This week on the Digital City, topics include Google's new Chrome OS, and what it means for Netbooks and Microsoft; some not-too-bright cell phone thieves; how Scott semi-scammed a new iPhone 3GS; and some new apps for navigating the NYC Subway system.
Related Links:
>>Scott's iPhone upgrade update
>>Google's Chrome OS: Why Microsoft shouldn't worry...yet
>>Watch the Digital City live every Friday at 3pm EST on CNET Live!
>>Subscribe to Digital City on iTunes
>>Join the Digital City Facebook fan page
>>Need more? Follow Dan on Twitter!
Listen now: Download the audio version of today's podcast
I'm not a big fan of anything subterranean, but every time I'm in NYC, for practical reasons, I take the subway.
This time around, it was also because I wanted to find out if the City Transit NYC Subway Guide iPhone app was worth $2.99. I ended up catching something else which, by itself, totally made the one-hour ride from Manhattan to the Bronx worthwhile.
As express train No. 5 started to leave 59th Street and Lexington Ave., two dudes who looked just like regular New Yorker-on-holiday riders turned on their boombox. One called out: "Hi everybody, what you're about to see is the most amazing thing. If you don't like it, boo as much as you want. But if you do, clap and please show your support." Seeing some people taking out their cameras, he added, "You can take video all you want, as long as you pay us."
Without further ado, the two took turns performing the most amazing breakdance I've seen. It was just coincidental that I had my iPhone video on and managed to capture the whole thing. What I didn't capture was the fact that their dance inspired some regular riders to stand up and show off their own moves. I totally heart NYC for this.
... Read more
Steve Guttenberg, the Audiophiliac, joins the show today to talk about the coming "singularity."
(Credit:
CNET)
For those of you not from the future, the "singularity" is a concept from Raymond Kurzweil's book "The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology." According to him, human beings will eventually live forever because of nano-machines that will repair our bodies and miracle drugs. That's about as deep as the show gets today. Again, you don't really want us to be discussing the ever-increasing amounts of entropy in the universe.
Steve is generally disappointed with the quality of the sound systems at the New York auto show. You'd expect that a $200,000 Bentley would have pretty great speakers, but you'd be wrong.
Also on today's show, we've got more Twitter stories: 1) Justin is attempting to bring back the $5-dollar Italian BMT from Subway with the world's first Twitition (that's Twitter + petition); 2) Post Secret meets Twitter with SecretTweet.com. Honestly, it's one of the most depressing Web sites ever. Kind of like a not-funny fmylife.com.
Finally, it's the weekend, so we know you have the time. Be sure to send in your call backs! We need them!
EPISODE 328
Download today's podcast | Subscribe in iTunes | Subscribe in RSS
... Read more
The days of tissue-thin tickets collected by human attendants are over in Beijing's underground. Riders on Monday were greeted by electronic ticketing with automatic gates.
When Beijing's Line 5 debuted in October last year, riders found out what they could expect, as new electronic gates were installed but not yet unfurled. Travelers in Asia will recognize the mechanisms from Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Beijing's new subway ticketing system was previewed with the opening of Line 5 in October 2007. They came into service June 9, 2008.
(Credit: Graham Webster)Besides removing the human factor from ticket sales and collection, a feat accomplished already with debit-based ticketing cards that have been in place for quite a while, the system puts Beijing in league with advanced systems that can use rider data to adjust service.
According to People's Daily:
As the new system requires passengers to check in and out electronically, it records precisely their entry and departing stations. This enables us to accurately record passenger flow on each line and station.
"The subway company can adjust train schedules to ease traffic. This is especially important when the Olympic Games are held in August in Beijing," Zhang said.
I'm looking forward to giving the new system a shot this week.
(Credit:
Wikimedia Commons)
A power outage, possibly related to the sweltering heat, has knocked out one of New York City's most heavily trafficked subway lines as well as some lights in the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. The outage, which apparently began around 3:40 PM EDT, affected the 4, 5, and 6 subway lines (the green line), the D line, and power in nearby areas of Manhattan and the Bronx near Yankee Stadium. There's no word on when power will be restored yet.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority's Web site, meanwhile, is timing out, probably due to the overload of hits.
Put on your tinfoil hats, folks: the green line can take you from 59th St. and Lexington Avenue, just a few blocks from the midtown Apple Store. It can also take you to Spring St. and Lafayette St., in close proximity to the SoHo Apple Store on Prince St. That means that the artery connecting one Apple Store to the next has essentially been severed, so iPhone fanatics may find their travel plans stunted.
Which leads us to this totally obvious conclusion: Did Bill Gates shut down the subway?
If so, he missed something: the R train will take you to essentially the same location at 59th St., and even closer to the Apple Store in SoHo. Looks like a "security flaw" in his nefarious plot. Better patch it, Microsoft.
We have a confession to make: When people were making fun of Dell's monstrous half-laptop, half-desktop beast, we secretly wanted one. But despite our regular visits to the gym, we weren't sure if we'd be able to carry all 18+ pounds of this "mobile" computer without risking a hernia. Then our cousins at Crave UK came to the rescue with this video of a staffer lugging the 20-inch Dell XPS M2010 around the streets and subways of London. Check it out--it's as hysterical as it is useful, if you're thinking of springing $3,500 for one.
- prev
- 1
- next
