Forget Zuckerberg – the tech giants don’t have to own the future | John Harris

Facebook, Google and Apple make the headlines, but there are many inspiring startups to dissipate the sense of techno-dreadA quarter of a century ago, the Canadian author Douglas Coupland published his third novel. Microserfs was the tale of a group of young Microsoft employees who decide to exit the realm of Bill Gates in Washington state and chase a dream of their own in California places that, back then, sounded like the epitome of futuristic magic: Palo Alto, Menlo Park. As well as prescient flashes of the world to come – “Beware of the corporate invasion of private memory,” warned one of its protagonists – what always stuck with me was its air of techno-optimism, perfectly crystallised right at the end, when the central character’s mother has a stroke and is rescued from silence by a set-up attached to an Apple Macintosh. She communicates via such staccato sentences as “I am here”, and “I feel U”; the novel’s closing pages capture her and her family marvelling at the fact that she has become “part woman/part machine, emanating blue Macintosh light”.The book was published in 1995, when computers suddenly offered an ever-expanding window on to the world. Many of us had no doubt that the leap from old to new represented nothing but progress. By the start of this decade social media platforms were being hailed as a means of individual and collective emancipation. But where has this faith in the future gone? Related: The rise of technology in care: how will it affect... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The 53 best Prime Day deals to shop while you still can — from portable tech to smart home gear

We're now getting close to the end of Amazon's second Prime Day sale event for 2023. Most of the deals we're tracking are still live, so you can still shop early for the holidays — or buy something for yourself at a discount. If you missed out on the deals from the... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-10-11 22:10:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #important ratings #nintendo switch #full-sized adapter #well-built gamepad #crucial mx500 #yahoo life #ebooks #kindle


The 40+ best Prime Day deals to shop for right now — from portable tech to smart home gear

We're into day two of Amazon's second Prime Day sale event for 2023, and it's still a great opportunity to shop for your holiday gifts early — or get something for yourself. If you missed out on any of the deals from the company's Prime Day event in July, this year's... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-10-11 14:20:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tracks accurately #glides smoothly #important ratings #nintendo switch #full-sized adapter #well-built gamepad #positive review #crucial mx500 #yahoo life #ebooks #kindle


Michael Gambon, Dumbledore in Harry Potter films, dead at 82

Veteran actor Michael Gambon, who was known to many for his portrayal of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter films, has died, his publicist said Thursday. He was 82. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-09-28 12:32:43 UTC ]
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Michael Gambon, star of Harry Potter and The Singing Detective, dies aged 82

The Olivier award-winning actor, whose major film roles included Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, has died• ‘An actor who let his heart and soul crack open’: David Jays on Michael Gambon• A life in pictures – gallerySir Michael Gambon, whose extraordinary acting career took him from... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-09-28 11:39:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michael gambon #laurence olivier #screen roles #painful time #harry potter


Media Briefing: Publishers say a cookie-less future remains murky, overheard at the Digiday Publishing Summit

Publishers who attended the Digiday Publishing Summit opened up about their top challenges, concerns and curiosities during closed-door, anonymous town hall meetings. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2023-09-21 04:01:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #media briefing #publishing summit


John Sargent on His Adventures and Misadventures in Publishing

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. Andrew talks to John Sargent, author of Turning Pages, about his adventures and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-09-20 08:10:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #andrew keen #john sargent #features conversations #leading thinkers #technological issues #andrew talks #turning pages #macmillan publishers #macmillan


Russell Brand publisher pauses all future books with comedian

Bluebird, who were due to publish Brand’s new self-help book in December, took the decision in light of ‘very serious allegations’The publisher of one of Russell Brand’s books has said that it is pausing all future publishing of books by the comedian after he was accused of rape and sexual... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-09-18 14:31:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #future books #russell brand #future publishing #sexual assault #pan macmillan #self-help book


News Corp gasses up ‘green’ fossil fuels in a series on future energy – but does it pass the sniff test? | Temperature Check

Series sponsored by organisations including coal and gas companies features ‘incorrect’ claims on ‘green gas’ and context missing on carbon capture technology Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastIn a double-page spread in News Corp Australia’s metropolitan... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-09-13 22:00:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #free app #metropolitan newspapers #european union #news articles #news corp


Zakiya Dalila Harris' life inspired 'The Other Black Girl.' Why she had to cut the cord

The former editor explains how she turned her acclaimed publishing world satire into a Hulu series, while learning to 'divide' herself from her heroine. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-09-13 19:57:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #black girl #publishing world


Hitting the Books: Meet Richard Arkwright, the world's first tech titan

You didn't actually believe all those founder's myths about tech billionaires like Bezos, Jobs and Musk pulling themselves up by their bootstraps from some suburban American garage, did you? In reality, our corporate kings have been running the same playbook since the 18th century when... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-09-11 20:50:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #company insists #independent contractors #endemic culture #automating cloth-making #founders aim #artificial intelligence


Hitting the Books: Meet Richard Akrwright, the world's first tech titan

You didn't actually believe all those founder's myths about tech billionaires like Bezos, Jobs and Musk pulling themselves up by their bootstraps from some suburban American garage, did you? In reality, our corporate kings have been running the same playbook since the 18th century when... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-09-10 14:30:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #company insists #independent contractors #endemic culture #automating cloth-making #founders aim #artificial intelligence


Bookwire Stages ‘Shaping the Future of Digital Books’

Sponsored: On September 13, Bookwire's 'All About Multi-Format Publishing' program will look at digital publishing developments. The post Bookwire Stages ‘Shaping the Future of Digital Books’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-08-31 17:46:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital books #digital publishing


News Corp profits dive 75% as Rupert Murdoch-owned company hints at AI future

Poor result weighed down by lower print and digital advertising at News Corp Australia, a division that includes flagship newspaper The AustralianRupert Murdoch’s News Corporation has recorded a steep 75% drop in full-year profit but sees opportunities ahead as it expands the use of cost-saving... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-08-11 00:14:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital advertising #news corporation #book publishers #net profit #financial year #news corp


The future of art is in AI’s hands

An ongoing lawsuit by artists against AI’s biggest players highlights how copyright law can’t keep pace with AI. Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming many industries and communities around the world. One of the first groups to feel its impact—and also generate some of its fiercest... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2023-08-10 06:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #artificial intelligence #copyright law


Prince Harry and Meghan buy film rights to Canadian author Carley Fortune's romantic novel

A Canadian author says a production company belonging to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has bought the screen rights for her romantic novel. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-08-08 18:39:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #prince harry #screen rights #canadian author


The Gutenberg Parenthesis by Jeff Jarvis review – why print culture is key to the future

From the Gutenberg press to the word processor, a detailed trawl through the history of print offers lessons for the digital ageThe Gutenberg Parenthesis is a term coined by Danish scholar Lars Ole Sauerberg, who proposed that the history of literary culture as we had hitherto known it – the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-08-02 11:00:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital technology #intellectual property #oral tradition #important role #printing press


Harry Potter and the Cursed Child marks seven years in West End

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is marking its seventh anniversary at London’s Palace Theatre Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2023-07-30 06:50:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #west end #cursed child #seventh anniversary #palace theatre #harry potter


The AirPods Pro drop back to an all-time low, plus the rest of this week's best tech deals

This week, the biggest event in tech took place in Seoul with Samsung's Unpacked showcase. Among other announcements, the company officially unveiled its latest foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold 5. It's not even available yet, but Amazon is offering a $200 gift card if you pre-order from... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-07-28 18:33:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #6ghz band #record low #buying advice #$100 savings #follow @engadgetdeals #kindle


Apple's 10.2-inch iPad drops back to $250, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

This week's best tech deals include a couple of all-time lows on older but still worthwhile Apple gadgets, with the 9th-gen iPad on sale for $250 and the M1-powered MacBook Air available for $750. The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a solid value for those in need of a cheap media streamer at... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-07-21 15:15:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wireless earbuds #extra cost #$40 cheaper #$100 drop #follow @engadgetdeals #audiobook