TechToaster.com – Technology Buzz

Google broke into the world of television Thursday with the introduction of Google TV, an Internet based TV platform that will be available this fall in devices exclusively from Sony and Logitech.

It seems Google is trying to take on the cable and satellite companies with it’s new product, Google TV.

Popularity: 37% [?]

It seems that someone found a prototype for Apple’s new iPhone somewhere in Redwood City and tech website Gizmodo got their hands on it (and took it apart).  They’ve posted videos and a write up on their website. I guarantee, ahem, someone at Apple got fired over this. It’s good to know that if I ever lose my new phone that a kind soul might find it and take apart for me.  Unfortunately the phone was disabled remotely by Apple before it got to Gizmodo, so they couldn’t boot it up and check out the OS and such.  Moral of the story: If you find a prototype iPhone, first thing you do is put it in airplane mode.

Update:  How apple asked for their iPhone back.

Popularity: 49% [?]

Microsoft’s Bing Maps architect, Blaise Aguera y Arcas, demos their new “augmented-reality mapping” technology at the TED 2010 conference.

Microsoft has been seemingly forced into a genuinely competitive position by Google, and it’s good to see that they are going for one-ups, rather than catch-up.  Check out the video to see the amazing immersion and eye candy that Microsoft is developing for Bing Maps.

Popularity: 100% [?]

Apple unveiled it’s new tablet computer today, dissapointingly calling it the “iPad.”  <Insert menstrual pad joke here> It looks like a really big iPhone, and it doesn’t have much more functionality than one.    During the cult-like Apple release announcement, Steve Jobs demonstrated how the iPad can be used to buy movie tickets online, watch YouTube videos, and look at photos.   The iPad  is obviously a technological breakthrough of immense proportions.  In between his amazing demonstrations of web browsing and the calendar app, Steve continuously mentioned how beautiful the device is.   I guess you need a unique selling point when your company is 5 years late in releasing a modern tablet.

But can it really be considered a true tablet computer?  The iPad does not have a full OSX implementation; it has no standard ports, It can’t multitask, and its browser doesn’t support flash. It is hardly a tablet pc. So, if you want a big ass iPhone that doesn’t make phone calls and costs 4 times more, head on over to the Apple Store and keep jamming the F5 key until you see one of these bad boys up for sale.

Popularity: 50% [?]

“We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in his statements banning text messaging by commercial truck and bus drivers.  “This is an important safety step, and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving.”, said Lahood.

Violators of the ban will face up to $2,750 in fines.

The National Safety Council has estimated that 200,000 crashes on U.S. roads are caused by drivers who are “texting.”

Government mandates such as this are paving the way for future technologies that will allow computers and cell phones to interface directly with the human brain and TechToaster will welcome such technology with open arms.

Popularity: 35% [?]