Buzz Out Loud Podcast

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.

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

Yahoo and Google have released their top search terms of the year and--no surprise--it's full of pop culture icons and references, which makes Natali mad. Also making people mad is the new Microsoft black screen of death, which Microsoft still doesn't see. Also, YouTube wants back into the TV business, but this time the aim to do it legally and charge you.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Yahoo and Google year in review – this depresses me every year
http://yearinreview.yahoo.com/
http://digital.venturebeat.com/2009/11/30/yahoos-2009-searches-topped-by-michael-jackson-and-twilight-not-twitter/
http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/annc/20091201_zeitgeist.html
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/zeitgeist-2009-collective-consciousness.html

Microsoft investigating ‘black screen of death’
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10406369-56.html

What’s powering Web apps: Google waving goodbye to Gears, hello to HTML5 [Updated]
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/11/google-gears.html

Is YouTube ready for prime time? Google wants to stream TV, for a fee
http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20091201/is-youtube-ready-for-prime-time-google-wants-to-stream-tv-for-a-fee/

Massive performance problem in Dell laptops
http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/dell-facing-massive-e6400-and-e6500-overheating-and-underclockin/

Apple and Psystar reach partial agreement
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/12/01/psystar_apple_enter_partial_settlement_to_cease_clone_mac_sales.html

Current ACTA drafts ban DRM interoperability laws
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/11/current-acta-drafts-bans-drm-interoperability-laws.ars

Apple iPhone may go to T-Mobile next
http://www.thestreet.com/story/10634548/1/apple-iphone-may-go-to-t-mobile-next.html

Motorola Cliq sales fall short of goals thanks to issues, lack of interest
http://www.inquisitr.com/50187/motorola-cliq-sales-fall-short-of-goals-amid-issues-lack-of-interest/

Self-healing paint coming to cell phones
http://www.core77.com/blog/materials/japanese_market_to_get_self-healing_paint_for_cell_phones_15359.asp

VOICE MAIL
Alex in Austria on CNN vs Twitter

Joe on BNO being taken over

Jason the IT guy on the Bing program

E-MAIL
Hey, Buzz Crew. I’m guessing you’ll find out about this on your own, but just in case, here’s a link to the results of Android Developer Challenge 2.

http://code.google.com/android/adc/gallery_winners.html

Looks like there’s some great stuff here…can’t wait to try some of them out!

-Dave

**********

Hey Buzz Crew,

To add to what BT said yesterday, self-limitation of piracy does not only happen in the news/entertainment industry. In the world of magicians, intellectual property works a little differently.

It is hard to protect one’s work because once the method leaks out (copied DVDs, manuscripts), it loses most of its commercial value. Recently the web has facilitated piracy of magic at an enormous rate. Fortunately, the magic community is fairly closely knit, so if one were to pirate the work of another, he or she would essentially be ripping off someone they could easily meet in person. Further, magicians are extremely good about sharing their knowledge with one another, often for FREE. Of course (as you often say), there will ALWAYS be those who pirate, but the unique nature of our community protects our material to some degree.

Love the show,
Jimmy the Microbiologist (and Magician)

New Netbook chips promise to increase battery life, which sends Molly into a tizzy about battery life. But battery life does not keep pace with chip law, as Rafe states so well. Also the phone ad wars heat...er...lukewarm up, with some arguably limp responses from Apple. And Opera cooperates with China, sort of.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

New Apple ads to Verizon: Can Droid do this?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10403954-94.html

Google pacts with TiVo for TV ad data
http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSTRE5AN2C020091124

Major Intel chip upgrade coming to new Netbooks
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10403768-64.html

Google places ad explaining offensive image
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10403931-265.html

Opera ‘censors’ Chinese content
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8376555.stm

More Android users get Google Maps navigation
http://www.pcworld.com/article/182941/more_android_users_get_google_maps_navigation.html

Recession pushes more workers to steal data
http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/11/23/1927248/Recession-Pushes-More-Workers-To-Steal-Data

Wikipedia volunteers jumping ship
http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/2009/11/24/wikipedia-volunteers-jumping-ship/

Cern’s Large Hadron Collider makes first collisions
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8375486.stm

Intelsat launches hardware for Internet routing from space
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1334203/Intelsat-Launches-Hardware-For-Internet-Routing-From-Space

VOICE MAIL
Nick from Anchorage on why cutting off the Net might violate 1st Amendment

E-MAIL
After listening to your rant about aol. fail, I thought to myself that they just got it backwards. Maybe the ad agency just didn’t understand when they told them to put the . infront of the a and instead “edited/corrected” it to put it at the end.

The brilliant move would have been to make it .aol and then file for a new TLD (top level domain) which I believe will be coming online in 2010.

That would have been a home run, everything aol could have been .aol, so it could be engadget.aol, images.aol, email.aol etc.

So I’m just going to chock it up to advertising ignorance.

TechRavingMad

**********

You mean to tell me getting hype on unreleased demos is hurting “aol.”? Not only are there people talking about it and trying to understand it; but aol is getting free beta testing for a new logo. Success! I look forward to typing in random crap after aol. to get a crazy page, like how users type in messages to google’s search to pull up funny search phrases or use mystery google for fun. I only hope for aol.dinosaur.com to pull up some sort of epic dinosaur themed aol page.

Plus, AOL is so easier to say than America Online. (think syllables out of your mouth then think of the major leaders for tech {Google, Apple, Sony, Microsoft}) – ccarline

**********

BOL & Co,

Thank the heavens for the institutional memory that is the internet. As soon as you y’all (in ep 1112) started bringing up Vlingo, I sez to myself:

“Hey, I downloaded Vlingo way back when and I swear I heard about it on…BOL.”

And, my self sez, “yep”:

http://buzzoutloud.wikia.com/wiki/Episode_864

Craemmir
Washington DC

**********

I was hoping you could give a shout out to a webathon for the child's play charity. Its a comedy group out of Vancouver playing Desert Bus the most boring game ever made. They have a website at http://desertbus.org they’ve been going for 3 days as of my writing that gives them a total of 9 points in the game. (it takes at least 8 hours for 1 point.) The more money they raise the longer they will play (currently 121 hours) It’s for a good cause and with your help we can keep them playing even longer.

The rumors about the Apple Tablet are getting crazy and special guest Cali Lewis nails it when she calls it a unicorn. We also get the first look at the Google OS, and nobody is very excited about Microsoft Office 2010. Except the one person who never uses it: me. And we get some of the inside scoop behind the FAA outage.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Liveblog today: Google Chrome OS press conference
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10401095-2.html

Apple Tablet that has never been more than a rumour now delayed until 2H 2010
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091118PB201.html

Ian Paul at PC World declares Tablet dead
http://www.pcworld.com/article/182571/

ATandT loses first legal battle against Verizon ads
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10401094-266.html
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/atandt-hits-back-at-verizons-map-for-that-campaign-with-an-ad/

Microsoft launches Office 2010 beta with social networking in Outlook
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10400648-56.html
http://blogs.msdn.com/outlook/
http://blog.linkedin.com/2009/11/18/linkedin-microsoft-outlook-connector

FAA Computer Glitch Causes Widespread Airline Delays
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/11/19/152243/FAA-Computer-Glitch-Causes-Widespread-Airline-Delays

Programmers Guild protests visa extension laws
http://www.infoworld.com/d/adventures-in-it/tech-workers-take-h-1b-case-supreme-court-024

California approves new standards on energy-hungry TVs
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-big-screen-tvs19-2009nov19,0,4027697.story

Next-gen Flip camcorder to boast Wi-Fi
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/29658/cisco-prepping-wi-fi-enabled-video-camera
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/11/18/the-next-flip-camera-will-have-wi-fi/

US government using PS3s to break encryption
http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/11/18/2149202/US-Government-Using-PS3s-To-Break-Encryption

Lab worms are stunned by phaser
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8367081.stm

VOICE MAIL
Anonymous on Film and Games

Brian on the in-dash robot

E-MAIL
Hey Buzz Crew,
Chris the former SNOWMAN HUNTER (and secret robot resister) here to say I too was creeped out by Aida, the backseat driving robot on Episode 1108. A passenger in my car that scolds and nags and guilt-trips? What a clanking piece of Hell in the car pool lane.
But then it hit me. Give it a thin British accent, paint it gold and call it C-3P0… and I’d buy one tomorrow.
Love the show… until we’re all turned into a warm slurry by the coming robot hoards.
Chris

**********

Hi Buzz Crew,

Watching episode 1109.

Tom the circle on you iPhone next to the bars as far as im aware means you have cell data.
the bars are the signal strength from the mast. the circle is cell data, and E is Edge, 3G is 3G.

Over here in the UK on O2 we have pretty good 3G coverage and every time iv used my iPhone
to load a page – it loads, what ever i’m on (cell,edge,3g), yes on cell it takes a bit longer – but it loads,
sounds like AT&T should give up and go do something else

Love the show guys.

Thanks
Carl

England, UK

**********

Hey Buzz Crew,

Xerox has setup http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html to have people sign up to send free printed postcards to troops overseas. You select one of the designs, add a message, your name and hometown and they send it for free to a random troop.

I thought this was a neat idea from Xerox and I’m hoping that you’ll put the link in your shownotes.

Thanks and “Love the show.”
Hutch from Grand Rapids

IBM is working on an artificial brain they think they'll have done by 2019. And we figure once that happens, the robots will rise and we will become your pets. And like cats we'll think that we're in charge. In other news, Modern Warfare 2 beats Harry Potter to a pulp, and Verizon and AT&T are a'courting! Actually they're in court. Being sued.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Modern Warfare 2 tops entertainment industry, not just games
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-10400394-235.html

Google-branded phone coming early next year?
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/google-branded-phone-coming-early-next-year/

Chrome OS demo event tomorrow
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10400012-265.html

Azure goes live in January, paying customers in February.
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/11/microsoft-azure-to-go-live-january-for-pay-february.ars

“Map for That” campaign goes to court today
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/2009-11-18-att18_ST_N.htm

Did feds uncover most successful Web scam ever?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10399880-93.html

T-Mobile says workers sold customer data
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10400213-245.html

Microsoft: mobile apps aren’t important
http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/11/17/ms.ozzie.claims.mobile.apps.secondary/

Ordnance Survey maps to go online
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8366190.stm

No More Yahoo Go for TV
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/18/yahoo_go_gone/

Computing rivaling human brain may be ready by 2019
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10400362-52.html

VOICE MAIL
Tone on MW2

Ben the Canadian gets pushy

E-MAIL
Hey Buzz crew..
Your discussion of social viewing on NBC.com’s Communicator, had me yelling at my Zune HD, yes it looked wierd. Anyway, I was yelling because I do this on CBS.com now. CBS.com has watch and chat rooms on the site, in flash! I have some old college roommates and we are all NCIS, so when NCIS is showing in one of the rooms we make a point to head in to it, and chat about it. We like it!

Last thing, about Rupert and paying for news, does he intend on putting his Cable news sites behind a pay wall? If not then this plan of his won’t effect me since I get most of my news from the website of his cable channels..Although i do pay for the Wall Steet Journal online since it's cheaper than the Kindle edition of it.
Love the Show,
Stephen
Charlotte, Nc

PS
Love my Sprint 4G!

**********

Hey Buzz crew,

Haven’t listened to Ep. 1108 yet, so you may have reported on this already, but the town of Coshocton, Ohio has their Wifi back:

http://consumerist.com/5407138/free-muni-wifi-back-after-mpaa-shut-it-down-for-1-download

Consumerist links to this story:

http://www.coshoctontribune.com/article/20091117/NEWS01/911170301/1002/Downtown-Wi-Fi-connection-back-on

FYI: the town name is pronounced Cah – shock – ton.

Keep on keepin’ on.

Tim
Dublin, OH.

**********

Hi all in Buzzington,
Several days ago you reported on that 60 minutes story about hackers taking down the Brazilian power grid. This report was later proven to be false. Well, maybe they were just telling the truth ahead of time. According to Slashdot, a group of hackers were inspired by the 60minute story and actually did hack into the Brazilian power operator using an SQL injection.

It’s times like these when I wonder if the world wouldn’t be a better place if we all just kept our mouths shut.

Love the show,
JoshuaCaleb

P.S. Don’t know if caught my mention of it in the chat room yesterday Tom, but I finally got Digital City to introduce themselves….halfway through the show.

**********

Hey Buzz Crew,

I’m writing regarding episode 1107 where Molly said she would be willing to pay for a great newspaper aggregatation service. I remember hearing about such a thing a couple of months ago at a site called pressdisplay.com . They have newspapers from all over the world including (for Tom) the International Herald Tribune, The Washington Post and hundreds of others. Also, they have different subscription plans ranging from a pay as you read option to a monthly unlimited option. Just wanted to shed some light on this service for those who want to read the newspaper online. Love, the, show!

Miguel in San Francisco.

PS:They have a mobile site to access your subscriptions on your smartphone.

We get an email telling us our podcast RSS feed is now blocked in China after talking about the dispute over World of Warcraft between two Chinese government departments. Really? THAT is what got us blocked. We also get a kick out of good old Grandpa Murdoch's latest ramblings. And happy birthday Firefox. You're vulnerable.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Murdoch: We'll probably remove our sites from Google's index
http://mumbrella.com.au/murdoch-well-probably-remove-our-sites-from-googles-index-11366

Murdoch Making News Invisible To Search Engines? Not So Fast
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-video-murdoch-making-news-invisible-to-search-engines-not-so-fast/

New Verizon ad calls iPhone ‘misfit toy’
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10393072-71.html
http://gizmodo.com/5399850/verizon-wireless-launches-three-more-anti+att-3g-network-commercials

Apple said to be working on ‘world-mode’ iPhone
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10392936-94.html

First iPhone Worm Discovered, Rickrolls Jailbroken Phones
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/Zk3O3lh2r0U/First-iPhone-Worm-Discovered-Rickrolls-Jailbroken-Phones
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/09/2737673.htm

Happy 5th birthday
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/09/AR2009110901228.html

Firefox Tops Vulnerability List
http://www.internetnews.com/software/article.php/3847461

Nvidia CEO says ‘no’ to Intel-compatible chip
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10393045-64.html

Nook e-Book Reader on Back-Order
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703808904574523994119321648.html

Massive Brazilian Power Outages In 2005 and 2007 Caused By Hackers
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/wi_T-0ljnAw/Massive-Power-Outages-In-Brazil-Caused-By-Hackers

First look: Motorola Droid, HTC Droid Eris are risky for business
http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/first-look-motorola-droid-htc-droid-eris-are-risky-business-434?source=fssr

Comic Books Improve Early Childhood Literacy
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/N-w3O-DaOFI/Comic-Books-Improve-Early-Childhood-Literacy

VOICEMAIL

Anonymous thoughts about free speech

Terry on the bus – Teaxed twice by subsidies

EMAIL

Hey Buzz Crew,
I know from an earlier episode that many of you no longer use the
actual Google homepage, opting for search bars and other fancy means.
But, as someone who uses the homepage everyday, the things that Google
chooses to put on their home really makes an impact on me as a Google
user. Much to my surprise, this morning when I login, what do I see? A
shameless plug for the Verizon Droid phone. Now, I think this phone is
great and I would even purchase it myself if I was not broke. But, I
feel that this kind of promotional advertising on the Google homepage
crosses that line from normal to extremely sleazy. I tend to be ok with
Google and their enormous corporate clout because they typically are
innocuous in their products and launches. More like “Hey, here is a
really cool product, do what you want with it” instead of “Yo, yo, yo,
check out this sweet product that you need to have to change your
life”. But, this advert on the homepage seems more like the typical
marketing tricks by a very large company. What do you guys think?

chris
the computer science grad student

***********

So, I had been wondering why the last couple BOL’s weren’t coming down through iTunes, so I decided to check the blog and see what’s up, and I see the story about the infighting between the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the GAPP over WoW. Apparently somebody didn’t like the way you guys talked about it. I have seen other podcasts mysteriously stop downloading (happened to Radiolab after they did a piece on a Chinese zoo that does live feedings), but oddly I wouldn’t expect it to happen to Buzz, since you’ve covered China’s censorship before without getting blocked. Could just be coincidental, after all, I would really expect the Instance to get blocked because of Scott’s “Ding Pong” act, but it hasn’t.

Anyway, no reason to shut up about it, your pod is still accessible from the blog page, so China listeners aren’t totally out of luck.

Also, I posted a rough overview of WoW’s China troubles here: http://gacorley.wordpress.com/2009/11/08/chinese-government-departments-fighting-over-wow/ — doesn’t say much new, though one huge question I still have is why skeletons are such a big deal to China’s censorship regime. I was hoping someone would eventually give me a good cultural answer, but it may just be that moral authorities have strange fetishes.

GAC in China

***********

Hey buzz crew in episode 1101 you were talking about whether or not
Netscape was free or not. As someone who is greatly interested in the
browser wars past and present I feel I can settle this argument.
Netscape was free for educational and personal use and they charged for
enterprise accounts. This may have changed at the end, but the primary
way that Internet Explorer won was by making it default on windows, and
they also made a deal with Apple to make internet explorer the default
browser on Mac OS (late 9 and early X). Love the show, hopes this helps!
-SamsNotUnix

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 European Commission has decided that every citizen has a right to the Internet, but still made it fairly easy for the media industry to cut the Internet off. We also see that Intel is in hot water again. And we ask that perennial question, "Why can't I own a Canadian?" And Google answers.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Intel in threats and bribery suit
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8343179.stm

Google Dashboard lifts curtain on stored privacy data
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10390941-265.html
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/transparency-choice-and-control-now.html

EU Breaks deadlock in debate over right to Internet access
http://www.pcworld.com/article/181472/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8344174.stm

Tell the FCC to say no to Hollywood’s insane “Selectable Output Control” kill-switch
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/04/tell-the-fcc-to-say.html

Congress may require ISPs to block certain fraud sites
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10390779-38.html

Verizon offers prepaid, no-contract 3G data bundled with a USB airstick
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10391153-94.html

Man-In-the-Middle Vulnerability For SSL and TLS
http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/11/05/144252/Man-In-the-Middle-Vulnerability-For-SSL-and-TLS

eBay launches online fashion magazine
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/ebay-comes-out-of-the-attic-and-starts-a-fashion-magazine/

WoW may be banned in China
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE5A32GE20091104

What does Google Suggest suggest about the state of humanity?
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/software/0,39029471,49304156,00.htm

VOICE MAIL
Brent from Lake Elsinore on Paypal

E-MAIL
Hello Buzztronauts

The NASA Space Elevator 2010 competition is currently ongoing at
Edwards airforce base in California. There are now only 3 teams
competing and well my university is one of those teams. There’s some
really cool tech involved with records being broken for the most power
wirelessly beamed over a distance and also just some really cool stuff
to see a robot climb 1 km vertically while being powered by a giant
laser.

The USST (University of Saskatchewan Space design Team) will get their
first run tomorrow morning at 7 AM and the competition can be viewed
at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/space-elevator

News of today’s happenings can be found here. http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/11/04/2117873.aspx

Love the Show

Scott “The Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering Student” Theede

**********

Hi Buzz Crew,

Listening to the commentary on episode 1099 about the ACTA treaty and the possible resulting three-strikes law, it occurred to me that perhaps what we need is a co-ordinated campaign against the lawmakers. In each country where these laws are enacted, people could make claims of copyright infringement against the legislators at both home and work. After receiving three such complaints the ISPs would have no choice but to cut off their internet connections. It would be interesting to see how quickly the laws would be repealed when those that made them became personally affected by the severe defects and opportunity for abuse in the legislation.

Love the show,
Doug

**********

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/11/04/latest_snow_leopard_build_resurrects_atom_compatibility.html

You guys had a pretty good go at Apple on Monday for getting rid of
Atom compatibility. Was that really warranted given that it was a
private beta release given to select developers? Anyway, now they’ve
put it back in.

I’m about 99% sure they put it back because they heard Molly’s rant.

Love the show,
scottjackson

**********

Hey Buzz Crew,

After watching the podcast last night I went to Google Maps and looked
up this mythic town of Argleton. I was poking around the area and
noticed something else. Just to the south of the supposed site of
Argleton is a train station. The name of this train station is the
Maghull Rail Station. It made me laugh because it reminded me of what
Natalie said about not being able to see it because we are “Muggles”.
I got a kick out of it anyway.

LOVE LOVE LOVE the show,

Aaron (Graphic artist from Garland, TX)