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!)

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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

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.

Why the long Face...book? A woman battling depression put some pictures of herself having fun privately on Facebook. Somehow the insurance company found them and cut off her benefits saying she looked happy enough and must be cured. Really? We also get further impressions on Google's Chrome OSD now that we've had more time with it, and YouTube pulls a Hulu, but not in the good way.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Try out Chrome OS for yourself
http://gdgt.com/google/chrome-os/download/
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/google-chrome-os-available-as-free-vmware-download/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10401919-265.html

Other Stories

YouTube pulls a Hulu — yanking API access from Popcorn Hour, other TV-connected devices
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/youtube-pulls-a-hulu-yanking-api-access-from-popcorn-hour-ot/

Twitter turns on location. Not for Twitter.com just yet.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/19/twitter-location-api/
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/twitter_location_api_possible_uses.php

Sony unveils its answer to Apple’s iTunes
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/nov2009/gb20091119_588376.htm

Sony hits snag getting its own game out for PSP Go
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/11/sony-hits-snag-with-getting-its-own-game-out-for-pspgo.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

Britain’s new Internet law — as bad as everyone’s been saying, and worse. Much, much worse.
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/20/britains-new-interne.html
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/11/19/1511255/Secret-UK-Plan-To-Appoint-Pirate-Finder-General

Law firm contemplates class action suit to recompense Xbox Live modders
http://www.itproportal.com/portal/news/article/2009/11/20/law-firm-contemplates-class-action-suit-recompense-xbox-live-modders/

Depressed woman loses benefits over Facebook photos
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/11/19/quebec-facebook-sick-leave-benefits.html

Kickers and Science

LHC dimensional apocalypse from midnight
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/20/lhc_feedback_roundup/

This Google’s made from 100 percent virgin pulp, not chrome
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/this-googles-made-from-100-virgin-pulp-not-chrome/

VOICE MAIL
Derrek points out something very important about this episode

Mike the truck driver

Shane from Coshocton. Dude! He’s from Coshocton!

E-MAIL
Hi Buzz crew, Chadd the ita in California here. Was just watching the
buzz report on my spealy and wanted to let you know that both my sibs
use their jejaws while operating their fetches. Recently, despite my
protests, I have noticed my parents responding to my text messages while
they are driving the fetch.

All of them are using Blackberries, is there something I can get them
for Christmas that will allow them to text hands free? At least that may
be a step in the right direction.

Love the buzz report

-Chadd
Rialto, California

**********

Hey Buzz Crew

I had heard about your show for a while but only started listening about 8 months ago. After listening to one episode, I decided to listen to all of them. 1,110 episodes later, I’m all caught up. In case you’re wondering, I’m not crazy, I just have a lot of free time at work. Love the show.

Jonathan
Summerville, SC

**********

PC Game moders have created their own Modern Warfare 2 Dedicated Servers.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Modern-Warfare-2-Gets-Dedicated-Servers-Workaround-127188.shtml

The problem with insulting Tweakers and Hackers is that motivates them to
‘code’ you off at the knees, like AgentGOD did.

Give them a dedicated server on the PC or Crack down on moders, watch your
sales drop and piracy rise.

I don’t own the game and don’t plan on buying it anytime soon, but as a PC
Gamer that lives on the Mod and Modding community (when not playing MMO’s)
I am getting tired of game companies buying into the console market
fallacy.

Robert Clark
Prince Albert, SK

Apparently the Large Hadron Collider is doomed. It can't even survive a bread bombing by birds. The Droid arrived on the scene though, and people actually lined up. However tethering is gonna cost you on the thing. Are you still in love? And Gwen Stefani doesn't like you making her sing Honky Tonk Women.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Episode

Midnight Droid madness in Manhattan
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10392128-266.html

Verizon Droid Tethering Will Cost You
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/181590/verizon_droid_tethering_will_cost_you.html
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/06/psa-sears-charging-50-less-for-new-droid-activations-than-veri/

Windows 7 sales exceed Vista sales by 234%, new PC sales not as strong
http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_091105a.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-10391484-75.html

Confirmed: Skype Founders Settle With eBay And Others, Get 14% Stake In Skype, Not 10%
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/06/confirmed-skype-founders-settle-with-ebay-and-others-get-14-stake-in-skype-not-10/

Twitter Cleaning Up Trending Topics Spam
http://mashable.com/2009/11/05/twitter-trending-topics-spam/

No Doubt sues Activision over Band Hero [Updated]
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/11/no-doubt-sues-activision-over-band-hero.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10391715-17.html

Judge Halts Online Sale of Beatles Songs
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/11/bluebeat-claims-to-own-new-copyrights-to-old-beatles-songs/
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/11/about-those-beatles-songs-its-weirder-than-you-thought.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

Betting on a Metal-Air Battery Breakthrough
http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/23877/?a=f

LHC Shut Down Again -- By Baguette-Dropping Bird
http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/11/06/0824213/LHC-Shut-Down-Again-mdash-By-Baguette-Dropping-Bird?from=rss

Sony to bring Risk to the big screen
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/06/risk_movie/

VOICEMAIL

Brian in Virginia on the PS3 Netflix

Anonymous Tony about 3G maps

EMAIL

Hey Buzz crew,

I am sure you will have this in today’s lineup..but just in case:

Comcast’s new throttling policies.

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/11/04/2026206/Comcasts-New-Throttling-Plan-Uses-Trigger-Conditions-Not-Silent-Blocking

“Its network throttling implements a two-tier packet queueing system at the routers, driven by two trigger conditions. Comcast’s first traffic throttling trigger is tripped by using more than 70 per cent of your maximum downstream or upstream bandwidth for more than 15 minutes. Its second traffic throttling trigger is tripped when the Cable Modem Termination System you’re hooked-up to - along with up to 15,000 other Comcast subscribers - gets congested, and your traffic is somehow identified as being responsible. Tripping either of Comcast’s high bandwidth usage rate triggers results in throttling for at least 15 minutes, or until your average bandwidth utilisation rate drops below 50 per cent for 15 minutes.”

So…by analogy, will cops start giving out speeding tickets if you travel >=70% of the posted speed limit for more than 15 minutes as well?

Wasn’t there a recent story about the FTC/FCC rules about “Truth in advertising” about ISP speeds? Now Comcast pretty much says, that whatever the ADVERTISED bandwidth, you will be punished for using more than 70% of your ACTUAL bandwidth.

Lima Tango Sierra!

Bob in NJ…

**********

Hey,

First off, Love the Show

My brother just alerted me to the Darpa Network Challenge, http://networkchallenge.darpa.mil/, which is to mark the 40th anniversary of the Internet.

The goal of the Challenge is to be the first to submit the locations of 10 large red weather balloons scattered throughout the continental united states. One person can’t do it alone, so the winner will be the best one to use Social Networking to solve the challenge, and what better then getting the word out on BOL?

I’ve seen others on Facebook with the same idea, but I’m also shamelessly running a contest website at http://www.mgatelabs.com/wiki/Darpa_Network_Challenge

Thanks,
Michael Fuller
Graduate Student of Software Engineering @ Auburn University
Developer of Port Defender on the AppStore

**********

Greetings buzztown,

Tom, you were concerned about the lack of competition in the chip market.
Well actually there was more in the early days of Windows NT.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windo
NT was initially available on these platforms: Intel X86, MIPS R3000/R4000 DEC Alpha, IBM PowerPC, Itanium and AMD64.

I was in software development back then. With four Unix platforms, we had 10 platforms to develop and support. Expensive!
With the market consolidation, It is so much easier now. We support Windows X86, OS X, Solaris and HP-UX.
Any new chip maker is going to have to emulate the X86 instruction set.

AMD, in 1982 licensed the X86 architecture. That, I believe, is why they still exist today.
I can’t imagine Intel would do that again, Unless the Government ordered it.
It is nice to have a standard PC that can boot Windows, OS X and Linux as needed.

There is more competition in electrical outlets around the world.
There are 12 different connectors and about 6 different voltages.
It’s tough charging you laptop around the world.

Love the Show,

Henry C.
Livonia MI

The mystical city of Argleton in the U.K. appears on Google Maps but presents a face of green empty fields to people in person. What is it hiding? Druids? Wizards? Copyright protection? We also discuss the hot new XPERIA X 10 and the less hot Droid Exchange data plan. Also we can tell you when to watch Cougar Town on Hulu. We never stop our attempts to serve your every need.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Microsoft chops price of its hosted software
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10388764-56.html

Want a Droid for work e-mail? It’ll cost you extra
http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/want-droid-work-e-mail-itll-cost-you-extra-575

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 announced
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-announced-we-go-hands-on/
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2355137,00.asp
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10389463-94.html

Dutch hacker holds jailbroken iPhones “hostage” for ?5
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/11/dutch-hacker-holds-jailbroken-iphones-hostage-for-5.ars

Best Buy prepares for the post-DVD era
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/best-buy-prepares-for-the-post-dvd-era/
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/03/best-buy-partnering-with-cinemanow-to-stream-first-run-dvds-to-a/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-10389016-260.html

Spring Design files lawsuit against Barnes & Noble: Nook violates Alex intellectual property
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20091102006674&newsLang=en
http://www.tgdaily.com/consumer-electronics-features/44517-start-up-sues-over-nook

Hulu launches Coming Soon, their own TV Guide, sort of
http://blog.hulu.com/2009/11/02/coming-soon-your-resource-for-good-things-to-come/

Feds charge cable modem modder with 'aiding computer intrusion'
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/11/derengel/
http://www.pcworld.com/article/181267/alleged_cable_modem_hacker_indicted_in_us.html

Space hotel on track for 2012 – requires 8 weeks of training
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091102/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_space_hotel;_ylt=AppcrpbEAKVXEHRSsMudbLx0fNdF

Mystery of Argleton, the ‘Google’ town that only exists online
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/6474746/Mystery-of-Argleton-the-Google-town-that-only-exists-online.html

VOICE MAIL
Jerry from the fed thinks e-mail and letters are the same

Anonymous G-Man disagrees

E-MAIL
Hey Buzz Crew,

On Monday’s show, you guys took issue with Apple’s argument regarding Psystar’s unauthorized “copying” of OS X when the machines boot and make copies in the system’s RAM.

Although I’m not a lawyer, I am currently a law school student, and I can tell you that the idea that copying into RAM constitutes making a “copy” in the way Apple claims is well established law. See MAI Systems Corp. v. Peak Computer, Inc., 991 F.2d 511 (9th Cir. 1993).

As consumers, we’re given an exception for making RAM copies because we own authorized copies (or licenses) of our software. Apple’s argument (and it’s probably a valid one) is that Psystar is making unauthorized copies, and is thus not allowed to claim the same safe-harbour that allows regular consumers to make RAM copies.

As someone who hopes to build a hackintosh myself one day, I’m not particularly happy to say it, but it seems relatively clear that Apple has got established legal precedent on its side here. Love the show.

Nathan

***********

Someone must have commented that the “Nook” seems to come from Dr Seuss… In “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue fish” There is a part about “I took a look, I saw a Nook, and on his head there was a hook, and on his hook there was a book, and on the book was how to cook…” So when I heard the name Nook as a book reader, it just seemed too obvious. Of course the nook couldn’t read so the nook couldn’t cook so what good to a nook is a hook cook book?

Maybe I missed this discussion?

Love the show

Irie

***********

I have an alternative to the Twitter Peak. I had a “smart” pager back in 1998 and it had a full qwerty keyboard and could send/receive email or send text pages to other smart pagers.

I did a quick net search and these are still available, only now they support two way SMS as well for about $20/month and 2000+ texts/pages/emails. Pagers run $50-150. Who knew.

Probably better for a kid than a medium that by default broadcasts to the whole world. Plus no camera, unlike most cellphones, so no tween-sexting issues.

Love the show.

James

Bill Keller from the New York Times let slip he's been working on a version of the New York Times for the Apple Slate. Great! What the hell is the Apple Slate? well obviously it's a much-rumored Apple Tablet. We also discuss T-Mobile's unlimited plans and hope against all hopes that they are truly unlimited.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Bill Keller: Apple Tablet ‘Impending’
http://gawker.com/5389636/bill-keller-apple-tablet-impending

T-Mobile Adds ‘Even More Plus’ Plans
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2354721,00.asp

Netflix Movies Stream to Sony's PlayStation 3
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/netflix-movies-stream-to-sonys-playstation-3/

Hollywood wants share of Netflix’s windfall
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10382717-261.html

Microsoft Offers Windows 7 on USB Drives for Netbooks
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Windows/Microsoft-Offers-Windows-7-on-USB-Drives-for-Netbooks-225258/

$180 BlackBerry Storm2 hits the shelves on Wednesday
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9139892/_180_BlackBerry_Storm2_hits_the_shelves_on_Wednesday

Sprint Announces Nov. Launch Date for Palm Pixi
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2354726,00.asp

Mobile net ‘heading for data jam’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8325634.stm

Verizon profit dips, but wireless stays strong
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10382841-266.html
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-earnings-verizon-profit-down-wireless-unit-revenues-jump/

Has AT&T Wireless data congestion been self-inflicted?
http://blogs.broughturner.com/2009/10/is-att-wireless-data-congestion-selfinflicted.html

Surgeon Performs World’s First 4X HD Surgery
http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/10/25/2010236/Surgeon-Performs-Worlds-First-4X-HD-Surgery

VOICEMAIL
Ted from Berkeley on hacking the Pre

Ralph on Windows 7 problems

EMAIL
Hey Buzz Out-louders,

Was on my way to class this morning when I saw this article in the Chicago Sun-Times:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/1846104,CST-FIN-apple26.article

Apparently Apple may pay to upgrade a station at the North and Clybourn red line L stop. They are set to open a new retail location close to the stop. I live near it and I can say with full confidence that that stop is pretty nasty and run down (like most of the CTA's L stations.) I guess Apple thinks it's not very becoming to have your flashy products available via a not so flashy station stop and is willing to fork over the cash to fix that.

Thoughts?

I've been listening to your podcast for about three years now. Love the show!

-Casey the performing arts management student in Chicago

**********

Hey buzz crew, I don’t if you saw this BBC news item about twitter and other social networking sites costing UK companies 1.4 billion pounds a year. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8325865.stm. The assumption is that because their survey of 1460 office workers indicated that people spent an average of 40 minutes a week on these sites that “such online behaviour clearly had a “productivity strain” on firms.” I call shenanigans, and I wish I could get my hands on the actually study so that I could fully debunk the it, but no such luck. My worry is that I read this at 8 am ET and I am sure by this afternoon mainstream media is just going to run with it with no thought or insight.

Love the show.
Marlon “the guyfromtrinidad”

**********

“Net Neutrality,” not allowing ISP to charge extra for special serves,
will kill the internet. If we don’t allow ISP to make profit from
investing in infrastructure, they will not invest money in
infrastructure. Unlike broadcast television, the internet does not
travel through a common good. Every inch of the internet in America is
built, owned, and maintained by private actors. In order to continue to
have good internet service, we have to allow those actors to make profits.

If you want better service, kill the government interference that
currently exists. Primarily this interference is cable monopolies that
are granted by localities. Since most broadband access comes in via
cable connections this directly hurts the quality of internet access in
America.

Kevin

New technology allows organic brain cells to control robots, leading us to conclude that eventually we'll all be brains in a data center. Also Apple announces a bunch of updates to its computer line as well as a new magic mouse. And the PS3 is now the King of the console hill. Who saw that coming?

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Apple redesigns iMac and 13-inch MacBook, revamps Mac Mini
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10378884-1.html
http://www.apple.com/macbook/
http://www.apple.com/magicmouse/
http://www.apple.com/imac/
http://www.apple.com/macmini/

Barnes & Noble ‘Nook’ e-reader with color touch screen out Thursday for $259
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/barnes-and-noble-nook-color-e-reader-out-tuesday-for-259-says/
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/barnes-and-noble-officially-launches-nook-e-reader-259-pre-orde/

Google actually getting into the phone business?
http://www.thestreet.com/story/10614007/1/exclusive-google-plans-its-own-android-phone.html

PS3 finally wins a month
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10378392-52.html

Xbox 360 update will lock out unauthorized storage
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/10/19/1959249/Xbox-360-Update-Will-Lock-Out-Unauthorized-Storage

CIA branch invests in tech firm that monitors blogs, Twitter, social media
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/10/19/cia-branch-invests-i.html

Car glass rules could impair cell, GPS, and radio signals in Calif.
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/10/19/1844258/Car-Glass-Rules-Could-Impair-Cell-GPS-and-Radio-Signals-In-CA

Internet Archive’s BookServer could ‘dominate’ Amazon
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10378573-52.html

Quick test’ for airport liquids
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8314419.stm

Robot controlled by human brain cells
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/10/20/1236208/Robot-Controlled-By-Human-Brain-Cells

VOICEMAIL
Daniel about Verizon

Paul FROM Verizon

E-MAIL
Hey buzz crew,
Before this app came out (wolfram) there was a mobile iPhone formatted
wolfram alpha site that was amazing! I saved it to my home screen but
when I clicked on it today, it led me to a add for the app. **sigh**

Yours truly,
Cameron Tora

**********

Love the show, but you should clarify the Google Voicemail story. Users choose to 'share' those messages – users shared them. Google is now protecting people from their own stupidity which is cool, but please blame stupid people not Google!

thanks,
Natron from Madison, WI

First, apologies for the song that will be stuck in your head for at least a week. Blame the chat room. In the news today, the T-Mobile Sidekick outage, the ongoing Facebook outage, the IBM outage that briefly crippled Air New Zealand, and the unbelievable failure that is the PSP Go launch. It's a fun show.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

T-Mobile: We probably lost all your Sidekick data
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/10/t-mobile-we-probably-lost-all-your-sidekick-data/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10372521-1.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10372525-56.htm
http://www.hiptop3.com/archives/what-caused-the-sidekick-fail/
http://samj.net/2009/10/if-its-dangerous-its-not-cloud.html

Downed Facebook accounts still haven’t returned
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10372417-36.html

Amateur’ IBM brings down Air New Zealand
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/12/ibm_new_zealand/

PSP Go launch has become a nightmare for gamers, Sony
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/10/psp-go-launch-has-become-a-nightmare-for-gamers-sony.ars

FCC to investigate Google Voice call blocking
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/09/AR2009100904385.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10372521-1.html

Study: 54 percent of companies ban Facebook, Twitter at work
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/10/study-54-of-companies-ban-facebook-twitter-at-work/

BSA: 41 percent of software on personal computers is pirated
http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=8325

LG’s new twist on e-readers: Solar power!
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10372744-1.html

Hadron Collider physicist arrested on terrorism charges
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10372398-71.html

VOICE MAIL
Anonymous Linux dude: how about a streamlined OS? #nerdsnort

E-MAIL
Hi Guys and Girls

This new Lightpeek standard sounds awesome but when you’re heads down, bum up in a dark corner because one cable is too short and the network, monitor, mouse and keyboard cables all look the same I think I’ll want to strangle someone. There’s a certain elegance in having a network cable that looks completely different to a DVI cable because my monitor doesn’t understand TCP/IP and my switch won’t go 1080p.

Cheers
Craig

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Hello Buzzies!

First: Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, and Happy American Columbus Day!

On another note however I would like to say why the Amazon Kindle
sucks overseas. Don’t get me wrong I love the idea of the Kindle,
built in 3G, buy books as you go and it works everywhere! However if I
would like one in the Netherlands (and Europe for that matter) I have
to buy it from Amazon.com and I have to pay in American Dollars. Which
isn’t to bad, heck the Euro/Dollar exchange rate is awesome at the
moment. But here come the terrible parts:

Although Amazon says it works overseas you have to keep this in mind:

- Ships with American Plug/adapter
- 20$ Shipping
- 60$ import costs
- Works through ATT Roaming partners, but you don’t have any roaming
costs (that is what Amazon says, they say US customers overseas pay
1.99$, but say other countries are free). In reality though, the books
(which you also have to pay in American $) are more expensive in the
European Kindle store than in the US kindle store.
- Newspapers are full price, but don’t get delivered with Images and
charts (saving bandwidth)
- The blogs feature is disabled (couldn’t care less)
- The experimental browser is disabled (yes this does suck)

The part that hurts most is the ‘premium’ on books even though Amazon
says no roaming fees (and don’t give the ‘tax’ excuse, because if that
is the case, there would be a Kindle store for every country, instead
of just for Europe. And the part that if I want a newspaper I don’t
get the pretty images and graphs. What’s the point of a newspaper if
they can’t show me any Pie charts?

Amazon did a lousy job, and wants to be easy by making a deal with ATT
Worldwide instead of making deals with carriers in every country. What
they probably should have done was introduce a Wi-Fi Kindle. And
release Kindles with 3G when they had deals in those countries.

I also came across another artist that is spreading his music through the Radiohead model, 'pay what you want $0 is good too'. The artist name is 'Yellowgold' never heard anything about him, but his new album 'The Mellower' is awesome! You can find it here: http://www.yellowgoldmusic.com/ . Good stuff!

Just my 2 cents!

Alex

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Barnes and Noble creating an android based e-book reader? More like Barnes and Noble creating the first Android based tablet. Google not only gets it’s hand into the e-book market after they have digitized books, but they also get the ability to test and review their android software on non-phone hardware. You can almost guarantee this device will not only read books but allow users to listen to mp3s, browse the Internet via wifi/chrome, and download all apps from the android marketplace. Knowing Google, they will also include you-tube functions as well as the ability to post on blogs and subscribe to rss feeds.

Ccarline

In the U.K., you don't have to be in the presence of someone to serve them with legal papers. So now Twitter has become a way to get served. We also are happy that the U.S. government is taking cybersecurity seriously, but maybe they could lay off with the cyber prefix a little. And we try to care more about the Palm Pixi. We really do.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Vista/IE market share slide, Win 7/Firefox/Chrome surge
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=5700

Palm Pixi launching on October 20th?
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/01/palm-pixi-launching-on-october-20th/

GE is in talks to spin off NBC, give Comcast 51% of new unit
http://www.cnbc.com/id/33123120
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-ges-immelt-nbcu-comcast-discussions-are-about-partnerships-or-ipo/

Court order served over Twitter
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8285954.stm

Researchers hijack a drive-bBy botnet
http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/23566/?a=f

DHS to hire up to 1,000 cybersecurity experts
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/02/dhs.cybersecurity.jobs/index.html

Sony prototype sends electricity through the air
http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=14BC23AA-1A64-67EA-E4954B0CBCFF69D3

A mobile phone mesh that can survive carrier network failure
http://mobile.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/10/01/202210

Radio-controlled cyborg beetles become reality
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/10/02/0037201/Radio-Controlled-Cyborg-Beetles-Become-Reality

Gas mask bra traps Ig Nobel prize
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8285380.stm
http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2009/10/ig-nobel-prizes-honor-tequila-knuckle-cracking-panda-poop.ars

VOICE MAIL
Justin Orlando on Cowboys

E-MAIL
Snakes on a Plane is out on Blu-Ray Whoopie, it’s out!!

http://www.amazon.com/Snakes-Plane-Blu-ray-Samuel-Jackson/dp/B0029O0BL8/ref=sr_1_38?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1254448605&sr=1-38

Time for a reunion episode with V and M extolling the values infused in
the minds of those watching this movie in glorious HD.

Rick (Balloon Scientist, Colorado)

**********

Tom,

In BOL 1075, you and Rafe were discussing props in sci-fi movies. This reminded me of my favorite recent example.

During a forced rewatching of Phantom Menace, I noticed something oddly familiar about Liam Neeson’s little communicator thingie. On closer look, it was clearly my wife’s Gillette Ladies Sensor Excell Razor Handle (which I see on the shower shelf every day) painted silver with a couple nub antennae stuck on the top.

http://www.partsofsw.com/Ep_1/quicom.htm

I suspect Buzztown can come up with dozens of even better examples.

Cheers,

“Craemmir” (pron: cray-mer), in DC

**********

Hey Buzz crew
Namaste!

Hi! I’m Tushar, from Ludhiana, India and probably the only listener in the town!!!
A couple of days ago When I checked in my facebook page, I was redirected to their lite.facebook.com page
and the cool thing was that I couldn’t revert back to the normal page!!!
On doing some research I came to know that it was a problem with a couple other users back here in India where facebook randomly picked them as their beta testers for lite.facebook.com but we all CANNOT go back to the normal facebook!!!!
Please read this e-mail on the show so the facebook guys at least know that we wanna go back, cause we people tried ( http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=129521886143&topic=13597 ) but its been a week but no-one from facebook replied or gave us the option to revert back
P.S. – facebook lite is cool for some users who do not want any clutter but it should not be mandatory for all!!!
LOVE THE SHOW

Tushar Jain
Ludhiana
India