Today in Tech History: August 4 Video
Hi, I'm Molly Wood. It's August 4, 2008, and here's what happened today in technology history. On this date in 1987, the FCC abolished the Fairness Doctrine, which required broadcast licensees in radio and TV to present controversial issues in a manner deemed by the FCC to be honest and balanced. The move came after the Supreme Court ruled that the doctrine was "chilling speech." It's much better to just SAY you're fair and balanced, you see. Also today in 2007, NASA's Phoenix spaceship launched. You know, the Phoenix rover that's landed on Mars in May? It was a pretty long trip. Now it's chilling up there, digging up some chunks of ice. You can even follow it on Twitter. And that's all the updates from space we've got for you today. Get another load of it tomorrow.
The first stoplight, the Phoenix lander launches, and a legend passes on.
This week, we're just in love with that plucky, Twitter-loving Mars Phoenix lander. If only it weren't going to freeze to death soon.
On today's show, it turns out flies are getting smell-o-vision before we do. Whatever. Also, the next Apple TV is coming, and you won't believe who thinks it's a dud (hint: Brian Tong is on the show). The iPad launches globally, Skype Mobile is coming to Android just in time to save us from the newly $5-a-month Qik. Plus, Rafe thinks Apple is angling to kill OS X. Find out why.
Since the Phoenix Lander touched down near the north pole of Mars, the mission to find water has been on. CNET News.com's Kara Tsuboi interviews planetary scientist Paul Doherty about Martian water, ice, and snowflakes, and why finding any of them would be a big deal.
NASA's unmanned Morpheus lander erupted into a ball of flame when it hit the ground during its first free-flight test today.