Category: Tech Talk

Miscellany of questions and information tidbits on day-to-day interaction with technology

What is Rappler’s plan for reform now that Maria Ressa has ‘apologised’?

October 21, 2013 benign0 13 Comments

How sincere is self-described “social news network” Rappler.com in its efforts to reform its ranks? That remains to be seen though, to be fair, it put up a new “Corrections” page where “factual errors and systems infractions” will be listed and, presumably discussed. You wonder though why such a page is even necessary considering that…

Media, Tech Talk

How Do You Like Them Apples?

September 15, 2013 John Bay 5 Comments

Apple’s recent press launch of the Apple 5C last Tuesday September 10, 2013 has perhaps given true definition to the word “underwhelming”. While the press and the mildly anticipating public was quite curious to see the latest and greatest plastic phone made by Apple, the rest of the online population has been quite happy and…

Tech Talk, Technology

The men and women behind Voyager 1 put to shame the iPhone generation of the 21st Century

September 13, 2013September 13, 2013 benign0 13 Comments

I read with wonder how Voyager 1, a little space probe launched by the United States in 1977 had “finally” left our solar system — “for real this time” according to a Scientific American report. What is really amazing about this spacecraft and the men and women who designed, built, launched, and worked with it…

Crime, Government, Society, Tech Talk

What Makes You Say Yes to Touch Screen?

August 21, 2013 Lenny Marlina 6 Comments

Since the release of Apple’s first iPhone in 2007, touch screen phones have become increasingly popular with smartphone users. Many smartphone manufacturers—from Samsung to Nokia—were quick to copy the new touch screen technology and include it on their devices, but BlackBerry has traditionally remained loyal to physical keyboards. With the release of the Z10 earlier…

Tech Talk

Cybernetics and why “Being Negative” is necessary

July 20, 2013 ChinoF 38 Comments

Critics have commented repeatedly on Get Real Philippines’s supposed “negativity.” They say giving negative feedback and point out mistakes is doing nothing. They want us to be more “positive,” show more positive articles. However, I want to retort with this question: is being negative really not helpful for our society? Is being entirely positive a…

Tech Talk

Why I Blog: And why Blogging can never be Regulated or called ‘Journalism’

June 27, 2013June 15, 2016 ChinoF 12 Comments

In my own blog, I explained my own reasons for blogging. I also quoted Andrew Sullivan of The Atlantic, who explained that blogging is a journey, since a blogger can change their opinion after learning new things on the way. I also made the assertion that blogging is not automatically journalism and should not be…

Tech Talk

Outrage erupts as Singapore implements licensing for Net news sites!

June 5, 2013June 5, 2013 benign0 10 Comments

The new licensing scheme will require sites with a defined volume of content relating to Singaporean news and current affairs to be issued a license to operate following notification from Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA). Under the licensing framework, online news sites will be individually licensed if they (i) report an average of at least…

Media, Tech Talk

PCOS debacle: Is the software source code really important?

April 24, 2013 benign0 14 Comments

The source code is the format of a program in human-readable format (that is, as far as computer programs go). It most intuitively describes the logic followed by a computer that is running said program. Programs written in high-level languages like Visual Basic, Javascript, PERL, PHP, or database languages like Standard Query Language (SQL) and…

Politics, Tech Talk