This week we discuss how Lincoln did not really invent Facebook any more than he hunted vampires. We also discuss the much anticipated release of Diablo 3. Oh yeah, and good news! The world is not going to end in 2012 after all.
Gadgetcast Episode 20 – Things that just keep going
This week we discuss the Battery 500 Project, a 500 mile range electric car battery and we also talk about the ongoing fallout of the Trayvon Martin shooting.
This is a link we discussed in the show of the four case studies about “stand your ground” laws.
Gadgetcast Episode 19 – Augmented Reality
The big buzz on the Internet this week is the video from Google featuring their long rumored “Google glasses”. We discuss “augmented reality”, what is means and what it means to you. We also discuss Nokia’s new “flagship” Windows mobile phone, the Lumia 900.
Gadgetcast Episode 18 – Gimme your Facebook password
Click here to listen to Gadgetcast episode 18
Has an employer or potential employer ever asked you for your Facebook password? Have you ever had a rough landing in a commercial airplane? This week we tell you how to respond if an employer asks for your Facebook passwords and we discuss how automation in airplanes may be eroding pilot skills. Then we ponder what happens to driving skills when that level of automation comes to the automobile.
It Ain’t Easy Being Green.
I purchased a new printer this past week. It wasn’t something I relished doing after I had purchased a Laserjet 4200 a few years ago. I ended up buying an HP Photosmart 6510. One of the features that I really liked about it was the ePrint option and the price of the printer cartridges. One of the initial reasons for purchasing a laserjet printer previously was because of the cost of buying printer cartridges that would not last that long, and while toner cartridges are not cheap; the amount of pages I could print from each cartridge blew the other printer types away. After using the new printer for a week, I’m also missing the speed of pages printed per minute. If and when this printer bites the bullet, I’ll strongly consider buying another laserjet.
After the new printer purchase, I thought about the used toner cartridges I had placed in the garage and getting rid of them. They were off-brand cartridges because of the high cost of HP branded ones. I didn’t want to just toss them in the garbage so I went to Office Depot about recycling the cartridges. I was told by the clerk, “We only take HP, Epson, and Lexmark toner cartridges.” I was a little taken aback by this. It’s great to offer the program considering the number of years it wasn’t offered before. But I think the effectiveness of the program is diminished when all brands of toner cartridges aren’t taken. I didn’t ask why this was their policy. I went to the local Office Max and they didn’t have a recycling policy at all. I don’t know if that was the case in all stores or just my local store policy.
Today, I stopped at Staples and found out about their reward program when I asked about their recycling policy. The clerk told me they accept all brands of cartridges for recycling and they all count towards building up reward points. Sweet! I don’t print a massive amount and won’t earn a large amount of money on the rewards program but every little bit will help. My main thing was the recycling aspect. What I don’t understand is why something that is so good for the environment is discouraged in this way? Yes, the companies are doing this as a matter of goodwill, but it seems they don’t want to lose too much money or expend too much effort in doing it. Why make recycling so hard to do?
-Anthony
Gadgetcast Episode 17 – KONY 2012 and the new iPad
This week we discuss the hottest new meme sweeping the Internet, KONY 2012. If you have not seen it, you can check it out here.
There has been a lot of criticism since the video was released, some of it pretty weak but some of it bringing up the very complicated reality that the video glosses over, such as the fact Joseph Kony is not in Uganda and has not been since 2006.
We also discuss the new iPad from Apple. It boasts a retina display with twice the resolution and four times the pixel density of the iPad2, a quad-core graphics processor and an improved 5 MP camera. It also now comes with iPhoto and support for 4G LTE networks. It will be available starting March 16th.
Gadgetcast Episode 16 – Internet memes
Click here to listen to Gadgetcast Ep 16
This week we discuss new Internet memes such as the now infamous laptop shooting dad video, which has led to some very funny parodies, and the “what my friends think I do” picture collages.
Update: After we recorded this, I found out about another video that has compelling evidence the “Facebook Parenting” video is a hoax.
Are You Aware of Mitt’s Feelings?
This post is a little late in the news cycle, but did you hear the one about Mitt Romney not being concerned about the poor? It almost seems fictitious. How can a candidate for president say something so callous? This hasn’t been the first gaffe he’s made, and I’m sure it won’t be the last, but it may be the biggest. Kyle and I discuss on this weeks episode how disingenuous Mr. Romney sounds after saying something about his lack of concern, but he understand what it’s like to be out of work and to struggle. If he did, then he’s a little disconnected with the emotional side of the matter and it seems to me that he can’t relate to people that may be in that situation. I forget, but there is a word to describe that kind of condition.
- Anthony
Gadgetcast Episode 15
Greetings listeners! This week we discussed the iPad 3 rumors, Mitt Romney not concerned about poor people, and Israel working with terrorists to assasinate Iranian nuclear scientists.
Hello world!
Welcome Gadgetcast listeners, to our new home! Please pardon our mess while we are in the middle of redirecting our podcast to our new home here with our shiny new domain and hosting provider.