Technology 
HBO remastered ‘The Wire’ in 16:9 HD, and it was a lot harder than you’d think
HBO will release a remastered, HD version of its gritty and critically lauded crime drama The Wire later this month, but purists might think of it more like The Wire: Special Edition. The premium cable channel said Tuesday that it … Continue reading
Amazon Fire TV Stick review: A cheap, quick, and dirty path to Prime Instant Video
No disrespect to the full-sized Fire TV that Amazon launched last April, but the Fire TV Stick is the media-streamer that the online giant should have released in the first place. While the Fire TV is a solid video streamer for … Continue reading
YotaPhone 2 combines an AMOLED and an e-ink display, but at a hefty price
The YotaPhone 2 may seem like a relatively standard smartphone running Android 4.4, but it harbors one major twist: it has a second display on the back, and it’s no ordinary screen. This oddball device effectively crams a five-inch AMOLED … Continue reading
ET deals: Dell UltraSharp panoramic 29-inch 2560×1080 monitor with 3-year warranty for $400
Dual monitor setups are proven to increase productivity, but the trickiest part is that, well, you have to deal with two monitors. Avoid the annoyance of getting things to line up perfectly and trying to ignore the bezel that divides … Continue reading
Move aside twisted-pair Ethernet, it’s time for WiFi to take the network reins
Ethernet, the wired LAN networking standard, has always been remarkably solid. In much the same way that WiFi has ruled wireless networking since its inception in 1997, Ethernet has always stayed the course, adopting and refining new technologies as required, … Continue reading
Who needs Netflix? Streaming Doctor Who on a 31-year-old 4MHz TRS-80 PC
One of the greatest joys of being a technologist is that I get to see, often first-hand, some of humanity’s most novel ideas. Case in point: One enterprising hacker has taken a TRS-80 — one of the first mass-produced personal … Continue reading
The first test flight of NASA’s Orion capsule: Here’s how it will work
Early tomorrow morning, Thursday December 4, NASA is scheduled to perform the first test flight of the new Orion spacecraft. The entirety of NASA’s human space exploration plan hinges on Orion — if the series of test launches go off … Continue reading
Psy’s ‘Gangnam Style’ finally broke YouTube
Long after becoming the first YouTube video to surpass 1 billion views, and mere months after becoming the first video to crack the 2 billion view barrier, Psy’s Gangnam Style has officially become the first video to break YouTube. Well, … Continue reading
Bluetooth 4.2 supercharges smart homes, blocks privacy-bashing Beacons
New versions of wireless technology standards aren’t often a big deal, but Bluetooth 4.2 is looking to change that with a major boost for home automation, along with privacy enhancements. The new spec allows Bluetooth devices to connect to the … Continue reading
Your next iPhone might use motors, thrusters to prevent screen-cracking falls
You know that weird quirk of physics where toast and iPhones always fall face down? Well, I have good news: Your next iPhone might have the ability to change its angle mid-fall, so that it lands on its side or … Continue reading
