Buzz Out Loud Podcast

Rumors are that next year Google will add a Netbook brand along with its phone branding, and possibly begin a line of consumer electronics. Is that a good thing for Google? We kick around that old football. Also, Patrick from France joins us with his distinctly European perspective and we refrain from insulting each other for once. It's a brave new world!

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Obama administration rolls out $2 billion for broadband
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BG1JZ20091217
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/12/16/2329201/FCCs-New-Broadband-Plan-Prioritizes-Competition

Get ready for the Google branded Chrome OS Netbook
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/17/get-ready-for-the-google-branded-chrome-os-netbook/

Hackers access Predator drones
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126102247889095011.html

Apple working on 3D ‘hyper-reality’ displays
http://www.macrumors.com/2009/12/17/apple-working-on-3d-hyper-reality-displays/

Zune HD Twitter app now live UPDATE: it censors tweets!
http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/zune-hd-twitter-app-now-live/

Nook hacked with Web browser, Facebook, Twitter apps for starters
http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/nook-hacked-with-web-browser-facebook-and-twitter-for-starters/

Sony Reader will get NY Post and Dow Jones exclusive content
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=28672

RIM confirms BlackBerry e-mail outage
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10417374-94.html

Dungeons & Dragons For Microsoft Surface has come a long way
http://kotaku.com/5428356/dungeons–dragons-for-microsoft-surface-has-come-a-long-way

Best of 2009 clips show
This year’s Best of 2009 episode is going to be entirely listener submitted. So be a part of this listener created experience: Clip out your favorite moments from any episode published in 2009. Export your clip as an MP3 of at least 128kbp. Email the clip to buzz@cnet.com. Subject: Best of 2009 – Episode ####. Deadline for submissions is Friday, Dec. 18, 2009. Please hurry! And with enough people pitching in 2-3 clips, we should end up with an awesome clips show.

VOICE MAIL
Dean in DC on Google Chrome and the EU

Tony on cell radiation

E-MAIL
During the conversation on Wednesday’s show about the LED traffic lights not melting snow, I knew I had heard about that years ago, but couldn’t remember where. After a quick google search, I found this http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=177298 . Evidently Click and Clack talked about that in 2006 — too bad all the guys ordering the LED stop lights didn’t listen to them.

Joe from Wilmington, OH (as seen on 60 Minutes and Rachael Ray!)

**********

Hey buzz crew. I’m emailing in reference to an email you read in episode 1127 about chrome vs firefox download speeds. I too notice this difference especially when I use the firefox addon down them all. When using down them all I can get speeds that are several times faster than chrome. I keep hoping with the beta release of chrome extensions that down them all will come to chrome but alas no such luck yet. Love the show
Sam in Seattle

So the European Union and Microsoft have finally settled their differences and will begin the browser ballot with no less than 12 browsers to choose from. Is this a good thing? Also, Intel is now under the gun from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. What did it do this time? Listen to find out. And Cherrypal is selling a $99 laptop it bills as slow and sufficient. Nice.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

FTC formally charges Intel with anti-competitive behavior
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704541004574599791659334798.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/12/intel.shtm

Microsoft resolves E.U. IE case
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-10416402-75.html
http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2009/12/microsoft-settles-with-eubrowser-balloting-arrives-in-march.ars
http://money.ca.msn.com/investing/news/business-news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=23035069

Steve Jobs’ dupes blogosphere with AT&T protest hoax
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/16/operation_chokehold/

AT&T: Net neutrality OK if we can cut priority access deals
http://arstechnica.com/telecom/news/2009/12/att-offers-net-neutrality-compromise.ars

New report offers grim assessment of plug-in hybrids
http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2009/12/new-report-offers-grim-assessment-of-plugin-hybrids.ars

Facebook testing tool to push updates onto Twitter
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9142324/Facebook_testing_tool_to_push_updates_onto_Twitter

McDonald’s to offer free Wi-Fi Internet access
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/184807/mcdonalds_to_offer_free_wifi_internet_access.html

Fidelity fires four employees for playing fantasy football
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/16/fidelity-fires-four-employees-for-playing-fantasy-football/

Cherrypal's $99 Laptop: Small! Slow! Sufficient!
http://technologizer.com/2009/12/15/cherrypals-99-laptop-small-slow-sufficient/

LED traffic lights are great — except they’ll kill you
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/12/15/national/a133205S26.DTL&tsp=1

Best of 2009 clips show
This year’s Best of 2009 episode is going to be entirely listener submitted. To be a part of this listener-created experience just clip out your favorite moments from any episode published in 2009. Export your clip as an MP3 of at least 128kbp. E-mail the clip to buzz@cnet.com. Subject: Best of 2009 – Episode ####. Deadline for submissions is Friday, Dec. 18, 2009. Please hurry! And with enough people pitching in two-to-three clips, we should end up with an awesome clips show.

VOICE MAIL
Dylan has a question about Paramount Clips

E-MAIL
Hey BuzzCrew-

So a fun story is making waves in Britain:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8415750.stm

Basically the internet masses are “Raging against the Machine” known as X-Factor and trying to get a 1992 single from Rage Agaunst the machine as #1 christmas song over the new release from the XFactor champion.

Here’s the kicker…it’s working!

Helping it, is that you can get the single for 29 pence! (~ 47¢).
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001I4NZP4?ie=UTF8&ref_=sr_1_1&qid=1260881836&sr=1-1&linkCode=shr&camp=3194&creative=21330&tag=tomdavsblo-21

There’s even a facebook group with over 800K members:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2228594104

Gotta love the ‘X’-mas spirit!

Cheers & Ho! Ho! Ho! from Oxford!
Tom Merritt the Doppelganger

**********

Hello Buzz Crew,

I have just listened to a recent episode in which you talked about the
proposed Internet censorship in Australia and I have to say the proposal
is far worse than what is commonly reported in the media. Wikileaks
disclosed the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s blacklist
of prohibited websites a few months ago. It turns out that the list
contains perfectly legal websites including that of a political group
http://www.somebodythinkofthechildren.com/acma-blacklist-leaked-contains-legal-websites/

Despite this controversy I am shamed to say that my Government went
ahead with it’s planned trial of Internet filtering. However after the
trial ended Stephen Conroy refused to release the official report. We
can only speculate as to why, but he did however provide information and
consultation to just one political party, The Australian Christian Lobby
which has been lobbying very hard in support of the censorship proposal.
No doubt they have allot of agendas they would like to see filled by the
new regime. As a strong supporter of free-speech I find this deeply
worrying. Once a filter is in place every morally bankrupt organization
and individual will be able to apply pressure to have anything they
personally don’t like, blocked.
http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/conroy-must-explain-why-christian-lobby-gets-net-filtering-trial-update-greens

Thanks & keep up the good work.
~Dan
Perth, Australia

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Jason H., Jason H., and Jason H.,

In episode 1126 you talked about Chrome versus Firefox. I have to stay that I would completely switch over to Chrome, it loads faster, is a smoother GUI, and loads pages faster, except that Firefox dowloads things faster. Out here we have a bandwidth shortage, and I end up surfing with Chrome and then copying the URL to Firefox to download things. It’s frustrating. If Chrome/Google get better download performance then I’ll be won over.
Nathaniel Miller on deployment in Afghanistan. Love the show.
V/R

**********

Hey Buzz Crew,

I don't know if any of you have been paying attention, but with all of the discussion of Verizon and AT&T's 3G coverage, it seems that T-Mobile's progress has been overlooked. T-Mobile is currently adding 3G coverage at a rate of one new city every 1.5 days, with a goal of having 3G available to two-thirds of the US population by the end of 2009. They are also deploying everywhere at 7.2 Mbps, putting them at the top in terms of 3G speed. They also plan to have broad access to HSPA+ (21 Mbps) by mid-2010.

Right now they certainly don't have the largest 3G network, but they sure are bringing their own online very quickly.

List of Cities added recently:
http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/Coverage/3G-Launches/td-p/236602

Network Expansion Information:
http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/Coverage/3G-Expansion-amp-HSPA/td-p/254526

-Doug the Software Developer

So, Apple bought Lala, and Ars Technica thinks it has a source who knows what Apple's going to do with it-- it's going to make a Web site that sells music and stores it in the cloud. Kind of like what Lala already is, but it's going to be all iTunes-ified. And that has Rafe worrying about cloud failure again. We also kvetch about Facebook, a Mozilla employee complains about Google, and the "New Moon" videotaper is set free.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Now, Facebook lets users hide friends from people who are not logged in
http://www.insidefacebook.com/2009/12/10/now-facebook-lets-users-hide-friends-from-people-who-are-not-logged-in/
http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=197943902130
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10413835-36.html

Mozilla worker touts Bing over Google, citing privacy
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10413473-56.html
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=28387

FTC: Kids can find adult content in virtual worlds
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-10413742-235.html

Charges dropped in ‘New Moon’ taping
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/12/twilight-saga-new-moon-videotape.html

Apple to fold Lala into iTunes, transform into Web service
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/12/apple-to-fold-lala-into-itunes-transform-into-web-service.ars

Video game sales drop, but still strong
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10413599-52.html

More drivers using mobile phones since penalty change
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8407142.stm

USPTO asking for ideas to enhance patent quality
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/12/10/2031211/USPTO-Asking-For-Ideas-To-Enhance-Patent-Quality

TechCrunch files suit over JooJoo
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10413762-92.html

Data nerds hack NASA (in a good way)
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/12/nasa-hackathon/

Best of 2009 clips show
This year’s Best of 2009 episode is going to be entirely listener-submitted. So be a part of this listener created experience: Clip out your favorite moments from any episode published in 2009. Export your clip as an MP3 of at least 128kbp. E-mail the clip to buzz@cnet.com. Subject: Best of 2009 – Episode ####. Deadline for submissions is Friday, Dec. 18, 2009. Please hurry! And with enough people pitching in 2-3 clips, we should end up with an awesome clips show.

Listener co-host show
Want to talk with us on this year’s listener co-host show? These interviews will be recorded Monday, December 21 from 3-4 p.m. PT. E-mail buzz@cnet.com, subject “Listener Co-host”, and include your name, contact number where you can be reached for the interview (landline preferred), and we will compile the list and select four people for the show.

VOICE MAIL
Dwight the key grip on Tom’s 3 DVDs

E-MAIL
Hey Buzz Crew, this is Jeremy the theater manager. I’m writing in to tell you about my chain’s monthly newsletter. One of the constant topics in the letter is recording–how to spot it, what to do about it, so on. Almost every month it’s followed with a picture of a manager and a bow-tie clad teenager holding a five hundred dollar check. I’m not sure how I could sleep at night sending someone to prison and ruining their life for five bills over some crappy camera screener. I really don’t think the punishment fits the crime. Personally I tell all my employees that if they see someone taping, they should sit next to them and ask for the camera. That way, nobody goes to jail, there’s one less unwatchable screener on the torrent sites, and, hey, free camera. Everybody wins!

Love the show.

P.S. The MPAA site given in the newsletter is fightfilmtheft.org .

************

Hi Buzz crew,

Your discussion of real-time writing on Google Wave got me thinking about a great new revenue possibility for established authors.

Imagine if someone like Stephen King were to announce he’s writing his next novel on Google Wave. How many fans and writers would pay $30 for a 1-year membership to access that wave anytime? They could access the wave and watch King write his novel in real time. It’s not only great for King’s fans, but could also be a graduate-level course in writing for serious students.

David in Missouri

A new service uses the power of 400 virtualized computers in the cloud to test the security of your WPA WiFi password. They only charge $34. But Donald is afraid of how this penetration testing might show up on his credit card bill. But forget WiFi. WiGig is coming promising 7Gbps transfer speeds. Take that Ethernet cable!

Listen now: Download today's podcast

WiGig alliance creates next-generation wireless networking standard
http://venturebeat.com/2009/12/10/wigig-alliance-creates-next-generation-wireless-networking-standard/
http://gigaom.com/2009/12/10/coming-soon-to-your-hd-home-theater-7gbps/

Microsoft finally open sources Windows 7 tool
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/12/microsoft-finally-open-sources-windows-7-tool.ars

Buy a DVD on Amazon; Start Watching the Movie in Minutes
http://newteevee.com/2009/12/09/buy-a-dvd-on-amazon-start-watching-the-movie-in-minutes/

Nokia to close some of its most visible stores
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091210-705904.html

Amazon says no plans to open brick and mortar stores
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/amazon/6750973/Amazon-denies-high-street-rumours.html

Hitwise: Google Near 72% Of All US Searches
http://searchengineland.com/hitwise-google-near-72-of-all-us-searches-31530

Bing ads over 75% more likely to be clicked than Google ads
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/12/bing-ads-over-75-more-likely-to-be-clicked-than-google-ads.ars

Court indicates ripping CDs to MP3 may be fair use
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/12/09/1835205/Court-Says-Fair-Use-May-Hold-In-Some-RIAA-Cases

Biometric Face Recognition At Your Local Mall
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/12/10/0224204/Biometric-Face-Recognition-At-Your-Local-Mall

Harnessing the Cloud for Hacking
http://www.technologyreview.com/web/24127/?a=f

Wireless Brain-to-Computer Connection Synthesizes Speech
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/12/wireless-brain/

Failure of Russia’s latest nuclear missile prompts UFO frenzy
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6951635.ece

Best of 2009 clips show
This year’s Best of 2009 episode is going to be entirely listener submitted. So be a part of this listener created experience: Clip out your favorite moments from any episode published in 2009. Export your clip as an MP3 of at least 128kbp. Email the clip to buzz@cnet.com. Subject: Best of 2009 – Episode ####. Deadline for submissions is Friday, Dec. 18, 2009. Please hurry! And with enough people pitching in 2-3 clips, we should end up with an awesome clips show.

Listener co-host show
Want to talk with us on this year’s listener co-host show? These interviews will be recorded Monday, December 21 from 3-4pm PT. Email buzz@cnet.com, subject “Listener Co-host”, and include your name, contact number where you can be reached for the interview (landline preferred), and we will compile the list and select four people for the show.

VOICEMAIL
Matt on trying to buy ebooks

Derrick from Chicago knows someone who worked at the theater that threw the girl in jail.

Tim on Facebook privacy

EMAIL
BOL crew,

Just thought I’d let you know that Barnes & Noble is actually shipping
the Nooks. I pre-ordered mine in the first couple of days they
started taking orders, and mine arrived yesterday. In the finest
tradition of “pictures or it didn’t happen” here are some pictures:

I like it over all. The reviews saying it’s a little sluggish are
pretty accurate when it comes to doing lots of navigation, but once
you settle in to reading, I find the experience very similar to the
Sony PRS-505 I had. One disappointment is that even with the wireless
connections, the Nook won’t sync your place in a book between devices.
I had started reading George R.R. Martin’s “A Game of Thrones” on my
iPhone. Having read the book for Sword and Laser, I’m sure Tom will
realize what a challenge it was to find the right chapter (Arya, Bran,
Tyrion, Jon, Daenerys, Eddard, etc.) by hand. I’m hoping that Amazon
didn’t get a patent for something as obvious as syncing locations
between reading devices and that this will get fixed in a Nook update
later.

Love the show.

Kyle Johnson
Durham, NC

**********

Hey guys, just wanted to add a comment about your discussion of EAs DLC in episode 1122. One problem with their DLC, at least in Dragon Age, is that once you use the DLC in-game and then save the game you will have to be connected to the internet for verification EACH time you want to play the game. Fine for people with always-on internet but not so great for those of us without or when you loose internet access and want to play. Love the show!
Glenn from NH

**********

In regards to the news of brazil being the world champion in spam I
would like to point a few things:
1- we are one of the largest online populations of the world

2- the vast majority of those computers are running a pirated version
of windows xp or 98, pirated office and programs for pirating music,
(there’s no iTunes or Amazon music store) and very few run antivirus.

3-the most popular way to access the Internet is not to own a
computer, but to access public terminals in LAN houses or government
sponsored Internet centers. All “favelas” have one.

If that doens’t ring a bell, let me put in another way: did you know
brazil is the only country to have an official, nationwide, public
holiday on November 20 called Zombie day (dia do zumbi). True, check
wikipedia.

Alexandre V

Yahoo has a new program to spread kindness. But Cooley hates it. Why? There's no app for that. We also discover the true meaning of holiday hate when Tom and Brian fight over the rights of the customer when shopping. And we review the JooJoo and Boxee. And Natali lets on that she hates Brooklyn. At least when Brooklyn has no food.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Boxee Beta is cleaner, better, still closed
http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-10410159-250.html

And Boxee Box will launch next year for $200
http://www.gearlog.com/2009/12/200_boxee_box_based_on_d-link.php

Hands on with JooJoo
http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-10410960-250.html

Google introduces real-time search
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/12/google-introduces-real-time-search-google-goggles/

Google introduces Favorite Place info using QR Codes
http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/google-goggles-brings-visual-search-to-android-favorite-places/
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/explore-whole-new-way-to-window-shop.html

Google Chrome for Mac finally in beta
http://www.google.com/chrome

…and extensions arrive
https://chrome.google.com/extensions

CRIA faces $6 Billion lawsuit
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/12/07/1917245/CRIA-Faces-60-Billion-Lawsuit
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/12/artists-lawsuit-major-record-labels-are-the-real-pirates.ars

Vevo set to launch tonight
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/media/08vevo.html

Microsoft EnticeCube is like a Google Search of regular people
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10410340-56.html

Sony Reader store gets name change and goes to all ePub format
http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/sony-reader-store-goes-100-epub-on-friday/

New digital publishing venture boasts access to 144 million-plus audience; squires talks
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-new-digital-publishing-venture-boasts-access-to-144-million-plus-audien/

Yahoo’s random acts of kindness set
http://yhoo.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=428759

Branson unveils next step toward space flights
http://news.cnet.com/8301-19514_3-10410601-239.html

Voice mail
Thomas in Columbus why he doesn’t buy online from Best Buy

Mark from Philly online ordering frustration

E-mail
Hola Buzzito’s

In episode 1120 you guys discussed the use of a physical Amazon store as a pick up facility. I would definitely use this service as I am a college student and my textbooks are often cheaper on Amazon.com however book lists often come out too late for me to wait for shipping. The presence of a pick up facility would save me some money and I’m sure drive down the cost of books at my school’s bookstore (run by the big bad Barnes and Noble, seriously where’s my Nook).
Love the show keep up the good work
j.carter

**********

Best Of 2009 submissions!
This year’s Best of 2009 episode is going to be entirely listener submitted. So be a part of this listener created experience: Clip out your favorite moments from any episode published in 2009. Export your clip as an MP3 of at least 128kbp. Email the clip to buzz@cnet.com. Subject: Best of 2009 – Episode ####. Deadline for submissions is Friday, Dec. 18, 2009. Please hurry! And with enough people pitching in 2-3 clips, we should end up with an awesome clips show.

Microsoft cancels its family licensing program and Molly decides it needs a lesson in economics. Stop focusing on dimes, Microsoft! We also plea for some common sense in the case of the woman jailed for recording some of the new "Twilight" movie at a birthday party.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Apple buys Lala service
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/12/apple-buys-music-streamer-lala-but-whats-it-getting.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10410206-261.html
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/12/07/apples_lala_purchase_could_bring_browser_access_to_itunes_content.html

"New Moon" taping may put woman in prison
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/04/new.moon.arrest/

“So, Verizon, about those doubled early termination fees…”
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/12/so-verizon-about-those-doubled-early-termination-fees.ars

New Senate bill targets unfair early termination fees
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/12/new-senate-bill-targets-unfair-early-termination-fees.ars

Amazon in secret plan to open high street shops
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article6945922.ece

Zappos.com offers an actual world catalog
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/business/media/07zappos.html

Microsoft kills Windows family pack discount just before the holidays
http://www.dailytech.com/Microsoft+Kills+Windows+Family+Pack+Discount+Just+Before+the+Holidays/article17043.htm

Intel: Initial Larrabee graphics chip canceled
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10409715-64.html
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/blogs/bizfeed/183810/larrabee_project_a_casualty_of_intels_legal_battles.html?tk=rss_news

US agency’s balloon hunt tests Internet accuracy
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8397649.stm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34303629/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/

MIT team wins DARPA network challenge
http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/info-management/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=222000809

Hackers vs. phishers
http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/12/07/1318225/Hackers-vs-Phishers

VOICE MAIL
Anonymous on why facebook.com shows up in search

E-MAIL
Buzz Crew:

Thank you.

I began listening to the Buzz Out Loud podcast after losing my job
in March of this year. The topics and discussions, though not directly
related to my career up to that point, were interesting and engaging.

Over the following 7 months, I faithfully listened to the podcast.

I realized early on in my search for new employment that the field
of industry with which I was familiar would not offer any meaningful
opportunites. Though my resume provided no technical experience
basis for doing so, I expanded my search to include many high-tech
companies unrelated to my area of expertise.

During a recent interview with one of these companies, I found
myself responding fluidly and confidently to technical questions that
the experience on my resume indicated I should not necessarily have
known the answers to.

Introspection after that interview brought me to the conclusion that,
by virtue of my daily dosages of Buzz, I had at my disposal a new set
of knowledge tools with which to rebuild my stalled career.

That interview, by the way, led to the position I currently enjoy with
a great company.

Thank you for the education. May the universe grant me some day
the opportunity to repay you all for the parts you played in helping
me get back on my professional feet.

Gratefully,

Jim in San Jose

**********

I have to be say I don’t understand google’s problem with printer drivers. Linux has CUPS (the Common Unix Printing System) which has support for tons of printers. No drivers to install or anything. I believe it is based off of and/or the same as the printer set up in Mac OS X. I use linux almost exclusively (except for gaming) and setting up my network HP printer is amazingly easy. Why wouldn’t google use this open source tool? It’s like saying we are making a linux distro without access to the file system or you know custom skinning…. Oh wait they’re doing that too.
Love the show
Sam in Seattle

**********

Hi, Buzz folks,

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, in the midst of the Browser Wars between Microsoft and Netscape, the people of the planet Netscape offered a reward to online companies, like hosting and web design companies who provided a link to the Netscape browser downoad (which carried a service fee of a few dollars.

It was Netscapes policy to pay thos referral commissions, no matter how small, even when the postage on the check exceeded the amount of the payment. See the attached.
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/3041/netscape1.jpg
Tim T.

Google is offering a public DNS service (DNS is the address book for Internet domains) that will resolve the domain names you type into a Web browser to servers you want to visit. But that could really give Google a complete picture of who you are. Do you want that? We also chat about the World Cup coming in 3D and the effects of BitLocker encryption being broken.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Google Public DNS service not ideal for everyone
http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2009/12/google-public-dns-service-not-ideal-for-everyone.ars
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-10408624-264.html

Microsoft’s Bing goes down
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10409175-56.html

2010 World Cup to be screened in 3D
http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/2010-world-cup-to-be-screened-in-3d-655788
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8394191.stm

UK judge orders Wikipedia to reveal user’s identity
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/12/03/2354215/UK-Judge-Orders-Wikipedia-To-Reveal-Users-Identity

Facebook notifies members about Beacon settlement
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10409034-36.html

Online ad industry: Advertising is ‘creepy’
http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=140840

First commercial tool to crack BitLocker arrives
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/12/first-commercial-tool-cracks-bitlocker.ars

Mobile phones ‘have not increased brain cancers’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8393884.stm

Man “beats” World of Warcraft
http://games.slashdot.org/story/09/12/03/1456243/Man-Beats-emWorld-of-Warcraftem

Up Pompeii, courtesy of Google Streetview
http://www.tgdaily.com/software-features/44935-up-pompeii-courtesy-of-google-streetview

VOICE MAIL
Max in Fresno about printers

Kevin in San Antonio on Tablet name

E-MAIL
Hi Buzz Crew,

Regarding the dust-up over Twitter vs. “traditional news,” I don’t understand the problem. If CNN or CBS report “TMZ says Michael Jackson is dead. We’re still confirming,” that’s a factual statement. And most people are smart enough to differentiate it from a settled news report 12 hours later. I don’t blame journalists for reporting rumor as rumor, if it’s clearly labeled.

Tom often points out we’re in an “awkward phase” for online media and advertising. We’re also in an awkward phase for online journalism, as reporters and readers learn to recognize that different kinds of news call for different kinds of reporting. Twitter and the Web allow readers to see the story-gathering process, and sometimes that means following dead ends. Despite those dead ends, I say it’s a good thing, not a bad one, for the public to see the process happen.

David (a former reporter) in Missouri

**********

Hey gang,

With all this talk about Google attempting to make a standard print driver, and your discussion yesterday (show 1118) about the up-hill battle this attempt will be due to proprietary printer hardware and the greed behind it, I was reminded of the open source 3D printer efforts. As an engineer and maker I love the idea of these 3D printers and hope to make one (or more) sometime soon myself, but I think there’s currently a greater need right now for open source 2D printing. (Mmmmm…standardized, interchangeable parts…) How about it?

Bill

**********

In episode 1117 (sorry this email’s a bit late, but then so was the podcast), you mentioned Google wanting to eliminate printer drivers, and there seemed to be a consensus that the printer manufactures wouldn’t want to go along with a standard. The thing is, there already is a common printer driver standard used by digital cameras – PictBridge (with it’s Picture Transfer Protocol). Seeing as several printer manufacturers already support this standard in at least some of their printers, maybe Google will be building on that.

love the show

Scot in London

Turns out Dell says it never deleted complaints from its forums about throttled processors, and it is working hard to fix the issues with updated BIOS. Donald suggests that the folks who claimed they were deleted by Dell probably lost a lot of street cred. We also speculate on the meaning of the Comcast acquisition of NBC Universal. Will "Heroes" become more Comcastic?

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Comcast gets NBC from G.E. in deal that reshapes TV
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/business/media/04nbc.html
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/12/how-the-fcc-might-stop-the-comcastnbc-merger.ars

Google and Twitter hook up on nine million sites
http://mashable.com/2009/12/02/google-friend-connect-twitter/

Microsoft launches Streetside Maps on Bing
http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/microsoft_news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=222000449

Intel shows off 48-core chip
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8392392.stm
http://news.cnet.com/2300-1001_3-10001951.html
http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/intel-crams-48-cores-onto-stamp-sized-processor-wants-to-do-wha/

Intel sees rush to Netbook app store
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10407840-64.html

FCC preparing transition to VoIP telephone network
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/12/03/1318218/FCC-Preparing-Transition-To-VoIP-Telephone-Network
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/12/fcc-plans-for-death-of-circuit-switched-phone-networks.ars

Texting and Twitter make kids BETTER writers, not worse
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8392653.stm

Dell on laptops and throttling
http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2009/12/02/dell-on-laptops-and-throttling.aspx

FCC approves radar that sees through walls
http://www.commlawblog.com/2009/12/articles/unlicensed-operations-and-emer/fcc-lets-radar-company-see-through-walls/index.html
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/12/03/0247228/FCC-Lets-Radar-Company-See-Through-Walls

Man controls cybernetic hand with thoughts
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10408139-1.html

VOICE MAIL
Shalin on journalism

iYaz on Psystar

E-MAIL
According to this article , Verizon’s map of AT&T coverage is not actually correct; The real map is -smaller-! Seems verizon’s actually showing a bigger map than AT&T actually cover because it included their 3rd party towers, that AT&T don’t own, just pay to use as and when they need it.

So what, you might well ask; phone still works there – funny, but not that big a deal.

Well it appears (See same article) AT&T may decide to cut off your service if you use too much data in those areas, as these third party towers cost them more. So the map of coverage is realy a map of ‘mostly coverage, unless you’re in specific, unmentioned areas where the coverage is limited.

Makes me feel happy to be in the UK where the iPhone is available via O2, Orange and soon (6 months I think) Vodafone will also offer it.

Who hot elves? (it’s an anagram )

- Hennell

**********

Hey Buzz crew –
I was reading about Talkback – the open source text-to-speech screen reader designed for the droid. As I’m sure you’re aware the iPhone 3G S has voiceover capabilities hence making it mostly accessible to visually impaired/blind users but I can’t find a damn thing on Talkback! With all the talk of Droid becoming a stronghold (?) in the smart phone market and Jason’s undying love of his own bot I wondered if anyone had gotten better news than this link on its accessibility features.
Also as a side note I had to respond to the Kindle talk recently regarding it taking over the world and being accessible by design. Note that even though it may provide some text-to-speech capabilities most books (and publishers) have disabled this feature out of fear of audiobooks loosing sales *and* the menus and toolbars do not have speech output making them inaccessible to navigate for those with print/visual disabilities.
Love you though, love the show!
JB

**********

Hey Buzz crew, I was listening to episode #1117 and your discussion
about non-standard printer drivers and I think the reason why they are
universally terrible is that HP, Canon etc. want to be able to sell
you more ink cartridges. Normally when the proprietary software says
the ink has run out, there is still actually plenty of ink left. They
just want to be able to continue to sell as many ink cartridges as
possible. I think this is why Microsoft never was able to get them to
adopt a universal standard and Google is going to have a very
difficult time trying to do the same.

Love the show,
Pete in San Jose

Facebook's changing its privacy policy, and Molly and Rafe predict there will be groups. I don't think anyone cares about regional groups, but hey, I could be wrong. We also talk about why Steve Jobs personally approved an app that currently doesn't work. And Richard comes up with a brilliant idea for the future of news.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Google alters news indexing to accommodate pay walls
http://www.pcworld.com/article/183526/google_alters_news_indexing_to_accommodate_pay_walls.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/technology-media-telco-SP/idUSGEE5B11Y120091202

AT&T customer satisfaction tanks
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/120209-att-customer-satisfaction.html?hpg1=bn

AT&T gives up on Verizon ad lawsuit
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10407717-266.html

New Facebook privacy controls just weeks away
http://www.pcworld.com/article/183505/
http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=190423927130

Sprint fed customer GPS data to cops over 8 million times
http://arstechnica.com/telecom/news/2009/12/sprint-fed-customer-gps-data-to-leos-over-8-million-times.ars
http://paranoia.dubfire.net/2009/12/8-million-reasons-for-real-surveillance.html
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/12/gps-data

TomTom aggregates anonymous driver speeds; compiles list of most congested cities
http://richdemuro.com/tomtom-aggregrates-anonomous-driver-speeds-co

Google wants to eliminate drivers
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10407264-1.html

Web giants unite against Digital Britain copyright bill
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8390623.stm

Steve Jobs intervenes, approves Knocking streaming-video app
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/12/steve-jobs-intervenes-approves-knocking-streaming-video-app.ars

After Apple agreement, Psystar officially halts sales of clone Macs
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/12/02/after_apple_agreement_psystar_officially_halts_sales_of_clone_macs.html

Black screen of death not a Microsoft issue after all
http://www.prevx.com/blog/141/Windows-Black-Screen-Root-Cause.html

Dane, who ripped his DVDs, demands to be arrested under DRM law
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/12/01/dane-who-ripped-his.html

VOICE MAIL
Richard from California has an idea for CNN

E-MAIL
Google phone a certainty?I think they are right… But noting the way many people think. HTC
made the last google developer phone and in doing so got access to the
source code for 1.0 very early. This almost forced a partnership on
the G1. Simmilarly google is essentially forced to work with a
particular manufacture every launch in ever generation ( i.e. Droid
2.0). I would argue that in an attempt to not be “evil” that the phone
they launch is a developer version that will allow them to more
tightly control a symultainous launch. Thier current version is a bit
dated.

Making thier own consumer phone bypassing both hardware partners AND
wireless carriers is risky and potentially evil. Specifically given
that they have advertised this project as an open project.

Wallace R. Fanning