Author Archives:
TDH – Focus on Silly
This week on the show, I focus on the silliness of many people, both bureaucratic, and general stupidity. Everything from the Indian thief who fell for a fake Facebook profile, later on the show, to the raiding of a Chinese ex-employee of a NASA contractor’s work laptop, filled with porn and pirated movies. Thankfully however, Tor Books’ decision to go DRM free hasn’t hurt their bottom line.
The Case of Kiera Wilmont
Tor Book
Ebay and the Feds
http://www.businessinsider.com/ebay-the-fbi-shawn-hogan-and-brian-dunning-2013-4?op=1
Software Bug in Poker Game? That’s a Federal Crime
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/05/game-king/all/
IE Exploit Targets Nuclear Weapons Researchers
“Google Palestine” Receives Criticism
World’s First 3D printed Handgun
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/05/the-first-entirely-3d-printed-handgun-is-here/
Chinese “Spy” Stole NASA Laptop
Top Bitcoin Exchange Hit with $75 mil Lawsuit
Qualcomm’s in-flight Internet Could Affect Satelites http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/05/in-flight-internet-plan-might-be-blocked-due-to-satellite-interference/
Facebook Frackups:
Facebook Leads to Psychosis
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57582893-71/can-facebook-lead-to-psychosis-one-study-says-so/
Facebook App on Glass to be a Hit
Thief in India Falls for Facebook Love Trap
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/05/03/thief-falls-for-facebook-trap-by-police-in-india/
TDH – Glass and Government
This week on the show, I talk about many things, from the egg in Eric Schmidt’s eye regarding Glass to the good news that CISPA is dead in the Senate. We talk about the frankly unbelievable saga of a bus line company, and the stupid Budweiser ploy to make you friends. Don’t drive drunk.
Chrome Office Viewer: Taking on Microsoft
Eric Schmidt Admits Glass “Inappropriate” in Situations
Google Glass Rooted
Consumer’s Shift to Older iPhones
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-apple-iphone-20130426,0,7968879.story
Washington State Calls T-Mo’s “No Contract” Bluff
US Embassy on Facebook for World IP Day
CISPA DOA in Senate
45% of Bitcoin Exchanges Close
http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/04/study-45-percent-of-bitcoin-exchanges-end-up-closing/
Bus Company Threatens Internet Commentator
Tesla CEO to Donate to 405 Widening
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-elon-musk-405-freeway-20130425,0,7423915.story
Facebook Frackups:
Budweiser’s Facebook Friend Maker
6-Bit Byte
White House on Tumblr, with GIFs
NYC Greenlights Uber Cabs
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57581699-94/nyc-green-lights-uber-cab-service/
TDH – Not to Scare You
This week on the show, I talk about some scary topics, like how a botnet may be forming by taking over WordPress instances, how a Russian supercomputer company has been put on a nuclear interest blacklist, along with many universities. I mention the birthday that manned spaceflight has recently had, and why I feel that Eric Schmidt’s goal of worldwide internet connectivity by 2020 is a little far-fetched. Enjoy!
DOJ warns against letting AT&T and Verizon beat up smaller companies
T-Mobile’s “revolution” with the iPhone 5
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57579466-71/t-mobiles-iphone-5-ad-is-a-low-budget-revolution/
Google Street View’s hyperlapse
Eric Schmidt predicts the world online by 2020
Huge WordPress attack could lead to botnet
US includes Russian supercomputer company in nuclear threat list
US, China agree to work on cybersecurity
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/13/us-china-us-cyber-idUSBRE93C05T20130413
6-bit Byte:
Microsoft tells Win7 users to rollback update
Bitcoin Derivatives
Winkelvii claim 1% of all Bitcoins
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/04/winklevii-say-they-own-1-percent-of-all-bitcoins/
Facebook Frackups:
HTC First: the Facebook phone
http://marketingland.com/htc-first-facebook-fairsearch-android-39507
Facebook Home, the second coming of Facebook?
http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/11/technology/facebook-zuckerberg-home.pr.fortune/
Science News:
Boeing’s X-48C passes final flight
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57579449-76/boeings-futuristic-x-48c-makes-final-flight/
Manned spaceflight celebrates a birthday
http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/04/happy-birthday-manned-spaceflight/
TDH – Android in SPACE
This week on the show, we outlaw Google Glass while driving, uphold your ability to sell, mame, or burn that copy of that book you (legally) own, and discuss the resignation of Julius Genakowski, the Chair of the FCC. I hope to put up a pre-record for next week, but worst comes to worst, you will be treated to an older episode. Enjoy!
Ban Google Glass While Driving:
Google’s Universal Analytics
OMG, Smartwatches
http://www.zdnet.com/attack-of-the-killer-smartwatches-7000013026/
Kevin Lynch, Now and Apple Employee
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/03/apples-hire-of-anti-apple-adobe-cto-raises-eyebrows/
Microsoft and Patriot Act Reports
http://www.informationweek.com/security/privacy/microsoft-reports-on-patriot-act-data-re/240151534
FCC Chair Steps Down
Bidding for Dell
First Sale Doctrine
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/03/thai-student-protected-by-first-sale-supreme-court-rules/
Facebook Frackups
At Facebook, Don’t go on Facebook
Facebook Events Page Includes Weather
http://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/facebook-shores-up-events-pages-with-weather-forecasts/
6-Bit Byte
Nexus S, in SPACE!
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/03/how-nasa-got-an-android-handset-ready-to-go-into-space/
TDH – Some Silly News
This week on the show, we talk about some gaffs regarding mobile in honor of the end of MWC in Barcelona, including the ban on unlocking cell phones, Mozilla’s Firefox OS, and Sergey Brin’s ‘emasculating’ comment. If you are an Evernote user, you should login to reset your password, and if you are a really curious cat, you can find other felines in and around London on the web. I will be back next week.
FCC to examine ban on unlocking cell phones
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/03/01/173254835/fcc-to-examine-federal-ban-on-unlocking-cellphones
Firefox OS release path
http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/01/firefox-os-is-repeating-the-mistakes-of-others/
Chrome hits 17-month low
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/03/chrome-hits-17-month-low-windows-8-still-only-creeping-upward/
Sergey Brin’s ‘emasculating’ comment
http://www.theweek.co.uk/technology/google-glass/51746/sergey-brin-ridiculed-saying-mobile-phones-emasculating
TWC claims there is no interest in gigabit internet
http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/27/4036128/time-warner-cable-no-consumer-demand-for-fiber-gigabit-internet
Do Not Track bill reintroduced
http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/28/4041928/do-not-track-online-privacy-bill-reintroduced
Evernote resets passwords after security breach
http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/2/4056704/evernote-password-reset
“Download this gun” a 3D printed semi-automatic
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/03/download-this-gun-3d-printed-semi-automatic-fires-over-600-rounds/
Facebook Frackups:
Teens tiring of Facebook
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57572154-93/why-teens-are-tiring-of-facebook/
6-bit Byte:
Map all of London’s cats
http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/03/demographics-cat-map-plots-locations-names-and-colors-of-london-felines/
IBM’s Watson: the new Top Chef
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57572213-71/ibms-watson-now-for-top-chef/
5-year-old apologizes for racking up $2500 bill
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57572057-71/5-year-old-sorry-for-racking-up-$2500-ipad-bill-in-10-minutes/
Science News:
Sodium-Air batteries
http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/03/sodium-air-battery-shows-potential/
TDH – Mobile Focus
Back on the air after a basketball hiatus! Finally! This week on the show I talk about many things mobile, from getting Wikipedia in text message form, to Visa’s new mobile payment project. You’ll soon be able to access the internet on your cell phone in North Korea, but not before you see what Google wants to build an expansion to the Googleplex.
Microsoft prepping public preview of Windows Blue
http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/24/4023724/windows-blue-public-preview-search-improvements
Google’s new building:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57570916-93/google-flexes-its-googleplex-with-planned-expansion/
Firefox to block third-party cookies
http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/23/4023078/firefox-to-start-blocking-cookies-from-third-party-advertisers
Mozilla, AT&T and Eriksson to partner for browser calls
http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/24/mozilla-att–ericsson/
Wikipedia to deliver content through text
http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/22/4017716/wikipedia-articles-via-text-messages-coming-months
Visa’s new mobile payments project
http://techcrunch.com/2013/02/22/visa-debuts-new-mobile-payments-and-nfc-partner-program-for-merchants-and-developers-ready/
Remember the 90’s slap bracelets? Thats Apple’s iWatch.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/02/21/172609637/watch-out-apple-patent-hints-at-something-for-your-wrist
North Korea allowing cellular data
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21546877
Chromebook Pixel allows Linux
http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/23/chromebook-pixel-linux-unverified-bios-slot-custom-bootloader/
PS4 comments and reactions
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/02/lets-talk-ps4-will-it-take-console-gaming-to-the-next-level/
Science and Kickers:
Obama administration backs open access to federal research
http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/02/obama-administration-backs-open-access-to-all-federal-research/
Thank you all for a great year!
Hello everybody,
I wanted to thank all of you loyal listeners (and bots that come visit the site) for being with the show for the past year. I always enjoy spending an hour on the air on Sundays, and I hope that you all enjoy what I have to say, whether you tune in live, or you download the shows later on.
Thank you again, and here is to another great year of The Digital Hazard in 2013!
I will see you on the radio at the start of the new semester.
~Matthew Baron
TDH – Revisit Old Tech
This week on the show, the last one in 2012, I talk about the recent news of the UN “taking over” the internet, the NHTSA’s plan to have “black boxes” in all cars and how T-Mobile will get Apple devices. This all interspered in discussion of old technologies that are either leaving us behind or coming back, Payphones, Kodak’s imaging, and Cassette Tapes. You’ll have to listen to know what is getting a refresh. See you on the radio in 2013!
Download This Week’s Episode
UN Power and the Internet
http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/06/explainer-what-power-the-un-actually-has-over-the-internet-hint-not-much/
Congress Opposes UN “takeover”
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/12/congress-declares-opposition-to-un-takeover-of-the-internet/
Black Boxes in Cars
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/12/federal-agency-wants-black-boxes-in-every-car-by-september-2014/
NYC Hosts Design Comp for Payphones
http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/08/NYC-wants-to-build-a-better-payphone/
AMD Halts Production
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/12/amd-puts-brakes-on-chip-manufacturing-as-sales-plummmet/
T-Mobile and the iPhone
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/12/t-mobile-usa-will-finally-carry-apple-devices-in-2013/
Apple and Google Bid for Kodak’s Patents
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57558033-92/apple-and-google-making-joint-bid-for-kodak-patents-report-says/
Sony Kills Cassette Players
http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/09/putting-the-cassette-to-bed-sony-to-discontinue-handheld-tape-r/
Facebook Frackups
The COO Sells $26.2 Million in Stock
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57557917-93/facebooks-sheryl-sandberg-sells-$26.2m-in-stock
6-bit Byte
Robots Schmooze with Donors
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57557068-1/building-a-sensitive-robot-and-perhaps-a-future-politician/
Science News
SpaceX Gets a Military Contract
http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/12/spacex-gets-its-first-military-contract/
Super Accurate Accelerometers
http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/12/an-accelerometer-so-good-that-only-quantum-mechanics-limits-it/
TDH – Facebook’s Future
This week on the show I talk about Motorola’s attempt at an injunction against Microsoft, which was unsuccessful. I speak at length about Apple’s future operating system, which is to reported to be named Lynx. The main concentration of my rant this week is actually Facebook’s mobile experience, which I have talked at length about on previous shows, but I tried not to overlap with previous comments. Enjoy.
Download This Week’s Episode
Motorola Patents Can’t Get Injunctions
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/11/in-a-blow-to-android-judge-says-moto-patents-cant-get-injunctions/
Google Returning December to the Calendar
http://www.zdnet.com/google-working-on-returning-missing-december-to-android-4-2-users-7000007591/
Unboxing the New iMac
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/11/taking-the-new-imac-out-of-its-weird-shaped-box/
Early Builds of OSX 10.9 to include Siri and Maps
http://9to5mac.com/2012/11/19/early-builds-of-apples-upcoming-os-x-10-9-include-siri-and-maps-integration/
OSX 10.9 to be called Lynx
http://applescoop.com/2012/11/17/exclusive-mac-os-x-10-9-will-be-named-lynx/
AT&T Named Worst Carrier (Again)
http://arstechnica.com/business/2012/11/in-annual-ritual-att-declared-worst-wireless-service/
Facebook Frackups
Facebook Shares Close at $28
http://www.insidefacebook.com/2012/11/30/fb-shares-close-at-28-highest-since-july/
You Have “No Fundamental Right to Facebook”
http://gigaom.com/2012/11/29/judge-says-no-fundamental-right-to-use-facebook-tosses-anti-trust-case/
Facebook Makes a Huge Data Grab
http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/01/facebook-photo-sync-data/
Science News
Mercury’s Craters Probably Have Organic Material
http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/11/craters-on-mercury-are-oases-for-water-ice-organic-molecules/
TDH – Accept that Facebook Gift
This week on the show I’m looking forward to seeing a Samsung flexible smartphone, but I highly doubt anyone would by it on Dish Netowrk’s wireless service. Lets hope that it runs stock Android because of Google’s new SDK modification. If you want to feel small, go take a look at Google’s latest Chrome Experiment, 100,000 Stars, or make fun of another former presidential candidate, Bob Dole.
Download This Week’s Episode
Google Teaming up with Dish Network…. for a Cellular Network
http://arstechnica.com/business/2012/11/google-and-dish-network-allegedly-in-talks-for-new-wireless-service/
Google Modifies Android SDK to Prevent Fracture
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57550824-93/google-modifies-android-sdk-to-battle-platform-fragmentation/
Samsung Working on Flexible Screens
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mobile/display/20121115040955_Samsung_Display_to_Start_Making_Bendable_Displays_in_First_Half_of_2013.html
Sorkin’s Jobs Biopic
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/11/sorkin-penned-steve-jobs-biopic-to-consist-of-just-three-scenes/
Sinofsky Not Dismissed from Unifying Windows
http://www.slashgear.com/sinofsky-i-wasnt-building-a-windows-and-windows-phone-fiefdom-15257185/
NASA Finally Demands Encryption on Hard Drives
http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/14/3646970/nasa-encryption-demanded-after-laptop-theft
6-bit Byte:
Tweet over Email, or JUST SEND THE EMAIL!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/twitter-adds-e-mail-sharing/2012/11/16/1fba732c-2feb-11e2-a30e-5ca76eeec857_story.html
Dole/Kemp 1996 Site Still Up, and Still Slow
http://www.avclub.com/articles/travel-back-in-internet-time-to-show-your-support,88737/
Facebook Frackups:
Facebook Expands Gifts Program
http://thenextweb.com/facebook/2012/11/16/facebook-expands-gifting-by-rolling-out-gift-button-to-millions-more-profile-pages-adding-over-a-hundred-new-partners/
Facebook Realizes that People don’t Want to See Ads
http://readwrite.com/2012/11/15/new-separate-facebook-page-feeds-helps-you-separate-business-from-pleasure
Science News:
Google Launches 100,000 Stars Chrome Experiment
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2412197,00.asp
Earliest Galaxy Ever Seen:
http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/11/gravitational-lens-magnifies-earliest-galaxy-yet-seen/
