Buzz Out Loud 786: Do these cookies make my Google look fat?

Congress learns all about cookies (not the delicious kind...but maybe the del.icio.us kind), Gmail goes down, and Google proves to be a terrible communicator. Also, the Amazon Kindle may take off after all (har har), and Twitter baffles us completely regarding its follow/follower spam prevention thing. In sum, it's a Tuesday, but it feels like a Monday.

EPISODE 786

Google apologizes for Gmail outage
http://www.crn.com/software/210002714

PC World: Google Apps hit by prolonged Gmail access problem
http://www.pcworld.com/article/149524/

Android may be here sooner then we think
http://tmonews.com/2008/08/android-may-be-here-sooner-then-we-think/

Some Web firms say they track behavior without explicit consent
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081102270.html
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2008/tc20080811_353762.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_news+%2B+analysis
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2327880,00.asp

Kindle sales pegged at $1 billion by 2010
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10014387-1.html

Twitter tries ‘following’ limits to curb spam
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10015151-36.html?tag=newsLatestHeadlinesArea.0

Let tour theme song be your password
http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/08/12/0144220&from=rss

YouTube yanks free Tibet video after IOC pressure
http://news.slashdot.org/news/08/08/12/1127220.shtml

New TV show: Temptation gadget island
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10014030-1.html?tag=TOCmoreStories.0

VOICE MAIL

Bill Portland
A way in which iPhone is like Windows.

E-MAIL

Hey guys,

I have to take a counter-point stance on the streaming Olympic coverage of NBC.com. Yes the cable thing is absolutely ridiculous. Yes the layout on the main page is difficult to navigate and it's hard to know what videos you are pulling up at any given time. However, as a die-hard fan of the Olympics, I can say that there has never been better coverage of the event than NBC's online offerings. The video window offers high quality video of the events and there are tabs at the bottom which you can click to pull up information on who the participants are, the rules of the sport, color information, interviews, and projections. It's awesome. Tom is right that it lacks commentary, but for those who really just want to see the event, that's not a negative at all. You are guaranteed that they are not going to pull away from your event to show something else you don't care about, and you can watch the whole event from before the lights come on to the bizarre flood of pom pom waving cheerleaders at the end. (Look it up, it's seriously weird.)

I think this year's online offerings are a serious step forward for the Olympics. I mean, seriously, this kind of access to sports taking place on the other side of the world with the quality that we're seeing is stuff that, even 5 or 6 years ago, only existed in Coca Cola commercials. We're living in the future. Try to enjoy it.

Love the show,

Brandon, The Woodlands, Texas

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3if2241241bd80655422f57aaa5f10b474?imw=Y

I don’t think it’s gonna help
sheala, Ga.

Hey buzz crew,

This is Adam from Connecticut, first time e-mailer. I just wanted to let you know that ESPN 360 actually runs based on your Internet, not cable, provider. For instance, I used ESPN 360 to watch much of the Australian open, the tennis tournament, on AT&T, my Internet provider.

However, when I jumped on an unencrypted Wi-Fi spot once, it did not work, stating that my Internet provider was not supported. Some providers, like Verizon, allow you to log in remotely and use ESPN 360 which is a nice feature. Also, there are no ads. Lastly, please add Inside CNET Labs to the iPhone CNET site so I can more easily access it. Thanks! Love the show.

--Adam

So the story about the feature that could allow Apple to kill applications got me thinking about the discussion from episode 783 about how the iPhone is not a computer. I agree completely. My laptop has the OS of my choosing running on it. And if I lose any more trust in Microsoft, I’ll be reaching for the Ubuntu install disc; I don’t have to worry a my applications self-destructing on a real computer, which the iPhone is not. Practical example, yes?

Also, this e-mail will probably be real on 786, as 785 is just out. This will be my 200th episode anniversary with Buzz Out Loud, since episode 586 “We h8t flash drives.” I still remember the night: I was perusing through Digg podcasts, where I found a quaint thing called “Buzz Out Loud.” I listened, and instantly loved the JaMoTo style news-casting.

Your podcast also served as the gateway drug to my other favorite CNET podcasts like The 404 and Gadgettes…and, ahem, CNET TV (there Tom, now you’ll have to read my e-mail).

LOVE THE SHOW…

So here is why their was a big up roar about the foot steps. Since NBC took forever to make available for download the opening ceremony for me to watch on my Vista machine, i had to go to BitTorent to get it. After watch three different versions, only the American version said that it was CG both the British and the Australia didn’t tell they audience.

--Peterjon

Ep 780 - In reference to the “durka durka” GSM noise that comes through PC or car speakers… you can also use a 3.5mm Ground Loop to limit this interference.

I got mine off of eBay for $10 and use it in the car with my iPhone. It does not completely remove the sound. But when it does come through, it’s very faint.

I just wish they had a goose neck/swivel dock+line out+charge iPhone option for the car… I’m patiently waiting.

LTS!
Chris from Tampa, Fla.