Buzz Out Loud Podcast

Microsoft is apparently willing to pay Rupert Murdoch to block Google from indexing any of his company's Web sites. Are we headed toward a world where the search engine you use determines what news you get? Probably not. We explain why Murdoch may be thinking in an old fashioned limited way rather than in the current infinite Internet way. We also declare the patent office baroque, and ask it to lose weight.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Microsoft offers to pay News Corp. to “de-list” itself from Google
http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-offers-to-pay-news-corp-to-de-list-itself-from-google-2009-11
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10403336-93.html

Large Hadron Collider progress delights researchers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8372737.stm
http://www.dailytech.com/Scientists+Complete+First+Steps+to+Bring+LHC+Back+Online/article16909.htm

Another iPhone worm, but this one is serious
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10403425-2.html

B&N Nook sold out for the holidays
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10402710-1.html

Roku adds Flickr, Facebook, Pandora, and more video channels
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-10402856-260.html

Farewell, triangles: AOL preps its post-Time Warner look
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10403346-93.html

Smoking may void AppleCare warranty due to “health hazard”
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/11/21/smoking_may_void_applecare_warranty.html

Spotify expands its reach, but still can't get to the U.S.
http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20091123/spotify-expands-its-mobile-reach-but-still-hasnt-landed-in-the-u-s/

Gameloft and others, reigning in Android plans – game developers pulling back
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE5AJ1EU20091120

Apple’s Schiller Defends iPhone App Approval Process
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2009/tc20091120_354597.htm

Man to marry his video game girlfriend this Sunday
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/20/man-to-marry-his-vid.html

VOICE MAIL
Brandon has a way to do hands-free texting

Gil in Iraq has a worry about Digital Britain

E-MAIL
Caroline wrote a great article about the re-branding of AOL as —> “Aol.” + the results of typing “random crap” into Google image search.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10403346-93.html

This is so FAIL, I am having trouble wrapping my head around it.
1) America Online, AOL is an acronym, so why “Aol”?
2) Again, AOL is an acronym not a fraking sentence, WHY IS THERE PUNCTUATION??
3) Based on the write-up, there is a finite number of ‘clip art’-esque backdrops for the now Aol (pronounced “OWL” now in my book). So, I’m glad that the online company went with an image of Scratchy from the Simpsons with an exploding brain containing tinier Scratchy heads. Marketing GENIUS.

Clearly, the marketing team was part of, and stayed with, Time Warner. Not like I’d ever use Aol., but this is some serious marketing FAIL.

Love,
Dr. Karl

**********

Buzz Gang…

I dont remember which episode it was, (1099) but it was when you were
talking
about the ACTA Treaty. I thought I would send this little graphic I threw
together which I will be posing on my sites with a link to the Electronic
Frontier Foundation: http://tekpedia.net/files/2009/11/no_acta.png
https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=383.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention and many others. Until I heard
this,
I thought the Net Neutrality issue was the big issue, now Im not so sure.

Rob Truman, USN Ret.
Tucson, AZ
http://tekpedia.net/files/2009/11/no_acta.png

**********

A short time ago,
in our very own galaxy……….

Patent Wars
(cue Imperial March)

Hi all in Buzzington,
This has got to be the worst and/or scariest patents I’ve seen. Slashdot has a report that some company called Volomedia, got a patent that grants them exclusive rights to create, download, and sync podcasts. Them and no one else. The way it’s worded not only spells doom for nearly every online news/media site, but possibly TV shows to an extent.

Ok, so I want to patent the rights of creating a sequel work based on an original intellectual property. Oops, there goes the media/entertainment industry.

Please tell me I’m misunderstanding this patent, otherwise BOL and every other podcast that I love could be wind up on the streets.

JoshuaCaleb

**********

Hey BOLers,

I love you guys, but every time you start to talk about Windows Mobile and the Zune and Microsoft’s strategy (or lack thereof), it makes me want to blow a gasket.

While WinMo is clearly behind compared to several other mobile OSes, everyone seems to forget that Windows Mobile has had apps available for a long, long time. I have a great Twitter app (Twikini), an official Facebook app, mobile maps with driving directions (Bing), and more.

Could it be better? Absolutely. There are still a lot of aspects of the OS that are behind the times. But if you look at the published required specs for WinMo 7 phones, it looks like it’s going to be really powerful and full of cutting edge features. Additionally, the Zune platform will reportedly be intergrated into Windows Mobile 7, so why would MS put out a Zune phone when ALL the WinMo 7 phones will be Zune phones?

Even though I disagree with your thoughts on Windows Mobile, I still … Love the show.

George A. Roberts IV
President and CEO, Purity Networks, Inc.
http://www.purity.net/

No, no, fellow residents of southern Illinois, not tractor pulling--tracker pulling! The Pirate Bay has pulled out the trackers, but that doesn't mean you can't download anything. The site's still up for now using a different technology. Also, Google's book deal seems to have been changed, but not enough to satisfy its opponents. And Natali and I get into a philosophical argument.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Google book settlement revised, criticized
http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2009/11/google-offers-revised-book-settlement-but-critics-unappeased.ars
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10398995-93.html

AOL to spin off Dec. 9, begin trading Dec. 10
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10399445-93.html

Amazon to launch Kindle in Canada
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE5AG38V20091117

The Pirate Bay tracker shuts down for good
http://torrentfreak.com/the-pirate-bay-tracker-shuts-down-for-good-091117/

Swedish retailer pirates the Pirate Bay logo
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/11/piratebay-logo-registered/

Activision denies Modern Warfare 2 Russian ban
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/11/17/russia_mw2/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10399131-71.html

Twitter, Orange rock MMS in the U.K.
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Web-Services-Web-20-and-SOA/Twitter-Orange-Rock-MMS-in-the-UK-814457/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10399475-2.html

NBC Launches all-in-one video player, VoIP and texting tool--and it's ad-supported
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-nbc-launches-all-in-one-video-player-voip-and-texting-tool-and-its-ad-s/

Times editor James Harding outlines plans for online charging
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/17/times-editor-james-harding-online-charging

MIT robot rides shotgun to make us happier drivers
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/11/mit-robot-rides-shotgun-to-make-us-happier-drivers/

VOICE MAIL

Anonymous – tip for Xbox 360 isn’t true

E-MAIL
How Google Voice forwards to Skype using Gizmo and no Skypein number is pretty easy. Once you set up your Gizmo account to work with your Google Voice account, you can then go to Gizmo, and by using the forwarding tab, you can enter a Skype ID which is the first option. Since this is a VOIP solution, I don’t even think funds are required such as forwarding to phone number.

I don’t see Gizmo or Google Voice killing this feature, but Skype may have a problem with it. However, in reality – I noticed that when it’s not a Skype – Skype communication, or if you are forwarding your Skype to a phone number, it seems to degrade the quality. Personally, I only use Skype for calls in the event that the cell phone doesn’t work, and use a SIP client for Gizmo based calls.

However, nonetheless, at least until Skype doesn’t like the fair competition, and may try to alienate users, this works just fine. A note of advise. While Google Voice accepts SMS from phone numbers, it doesn’t take Short Code numbers (such as Twitter’s 40404), so you couldn’t set your GV number to show in Skype’s CID info, so calls from Skype would still not show a number where you could be reached.

Hope this provides some enlightenment,
Frank

**********

Our cable went out the other day so we had been waiting for HULU to put the latest episode of “V” online.
One thing we noticed while watching it was that it had the “WSB-TV Atlanta” logo branding in the lower left corner. Does everyone see this, or just people in the Atlanta area? Does this mean they have a HULU server in every market? We went to the abc website, and that branding was not there, just the plain abc logo branding.

I just thought this was odd.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Geoff Johnson

We realize the problem with an operating system installation party is there's nothing to do. We also warn you about the great iPod camera shortage of 2009..if it's real. And we all like the Asus Eee-reader. Too bad that and the glasses-free 3D TV aren't real...yet.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Technical issues could delay iPod camera upgrade
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/09/07/technical_issues_could_delay_ipod_camera_upgrade.html

AOL hires Yahoo’s “Peanut Butter” guy to make it relevant again
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/08/technology/internet/08aol.html?hpw

T-Mobile and Orange in U.K. merger
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8243226.stm
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10346417-94.html

Not quite a patent troll, TiVo’s profitability seems increasingly based on lawsuit victories
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/09/dish-network-told-to-fork-over-another-200-million-to-tivo.ars
http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/financials/financials.asp?ric=TIVO.O&dataset=incomeStatement&period=A&currency=US%20Dollar

iPhone C64 emulator approved by Apple, removed again for hHiding banned feature
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/09/iphone-c64-emulator-approved-by-apple-removed-again-for-hiding-banned-feature/

Asus Eee-reader to open like a book
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10346194-1.html

Copyright troubles for Sony
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/09/07/2148227/Copyright-Troubles-For-Sony

“Anonymized” data really isn’t--and here’s why not
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/09/your-secrets-live-online-in-databases-of-ruin.ars

Facebook ‘enhances intelligence’ but Twitter ‘diminishes it’, claims psychologist
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/twitter/6147668/Facebook-enhances-intelligence-but-Twitter-diminishes-it-claims-psychologist.html

Underwater laser pops in navy ops
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8243503.stm

Voice mail
Mike about 3D TV

Remy liked the show

E-mail
I called all my friends who might be interested, but they ALL wanted to be hosts to get the free Windows 7 Ultimate Edition.

Thinking about it, it is obvious that Microsoft wasn’t thinking. All of us who might get excited about this program would ALL want to be hosts! Those not interested in hosting would probably not be excited about Windows 7 let alone an installation party.

Love the show.

Tom in Huntsville, AL

**********

Google front page patent – Please do not call this a patent, I know you all love to poke fun at us but be a bit fair. Design patents are more like a trademark then a standard patent. Design patents only protect the appearance and not any of the tech behind it, they are used for anything from packaging to buildings. The design patent only provide very limited coverage as they only protect against near exact copies. Still love the show.

Tim the Patent examiner.

Today, we hear how the Del Conte's deal with their enemies, find out what kind of deposit Tong makes when he visits a bank, wonder why on earth Google ever even bought the slice of AOL it just dumped, and look forward to the Pre on Verizon--but when?

EPISODE 1028

Verizon to offer Palm Pre in early 2010

Verizon changes tune on Wi-Fi

Verizon customers can sign onto Boingo

Sprint Nextel to buy Virgin Mobile USA

Texting while driving more dangerous than you think

iPhone OS 3.1 will usher in 'augmented reality' apps

Google abandons AOL investment

Google Voice pulled from iPhone

B of A to reverse policy and start closing branches--online and mobile banking the reason

Microsoft uses human computing game to tune Bing

Woman sued $50,000 for Tweet

Follow-up on Yelp lawsuits

Well, you don't really need to totally disregard this episode, but that is what 10-12 means in CB radio talk. And the news is light. Although we do learn that the head of MI6's Speedo is not a state secret. But it SHOULD be!

EPISODE 1012

MI6 boss in Facebook entry row
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8134807.stm

Small towns and farms to get Net Neutrality
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10278484-94.html

Apple orders up a ton of cameras, rumored to hit the iPod
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/07/06/apple-orders-up-a-ton-of-cameras-rumored-to-hit-the-ipod/
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/06/prepare-yourself-for-ipod-video/

iPhone 3GS unlocked with Purplera1n + UltraSn0w
http://gizmodo.com/5307693/iphone-3gs-unlocked-with-purplera1n-%252B-ultrasn0w

For Mac, too
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/05/iphone-3gs-jailbreak-mac/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10279029-1.html

Free Wi-Fi for the residents of Venice, Italy
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/09/07/04/2236213/Free-Wi-Fi-For-the-Residents-of-Venice-Italy

We rent movies, so why not textbooks?
http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/07/05/1546214/We-Rent-Movies-So-Why-Not-Textbooks

AOL shuts down CompuServe
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/07/04/169220/AOL-Shuts-Down-CompuServe

Billions stolen in online robbery
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8132547.stm

Desperate-to-leave LinkedIn users rename accounts “delete delete delete”
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/05/desperate-to-leave-l.html

Geek Atlas provides tour guide for geeks
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8132924.stm

VOICEMAIL
Kelly the Gaffer on why OS X is so cheap

E-MAIL
Hi Buzz crew this is Marlon – “guyfromtrinidad”, I am a lover of Nokia’s E series and am absolutely delighted with my E71. So I got even more excited when I saw this article concerning Android coming to Nokia’s smartphones, http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2009/jul/06/nokia-mobile-internet-phones. I mean the idea of a very slick touchscreen E series phone had me super excited, gone would be the dated OS that I tolerate, yes, yes, yes. And then I read this http://gigaom.com/2009/07/05/will-nokia-jettison-symbian-for-android/ and this http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSL613838520090706. A a quick and emphatic no, no, no by Nokia. Though it still leaves the door open for the Nokia/ Intel partnerships to embrace Android. What do you think?
Luv the show

Guyfromtrinidad
Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

**********

Hey Buzz Crew

As self appointed captain of the Buzz Navy’s ship “paradigm panda”, i hereby issue a call to arms for all buzz citizens!

1: For once! SOMEONE must defeat Leo Laporte in an online poll, and hence, Molly must be declared president of the internet!

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/hiner/?p=1894

2: Tom must defeat Patrick Beja in a different online Poll! To prove that A: The Buzz Brigrade always wins, and B: Brian Coulis-ites (anti european) can get along with regular folk in a common cause!

http://frenchspin.com/en/2009/07/a-feud-of-epic-proportions/

(Robot Voice) Love-The-Show

Techpriest

PS: (Tom merrit shouting voice) DON’T OPEN ATTACHMENTS! (old skool joke i know, couldnt help it…)

**********

Hey Buzzers,

I’ve got fios at my house here in Camarillo, Ca and one of the selling points for me, my girlfriend not as much, is the Fios. The only other option for internet here is Time Warner and given their track record I will do nearly anything to not give them a penny of my money. So yes, Fios can be a selling point, especially for a buzz listener.

Secondly I’ve got a pre and let me tell you, RocknRollHax is great. I get html formatted emails fairly regularly and some (looking at you newegg) benefit greatly from landscape mode (for readability). There is no need for landscape while composing (obviously) and I really wish they included an option foramdscape on email reading only.

Anywho, I’m also part of the engineer/architect/programmer cabal when it comes to caps lock…but it should be moved.

Keep up the good work,
Ted the Engineer

We were pretty shocked to find the announcement on Reuters that Verizon will get the Palm Pre in six months. Color us shocked. Also, Time Warner and AOL are breaking up; it's for the best. And Natali calls Brian Tong short. Wow. Pot call the kettle black much?

EPISODE_983

Time Warner ditches AOL
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10250944-93.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/business/media/29warner.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Verizon and Palm Pre???
http://us.mobile.reuters.com/m/FullArticle/p.rdt/CIND/nrbssTechMediaTelecomNews_uUSN2833749320090528

AT&T wants the Palm Pre
http://d7.allthingsd.com/20090527/atts-pre-envy/?mod=ATD_rss

Hands-on with Palm Pre
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/05/28/palm-pre-first-hands-on/

Palm Pre said to sync up nicely with Apple’s iTunes
http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/28/palm-pre-said-to-sync-up-nicely-with-apples-itunes/

PSP Go! details confirmed, smaller PS3 is on the way
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/05/mole-confirms-psp-go-details-with-a-smaller-ps3-on-the-way.ars

Gmail in real-time: Google does the Wave
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10250742-2.html

Google considers taking beta tag off Gmail
http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/05/28/1236240
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/253690/is-google-finally-ready-to-take-beta-tag-off-gmail.html

It’s official. Kumo is now named Bing!
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/05/hands-on-with-microsofts-new-search-to-bing-or-not-to-bing.ars
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10250614-56.html

AT&T says 7.2Mbps wireless coming this year
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/05/27/1829210

Blackberry wins 101 domains in one lawsuit
http://domainnamewire.com/2009/05/28/blackberry-wins-101-domain-names-in-single-udrp-case/
http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=26835

Cambridge study: DRM turns users into pirates
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/05/27/cambridge-study-drm.html

Liquid helium trumps liquid hydrogen at AMD’s Phenom II overclocking love-in
http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/28/liquid-helium-trumps-liquid-hydrogen-at-amds-phenom-ii-overcloc/

Bitterness to be classified as a mental illness
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/05/27/162216&from=rss

VOICE MAIL

Sand – Waterproof Kindle case
http://m-edge-accessories-llc.amazonwebstore.com/Medge-Leisure-Jacket-for-Amazon-Kindle/M/B001C5PI8G.htm?traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle
http://ireaderreview.com/2009/04/23/kindle-2-waterproof-case-trendy-digitals-case-for-kindle-1-2/

E-MAIL

Dear Buzz Crew:
I have to confirm that Facebook is not filtered, in first few hours it was open and filtered again because of many difficulties of ISPs in Iran trying to change their filtering lists.
But at last after a few hours Facebook was complete out of Iran's government filtering protocol.
You should know it only 6 month that Facebook and YouTube are not filtered in Iran, other sites like Myspace or Orkut are still being filtered.

Best Regards

Siavash

——————————–
Hi Buzz Crew,

Am I missing something? If you can get a Pre under contract for $199
and if the Sprint cancellation fee is $200, why would anyone buy an
unlocked Pre for $549? The math would say that’s a $150 penalty to
buy it unlocked with no real benefit. Add to that the fact that you
can only go to one other carrier in the U.S. with this phone and
buying an unlocked Pre makes no sense.

Love the show,
Terry
Prairie Village, KS

——————————–
Hey Buzzers of the past and present,
On the occasion of the upcoming historic 10^3 episode of Buzz Out Loud, I would love to hear from a selection of long-time Buzzers what Buzz Out Loud story has most surprised you in that you would never have predicted the technology or technological development that story represents at the time the show launched. In other words, what story from the history of the show would have been most unbelievable to you had the ghost of buzzing future come to you in a dream the night of the very first BOL episode and told you you would one day report this?

Congratulations and keep up the good work!

~ Chris the Human Factors Grad Student

——————————–
Hey Buzz Crew,

I just finished listening to episode 982 where Cooley asked the
question “Is there any data on Internet yellow page usage?” Well ask
and ye shall receive… I work for a yellow page directory publisher
so I looked up a couple of statistics for you.

* Print yellow pages usage remained stable with 13.4 billion
references in 2006 and 2007. (1)
* Approximately 87% of the U.S. population used the print yellow
pages in 2007. (1)
* Internet yellow pages (IYP) searches increased 15% in 2007 to 3.8
billion searches, up from 3.3 billion in 2006. (2)
* 51% of the 144 million people performing online local searches in
December 2007 used IYP. (2)

(1) KN/SRI 2007 Industry Usage Study
(2) comScore

Everyone here understands that it is hard to get people to go to our
web site when they could just “Google it”, so they are trying to roll
out features to get people to come to our site, such as reviews and
even 30 second web commercials in selected areas.

Just trying to put up some numbers to fight the ever-present argument,
“who uses the phonebook anymore?” because every time I hear someone
ask that question I want to get on a soap box and scream that WE ARE
NOT OBSOLETE YET! And before anyone starts to complain… the books
are made from recycled wood pulp (NO trees are cut down to make a
book) and are 100% recyclable.

Just my two cents.

Love the show.

Kat T
the phone book layout artist in Iowa
(oh yeah, real exciting job, I know)

——————————–
1000th episode coming Thursday June 18th. Want to be on the episode? Post a video of yourself. MUST be less than 30 seconds long. And send a link. No attachments. Could be well-wishing, could be memories, epithets we don’t care. We’ll choose from all the messages we get and play a selection on the 1000th episode as well as post them in the Wiki.

Want to get involved in the production of the show? Find your favorite BOL moment, clip it out of the MP3, or video, and send us the moment. For video, please upload to a video hosting service and send us a link. Email either to buzz@cnet.com

An app for Google Android is allegedly wiping SD cards clean, which has some folks shouting malware! Stephen Shankland points out it's probably not malware, just suckware. We also cheer on the House of Representatives for not delaying the digital-TV transition. And Gmail goes offline, which is good news for those with flaky internet connection.

EPISODE 899

Gmail offline
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-in-labs-offline-gmail.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10151096-2.html

House votes no on DTV bill
http://www.ktvu.com/digital-tv/18583035/detail.html?treets=fran&tml=fran_natlbreak&ts=T&tmi=fran_natlbreak_1_12090101282009#-

Sources: AT&T, Comcast may help RIAA foil piracy
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10151389-93.html

Report: Google leads in traffic, AOL visitors linger
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10150950-93.html

Newspaper Web sites are doing OK
http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2009-01-28-newspaper-websites_N.htm?csp=34

Telstra CEO dishes on superfast wireless
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10150938-94.html

Netflix sees subscribers opting for streaming over mailing
http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/netflix-sees-subscribers-opting-for-streaming-over-mailing-glob/

Movie channel to go live on Web before TV debut
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10151506-93.html

V-Cast gets ABC and Disney
http://www.appscout.com/2009/01/verizon_wireless_adds_fullleng_1.php

Acer getting into phones--for sure now--on February 16
http://i.gizmodo.com/5140831/acer-joining-the-smartphone-wars-on-february-16th

Android app uproar sparks debate over open app store model
http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/01/an-android-market-application-has.ars

Quake gets ported to the BUG, controlled by Rock Band guitar
http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/27/quake-gets-ported-to-the-bug-controlled-by-rock-band-guitar/

Love trainer by Sega
http://i.gizmodo.com/5140820/lovetrainer-headset-coaches-you-in-the-art-of-love-is-predictably-hilarious

VOICEMAIL

R from Florida
New person for the digital TV transition

Tom Minneapolis
Solve the hybrid car situation

RogueTess
Gdrive? I smell lawsuit

E-MAIL

Hi Buzz Crew,

While you were discussing how silly the idea of adding a sound to cell phone cameras when taking a picture would be in the US I couldn’t agree with you more. What you may not know is that this law already exists in Japan, pervert capital of the world, so all phone manufacurers that sell in Japan (including the iPhone) with a distinctive audible camera click. Natalie you can still snap shots of whale tail in the wild but you will face the wrath of shamoo.

On an unrelated note, with fiber to my apartment for years I have to chuckle every time you talk about bandwidth limitations.

Jordan from Tokyo

**********

Здраствуйте!

Though you’d get a kick out of this: http://carcino.gen.nz/images/image.phpi/7fe6c8ad/ruslinux.jpg?cb=1115204527

On a more serious note, Russia already has OS that is used on computers stationed throughout the mighty military complex, and it is in fact Linux. I believe the plan is to take that OS and distribute it to civilian computers. Now, history of my country has shown that it’s 100% adoption, or else (insert NKVD, KGB, or now FSB here) hauls you off to GULAG. So Russia has an opportunity to become the first governments-owned bot net. That is awesomely scary.

Maksim from Fresno
(of the “Vista, it’s not Stalin” fame)

**********

Hey Buzzards,

I just had a thought that made me giggle, it’s illegal in many states now to talk on a cell phone without a handsfree device while driving. I wonder if someone could get pulled over for holding a banana up to their face and talking into it. It’s not a cell phone, and no ones talking back (thus no distraction), so would it get someone pulled over? I’d love to see a video of something like that!

Love the show,

-Kassandra

**********

There is no Starcraft class at UC Berkeley
http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/01/28/109240

Undoubtedly, someone will send you this link. I will save you the 5 minutes of googling required to discover it is bogus.

1) Syllabus for alleged class is not on a UC Berkeley website
2) Search of online class schedule for instructors FENG, ALAN return no classes for Spring 09

3) google search for ” Alan Feng UC Berkeley” returns only references to the bogus syllabus, or hits for different spellings.

Buzz on,
engnr_chik from the chat room

**********

Hardwired and stunt BOLers,

Really? You’re impressed with the kilowatt class lasers?

That’s not a laser. THIS is a laser…a megawatt class chemical oxygen iodine laser, contained within a 747-400F, built to whack boost phase ballistic missiles.

http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/pdf/08news0089.pdf

Sorry for the linked PDF. That’s how MDA rolls.

One of my picts here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/telegraham/1407621446/in/set-72157604168564668/

Love the show!

Jim
USAF (Ret)
Formerly of the Airborne Laser Program, now Baltimore pharma

EPISODE 854

Obama can’t use his BlackBerry
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/us/politics/16blackberry.html

Asus phone
http://gizmodo.com/5090348/asus-announces-800mhz-worlds-fastest-smartphone
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/11/17/asus_p565/

Google speech application supposed to really launch today
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/16/update-on-google-iphone-voice-recognition-app-look-for-it-on-monday/

Flash on Windows Mobile
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2008/11/16/adobe-to-demo-flash-on-mobile-but-only-windows-still-working-on-the-iphone/

AOL video uploads shutting down
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/15/aol-gets-out-of-user-generated-video-business/

Most users don’t office in the cloud: 1% use Google Docs
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081117-report-users-continue-to-prefer-office-over-google-docs.html

Old people are scared of technology
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/scared_of_technology_youre_old.php
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10097839-1.html

UK couple in real-life divorce over virtual affair
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27718230/?gt1=43001

Order pizza from your TiVo
http://www.gearlog.com/2008/11/ordering_dominos_pizza_from_yo.php
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10098333-93.html

Lost Beatles song may bring Fab Four to Net sales
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10098215-93.html

Quantum cloaking makes molecules invisible
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/11/16/2137230

US space-funeral company plans lunar cemetery
http://news.sg.msn.com/oddities/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1786876

VOICEMAIL

Jason in Georgia - What happened to exploding batteries

Andy Novosibirsk, Siberia - Netbooks galore here!

CT baggage handler - But how did they get there?

EMAIL

Hey guys, Looks like MS has decided what to do with all the cash they were going to spend on Yahoo.

I work for one of the Microsoft managed partner ISV's. MS was just on our weekly internal sales call and our MS partner manager was on talking about how we can offer up Microsoft financing through the end of the MS fiscal year (June).

This financing is not just for MS products but anything that is involved in the entire enterprise solution including hardware and other software.

The internal MS guys are touting that 2-5 business days turn around and touting that it will be easier and cheaper than going with traditional financing . They are willing to finance anything from small 10k deals and up, and depending on customers credit rating with D&B will determine the % rate. He was saying that it was going to be in the range of 5-8%.

https://www.microsoftfinancing.com/

Rob

**********

$139 blu-ray players on Woot.com today.

Just sayin...

Ryan the Biologist

**********

In trying to catch up with BOL, I was listening to #845 and I want to
pose a question related to the AT&T experiment with bandwidth caps. Has
anyone thought about the licensing contracts that AT&T might be looking
to sign with media companies? Think about it, AT&T or Comcast could sign
usage contracts with sites like Netflix, YouTube or Hulu so that their
site usage does not apply to their customers’ bandwidth caps. This would
allow ISP’s to make more $$$ and control traffic.

Coming soon to a legal agreement near you… AT&T merges with YouTube.

So far I have not heard anyone bring up this point via CNET or that TWiT
guy. If ISP’s can stop Bit Torrent, then they can probably allow
certain, preferred content to flow freely.

No charge for this two cents opinion. LTS.

Thanks,

Rodney

**********

In show 853, you had two stories which prompted me to type in... First, you made a big deal out of Google search on the iPhone supporting speech. Windows Live Search Mobile has had this feature for quite some time - and I find it quite useful. Like the Google offering, you speak to it, it sends the speech to the servers, and the servers do the speech-to-text. The use of the accelerometer in the iPhone is new - and a cool idea - but the speech part is not new. I use Google Search on my Windows Mobile phone if I am in a place where I can type easily, but use Windows Live Search Mobile specifically for the speech-to-text if I am driving or walking.

You also made a big deal out of President-elect Obama making use of technology by planning to put his weekly address on YouTube. President Bush podcasts his weekly address - see http://www.whitehouse.gov/podcasts/, or http://www.whitehouse.gov/rss/radioaddress.xml. Not sure YouTube video is an earth-shattering improvement for a weekly address that most people won't pay any attention to after the first month. I also happened to listen to an NPR Podcast just after BOL, and they made it sound like Obama invented the Internet because he plans on putting government information on the web. While I'm all for using technology, and more is certainly better, can we have a reality check? Some of the advances in technology use are simply because time is elapsing. When the government launched THOMAS back in 1995, that was newsworthy from a tech perspective. Saying you will put more stuff on the web is, well, simply expected.

LTS,

/John in Fairfax

**********

You guys were teasing about using old software on Friday’s show. Well I am
one of those use it till it dies dudes.
I am still using Quicken Version 3, 1993 that dates back to the Windows 95
days. It still works on XP just fine.
There is more than one reason for sticking with it. Don’t have to learn new
version and best of all hackers are not
going to be looking for a realistic user of a 15 year old version of
financial software. Also still use Eudora for email.
Have been using it since 1995 and it also still works fine on XP. I have
years worth of elaborate filters which I have
moved every time I get or build a new machine. I figure all the hackers and
attackers out there are trying to
break into Outlook and MS stuff in general. At work I use Outlook on our
office exchange server just fine but
at home I am still with Eudora V5.1.

Really like BUZZ and all the CNET podcasts. Keep up the funnin’ with us
…. half the time I almost crash on
the way to work or on my way home because I am rollin’ in laughter while
listening to BOL

BYE
Darrell in Virginia
Also got email about Grandpa using Sidekick ‘98 and a user that brings back kids software

**********

Wii Speak
In fact the game does not come with that hardware it just can use it
if you have it. So, the game can travel through the rental and used
markets as normal, just not the hardware. Now whether the hardware
should work the same, that you can debate. Thanks for the great
podcast.
Johnny P

Hey, this sounds like a good idea! Create an artificial intelligence that's the incarnation of pure evil and immorality. You know, just to "study" it. It'll never get out. (Ugh.) So, that's happening today, along with Microsoft's announcement of its cloud OS, Azure; Chevy determines that hybrid SUVs won't make money no matter how you build them, and Wired tries to say the DMCA has been a good thing. Oh, and in addition to Oprah, Molly likes Martha.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

EPISODE 840

Microsoft's Azure cloud platform: A guide for the perplexed
http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1671
http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/27/220208
http://dev.live.com/blogs/devlive/archive/2008/10/27/421.aspx

Authors, publishers, and Google reach landmark settlement
http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/pressrel/20081027_booksearchagreement.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10076948-38.html
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/28/145249

Chrysler gives up on hybrid-powered SUV’s
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=134227

Ford offers RFID system to make sure all your stuff is in your truck
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10076160-48.html

10 years later, misunderstood DMCA is the law that saved the Web
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/10/ten-years-later.html

AOL tightening belt, to kill off three more products
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081028-aol-tightening-belt-to-kill-off-three-more-products.html

Darkstrand lights up LambdaRail for commercial use
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081027-darkstrand-lights-up-lambdarail-for-commercial-use.html

Laptop shipments exceed desktops in U.S. for the not-exactly-first time
http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/28/laptop-shipments-exceed-desktops-in-us-for-the-not-exactly-first/

Martha Stewart’s company picks Pingg for invites
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10076903-36.html

VOICEMAIL
Lee from Boston: Netbooks!

E-MAIL
A Netbook has to be priced below the excepted price of a “Cheap”
standard laptop (e.g., runs Vista and has a CD-ROM). Right now, that would be $800. (??)

It also needs to be small. Size should be comparable to the “ultra-mobile”. I.e., less than “12.

So, the market dictates the price, but the size it a fixed factor.

I made this up myself, so I’m pretty sure it’s right.

Ben, the sysadmin from MSP.

**********

JaMoTo,,

I was appalled to come across this article today--just when I thought we were safe (for a while anyway) because the LHC had broken down,

it seems a bunch of “genius” scientists (naturally) decided it would be a good idea to develop an AI program that brings “personified evil to virtual life”--on purpose no less!! They’ve given it a name and a face, talk to it daily, and it’s programmed to answer questions based on the principle of carrying out premeditated acts that are immoral and harmful to others. By some twisted logic, this is supposed to help them research human morality.

http://io9.com/5069465/a-computer-program-that-is-pure-evil

WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE THINKING!!! Could they have, at least, left out the premeditated part?? And what lunatic agreed to fund this project !!

Loved the show.

Bill in Dallas

**********

I like the show Chuck on NBC. I hate the band Rush. I own a original Zune. I hate all things Apple. Last night, Morgan, Chuck’s buddy on the show, was asked by Chuck if the Buymart (Best Buy) had any Rush music for sale. Morgan exclaimed that he had rush on his Zune. Chuck acted perplexed by Morgan’s statement. Morgan quickly rehashed his statement, claiming that he really owned an iPod, not a Zune. At first I was giddy on the Zune statement, but I did laugh at Morgan’s rehash. P.S. the old Grand Dad (Bad Santa’s favorite) justifies my grammar. Been listening since about 720 .

**********

Hey guys,

I’m currently one month into my four month round-the-world trip, and I’ve
got to say that at all the hostels I’m staying at, everyone is using
Netbooks, mostly eeepc’s. I, myself, am using an MSI Wind. It’s great
for e-mailing home, updating my blog and checking Facebook, not to
mention watching movies on the train and downloading podcasts.
Netbooks are a backpackers best friend.

Cheers Doug the (British) backpacker.

P.S. Tom, I made it to the CNET building and tried the coffee from Chatz. It was, indeed, a great cup of coffee. See here for proof.

**********

As an FIOS customer, you can absolutely just get a splitter and run it to a TV. However, the TV must be able to receive QAM channels (which every new TV I’ve seen does). For those with older TVs, Verizon offers free Digital Converter boxes to be able to receive the Clear QAM channels on an analog television. With both ways, only basic channels are viewable. These are mostly the same channels available over the air and the channels I most watch anyway. If you want all the premium encrypted channels, your only options are to shell out the cash for a set top box or cable card.

Love the show,
Brian from New York

**********

With the conversation on divided attention and multiple tabs, I find that I have developed tabnesia. Tabnesia is when you look at the tab that you opened sometime ago with no idea why you were at that Web site. Spread the meme. Love the show.

CtNP

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

I can confirm Molly’s thoughts on the “copyright law” excuse for not accepting opened media returns. It is a business decision that they are attempting to deflect the responsibility for implementing.

Chris the attorney in DC

P.S. I tried to be short and sweet on this one, because when I attempted to use hyperbole to make a point regarding Netbooks in my last e-mail, you guys gave me such a hard time that I didn’t get out of bed for a week due to the pain inflicted on my self-esteem. But at least I had my eee pc to surf to self-help sites with…

**********

Based on your report, I rushed home from my dog walking, during which I always listen to BOL, to access my Netflix account to Watch Instantly a movie on my Mac. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything on the Netflix site that allowed anything but a PC. I called Netflix and Sebastian said that it’s only available on a closed beta for Intel Mac’s that they won’t add anyone to. He repeated what they have been telling me for months now: “It will be generally available ’soon,’ before the end of the year.” Bummer!

Love the show.

Still waiting,

Dan
Dublin, Ohio