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GamesAbout 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. You can find Jonathan on Twitter at @TechStuffHSW and on Facebook at the official TechStuff page.
Most Recent: Jonathan Strickland Postings
I think it’s safe to say that the iPhone 4S feature that has received the most attention is the virtual personal assistant Siri. Just in case you haven’t heard, Siri uses voice-recognition technology to interpret requests and retrieve the best response. In some cases, the response may be an answer to a question such as “how much is five pounds in kilograms” (answer: about 2.27 kilograms). In others, Siri might launch an appropriate app or initiate a Web search to get the answer you need. And a lot of time has been spent asking Siri silly questions to see what sort of answers might pop up.
In a couple of weeks, TechStuff is going to cover the story of Nintendo in a two-part special. The company is over 100 years old and managed to succeed in an industry that, after a disastrous crash in 1983, most people thought was finished. But this same company, which many considered to be an unstoppable [...]
The news about Steve Jobs passing away is taking the Web by storm. That’s only fitting considering Jobs’s impact on technology. Chris and I have recorded two TechStuff episodes about Steve Jobs. We could probably record two dozen and only scratch the surface of what Jobs accomplished.
Yesterday’s episode of TechStuff was the culmination of a month-long experiment. In August, I asked Chris “what would happen if we outsourced the research for one of our episodes?” Chris got that sparkly, happy look in his eyes and said “that means we wouldn’t have to do any work!” Believing that we had stumbled onto [...]
Hot on the heels of recent changes to your Facebook profile is the f8 conference. That’s a developer conference held by Facebook that gives app developers a look into upcoming changes to the platform that will help them design the next generation of Facebook apps. Facebook was kind enough to live stream the keynote presentation of the conference, giving all of us a glimpse into what we can expect (beyond the predictable backlash that always accompanies any change). So what did we learn?
Google Plus Opens Up, Facebook Tells You What’s Important
by Jonathan Strickland | September 21, 2011
Today is a day that will live in online social network myths and legends — the day when Google Plus drops the invitation-only requirement and allows anyone to join. It’s also a day that sees Facebook making more changes to the way your news feed displays on your page. Since there’s a long history of Facebook users reacting negatively to changes, this might mean Google Plus will get a boost right out of the gate. But is that boost going to have any staying power at all?
I admit, my headline is an example of baiting an audience. But if you’ve ever wondered why people who love certain brands react in a seemingly irrational way whenever that brand receives criticism, read on. According to research performed by Shirley Cheng, Tiffany White and Lan Chaplin, the reason discussions about brands often turn into enormous flame wars is because we incorporate the brands we love into our own self-image. When someone else criticizes or attacks a brand we love, we feel as if we ourselves are under attack. That’s why so many people respond passionately to attacks on brands — it’s a matter of self-defense.
By now, I assume you’ve heard the news. Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, has stepped down from his role as CEO. Apple COO Tim Cook will assume the role of CEO and Jobs will become Chairman. Jobs wrote a brief but heartfelt resignation letter addressed to Apple employees explaining that he feels he is no longer capable of fulfilling the duties of CEO. His departure from Apple marks the end of a truly remarkable career.
When it rains, it pours. August tends to be a slow month for tech news. As the month began, it looked like this year would follow the trend as tech bloggers and reporters wait for the inevitable plunge toward the holiday shopping season. But some recent events really generated a lot of news in the technosphere. So much news, in fact, that I need to summarize several stories to catch up.
I was surprised to hear the news today: HP is discontinuing the development of webOS devices. Back at CES 2009, I thought webOS had a real chance at making a big splash in the smartphone market. I wasn’t alone. The new operating system from Palm looked flashy and responsive. Granted, most of us couldn’t get our hands on the Palm Pre at the show — Palm was very protective of its new smartphone. But the buzz was strong and it looked like Palm had a shot of competing against the iPhone and Android platforms.
Recent Postings by Category
BrainStuff
- Thank You and Best Wishes to Marshall Brain
- Contest – Design a $300 house and win $25,000
- How the Philtrum works – the place under your nose where your face comes together
The Coolest Stuff on the Planet
- Golden Fields of Canola
- The Park That Never Sleeps: Central Park
- Draw a Pretty Picture With Your Bike and Your Phone
Keep Asking
- Why can a 5 foot 8 inch man dunk a basketball on a 10 foot rim while some people of taller stature can’t?
- What happens to our sun once it runs out of fuel?
- How do we know the age of the universe?
Stuff Mom Never Told You
- Who invented the Christmas card?
- How the Kinsey Report Fueled Whiskey Sales
- How to Get Your Wedding Announcement into The New York Times
Stuff to Blow Your Mind
- Blow Your Mind: Nebula in a Box
- Blow Your Mind: Three Minutes Till Impact
- Touching the Void: Psychedelics and Death
Stuff You Should Know
- Stuff You Should Know at SXSW
- The Southern Death Cult, the Maya and Georgia
- Deformed Baby Spider Brains
The Stuff of Genius
CarStuff
- Listener Mail: What’s the world’s largest engine?
- Listener Mail: What makes a “classic car” classic?
- Was Chrysler’s “It’s Halftime in America” Super Bowl commercial a little too political?
How-to Stuff
- How to Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labor
- How to Travel the World in 4 Days
- How to Smell Like Someone at HowStuffWorks
PopStuff
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 68: Astrology: What’s PopStuff’s Sign?
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 67: Collecting: PopStuff’s Cabinet of Curiosities
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 66: Tracy and Holly’s Running Playlists
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
- Good News from the Oldest Mayan Calendar
- One Year Later: Colony Collapse Disorder
- Who Killed Martin Luther King, Jr.?
Stuff to Change the World
- Who will own the Arctic?
- Obesity: The New Global Crisis
- Bill Gates Makes For A Pretty Decent Cartoon
Stuff You Missed in History Class
- Butch Cassidy: Should we read between the lines?
- Are we rooting for D.B. Cooper?
- Party Time: A Look at Unconventional Politics
