Americans are on edge and hypersensitive about how technology is persistently failing them in very big and catastrophic ways. For autonomous cars to succeed, the probability that they’ll kill a human can’t be low; it has to be essentially zero. Right from the outset.
Fatal Crash Leads Uber to Halt Autonomous Car Tests
Uber suspended its autonomous vehicle test program in the U.S. Monday after a woman was struck and killed by one of the company’s test vehicles in Tempe, AZ.
There Are Ways of Talking to Your AI That Are Dangerous
The subject of how tempted we are to treat artificial intelligent entities as real human beings has some up once again.
iOS 11 Control Center Needs a VPN Button
You can’t enable your VPN service from Control Center in iOS 11. That seems like a feature begging to happen.
Elon Musk at SXSW: He’s Not Steve Jobs - in Some Ways, He’s Better
Dave Hamilton had always viewed Elon Musk through the same lens as I viewed Steve Jobs, but after seeing him speak at SxSW, he realized he was wrong.
Alexa's Laugh Demonstrates Pop Culture Blindsiding
Our popular culture carries with it themes, pseudo-science, and technical fears. Woe to any company whose product missteps into that quagmire.
Here's Why I'm Tired of Saying 'Hey Siri'
Saying “Hey Siri” is an awkward way to invoke Apple’s voice assistant platform. It’s time to drop the “Hey” and make talking to Siri feel more natural, like Amazon’s Alexa.
PSA: Treasury Dept. Issues Alert for Scams Demanding iTunes Cards for 'Back Taxes'
While many reading this article might think no one could fall for that, the Treasury Department reported more than $54 million has already been lost to the scam.
PSA: MoviePass App Tracks Where You Drive Before and After Movies
MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe is super proud of how his company’s app is collecting data about you.
Watching Video on iPhone: You're Holding it Wrong
David Pogue has made an interesting observation about how millennials are watching videos on their smartphones.
iPad Rethought. My iPhone X is My New Second Screen
John used to always have his 12.9-inch iPad Pro in his lap while watching TV, but no more. His iPhone X has replaced it.
Apple Forced to Host Encryption Keys for Chinese iCloud users on Chinese Servers
It’s the first time Apple has not hosted those keys outside the U.S., and while Apple says those keys are in a secure location and remain under Apple’s control, it’s a slippery slope.
Google Brings Its 'ARCore' to 100 Million Android Devices
This is essentially Google’s answer to Apple’s ARKit, and Bryan Chaffin can’t help but think it illustrates Apple’s advantage and Google’s disadvantages in the smartphone business.
Family Robot Companions Are Evolving Fast, Will Soon Be Common
John just interviewed a company that’s making a family robot companion, and he sees the future more clearly than ever.
Twitter Kills Mac Client
In a tweet from @TwitterSupport, the company said Twitter for Mac is no longer available for download starting now, and that it will not supported at all in 30 days, and Bryan Chaffin is cranky as heck about it.
A Geeky Musician's First Weekend with HomePod
Dave Hamilton, self-professed musician and geek, takes us through his first weekend with HomePod, dissecting what it means to him, and what that might (or might not!) mean to you.
Apple's Product Line is Complex. And it's Perfect
Some might insist that Apple’s product line has become bloated. Actually, it’s perfect.
RIP John Perry Barlow, Internet Pioneer, Deadhead, Poet, and Psychonaut
John Perry Barlow passed away in his sleep on Tuesday at the age of 70. I would venture to say that most people reading this have had their lives touched by Barlow in one way or another, though it’s quite possible most of you don’t even recognize his name. His life is so much more than just the sum of its parts, and each of those parts would be a lifetime accomplishment for most of us.
These Former Facebook, Google, and Apple Employees Want to Curb Technology Addiction
They’ve formed an organization called The Center for Humane Technology, a lobbying and education outreach effort designed to affect change in technology.
U.S. Banks Halt Bitcoin Purchases with Credit Cards, China Plans to Block Foreign Exchanges
Chinese regulators announced plans to block access to foreign exchanges via the Great Firewall, and three major U.S. banks announced a halt to cryptocurrency purchases using their credit cards.
