Improbable Insights

David, Eric, and I covered a lot of ground in 2016, so we look back on a year that seemed more evolutionary than revolutionary, but with some hints of possible tech revolution to come. Join us as we go over our favorites of the year in tech, gear, tools, and media. It's not only a look back at cool stuff, but at what we think stood the test of time and use or love today. Tools I look at some new software tools for Windows 10, including an oldie-but-goodie I knew about for years but never got around to using. David shares the first seismic event recorded with his new Raspberry Shake, his new Sony lens, and a new tool that makes him look geekier than ever. Eric adopts Windows with vigor and may never return to MacOS. He also follows me down the path of saving mucho bucks when using Comcast internet. Fun I continue with Skyrim and talk about my one game I bought during Steam's winter sale. I also talk about Netflix shows, including The OA, Spectral, and Travelers. Eric picks up Pokemon Go for the Apple Watch (of

Elizabeth Case is back for the holidays to talk about how she went about building a custom drone for her graduate work, the lessons she learn, and the problems she encountered. She and David Bryant have a great dialog about tools, 3D printing, software, controller types, and other drone-related issues. Elizabeth is now an FAA-licensed drone pilot and talks about interesting uses for drones in science. If you're at all interested in building your own drone, give us a listen. Some other sources include DIY Drones, Conservation Drones, and eCalc. Tools After a brief group discussion about tools for building drones, I go into my  experience trying out Firefox as my daily production browser, including the changes I'd like to see. I also finally receive my Massdrop / Sennheiser HD6xx headphones, based on the legendary HD650s and oh... my... god... Eric talks about the Apple pencil and his quest to turn an airline galley into a tool cart. David's two Echo Dots are now online and he's happy so far. He also recei

This is totally not a holiday gift guide. Some of these things exist now, some will exist in the near future, and some may never exist. It's really a wish list of tech we'd like to see, and soon… and have! Think of this as our "if wishes were ponies" episode about what we'd really like to see come down the pipe soon. Our list ranges far and wide, including PC processors, automobiles, smart cameras, and more. Tools Listener Ryan Estrada noted that lots of us would be getting cool games under our virtual holiday trees this year. Many of us will discover that modern games don't run particularly well, even with hardware that's not particularly old. So for our tools section, we offer some ideas to help get over the gaming performance hump. David and Eric both sound like their done with Evernote. The company seems to keep shooting itself in the foot, alienating one of the most loyal customer bases in the industry in the process. David talks about a few tools he used on his recent Hawaiian vacation, while Eric talks

Who will shape the tech future? Which companies, NGOs, governmental organization, and other entities will shape how we use tech, view tech, and consume tech. The biggest impacts on daily lives may lie behind the scenes, not in our daily interactions. Eric and I have a spirited discussion about who will control and define the future of tech. Will it be old school companies like Microsoft and Apple, the new generation of Internet giants such as Google and Facebook, or one of the many burgeoning Asian giants?  Tools My D500 has made it back from Nikon's repair depot, which makes me warm and happy. To celebrate, I'm acquiring a Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G lens to use as a short telephoto and portrait lens. I also take the Surface Pro 4's inking abilities for a serious spin, using it to take notes at a big tech event, rather than typing out notes or using a physical notebook. I also discuss why I may build my next production PC using something other than an Intel processor. Eric has a big install weekend coming up and

I recently attended part of the RISC-V workshop at the Google campus. RISC-V is a fully open source CPU instruction set developed at UC Berkeley developed by Krste Asanovic, Andrew Waterman, and Yunsup Lee. An academic instruction set is all well and good, but the RISC-V spawned SiFive, which plans on building commercial processors using RISC-V. Can RISC-V and SiFive compete against ARM? More appropriately, can SiFive compete against smaller, agile proprietary players like Andes Technology, Synopsys, and Cortus? Unlike operating systems like Linux and BSD, CPUs need externalities such as semiconductor fabs -- taping out a processor costs a bunch of money and wafer starts are not cheap. Eric and I discuss the open source model, and how it might apply to processors, and what companies like SiFive might need to do in order to succeed against the likes of Intel, ARM, and others. Tools I talk about the rare times I have to edit PDFs and what tools do I use. I also discover that it's easy to repair cycling shoes, A

Any new product launch from Cupertino generates both positive and negative buzz, Apple's recent product launches have generated more than the usual amount of controversy. Longtime Apple fans have come out of the woodwork, grumbling more than usual at the changes wrought with the new iPhone and Macbook launches. Does the elevated level of discontent signal Apple has stopped listening to its customers? Or do the new product launches represent omens of future strategies? Eric and I talk argue about what the recent turbulence surrounding Apple really means. Tools I share a bit about the hardware I use for recording the podcast, including microphones, mixer, headphone amp, and related hardware. I also mention Google's latest attempt at building a router. Erik discusses at some length his recent laptop choices. He's acquiring two different laptops, for different purposes. Which will he use most? Our crystal ball is cloudy. One hint, however: neither of them run MacOS. He also picked up a new bike helmet recently, b

  Now that the election is behind us, we've seen interesting tidbits about the impact of social media on the election. Whatever your stance on the candidates might be, some of the trends in social are disturbing. One particularly disturbing trend: the traction gained by fake news sites, some simply satirical, others with an axe to grind. Fake news isn't the only problem with social media. Social media's original goals of bringing people together may be undermined by algorithmic-driven silos. Social media, with its ability to let users avoid divergent views, allows us to place ourselves in comfortable echo chambers. What can we do? What can the social media companies do? David Bryant and I take a stab at these thorny questions. Tools I picked up a Manfrotto 131db "reproduction arm" to facilitate more efficient top-down photography. Next step is to perfect my technique -- in particular, making the focal plane level relative to the target. I also pick up an iPad Pro, mainly for the improved screen, beefier

While visiting my older daughter, Elizabeth, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, I attended a talk given by Jon Lindsay, Assistant Professor of Digital Media and Global Affairs at U of Toronto. The seminar was ostensibly about cyber security, but Lindsay mentioned a few things that set me thinking. Consider the language we use when we talk about computers: files, procedures, programs, processes, directories, folders. These terms derive directly from large institutions; more specifically, large business and government institutions. In a way, this makes sense, because keeping track of vast amounts of data is certainly the purview of large institutions? But why these institutions? Why not a laboratory or library paradigm? Why not something unique? David Bryant shares some interesting insights on how our language of computing evolved over time, and we all discuss changes going forward, given the more distributed nature of computing. Tools David makes a big switch in his choice of mobile email clients, receives h

How we value our time and our use of it can be an indicator of both success in life and how we value others. David, Eric, and I all work at three very different, demanding jobs, each with its own set of demands on time. How do we manage those demands? What meaning do we assign to life events in order to prioritize? What's our philosophy about time and time management? We share our very different approaches and philosophies. Tools If you ever wanted to build a table out of any manner of surfaces but balked because you couldn't find proper legs, we talk about one solution. Eric, David, and I also discuss the twin Microsoft and Apple announcements and marvel at how the two companies seem to have swapped places when it comes to appealing to creative types. Both Eric and David ordered Apple Watch 2's, a couple of weeks after I canceled my preorder. David got his and is still puzzling out what's good and bad. Eric's got a month to wait, however, All of us acquired Amazon Echo Dots and discuss our initial

After several weeks of relatively serious topics, Eric rejoins us as we talk about the fun stuff we're looking forward to through the end of 2016 and into early 2017. We talk TV, movies, books, video games, board games, and more. It's a raft of all the cool geek entertainment we're hoping will be great. It's a lively and, well, fun time. Tools David brings us a little show-and-tell, including one of the odder kitchen tools I've ever seen. Eric and David receive their Amazon Echo Dot v2s, but no one's had time to set them up. I talk about my new bike tires and how I plan to carry an HTC Vive to the east coast. Both Eric and David get new shoes. That may sound kinda boring, but it's more interesting than you might think. Finally, after getting my LG 38-inch ultrawide screen display up and running, David takes the 34-inch Dell U3415W off my hands. His plans for it are a bit different than mine. Fun What about the fun we've been having? I wrap up the Gears of War 4 campaign and find the middle section to be kinda

Have we reached the age of incrementalism when it comes to tech advances? Intel's new processors add 10% performance and a little less power each generation. Smartphones all look the same, and capabilities between different slab phones differ little. HDTVs mostly come in 4K versions, whose image quality is hard to see relative to 1080p sets. So what am I missing, and where's the next big advances in technology coming to utterly wow us? A recent cartoon from the excellent Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal webcomic started me thinking about this. Tools I'm now using the excellent LG 38UC99 ultra-widescreen monitor. The overall resolution of 3840 x 1600 pixels seems perfect for daily work use and glorious for games. I discuss why the upgrade seemed compelling, even if it seems incremental over the 34-inch, 3440x1440 Dell U3415W I'd been using. I also discuss the process of adapting to a more traditional keyboard, and how much I like the Logitech G810. David updates to MacOC Sierra on his Macbook air, w

When you were a kid, you probably found it useful and annoying to keep asking your parents the question "Why?" David and I ask that question in today's podcast regarding some of our choices in tech and related matters. We wanted to dig into our assumptions about what we use. It's easy to become too comfortable with the familiar, and understanding why you choose something can sometimes open up your eyes to other options. So come along for the ride as we ask each other, "Why?". Tools I talk about USB hub problems, and whether or not a new hub might fix them. I also discuss a new wired Ethernet standard that works over copper wire prevalent in most home and business Ethernet configurations. David talks up his experiences in a class on building printed circuit boards, including a couple of actual projects, physical tools needed, and emerging software tools targeted at makers and hobbyists. He also mentions that Razer is working on a new voice comms app for gaming. Fun I wrap up my XCOM2 Legendary campaign. While

Our recent PAX podcast got me thinking about how relatively wonky, hobbyist board games have penetrated the mainstream. So this podcast focuses on the second big explosion in board gaming (the first occurring in the late 90s).  This isn't a discussion about specific games, but how board games (and even tabletop RPGs) have penetrated the public consciousness. Let's roll some dice! I launch the discussion by listing some tidbits, such as Riot Games (of League of Legends fame) launching its first board game, how Asmodee generates substantial revenues for its parent company, and how co-op board games and new themes have captured the imagination of a new generation of board gamers. Eric, David, and I then launch into a discussion of what all this means and what the future might hold. Tools I recently got a new pair of glasses. This seemingly prosaic acquisition made me realize how important properly corrected vision is. My old glasses began giving me headaches, and I felt incredibly fatigued by day'

We're joined this week by special guest Scott Gardner, who leads a small chip company which is trying to deliver a vision computing processor. Scott has some expertise in convolutional neural networks and deep learning, two areas which mesh with vision processing in automotive ADAS and other image recognition applications. Deep learning combines big data with new AI techniques based on neural networks. Deep learning uses convolutional neural networks, which applies convolution functions to the decision trees of neural networks in order to identify images. As a test of AI, it's pretty cool. But car makers, law enforcement, and medical researchers are looking at CNNs as a way to identify objects or people in ways that may seriously affect lives of real people. We also talk about other possible uses for CNNs and deep learning. These technologies are currently one of the hot topics in the tech world. What will CNN and deep learning mean for all of us going forward? Tools Yeah, so I jump on the Ubiquiti bandwagon,

Eric and David go to PAX, the gamer culture con hosted in Seattle the first weekend in September. They come back brimming with stories of cool games, cool gear, and cool experiences. While gaming remains the main focus, hardware vendors now show up in force, with the latest game-related gear. Both Eric and David offer tips for a fruitful and fun PAX experience. Tools Did you buy a 4GB GTX 970? Go get your refund! The GTX 970's architecture resulted in a quasi-segmented approach to memory, which resulted in a 3.5GB pool and a 0.5GB pool of RAM, compromising performance when games needed more than 3.5GB. A class action lawsuit netted a $30 refund for people who bought a GTX 970, so you should collect yours. I also talk about more prosaic things, like toilet feed shutoff valves and hot milk frothers. The three of us discuss our experiences with iOS 10, and Eric likes what he sees with Apple Watch OS 3, which also dropped recently. David also waxes lyrical about the Van's Shoe Customizer and a 12V car batter

Online shopping has forced us to rethink what retail shopping means. In particular, walking into a store to buy tech gear seems antiquated. Retail offers limited choice, higher prices, and often poor customer service. Do retail stores, particularly for hard goods, have a future? Maybe, but only if retail changes. Tools I somehow killed my Logitech G602 mouse, so replaced it with the shiny new G900. I call it a "semi-cordless" mouse, since it needs relatively frequent recharging. I just keep it attached during work hours, detach it for gaming. It's light, which took a little getting used to, precise, and adaptable. I'm also starting to get used to the Logitech G810. We'll see if I can avoid repetitive stress injury, but I like the feel of Logitech's Romer-G mechanical keys. The Netgear Nighthawk X6 is now up and running. Setup proved to be pretty simple, but I'm still a bit skeptical about the Smart Connect feature, which hides the dual 5GHz radios under one SSID, automatically allocating connections. Fun Eri

I've often been asked how I became me. That is, how did I get into tech, how did I happen to write about it, and what were the nerd influences in my life. This happened particularly often when I wrote regularly about tech for mainstream magazines and web sites, but I still get asked this occasionally. So David Bryant, a nerdy geek in his own right, sat down with me and we had a geek love fest. We talked about our history as well as discussing the seminal tech products that actually shaped how we think about tech. We also dive into geek influences, games, literature, and other media. Come along for the ride; I guarantee it's not just about nostalgia. Tools So I'm getting a Netgear X6 AC3200 router. I'll write about this more when I fire it up and run with it for a few weeks. By the same token, I've dropped static IP addresses, which seems to be working out well. The eventual goal: replace the Comcast gateway with my own modem. The question: do I go for it now, or wait for DOCSIS 3.1 modems to become commercial

Eric, David and I talk about home networking. Or I should say, David and I talk about home networking while Eric decides to build a mini-enterprise network in his house. We discuss gear, wired, WiFi, routers, switches, power line networking,  and services. Home networking has become both easier -- as ISPs and hardware makers build easier-to-manage gear -- and harder, given the staggering number of choices. Tools Eric and David discuss some specific hardware they use for home and office networking, in particularly Ubiquiti small business networking appliances. David goes into more detail about his TP-Link power line networking adapters, which use a form of MIMO and beamforming to take advantage of three-wire grounded outlets. I discuss my shiny new carbon fiber handlebars and a the nifty Sunjack mini-lightstick. Meanwhile, Eric gets a bit excited about small form factor laptops and really, really excited about the Apple Pencil. Fun More No Man's Sky, a little Deus Ex: Mankind Divided plus some XCOM2 co-op

This week's podcast sees the whole crew revisiting the idea of everyday carry. Eric and David split between "daily" carry -- normal workdays, and travel. I work at home, so everyday carry means something a bit different to me, but I also discuss travel carry, as well as what I carry during my almost-daily cycling excursions. As you might imagine, this is a tools-heavy discussion, but the underlying meaning lies in the differences in philosophies about what's practical versus what's whimsical, but necessary. Tools Eric, David, and I talk about our recent experiences with different cars, including David's encounter with Apple's CarPlay when renting a car on a recent trip. Meanwhile, Eric decides to rebuild a junked Sony laptop and destroys a Fitbit. I decide to return the Matias Ergo Pro keyboard I'd been trying out, since it appears to be buggy. And the Hurricane canless air system means I'll never need to buy a can of compressed air for cleaning electronics again. Fun It's more The Division for David, while E

Someday, we'll be surrounded by an invisible network of our own, data constantly streaming into our devices, from our embedded sensors, and from the Internet. Personal Area Network technology seemed to stagnate, but now gets a new lease on life with wearables, connected sensors, and IoT. Eric and I try to make sense of the new PAN revolution. We also talk about a lot of tools, gaming, good books, great television, and not-so-great film. Join us for the ride. Meaning Bluetooth, Zigbee, 6LowPAN, Mesh networks… all of these technologies are in the process of converging. These represent the tech behind personal area networks, or PANs. With Bluetooth 5 set to become a standard by year's end, PANs will continue to reshape how we compute and gather information. Eric and I talk about how these techs interact (or don't), the problems with connectivity, terrible user interfaces, and what the heck are we going to do with all that data? Tools I've got a lot of tools on tap... an ergonomic keyboard with mechanical ke