Tag Archives: Tech

the tech inside your credit card, explained

🕰️ It all started in the 1940s…

Legend has it, in 1949, a man named Frank McNamara went out to dinner in New York, realized he forgot his wallet, and did what any great innovator would do: got embarrassed and invented a financial revolution. Thus, the Diners Club Card was born — the first credit card. At first, it was basically just a “gentleman’s IOU,” used at fancy restaurants so you could pretend to be rich while actually being very much not.


💳 The 1950s-60s: Birth of Plastic Fantastic

By the late ‘50s, Bank of America decided IOUs were for amateurs and launched the BankAmericard (later known as Visa). It was sent to random Californians like a financial bomb — unsolicited, physical cards mailed with zero consent, just vibes. It was the original “you’ve been pre-approved,” except you didn’t ask, didn’t want it, and now you owe $500.

This was the era when banks realized, “Wait a second… what if we charged people… for borrowing their own future money?”


📈 The 1980s: Interest Rates and Wild Capitalism

Credit cards really took off during the age of big hair, big shoulder pads, and even bigger debt. The marketing was seductive: “Buy now, pay later… or never, as long as you’re okay with 22.99% APR.”

Consumers didn’t blink — they were too busy buying cassette tapes, microwaves, and other artifacts of modern living. The phrase “minimum payment” became financial code for “this problem is Future Me’s responsibility.”


📱 The 2000s and Beyond: Tap, Swipe, Cry

Enter the digital age. Cards got chips, then they got “contactless,” and now you can just wave your phone at a terminal like a financial wizard. Spending money has literally never been easier — or more terrifying.

Meanwhile, credit scores became the adult version of GPA, but with more existential dread: “Want a house? Better hope your teenage self didn’t miss that Hot Topic store card payment in 2008.”


💡 In conclusion:

Credit cards are humanity’s way of saying:

“I want it now, I’ll worry later, and please don’t show me the statement.”

They’re a magical portal to convenience, a slippery slope to debt, and an iconic symbol of modern life — like jeans, but with late fees.

Using a Z Flip 5 as a minimalist phone (Front screen only!)

In an attempt to use my phone less I decided to do a little experiment: could I use only the 3.2-inch front screen of the Z Flip 5 as my daily driver for a week, with no shortcuts to social media apps up front to distract me? In theory, it would allow me the full phone I need (by flipping the thing open) when I had to and the minimal phone I wanted for everything else.

Curious what the most influential cell phones of all time are? Well…Identifying the top 5 most influential cell phones is subjective, but these devices have significantly impacted the mobile industry and altered the way people interact with technology:

  1. Motorola DynaTAC 8000X (1984): Often referred to as the “brick phone,” the DynaTAC 8000X was the first commercially available handheld mobile phone. Its release marked the inception of mobile communication, despite its size and limited functionality. This device set the foundation for the future of mobile technology.
  2. Nokia 3310 (2000): The Nokia 3310 became a cultural icon due to its robustness, long-lasting battery life, and user-friendly design. It was one of the best-selling phones globally and contributed to the widespread adoption of mobile phones. Its simplicity and durability made it a beloved device for many users.
  3. Apple iPhone (2007): The original iPhone redefined the smartphone landscape, introducing a touch-based interface, mobile internet browsing, and a robust ecosystem of apps. Its intuitive design, multi-touch display, and the App Store revolutionized how people used and perceived smartphones.
  4. BlackBerry 850 (1999) and subsequent models: BlackBerry phones, especially the BlackBerry 850 and later models like the BlackBerry Curve and Bold, were instrumental in popularizing mobile email and messaging. They were widely adopted by professionals for their efficient email capabilities, QWERTY keyboards, and secure messaging services.
  5. Samsung Galaxy S Series (2010 – present): Samsung’s Galaxy S series, starting with the original Galaxy S, played a crucial role in the Android smartphone market. These devices introduced advanced features, powerful hardware, and innovative designs, contributing to the growth and popularity of Android-based smartphones globally.

These phones each contributed to pivotal shifts in the mobile industry, shaping trends, consumer expectations, and technological advancements. Their influence continues to resonate in today’s smartphones and mobile devices.

The Failed Amazon Fire Phone – Review in 2023

The Amazon Fire Phone was a smartphone released by Amazon in 2014 that featured a 4.7-inch 720p HD display, a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera. The phone ran on Amazon’s proprietary Fire OS, which was based on Android, and featured unique features such as Dynamic Perspective, which used four front-facing cameras to create a 3D-like effect on the screen, and Firefly, which allowed users to scan and identify objects such as books, movies, and products using the phone’s camera. Despite its innovative features, the phone failed to gain significant traction in the market and was discontinued the following year.

In this video DankPods opens a brand new phone and reviews it. It’s easy to see why it failed…