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June 20, 2014: Smartphone Kill Switch

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Microsoft

2014 – Microsoft and Google agree to the Kill switch technology. In a California bill SB-967, Smartphones built after July 1, 2015 will consist of a hardware or software option to “kill” the phone. Further, a $500 to $2,500 fine will be issued to anyone selling a stolen phone.

Once switched, the device will not be able to turn on, even during a hard reset.

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  • 1926 – First wireless phone is demonstrated
  • 1989 – Lotus 1-2-3 version 3.0 is released
  • 2000 – IBM 1GB Microdrive
  • 2003 – Wikimedia Foundation is founded
  • 2009 – Nokia purchases Nortel
X Window System

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June 19, 1984: X Window System

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X Window System
X Window System

1984 – Jim Gettys and Bob Scheifler announced collaboration of a new operating system in the X Window System. This gives the basic framework for a GUI. Currently, it is refered to as X11, R7.7.

I’ve spent the last couple weeks writing a window
system for the VS100. I stole a fair amount of code
from W, surrounded it with an asynchronous rather
than a synchronous interface, and called it X. Overall
performance appears to be about twice that of W. The
code seems fairly solid at this point, although there are
still some deficiencies to be fixed up.

We at LCS have stopped using W, and are now
actively building applications on X. Anyone else using
W should seriously consider switching. This is not the
ultimate window system, but I believe it is a good
starting point for experimentation. Right at the moment
there is a CLU (and an Argus) interface to X; a C
interface is in the works. The three existing
applications are a text editor (TED), an Argus I/O
interface, and a primitive window manager. There is
no documentation yet; anyone crazy enough to
volunteer? I may get around to it eventually.

Anyone interested in seeing a demo can drop by
NE43-531, although you may want to call 3-1945
first. Anyone who wants the code can come by with a
tape. Anyone interested in hacking deficiencies, feel
free to get in touch.

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  • AOL Software glitch
  • Apple iPhone 3G S is released
  • X Window System is released
Terry Semel

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June 18, 2007: Terry Semel of Yahoo Step Down

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Terry Semel
Terry Semel

2007 – Terry Semel was under pressure  by the board because of dissatisfaction of his compensation. Terry was brought in to create a partnership with Hollywood, which really didn’t happen. He handed the reigns over to Jerry Yang, who started promising revitalized talks with Microsoft. There are a few that even speculate that was when the buyout of Yahoo began. Jerry Yang stepped down in 200

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  • 1999 – Palm announces the m100
  • 2009 – Jammie Thomas-Rasset was found guilty of copyright infringement and ordered to pay 1.92 million to the RIAA.
  • Microsoft announced the Surface Tablet
Head of the Statue of Liberty: Paris World's Fair, 1878

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June 17, 1885: Statue of Liberty is Delivered

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Head of the Statue of Liberty: Paris World's Fair, 1878
Head of the Statue of Liberty at the Paris World’s Fair, 1878

1885 – Arriving in over 200 crates, the Statue of Liberty is fully delivered to New York City. French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, along with Gustave Eiffel, created this statue for America to be a symbol of freedom and friendship between the US and France.

Yet, it almost didn’t get assembled due to an argument on who would pay for the pedestal at Ellis Island. President Cleveland finally dedicated the statue on October 28, 1886.

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  • Linus Torvolds announces he will leave Transmetta to work for the Open Source Development Labs
  • Flickr co-founders leave the company
  • Compaq announces the Armada line of computers
Compaq Deskpro 4000N - the first NetPC

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June 16, 1997: NetPC Announced

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Compaq Deskpro 4000N - the first NetPC
Compaq Deskpro 4000N – the first NetPC

1997 – Several computer companies banded together to help create the NetPC. A disk-less computer that got all information, including install – from a corporate server or the Internet.

Basically, these would be similar to thin clients or “Dumb terminals” for work computers. No CD drive, no floppy disc and limited disk space. Cases were sealed so nobody could get inside to reconfigure the computer. Installs would be handled via the Internet, therefore, no personal software could be installed.

Microsoft and Intel unveiled the system at the PC Expo trade show. NetPC would work with Compaq, Dell, IBM, HP, Acer, Gateway 2000, Mitac, Misubishi, NEC, Pionex, and Groupe Bull computer companies to make the first group of NetPC computers.

The sub-$1,000 computer was a great idea that would work better today than in 1997. IBM dropped out of the project before the first NetPCs came out. They decided to make something their customers would use.

Microsoft finally pulled the plug at the Windows Engineering Conference in 1998 when John Frederiksen, lead project manager for thin clients acknowledged the phase-out process.

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  • 1657 – The first Pendulum Clock
  • 1884 – Coney Island’s first gravity powered Roller Coaster
  • 1988 – Intel releases the i386DX
  • 1999 – Windows 98 SP1 is released
  • 2008 – Google Docs gets PDF Support
  • 2009 –iPhone OS 3.0
0615

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June 15, 2014: Facebook Changes Breastfeeding Stance

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#FreetheNipple campaign
#FreetheNipple campaign

2014 – After a major protest from #FreetheNipple, Facebook decided to adjust their stance on photos of breastfeeding mothers. Facebook implemented the initial ban on December 30, 2008.

The new rule became: Any baby fully engaged in feeding where nipple was covered could remain posted. However, Facebook did have the right to pull down photos if enough complaints were lodged.

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  • 1752 – Benjamin Franklin flies a Kite
  • 1983 – Microsoft eXtended Basic (MSX)
  • 1982 – Arcades and the First Amendment
  • 2006 – Bill Gates announces he is stepping down from CEO of Microsoft
0612

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June 12, 1997: 3COM, US Robotics Complete Merger

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3Com
3Com

1997 – Back in February, it was announced that US Robotics be acquired by 3Com Corporation in a $6.6 billion stock swap. This would add to 3Com’s computer networking company against Cisco as they would become the second largest networking company.

The merger did go through a series of corporate evaluations before the shareholders agreed to the merger.

Eventually, Hewlett-Packard acquired 3Com in 2010 and the companies products were merged into the HP name.

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  • Swiss Army Knife is patented
  • Mr. Wizzard passes away
  • First 500,000 watt power radio station – W8XAR – begins tests
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