50 Years of Microsoft: How the Altair 8800 and BASIC Revolutionized Computing #1835

Fifty years ago, Bill Gates and Paul Allen’s agreement with MITS for a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800 microcomputer marked the founding of Microsoft, profoundly influencing the world of personal computing. This collaboration transformed technology, paving the way for PCs, Microsoft’s global dominance, and the eventual rise of Linux and modern computing ecosystems. -Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. -Get a United Chase Card and 10,000 miles. You are supporting GNC Travel with your signup! Subscribe to the Newsletter. Join the Chat @ GeekNews.Chat Email Todd or follow him on Facebook. Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Download the Audio Show File New YouTube Channel – Beyond the Office Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Full Summary: In this episode titled “50 Years of Microsoft: How the Altair 8800 and BASIC Revolutionized Computing,” host Todd Cochrane reflects on the historical impact of the agreement made fifty years ago between Bill Gates and Paul Allen with MITS to provide a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800 microcomputer. He sets the stage by introducing the significance of this collaboration, which propelled Microsoft’s influence in personal computing and laid the foundational work for the development of modern technology. Cochrane discusses the technical aspects of the Altair 8800, highlighting its modular design and the affordable entry it provided for hobbyists compared to more expensive workstations of the time. He reminisces about his own experiences with early personal computers, such as the TRS-80 and the Apple machine, recalling the limitations of technology back then and how it has evolved. He welcomes listeners to the episode, expressing excitement about the milestone anniversary of the deal made by Gates and Allen. Shifting to current topics, he shares advertisements for sponsorship from GoDaddy, encouraging listeners to support the podcast. Cochrane then transitions into the news segment, highlighting several articles, starting with the potential release of GPT-5 by OpenAI. He briefly comments on the difficulties faced in referencing articles for news preparation due to paywalls and suggests considering alternate sources. Continuing with the news, the discussion includes: – A proposed bipartisan bill aimed at protecting copyrighted content from being used without consent in AI training. – Incident reports involving Starlink’s outage impacting users and the security vulnerabilities in various printer models due to hacking risks. – Alphabet’s increased revenue is driven by AI and cloud demand, alongside Lyft’s app enhancements. – Updates on various tech developments, including significant satellite launches, daring weather technologies, and Apple’s new service offerings, interspersed with Cochrane’s personal anecdotes and audience engagement reminders. Cochrane also shares personal updates, mentioning challenges with his home technology, including a full hard drive that affects his Bitcoin node. He highlights recent support received from listeners and discussions on various tech news articles from different sources. In the latter part of the episode, Cochrane reflects on generational reliance on AI tools like ChatGPT for decision-making and how it affects individual agency. He describes the impact of AI on work efficiency but raises concerns about overdependence, which could lead to potential learning deficits. The episode concludes with Cochrane offering guidance on securing devices and staying informed about technology trends, and encouraging support for the podcast through donations. He promises to be back with more content for listeners and invites questions or comments through various channels. Towards the end, there’s a reiteration of appreciation for audience support, thanks to his sponsors, and a final call to action encouraging engagement with the show. He concludes with well wishes for the weekend before signing off. 18:02–Lyft announces new tools 20:32–NVIDIA AI chips sold in China 22:10–T-Mobile’s Starlink satellite service 23:29–Clorox sues Cognizant 24:03–DJI’s first robot vacuum  25:34–AppleCare One NY seeking public opinion  29:21–SpaceX 30:39–Why home internet beats 5G 32:20–Sam Altman 37:41–Microsoft SharePoint attack 38:06–iRobot’s new Roomba 17:24–Alphabet Q2 38:40–An AI-powered weather forecaster 39:58–Google Assistant has been having a rough few weeks 15:27–Update your printer! 00:00–Bill Gates and Paul Allen 40:33–Dior The AI Accountability and Personal Data Protection Act 41:13–Tesla 42:22–Intel 43:03–Google’s tool for trying on clothes   The post 50 Years of Microsoft: How the Altair 8800 and BASIC Revolutionized Computing #1835 appeared first on Geek News Central.