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About Jonathan Strickland
Jonathan Strickland
Jonathan’s interest in technology blossomed when his family purchased their first computer: an Apple IIe. He has remained a technology enthusiast over the years and still gets excited when he encounters a new gadget or computer program. While he is fascinated by the technical aspects of computers and electronics, his main interest focuses on the social impact of technology. Whether he's defending human rights in the digital landscape or examining the mating habits of professional gamers, Jonathan is sure to have a strong opinion -- and he’s not afraid to share it.
Most Recent: Jonathan Strickland Postings
Death, Social Networks and High-Definition Video, TechStuff Style
November 20, 2009
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We just keep on trucking over here at TechStuff. This week, Chris and I hauled our butts into the studio to tow the line and address some listener mail. We’re not the type to brush aside our loyal listeners. Because of your submissions, we have had some really interesting conversations in the studio. Some of them were even recorded! This week, we looked at two very different topics and got a little metaphysical in the process.
On Monday, we examine what happens to our online presence after we shuffle off the mortal coil. Unless Kurzweil’s singularity proves me wrong, I think it’s safe to say none of us will be around forever. But after I join the choir invisible and push up the daisies, what happens to my Facebook page? How can my loved ones turn what used to be my platform for sharing photos of myself up to no good into a fitting memorial where friends can share their memories of me? We get to the bottom of the issue and give you some tips on what you can do if you want to make it easier for your friends and family to handle your online information after you’ve passed away. Click to read more.
TechStuff Holiday Gift Wish List
November 18, 2009
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It’s that time of the year again! Lazy radio stations are already playing Christmas music even though there should be a federal law prohibiting such behavior until after Thanksgiving. Web sites are releasing details of crazy Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals designed to get your butt in the store (online or otherwise) to buy your loved ones some happiness. And each and every one of you out there are faced with the daunting question: what sort of gifts should I buy the awesome guys at TechStuff? Click to find out!
TechStuff Live With a Vengeance
November 17, 2009
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Today at 1 p.m. Eastern, you may feel a disturbance in the Force. That’s because Chris and I will be live with the latest episode of TechStuff Live, bringing you the latest news, rumors and juicy gossip in the tech world. Did Bill Gates and Steve Jobs go on a double date to catch an early screening of the latest Twilight movie? You’ll have to tune in to find out!
And don’t forget our show features special effects that rival some of the most popular videos on YouTube. But not the keyboard cat video — that guy is cutting edge. Click through for video!
Judge Sides With Apple Against Psystar
November 16, 2009
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U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup ruled on Friday that Psystar was guilty of copyright infringement against Apple, according to Natalie Weinstein of CNET. The whole case revolves around Apple’s Mac operating system. Unlike Windows or Linux, which you can install on whatever hardware you like, Apple only wants the Mac OS to belong to Apple computers.
That hasn’t stopped hundreds of enterprising hackers from building their own machines and installing Mac OS X. But because Apple designed the operating system with a particular hardware and BIOS configuration in mind, the OS doesn’t always work properly on an unauthorized machine. And the process of installing a non-native operating system is complicated and can require a lot of troubleshooting — it’s not something the computer novice should attempt.
That’s where Psystar stepped in. The fact that hackintoshes (the common name for a PC running the Mac OS) exist shows that people want computers running the Mac OS but they don’t want an actual Apple computer. Maybe they don’t like Apple’s product design, or perhaps they feel that the Mac line of computers is too expensive. In 2008, Psystar began to sell PCs running the Mac operating system. The company took care of the tricky process of installing the OS on non-Apple hardware (though Psystar also explained that the computer might not always behave as it should).
TechStuff Podcasts and the Hackintosh Conspiracy
November 13, 2009
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Welcome to the week They Don’t Want You To Know About. Chris and I risked almost certain doom (or at least an iPod failure) by bringing you this week’s episodes of TechStuff. We addressed two of the most-requested topics we receive from listener mail: hackintoshes and technology conspiracy theories.
I can hear some of you out there asking for the definition of hackintosh. A hackintosh is a non-Apple computer that runs the Macintosh operating system. Apple is very particular about the computers that can run Mac OS X. That’s because Apple works in a closed system — it produces the hardware and software for Mac computers.
Apple designed the Mac OS to work with a particular set of hardware and BIOS settings. To get the Mac OS to run smoothly on a PC, you’ll need a compatible set of components. You’ll also need to tweak your computer’s BIOS settings if you want the OS to operate as if it were on a Mac.
The main reason people try to get the Mac OS to run on other computers comes down to price. Mac computers are fairly expensive. If you want Mac functionality but don’t want to pay Apple’s asking price, your only other option is to try and force the OS onto a PC. Chris and I talk about how this is done in general and some of the challenges hackers face, particularly now that Apple has tweaked Snow Leopard so that it won’t work on PCs with Atom processors.
Watch TechStuff Live: Tech Harder
November 10, 2009
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In a world where technology news defies the speeds established by Moore’s Law, two fearless geeks join together to tell you what you need to know. That’s right — Chris and I are like a tech-news Voltron. Except, of course, we’re neither lions nor spaceships. Also, there are only two of us. And we don’t actually combine to form a giant robot.
But we do break down news and rumors in a fun half-hour show filled with special effects and puns. You can watch it right here every Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern.
Click the link to enjoy some fresh, piping-hot tech news.
Murdoch And Google in Game of Internet Chicken
November 9, 2009
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I think it’s safe to assume Rupert Murdoch is a very smart man. He’s certainly an extremely wealthy man — he’s number 37 on Forbes’ list of the 400 richest Americans in 2009. As the executive who makes the big bucks for guiding News Corp., he’s used to making headlines (figuratively and literally).
Murdoch has called out Google on a number of occasions, claiming the search engine steals News Corp. content by displaying a news excerpt along with a link to News Corp. pages. Murdoch’s argument is that the excerpt may be enough to satisfy a reader, meaning that person won’t take the extra step to click on the link and visit the news source. Since most news companies rely on ad support to make money, fewer clicks means fewer dollars.
In a recent interview with Australia’s Sky News (below), Murdoch says that News Corp. is looking at ways to charge visitors to access content. This could include anything from news articles to video entertainment. Murdoch says that companies made mistakes with the Web and should never have offered content for free. He says that Web advertising doesn’t generate the revenue companies are looking for. Personally, I think that’s due to placing too much emphasis on advertising in traditional media rather than on the Web.
Podcasting and Artificial Intelligence on TechStuff
November 6, 2009
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It’s been another busy week in the TechStuff labs here at HowStuffWorks.com. Chris and I are working on the preliminary design of our TechStuff Automaton. After much debate, we decided the name “Killbot 2000″ had a slightly negative connotation. The current working title of the project is now “Sir Hugs-A-Lot.” I’m not certain that we’ve added quite as many spikes and lasers as we’ll need but it’s still early in the project.
Between our plans for world domination and eating lunch at the local pizzeria, we managed to record and publish some episodes of TechStuff this week.
T-Mobile Outage Left Me in the Dark
November 4, 2009
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Last night, I attended a performance of Star Wars: In Concert. As I arrived at the venue, I saw that my HTC-G1 had no reception. That’s unusual — T-Mobile’s coverage in Atlanta tends to be pretty strong. I met up with my wife and we took our seats. Her cell phone, also on T-Mobile, still had reception. But she noticed that she wasn’t able to send text messages. Something was definitely odd.
As John Williams’ music filled the arena, I couldn’t help worrying about my phone. The last message I saw as I tried everything to check the connection (including removing and replacing the battery and SIM card) said my SIM card wasn’t registered with the network. I wasn’t sure what that meant. I listened to the oppressive opening notes of The Imperial March, looked at the enormous image of Darth Vader staring at us from the massive screen behind the orchestra and began to worry that my phone had turned to the Dark Side.
As it happens, I was one of thousands of customers affected by a service outage. T-Mobile customers across the United States began having trouble with their service. I was one of the lucky ones — by the end of the concert, my service had returned. But some people are still experiencing problems with their phones.
TechStuff Live From Studio A
November 3, 2009
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Hail, fellow travelers! Your dynamic duo is preparing right now to bring you the most relevant and exciting technology news of the week. That’s right! It’s time for another thrilling episode of TechStuff Live. We bring the show to you every Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time and you can watch it right here. Click for the video!
