Titanic

Given that the builder of the Titanic is said to have famously bragged that his amazing new ship could never be sunk, it's dangerous to argue that an accident like the one that sent the famous vessel to the bottom of the sea 100 years ago could never happen again.

But with the centennial of the April 15, 1912, disaster quickly approaching, there's every indication that modern science and technology in combination with a much greater awareness of seaborne hazards, make such a tragedy -- at least on the scale of Titanic--extremely unlikely today.

It's not, of … Read more

There are few words to describe people that don't know that the movie "Titanic" was actually based on a real Titanic, and even fewer to describe the bravado in tweeting about that ignorance, but Jeff musters a few adjectives.

On today's episode, we'll cover the $1 billion Instagram buyout and what you can expect to change once Facebook takes over, all four major U.S. wireless carriers joining forces to create a "lost my phone" database, smart touch-screen displays replacing payphones in New York City, and the shaky future of Best Buy and its former CEO.… Read more

It was a good day for Microsoft and AT&T yesterday, when the carrier opened its registers for two 4G LTE Windows phones: the Nokia Lumia 900 and the HTC Titan II.

Both have the most recent version of Windows Phone OS, large screens over 4 inches, and 16GB of storage, with 25GB of extra storage online. Yet the Titan II lives up to its name with a hulk of a body, a mega 16-megapixel camera, and -- at least compared with the Lumia 900 -- a price tag to match.… Read more

Microsoft wants consumers to really get its pitch that Windows Phones are more efficient than rival smartphones and can thus create more free time for consumers.

To drum up attention for the recently launched Nokia Lumia 900 and HTC Titan II, Microsoft has set up "free-time machines" in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. They are essentially offering freebies for meals, personal shoppers, grocery delivery, cleaning, and dog walkers. Personal concierges are also on-hand to handle tasks like waiting in line for a burger.

The promotion is part of the core Microsoft strategy centered on the Windows Phones … Read more

Just in case his billion-dollar blockbuster wasn't realistic enough for you, not to mention the new $18 million 3D version, James Cameron has created another film about the Titanic, which presents its final minutes in stunning detail.

"From iceberg to bottom, it's never been animated so precisely and so dramatically," the Canadian ubermensch and premier Titanic obsessive says in the trailer to "Titanic: The Final Word With James Cameron," which premieres on the National Geographic Channel on April 8. … Read more

Apple products are mostly used by younger generations, but the company should still recognize the dangers of "high-tech modern architecture." Such is the plea of 83-year-old Evelyn Paswall, a New Yorker taking Apple to court for $1 million after walking face first into the glass door entrance to the Long Island Apple store.

Does her case hold water, and should Apple continue to use ugly white tape to let people know glass is a real thing? We'll talk about this story and more on today's episode of The 404.… Read more

Looks like AT&T will have some very tempting smartphone options this spring. The carrier just confirmed with us that the HTC Titan II, a high-octane Windows Phone, will cost $199.99 and land on shelves April 8.

This joins the upcoming HTC One X, HTC's flagship Android handset along with Nokia's premier Windows Phone, the Nokia Lumia 900. … Read more

Nokia's Lumia 900 smartphone will hit AT&T's store shelves on April 8, a move Nokia hopes will usher a return to the U.S. in a big way.

The phone will sell for $99.99 with a two-year contract, AT&T told CNET. It is one of the most affordable flagship products AT&T has ever sold.

There's a lot at stake with this launch. Nokia badly needs a buzz-worthy hit product in the U.S., a market it has struggled to operate in over the last few years despite dominating early in … Read more

I'm going to keep an eye on @TitanicRealTime on Twitter on April 15, the 100-year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. What will it say? "OMG Titanic going down! TTFN #iceberg," perhaps.

The History Press, a U.K. history publisher, is live-tweeting the first and final voyage of the famous ocean liner. The tweets are already pouring in from the point of view of officers and crew members.

Here's a recent #crew tweet: "The capacity of the lifeboats is somewhat of a concern, only 1,178. If anything were to happen there won't be enough space." … Read more