tech article 5/19

"Welcome to McDonald's. My name is HAL 9000. May I take your order?"

McDonalds recently went on a hiring binge in the U.S., adding 62,000 employees to its roster. The hiring picture doesn't look quite so rosy for Europe, where the fast food chain is drafting 7,000 touch-screen kiosks to handle cashiering duties.

The move is designed to boost efficiency and make ordering more convenient for customers. In an interview with the Financial Times, McDonald's Europe President Steve Easterbrook notes that the new system will also open up a goldmine of data. McDonald's could potentially track every Big Mac, McNugget, and large shake you order. A calorie account tally at the end of the year could be a real shocker

tech article 5/5/2011

     Boeing's little delta wing is all grown up and flying on its own for the first time. The Phantom Ray drone took to the skies for 17 minutes over Edwards Air Force Base last week, proving its airworthiness and showing off Boeing’s ability to quickly design and build a prototype advanced unmanned air system.

     The 36-foot-long plane reached 7,500 feet at speeds of 178 knots (about 205 mph), according to company officials. The flight followed high-speed taxi tests in March that validated the aircraft’s control systems. The Phantom Ray is designed to cruise at 40,000 feet and reach speeds of 614 mph, making it one of the fastest drones on record.

tech article 4/28/2011

Mercedes A Class

     Mercedes-Benz will launch four compact vehicles in the United States in the next three years with starting prices of $30,000 or below. 

     The vehicles will include a production version of the A-class coupe concept shown last week at the New York auto show. Three variants of Mercedes' new-generation compact family also are headed for the United States. 

     Insiders say the three other cars are a small van that will likely be offered as an electric vehicle, a small sedan to be called the CLC, and a small crossover to be called the GLC.

Podcasts

1) Podcasts are digital media files (most often audio, but they can be video as well), which are produced in a series.
2) Podcasting is an easy and powerful way to communicate .your ideas and messages.
3) I  have no experience creating podcasts.
4) The internet is a useful tool that can help you create a podcast.
5) I would like to create a podcast about music.

Tech Article 4/8/2011

Samsung Galaxy Prevail

     Available later this month for $179.99 sans contract and with a $50 monthly plan that includes unlimited voice, text, and data, the Galaxy Prevail is a welcome addition to the carrier's smartphone lineup. We got a chance to check out the Android 2.2 device at the unveiling event this evening, and though the handset might not offer some of the higher-end features of its other Galaxy S siblings, we think it's shaping up to be a pretty good deal.

     The handset measures 4.4 inches tall by 2.26 inches wide by 0.47 inch thick and weighs a light 3.8 ounces. It's comfortable to hold with a soft-touch finish on back (something we'd actually love to see on the higher-end Galaxy S phones) and easily slips into a pants pocket. The display measures 3.5 inches diagonally and has an HVGA resolution, so you're losing a bit in size and sharpness, but it's also to be expected with such an entry-level device. Plus, the touch screen is still sharp and bright enough to get the job done.

Tech Article 3/25/2011

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play

ORLANDO, Fla.--Sony Ericsson didn't offer any new phones at CTIA 2011, but we did get the chance to handle the official Verizon Wireless version of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. What's more, Sony Ericsson also revealed that the gaming Android phone will land in the United States either late next month or in early May.

In fact, Verizon Wireless may be the first carrier in the world to get the Xperia Play. Rogers in Canada may beat it with a release of the GSM handset on April 14, but either way it means that North America will get the Xperia Play before Europe and Asia. That's quite a change from previous Sony Ericsson devices. And did we mention this is the first Sony Ericsson CDMA device in years?

I just made a new Voki. See it here: