David Lidsky's Blog, page 4672

Google TV Preview: The Mom Test and the Nerd Test

To win the hearts, minds, and dollars of the public, Google TV will have to pass two tests: the Mom Test and the Nerd Test. The Mom Test measures (in perfectly scientific ways, provided your definition of science includes "my opinion") whether the average non-techy person will be able to both easily use and see the value in a product. The iPhone passes the Mom Test. Ubuntu does not. The Nerd Test, on the other hand, measures whether those who are already familiar with tech will respect...

Crib Sheet: George T. Whitesides, Top Dog (in Space) at Virgin Galactic

Don't call him Laika, but George T. Whitesides is a dawg for space. He's just hopped off Planet NASA, where he was Chief of Staff to agency Great Dane Charlie Bolden, and is now--Mush!--Lead Husky at Virgin Galactic [Editor's note: Pack it Rin-Tin-Tin.] "I'm looking forward to taking the company from where it is now to commercial operations," Whitesides said in a statement. "There is much to achieve at Virgin Galactic over the coming years as the company moves from the extensive test flying...

Pennsylvania Attorney General and Gubernatorial Candidate Subpoenas His Twitter Critics

Pennsylvania is having an interesting week, politically. Representative Joe Sestak (from my home district--PA-7, represent) defeated long-term, moderate-Republican-turned-liberal-Democrat Arlen Specter in the Democratic Senate primary. Democrat Mark Critz defeated Republican Tim Burns by a whopping 10 points in a special election for the PA-12 seat vacated by John Murtha, even though the race was supposed to be a nailbiter. And now, the state's Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial...

Google's Silliest-Named Android Version Yet, Froyo, Brings iPhone-Baiting Features

Google's newest version of Android, 2.2 (otherwise known as Froyo--yeah, I know.), was maybe not as well-leaked as we thought. Sure, we knew about tethering and Wi-Fi hotspot functionality, and Flash 10.1 support, but there's a lot more to Froyo than we realized.

First, what you see: a very slight redesign of the homescreen. The app drawer has the phone and browser icons pegged on either side, which is useful if you're the type of regressive oddball who actually makes phone calls with your...

Tesla, Toyota Teaming Up To Build EVs in California and Reopen NUMMI

Tesla has been getting plenty of support from major automakers
recently. First Daimler grabbed a 10% stake in the auto startup last
year, and now Tesla and Toyota have revealed that they are teaming up
in California to work on electric vehicles, parts, production systems
and engineering support. As part of the deal, Toyota will buy $50
million of Tesla's common stock once the company's initial public offering is complete. Tesla is also purchasing New United Motor
Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI)...

The 10 Most Creative Women in Business

From sustainable software design to the future of the Internet to a
biodegradable shoe campaign, the women from last year's 100 Most Creative
People in Business have spent 2010 innovating. Of the women who
graced the 2009 list, some have changed markets, others have celebrated
anniversaries with their current companies, and all of them have kept
our attention.

Tesla, Toyota Teaming Up To Build EVs in California

Tesla has been getting plenty of support from major automakers recently. First Daimler grabbed a 10% stake in the auto startup last year, and now Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has revealed that Tesla and Toyota are teaming up to build an electric car in California. SFGate reports that Schwarzenegger let the news slip at today's Google I/O conference, but a larger press conference will be held later this afternoon.

Toyota's California manufacturing operations have been dormant since April, when...

ChatVille Promises Cheeky Conversations and No Hairy Cheeks

Say what you want about ChatRoulette -- and its attendant scary, hairy parts -- it is popular (in that can't-help-but-stare-at-an-accident kind of way). So was only a matter of time before someone spawned a squeaky clean version with enough scale to capture the imagination, and the purse strings of advertisers. Enter ChatVille, a brand new Facebook application brought to you by the folks at Digsby, the creators of popular IM software.

CEO Steve Shapiro calls ChatVille a game, and it is in a...

New Video Shows Gulf Oil Rig Explosion

Set your DVRs. National Geographic is airing at 10 p.m. EST, May 27. Below, video starting about a day after a well blowout on April 20th caused an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig owned by Transocean and leased by BP -- the disaster kicked off the oil spill still spewing into the Gulf of Mexico.

Why Designers Should Declare Death to the Post-It

It's time to put that ubiquitous design photo of the Post-it to rest. Give it a break. Retire it.

The predominant image of design in the 21st century is that cliché of the empty conference room or studio--just after some feverish brainstorming extravaganza--plastered with Post-it notes ... as if the act of design had suddenly morphed into some strange game of pin the Post-it on the mind map. How is it possible that the wonderfully complex process of design has devolved to the point that we...