Tom Merritt's Blog, page 1167
November 22, 2012
Tech History Today – Nov. 23
In 1889 – The Palais Royale Saloon in San Francisco installed its “nickel-in-the-slot player,” the first jukebox. Up to four people could put in a coin, put on earphones and listen to a record playing on an Edison Class M phonograph.
In 1963 – At 6:15 PM the BBC premiered its new family science fiction show, Doctor Who, with its first episode, “An Unearthly Child.”
In 2004 – Blizzard launched World of Warcraft, destined to become the largest MMORPG ever made.
Like Tech History? Purchase Tom Merritt’s Chronology of Tech History at Merritt’s Books site.
November 21, 2012
Tech History Today – Nov. 22
In 1963 – One of the most famous 8mm home movies ever recorded was filmed on a Model 414 PD Bell and Howell in Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas. The Zapruder film showed President John F. Kennedy and Governor John Connally being shot.
In 1995 – The first feature-length film created entirely using computer-generated imagery was released to theaters. Toy Story grossed more than $350 million worldwide, making executive producer Steve Jobs, very happy.
In 2005 – Microsoft’s Xbox 360 went on sale in North America. The follow-up to the Xbox would become a smash hit.
Like Tech History? Purchase Tom Merritt’s Chronology of Tech History at Merritt’s Books site.
East Meets West 301 – Hardship: a ship made out of concrete
Roger’s got a bum foot. Do unions get a bum rap? How important is money?
Brought to you by Ting.com. Big savings and billing clarity in an honest mobile phone service. Try their online savings calculator and save $50 on your device purchase at EMW.Ting.com.
Tech News Today 634: Stupidly Creative
Hosts: Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Iyaz Akhtar and Jason Howell
Should you buy a warranty? Apple spaceship delayed, why T-Mobile hates iPhone, and more.
Guest: Jeff Cannata
Download or subscribe to this show at twit.tv/tnt.
Submit and vote on story coverage at technewstoday.reddit.com.
Check out the full show notes for today’s episode.
We invite you to read, add to, and amend the wiki entry for this episode at wiki.twit.tv.
Thanks to Cachefly for the bandwidth for this show.
Running time:: 0:44:34
November 20, 2012
Tech History Today – Nov. 21
In 1877 – Thomas Edison announced his invention of the phonograph, a machine that could record and play sound.
In 1905 – The Annalen Der Physik published Albert Einstein’s paper, entitled “Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?” The paper revealed the relationship between energy and mass. You know the relationship as E = mc².
In 1969 The first permanent ARPANET link was established between the Interface Message Processor or IMP at UCLA and the IMP at the Stanford Research Institute.
Like Tech History? Purchase Tom Merritt’s Chronology of Tech History at Merritt’s Books site.
Tech News Today 633: The Apotheker Error
Hosts: Tom Merritt, Iyaz Akhtar and Jason Howell
Nokia takes a shot at iOS maps, HP accuses Autonomy of fraud, ESPN goes live on Xbox, and more.
Guest: David Pierce
Download or subscribe to this show at twit.tv/tnt.
Submit and vote on story coverage at technewstoday.reddit.com.
Check out the full show notes for today’s episode.
We invite you to read, add to, and amend the wiki entry for this episode at wiki.twit.tv.
Thanks to Cachefly for the bandwidth for this show.
Running time: 46:34
November 19, 2012
Tech History Today – Nov. 20
In 1984 – The SETI Institute, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence was founded by Thomas Pierson (CEO), and Dr. Jill Tarter. No luck so far, but they keep looking.
In 1985 – Microsoft finally released Version 1.0 of Windows. It was considered slightly inferior to competitors like DESQview and the Macintosh.
In 1998 – The first module of the International Space Station launched. Zarya, also called the Functional Cargo Block, provided electrical power, storage and propulsion. It’s now consigned to being used for storage.
Like Tech History? Purchase Tom Merritt’s Chronology of Tech History at Merritt’s Books site.
Frame Rate 102: Not Glad to Use Dyle
Hosts: Brian Brushwood and Tom Merritt
The Root Kit, the war for TV, Internet TV in early days, 10 things I hate about Wii U, first native 4K TV show, and more.
Guests: Jonathan Schiefer and Scott Wilkinson
Download or subscribe to this show at twit.tv/fr.
We invite you to read, add to, and amend our show notes at wiki.twit.tv.
Thanks to Cachefly for the bandwidth for this show.
Running time: 1:30:58
Tech News Today 632: The First Second Screen
Hosts: Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Iyaz Akhtar and Jason Howell
More leaks about the next Xbox, will OS X get Siri? AND Apple maps? How not to brick the new Wii U, and more.
Guests: Ryan Shrout and Brian Brushwood
Download or subscribe to this show at twit.tv/tnt.
Submit and vote on story coverage at technewstoday.reddit.com.
Check out the full show notes for today’s episode.
We invite you to read, add to, and amend the wiki entry for this episode at wiki.twit.tv.
Thanks to Cachefly for the bandwidth for this show.
Running time: 42:06
November 18, 2012
Tech History Today – Nov. 19
In 1872 – E.D. Barbour of Boston, Mass. received the first U.S. patent for an adding machine capable of printing totals and subtotals. The so-called “calculating machine,” proved impractical.
In 1967 – Hong Kong TV, the first free over the air commercial television station in Hong Kong was established. Today it is known as TVB.
In 1981 – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos banned video games, citing such insidious examples as Space Invaders and Asteroids that were a “destructive social enemy, the electrical bandit”.
Like Tech History? Purchase Tom Merritt’s Chronology of Tech History at Merritt’s Books site.