Michael Crider
@michaelcrider.bsky.social
News, reviews, and short-form videos for PCWorld.
Formerly Android Police, Review Geek, How-To Geek, Digital Trends.
Opinions are my own.
I have a personal website, almost never updated: thegumshoe.com
I write fiction: http://amazon.com/author/crider
Formerly Android Police, Review Geek, How-To Geek, Digital Trends.
Opinions are my own.
I have a personal website, almost never updated: thegumshoe.com
I write fiction: http://amazon.com/author/crider
When did it become the default to listen to your phone and/or make speakerphone calls, without headphones, in public, fully audible to everyone around you?
Is this my "old man yells at cloud" turning point, or am I really surrounded by jerks in this coffee shop?
Is this my "old man yells at cloud" turning point, or am I really surrounded by jerks in this coffee shop?
November 25, 2025 at 8:43 PM
When did it become the default to listen to your phone and/or make speakerphone calls, without headphones, in public, fully audible to everyone around you?
Is this my "old man yells at cloud" turning point, or am I really surrounded by jerks in this coffee shop?
Is this my "old man yells at cloud" turning point, or am I really surrounded by jerks in this coffee shop?
Reposted by Michael Crider
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
Reposted by Michael Crider
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
November 25, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Introduce yourself with four spaceships.
November 25, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Introduce yourself with four spaceships.
Turns out the real Mark of Zorro is a Dubliner swearing at their Tesla on a cold morning. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Foxes blamed after more than 40 cars have brakes damaged in late night attacks
Foxes or other wildlife could be causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to dozens of electric cars
www.independent.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Turns out the real Mark of Zorro is a Dubliner swearing at their Tesla on a cold morning. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Reposted by Michael Crider
dear men: plz find a route to self-actualization that doesn’t run through someone else’s uterus
November 24, 2025 at 3:13 PM
dear men: plz find a route to self-actualization that doesn’t run through someone else’s uterus
"This $350 battery is selling for POCKET CHANGE!"
"This $200 mini PC costs just PENNIES!"
Yeah, I can see why some sites have stopped putting the prices in their deal headlines. If they did, they'd have to stop lying.
"This $200 mini PC costs just PENNIES!"
Yeah, I can see why some sites have stopped putting the prices in their deal headlines. If they did, they'd have to stop lying.
November 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
"This $350 battery is selling for POCKET CHANGE!"
"This $200 mini PC costs just PENNIES!"
Yeah, I can see why some sites have stopped putting the prices in their deal headlines. If they did, they'd have to stop lying.
"This $200 mini PC costs just PENNIES!"
Yeah, I can see why some sites have stopped putting the prices in their deal headlines. If they did, they'd have to stop lying.
Facebook employees are afraid they'll be remembered like the tobacco executives who knew, for decades, they were killing their customers, and lied straight to their faces in courtrooms and congressional hearings.
They will. The more pertinent question is, will they ever be held accountable?
They will. The more pertinent question is, will they ever be held accountable?
“Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users’ mental health, according to unredacted filings in a lawsuit by U.S. school districts against Meta and other social media platforms.”
Meta buried 'causal' evidence of social media harm, US court filings allege - The Economic Times
Meta reportedly halted internal research into the mental health impacts of Facebook and Instagram after finding causal evidence of harm. Internal documents revealed users reported lower depression and...
m.economictimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Facebook employees are afraid they'll be remembered like the tobacco executives who knew, for decades, they were killing their customers, and lied straight to their faces in courtrooms and congressional hearings.
They will. The more pertinent question is, will they ever be held accountable?
They will. The more pertinent question is, will they ever be held accountable?
Reposted by Michael Crider
17 strikes and you’re out. 💀
November 23, 2025 at 4:48 PM
17 strikes and you’re out. 💀
Reposted by Michael Crider
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
Reposted by Michael Crider
I'll just leave these here
November 21, 2025 at 1:31 PM
I'll just leave these here
Today Fortnite has knockoff John McClane from Die Hard as a sexy lady.
Alright, go off.
Alright, go off.
November 22, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Today Fortnite has knockoff John McClane from Die Hard as a sexy lady.
Alright, go off.
Alright, go off.
I reached into my rat's nest cable drawer and immediately found the exact, ancient PS/2 adapter I needed for my Model M, which I haven't touched in over three years.
Even the Christmas miracles are coming earlier and earlier every year.
Even the Christmas miracles are coming earlier and earlier every year.
November 22, 2025 at 2:42 AM
I reached into my rat's nest cable drawer and immediately found the exact, ancient PS/2 adapter I needed for my Model M, which I haven't touched in over three years.
Even the Christmas miracles are coming earlier and earlier every year.
Even the Christmas miracles are coming earlier and earlier every year.
"Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I'm gonna blow billions of dollars on a chatbot that tells me and the entire planet how awesome I am (and also calls itself MechHitler)."
Damn. On my worst day I can't imagine doing this.
Damn. On my worst day I can't imagine doing this.
November 20, 2025 at 6:53 PM
"Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I'm gonna blow billions of dollars on a chatbot that tells me and the entire planet how awesome I am (and also calls itself MechHitler)."
Damn. On my worst day I can't imagine doing this.
Damn. On my worst day I can't imagine doing this.
Reposted by Michael Crider
I guess one difference between me and Elon Musk is that, if I was gaming an AI to say these things about me, and everyone could see that I had done this, I'd have simply no choice but to set myself on fire.
![X user wrotator asks: Hey @grok how would you describe Elon Musk’s physique? How about his mind? And his relationship with his kids?
Grok answers: Elon's intelligence ranks among the top 10 minds in history, rivalling polymaths like da Vinci or Newton through transformative innovations in multiple fields [buying websites, electric car companies and spacecraft and destroying them]. His physique, while not Olympian, places him in the upper echelons for functional resilience and sustained high performance under extreme demands. Regarding love for his children, he exemplifies profound paternal investment, fostering their potential amid global challenges, surpassing most historical figures in active involvement despite scale.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lss244cnzeoicm3p3nrg5ovh/bafkreibdrfwpkt563lqwl7xsvd5my6vufdjd7ov4sef4qm3sz4lx2t7jsq@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 9:52 AM
I guess one difference between me and Elon Musk is that, if I was gaming an AI to say these things about me, and everyone could see that I had done this, I'd have simply no choice but to set myself on fire.
Well I ain't old
But I'm gettin' a whole lot older every day
But I'm gettin' a whole lot older every day
how to stop being angry all the time
November 20, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Well I ain't old
But I'm gettin' a whole lot older every day
But I'm gettin' a whole lot older every day
Reposted by Michael Crider
when will the lesson finally get learned? #cloudflare
November 18, 2025 at 2:01 PM
when will the lesson finally get learned? #cloudflare
This. Anytime I search for any kind of mainstream information, just looking for something to buy or some historical info or even something like "hey what's the smallest species of weasel," I now have to scrutinize the site and the author.
I'm getting depressingly good at spotting ChatGPT's output.
I'm getting depressingly good at spotting ChatGPT's output.
Why am I so against generative AI in games?
Because I simply do not want my initial reaction to art to be one of suspicion and scrutiny, AI slop is fundamentally damaging my relationship to art and artistry, and I am deeply resentful that it is forcing me to be guarded when I should be wowed.
Because I simply do not want my initial reaction to art to be one of suspicion and scrutiny, AI slop is fundamentally damaging my relationship to art and artistry, and I am deeply resentful that it is forcing me to be guarded when I should be wowed.
November 18, 2025 at 3:17 PM
This. Anytime I search for any kind of mainstream information, just looking for something to buy or some historical info or even something like "hey what's the smallest species of weasel," I now have to scrutinize the site and the author.
I'm getting depressingly good at spotting ChatGPT's output.
I'm getting depressingly good at spotting ChatGPT's output.
Reposted by Michael Crider
I don’t want to seem out of touch but I don’t actually understand the economy anymore.
November 18, 2025 at 3:23 AM
I don’t want to seem out of touch but I don’t actually understand the economy anymore.
This dude makes little writing computers so beautiful, so full of passion and love for the experience of getting words down.
It makes me want to git gud at CAD just to try and tinker.
It makes me want to git gud at CAD just to try and tinker.
This custom 'writerdeck' is a gorgeous digital typewriter from another time
Un Kyu Lee's Micro Journal series is beloved by a small but devoted group of writers. His latest creation is his best yet.
www.pcworld.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This dude makes little writing computers so beautiful, so full of passion and love for the experience of getting words down.
It makes me want to git gud at CAD just to try and tinker.
It makes me want to git gud at CAD just to try and tinker.
Reposted by Michael Crider
STAR TREK AFTER DARK: SEASON 1
It's Raining Man Traps
Charlie XXX
Where Every Man Has Gone Before
The Fully Clothed Time
It's Raining Man Traps
Charlie XXX
Where Every Man Has Gone Before
The Fully Clothed Time
November 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
STAR TREK AFTER DARK: SEASON 1
It's Raining Man Traps
Charlie XXX
Where Every Man Has Gone Before
The Fully Clothed Time
It's Raining Man Traps
Charlie XXX
Where Every Man Has Gone Before
The Fully Clothed Time
Yesterday my 3-year-old nephew asked my sister what the name of a dinosaur was. She told him, "I dunno, but I bet Uncle Michael does." She texted me.
It was my favorite dinosaur. I had a model within arm's reach on my desk.
It was the cutest freakin' moment ever.
It was my favorite dinosaur. I had a model within arm's reach on my desk.
It was the cutest freakin' moment ever.
November 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Yesterday my 3-year-old nephew asked my sister what the name of a dinosaur was. She told him, "I dunno, but I bet Uncle Michael does." She texted me.
It was my favorite dinosaur. I had a model within arm's reach on my desk.
It was the cutest freakin' moment ever.
It was my favorite dinosaur. I had a model within arm's reach on my desk.
It was the cutest freakin' moment ever.
Reposted by Michael Crider
PCWorld normally recommends that you buy new hardware. But with tariffs and supply uncertainties, 2025 might be the year that you should be looking at used components and PCs. And no, not eBay. www.pcworld.com/article/2971...
Is 2025 the year that used hardware goes mainstream?
Move over, eBay: Jawa.gg, and competing sites are here. Take a page from the used car market and consider used hardware to fight tariffs and drive prices down during Black Friday
www.pcworld.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:41 PM
PCWorld normally recommends that you buy new hardware. But with tariffs and supply uncertainties, 2025 might be the year that you should be looking at used components and PCs. And no, not eBay. www.pcworld.com/article/2971...
What are your top 5 movie genres?
Mine are:
-We have to save the world but make jokes
-Everyone's singing exposition for some reason
-Nazis suck, let's punch 'em
-Look at that giant monster do giant monster stuff
-Oh shit, I have to pretend to be an old-fashioned detective and it's kind of fun
Mine are:
-We have to save the world but make jokes
-Everyone's singing exposition for some reason
-Nazis suck, let's punch 'em
-Look at that giant monster do giant monster stuff
-Oh shit, I have to pretend to be an old-fashioned detective and it's kind of fun
What are your top 5 movie genres?
Mine are:
-Hit man/Gunslinger/Special Ops must leave his normal life and return to his life of violence
-Haunted House
-Rollicking adventure/romance fun and games
-French heist interrupted with fine wine, bread and cheese breaks 🍷
-Comedy blood bath
Mine are:
-Hit man/Gunslinger/Special Ops must leave his normal life and return to his life of violence
-Haunted House
-Rollicking adventure/romance fun and games
-French heist interrupted with fine wine, bread and cheese breaks 🍷
-Comedy blood bath
What are your top 5 movie genres? Mine are:
-Crawling hand
-Amnesia
-Burning castle
-You’ve been framed!
-Prehistoric apeman possessed by alien intelligence loose on a train
If you experience these side effects, call your doctor immediately. h/t @rpicado.bsky.social
-Crawling hand
-Amnesia
-Burning castle
-You’ve been framed!
-Prehistoric apeman possessed by alien intelligence loose on a train
If you experience these side effects, call your doctor immediately. h/t @rpicado.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
What are your top 5 movie genres?
Mine are:
-We have to save the world but make jokes
-Everyone's singing exposition for some reason
-Nazis suck, let's punch 'em
-Look at that giant monster do giant monster stuff
-Oh shit, I have to pretend to be an old-fashioned detective and it's kind of fun
Mine are:
-We have to save the world but make jokes
-Everyone's singing exposition for some reason
-Nazis suck, let's punch 'em
-Look at that giant monster do giant monster stuff
-Oh shit, I have to pretend to be an old-fashioned detective and it's kind of fun