Buzz Out Loud 807: Hey! Price cuts work!

In the midst of the debate over the rising cost of text messages, Microsoft finds that you actually sell more stuff if you lower the price. Then again, we're consuming more text messages than ever, so...we argue about capitalism. Also, the best of DemoFall and TechCrunch50, because dangit, we cover them both.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

EPISODE 807

Best of Shows: Top 10 from DemoFall, TechCrunch50
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10038846-2.html
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/10/yammer-takes-techcrunch50s-top-prize/

U.S. text usage hits record despite price increases
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12261_7-10038634-51.html

Xbox 360s flying off shelves after price cut
http://kotaku.com/5048170/xbox-360s-flying-off-the-shelves-after-price-cut

Microsoft concedes Vista launch problems
http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/09/10/2226235

Apple refutes NBC’s pricing-policy claims
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10038173-93.html

TiVo control coming to BlackBerry
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10039099-94.html

San Francisco hunts for mystery device on city network
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/091008-san-francisco-hunts-for-mystery.html

United Airlines tallies damage from false stock report (Thanks Julian!)
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/july-dec08/unitedstock_09-09.html

Debunking Google’s log anonymization propaganda
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13739_3-10038963-46.html

Virginia announces open-source physics textbook
http://www.technology.virginia.gov/TechnologyNews/index.cfm?id=770

Amazon scores exclusive e-book deal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122108541538621131.html

VOICE MAIL

Bob DC
Beatles on the Genius playlist.

Pete from Maryland
About the power from space.

Chris Podcaster
Question about the digital switch in NC.

E-MAIL

Hi BOL. Bluejay456 from the message boards…

I looked a little into Google Chrome’s installation and the supposed installation of hooks into other browsers.

I have not gone very far with this, but I was able to find a few things.

1. Google does install a Mozilla plug-in called “Google Update” during the installation of Chrome. The plug-in and related files are installed into the directory:

C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Update

You can see an indication of the integration of the plug-in to Mozilla in the registry key:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MozillaPlugins\@tools.google.com/Google Update;version=5]

2. Removing Chrome does NOT remove the plug-in.

I ‘googled’ for the referenced .dll (the irony is almost crippling). According to the source here (http://groups.google.com/group/chromium-discuss/msg/8eedfbbf7b9bc9b6), npGoogleOneClick5.dll is a plug-in that automates the process of installing software from Mozilla browsers. That post doesn’t mention anything about npGoogleOneClick5.dll forwarding search results to Google.

Still, I am somewhat disturbed by the fact that this software, whatever it does, was installed without asking and that the software does not remove itself when I remove Chrome.

Further, I don’t WANT installing software from a web page to be any easier. Event if you ignore the possibility that this plug-in could be compromised to act as security hole, reducing the install process to a single click makes my system less secure. I don’t appreciate Google installing this plug-in of their own volition.

If I get the chance to run some network or process monitoring on ‘Google Update’ I will forward the results.

Jerry

Can someone explain to me why there is a charge for receiving a text message anyway? The only person that should get charged is the person that sends the text message, because they are initiating the text.

The cell phone carrier gets 20 cents for the sender and 20 cents from the receiver. That would be like someone having to pay 20 cents for every piece of mail the got from the post office, even if they didn’t want it! We would never except that from the post office, so why is this being allowed by cell phone carriers.

Cell phone carriers need to make the price of texting for the sender, whatever they want and nothing for the receiver of the message.

I chuckled when Tom described Hexic as a “Tetrisy-type puzzle game” (referring to the free Zune game coming out). Hexic is, in fact, the brainchild of Alexey Pajitnov, the creator of Tetris. I worked with him several years ago when he was still at Microsoft. Great guy! Also, the license plate of his car read … TETRIS. How cool is that!

Love the show!

–JC, the game developer

I needed to find a way to charge my headset and all my USB ports were full on my computer and I thought I have a USB port on my HD TV I thought, can I charge it there? I plugged it in and wham it lit up. Now I have a new way to charge my gizmos. Hope someone likes my tip on another way to use that useless USB port on your TV.

Jimmie

Hey Jamoto, short time listener Patrick here (sorry, but I love the show twice as much to make up for it)

I don’t know if this is still relevant since I live in France and listen to your shows a day late (wait, that’s not right… freakin’ timezones!)

Anyway, your latest DRM discussions made me think of something I called “Customers Rights Management”.
Here's the idea: when I buy something from you, we are in agreement that I own the product I purchased, and you own the money that I payed for it. So if you get control over the product I purchased, then I want control over the money I gave you.
For example:
- You told me this DVD was great, but I really didn't like it? I'm taking half my money back.
- I bought your CD and I hear your company is not eco-friendly? You can only use my money to invest in green projects.
- Your game was great, but a patch made it less enjoyable for me? I get to freeze my money in your account until you make it fun again.
*shaking fist* How does that sound? Unfair and ridiculous? Unwarranted? It's overkill and in the end it doesn't really address any relevant issue? Hmmm, sounds familiar...I wonder what CRM rimes with.

OK, I realize this analogy doesn't really stand close scrutiny (or any scrutiny at all really), but the point is merely to express the customer's frustration in a way that the rights' owners might relate to a bit more. As if they care…

Blogged it here: http://www.patrickbeja.com/2008/09/you-need-drm-fine-i-want-crm/

Love the show, if CNET ever cancels it, I will hire hit men to hunt them down and tell them they suck.

Patrick Beja