Episode 260 — 1984 Tesla for Sale

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Tesla interior
Photo by Bram Van Oost on Unsplash

Michael and Michael start this episode off with a discussion on how to speed up getting to the good parts of your favorite podcasts by using a tivo-esque feature to skip the introductory or closing credits, and an internet archive of 36,000 Flash games for your perusal and enjoyment.  


Switching once more to the automotive world, the co-hosts discuss an intriguing hack to create fake traffic jams on Google Maps is done by walking around with 99 phones in tow, simulating the owners moving very slowly on a road.

The most intriguing topic for this episode centers on the case of a person who according to the original article in Jalopnik, purchased a used Tesla from a dealer with the Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self Driving Capability options that were removed from the vehicle by Tesla in an over the air update slightly afterwards.  The co-hosts discuss how software changes the game significantly across a variety of industries, and that licensing is sometimes bound to the user, sometimes to the physical product, and in all cases will require new thinking and clarity for consumers to make their purchasing (licensing) decisions.  This reminded the team about the case a few years ago when a digital download of George Orwell’s 1984 just disappeared from consumer readers.  

Incidentally, according to the wikipedia article, 1984 will go into public domain 1 Jan 2021.  Have an interesting story on digital rights management or over the air updates?  Drop us a line, and we’ll see about fitting it into an upcoming episode!

Selected Links

Engadget article: Overcast can skip podcast intros and outros — https://www.engadget.com/2020/02/02/overcast-can-skip-podcast-intros/ 

Overcast — https://overcast.fm 

Downcast — https://downcast.fm 

Slashgear article: Flashpoint is saving 36,000 Flash games from going into the night — https://www.slashgear.com/flashpoint-is-saving-36000-flash-games-from-going-into-the-night-02608294/ 

Mashable article: Man says he caused fake traffic jams on Google Maps with 99 phones — https://mashable.com/article/google-maps-99-phones/ 

99 Luftballons 

the Verge article: Tesla remotely disables Autopilot on used Model S after it was sold — https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/6/21127243/tesla-model-s-autopilot-disabled-remotely-used-car-update 

Jalopnik article: Tesla Remotely Removes Autopilot Features From Customer’s Used Tesla Without Any Notice — https://jalopnik.com/tesla-remotely-removes-autopilot-features-from-customer-1841472617?rev=1580941196331 

George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four book wikipedia article — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four 

Gizmodo article: Amazon Secretly Removes “1984” From the Kindle — https://io9.gizmodo.com/amazon-secretly-removes-1984-from-the-kindle-5317703 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:39 — 15.6MB) | Embed

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Episode 259 — Going Viral

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash

This episode is action-packed with AR, VR, mobile computing and automotive innovation and the coronavirus.

Michael and Michael start things off with Ian “epredator” Hughes’ article on the evolution of games and the games industry, especially as it relates to edge computing and the cloud.  Some intriguing examples of AR and VR are brought into focus with Pintrest’s virtual makeup try on feature, Spatial’s holographic 3D workspace and NASA’s use for astronomy and engineering.

An intriguing set of patents by Apple to ‘dock’ iPhone and iPad into laptop computers remind Michael M of Voltron and Battle of the Planets, and Michael R of the Samsung DeX Mode.  

Tesla’s “Battery Day” is coming up soon, fueling expectations for significant new capabilities to be announced.

Rounding out the show, Michael and Michael talk about the coronavirus, and the implications across the world. 

Selected Links

451 Research article: The Evolution and Complexity of the Games Industry Applied at the Edge and in the Cloud — https://go.451research.com/2020-mi-evolution-and-complexity-of-the-games-industry-at-edge-and-in-cloud.html 

TechCrunch article: Pintrest launches virtual makeup ‘Try on’ feature, starting with lipstick — https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/28/pinterest-launches-virtual-makeup-try-on-feature-starting-with-lipstick/?guccounter=1 

My Virtual Model — http://myvirtualmodel.com 

TechCrunch article: Spatial raises $14M more for a holographic 3D workspace app, a VR/AR version of Zoom or Hangouts — https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/30/spatial-raises-14m-more-for-a-holographic-3d-workspace-app-a-vr-ar-version-of-zoom-or-hangouts/ 

TechCrunch article: NASA finds real uses for VR and AR in astronomy and engineering — https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/29/nasa-finds-real-uses-for-vr-and-ar-in-astronomy-and-engineering/ 

Apple Insider article: Apple explored iPhones and iPads that dock inside larger devices like MacBooks — https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/01/28/apple-planning-iphones-and-ipads-that-can-dock-inside-macbooks 

Voltron — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086824/ 

Battle of the Planets — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076983 

Samsung DeX — https://www.samsung.com/us/explore/dex/ 

Inverse article: Elon Musk: Tesla Faces Battery Woes, But Future Will ‘Blow People’s Minds’ — https://www.inverse.com/innovation/elon-musk-tesla-faces-battery-woes-but-future-will-blow-peoples-minds 

Ars Technica article: How a $300 projector can fool Tesla’s Autopilot — https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/01/how-a-300-projector-can-fool-teslas-autopilot/ 

Jalopnik article: Autonomous Cars Should Be Half As Wide As Normal Cars — https://jalopnik.com/autonomous-cars-should-be-half-as-wide-as-normal-cars-1841186529 

bluedot — https://bluedot.global 

World Health Organization Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation reports — https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports/ 

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Episode 258 — Fly Like A Pigeon(bot)

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pigeons
Photo by Ashithosh U from Pexels

You could fly like an eagle, or at least soar like a pigeon with real feathers and motion dynamics as real birds do.  Michael and Michael discuss the benefits of this kind of locomotion, highlighting how quiet this pigeonbot is, and the likely battery benefits.  Continuing on the robotic theme, the co-hosts are amazed a novel way to grasp objects without crushing them — using ultrasonic waves.

In the digital space, there is an interesting discussion on how Google presents ads and website favicons, making it easier for the user to mistakenly click on an ad by mistake.  3D Travel World allows you to tour a Romanian castle in virtual reality, which reminded Michael R of the same technology Michael M used when he sold his home.

Long time listeners will chuckle at the cohost’s reactions to Mojo, an augmented reality contact lens system.  The LEGO Ideas Cybertruck is really cool — well beyond the initial Lego reaction to the Cybertruck.  

Rounding out this episode, Michael and Michael remember some of Terry Jones’ most famous and funny Monty Python episodes.  RIP with the Norwegian Blue, Terry.

Selected Links

TechCrunch article: ‘PigeonBot’ brings flying robots closer to real birds — https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/16/pigeonbot-brings-flying-robots-closer-to-real-birds/ 

Mo Willem’s Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus — http://pigeonpresents.com/books/dont-let-the-pigeon-drive-the-bus/ 

Robot Chicken — https://www.adultswim.com/videos/robot-chicken/ 

TechCrunch article: This ultrasonic gripper could let robots hold things without touching them — https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/22/this-ultrasonic-gripper-could-let-robots-hold-things-without-touching-them/ 

TechCrunch article: Google’s latest user-hostile design changes make ads and search results look identical — https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/23/squint-and-youll-click-it/ 

3D Travel World presents Catelul Corvinilor Hunedoara — https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=Vsi1i2VwDJm&utm_source=1 

Road & Track article: I Mowed Down a Lady — https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a30349105/i-mowed-down-a-lady/ 

Fast Company article: The making of Mojo, AR contact lenses that give your eyes superpowers — https://www.fastcompany.com/90441928/the-making-of-mojo-ar-contact-lenses-that-give-your-eyes-superpowers 

Mojo — https://www.mojo.vision/mojo-lens/

Cnet article: Tesla Cybertruck Lego kit is adorable, may see production — https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/tesla-cybertruck-lego-ideas-elon-musk-von-holzhausen-project/ 

The Telegraph article: Monty Python’s 10 funniest sketches — https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comedy/what-to-see/monty-pythons-10-funniest-sketches/

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Episode 257 — CES Car Electronics Show

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car
Photo by Sarmad Mughal from Pexels

While neither Michael attended CES this year, as always, there were plenty of articles about the new technology showcased at the event.  Much of that tech was in the automotive space, which formed the theme for this week’s podcast.

Honda provided an example of augmented driving, which draws a significant distinction from automated driving which is defined as the efficiency-oriented method of simply getting from A to B.  Augmented driving, on the other hand, is billed as human curiosity-oriented and ready to take the controls from the human.

Audi showcased a virtual reality experience called Holoride for passengers to help pass the time  in an entertaining way — have a look at the attached video below in the show notes to get an idea of what this might be like.

Many different innovations made great use of lighting systems to provide enhanced visibility and safety, communicate status to the driver (or other drivers!).  The Rivan example showed the current charge level of the electric vehicle, and Volkswagen had something similar.  Continental’s SMARTTRIX-HD system could beam a pattern on the road ahead of the driver to provide a warning of road conditions ahead.  

Not to be outdone with the visual senses, we have an example of the effort that car companies are making to provided a soundtrack for the inherently quiet electric vehicles.  BMW has tapped the talents of composer Hans Zimmer to create the sound for their Bavarian vehicles.  Even the electric motorcycles of Harley-Davidson have their own distinct turbine sound.

Tune in to this episode to get a sense of all the excitement that these new automotive technologies are bringing to the market!  Did we miss your favorite technology from CES2020?  Drop us a tweet at @GamesAtWork_biz and let us know! 

Selected Links

TechCrunch article: Sony just announced a car — https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/06/sony-just-announced-a-car/ 

Jalopnik article: Honda’s Augmented Driving Concept Is Adorable And Will Let You Be A Really, Really Distracted Driver — https://jalopnik.com/hondas-augmented-driving-concept-is-adorable-and-will-l-1840911713 

TechCrunch article: Audi AI:ME concept demonstrates innovative safety through lights — https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/06/audi-aime-concept-demonstrates-innovative-safety-through-lights/ 

Holoride

Motortrend article: Four Autonomous-Car Features You’re Gonna Dig [CEES 2020] — https://www.motortrend.com/news/ces-2020-autonomous-car-tech-features/  

Contiental SMARTTRIX-HD — https://www.continental.com/en/press/press-releases/2019-07-02-high-definition-headlamp-system-176592 

Teslarati article: Rivian’s color-coded battery charge indicator patent makes charging extra-convenient — https://www.teslarati.com/rivian-color-coded-battery-charging-indicator-patent/ 

Motortrend article: Volkswagen Previews Future Headlight, Taillight Tech — https://www.motortrend.com/news/taillights-future-warn-drivers-road-hazards/ 

Rivian — https://rivian.com 

GQ article: How No Time To Die composer Hans Zimmer gave BMW’s electric cars a blockbuster soundtrack — https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/hans-zimmer-bmw-electric-cars 

Harley Davidson Livewire (electric motorcycle) — https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/motorcycles/livewire.html 

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