• Gadgets

    How The Apple Tablet Could Ruin Computing

    By Tom Conlon Posted on 8.6.2009 92 Comments

    Though whispers of an Apple tablet device practically predate Australopithecus, this week they’ve reached a fever pitch. It’s been reported by several news outlets that the supposed iTablet will feature a 10-inch touchscreen, both Wi-Fi and 3G data, and a custom ARM processor. It’s already been priced at $800 and even greenlit by none other than His Majesty Steve Jobs for a September release. Not one iota of this has been officially confirmed, but the prospect of a Mac Tablet seems more within reach than ever before. This is not a good thing. If an Apple tablet is ever actually released, we should all be very concerned for the future of what most of us take for granted today: our digital freedom.

    8.24.2009 at 12:35pm - Comment by wolff000

    As the writer states many netbooks are sold at a subsidized price and not one of these devices has any restrictions on the software you can install whatever you like. The iphone may be very computer like (in fact it is a computer) however it is first and foremost a phone and the public has accepted walled gardens for their phones. No way Apple would like their computer down like the iphone it just does not make good business since. Apple as of late has done well I just can't see them shooting themselves in the foot on a long awaited device.

  • Entertainment & Gaming

    FCC + Monopoly Sitting in a Tree...

    By Tom Conlon Posted on 8.28.2008 9 Comments

    Someone give FCC chairman Kevin Martin a Red Bull, because he’s definitely asleep on the job. How else can we explain the thumbs up recently given to both the Sirius/XM and Verizon/Alltel mergers on his watch? While Martin happily panders to the public with far-flung plans for free, nationwide wireless Web access (that’ll be the day…), he’s been delinquent with the most important of duties charged to him: shielding us from the unfair business practices of monopolies. What happened to the FCC that had our best interests in mind when it dismantled Ma Bell in 1984?

    8.28.2008 at 02:47pm - Comment by wolff000

    The writer is obviously out of touch with reality. XM and Sirius where on the verge of closing up shop and where would that have left customers? This merger allows one satellite provider to supply all the sports coverage instead of it being split. It will increase content for both stations. Some will get cut because of redundancy but there will be much more available overall. As others have stated they are still competing with free radio. Which is getting better with the introduction of HD radio.



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December 2009: Best of What's New

In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.

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