Geekly Update - 05 March 2017
A Bugs Bunny cartoon from 1944 predicted that Smellevision would replace Television in the year 2000. That didn't happen, but will YouTube replace your cable TV service in the near future? When humans colonize the moon, how will we get our Amazon Prime deliveries? And is it possible to solve a Rubik's Cube puzzle in one half of a second? Get answers... in today's Geekly Update -- it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and, comment! |
The AskBobRankin Geekly Update
YouTube TV is coming this year. It’s a $35/month alternative to cable TV, with 40 networks, YouTube red original programs, and a virtual DVR. Read all about it and sign up to learn when it’s available in your city.
Terrestrial drone delivery service is *so* 2017. Ecommerce giant Amazon has announced plans to make deliveries to the moon. Because future lunar settlements will need stuff.
An artificial intelligence named DeepStack beat all humans at Texas Hold-Em poker. This feat represents a breakthrough in AI technology, showing that AIs can solve problems even with limited information.
During March, T-mobile customers with at least two lines can add another line for free. It can be a voice/data line or a data-only line for one’s tablet or other Internet device.
Chinese tech firm Meizu says their Super mCharge is 5.5 times faster than its predecessor, delivering a 60 percent charge to a mobile phone battery in 10 minutes and a full charge in 20 minutes.
Now here's something useful for folks frustrated with their Rubik's Cube. A robot named Sub1 Reloaded uses computer vision and six mechanical arms to complete the puzzle in 21 moves -- in less than one second.
AT&T has tweaked its uncompetitive "unlimited" data plan to allow limited tethering. It also added a less expensive - and slower - unlimited plan. Like every AT&T price plan, the new ones are ridiculously complicated with conditions, caveats, and well, limits.
A fluffy tail that wags when your robot is functioning properly can be added to Roomba vacuum cleaners, robotic companions, and other things that already have green and red LEDs to communicate their status to humans. But sometimes the Dog/Roomba relationship gets complicated.
Videos of people brushing long hair or rubbing shoulders can trigger the Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, aka ASMR, which causes sleepiness. Insomniacs worldwide have made millionaires of YouTube channel hosts specializing in ASMR-triggering videos.
A database of customer data, including children’s voice recordings, has been sitting on a wide-open server since at least December 25. CloudPets, maker of the stuffed animals that transmits voice messages between parents and kids, has not responded to alerts or to ransom demands left by criminals.
For the first time, a Bitcoin’s dollar value exceeded that of gold. If you bought a Bitcoin at its low of $200 in mid-2015, you might have sold it for $1,238.11 on March 3. Gold close at $1,237.73 per ounce that day.
IBM was awarded a patent on “out of office” automated emails. Big Blue has now relinquished its rights to the dubious patent, so its technology is now in the public domain. Style points for Big Blue.
Prices of tequila shots at The Blind Burro, a San Diego pub, change every five minutes based upon demand for each of the “more than two dozen” tequila brands on offer. The software that enables this dynamic pricing, called The Drink Exchange, is in 20 bars so far. (Some people claim there's an algorithm to blame, but I know… it's my own damn fault.)
Your thoughts on these topics are welcome. Post your comment or question below...
This article was posted by Bob Rankin on 8 Mar 2017
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Article information: AskBobRankin -- Geekly Update - 05 March 2017 (Posted: 8 Mar 2017)
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Most recent comments on "Geekly Update - 05 March 2017"
Posted by:
Tom
08 Mar 2017
RE: Tequila shots at The Blind Burro
OMG ... poor Bob is wasting away again in Margaritaville! But, of course, it's his own damn fault.
Great reference to Buffett's classic tune! I appreciate the humor, my friend.
LOL
Posted by:
RichF
08 Mar 2017
I'm pretty sure Amazon already has plans for their new warehouse on the moom.
Posted by:
RichF
08 Mar 2017
Ops!!! I meant moon.
Posted by:
David
08 Mar 2017
Finally. I think you gave me the answer I was looking for in cutting the cable. I needed a DVR, low-cost, and has a few of the features Dish offers.
Posted by:
Peter
08 Mar 2017
Talking about the moon...people haven't learned how to live on earth and they want to move to the moon. It's really sad and preposterous. They barely can take care of things here at home and live in harmony and unity, imagine the moon! All this technology and ways of thinking is leading man to it's destruction. Nothing is safe! nothing makes sense or logic anymore. It's foolish and all nonsense. Clean up your home first before you worry and care about your neighbors!!!
Posted by:
Don
08 Mar 2017
I'm not sure that television was even available to the public, if at all in 1944. In fact I don't know if it had even been invented in any usable form.
Posted by:
Denis
08 Mar 2017
I would be highly pissed off if the bar charged me a higher price for my second drink 6 minutes after I had bought the first. Ok if the price does down though.
Posted by:
Parrothead Rick
08 Mar 2017
Another Jimmy Buffett reference! Keep up the great work and #PHINZUP_CO!!!
Posted by:
Richard Dengrove
09 Mar 2017
I gather television was invented in the early '20s and usable by the '30s. I have to admit it wasn't available on a mass basis until after World War II.
Posted by:
Jay R
09 Mar 2017
I need two algorithms, one for each hand.
Posted by:
Tom R
09 Mar 2017
but I know… it's my own damn fault.
HAHA!! :-D
Posted by:
HENRY
11 Mar 2017
These techno advances and conveniences are terrific methods to lower the minimal amount of stimulation used to produce intelligent thought. I chucked my TV 20 years ago due to the inferior content. Youtube gives me the channels I want without the incessant chatter and volume changes that I find annoying. Is it possible in the future that technology alone can provide minimal daily stimulation requirements, such that humans can
Rent Out their Brain Power, charging by the hour for wireless access. Just like we get to the web. Many of us now don't realize it, but the simple act of texting or playing a video game is like putting our brain in hibernation mode.
-Similar to giving up your white-blood cells in the form of plasma, our brains can be exercised by others who are willing to pay for its experimental use since the owner doesn't need it anymore.
Technology will accelerate our extinction.