Political Excuses
This week’s episode of Pop Tech Jam has been pre-empted by Monday’s presidential debate and its audio aftermath. We apologize for the short notice and hope to be back Jamming next week!
PTJ 206 News: Robot, You Can Drive My Car
Forget about the distant promise of Hyperloop for a minute, because the United States Department of Transportation is looking toward the near future. The agency has released its first set of government guidelines for self-driving automobiles. The document is wittily titled Federal Automated Vehicles Policy: Accelerating the Next Revolution in Roadway Safety and is available as 116-page PDF … Continue reading PTJ 206 News: Robot, You Can Drive My Car
PTJ 205 News: Grab and Go
Well, it’s a week later and Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 problem continues to grow. Two government agencies have now issued warnings about using the new device. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging all Galaxy Note 7 owners to stop using the phones and to power down and stop charging them. And the Federal … Continue reading PTJ 205 News: Grab and Go
PTJ 204 News: Great Balls of Fire
Samsung’s hot new Galaxy Note 7 phone has gotten a little too hot — to the point of bursting into flames due to a battery issue — and the company stopped selling it late last week. Samsung is now trying to reel back the million units that were sold with an exchange program. As The Consumerist … Continue reading PTJ 204 News: Great Balls of Fire
PTJ 203 News: Irish Wakeup Call
Nothing like a $14.6 billion bill for back taxes to get your attention, eh? That’s the hefty sum Apple is facing after a European Commission ruling this week found the company’s tax deal with Ireland was illegal under European Union rules. Apple and Ireland are both vowing to appeal the ruling, and in a letter released … Continue reading PTJ 203 News: Irish Wakeup Call
PTJ 202 News: Chew On This
Who says you shouldn’t release new products in August? Google’s all out with the shiny, releasing the final version of its Android 7.0 operating system to compatible Nexus devices. [Sorry about that, Nexus 7 owners.] For a deep review of the new system, check out what Ars Technica has to say. (Hint: Ars Technica has a lot to … Continue reading PTJ 202 News: Chew On This
Tweet Relief
While Bletchley Park— the home of the World War II British codebreakers — is a thriving museum these days, the site was once perilously close to collapsing into the forgotten past. Thanks to her persistent blogging efforts and a robust Twitter campaign to raise awareness, the educator and author Dr. Sue Black, (OBE) brought attention to Bletchley Park’s … Continue reading Tweet Relief
PTJ 201 News: Video Killed the Telephone Call
Google released its previously announced Duo video-calling software this week. Like Microsoft’s Skype app and Facebook Messenger, Duo allows cross-platform video calls between Android and iOS phones. Some have called it No-Frills FaceTime — but with an Android version. However, as of now, Duo users cannot use the spiffy new app to connect to other … Continue reading PTJ 201 News: Video Killed the Telephone Call
PTJ 200 News: The Jet Set
Walmart, the original übermegaeverything store before Amazon.com waltzed into town, announced this week that it was going to buy Amazon competitor Jet.com for $3 billion in cash and about $300 million in stock. As both Walmart and analysts have stated, the acquisition of the e-commerce start-up will give Walmart a big boost in its online … Continue reading PTJ 200 News: The Jet Set
PTJ 200: Excelsior!
Four years after it rose from the ashes of that other podcast, Pop Tech Jam has reached its 200th episode and we’re ready to party with our friends! Journalist Laura M. Holson and actor/poet/writer Francis Mateo join El Kaiser and J.D. after the news segment this week to discuss the ever-churning evolution of popular culture and … Continue reading PTJ 200: Excelsior!