Buzz Out Loud Podcast

A 4GB file can traverse 60 miles in 2 hours by pigeon, but that gets you only 4 percent of the file over the South African Internet. We also keep you up to date on new Android phones from Motorola as well as open-source map info from TomTom.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Motorola’s Android phone at Mobilize
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10344891-265.html?

Obligatory Apple recap
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10348169-37.html
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/09/in-qa-steve-jobs-snipes-at-amazon-and-praises-ice-cream/
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/09/09/somebody-has-to-say-it-its-time-for-itunes-lite/

With iTunes 9, Apple again disables Palm Pre sync
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/09/10/with_itunes_9_apple_again_disables_palm_pre_sync.html

Verizon makes the HTC Touch Pro2 official; September 11, $199.99
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/09/10/verizon-makes-the-htc-touch-pro2-official-september-11th-199-99/

Sprint to launch unlimited cell-to-cell calling, regardless of network
http://techvi.com/news/2009/09/sprint-to-launch-unlimited-cell-to-cell-calling-regardless-of-network/
http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/magazine/17-09/ts_burningquestion

Google to push micropayments for newspapers
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10349375-93.html
http://www.niemanlab.org/2009/09/google-developing-a-micropayment-platform-and-pitching-newspapers-open-need-not-mean-free/

…but it might want to get Google Checkout right, first
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10348805-265.html

TomTom Announces an Open Source GPS Technology
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/09/09/2216255/TomTom-Anounces-an-Open-Source-GPS-Technology

Cryptographic tools to keep you hidden on Facebook
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/09/09/1931211/Cryptographic-Tools-To-Keep-You-Hidden-On-Facebook

A few songs a day keep the doctor away
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-10348123-247.html

Pigeon beats South African DSL
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8248056.stm

BOL in 3D!
http://www.vimeo.com/3964931

VOICE MAIL
Bob from DC about new podcasts in iTunes

Josh in SLC about Utah broadband

E-MAIL
Hay Buzz Crew

In regards to the Comcast 100MBs service

In Brooklyn, NY Cablevision is offering a similar service for $79.99 a month it's called Optimum ULTRA @ 101MBs

Its sweet except for the $300 installation charge but I'll eat a onetime charge rather than a progressive $300 bill.

Thank You
Matthew C

**********

Hey Buzz crew,

As I was installing the new version of iTunes today (version 9.0), I saw something interesting. I had to accept a new EULA (which usually happens), but this time, they had a summary of the important changes over the actual legalese. This appears to be an easy way to get around the fight between a EULA that the lawyers want and one that we can understand. The only issue: you have to trust the company (in this case, Apple), that they are doing a fair job summarizing the changes.

Love the show!

Andy the biological engineering grad student from Utah

**********

hey buzzards!

you mentioned how 3D TV is being used to prevent piracy and how it
will eventually circumvented.

yes, that’s true… but it would still essentially eliminate the
distribution of cam and telesync copies of films still in theaters as
cammers wont be able to record films in this fashion. you wouldnt even
be able to film a 3D image with a 3D camera for obvious reasons
(unless it were some kind of crosseyed lens setup to somehow pinch the
alternating perspectives into a single image, a la “magic eye”
stereoscopic images. just kidding).

pirates wouldnt be able to release anything until a screener is able
to be ripped at the very least, therefore putting more reluctant
viewers into the theaters if they just cant wait for it.

just another point of view.

(obligatory) love the show!
-oakie

Black Hat this week means lots of security vulnerabilities in the news, including the fact that Secure Sockets Layer is now just Sockets Layer thanks to an exploit discovered by Kaminsky and friends. We also decide that you can't fix stupid. Too bad. I wish we could.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

EPISODE 1030

Apple at CES 2010 says WSJ – Engadget says otherwise.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10299417-37.html
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/30/wsj-apple-going-to-ces-2010-reality-nope/

Apple says jailbreaking is a national security issue
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10298646-1.html

Details on presidential motorcades, safe house for First Family, leak via P2P
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136053/Details_on_presidential_motorcades_safe_house_for_First_Family_leak_via_P2P

Researchers exploit flaws in SSL, domain authentication system
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10299459-245.html

Intel motherboards suffer Bios flaws
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39698949,00.htm

Re-engineering GPS for navigation on phones
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10298696-94.html

Windows Mobile becomes Windows Phone
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1495570/windows-mobile-windows-phone

Nissan introduces new smart in-car nav system
http://social.telematicsupdate.com/content/nissans-new-nav-system-focuses-safer-greener-driving

EMI selling CDs to megachains only from now on
http://slashdot.org/story/09/07/30/0117222/EMI-Only-Selling-CDs-To-Mega-Chains-From-Now-On

We all get in a big arguments over whether all-in-one devices are more convenient than discrete devices. Cooley thinks discrete devices are un-American. I think the opposite. And Molly has the logical arguments for discrete devices. We also find out a judge has ruled IP addresses can only prove a computer existed and not a person. Good on ya, Judge!

EPISODE 1,015

Google names Chrome OS compatriots, Dell noticeably absent
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/08/google-names-chrome-os-compatriots-dell-noticeably-absent/

OEMs mum on actual partnerships
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2349895,00.asp

Intel thinks Chrome is peachy
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/09/intel-doesnt-view-chrome-os-as-a-threat-to-moblin-just-wants-w/
http://chrome.blogspot.com/2009/07/google-chrome-os-faq.html

Meanwhile LiveAndroid lets you try Android OS on any computer
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10282885-94.html

Judge rules IP addresses not “personally identifiable”
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/07/08/1522247/Judge-Rules-IP-Addresses-Not-Personally-Identifiable

Netflix streaming coming to Sony TVs, not yet the PS3
http://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-streaming-coming-to-sony-tvs-not-yet-the-ps3-2009-7

Kindle’s $9.99 books may shrink publishers’ profits
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aWhjmdVFcC2Q

Amazon opens AmazonWireless, for no-hassle cell phone buying
http://richdemuro.com/amazon-opens-a-real-wireless-website-no-rebat

Standalone GPS receivers going the way of the dodo
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/09/07/09/1339225/Standalone-GPS-Receivers-Going-the-Way-of-the-Dodo

Hyundai hybrid launched with li-Polymer batteries
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE5670CF20090708

Designers conjure up wacky ‘car of the future’
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/07/09/atnmbl/

E-MAIL
This is Chip the Mech. Engineer and on episode 1013 you were talking about Sprint offering a netbook with broadband. I am looking at getting one because not everyone can get wireless everywhere they go. I live in a small town in Virginia that has 2 maybe 3 places that offer wireless (coffee shop type places). I have it at my house but the wireless at work is locked down so not everyone can get on it. Also my family has a cabin on the Blueridge Parkway and there is cell service there, Sprint and Verizon are the only ones that can get service though (don’t even turn on your phone if it’s AT&T). No DSL offered there, only dial-up so this would be great for weekend trips to the cabin and moving about around the town I live in.

PS
I have a PRE and LOVE IT. I am listening to your podcast, texting my brother and typing this email.

Love the show, keep up the great work.

Chip

**********

Something that might help the residents of buzztown … I purchased a
kindle on tuesday and of course the price drops the next day. I
didn’t hear about the price drop until I listened to your show in the
evening – but at that point I opened my kindle, loaded it with a bunch
of stuff and started reading.

Of course after hearing about the price drop the day after my purchase
I contact Amazon about getting some kind of a price adjustment. Their
first response from the initial support person was they don’t do that
and if I want I can either return the item and repurchase it or keep
it and take a $20 gift card to make up for the $60 price difference.

I calmly explained to the support person that this was idiotic – for
me to have to do repackage it, get a refund, repurchase and reload the
new kindle – and stupid for amazon to pay for shipping it back, and
basically replace a brand new (but now used) kindle for another one -
when the end result is the same. I had to demand to speak to a
supervisor, but he relented and gave me the refund.

Normally I have found Amazon’s service to be very good – I have only
had to call a handful of times (and this is the first time I have had
to ask for a supervisor) – but you think amazon would have had a
solution for this already in place – I am sure I am not the only one
that purchased a kindle recently who is still in the return window.

Anyway – just thought that there might be people in buzztown who are
in a similar situation.

Love … The … Show

Matt Brown
Louisville, CO (hopefully soon San Francisco, CA)

**********

Dear Buzz Gang,

After the chat room today, I just COULDN’T stop myself from making a campaign ad for Molly to be President of the Internets.

Here is the download –
http://kelvington.com/MollyWoodPresident.avi

Here it is on YouTube –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD9HziisdSM

And Yes that is my voice… Love the show, I’m still working on my Buck Rogers Parody, Rafe “Rubbings” Needleman – In The 19th Century!

Take Care,
Rick Kelvington

**********

Kevin Chen made one too – http://tr.im/ruOC

**********

hi buzz generals!

for a few weeks i had my exams at the end of high school here in
switzerland. The oral exam was about a newspaper article, and guess
what… it was about something you have brought up several times in
the show: the grand dam youth protection software!
i almost didn’t have to read the article at all, i already knew
everything thank’s to you. a just talked and talked and talked… even
gave updates about the story, the teachers were very impressed. now
i’ve recieved my results: i got the highest grade possible.
i really can’t thank you enough for the great show you do, i’ve been
listening to it since a couple of years now and it has really helped
me to improve my english. when i started i often had to rewind, listen
again, but now everything goes just fine.

right now i’m on holiday in sweden, i’m on a train between Stockholm
and Göteborg, traveling at 200km/h, i’ve got free wireless internet
with 3mb/s download 1mb/s upload! nice! all that thank’s to a
combination of satellite and 3G.
another funny thing is that on the train there is a Sony Ericsson
salesman that you can borrow a phone (W995) from, for free, and it’s
packed with movies! really nice!

have a great week

Pierre from Switzerland

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

We speculate even more on the rumored large format Kindle, and get the announcement date wrong right from the start. What, we're supposed to read press releases? Also on the rumor front, we discuss Apple's interest in buying Twitter and Electronic Arts. Somethings just not sitting right about this one.

EPISODE 967

Thanks, all: CNET TV wins People’s Voice Webby
http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?media_id=97&season=13#film_tech_vid

New photos, details on the Gigundle
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10233431-1.html

Windows 7 RC has arrived this morning
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10233399-56.html
http://download.cnet.com/Windows-7/3000-18513_4-10906772.html

Apple in “late stage” talks to buy Twitter, announce at WWDC; Google got told to walk?
http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2009/05/05/apple-to-buy-twitter-and-electronic-arts
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/05/05/twitter-mania-google-got-shut-down-apple-rumors-heat-up/

Report: FTC eyes Apple, Google board relationship
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10233187-37.html

When does a Netbook cease being one? Asus rolls out one just shy of the 12″ mark (missed this one yesterday)
http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/04/asus-goes-big-ger-with-11-6-inch-eee-pc-coming-this-month/

Craigslist, seven AGs hold sex ad summit today in NYC
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10233256-93.html

RIM CEO confirms Storm 2
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0439320520090504

…and it will soon have native LogMeIn
http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-10233320-12.html

Navigon exits GPS PND business: the Big 3, recession, and nontraditional nav systems are flattening the industry’s structure
http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/NAVIGON-stops-PND-business-in-North-America_a1497.html

Hacker purports to be holding VA prescription records hostage for $10M
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10233348-83.html

VOICEMAIL
Electric cars are worth it

Apple iPhone tablet prediction

Curve vs iPhone

E-MAIL
Hey everyone,
I’ve been reading more about the new Amazon Kindle widescreen and it’s starting to sound like this is being aimed at college students more than the savior of newspapers. Even though this device hasn’t been released yet, and as a college student myself, here a couple of items I have before I drop down money for this device.

1. Many textbooks manufactures are making personalize editions for the university and are not available to buy online. This semester I had three of my four classes that had a personalize edition for the university so students had to buy the textbook at the bookstore and not at amazon.com.

2. Rumor has it that the new widescreen kindle will support PDFs. What would be great is if the new kindle will support powerpoint since many classes are taught on powerpoint and the professors put the ppts available for download.

3. Many college students will not get the kindle as the university bookstore will probably not buyback the downloaded textbooks at the end of the semester. Although, if all of my textbooks that were available for the kindle were $80 - $100 instead of $500 for textbooks, the difference in savings will pay for itself.

Gregory Schultz
Mass Communication major
Louisiana State University

Guys (and gals),

**********

For years, I have been a Sprint…er…Nextel…whatever. Anyway, I see two things that Sprint can offer that will save them, if they so choose. First, you have the iDen PTT service. It is vastly superior to anyone else. Let’s face it, if you want PTT, Nextel is it! Yet Sprint has let this feature sit stagnant for years. Why else would they buy Nextel? Start throwing that feature in as many phones as you can, it has a loyal following!

Second, and probably more importantly to the masses, they have really great speeds (in some places, or so I hear). When they launch the Pre, they should allow 10 gigs of data and tethering. Offering a better deal, rather than a much /cooler/ product (iPhone) could save them.
Sadly, with the eminent release of a GSM Pre, it looks like Palm is doing the wise thing and NOT doubling down on Sprint.

By the way, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse is pretty much an idiot.

Respectfully submitted,

Clayton

**********

BOL Crew,

Just wanted to pass this along (although I’m sure you’ve already seen this). The guy behind NoScript makes his money from ads displayed on his own page, which appears automatically (by default) every time there’s a new update to NoScript. However, he has admitted and apologized for making his NoScript extension break functionality in the extension AdBlock, specifically to not block ads on his own domains. He has since apologized, but it’s very interesting.
http://hackademix.net/2009/05/04/dear-adblock-plus-and-noscript-users-dear-mozilla-community/
Love The Show!

-Greg (emptythevoid)

EPISODE 774

Escaped ’spam king’ allegedly kills self, family
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-9999451-83.html

Cancer doc urges cell phone precaution
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9999188-1.html

Reports: AOL cuts XDrive, Pictures, some blogs
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-9999471-93.html

Report: MySpace could work with Amazon on music service
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-9999472-93.html

IPhone 2.1 Update to Bring Turn-by-Turn GPS?
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/07/iphone-21-updat.html

EFF: Yahoo Music should compensate customers
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-9999244-93.html

The Death of Nearly All Software Patents?
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/07/24/1458215

Hasbro Finally Sues Makers Of Scrabulous; Invokes DMCA To Get It Removed
http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-hasbro-finally-sues-makers-of-scrabulous-invokes-dmca-to-get-it-removed/

Users can automatically encrypt Gmail traffic
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-9999473-93.html

Internet Firm Says It Targeted Ads To Customers’ Web-Surfing Habits
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/24/AR2008072403603.html

Vint Cerf Preps Interplanetary Internet Protocol
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/07/24/1728214

VOICEMAIL

Steve Tampa
What about the accessories.

EMAIL

Sorry to burst your bubble Tomolly, but Richard Vobes has been doing daily podcasts from his beach hut in Worthing UK since January 2005 and is currently up to show 1009 as of July 25th.

I don’t know if Vobes is THE MOST prolific, but the bar is substantially higher to pass than Curry’s measly 777.

Your long term fan (Since 2005),

Scotto

**********

http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/columns/story/1152083.html

Finally! For once, the internet is being considered a utility. Wilson,
North Carolina did what the telecoms wouldn’t and installed fiber
optic all of the city. However, by opening that network up to
different carriers and being a carrier themselves, they have solved
several problems that plague the telecommunications industry. I hope
other cities and towns (and possibly telecoms) will see what Wilson
has done and follow their example. I salute Wilson for finding a
better, cheaper, and faster way to connect its citizens to the Internet.

Si
Durham, NC

**********

Hey Buzz Crew,
In episode 722, in responce to the whole “3D Standard” and 3D movies at home, Molly (almost rant-ally) says “What will it take to make the 3D glasses go away?”. Well, guess what, the technology already exists. I was in Seattle at the Boeing Visitors Center about to get a tour of the biggest building in the world by volume, and in the lower level of the building they have displays and exhibits to look at current and future technology. There was an exhibit from engine manufacturer Pratt and Whitney talking about their engine for the new 787 Dreamliner. Around the exhibit were 3 plasma TV’s with the imagies POPPING out at me with no glasses involved. You could walk to the right and left and see around the image… it was amazing!!! I had never seen anything like it, without glasses of course I went home and looked it up based on the information I could get off the plasma TV’s and it seems to be Phillips WOWvx 3D Technology.
http://www.presentationtek.com/2007/11/11/philips-wowvx-3d-display-technology/
Anyway, lets bring these into the homes, no glasses necessary!!!
Love the show,
Jordan from Cincinnati

**********

Hey buzz crew, jamoto (did i spell that right?) here’s some story for you.
http://equiliberate.org/?q=node/3

I’m a windows, mac and linux user, flexible to which any OS i use and i bought a laptop a couple of months ago and if i only had read the license terms of windows vista, i could have got my $699 Dell Inspiron laptop to be $499 if i got that refund. I didn’t even used the original windows vista in there. Oh well, but still happy because Mac OS X runs smoothly in this machine, made it to dual boot with Windows XP for the sake that my clients use it so i have to (work thing). If only Apple legalizes or distribute their OS on pc’s, businesses would embrace it in no time. Definitely. (hmm.. What would PC guy say about this… i wonder… =p)

ciao!
Polo

EPISODE 689

Approval for mobiles on aircraft
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7314362.stm

TiVo's take: It's a Comcast mistake
http://cultureofownership.org/?p=24

Comcast and Time Warner to bankroll WiMax joint venture
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9903411-7.html

Motorola to split into two, asexually
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9903426-7.html

AdWords Text Ads with Video on Google Homepage
http://www.labnol.org/internet/search/ screenshot-adwords-text-ads-with-video-on-google-homepage/2689/

Xbox Live taking action on Gamerscore tampering
http://www.news.com/8301-13772_3-9902810-52.html
http://www.dailytech.com/Microsoft+Marks+Xbox+360+Cheaters+ Resets+Gamerscores+to+Zero/article11248c.htm

XP Service Pack 3 remains in testing
http://www.news.com/8301-13860_3-9903004-56.html

Vista-capable lawsuit paints picture of buggy NVIDIA drivers
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/ 20080325-vista-capable-lawsuit-paints-picture-of-buggy-nvidia-drivers.html

Asustek to roll out second-generation Eee PC with touchscreen panels and possibly GPS support in May or June
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20080325PD226.html

South Park to Offer All Episodes for Free Download
http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/03/south-park-to-o.html

Japanese ads downplay URLs, encourage searches
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/03/25/japanese-ads-downpla.html

Suspended Animation In Mice Without Freezing
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/03/25/2136206

VOICE MAIL

Dnic NY
Can’t have cake and eat it too.

Anon
All you have to do to preview Tiny.URL

E-MAIL

Netflix issues 5% credit as mea culpa

Dear Zoe,

As you may have heard, our shipping system was unexpectedly down for most of Monday. We should have shipped you a DVD but were unable to.
Your DVD was shipped today, Tuesday, March 25th, instead.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused. We will issue a 5% credit to your account in the next few days. You don’t need to do anything. The credit will be automatically applied to your next billing statement.

Again, we apologize for the delay and thank you for your understanding. If you need further assistance, please call us at 1
(888) 638-3549.

-The Netflix Team

Zoe

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Bell crimps P2P file-sharing during peak hours

Bell Canada is slowing down access on its Sympatico internet servers for users who file share during prime time, so that other users will not be overly delayed

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/03/25/bell-throttling.html

Bill

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Muni WiFi alternative

Hey Buzz Crew,
You guys discussed the possibility of using cars and busses to create a mesh network in an urban environment, but do you know what would even work better? People. Implant everybody in major cities with a wireless repeater and voila! Instant network. It would be so much better than using cars because it would spread out vertically too. As we all learned in The Matrix, humans are excellent power sources and could surely power a small wifi hub. This is the solution to municipal wifi.

Erik the MBA student from Tulsa

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Well actually, fiber is analog

Hi JaMoTo!

In Episode 686 (with Veronica!) Tom said "I think Verizon doesn't have an analog version because it's FIOS, it's over fiber."

Veronica responded, "It's digital right?"

Well, Actually: fiber simply carries a light signal which may be either digital or analog. FIOS uses a Passive Optical Network (PON) with three different colored lasers. One carries internet traffic downstream, one carries internet traffic upstream and one carries the television signal. At the customer's home, a termination box separates the colors using filters. The TV signal (which is at Radio Frequencies) is simply amplified and dropped onto a coaxial cable to handle the last 50 feet to the television. Thus, it can work without a set-top box on a cable-ready TV. The individual channels can be analog, digital or a mix of the two just like over the air.

In fact, Comcast (my provider) has been using a Hybrid Fiber-Coax (HFC) network for more than a decade. It uses coax cable within each neighborhood and then converts to fiber for the longer-haul back to the cable headend. The big difference in FIOS versus cable is in its handing of internet and telephone. TV is pretty much the same except that FIOS converts from coax to fiber at the home where Comcast converts at the neighborhood.

So... presumably this means that Verizon does indeed intend to shut down existing analog channels (which they do carry). I'm not sure how the FCC requirement to extend analog transmissions will affect Verizon because they aren't a traditional cable company. Even if it does affect them my understanding is that the requirement only applies to local channels. Also, even though PON networks work with analog cable-ready TVs, I'll bet that the subscribers with this configuration are a tiny minority.

As my brother (an electrical engineer who helped design PON technology) says, "When the frequency is high enough, digital becomes analog."

Great show! And really fun to hear Veronica again!

Thanks,
Brandt in Provo

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AJAX isn’t new

Javascript and CSS and HTML have been out for awhile, just thought I’d be 1/100,000,000 people who are probably letting you know.

Speaking of AJAX, know anyone hiring a web designer in San Francisco?
I need a job, and I’m super good.

I’m jobless/sad.

Love, Matt (the guy who beat Tetris many moons ago)