For the Record Podcast

Ripple effect of Japan disasters on consumer electronics (podcast)

While most Japanese wafer fabrication plants ("fabs") are located in the southern part of the country, hundreds of miles from the epicenter, at least one manufacturer is still shut down after last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami, according to Jim Handy, an analyst with semiconductor market research firm Objective Analysis. Some Japanese technology companies have curtailed operations.

But even plants in other parts of the country can be affected by rattling and, of course power glitches. "These are very sensitive plants because they are using extremely advanced optics to lay down lines as small as 25 … Read more

ScreenRetriever helps monitor kids' online activity (podcast)

When my kids were teens, my wife and I would occasionally walk into the room when they were on the Internet. We wouldn't stand there for long, but we would glance at the screen to make sure what they were doing was appropriate. The rule was that they had to use a computer in a public area of the house with the door open. We didn't spy on them, but we did check in now and then.

Now there's a software program that will let you do the same thing but from a different part of the … Read more

Media group concerned about Apple subscription service (podcast)

On Tuesday, Apple announced a subscription service to allow magazines, newspapers, and other content providers to charge for content via Apple's App store. Apple will keep 30 percent of the revenue and will only pass on subscribers' personal information (name, e-mail address, and ZIP code) if the customer specifically allows it. By default, only Apple will have access to that information.

On the following day, Google announced a rival service called Google One Pass which would take only 10 percent of the revenue and allow publishers to retain control over user data.

While happy about these potential sources of … Read more

Report: E-mail declines, but e-commerce up (podcast)

ComScore's 2010 U.S. Digital Year in Review is out and shows that teens spent 59 percent less time using Web-based e-mail than they did in 2009. Usage is down for every age group except 55- to 64-year-olds, where it's up by 22 percent, and 65-plus, where it increased by 28 percent. The survey also found a healthy increase in online spending, with total U.S. e-commerce climbing by 9 percent over 2009 to $227.6 billion in 2010. And, for the first time, Cyber Monday (November 29th) sales exceeded $1 billion, according to the report.

Other trends … Read more

Fire dept. has an iPhone app for citizen CPR (podcast)

"Biology gives us about 10 minutes to survive if our heart stops beating," said Richard Price, chief of the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District. "We have a goal or arriving within seven minutes which is pretty close to that 10 minutes...We need to suspend time and that's what CPR does."

The district, which is located about 35 miles east of San Francisco, is updating an app called "Fire Department," which will now be used to alert CPR-trained citizens in the event of a nearby cardiac emergency. The idea, according to Price, … Read more

Intuit's GoPayment service offering incentives (podcast)

Intuit is looking to increase its presence in the mobile payment market by offering a free credit card reader for smartphones and eliminating monthly fees. The offer extends to people who sign up by mid-February. The service, called GoPayment, was launched in 2009.

Intuit is best known for its Quicken personal finance software, TurboTax tax preparation software and service, and QuickBooks for small business, With this free offer, Intuit is squaring off against Square which also offers a free credit card swiper and no monthly fees. Both Intuit and Square do charge transaction fees which, for most users, start around … Read more

Computer History Museum gets a reboot (podcast)

The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif., tomorrow will unveil what it's calling a "21st century makeover" with its newly renovated building and greatly increased exhibit space.  After two years and $19 million, the museum has an entirely new look and feel and a major new exhibit called "Revolution: The First 2,000 Years of Computing."

As you enter the museum you see some of the first computing devices other than our ancestor's 10 fingers and 10 toes, including the abacus. But as you walk around, you see how technology has progressed … Read more

Facebook adds Amber alerts to find missing kids (podcast)

In many communities throughout the country, when a child goes missing you may hear about it on the radio or see a notice on an illuminated highway sign. You might also get a text message if you're signed up to receive one. AOL, Yahoo, Google, and Microsoft also disseminate Amber alerts. Now you can receive them on Facebook.

The Amber alert program, which was established 15 years ago after the abduction and murder of its namesake, 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, has so far resulted in the recovery of 525 kids according to Ernie Allen, CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (… Read more

CES: Tiwi from Inthinc prevents texting while driving (podcast)

A 2009 study (PDF) from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that truck drivers who were texting were 23 times more at risk of a "crash or near crash event" than "nondistracted driving." As reported by CNET's Jennifer Guevin, the study also found that "texting took a driver's focus away from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds--enough time...to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph."

Teenage drivers are especially vulnerable. In addition to being less experienced drivers, they are more likely to text than adults. … Read more