Buzz Out Loud 811: I invented that

Whether it's the BlackBerry, the Internet, CNET TV, or hilarious jokes about the Large Hadron Collider, it's a good bet that someone either on or in today's show invented it. Probably Molly. Also in the news today, Nintendo is super rich, the first Android phone is getting a Steve-note (sans Steve) on September 23, and some celebrity Internet gossip.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

EPISODE 811

I am a comic genius! Daily Show thinks so, too!
http://themolly.com/blog/?p=86

Official: First Android phone on September 23
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/09/official-first.html
http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=2899

John McCain helped to create the BlackBerry? Really?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10043126-38.html

Pew survey suggests gaming improves 'Civic and Political Life'
http://blogs.pcworld.com/gameon/archives/007755.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13846_3-10043945-62.html

Nintendo’s ‘profits per employee’ are higher than Goldman Sachs
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/nintendos-profits-per-employee-are-higher-than-goldman-sachs/

Brad Pitt named as top malware lure
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/09/17/Brad_Pitt_named_as_top_malware_lure_1.html

Casting call for YouTubers: $25K for green ideas
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-10038664-76.html

Asus ships cracking software on recovery DVD
http://it.slashdot.org/it/08/09/17/1320239.shtml
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/224892/asus-ships-software-cracker-on-recovery-dvd.html

Citizens demand to see secret ACTA treaty
http://news.slashdot.org/news/08/09/17/022221.shtml

BLOG COMMENT
Almerica: Creator of Podcast app responds!
http://www.cnet.com/8601-11455_1-10042959.html?communityId=2014&targetCommunityId=2014&blogId=10&tag=mncol;tback#5000769

VOICE MAIL
Chris: Metallica?

E-MAIL
So, Google patented a system of floating a datacenter out at sea. Stated in the patent were the following two benefits: (A) the sea provides power (in the form of waves), and (B) the sea provides cooling (in the form of… well, the sea is cold).

In BOL you reported that added possibility of putting the whole mess in International Waters, and skirting all federal and state laws.

At the risk of deflating your hopes for a sinister conspiracy, let me point out the sad fact that when a company owns some equipment outside the US border, it doesn’t actually relive them of their duty to respect the laws of the land. No matte where they put their computers, Google’s still a US company.

Sorry Molly. I pretty sure we can make the next one stick.

Tyler

In Episode 810, you discussed the new peer-to-patent program and some of the flaws in the current patent system. I feel compelled to write because you (especially Leo) seemed dismissive of the work that patent examiners do. I am an examiner and, while I can understand and relate the frustration with some of the bad patents that have issued, I would like to point out a couple of factors that make the job sometimes difficult.

1- In order to reject an application, an examiner needs to find publicly available documentation (known as prior art) that the invention has already been invented. An examiner can’t just say “I’ve seen that”, stamp the application with a big “X”, and go grab some coffee. It is sometimes very difficult to find the relevant prior art, even when you know that is out there somewhere, and especially in rapidly developing technologies. This is why the peer-to-patent program could be a help to examiners.

2- Examiners have a very limited amount of time in which to find this prior art. In my technology area, examiners generally have only between 15-20 hours (depending on their experience) to work on an application.
That time includes reading the application to understand what the inventor is trying to patent, finding relevant prior art, and writing multiple formal correspondences to the applicant (or his lawyer). With only so little time available, it is inevitable that things slip by.

Again, while I understand that people are frustrated with the current patent system, please remember that the people doing the day-to-day work are public servants doing the best job they can with the time and resources they have. I don’t expect a parade for doing my job, but a little respect would be much appreciated after hearing our work so constantly maligned.

Sincerely
T the Patent Examiner

Hello Buzz-cast,

I’m a new listener from Houston, Texas
I don’t know if you’ve noticed but we were recently hit with Hurricane Ike leaving us not only with out water but without electricity.
On the day after the hurricane I went to work at Target, the only major store open, and sure there were people rushing to buy inverters, car chargers, and even plugging their own cell phone chargers in our outlets but most of the people there were actually buying games and systems I sold a PS3, an Xbox360 Elite, A ton of Nintendo DS’, Some PSPs with of course games for each system Not to mention we sold out of Rock Band 2 for the 360, notice I’ve worked plenty of times in the Electronics department but never had it been busy as this just for games.

Earlier I heard in the news that more than 2 million Houston residents still didn’t have electricity
And after a day of working in electronics again I sold a couple games Some Wiis and Wii fits, too.

I guess we will end up being “Video blobs”
Thanks and keep up the amazing work,
Christian.

Current TV to broadcast ‘tweets’ during debates

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_7734/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=2qEylcf8

Joe AKA dOgBOi

Hello buzz crew,
Molly you were outraged at having to have a CD inside the drive in order to play a game….but don’t you own an Xbox 360! Try playing Halo without a disk. Just a thought.
Love the show!

Ronald