If it’s Thursday, it’s time for Tech Talk with Mark Starling on First News 570. COVID-19 is everywhere, so this week I’ve limited COVID-19 and tech to one story. You can listen to Mark and I talk about tech every Thursday morning at 6:43 am Eastern, LIVE. Be safe out there and stay healthy. Heed the words of the CDC and only go out for essentials. But GO FOR A WALK!
For many, the forced quarantine has given creators and makers time to complete projects they’ve had on the shelf. Every week, I’ll feature some things to do during the COVID-19 quarantine. It may be an app, tool, game, or something techie you can use to be more productive or be entertained during the quarantine.
First, I apologize for missing last week’s post on creativity tools. Too many 24 hour work days in one week.
This week’s post is another in the, choose-the-right-tool-for-the-right-job column. In an earlier article, I wrote about using Scrivener for my novel and for a new comic book I’m writing.
[Read more…] about #CopingWithCOVID19 – Easy Authoring Using iBooks AuthorIf it’s Thursday, it’s time for Tech Talk with Mark Starling on First News 570. COVID-19 is everywhere, so this week I’ve limited COVID-19 and tech to one story. You can listen to Mark and I talk about tech every Thursday morning at 6:43 am Eastern, LIVE. Be safe out there and stay healthy. Heed the words of the CDC and only go out for essentials. But GO FOR A WALK!
NURO USES ROBOTS TO DELIVER COVID-19 SUPPLIES
Shelter-in-place directives and a ban on non-essential travel have grounded the fleets of many autonomous driving companies. NURO, a company founded by two ex-Google employees are now using their autonomous drive technology to transport medical supplies around two California stadiums used as treatment facilities. The robots are being used to ferry food, personal protective equipment, and other supplies. Nuro President, David Ferguson wants to make it clear, that although the robots are helping they are not, “solving the crisis.”
LOSES MOUNT AS ATT LOSES 900K SUBSCRIBERS
In a sign of the times, American Telephone and Telegraph’s TV business continues to lose subscribers as subscription streaming services gain during the pandemic. ATT reports that their premium subscriber count now stands at 18.6 million after losing more than 3 million subscribers last year. ATT plans to cut billions of dollars as it loses customers and tries to come up with a new streaming strategy.
FORTNITE FLOSSES TO GOOGLE PLAY KICKING AND SCREAMING
In a not-not-the-same-but-similar-and-very-much-like-Apple move, El Goog’s Google Play Protect system is forcing Fortnite to floss itself to the Google Play platform. EPIC Games announced that it will be making Fortnite available for download on the platform. EPIC reports that GPP forces the user to jump through too many hoops to get on their planet. I know Sergie Brin and Larry Page are sitting at home right now getting ready to dance the Flapper and count some more money.
Each week, I’ll share a new way for you to stay connected with your friends and family. This Friday, I talk about Discord. Discord is an online platform that allows you to setup your own channel with chat and voice communications. I was turned on to Discord by a friend who operates an FB group who wants to expand the type of content he can post.
[Read more…] about Quarantine Connectivity – Building Community Using DiscordIf it’s Thursday, it’s time for Tech Talk with Mark Starling on First News 570. COVID-19 has been a focus of our stories lately, and this week we report on a possible breakthrough for ventilators and COVID-19 tracing apps. You can listen to Mark and I talk about tech every Thursday morning at 6:43 am Easter, LIVE. Be safe out there and stay healthy. Heed the words of the CDC and only go out for essentials.
TRACING APPS ON THE RISE AS JURISDICTIONS TRY TO FLATTEN THE CURVE
Last week Apple and El Goog announced a cooperative plan to implement tracing technology to help curb the spread of COVID-19. Both companies are planning to include the ability to self-report if you are infected, and to notify you if you’re within a certain proximity of infected carriers of COVID-19. Apple and Google intend to de-identify any data and make the system opt-in only. We also reported on Pinterest releasing the How We Feel app for consumers to self-report as well. Apple and Google’s partnership makes sense as baking any tracing tech inside the operating system reduces barriers to smartphone users.
[Read more…] about Tracing Apps Rise as Jurisdictions Try to Flatten the Curve© 2025 William Lee Mapp, III - For the Benefit of All Mankind