Buzz Out Loud Podcast

Tonight the land rush begins for Facebook usernames and URLs. We'll tell you all about that. Also, Microsoft gets petulant and removes all browsers from its European versions of Windows, which makes Opera mad. And Macs get more worms and trojans.

EPISODE 996

Today is end of analog TV in U.S.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10262022-94.html

Microsoft to sell Windows 7 without IE in Europe: Odd and unnecessary
http://mashable.com/2009/06/12/microsoft-windows-7-internt-explorer-europe/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10262630-56.html

Opera lashes out over Microsoft’s browser removal
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10262913-56.html

Your Facebook business name: Already reserved?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10263324-2.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10263034-36.html

Twitter launches verified accounts
http://mashable.com/2009/06/11/twitter-verified-accounts-2/

Two new Mac attacks surface
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10263002-83.html

Free anonymous BitTorrent becomes reality with BitBlinder
http://torrentfreak.com/free-anonymous-bittorrent-becomes-reality-with-bitblinder-090611/

Gaming hardware, software sees slump in May
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/06/gaming-hardware-software-sees-slump-in-may.ars

DJs buy music on stolen cards’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_8094000/8094637.stm

Meteor bounces off German dweeb
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/space/5511619/14-year-old-hit-by-30000-mph-space-meteorite.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01422/meteorite_1422354i.jpg

N.Y. man sues dating Web site Match.com for deception
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0939287520090609

VOICEMAIL

Rod from Washington on MS Money

Mike in Toronto’s ingenius iPhone plan

E-MAIL
Hay Buzz team, how come you are not in HD? yea I know the pixels are right (1.77), but the encoding sucks. You shouldn’t let those other shows hog the bandwidth bucket, its time you stood up for yourself, I may start a petition.
I still love the show despite the video quality.
Congratulations on show 1000, perhaps CBS could give you a bandwidth cake.

Ian

**********

Dear Buzz Folk,

I still have my Calculus textbook, filled with notes, formulas,
graphs, and corrections. And while having an electronic version of
the text would be nice for reference, I think an electronic version
inhibits the learning process. In my calc book, I have tons of little
notes filling in the gaps in examples the authors left out (”It is
left to the reader” and “It can be easily be shown” are my two least
favorite textbook phrases). I can’t imagine taking an organic
chemistry course without the ability to sketch compounds in the
margin. Technology is just not available to do these sort of things
easily and in a country that is behind in math and science education,
cheaper is not always better.

Besides, the cost savings are minimal. “Applied Chemistry – A
Textbook for Engineers and Technologists” costs 107.51 in hardcover on
amazon.com (random example). The kindle version costs 96.76. And I
can’t sell it at the end of the semester for pizza money. I can’t let
a friend borrow it. Or own it after amazon stops producing the kindle
and my kindle dies. Or I could get a version for my laptop,
encumbered with DRM that doesn’t work on my linux/mac or after the DRM
server is shutdown. Yup, that 10.75 I saved was well worth it. Open
textbooks are a possible solution (thinking about writing a statistics
for biologists one myself, after I get tenure) but “usable in the
classroom” quality and open is not always possible.

P.S. Kinldle: The home of the $6,400 ebook.
http://www.amazon.com/Selected-Nuclear-Materials-Engineering-ebook/dp/B001QTVXAK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text&qid=1244805281&sr=1-1

Mike the statistics professor

**********

Hey buzz crew,

With all the reports about the new iPhone you seemed to miss a ground
breaking event. Since the iPhone 3G S is the same size as the iPhone
3G that means all of your cases and add ons will work with the new
modle! I can’t believe apple forgot to stick it to us the customers
and force us to upgrade all the stuff we have already bought. Is this
the start of a new kinder apple or just an over sight of some project
manager?

Love the show!

Kathryn from Portland Oregon
( where AT&T coverage not that bad )

**********

Hey guys,

After hearing you wax poetic about Joss Whedon, I felt you guys would be helpful in getting the word out about Can’t Stop the Serenity 2009.

“Can't Stop the Serenity” is a global fundraising effort featuring charity screenings of Joss Whedon's 2005 film Serenity to benefit Equality Now.

This year, in addition to Serenity, many locations will also be hosting big screen showings of "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog," Joss Whedon’s awardwinning Internet musical sensation.

Fans of Joss Whedon show Serenity on his birthday (June 23rd) to honor him and to raise money for his favorite charity, Equality Now. Equality Now (http://equalitynow.org/) works to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world through the mobilization of public pressure.

There are over 47 cities hosting these events throughout the summer. For details about the closest city hosting an event go to http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com.

Thanx.

David Adams
New England Browncoats

http://www.thehey.com
http://www.newenglandbrowncoats.com
http://www.twitter.com/thehey
http://www.cstsboston.com

**********

1000th episode is next week, thanks for all your submissions. Don’t miss the big show Thursday June 18th at the normal time and in the normal feeds live at 10:30 AM Pacific http://www.cnet.com/live

Should you do a prepaid broadband card? What if it costs you more for the convenience? What if your payments expire after 10 days if you don't use them? You know what, we think the coffee shop is probably a better bet at that point. We also discuss why Microsoft has stopped making Money and what effect Craigslist has really had on the newspaper industry.

Episode 995

KCBS celebrates 100 years
http://www.rbr.com/radio/15066.html

DTV transition is nearly here. Are you ready?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10262022-94.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10261715-93.html

Microsoft stops making the program “Money”
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10261742-56.html

Supreme Court declines to hear case on IT’s rights to search your computer
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/06/11/0319215/Supreme-Court-Declines-Case-Over-Techs-Right-To-Search-Your-PC

China’s new mandatory firewall software has huge security holes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8094026.stm

T-Mobile accidentally posts secret iPhone 3G S specs
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/06/t-mobile-accidentally-posts-secret-iphone-3g-s-specs/

Apple selling iPhone 3G S at 8 a.m. June 19, AT&T at 7 a.m.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10262117-37.html

Virgin Mobile USA pay as you go broadband
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2348499,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03069TX1K0001121

Most Americans are ambivalent networks and have Internet fatigue
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/10/pew.internet.fatigue/index.html
http://pewinternet.org/Participate/What-Kind-of-Tech-User-Are-You.aspx#

GPS shoes for tracking elderly and children
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,251122,00.html

Earth could collide with other planets
http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/06/11/1244202/Earth-Could-Collide-With-Other-Planets

Voice mail
James from Irvine on Craiglist

E-mail
Hi Buzz Crew,

When I first heard about The Governornator saying that they will getting rid of school books and the kids will be getting that information online I thought “Is he going to buy all the kids Kindle DXs?” When I heard the later clarification that this will be starting with Math and Science books in the high schools I thought this is a great opportunity for Amazon. If colleges can start issuing laptops to every incoming freshman, why can’t the high schools issue Kindle DXs to every incoming freshman? Yes, a 13/14 year old can be tough on technology but if they can keep their DS’s, iPods and cell phones alive, I’m sure they can keep a Kindle alive too, think of the market for Kindle cases with school logos. Also unlike a laptop you don’t have to worry about the kids Googling or WolframAlphaing the answers to homework problems.

So where are you Amazon with your offer of selling enough Kindle DX’s to the California school system with bulk pricing?

Thanks, Just started listening a few months ago and I’m only upset I am always listening a day late.

-Daphne in Massachusetts

**********

Hi Guys
Love the show. I was listening to the WWDC keynote and saw that Snow Leopard was selling for $29. Everyone was amazed about this and you were saying that Microsoft will have to lower their price but that is an odd thing to say. Snow Leopard is NOT A NEW OPERATING SYSTEM. IT IS JUST A SERVICE PACK! Windows offers these for free so isn't it apple ripping us off(as always). Windows 7 being sold for $49(I think you said) is excellent seeing it's a whole new OS and a dam good one at that. Also in episode 991, you were saying you bought the MacBook Pro because of the express card slot. What do you use it for? I think what they have done to keep it only with the 17" one is an excellent idea. I'm just annoyed that I bought a MacBook Pro about a month ago and I WANT AN SD CARD SLOT!. ThanksJ
Andrew

**********

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. Got them from Dwight and Mandeep. 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

On today's show: thoughts on a bigger Kindle made for reading newspapers (fail), Sprint's earnings report (fail), whether Microsoft will allow downgrades from Windows 7 to Vista (fail) and "silver ooze" (winner!).

EPISODE 966

NYT says giant Kindle is on the way this week (as Times Co. threatens to shut Boston Globe in as little as 60 days.) (Press event scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/04/technology/companies/04reader.html?_r=4&ref=business
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124143635883282991.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-18438_7-10232556-82.html?

BBerry Curve upsets iPhone in Q1 sales race thanks to a VZW promotion
http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_090504.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13846_3-10232697-62.html

Apple submits proposal for new kind of Web streaming, apparently optimized for live-to-mobile devices
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/apple_submits_new_spec_for_live_streaming_to_ietf.php

Sprint’s earnings show continued suberosion, but Boost is strong. Hell of a place for the Pre to launch.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090504-704871.html

When is a wireless network not one: Sprint may outsource its network ops to Ericsson
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idINN0334714620090504?rpc=44

How bit.ly, tinyurl and the rest might end up making money
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/04/technology/start-ups/04short.html?_r=1&ref=technology

DTV awareness over 95 percent; time to pull the trigger
http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/05/01/dtv-preparedness-now-more-than-95-percent/

No overlap in availability between Vista and Windows 7? (Not sure if there’s anything new here and comments in the story seem contradictory.)
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2009/05/04/Microsoft-may-soon-drop-VISTA/UPI-13261241442826/

German study: Electric cars aren’t really all that green. Uh, yeah.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10231102-54.html

“SARS Cams” are back, detecting swine flu. (Not totally news, but listeners may start seeing them in airports.)
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2009-05-01-thermal-swine_N.htm

Ex-Seagate CEO Bill Watkins (all-around good guy and one of Silicon Valley’s *great* drinkers) lands new gig pursuing “silver ooze”
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10231921-92.html

VOICEMAIL
Tony
Why I want autorun on my flash drive

E-MAIL
Dear Buzzards:

Just a quick note. I see that “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” took in
$87,000,000 at the box office over the weekend. This movie pirating
MUST BE STOPPED!!!! It’s bankrupting Hollywood!

– Don

**********

Buzz Crew,

I’m no fan of IE6 (I use Firefox), but I was amazed to hear you say in Episode 965 that IE6 doesn’t support JavaScript, AJAX, or CSS.

IE first supported JavaScript way back in 1996, in IE3. IE3 also supported the first version of CSS 1.0. IE 6 supports CSS 2.1, although not fully. And IE — with version 5 in 1999 — was actually the first web browser to implement a foundational elements of AJAX: XMLHTTP, which we now know as XMLHttpRequest.

You’re right that IE6 doesn’t support tabbed browsing and that it’s not as standards-compliant as modern browsers, requiring infuriating hacks and workarounds for web developers. More importantly, it’s the most insecure web browser in use today.

However, it’s not quite the technological dinosaur that you make it out to be.

Bruce from Peterborough, Canada

**********

Hey buzz crew!
I was just watching hulu, and 30 Rock when I saw a comercial for trojan condoms.
A little sensorship please,

Michael
from dc

**********

Hey Jason, Molly and Brian,

Episode 965 was an awesome episode! The triple rant powers of Molly, Rafe and Cooley was a wonder to behold.

If Rafe and Cooley really go down to Comcast together, could someone please bring a video camera? It would be like watching two super heroes in action. All will tremble in fear at the sight of The Twin Goatees: Grey Beard and Kitty Whiskers.

Here’s a visual for you:

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8752/goateetwins.jpg

–kevin aka “Ikcor”

Macs infected with a new pirate-induced botnet are launching denial-of-service attacks! Do you have your zombie botnet preparedness kit? Also free mobile DTV in DC, an official Windows Mobile 6.5 release date, and Oracle buys Sun.

Episode 956

Oracle buys Sun
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/technology/companies/21sun.html

Obama appoints Aneesh Chopra as CTO
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/04/18/tech-industry-cheers-as-obama-taps-aneesh-chopra-for-cto/
http://www.technology.virginia.gov/OfficeInfo/chopraBio.cfm
http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2009/04/aneesh-chopra-as-chief-technology.html

UN World Library goes public
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/20/AR2009042001324.html?wprss=rss_technology

Free DTV in DC
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/20/AR2009042001302.html?wprss=rss_technology

WinMo coming early
http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/17/windows-mobile-6-5-to-officially-launch-on-may-11/
http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/04/17/win.mobile.65.on.may.11/
http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile/

Gmail Suggests Recipients
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/new-in-labs-suggest-more-recipients.html

Don Henley in YouTube infringement spat
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10222772-93.html

eReader limits some books to US readers
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/04/20/0126246

YouTube tests channels
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/youtube_testing_secret_new_channels_beta.php

The city where every arrest gets Twittered
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10222755-2.html

Voice mail
Erwin from LA
When is the Palm Pre coming??

E-mail
It was bound to happen:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=3157

Zombie Macs! Get your shot guns and make your way calmly to the nearest mall and hunker down.

Evan the Friendly Sys Admin in Israel

**********

Hey Buzz Crew

In episode 955 there was discussion regarding the use of proxy servers in the commision of a crime causing an increase in jail time. This was compared to wearing a disguise during the commision of a “personal” crime. In many places it is illegal to this and you will be charged for doing so. I found numerous examples on the net from Canada, the UK and the US (mostly Delaware???) of people being charged with wearing a disguise while committing a crime.
Although I recognize the US Sentencing Commision is looking at this as an automatic increase to sentence time where as I am speaking only of charges I still think the parrallel is there.
The question is will it be illegal to wear a ski mask while committing cyber crimes???
Love the show
Mike from Toronto

**********

Hey buzz Crew!
This is Siavash from Iran, in episode 952, when Brian was talking about Mitsubishi , he said there is no top level product in their product line , Hey man! You are in car tech, have you ever heard of a car named Mitsubishi Evo 9 or Evo 10 ? the cars than changed they way all the car makers now make their rally cars, they only cars that could hit Subaru Impreza in the face. They are one of the cars in the world with the highest level on technology. I'm not trying to plug anything, all I say when you talk about Mitsubishi the first thing that comes to your mind a EVO 9 not a flat panel TV.

Love The Sh0w!
Best Regards
Siavash Ghahremany

Ron Richards from iFanboy joins us as we finish today's show with a discussion of "geek" vs. "nerd" and decide "dork" is the next wave. We also talk about a cow that poops money, also known as Jonathan Coulton's business model. And we get mad at AT&T.

EPISODE 938

AT&T working with RIAA
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10203799-93.html

How it works for a real musician
http://www.jonathancoulton.com/2009/03/24/payday/

John Mellencamp: Back In The Good Old Days…
http://techdirt.com/articles/20090323/2137204220.shtml

Last.fm woes
http://mashable.com/2009/03/25/lastfm-third-party-mobile/
http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/03/lastfm-radio-to.html

Blockbuster comes to TiVo
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10203610-1.html

Facebook face recognition
http://www.inquisitr.com/20556/facecom-launches-facial-recognition-app-for-facebook/

Skype handles more international calls than AT&T
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/03/skype-handles-more-international-calls-than-att.ars

Apple sued for iPhone being a book reader
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/03/24/apple_sued_for_promoting_iphone_as_ebook_reader.html

A 3D web moves closer to reality
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7963302.stm

Iogear puts USB devices on your network
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/24/iogear-puts-four-usb-devices-on-your-network-with-usb-net-shares/

DTV coupons are back
http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/dtv-coupons-are-here-again/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Fox to launch social network
http://www.mediabistro.com/webnewser/foxnewscom/fox_nation_where_you_can_be_part_of_real_news_112318.asp

Nasa gives images to Microsoft’s telescope and launches Mission Madness
http://www.gearlog.com/2009/03/nasa_launches_mission_madness.php
http://www.appscout.com/2009/03/nasa_to_provide_images_data_to_1.php

VOICEMAIL
Paul from Hawaii
Onlive and latency
http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=13939&sid=4e12272d62effe4cc9ff303d421fe5ff

Dan
New name for micropayments!

E-MAIL
Roadable Airplanes. It makes me wonder why I listen when I hear things like that.
Of course Joe Idiot can’t fly a car, ever. That’s why they call it a “roadable airplane” instead of a flying car. It’s an airplane first, and requires a pilot’s license to fly. All of the FAA requirements for airplanes apply. And no, “black boxes” are not required.
What happened to your common sense?
Mike
(phew. that makes me feel better… — Mike

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

Hey buzz crew.
On the ps3 you can download full version of some current gen games. Examples I can recall off the top of my head are grand turismo: prologue and burn out paradise. These still can be found on disc format. Xbox 360 currently has no current gen games available for full download.

I personally thought that they would expand the selection of available games if they ever did make a ps3 with no blue ray. especially since they (ps3) use standard hard drives that are easy to replace and upgrade vs the over priced xbox 360 120gig hd @ $134 dollars at amazon.

just some insight from a xbox 360 and ps3 owner.

Thanks and love the show.
Diego the hospital IT security guy in miami beach.

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

Hi there

Cooley’s discussion about Nissan bringing EVs to the US in the next few years reminded me of this - basically Mitsubishi has been testing their new EV here in New Zealand for the last few months with the vehicle intended to be sold for between $30k and $40k (that’s about $15k to $20k in US currency - wasn’t $15k Tom’s limit?). You can already register your interest in the vehicle . Wikipedia notes that the vehicle should be on the market in the ‘09 to ‘10 time frame.

Cheers
Jonathan

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

Reference your discussion about Warner’s burn-to-order DVDs in episode 937:

It would be nice if you folks would keep in mind all the poor souls who still don’t have high-speed internet access. I live a mere 40 miles away from downtown San Jose, CA and dial-up is the best I can do.

There is no FiOS where I live.

There is no cable here.

I live too far from the closest phone company central office for DSL.

And satellite is a non-starter for me — price and latency issues.

So, while I might enjoy the ability to download a movie for $14.95 in a matter of seconds or minutes, I can’t, Mr. Cooley.

For someone in my situation the $19.95, burn-to-order DVD might make a great deal of sense. In fact, I wonder if a dual-layer DVD sent via the postal service might give me higher through-put than my crappy dial-up connection.

Regards,
Robert M.

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

Hello Buzz people,

My Kindle topic is in response to the free ebooks on the Sony Reader.
For some time, there has been a pretty awesome way to download public
domain ebooks straight to the kindle over the evdo from feedbooks.com.

The way it works is you open http://www.feedbooks.com/kindleguide in
your kindle browser, which downloads the book guide that shows up in
your home menu. From the guide, you can browse the available books by
title, author, genre and popularity, and download them straight to the
kindle in mobi-pocket format. I don’t know how the selection compares
to the sony/google offering, but there are supposedly thousands of
books on feedbooks. They are of course available to other devices, but
you can’t beat the seamless evdo delivery.

The other thing I wanted to bring up, that I haven’t really heard much
about since Google started migrating GrandCentral over to Google Voice
is that they are providing a simple way to make free long-distance
calls from any of your phones (including a landline) to any phone in
the US (and reasonable rates overseas as well). You just type in the
number or your contact’s name in the little “call” box, and Google
calls your selected phone, then connects you to the person you are
calling. Take that AT&T!

Dave

Riding an electric motorcycle can make you smarter, but as Molly points out, it can also kill you. So six to one, half a dozen to the other. We also can break you off a piece of that Ice Pod bar. As soon as someone sends us one. And Sweden is trying to send us some bandwidth. Thanks, Sweden!

EPISODE 924

Obama names IT change-agent Vivek Kundra as federal CIO
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/hiner/?p=1175

Sprint and Palm hosting Palm Pre Webcast on March 12
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10188601-1.html

Microsoft may let Windows 7 users turn browser off
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10188612-2.html

Sizing up a possible Nvidia-made x86 processor
http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2009/03/sizing-up-a-possible-nvidia-made-x86-processor.ars

How will BlackBerry App World work?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10189110-94.html

Exclusive: First Real Photos of the BlackBerry 9630!
http://crackberry.com/exclusive-first-real-photos-blackberry-9630

Intel develops embeddable DTV antenna for OTA on the go
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/intel-develops-embeddable-dtv-antenna-for-ota-on-the-go/

TV converter-box coupons start flowing again
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jIpdUSger8jBtyxle5zqogWtPingD96NVT4G1

Amazon entering used game business
http://kotaku.com/5164720/amazon-entering-used-game-biz

The Beatles come to Rock Band, instruments and all
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/05/the-beatles-come-to-rock-band-instruments-and-all/

Kindle 2 is hacked!
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/kindle-2-hacked-for-tethered-web-browsing-but-not-the-way-you-t/

Taking it too far: Ice Pod ice cream bars
http://www.tuaw.com/2009/03/03/taking-it-too-far-ice-pod-ice-cream-bars/

VOICEMAIL
Chris
Authors Guild

E-MAIL
Hey buzzers,

Maybe Best Buy can sell the electric motorcycle you talked about in
ep. 922 in the video game section. AFP is reporting a study by the
designer of Nintendo’s “Brain Age” game that says commuting on a
motorcycle works just like the game to make you smarter:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090304/hl_afplifestylehealthjapanmotorcycles_20090304110821

Sure, you could question the study’s crappy science, but I ride
motorcycles, and I, of course, am very smart. Therefore, this study
must be completely true. And even if it’s not, riding a bike is much
more fun than playing a video game on a bus.

-Mark, the supercomputer repairman

**********

Hi Buzz Crew,

I was wondering if the zillion could be successful in the average house. With the current set top boxes supplementing cable or satellite, you usually have one high bandwidth user on the system. With the Zillion box being used to replace cable, that would require me to have one in the family room and one in each of my kids rooms. That's four feeds at once. I don't know if four TV's per house is average, but even at half that, I don't see ISP's being able to provide that amount of bandwidth. I would like an alternative, but until we are a one TV household, I don't see ISP's providing it.

Bart

**********

Hey Buzz Crew,

Listening to episode #923 where Tom mentioned the download speed test
he did with Brian Tong between the Kindle 1 and the Kindle 2. I have
an theory as to why the Kindle 1 won over the Kindle 2. One of the
major improvements touted in the Kindle 2 is the improved battery
life. Well, one way they might have accomplished this is by
implementing more aggressive power management and/or power throttling
of the wireless chipset, which would impact wireless performance (i.e.
less power to the wireless chipset = less speed). Just my $0.02.

Love the show,
Donald, the out of work software engineer (yet another victim of these
troubled times… DRINK!!)

**********

Hello Buzz, I don’t know if this is something you report about but I think this is a important thing to talk about since it is the “next” step in creating more bandwidth (I’ve heard that you need more of that…).

For two weeks research teams in Sweden, Norway and the US have been perpearing for a big test of one atlantic cable. And they managed to send data at a rate of 40gbps from Sweden to Manasquan in the states. The cool thing about this is that the cable they used were not meant for this speed and allthough they did over-use it this much no problems occured on the other spectrums on the line. Last year there was a story about a granny that got a really fast ADSL line and a even faster Fiber connection (see first link) the same technic used then was also used now and the brain behind the mentioned test was also the one that made this one possible.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/13/40gbps-internet-connection-installed-in-swedes-home/
http://www.idg.se/2.1085/1.215856/sunet-forst-med-40-gigabit-per-sekund-under-atlanten

Sorry for the bad grammar and spelling and the even more swedish last link

// Inga from Sweden =)

That and other important questions are answered in today's show, where we're joined by John C. Dvorak in dissecting the new Facebook Terms of Service, the New Zealand blackout over copyright law, and the last-minute saving of SiriusXM. Also, give your boys the violent video games. They need them.

EPISODE 912

Day one of U.S. TV transition only 114 more to go
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

Facebook’s new terms of service: “we can do anything we want with your content. Forever.”
http://consumerist.com/5150175/facebooks-new-terms-of-service-we-can-do-anything-we-want-with-your-content-forever

Facebook terms of service compared
http://amandafrench.net/2009/02/16/facebook-terms-of-service-compared/

Facebook: Relax, we won’t sell your photos
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10165190-36.html

New Zealand blackout over copyright law
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/02/16/new-zealand-netizens.html

Swedish prosecutors drop some charges in The Pirate Bay trial
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10165604-38.html
http://torrentfreak.com/50-of-charges-against-pirate-bay-dropped-090217/
http://www.pcworld.com/article/159638/

SiriusXM takes investment from Liberty, not EchoStar
http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-karmazin-gets-sirius-deal-done-with-liberty-not-ergen/

Flash 10 coming to most smartphones in 2010
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13970_7-10164745-78.html

Second ‘Google phone’ is unveiled
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7894516.stm

Microsoft, Nokia offer app stores
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7892863.stm

Windows Mobile 6.5...CRIPES! Are you kidding me?
http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/02/16/windows-mobile-65-cripes-are-you-kidding-me/

EU commissioner calls for unified mobile-power-adapter standard
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2009/02/eu-commissioner-calls-for-unified-mobile-cable-standard.ars

Keeping violent media away from boys could be a bad idea
http://arstechnica.com/features/2009/02/keeping-violent-media-away-from-kids-could-be-a-bad-idea.ars

VOICEMAIL
Anonymous (Tony)
Pirate 3D movies

E-MAIL
The CRTC (our equivalent of your FCC) wants to put a levy on ISPs to pay for Canadian content production on the web. My take, umm, ok I produce like 6 podcasts, I want a truckload of money.... More seriously though, umm, CRTC, step away from my frakking internet.

http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090217.wcrtcliveblog0217/BNStory/Business/home

Dave (the psychologist)

**********

I was sitting in a waiting room recently and was bored, so I decided to pick up a magazine that was laying around. That is when it hit me that in 5 to 10 years from now there might not be any magazines/newspapers in waiting rooms anymore. If everything goes online what will we do to pass the time in a waiting room? I guess we will either need to remeber our Kindle or maybe waiting rooms in the future will have Kindles just laying around tethered to a desk that people can read while waiting.

P.S. On another note, I read my first version of PC Magazine online since they stopped producing paper copies and it just was not the same. My 1 year old kept wanting to touch the keyboard. It was so much easier with a paper copy that I could carry around and the kindle is to expensive for just one magazine.

Jeff

**********

All -

I’ve stridently resisted Twitter, but in ep 911 you discussed how disaster news might hit Twitter before professional news networks can release it. My mom was in that recent ice-storm mess in KY and for 5 days I didn’t know where she was or if she was alive. No land lines, no cell reception, no power, no email at home or work, regional/national news too vague. Through Twitter I might have been able to track down news about her neighborhood, or even someone who knew her and could check on her for me. I’m sold. Thanks.

Karen Roth
Scottsdale, AZ

**********

Hey Jaytona,

I don’t think you guys have mentioned this service yet, but just in case… Have you heard of Jinni, http://www.jinni.com? Lifehacker described it as Pandora for movies. Type what you’re in the mood to see and it gives you a whole host of results based on your initial preferences. Last night, my husband and I wanted to watch something with love, friendship and sci-fi (hey it was Valentine’s Day). It came up with Sliders, Wall-E, Starship Troopers, and Highlander to name a few. If you want to watch a movie, it links you to Amazon, Netflix, Blockbuster and other services. Now if only Audible would come up with a similar recommendation engine.

And uh, Sliders was surprisingly good.

<3 the show,

Cat

**********

Hey Buzz,
I’ve been catching up on BOL after living in a technological black hole for three weeks for a class for work. And when I say black hole, I’m not kidding. This was an Air Force class and we didn’t even have Internet access. I heard you talking about the Airborne Laser program on 29 Jan and thought I would throw in an interesting tidbit. One of my buddies who was in the class with me works on the ABL and told me that it should more appropriately be Airborne Lasers. The system sends out a laser microburst for range and then fires the actual laser using the atmosphere as a lens to more accurately focus the offensive laser. The first burst, calculations, and physical lens calibration all happens within 1/10,000th of a second. The program is still in a prototype phase, but this year they are supposed to deliver a working capability. This would mark a huge advancement as the military will be able to use this technology to make all over-the-air data transmissions more efficient by continuously recalculating the focal strength needed to make up for the losses from a changing atmosphere.
Love the show!
Noah, USAF

Once again we find something that Natali can't cook: mummies. But she does suggest they be used as jerky. Don't worry, we also have lots of thoughts about the Kindle 2 and Psystar's suit against Apple. Plus, somebody owns the name Netbook. Is that allowed?

EPISODE 907

Live blog: Amazon unveils Kindle 2
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10159334-1.html
http://cnettv.cnet.com/2001-1_53-50005200.html
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/09/amazon-kindle-2-announced-359-on-feburary-24/

Google Sync for iPhone, WinMo, SyncML
http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2009/02/google-sync-beta-for-iphone-winmo-and.html

Mac clone maker wins legal round against Apple
http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9127579&intsrc=hm_list

Congressman Twitters secret trip to Iraq
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10159054-2.html

Warner Music Group artist has her own videos taken off YouTube by WMG
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/02/08/warner-music-group-a.html

Retailers may run out of DTV converter boxes soon
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/02/retailers-may-run-out-of-dtv-converter-boxes-soon.ars

Netbook name in jeopardy
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/02/09/netbook-term-removed-from-google-ads/

Tune your TV into a GPS
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2009/02/tune-your-tv-into-gps.ars

CBS hosts ad-funded, online, TV series, including original Star Trek
http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/02/09/0047237

HD TV beats depression, claims HD TV company
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/02/09/sky_tv_effects_report/

Wozniak waltzes onto Dancing With The Stars
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-10159282-235.html

30 mummies found!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-02-09-egypt-mummies_N.htm?csp=34

VOICEMAIL

Anonymous Darwinist
Another mod story

Anonymous Nothingest
Linux FTW

E-MAIL
Greeting JaNaTo!

For all of you geekie-types: We are approaching another milestone in time, or should I say, Unix time, as detailed in the following article.

http://www.unixpronews.com/unixpronews-49-20090206UniqueMomentInUnixTimeApproaching.html

Love the show!

**********

Hey Buzz Crew,

I think that if the ISPs are going to implement caps on data downloads
they should do it like the cell phone companies.
Meter the amount of data each user downloads between, say 7AM and 9PM,
then stop metering outside of those hours.
It saves the ISP no money if the network is idle after hours. This may
push the heavy hitters like the bit torrent downloaders
to non-metered hours which may relieve congestion during normal hours.
Of course the ISPs are only doing this so they
don’t have to invest in their infrastructure which will bite us all in
the future.

Love the show

Clay the computer geek
St. Louis

**********

Hey JaMoTo-

On Episode 905 you guys brought up P.W. Singer’s presentation at the TED conference on his upcoming book about military robots. I heard an interview with this dude on Democracy Now on Friday morning and while the entire subject was pretty fascinating, here’s the best part:

The U.S. military’s top Predator drone pilot (remember, these things don’t fly themselves, there’s a human operator controlling each one) is a 19-year-old high school dropout whose prior piloting experience was exclusively done on an XBox. Singer claims that this kid is so good, he’s been brought back to the States to train other drone operators, so now he’s basically Tom Skerritt in Top Gun. I wonder what it’s like for the guys in his class to get schooled by an enlisted man whose call sign is probably DronePwn69.

[Insert Bo's Message]

-Reid of the Catskills

**********

Hey JaNaToX or whatever were calling you now,

AdamJonny from the chat room here, I thought we could get a call for action from the buzz brigade (I like buzz mulish better)! Turns out the President Oboma wants to know what we think about delaying the digital television transition before he signs the bill! Voice your opinion before it is to late, I gave my 2 cents, or maybe a whole dollar! This is the responsibility of the buzz mulish and the American people!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing_room/dtv_delay_act/

**********

Hey Buzz Crew,

I just can’t resist Natali’s insistence on having a turtle named
JaNaTo. So to welcome Natalie to the Buzz Out Loud team, meet JaNaTo…

http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?tag_id=89073

JaNaTo is a Gabonese leatherback sea turtle, just like JaMoTo, and was
tagged in December. She is a little bit special, and I think perfect
for Natali. She is one of only a few turtles sporting a new GPS
satellite tag. This tag is giving us much higher resolution data of
her movements than we would get from a normal satellite tag. So now we
can track turtles just as effectively as google tracks us.

Privacy concerns aside, I have been putting the new Google Earth
through it’s paces pretty heavily and have yet to see a crash. It has
been stable so far and I encourage anyone interested to try it out.

Love the show.

Michael
the sea turtle guy

Let's be clear: we don't know how to cook a Mammoth. But Natali would like to know, because apparently she eats her pets. That is not true at all. But what is true is Google turned the whole Internet into malware this weekend. And that we can tell you why. And will. So listen in.

EPISODE 902

Google flags whole Internet as malware
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/31/google-flags-whole-internet-as-malware/
http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2009/01/google-broke-the-internet-malware-detector-went-haywire.ars
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10153942-92.html

Gmail spam filters broken
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/this-mornings-spam-filter-issue.html

Senate passes second bill making the digital TV switch voluntary for broadcasters
http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-senate-passes-second-bill-making-the-digital-tv-switch-voluntary-for-br/

Windows 7 less annoying, but also less secure?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10153817-56.html?
http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09%2F02%2F02%2F0119204

Helio Ocean 2 coming on Feb. 12
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/01/29/helio-ocean-2-coming-february-12th/
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/helio-ocean-2/4505-6454_7-33507715.html

eSlick reader
http://www.gearlog.com/2009/01/esleek_ebook_reader_aims_to_un.php

Netflix hints at premium streaming channel
http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2009/02/netflix-hints-at-premium-streaming-channel.ars

Sirius for iPhone?
http://i.gizmodo.com/5142096/sirius-satellite-radio-iphone-app-could-come-within-a-week

Extinct Pyrenean ibex cloned
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09%2F02%2F01%2F1657215

NASA offering free zero-gravity flights
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09%2F01%2F31%2F0710235

Virgin offers up 25 million ‘Velocity Points’ to put you in space
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/02/25-million-virgin-frequent-flyer-points-nets-you-a-trip-to-space/

Google earth will see the ocean floor
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/feb/01/google-earth-oceans-project

VOICEMAIL
Lee
More bandwidth makes me paranoid

Alex from Buffalo
Russian Linux will help IT

E-MAIL
Hey.

I just wanted to make a correction to one emailer that was talking about Microsoft mesh and Sky drive. Skydive has 25gigs of storage but this will be upped as long as you are not abusing it. You can use Live Sync to sync your documents to skydive.

Mesh is a separate system (why I don't know). Mesh works in a better way it gives you a mesh "desktop" in the cloud. Any folder on your local machine that is change to a Mesh folder is then automatically synced to your mesh desktop. Your mesh desktop any file on your mesh desktop can then be viewed anywhere with an internet connection. The reason I think it better then live sync is it is automatic and you don't have to constantly go into a browser, but mesh is limited to 5gigs

I use skydive for storage of files that I won't be changing a lot. I use mesh for files that will need a lot of editing. Sorry for writing such a long email about this subject I just think it's a great free service.

Mark

**********

Hey Tom, Molly, Jason and Natalie,
Chris the former Snowmen Hunter here to say recently I was catching up on my Buzz when I heard the back and forth about the kilowatt laser jets and remembered an evil epiphany I had awhile back.

Since at least the 1970s, various satellites, space stations and planetary rovers have sported solar panels to take energy from the sun.

In 1998 NASA launched the Deep Space 1 probe, which sported the first in-service ion engine.
Here’s a link: http://nmp.nasa.gov/ds1/tech/sep.html

In 2004, the U.S. Airforce successfully tested it’s 747 based Airborne Laser, and this year has been cleared to test it’s ability to shoot down a missile.
Link: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/boeings-747-laser-canon/5351

Lastly, in 2004, Spaceship One became the first privately funded spacecraft to put a person in space.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaled_Composites_SpaceShipOne

What do these technologies have in common? They all sport gear used by the Galactic Empire on their workhorse weapon of terror, the TIE Fighter. That’s right Buzztown. With enough money, we can now be the proud owner of a self-built TIE Fighter. The TIE stands for Twin Ion Engines for those of you who don’t speak Nerd.

Question is… if I’m realizing this, it’s only a matter of time before someone in the Twit Army realizes it. And can the listeners of NPR’s Science Friday be far behind?

Can we let Buzztown fall behind in the TIE Fighter gap? I think you know the answer.

Thanks,
Chris

Love the show… and always will as it remains un-fried by a Science Friday-backed TIE Fighter attack. Those NPR listeners aren’t as docile as they appear.

**********

Hey BOL,

according to the Apple’s documentation available for the iPhone Developers, the iPhone and the iPod Touch can recognize 5 fingers simultaneously touching the screen.

Just thought you’d like to know.

Love the show,
Dimitris,
(normally in Greece, right now in Sweden )

**********

The reason the DMCA applies to wowglider is that it uses it’s own client by reverse engineering the wow client and allowing scripts. The reason blizzard used legal means is because WoWglider sued blizzard for banning their users.

–
Feldar, Aegwynn

**********

Thanks for the shout out!
I worked out just how much whiskey needs to be used in order to make a 150Kw data centre to work.

Average ounce of whiskey is 64 calories.
With 40 ounces to the bottle that would be 2,569 calories.

2,569 Calories is equal to .002988 Watts

But in order to get to the Kilowatts you would need to take in 859,800 Calories AN HOUR.

That is equivalent to 21,495 bottles of whiskey per hour to equal 1 Kilowatt.

So, for the 150Kw data centre to work that would be 3.224 Million bottles of whiskey an hour.

Between Cooly and I, I think we could maybe light up a 15 Watt bulb… As long as he doesn't get distracted. But I am not feeling the love to save the earth on my own.

But throw in a sorority house, and I will be willing to give it a shot.
CrankyCanuck