t digitized for archive storage.
TEH 002: You’re Being Followed
In This Episode: Why it’s a bad idea to search Google to get to a web site, rather than just go to that web site. Amazon scoops up HALF of online “Black Friday” purchases — and revealed its top sellers. We weigh in on Net Neutrality. Another week, another big web site hack revealed. Or two. Guarding against credit card skimmers: there’s an app for that!
TEH 001: I For One Welcome Our New A.I. Overlords
In This Episode: A laughable review of the new Kindle Oasis. Twitter goes 280. New “Quad9” DNS server protects against malware. Proposed ATSC 3.0 TV standard. The fragmentation of streaming for TV cord-cutters. Are kids’ smartwatches really “illegal” in Germany? And forget Mac vs. PC: the new “religious wars” may be about worshiping the right benevolent A.I. construct.