News and Notes Roundup: Jan. 20

By Evan Summers | January 20, 2015

Photo
A computer, circa 1992.

It’s Tuesday, which is practically a Monday, which means it’s time for the NDItech News and Notes Roundup.. We hope you all had a restful and reflective MLK day on Monday, and are ready to start this work week off right by reading this roundup. As always, tweet or email (@nditech/[email protected]) with any tips for future roundups.

We kick off this week’s look back into “Tech History” with the January 19, 1999 introduction of the BlackBerry - the first device capable of real-time email. Although the BlackBerry has certainly been influential, it was another product introduction 15 years prior that had an even more lasting impact. On January 20, 1984, during the third quarter of Super Bowl XVIII, Apple aired it’s famous ‘1984’ commercial introducing the Macintosh. The Macintosh, although prohibitively expensive for many, became the first mass-market personal computer with a mouse and graphical UI. Of course, when talking about influential products and inventions, we have to give a shout-out to a product that has revolutionized countless kitchens and influenced innumerable meals - the microwave oven. The patent for this appliance was issued 65 years ago this week.

Now, time for the links:

Popular Tech News:

  • Google said to be in talks to invest in SpaceX at $10B valuation

  • Newly launched Afrileaks aims to connect whistleblowers with investigative journalists

  • Xbox, Sony hackers hit by hack attack

  • Dating apps found 'leaking' location data, warn security experts

  • The final day to purchase Google Glass has come (and gone, depending on when you’re reading this)

ICT and Development:

Mobiles:

Topics
Roundup

Share