QR Codes Explained: How They Work and Why They're Everywhere
QR codes were built to track car parts, written off as a gimmick, then rescued by phone cameras. Now they're everywhere. Here's how they work, what's changed, and what to watch out for.
What was the first computer to win a chess match against a world champion?
Was it IBM's Watson, Deep Blue, Cray Jaguar or Blue Gene?
What was the first mainstream computer to use USB as the only port for connecting peripherals?
Before USB was everywhere, one computer bet everything on it. Can you name it?
Nokia 3310 & 5110: The Indestructible Phones Before the Internet
Before phones went online, Nokia made two that didn't need to. The 5110 and 3310 gave us Snake, swappable covers, and a durability myth that outlived the company that built them.
Which two tech IPOs warned investors they might "never achieve profitability," but became wildly successful?
They warned investors they might fail – then crushed the market.
What was the first widely used web browser?
The Web was young, clunky, and about to explode. Which browser helped make it happen?
What was the first consumer device powered by a Li-ion battery?
Lithium-ion batteries changed tech forever, but the first consumer device to use one may surprise you.
What was the world's first digital and programmable robot?
It was stationed at General Motors and sold at a loss.
To fund Apple's first computer, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs sold...
A little history of the Apple-1
Before it was known as Adobe Photoshop, what was the original name of the software in 1987?
Photoshop started as a student's side project.
The Real Reason Nvidia Has Abandoned PC Gamers
Nvidia's shift away from PC gaming wasn't driven by AI alone. Slowing GPU gains, rising manufacturing costs, and longer upgrade cycles made gamers a far less attractive business.
The first computer mouse: how many buttons did it have?
One button, two buttons... three?
What was Nintendo's first ever product (back in 1889)?
Nintendo's origins are stranger than many gamers realize. Take a guess.
A Decade of AMD Ryzen: 10 Years of CPUs Tested
From near collapse to CPU dominance, we revisit 10 years of AMD Ryzen, benchmarking every flagship generation to see how performance, value, and architecture evolved.
Which tech company invented work-from-home, then killed it?
Before Zoom was popular, this tech giant had 40% of its workforce remote. Then came the reversal.
The first CD recorder was shockingly expensive – guess how much
Before CDs went mainstream, recording one cost a small fortune. Made by Denon in 1991
What was the first ransomware attack to demand payment in Bitcoin?
Test your cyber history savvy in this week's trivia.
Which mobile app was the first to reach 1 billion users?
Was it TikTok, WhatsApp, Facebook, or WeChat?
Apple turns 50 with a legacy of reinventing the personal computer
Through the looking glass: Apple turned 50 this week as a multi-trillion-dollar platform company built around the iPhone, the most successful product ever made, along with laptops, tablets, smartwatches, audio gear, and a multitude of digital services. But it all began as a bare circuit board passed around a hobbyist club in Silicon Valley.
What Ever Happened to Napster? From MP3 Rebellion to Streaming Blueprint
Napster made digital music feel limitless for the first time, then vanished in lawsuits, rebrands, and sales. Its name faded, but its ideas still shape how the world listens.
"Silicon" is a new coffee table book about the chip industry's origins and impact
Essays span everything from crystal growth to Nvidia's role in the AI boom
Legends of Tech: Nintendo Entertainment System
Before the NES, home consoles were a burned market in the US. Nintendo reversed that narrative with games that turned consoles into a global industry again.
Which search engine almost bought Google in the 1990s?
Did you know, Google co-founder Larry Page attempted to sell the search engine for $1.6 million?
How heavy was the first ever 1 GB hard drive?
Real hard drives have handles – two handles. And no, that's not the BFG.