dan tynan on Jan 07 2009 | Filed under: Computerworld, Culture Crash, Music
And so the madness begins.
I’m not going to CES (I may have mentioned that before), but I’ve gotten several pre-show briefings on interesting stuff. And though I’m sworn to secrecy on many of these products until they’re announced, two themes are clearly emerging: gadgets are going wireless in a big way, and everything is [...]
dan tynan on Jan 05 2009 | Filed under: (anti) social media, Computerworld, Culture Crash, Da Web, Web 2.0
No matter how nice your Net neighborhood is, eventually the scum of the earth will move in next door. And so it goes with Twitter.
The Twitteratti are all atwitter about a phishing scam that hit over the weekend. The phishing tweets came in the form of direct messages - essentially private texts only Twitter friends [...]
dan tynan on Jan 01 2009 | Filed under: Computerworld, Culture Crash, Geekishness, Shameless self promotion
Is technology different for women? Christina Tynan-Wood, author of the recently published How to Be a Geek Goddess from No Starch Press, says Hell Yes.
If anyone should know, it’s Tynan-Wood, who is the only woman to have written monthly columns for both PC World and PC Magazine. She’s currently a contributing editor for Family Circle, [...]
dan tynan on Dec 24 2008 | Filed under: Computerworld, Culture Crash, Santa, baby
Why should Santa have all the fun? I’ve also been making a list and checking it twice to figure out who deserves treats in their stockings and who’s getting a big honkin’ lump of coal.
Here in no particular order are my picks for the good/bad boys and girls of tech for 2008.
Naughty: Apple arbitrarily [...]
dan tynan on Dec 22 2008 | Filed under: Computerworld, Culture Crash, Lists
It’s that time of year again, when magazines and bloggers compose top 10 lists for just about everything. Here are my favorite top 10 (or 12, or 20) lists for 2008.
10. The 10 worst political ads of the season. Ads named by professional pols as the worst of the worst: from campaign jingles gone [...]
dan tynan on Dec 15 2008 | Filed under: Computerworld, Culture Crash, Da Web, Video, Web 2.0, politics, youtube
Yesterday, President George Bush was attacked by an Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at him. Thanks to the power of YouTube, footage of the attack may be what some people remember most about his administration.
Call it ShoeTube.
During a press conference on his farewell tour of Iraq, President George Bush was attacked by a journalist [...]
dan tynan on Dec 13 2008 | Filed under: Computerworld, Culture Crash, Da Web, Google, Web 2.0
Google Chrome is officially out of beta. But is it any betta? Tynan doesn’t think Chrome’s ready for prime time just yet. He tries to break the news to her as gently as he can.
Dear Chrome:
First, this harassment has got to stop. The constant emails and IMs. Parking outside my house. Calling me at [...]
dan tynan on Dec 09 2008 | Filed under: Computerworld, Culture Crash, Da Web, politics
Can possessing lewd images of Lisa and Bart Simpson earn you jail time? In the land down under, the answer apparently is yes.
Here I go again, out of the frying pan and into a three-alarm fire.
An Australian man has been convicted of possessing child porn for having lewd images of The Simpsons on his hard [...]
dan tynan on Dec 05 2008 | Filed under: Computerworld, Culture Crash, Jesus H. Christ
Are the video games the devil’s playthings? A conservative investment group offers its advice on how to keep the Antichrist out of your Xbox this holiday season.
Just in time for the holiday shopping frenzy, a conservative Christian investment group called the Timothy Plan has published a report listing the worst video games in the world.
They’re [...]
dan tynan on Dec 03 2008 | Filed under: (anti) social media, Computerworld, Culture Crash, Da Web, Google, Web 2.0, youtube
YouTube and Ning are trying to shed adult-oriented content to appeal to mainstream advertisers. Will it work, or will people just go elsewhere to satisfy their prurient desires?
After a wild and passionate youth, YouTube and Ning have both announced they’re adopting a policy of abstinence. Heck, they might even join a convent. Why? Money, [...]
dan tynan on Dec 02 2008 | Filed under: Computerworld, Culture Crash, Da Web, Deadpool, Facebook, Web 2.0
Last week it was I Want Sandy. Yesterday, Pownce. Which Web 2.0 startups will disappear tomorrow? Twitter? Facebook??
Consolidation fever has gripped the valley, and that’s not good.
Last week it was IWantSandy. Yesterday, Pownce. Tomorrow, who knows? The current financial crisis is claiming a passel of Web 2.0 startups whose VC sugar daddies appear [...]
dan tynan on Nov 29 2008 | Filed under: Computerworld, Culture Crash, Da Web, Shopping, not dropping, amazon
Whether it’s Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Stupid Bloody Tuesday, you can find great deals on gadgets and gear this season — if you know where to look.
The economy may be going to hell in a shopping basket, but you wouldn’t know it from the crowds I saw at my local Big Box store [...]
dan tynan on Nov 26 2008 | Filed under: 15 minutes, Apple, Computerworld, Culture Crash, Da Web, Facebook, Google, Lists, Microsoft, Steve Jobs, Web 2.0, politics, yahoo, youtube
What do retired billionaires, supermodels, search engines, supervillains, energy drinks, whacked-out actors and fried breakfast pastries have in common? They’re some of the things I’m thankful for this year.
If I’m conscious, I’m usually complaining about something. But because it’s almost Thanksgiving I’ve decided to list some of the things I’m grateful for, in and [...]
dan tynan on Nov 25 2008 | Filed under: Computerworld, Culture Crash, Geekishness, Google, Web 2.0
Part Deux of my ‘letters to inanimate software series’ continues with this missive to Gmail, responding to the dozens of commenters on Digg and Culture Crash beat me up over this.
Dear Gmail:
I know, I know. You’re totally cheesed off about me calling you a "train wreck" the other day. I admit that was [...]
dan tynan on Nov 23 2008 | Filed under: Computerworld, Culture Crash, Da Web, Geekishness, Google, Web 2.0
She was the new girl in town for a while, but Google Chrome has lost her shine. Sorry Chrome: You’ve been swell, but I’m going back to my old flame, Firefox.
Dear Firefox:
When we met three years ago, I thought: This is it, the browser I’ve been waiting for. I’ve found my life partner. So [...]
dan tynan on Nov 18 2008 | Filed under: Computerworld, Culture Crash, National insecurity, politics
It’s a lousy job, but somebody’s got to do it. Once we find someone who’s crazy–err, patriotic enough to take the position as our nation’s first CTO, what should he or she do?
It might possibly be the worst job in the world, outside of replacing Jerry Yang as Yahoo’s CEO. Yet people seem to [...]
