Technology

The Cable that Changed the World: How Instant Global Communication Began in 1858

The word wireless is going the way of computerized and portable, and for much the same reasons. We no longer regard wireless devices that require no physical connections to anything else as marvels, but as something close to necessities. But our age, with its increasingly common assumptions that information just travels through the air, owes its existence […]

Open Culture Tech · EN

300 Years Before ChatGPT, Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels Imagined Machines Writing Books and Producing Knowledge (1726)

The printing press was invented in the middle of the fifteenth century, and it’s been downhill for the written word ever since. Even before then, arguments that the volume of writing being done far outstripped the value of that writing surely weren’t unheard of. Whatever the era, the most incisive remarks on the apparent victory […]

Open Culture Tech · EN

The Strange and Brilliant Inventions of Nikola Tesla

Even before the success of the electric car company that now bears his name, Nikola Tesla was a widely respected historical figure. Often, that respect could be based on surprisingly scant knowledge of the man’s life and accomplishments. Didn’t he do something with electricity? Wasn’t he involved in some kind of rivalry with Thomas Edison? […]

Open Culture Tech · EN

David Byrne’s New Book Explores the Strange Afterlife of Good Ideas: From Vermeer’s Paintings to Roman Concrete & Dark Matter

David Byrne will always be most widely known as the co-founder and frontman of Talking Heads. That may count among the greatest possible achievements for any artist — to the minds of many an Open Culture reader, at least — but it must occasionally frustrate the man himself. Talking Heads broke up 35 years ago, […]

Open Culture Tech · EN

Doctor Who’s Tom Baker Plays Douglas Adams’ Digital “Agent” in the AI-Predicting Hyperland (1990)

Cast your mind, if you will, back to the year 2020. It now feels like a different time, what with the spreading COVID-19 pandemic and the heated sociopolitical battles being waged online, and indeed in the (socially distanced) streets. That spring, we featured here on Open Culture an amusing retro-technological diversion called Hyperland. First broadcast on BBC2, […]

Open Culture Tech · EN

In 1897, London’s Lampposts Dispensed Hot Coffee, Tea, and “Fluid Beef”

Any reader of Victorian literature will wonder how much a ha’penny was actually worth in those days. For a little more than a year at the very end of that period, it could buy you a cup of coffee, cocoa, milk, tea, or “fluid beef” — which would pour out of a lamppost on the […]

Open Culture Tech · EN

The Early Years of Electronic Pop: The Moog Craze, Psychedelic Experiments, and More

There’s a decent chance you’ve heard at least a couple of tracks from Wendy Carlos’ Switched-On Bach. But when was the last time you put on Switched-On Rock, Switched-On Country, Switched-On Santa, or Switched-On Bacharach? More likely than not, you’ve never even heard of those other albums, which have nothing to do with Carlos and […]

Open Culture Tech · EN

Raspberry Pi Hikes Prices Again, with the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB Hitting an Eye-Watering $385

AI-bubble-driven component shortages mean the company's top-end Raspberry Pi 5 16GB and CM5 16GB are both going up in price — again.

Hackster.io · EN

The Ultra-Slim Azume One Turns Any Watch Into a Health, Fitness, and Sleep-Tracking Wearable

Small sensor disc slips underneath your existing watch and adds a PPG sensor, inertial measurement unit, and temperature sensor.

Hackster.io · EN

Raven Resonance Opens Pre-Orders for the Privacy-Focused Linux-Powered Prism "Ambient Computer"

All-day smart glasses, featuring hot-swappable battery "wings," begin shipping next year — and you can reserve a pair for a $49 deposit now.

Hackster.io · EN

ESP-FLUTTER Is a Robotic Butterfly That Actually Flies

Max Imagination built ESP-FLUTTER, a remote-controlled robotic butterfly with illuminated wings made from plastic bags.

Hackster.io · EN

Rotary Phones Aren't Dead Yet, Thanks to Analog Redial

Analog Redial brings vintage rotary phones back to life with an ESP32, Bluetooth calling, VoIP, and smart home control.

Hackster.io · EN

A New AI Controller Helps Humanoid Robots Think on Their Feet

A single controller developed at ETH Zurich lets humanoid robots climb ladders, vault obstacles, crawl, and recover from falls.

Hackster.io · EN

PLACARD Is an 8-Bit Computer With No Microprocessor

PLACARD is a homebrew computer built from programmable logic chips that packs a custom 8-bit CPU, 256-color VGA graphics, sound, and more.

Hackster.io · EN

SAWbot Makes Waves in Water and on Land

SAWbot is an amphibious robot that uses a single motor to generate continuous waves for efficient swimming and crawling across land.

Hackster.io · EN

LG CNS sets sights on APAC as it scales up AIDC development

LG CNS revealed its plan to expand AIDC development across Asia-Pacific as it completed a 30MW AI data center in Jakarta.

Light Reading · EN

Eurobites: VMO2 planning mass layoffs – reports

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Telia conducts 6G trials with Ericsson; Telefónica offloads call centers in Germany; TIM invests in unified comms.

Light Reading · EN

Cable One sets up committee to 'evaluate strategic alternatives'

Cable One disclosed that Paul Keglevic, a former Frontier board member during the company's bankruptcy, joined the Cable One board, and it set up a new special committee tasked with exploring strategic alternatives.

Light Reading · EN

Comcast state-level layoff warnings start to roll in

WARN filings show that show Comcast is laying off 634 people in Philadelphia, 159 in Washington, 119 in New Jersey and 82 in California. About 25% of the cuts in Washington are construction jobs, but won't impact the pace of network builds.

Light Reading · EN

HKT pulls out of US under FCC pressure – report

Another Chinese telco is reportedly leaving the US as Hong Kong-based HKT is said to be withdrawing from the country after pressure from the FCC, which has in the past placed prohibitions on major Chinese telcos on the grounds of national security and law enforcement.

Light Reading · EN

T-Mobile rolls out 5-Gig fiber, with 10-year price lock

T-Mobile has introduced a $90 per month 5-Gig fiber broadband plan that features a ten-year price lock. #pressrelease

Light Reading · EN

Marvell strikes $115B deal for Lumentum

Marvell is acquiring Lumentum in an all-stock deal valued at $115 billion, representing $1,132 per share of Lumentum common stock. #pressrelease

Light Reading · EN

SpaceX eyes back door to MVNO via Boost Mobile – report

SpaceX's Elon Musk reportedly had talks with EchoStar's Charlie Ergen about a deal to buy Boost Mobile or use its network for Starlink mobile services, reports The Washington Post.

Light Reading · EN

Here’s how to listen live to Apple’s Q4 2026 earnings call

Later today, Apple will release its Q4 2026 earnings, with hardware price increases and ongoing component shortages expected to play a big part as the company heads into its first holiday season under new CEO John Ternus. Here’s how you can listen in live. more…

9to5Mac · EN