It's infinitely frustrating how narrow a web search can be. I'm looking for images of the leading work desktop phones from the above-mentioned decades, and all the internet is obsessed with finding is articles on cell phones.

I remember a time when it seemed every office in every company used the Nortel M7208 or M5216. There was also that phone that was black with silver, and the handset had a narrow notch of a mouthpiece, a phone that had a distinct sound when you hung it up, back in the day when ending a call with effect almost required slamming it — anyone know what company made that phone or what it was called?

What office desk phones do you remember as the ubiquitous standard during the days before cell phones?

Opera is integrating AI-generated content services into its web browser products.

Though Opera has only a 2.4% share of the web browser market, it has a loyal and true fan base. A base that appreciates its unique and innovative features. Opera has more than 380 million monthly active users across its desktop browsers, mobile browsers, and other services. So no doubt, it is still pretty much in use today (even if you haven't used it or only heard its name).

Opera, the Norwegian web browser that dares to be different, finally realised that generative AI is the next big thing in online browsing. It is adding AI-generated content (AIGC) services to its PC and mobile browsers that allow users to create cool stuff like the new A.I. browsers we got to see. This (of course) includes features like getting images, text, and audio with just a few clicks. Or, shall I say, with a few "commands" to the ChatBot?

"Following the surge in demand and popularity of the many new services like ChatGPT and Midjourney, we are working with both multiple partners and in-house on different solutions," says Krystian Kolondra, Opera’s executive vice president for PC browsers.

Read more on how ChatGPT have involvement in this - creativeblock.substack.com/p/new-player-in-the-ai-race-opera

Hey Reddit community,

I wanted to share my latest article in my newsletter "Creative Blocks" with all of you. The article is called "Ctrl+Alt+Del: The Famous Mistake" and it's about the story being famous CTRL + ALT + DEL

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check it out https://creativeblock.substack.com/p/ctrl-alt-del-the-famous-mistake

Anyone who is familiar with Notorious B.I.G.'s music will know the song Juicy. But have you listened to the lyrics? In 1994 he was saying he had a 50 inch screen. Flat screens weren't even invented yet. Therefore this had to be a projection TV with actual lamps and whatnot.

A 50 inch these days isn't anything to brag about because you can probably get one for around $400 (or less). But back in 1994 when this song was recorded, that would literally be approaching $10k if not more.

Hey I've been searching for a while for resources on the history of technology. Any suggestions would be appreciated from any period of history. Personally I'm trying to find books on prehistoric, Chalcolithic, and Bronze Age technology at present. I'm also trying to find books on the development of chemical knowledge, there are plenty of books that go over the history of alchemy and the prominent figures in the history of chemical technology, but not a whole lot on the actual body of practical knowledge that would serve as a foundation for the development of chemistry as a science.

Resources I've come across that are good are....

The history of metallurgy, Tylecote

The lost civilisations of the Stone Age, Richard Rudgley

A short History of technology, T.K Derry and Trevor Williams

Some that I will read in future are.....

Patterns in prehistory, Robert Wenke

The story of chemistry, Anne Rooney

Technology and culture in greek and roman antiquity, S. Cuomo

Ancient Mesopotamian materials and industries, P.R.S Moorey

Materials and expertise in early modern Europe, Ursula Klein

Ancient Egyptian materials and technology, Paul Nicholson

I can use this sample of work to make the argument that technology from 250 years ago could achieve a level of automation comparable to today's standards. This little automaton has the same level of precision and repeatability with today's industrial robots and yet it does not rely on computer control or electricity and it can be programmed and reprogrammed as needed. Truly a marvel of 18th-century engineering. The reason why we don't see work like this more often is the staggering amount of work needed to construct and fine-tune machines such as these. Thus because of the rarity of people with the skill to accomplish, such a feat and the about of effort needed, automatons like the Writer are a rare sight to behold. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY_wfKVjuJM

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https://preview.redd.it/q49ff4x6hyv21.jpg?width=768&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=adadbc913bffe268440c514f8a70cb3e1cc514eb