I'm not talking about computer games of Jeopardy; I'm talking about the game show itself: The game show "Jeopardy" will pit man versus machine this winter in a competition that will show how successful scientists are in creating a computer that can mimic human intelligence. Two of the venerable game show's most successful champions — Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter … Read More
4G
Do you wish your phone service provider provided 4G service? Wait….. you don't know what 4G service is, do you….. No, I didn't think so. You probably know this: it is better than 3G service. As Nigel Tufnel might say, it 4G is "um…. one better" than 3G. And you would be correct. 4G is better than 3G. But guess what? … Read More
What’s Next For Android
Android 2.3 comes out in a few weeks, and it includes a new technology known as "Near-field communication". As far as I can understand it, it basically means that your phone will know where you are and what you want, so it will give you a steady stream of information. If you're in a CVS, it will present you with … Read More
I, For One, Welcome Our New Robot Chauffeur Overlords
The New York Times informs us that cars that drive themselves are here, and they work. Google has been perfecting several self-driving cars for a while now. The cars have already driven 1,000 miles without human intervention and over 140,000 miles with “only occasional human control.” Yes, engineers have been in the cars the whole time, and paying attention, but it’s … Read More
Not Real
I think we're coming to the point where computer generated graphics are so realistic, they are indistinguishable from the real thing: More here and here
MacArthur Genius Award Fellows Announced
Once again, I was overlooked. The famed MacArthur Fellows Program, which awards "Genius" grants to exceptional inventors, innovators and other creative types, has announced 23 new fellows for 2010. This year's honorees were contacted out of the blue by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and offered $500,000 with no strings attached over the next five years to pursue … Read More
On Time
Smart scientists have now proven that time goes faster at higher elevations. That may be hard to wrap your head around — it's not that the perception of time goes faster at higher elevations, it's that time itself actually goes faster at higher elevations. In other words, if you have a super accurate clock and you leave it downstairs for … Read More
The Web Is Dead: Wired
Of course, the World Wide Web isn't dead, but it's fast becoming a thing of the past. This might come as a surprise to many, but the opening paragraph of this Wired column explains: You wake up and check your email on your bedside iPad — that’s one app. During breakfast you browse Facebook, Twitter, and The New York Times … Read More
Want…
…this: [I]ntroducing Voice Actions for Android. Voice Actions are a series of spoken commands that let you control your phone using your voice. Call businesses and contacts, send texts and email, listen to music, browse the web, and complete common tasks, all just by speaking into your phone. Now I won't even have to use my fingers anymore. Unfortunately, it … Read More
It’s Time For The Perseid Shower Again
Thursday night into Friday morning is optimal. No moon in the sky, so that's a huge plus. Look in the Northeast sky — depending on your light pollution conditions and clouds, you could see as many as 100 meteors per hour.
New with Android: Create your Own Apps
A little debate between me and my girlfriend is being played out throughout the country: iPhone vs. Android. Six months ago, the debate would have been one-sided — iPhone of course. Sure — you were stuck with AT&T, and sure there was only one phone using the iPhone operating system (the iPhone), but all told, the iPhone simply had it all. … Read More
Interview With The Inventor Of The Cell Phone
My mom now has a cell phone, which means that cell phones are now — officially – as mainstream as television, radio, and cassette tapes. Um…. okay, maybe not that last one. So now's a good time to point to a CNN interview with the inventor of the cell phone, Martin Cooper. Cooper, a designer at Motorola at the time, made … Read More
Android vs iPhone
Which is better? It depends on what you want from your smartphone. Lifehacker does a run-down, summarized by this chart here. The powerusers of Lifehacker prefer Android to iPhone 66% to 30%, but as the full article suggest, it's all highly subjective. If customization, navigation, and Google integration is a big thing for you, Android is the clear way to go. … Read More