Evolution of smartphone cameras, more free AI classes, and why naps work
Evolution of smartphone cameras, more free AI classes, and why naps work
Plus, a super-powered gift wrapper, the story of packaging, happy sliding doggies, Milton Berle in Star Trek, and a possible new planet.
I’m David Gewirtz. Welcome to this week’s Advanced Geekery newsletter. It’s been an exciting week. Let’s dive in.
My articles
Let’s kick it off with a quick recap of the articles I published in the last week on ZDNET. I’ll be back next week with a bunch of fascinating pieces, including an interview that must not be missed.
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ZDNET Special Feature: The Next Stage of Mobile Tech
ZDNET is running an interesting Special Feature, The Next Stage of Mobile Tech. As part of that collaborative project, I wrote this explainer:
The incredible evolution of smartphone cameras and how AI powers a dazzling future: Each year since 2000, our phone cameras have grown ever more capable of visual magic. Beyond greater capacity and higher-quality images, what does the future hold? New AI-supercharged realities are coming into focus.
Must-watch YouTube
Moving on, let’s queue up some interesting YouTube videos for your entertainment and edification.
Modern Marvels is a History Channel TV series (originally on A&E) that’s been airing since 1992. It’s also one of my favorite shows for obvious reasons. This week, in my ongoing fascination with all things logistics, I’m sharing the Modern Marvels full episode on packaging. It’s definitely worth a watch.
Continuing the packaging theme, want to see gift wrapping as a super power? Watch this story about Japanese Speed Wrapping.
Last week, I sent you to kitties. So this week, the puppers deserve equal time. Watch the doggo joy as these cavorting canines slide down snowy hills, and climb back up to do it again.
Interesting reads
Here’s some good stuff from around the Internet, well worth reading.
Did you know that Milton Berle — known as Mr. Television in the 1960s — was written into a 1967 Norman Spinrad Star Trek script? Yep. Here’s the interesting story of how one of that era’s biggest TV actors was considered for Gene Roddenberry’s wagon train to the stars.
Scientists are postulating that an ice planet might be hiding in an Oort cloud, somewhere in the solar system. It’s not like Pluto hasn’t taken enough abuse. First Pluto was demoted from planet status, and now a cloud might be elevated to planet status. Life’s never fair for that solitary sphere, ensnared in the void's icy grip, its barren surface a silent testament to the cold indifference of the cosmos, devoid of life's warmth under the watchful eye of a pale, distant sun.
Here’s something I think most of us have always known. Naps might be good for our health. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need a nap.
Reader projects
I’d like to regularly spotlight a reader project or two here. Your project doesn’t have to be a big Kickstarter launch. If you’ve built something cool, it has some pretty pictures, and you’re proud of it, I might be able to share it here.
If you have a photogenic reader project, send an email to me at david@zatz.com with the subject “READER PROJECT,” a few pictures, and a short one-paragraph description. If you have a social media link or a link to the project, include that, too.
More clicky
I’ve got a lot happening all over the web. Here are links to my various stuff:
House of the Head: home for my published music
ZATZ Labs: where I host my published software projects
Feel free to dig around, visit, and say hey!
Leave some comments
Substack supports comments, so feel free to leave some. I promise to read them. Just, please, let’s keep our personal politics out of any discussion.
That should do it for this week. This newsletter is really starting to pick up subscribers. Please help it out by sharing links on all your socials.
Have a great week!