BRUCEB NEWS
Tech Tidbits
As we enter into the twentieth year third month of the global pandemic, technology news has slowed down as much as everything else. There aren't many things to tell you about! Here are a few bits of tech news that have caught my eye in the moments between bouts of...
APPLE CONTINUES TO LOSE GROUND
Reading the papers might have given you the impression that Apple is a strong contender, with a solid operating system, fabulous products, and booming sales. Sadly, the business...
LAWRENCE LESSIG COMMENTS ON ELDRED v. ASHCROFT
On Wednesday, October 9, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Eldred v. Ashcroft, a fascinating case that could have important implications for the future of copyright...
SPAM
The unbelievable deluge of spam is the hot topic in the tech industry, in the legislature, in the policy thinktanks, in magazine columns and editorials and online forums -...
PRICE DROPS SOON ON POCKET PCs
You may not realize it, but Palm is struggling for its life, and many analysts don’t expect it to be in the handheld market for much longer – perhaps a few years, no more. I...
RIAA SUES RADIO STATIONS FOR GIVING AWAY FREE MUSIC
Count on The Onion to give you the news that really matters. Here’s an article from this week’s issue that nicely catches the flavor of the recording industry’s wrongheaded...
DICTIONARAOKE
Looking for a new way to waste some time online? Try visiting Dictionaraoke, which features one of those concepts I wish I had thought of. You know the online dictionaries that...
TELEDESIC KILLS GLOBAL SATELLITE PLAN
Teledesic was the brainchild of Bill Gates and Craig McCaw, set up a few years ago to launch a constellation of low-earth orbiting satellites and provide global high-speed...
THE ROLLING STONES
Thirty years ago, on June 9, 1972, I saw the Rolling Stones at the Hollywood Palladium, the smallest venue they played in the United States on that tour. On November 4, I’ll be...
THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT
MSNBC has a wonderful article about an unexpected side effect of global warming – huge ice blocks, 22 lbs or more, which form in the upper atmosphere on clear days and fall to...
PRICE DROP ON FLAT PANEL MONITORS
For a change, it looks like prices are going to drop a bit on flat panel monitors, with some good deals in place for your holiday shopping. Dell is the first to announce lower...
KAZAA UP TO ITS OLD SCUMMY TRICKS
The more things change, the more they stay the same. You may not know that commissions are paid by some online stores to web sites that provide links to the stores. Small...
WIRELESS FUTURE
The wireless world is coming up faster than you realize. The equipment is getting cheaper and easier to set up. Microsoft announced it is going to manufacture home wireless...
GOOGLE NEWS
Google is bringing its remarkable technology to harvesting the news. Here’s a link to Google News, presenting the top news stories of the moment without any human intervention....
DICTIONARIES
The Press Democrat just did a feature about the abbreviations invented for text messaging – they’re becoming second nature to many kids, and teachers are seeing them turn up in...
CHEAP COMPUTERS
Look for cheap Emachines and Compaq Presarios in the stores for your Christmas shopping pleasure. They’ll each have systems at various price points - $399, $499, $599, $750 –...