Tech Time Warp: The breakthrough against software piracy that wasn’t
In this edition of Tech Time Warp we go back to April 14, 1995, when the Chinese government began widespread efforts to stop its government agencies from using pirated software. The move came after a Feb. 27, 1995, accord agreement...
Pioneers in Tech: Happy birthday to Chief Yahoo David Filo
You’ve heard of Ben and Jerry, but are you as familiar with Jerry and David? Unless you’re a keen watcher of Silicon Valley, perhaps not. But the website founded in 1994 as “Jerry and David’s Guide to the World Wide...
Tech Time Warp: Don’t take Windows for granted
When was the last time you thought about how easy Windows makes your life? Seriously, though: Now, the ease with which you move from application to application, use keyboard shortcuts, and even resolve crashes with CTRL+ALT+DEL just feels like functionality...
Tech Time Warp: The wicked ways of the Witty Worm
Although the goal of the Witty Worm wasn’t widespread damage—its entire target population was only 12,000 computers the world over—the malware made its presence known with a vengeance. Within 45 minutes of its first appearance at approximately 8:45 p.m. PST...
Tech Time Warp: Take a nostalgia trip with the World Video Game Hall of Fame
In this edition of Tech Time Warp, we look at how The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York announced this year’s 12 finalists’ induction into the World Video Game Hall of Fame this month. The Strong’s World...
Tech Time Warp: Magistr “disembowels” computers
In early 2001, a nasty bug began making the rounds, hitting computer users hard with a particularly challenging payload as seen in this edition of Tech Time Warp. Magistr—sometimes called “Disemboweler” after the Swedish hacker group thought to be behind...
Pioneers in Tech: Carol Shaw, Atari video game designer
“I was good at math. I entered a bunch of math contests and won awards. Of course, people would say, “Gee, you’re good at math—for a girl. That was kind of annoying. Why shouldn’t girls be good at math?” This...
Tech Time Warp: Leap years trip us up every time
Leap day 2024 was not without its technical complications. For instance, for more than 10 hours Thursday in New Zealand, drivers could not pay via credit card at gas pumps. Such problems are all part of the grand tradition of leap years,...
Tech Time Warp: The history of Patch Tuesday
Mondays are manic, Wednesday is Hump Day, Thursdays are thirsty, and TGIF. What about poor Tuesday? Well, for the past 20 years, Tuesday has been the responsible workday, thanks to Microsoft. In this edition of Tech Time Warp, we see...
Tech Time Warp: No one is sending you pics of Anna Kournikova
As your mother told you, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. And that’s as true today as it was 23 years ago when “OnTheFly,” a 20-year-old Dutch programmer/hacker, used a computer virus to proclaim his adoration...
