Let's Talk Tech
We haven’t done a studio microphone review for a while, so it’s time to come back with a biggie. R0DE’s Classic II is a modern twist on a vintage-y mic technology. Not only that, the Anniversary edition comes in Darth Vader black, and it’s pretty sexy. Let’s take a look (and a listen)!
Shop the R0DE Classic II on Amazon.
In light of Reddit banning Tesla related posts over the weekend, there were actually a couple interesting stories coming from the electric vehicle manufacturer.
New York!
Following the disappointing actions of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, and they’re success at sneaking in a ban on Tesla sales, the Associated Press is reporting that Governor Cuomo has laid out the details for an agreement between New York and Tesla Motors. The state will be examining how to strengthen automobile franchise protections, but Tesla will be allowed to keep its five retail locations in the state to sell directly to consumers.
Tesla Model S Battery Armor!
Following a pair of “extremely uncommon” collisions resulting in battery damage which led to fires, Tesla is introducing new undercarriage armor capable of crushing cinder-blocks. It will add a small bit of weight to the car, but Tesla estimates it will only reduce the car’s range by .1%.
Starting with vehicles manufactured March 6th, this shield comes standard on new Model S sedans. For those of you lucky enough to own a Model S made before that time, Tesla will install the shield on your car free of charge. More info (and shield tests) on the Tesla Blog.
Lower Priced Tesla to Arrive in 2015?
This one is from the rumor mill, but we’re deeming it as “likely”, that a new Tesla sedan will debut in 2015, as Tesla CEO Elon Musk is blaming himself for some of the car’s delays. In an interview with Bloomberg Musk said “I really am quite insistent that the production version be superior to anything we’ve demonstrated before.” There’s little room for error here as this car, often called the Model X, will represent the largest push into mainstream consumer sales. There’s plenty to focus on, and we know that Musk is also pushing for self driving vehicles to hit roads in the next three years.
An interesting meltdown happened this weekend on social news site Reddit. The popular site is divided into different categories, and the subreddit dedicated to Technology let slip they had banned stories related to the electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla.
Reddit’s reputation is based on an almost obnoxiously user-generated democratic etiquette. On the ground level, users submit stories, and other users vote up or down for those stories to become more or less visible. With each subreddit, users also comprise the “governing bodies” responsible for maintaining order. This allows the people who actually own Reddit and keep the servers running to have a somewhat hands-off approach to Reddit’s daily operations. It also paints Reddit as being “pure”, a meritocracy, not owned by a corporate interest pushing some kind of commercial or political narrative.
Of course people are fallible and corruptible.
Reddit user canausernamebetolon posted that he had discovered an odd quirk in r/Technology, that stories with the word Tesla in the title were not showing up on the subreddit. Asking a moderator why that was, he was told “Battery cars aren’t ‘technolgy’ any more than normal cars are” [sic]. After pushing for more clarification, the user was banned from r/Technology with the following reply:
Car stories should be submitted to car-related subreddits. Please inform your supervisors in the Tesla Motors Marketing department.
Continue reading “Corrupting User Moderated Web Sites: Reddit – r/Technology bans Tesla stories?”
I talk a lot about smartwatches, but how about a timepiece focused on the opposite? Happy Hour Time pieces sent me over one of their watches with features like “giant 5 for easy visual indication of happy hour” and a bottle opener built into the wrist strap. Let’s take it for a spin!
More info on Happy Hour Timepieces: http://happyhourtimepieces.com/
It’s been years in the making. We’ve seen teases and rumors, and now it’s officially arriving on iPads DATE.
Microsoft’s new CEO Satya Nadella took the wraps off the app we all knew was coming today during his first public address. Stressing the five to ten year outlook for Microsoft, Nadella shared his ideas on changing computing form factors not resembling the machines we use today. User interactions, apps, services, and cloud computing defining the future of our interactions.
General Manager for Office Development Julia White discussed the solutions Microsoft are developing to serve the crossover between corporate applications and consumer applications. Showing us a highly touch optimized version of the Office Suite for iPad. Continue reading “Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Unveils Office for iPad”
Good things come in small packages, especially if you’re an audio nut. Cambridge Audio‘s solution here is formidable, especially for those looking for the highest quality audio playback in a manageable form factor.
Continue reading “Cambridge Audio’s DacMagic XS USB Headphone Amp Review”
Good things come in small packages, especially if you’re an audio nut. Cambridge Audio‘s solution here is formidable, especially for those looking for the highest quality audio playback in a manageable form factor.
Shop the DacMagic XS on Amazon
This is great news for Window’s Phone 8 users and developers who miss Google’s official apps. Back in January I wrote an article on Google VS. Microsoft.
Google has released over 50 API’s for developers. Here are a few that are on that list:
Although we may never see any “official” apps from Google heading to the Microsoft Store, this does open up the door for developers to create an awesome Google app using the official Google API.
Personally I would love to see Rudy Huyn develop a really killer G+ app! If you are unfamiliar with Rudy then check out his apps. Rudy is responsible for one of the most awesome Instagram apps called 6tag!
Continue reading “Microsoft developers receive Google’s official API”