Digital Bits Technology Column

Before we get going, let’s get one thing straight: I like cars, I do much of my own car maintenance, but I’m not what you’d call a “car guy”. If you’re looking for detailed “car guy” or mechanic-level statistics, you’re at the wrong place. My newspaper column is all about technology, and that’s what I focused […]

Verizon’s EV-DO BroadbandAccess: Speed measurements and tethering instructions

(Other cellular providers have high-speed EV-DO networks. This article deals only with “BroadbandAccess” EV-DO from Verizon Wireless, as I only had access to Verizon devices and services at the time of this testing. Because of this, the article below is Verizon-centric.) What is EV-DO? Also spelled “EVDO“, “EvDO“, “3xEV-DO“, or “Evolution-Data Optimized third generation“, we’re […]

Interview with Pete Freeman, creator of computer and technology-integrated furniture and entertainment centers

“This has always been something that’s intrigued me, and is just a part of my life. People come in here, and I say, yeah, I’ve got three computers in the living room.” So says Pete Freeman, creator, designer and builder of some very special furniture. He’s taken a simple concept like a side table, and […]

Interview with Aaron Hall, creator of Space Empires

Space Empires. Aaron Hall. Malfador Machinations. If you’ve heard of one of these, you’ve most likely heard of the other two. But for those who don’t know: Space Empires is an incredibly successful space strategy video game series, available in various incarnations since 1993. Particularly impressive is the detailed game play and the ability to […]

Interview with David Pogue

Like Leno guest-starring on David Letterman, or Jon Stewart interviewing Brian Williams, I’m interviewing David Pogue. I have no delusions I in any way resemble Letterman or Stewart. I’m just trying to illustrate how you can have an interview between two people who work in similar fields. And the best way to do an interview like […]

Solar Sails – An interview with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory

What are solar sails? Solar sails are a creative and unique way to harness the sun’s energy for transportation, requiring no other fuel. Solar sails act just as the name implies: They are a physical sail, pushed by the sun’s energy. The sun constantly spews out a high-energy stream of photons. (Photons create the images […]

Cellphone antenna booster sticker test and analysis: Reader responses

This page contains the reader responses to the cellphone antenna booster sticker test article. See the original article for detail, or keep reading for good reader questions and debate. Greg is an electrical engineer, and compliments the testing while adding more information about true signal boosting antennas: Those that actually plug in to something! I really […]

Cellphone antenna booster sticker test and analysis

Introduction: What are cellphone antenna booster stickers? You may have seen them: Little high-tech-looking stickers, something you stick on or near your cellphone’s antenna. Antenna booster stickers are supposed to improve your cellphone’s reception, leading to clearer conversations and fewer dropped calls. Here’s a photo of a package of one sticker brand (this is the […]

Voice Recognition FAQ – Microphone and performance help, information and recommendations

I’ve been using voice recognition software for a long time (see the full review of Dragon NaturallySpeaking and IBM ViaVoice). I often get questions from readers asking about recommendations on hardware or similar issues. Here are some of the most common. Is there a good microphone you recommend? What microphone setup do you need for quality […]

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Tech coverage of the 2005 North American International Auto Show