BOL 1050: Break your 4GB Windows RAM shackles

We discuss the developing story that the 4GB RAM limit in Windows is nothing but a license maneuver. Say it ain't so, Microsoft? Also Apple may be trying to sneak in antivirus in Snow Leopard, and guest host Dr. Kiki tells about MIT's effort to teleport data. No more lag in Dalaran!

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Apple to retain, redesign plastic MacBook family
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/08/25/apple_to_retain_redesign_plastic_macbook_family.html

Report: Antivirus feature for Snow Leopard?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10318201-37.html

Twitter exploit still works
http://www.davidnaylor.co.uk/twitter-exploit-still-works.html

FCC declares intention to enforce Net neutrality
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/08/25/2044233/FCC-Declares-Intention-To-Enforce-Net-Neutrality

Dutch ISP builds dike around ‘Net, throttles non-HTTP traffic
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/08/dutch-isp-builds-dike-around-net-throttles-non-http-traffic.ars

Behind the 4GB memory limit In 32-bit Windows
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/08/25/1818215/Behind-the-4GB-Memory-Limit-In-32-Bit-Windows

Microsoft: Prove you’re human by reading and regurgitating an ad
http://www.techflash.com/Microsofts_latest_idea_Prove_youre_human_by_reading_an_ad_54859922.html

Micro wind generators reduce wind capital cost
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10318155-54.html

Steam Car team claims record run
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-10317389-76.html

Stanford team readies solar car for Aussie race
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/08/stanford-solar-car

Toward a quantum Internet
http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/20565/?a=f

Dr. Kiki (@drkiki) online!
http://www.drkiki.tv

Dr. Kiki’s Science Hour – Thursdays 3-4pm
http://live.twit.tv

This Week in Science
http://www.twis.org/audio or on iTunes

Voice mail
Paul from Verizon says Verizon does the same thing as ATT

Juan in Houston has a response to suing over headphones

E-mail
I think that the reason Google had to redact a lot of information from it’s response to the FCC is because Google may still be under an NDA with Apple even though they apparently don’t require one any more.

–David From CA.

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Hey Tom,

In episode 1049 you mentioned that Sony was pushing ePub as a standard
but no one else is using it.
That is true — kind of — but for once Sony is not pushing its own
standard. (Funny what being second place in the market will do!)

ePub is actually the industry standard backed by all the publishers
and readers’ advocacy groups.
It is free and open.
It was created to be the mp3 of ebooks but it was created by a
consortium of publishers so naturally they standardized two flavours:
one that allows DRM and one without.

Sony is using the DRM version. That sucks but at least they switched
to 3rd party (Adobe) authentication servers.
Theoretically at least that means Sony-device owners are not locked
into the Sony universe and can buy from other epub-compliant stores or
small publishers who sell direct.

Publishers and book people are quietly applauding Sony’s epUB move.
The DRM decision blows but publishers want to publish, track, and
manage only one file with one ISBN.
And it goes without saying that ending the eBabel for formats is great
for everybody.

As for the other players…

B&N bought Fictionwise so their catalog is in the Fictionwise
proprietary format that predates ePub.
Indigo’s book service — Shortcovers — is all cloud based. Look ma no
format.
And it is Amazon that is trying to be the Kingmaker with their
proprietary .mobi standard.

Publishers hate that Bezos is taking this approach. It is an inferior
format.
Dotmobi files won’t support things like monospace fonts (important in
publishing computer books).
And Bezos bought the company that makes Stanza — one of the first
and biggest all-ePub shops — and put their efforts on ice.

Love the show.
Mark from The Pub Call
pubcall.com

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So I looked at the news today and saw that the Space Shuttle Discovery launch has been delayed until Friday. First it was “weather.” Now a “valve problem.” Uh huh. It just so happens to conveniently fall around the time when Molly Wood will be in Florida… hmm… I think Molly has connections with someone on the “inside.” Hmmm…. hmmmm…

lucky

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Buzz folks
In BOL Episode 1049, I think Leo’s analogy comparing Apple to Mussolini’s Italy is particularly apt. You see, the trains didn’t actually run on time in Mussolini’s Italy; his propaganda department was just so good that everyone thought they did.

James the Graphic Designer

P.S. I realize that providing a source almost ruins the joke, but it’s Snopes, so it’s fun anyway: http://www.snopes.com/history/govern/trains.asp