All Blog Posts from Tech Talk

To begin, a disclosure: I do not, nor have I ever, owned any Apple stock. I do, however, own a few Apple products like an iPhone, a Shuffle, and Apple TV. But then it's hard to find someone who doesn't own an iSomething these days. I write all this to preface my comments about Steve Jobs' mysterious health problems. Just what is the truth about his situation?

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First, full disclosure: I fall smack in the middle of Gen X. You can do the math (that was never my strong suit). So while I'm not that far removed from Gen Y, as I pointed out yesterday I'm more of a "digital immigrant" (or "digital nomad") than a "digital native." There are many terms for this generation -- Gen Y, millenials, digital natives -- but the point is that someone born after 1980 likely grew up with a mouse in their hand. Using a computer came naturally, and the transition from school to the workplace didn't involve learning new ways to search for information (Dewey Decimel System vs. Web browsing) or adopting different methods of communicating (faxes vs. instant messaging). Bottomline: exactly what has this lifelong immersion in technology done to Gen Y's social skills? Admittedly, it's a broad question, but we try to answer it (at least in part) tonight on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

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First, full disclosure: I fall smack in the middle of Gen X. You can do the math (that was never my strong suit). So while I'm not that far removed from Gen Y, as I pointed out yesterday I'm more of a "digital immigrant" (or "digital nomad") than a "digital native." There are many terms for this generation -- Gen Y, millenials, digital natives -- but the point is that someone born after 1980 likely grew up with a mouse in their hand. Using a computer came naturally, and the transition from school to the workplace didn't involve learning new ways to search for information (Dewey Decimel System vs. Web browsing) or adopting different methods of communicating (faxes vs. instant messaging). Bottomline: exactly what has this lifelong immersion in technology done to Gen Y's social skills? Admittedly, it's a broad question, but we try to answer it (at least in part) tonight on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

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Quick update: Due to today's economic news my story about the technology to prevent people from talking/texting on cell phones while driving will air on tomorrow (Thursday) night's Evening News with Katie Couric. I hope you'll watch!

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When was the last time your phone rang and you didn't look to see who's calling and decide to answer it? The temptation of a ringing phone is tough to ignore. Is it the boss? Your spouse? The bank? Forget the social etiquette of answering when you're around friends or loved ones and consider what happens when you're driving. Still answer it? We've all done it. But for Dave Teater that act of talking on the cell phone while driving changed his life forever. Four years ago his 12-year-old son Joe was killed when a woman talking on her cell phone ran a red light and plowed into the family vehicle. Now, Teater has joined a technology company in Canada that's got a new way to avoid that ringing or talking temptation. We'll have the story tonight on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

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A healthy contingent from CBS and (our corporate colleague) CNET attended today's T-Mobile press conference where the G1 was unveiled for the first time. Corporate executives from handset maker HTC, Google, and T-Mobile were onhand, as well as a "surprise" visit from Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. So what's the deal? Read on!

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Quick posting today -- wanted to mention that CBS (and our corporate colleague CNET) will be on hand at tomorrow morning's T-Mobile press conference when it unveils the new HTC smartphone that runs Google's open source operating system called Android. Who cares about a phone operating system? Well, Google is trying to re-shape the cell phone market by letting you install applications on your device that you choose much like your computer. Think of it as a buffet versus a six-course meal. It's an idea that Apple is pursuing with its iTunes "Apps" store, but Google claims to offer more flexibility. However, Google will have to compete with the likes of Windows Mobile and Nokia's Symbian. So will Android be an iPhone or smartphone "killer"?

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Our energy sources, they are a changin'. With apologies to Bob Dylan, it's absolutely true. Alternative ideas abound from solar to biomass to nuclear to wind and more. But which is best for the environment AND the most practical? Earlier this week, the CBS Evening News featured a story about solar options, Katie Couric did an interview with tycoon T. Boone Pickens about his porposed wind "farm," and tonight on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric I'll have a story about some of the hidden complications and promises with wind power. We traveled to the town of Sweetwater, TX, and even climbed up inside a massive wind turbine to see firsthand what's happening in that state -- now the country's biggest user/generator of wind energy. I hope you'll tune in.

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What a week! Between iPhone 3G in San Francisco and the Webby Awards here in New York there was a lot going on. (By the way, Stephen Colbert's five-word acceptance speech managed to be both funny and reflect the current narcissism often associated with the Web and social networking: "Me, me, me, me, me.")

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I can't believe it's been nearly a year since people lined up around the country for the original iPhone. Of course, in the end it made no difference whether you spent a week without a shower sleeping on a lawnchair on 5th Avenue or dropped by an Apple store three hours after the official launch -- everyone who wanted one managed to buy one. And now comes the expectation that CEO Steve Jobs will use his appearance at the Apple Worldwide Developers' Conference on Monday in San Francisco to unveil the next generation.

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