Topic: Web Browsers

Fans of the show have restored a DOS-based typing tutor featuring John C. Dvorak to work within modern web browsers. The 8-bit style game includes low-fidelity audio and classic menu options. The hosts express appreciation for the technical effort required to preserve this piece of early computing history.

Despite the hype surrounding artificial intelligence, modern web browsers often fail to correct simple typos in top-level domains (TLDs). A user typing ".ccom" instead of ".com" typically receives an error message rather than an automated correction. This lack of basic "smart" functionality highlights the gap between marketing claims for AI and its practical application in everyday software.

Google has set a deadline for websites to transition to HTTPS, warning that the Chrome browser will soon flag non-secure sites with prominent warnings. The hosts discuss the technical hurdles of updating older websites and Amazon S3 buckets to meet these new security standards. They express frustration with being forced into these changes by Google's dominant market position.

A proposal is made for a truly independent web browser funded by a $100 million Kickstarter to bypass Google's dominance and potential future censorship of "hate speech." The discussion also covers a job opening for a Director of News and Content at Twitter, noting grammatical errors in the official job description.

The No Agenda Show website reportedly failed to load correctly in the Google Chrome browser, appearing as a nearly empty page. This behavior is contrasted with the site's stable performance in Firefox, leading to theories about "Google washing" or aggressive JavaScript handling in new Chrome updates. The site utilizes a standard Squarespace template, suggesting the issue may lie with browser-specific rendering of common web platforms.

Steve Gilmore reportedly informed Dvorak about new features in HTML5, including a native video tag that could potentially eliminate the need for Adobe Flash. The hosts also joke about the rumored return of the "blink" tag. They discuss the technical implications of browsers handling video files directly rather than relying on external plugins.

The Nokia N810 Internet Tablet is highlighted for its superior web browsing capabilities and open-source Linux architecture. Unlike Windows Mobile devices, the N810 features a slide-out keyboard and a Mozilla-compatible browser that supports Gmail shortcuts, Google Docs, and Flash video. While it lacks cellular phone functionality, its larger screen real estate and Python support make it a preferred tool for mobile internet applications compared to the iPhone.