In 1984, Challenger astronauts completed the first in-space satellite repair. Shuttle astronauts George Nelson and James van Hoften used the Remote Manipulator System robot arm to retrieve the malfunctioning Solar Max astronomy satellite, fix it and send it back into orbit. The Solar Maximum Mission […]
Geek Fact for April 11th Read More »
In 1989, Intel announced shipment of the 80486 chip. The Intel 80486 microprocessor (alias i486 or Intel486) was a higher performance follow up on the Intel 80386. It was the first x86 chip to use more than a million transistors, due to a large on-chip
Geek Fact for April 10th Read More »
Facebook issued a press release stating that it has agreed to acquire Instagram , a photo-sharing app for mobile devices, for total consideration of “approximately $1 billion”, including cash and shares of Facebook. The transaction is expected to close later this quarter. Mark Zuckerberg, founder
In 1991, Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 was released. The new version of DOS provided the ability to run DOS in the high memory area and load some device drivers and programs in upper memory. Also added were the UNFORMAT and UNDELETE commands, MS-DOS Editor, QBasic and
Geek Fact for April 9th Read More »
In 1953, the IBM 701 was formally unveiled to the public. The IBM 701 was the first IBM large-scale electronic computer manufactured in quantity as well as IBM’s first commercially available scientific computer. It was also the first IBM machine in which programs were stored
Geek Fact for April 8th Read More »
In 1983, the first spacewalk of the Shuttle program occurred as part of the STS-6 mission. The spacewalk was performed by Mission Specialists Donald H. Peterson and F. Story Musgrave and lasted about 4 hours and 17 minutes. Learn more at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-6.html
Geek Fact for April 7th Read More »
In 1992, Microsoft announced Windows 3.1. Windows 3.1 required a minimum of a 286 PC with 1MB of RAM to run. Windows 3.1 was the first version of Windows to be distributed on CD-ROM in addition to 720k, 1.2MB, and 1.44 MB floppy distributions. Installed
Geek Fact for April 6th Read More »
In 1973, Pioneer 11 was launched. Pioneer 11 was the first mission to explore the planet Saturn and its main rings and the second to investigate Jupiter and the outer solar system. Learn more at http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1973-019A
Geek Fact for April 5th Read More »
In 1994, Netscape Communications was founded as Mosaic Communications. Mosaic, later renamed Netscape, was the pioneering company in the field of internet browsers. Its Navigator provided the first user-friendly way for people to be able to surf the internet. Learn more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/business/2000/microsoft/635689.stm
Geek Fact for April 4th Read More »
Here’s some freebies for Mac users compliments of Digiarty Software. To celebrate this Easter season, Digiarty Software is hosting a giveaway of their MacX iPad DVD Ripper and MacX iPad Video Converter until April 18th. You can grab these iPad DVD and video conversion tools
Freebies: MacX iPad DVD Ripper and MacX iPad Video Converter Read More »
In 1984, Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian in space. Sharma’s crewmates were Yuri Malyshev and Gennady Strekalov from the Soviet Union. Sharma carried out various experiments, including capturing images of northern India ahead of the construction of a dam in the Himalayas. Learn more
Geek Fact for April 3rd Read More »
Consumer Reports came out with their tablet ratings today and named Apple’s iPad the top tablet. The top rating was based on the new iPad’s Retina display, its 5-megapixel camera, long-lasting battery and dependable connectivity to Verizon’s 4G network. Other highly-rated tablets included the Toshiba
Apple’s New iPad is Top Tablet Read More »
On March 20th, I posted an article about reports that the new iPad was running considerably hotter than the iPad 2. At the time, Consumer Reports conducted some tests that found the new iPad to be about 12 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the iPad 2
Heatgate Revisited Read More »
In 1987, IBM introduced the PS/2 as well as OS/2. The Personal System 2 computer ranged in price from $2,595 to $10,895. There were four models offered, with processors ranging from the 8 MHz 8086 to the 20 MHz 80386. The OS/2 operating system was
Geek Fact for April 2nd Read More »
