TechStuff

By iHeartPodcasts

What's TechStuff about?

TechStuff is a show about technology. And it’s not just how technology works. Join host Jonathan Strickland as he explores the people behind the tech, the companies that market it and how technology affects our lives and culture.

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TechStuff episodes:

04.17.2024
It's Time to Light the Lights
How do theatrical lighting control systems work? From early attempts to automate lighting through mechanical systems to sleek computer-controlled rigs of today, we look at the evolution of concert lighting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04.15.2024
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Shreds on the Electric Guitar
While Jonathan works on a new episode about stage lighting systems, take a listen to this classic episode in which he and his old cohost Chris Pollette talk about the history and workings of electric guitars. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...
04.12.2024
Tech News: Crime, Punishment, and Generative AI
Our news stories today include SBF filing an appeal on his recent sentencing, a UK court denies Apple's request to dismiss a huge lawsuit and Microsoft may soon make the Copilot AI feature an auto-launch program in Windows 11. Plus...
04.11.2024
Smart Talks with IBM - The Power of Collaboration: How IBM Teams Up with Microsoft
Entire industries are being reshaped around the new capabilities of generative AI. In this special bonus episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Tim Harford leads a conversation between two leaders in the field. Srinivasan Venkatarajan is the Director of Global Partner Business...
04.10.2024
Faking a DMCA Takedown to Boost Search Rankings
Journalist Ernie Smith got an odd DMCA takedown notice for a picture he included in his tech newsletter. It turns out that the notice was a ploy to try and trick Smith into including a backlink to another site in...
04.09.2024
The Sad Tale of Virtual Boy
The Nintendo Virtual Boy was one of the company's infamous flops, but why? Why did the system fail so hard that Nintendo killed it off after just one year? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04.05.2024
Tech News: The FCC Will Vote in Favor of Net Neutrality. Again.
Net neutrality goes through another flip in the flip-flop history with the FCC announcing it plans to vote to reinstate some of the rules established during the Obama administration but overturned during the Trump administration. Plus, Google agrees to destroy...
04.03.2024
My Test Image is the Centerfold
My blood runs cold, my computer memory has just been sold -- my test image is the centerfold! Today, we look at the story of the "Lenna image," a scan of a Playboy model that has been used in countless...
04.01.2024
Corporate Espionage in the Tech Sector
Sometimes, folks want to take a short cut. And sometimes that shortcut is illegal. This episode is about companies, managers, employees and others who engaged in some shifty behavior to get access to data that didn't belong to them. See...
03.29.2024
Tech News: TikTok Strikes Back, AI Poses Threats, and Butts!
TikTok is turning up the heat on the US Senate to get a proposed bill that would ban the service tossed out. The US government announces new policies relating to the use of AI in federal agencies. And a streaming...
03.28.2024
Introducing: Big Take S3
The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon. Listen here and...
03.27.2024
Did In-N-Out invent the Intercom?
Is it true Harry Snyder, founder of In-N-Out, invented the intercom? Not quite. But he was the first credited with using a system to create what would become the model for the modern drive-thru. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03.25.2024
The Weaponization of EULAs
The End User License Agreement is that thing you click "I agree" to without having read the whole thing. But you can be forgiven -- some companies make their EULAs freakishly long, hiding some nefarious terms in the process. See...
03.22.2024
Tech News: Tech Companies in the Hot Seat
The US government is cracking down on Big Tech. From a House bill that would make it illegal for data brokers to sell American citizen info to foreign adversaries to a massive monopoly lawsuit against Apple, we look at some...
03.20.2024
The Rooster Teeth Story: The End?
After navigating numerous controversies and setbacks, Rooster Teeth attempted to return to a more stable existence. But it was not to be. The corporate overlords at Warner Bros Discovery have decided to shut down the company after it reportedly spent...
03.19.2024
Smart Talks with IBM - AI in Healthcare: How Generative AI Is Expanding Fertility Treatment
As artificial intelligence progresses, healthcare providers are exploring how the technology can be used to offer personalized care at scale. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Dr. Laurie Santos sits down with Alice Crisci, co-founder and CEO of fertility-care...
03.18.2024
The Rooster Teeth Story: The Middle Bits
Fullscreen's acquisition of Rooster Teeth would bring with it new challenges, including corporate bureaucracy, a push for new kinds of monetization, and changes in company culture. Meanwhile, the folks at Rooster Teeth kept making content. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03.15.2024
Tech News: US House of Reps Votes to Ban TikTok
This week, the House of Representatives in the US voted overwhelmingly in support of a bill that would force TikTok owner ByteDance to divest itself of the app or else face a national ban. What's going on, where does the...
03.13.2024
The Rooster Teeth Story: The Beginning
Warner Bros Discovery is shutting down the online media company Rooster Teeth just as it nears its 21st anniversary. We look back on the history of the company, how it made an impact on internet culture, and where things went...
03.11.2024
Better Offline: A conversation with Ed Zitron
Ed Zitron of the Better Offline podcast joins the show, and boy is he mad! Ed and Jonathan get angry over the state of the tech industry, the focus on short term gains at the cost of long term benefits,...
03.09.2024
Tech News: OpenAI Spills the Tea on Elon Musk
OpenAI said they didn't wanna do it, but they're sharing emails written by Elon Musk that imply he was totally okay with OpenAI making a ton of money if it also was part of Tesla. Plus the US President speaks...
03.06.2024
A Holographic Wedding
Artist Alicia Framis plans to wed an AI "hologram" this summer. Before the wedding bells chime, we have some questions. We explore holograms, artificial intelligence, and technical, social, ethical and cultural conundrums. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03.04.2024
What's Your Problem? with Jacob Goldstein: Using AI to Help Doctors Save Lives
Every year in the U.S., tens of thousands of hospital patients die of preventable causes. For many of these patients, warning signs are subtle and easy for doctors to miss. Suchi Saria is the founder and CEO of Bayesian Health,...
03.01.2024
The Tech Pioneers
Sometimes, an invention comes along that defines a new function, form factor, or fashion. In this episode, we celebrate some of these inventions by exploring the stories behind them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02.28.2024
Big Apps that Flopped
The Silicon Valley dream is to come up with an app and make a billion dollars. But not every app hits such heights. And some briefly touch the stars but then plummet back to Earth. This episode is dedicated to...
02.26.2024
The History of the Digital Camera
Once upon a time, there were no digital cameras. Who invented them, and how did they become so common that even the most basic smartphone has one? We learn about the tech behind digital cameras and really get into the...
02.23.2024
Tech News: Google's AI Pushes Diversity Too Far
In what I can only describe as an overcorrection, Google's Gemini AI has tried to promote diversity in situations where it's not appropriate, such as in an image portraying Nazi soldiers. Plus, Bluesky gives more control to users, Cruise looks...
02.21.2024
A Conversation with Jacob Goldstein
Journalist Jacob Goldstein joins the show to talk about the challenges of communicating technology topics to the public, how to sort through the promise and threat of AI, and the way that engineers approach problems. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02.19.2024
TechStuff Classic: The Intel Story Part One
How did the co-founders of Intel go from being "traitors" to two of the early pioneers of Silicon Valley? We learn about Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02.16.2024
TechStuff Classic: History of Electricity Part Two
As the 20th century loomed ever closer, the battle waged to determine how we would transmit electricity. Learn about the current wars and why AC ultimately won. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02.14.2024
Invented by Accident
Not all inventions are the product of careful experimentation. Sometimes, someone pulls a whoopsie and learns something new. This episode is all about those types of discoveries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02.12.2024
When Did Google Stop Being a Search Company?
For a couple of years in Google's early history, it was a real search company. But that would change in 2000 as Google would embrace advertising. Learn how Google would shift to become a dominant force in online ads. See...
02.09.2024
Tech News: Power-Hungry AI and Malicious Toothbrushes
Sam Altman of OpenAI wants to see a huge investment in new semiconductor fabrication plants to support AI implementations. The FTC hopes to reverse the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard merger. And did hackers really take over millions of smart toothbrushes? See omnystudio.com/listener...
02.08.2024
Pivot to Video
Back in 2015, Facebook made a claim that would lead advertisers and content creators to shift focus to online video. There was one problem -- the claim ended up being bogus. How did the pivot to video strategy become a...
02.05.2024
A Small Episode About Big Data
What does Big Data actually mean? How has the science of Big Data changed recently? What are the potential benefits and pitfalls of Big Data? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02.02.2024
Tech News: US Senate Grills Big Tech CEOs
The Senate Judiciary Committee met with CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg with accusations that their companies are actively causing harm to children, and they weren't happy with the response. Plus, a judge tells Elon Musk that he will not be getting...
01.31.2024
HOVERCRAFT!!!
Who invented the hovercraft? What happened to all the hovercraft that used to provide transportation options in the UK? How do they work? We look into all this, plus a classic Jackie Chan action flick. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01.29.2024
Operating Systems that Time Forgot
Sometimes, an operating system has served its purpose and it's time to go live on a farm. We take a look at some operating systems that are no longer supported and explore why moving on can sometimes cause a problem....
01.26.2024
Tech News: The Political War Against Social Media
From New York City to the state of Florida, politicians are getting serious as they face off against social media companies like Meta TikTok. Plus, we have a bunch of news around AI, an update on Tesla that has investors...
01.25.2024
Moving Around in VR
An interesting set of challenges crop up when you want to translate movements in a physical space to a virtual one. How do you keep people safe? How do you manage groups in the same physical space? And can you...
01.23.2024
AI at CES 2024
At this year's CES, several trends revealed themselves among the exhibitors. But none were more prevalent than the incorporation of artificial intelligence. How are companies using, or at least claiming to use, AI in their products this year? See omnystudio.com/listener...
01.19.2024
TechStuff Classic: History of Electricity Part One
Did you know that engineers were harnessing electricity long before they even knew what it was? We take a look at the history and tech behind electricity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01.18.2024
Rerun: Copyright and Fair Use
In this episode from 2021, we look at the thorny issues of copyright and how fair use isn't some proactive safety play to avoid those pesky copyright strikes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01.16.2024
Rerun: How Fuel Cells Work
A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device; it turns chemical energy into electrical energy. Jonathan and Chris discuss fuel cells in detail from their origins to why they're not practical for general use yet in this episode. See...
01.13.2024
TechStuff Classic: The Wonderful World of Audio Animatronics
It might be a small world after all, but how did Disney imagineers create the first audio animatronics and how do they work? Find out in the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01.10.2024
Rerun: It's All Relative
How do the theories of special relativity and general relativity apply to satellites? Why is the speed of light constant, but time and distance are not? We get all Einstein up in here! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01.08.2024
Rerun: Machine Consciousness
Is it really possible for a machine to achieve consciousness? What does consciousness even mean? From philosophy to technological obstacles, we look at the problems and possibilities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01.05.2024
TechStuff Classic: Pew Pew Lasers
Lasers can be used to threaten our enemies, cut steel and even amuse our cats. Find out the history of lasers and how they work in this episode of Techstuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01.03.2024
How CT Scanners Work and A TechStuff Update
How does CT (computed tomography) scanners work? What's going on with TechStuff? In this episode, you are invited into Jonathan's brain to find out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01.02.2024
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Enters the Singularity
What is the technological singularity? How might the technological singularity come about? What do critics say about the idea of the singularity? Listen in as Jonathan and Lauren explore the technological singularity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's TechStuff about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

TechStuff episodes:

It's Time to Light the Lights

TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Shreds on the Electric Guitar

Tech News: Crime, Punishment, and Generative AI

Smart Talks with IBM - The Power of Collaboration: How IBM Teams Up with Microsoft

Faking a DMCA Takedown to Boost Search Rankings

The Sad Tale of Virtual Boy

Tech News: The FCC Will Vote in Favor of Net Neutrality. Again.

My Test Image is the Centerfold

Corporate Espionage in the Tech Sector

Tech News: TikTok Strikes Back, AI Poses Threats, and Butts!

Introducing: Big Take S3

Did In-N-Out invent the Intercom?

The Weaponization of EULAs

Tech News: Tech Companies in the Hot Seat

The Rooster Teeth Story: The End?

Smart Talks with IBM - AI in Healthcare: How Generative AI Is Expanding Fertility Treatment

The Rooster Teeth Story: The Middle Bits

Tech News: US House of Reps Votes to Ban TikTok

The Rooster Teeth Story: The Beginning

Better Offline: A conversation with Ed Zitron

Tech News: OpenAI Spills the Tea on Elon Musk

A Holographic Wedding

What's Your Problem? with Jacob Goldstein: Using AI to Help Doctors Save Lives

The Tech Pioneers

Big Apps that Flopped

The History of the Digital Camera

Tech News: Google's AI Pushes Diversity Too Far

A Conversation with Jacob Goldstein

TechStuff Classic: The Intel Story Part One

TechStuff Classic: History of Electricity Part Two

Invented by Accident

When Did Google Stop Being a Search Company?

Tech News: Power-Hungry AI and Malicious Toothbrushes

Pivot to Video

A Small Episode About Big Data

Tech News: US Senate Grills Big Tech CEOs

HOVERCRAFT!!!

Operating Systems that Time Forgot

Tech News: The Political War Against Social Media

Moving Around in VR

AI at CES 2024

TechStuff Classic: History of Electricity Part One

Rerun: Copyright and Fair Use

Rerun: How Fuel Cells Work

TechStuff Classic: The Wonderful World of Audio Animatronics

Rerun: It's All Relative

Rerun: Machine Consciousness

TechStuff Classic: Pew Pew Lasers

How CT Scanners Work and A TechStuff Update

TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Enters the Singularity