Which Windows 7 is right for youAmong the news of new URL shorteners and Australian Internet filters comes one of the darkest moments in microblogging: Microsoft has pulled down its new Twitter-like site in China because it turns out it wasn't Twitter-like at all. It was, in fact, more like Plurk. In fact, it looked like maybe Microsoft stole Plurk's code. We also get morally outraged at good business plans. Or stupid people. Or something. Just watch. Or listen.
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EPISODE 1126
URL shorteners suddenly hot commodity
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-10415148-248.html
Google, Facebook get into game, Bit.ly launches pro version
http://www.insidefacebook.com/2009/12/14/facebook-testing-new-url-shortener-fb-me/
http://blog.bit.ly/post/284009728/announcing-bit-ly-pro
Steven Covey moves two key e-titles from Simon & Schuster to Amazon Kindle
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/technology/companies/15amazon.html
Australia takes concrete step toward mandatory ISP filtering
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Mandatory-ISP-filter-due-mid-2011/0,130061791,339300060,00.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8413377.stm
Chrome Mac, Linux betas push browser into No. 3 spot
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9142286/Chrome_Mac_Linux_betas_push_browser_into_No._3_spot
S.F. moves toward new cell phone labeling law
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/12/15/MNHJ1B49KH.DTL
Broadband stimulus unlikely to have desired effect?
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/12/broadband-stimulus-unlikely-to-have-desired-effect.ars
Twitter lets multiple users tweet to the same account
http://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-tests-letting-multiple-users-tweet-to-the-same-account-2009-12
Paramount to start online service to sell movie clips
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/business/media/15film.html
Will broadcast radio have the last laugh thanks to “tech fatigue”?
http://www.bridgeratings.com/press.12.07.09.CompMediaUse.html
Best of 2009 clips show
This year’s Best of 2009 episode is going to be entirely listener-submitted. To be a part of this listener-created experience just clip out your favorite moments from any episode published in 2009. Export your clip as an MP3 of at least 128kbp. E-mail the clip to buzz@cnet.com. Subject: Best of 2009 – Episode ####. Deadline for submissions is Friday, Dec. 18, 2009. Please hurry! And with enough people pitching in two-to-three clips, we should end up with an awesome clips show.
Listener co-host show
Want to talk with us on this year’s listener co-host show? These interviews will be recorded Monday, December 21 from 3-4 p.m. PT. E-mail buzz@cnet.com, subject “Listener Co-host”, and include your name, contact number where you can be reached for the interview (landline preferred), and we will compile the list and select four people for the show.
VOICE MAIL
Richard has more wireless communication ideas
Colin the movie director on sales figures
E-MAIL
Hi Guys,
I'd just like to chime in on the discussion that you had about Apple buying Lala late last week on buzz. I think a great model to look at where the digital locker has succeeded is with Valve's Steam and how it manages pc video games. It's such a great service I think Apple really should take a page from their book. On Steam, I can have my entire gaming collection ready to download at anytime on any number of PCs. Content there is generally cheaper than buying in the store and a large part of the revenue can go directly back to the game designer bypassing the publisher. Many small studios have made successful content just by selling and marketing on Steam.
Thanks!
Mike from Boulder
**********
Hey Buzz Nation! Just thought y’all may like to see Microsoft’s latest hijinks. Seems what’s good for the goose is always good for the gander. I do quantify this as I am a large open source/FOSS guy, but this just really irritates me after all the litigation and ridiculous business practices Microsoft has for pirating, they go ahead and pirate an ENTIRE online resource. Seems they pretty much stole all the code for their new Asian social networking site straight from Plurk.
Would love y’all to give some wide spread audience to this fact.
http://blog.plurk.com/2009/12/14/microsoft-rips-plurk/
Thanks!
~Chris in NC
One thing Droid users can lord over iPhone fanatics is the new porn app. Yes, with no Apple adult minding its app catalog, Android users can go adult. We also debate the reality of Cyber Monday and congratulate Twitter on being word of the year. Plus, we know you're all wishing for Macs for Christmas, but you're going to get a Netbook. Amazon doesn't lie.
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EPISODE 1115
Black Friday boasts $595 million in U.S. online holiday spending, up 11 percent vs. year ago
http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2009/11/Black_Friday_Boasts_595_Million_in_U.S._Online_Holiday_Spending_Up_11_Percent_Versus_Year_Ago
Twitter’ top word of 2009
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10405994-2.html
Barnes & Noble delaying Nook shipments to stores
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2942046420091130
Kindle breaks record for sales in a single month during November
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Kindle-Breaks-Record-for-bw-1721662599.html?x=0&.v=1
Macs are Amazon’s most wished for, PC’s most given
http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/11/29/macs-are-amazons-most-wished-for/
Leak: The Google Phone “is a certainty”
http://gizmodo.com/5415169/leak-the-google-phone-is-a-certainty
Wikipedia denies mass exodus of editors
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8382477.stm
French court slams eBay with 1.7M fine over LVMH product resale dispute
http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/11/30/french-court-slams-ebay-with-e1-7m-fine-over-lvmh-product-resale-dispute/
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/11/mininova-buries-pirate-booty-in-its-index-aims-to-go-legit.ars
Porn app store lands on Android phones
http://www.pcworld.com/article/183342/porn_app_store_lands_on_android_phones.html
Online “guilds” mirror real life gangs
http://games.slashdot.org/story/09/11/30/1358241/Online-Guilds-Mirror-Real-Life-Gangs
VOICE MAIL
Anonymous – how Bing is gaining share
E-MAIL
Look! In your hand, on your desk. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Twitter!!!!!!
Hey all in Buzzington,
Yes, it’s me again. This time with some good news…I think. Just saw this post on TechCrunch and it reminded me of your carrier pigeon vs DSL episode. Only this time, it’s Twitter vs. the mainstream media, with Twitter coming out looking like The Flash. Seriously, the Tiger Woods accident was all over Twitter within minutes; ten minutes later Google was all over it. So in a matter of fifteen minutes everyone in on social networking knew all the details involving the Tiger Woods accident. It took CNN 45 minutes just to get the ‘breaking story’ that “according to officials, Tiger Woods had crashed.”
We are in a major transition here; the internet is taking over, like it or not.
JoshuaCaleb
**********
You remember the story about the “web loyalty” scam where company A gives company B your credit card number and you get a recurring monthly charge in exchange for nothing.
Well, I recently discovered a recurring charge on my wife’s credit card for “VPCLUBUS” for $14.95 a month (VP = Vista Print, one of the participants in this scam). I called the card company to complain, they said they could dispute this charge, or I could file a fraud report, and they’d dispute the whole chain of charges and give me a new card number, but they gave me the phone number for the company and suggested I try to work it out with them first.
So, I called the provided Vista Print 800 number (and recorded the conversation just in case), and was pleasantly surprised with how quickly I was able to get my money back. I got an automated system telling me to type in my rewards number or card number, so I key in the credit card number. The automated thing looked up my info and told me I signed up on Jan 20th, and told me to hit “1″ to cancel my subscription. So I hit “1″. It says its canceled and I get a refund on the last charge, and to hit “0″ if I want to talk to someone. So I hit “0″ and tell the lady that I never signed up and I want a refund for the whole string of charges. They transfer me to someone else who picks up and says: Sorry for any misunderstanding, we’ll refund everything. Expect to see it on your card in 3 days. Here’s my name and reference number for the transaction.
And that’s it. The whole call was 4 minutes and 14 seconds. They get so many of these that they’ve actually streamlined the refund process.
So, BOLers, if you see this kind of charge, call the credit card company, get the number for the loyalty program, and see if you can’t get the whole thing refunded. – Tyler
**********
Hi everybody,
I am split on the whole 3 strikes thing. On one hand, I do some questionable things online that whould probably violate this new law. But on the other hand, such a law is probably the only thing that will make me stop said questionable activities. So… why not?
Love the show – Chris
A new survey shows the messaging behavior of men and women on dating sites. And it leads Natali to the inevitable conclusion that you shouldn't date dorks. We also talk over the WikiLeaks pager data from the 9/11 events. And BlackBerry gets an eBay app. Why is this such big news?
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EPISODE 1114
Wikileaks offering 9/11 pager intercepts
http://911.wikileaks.org
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/11/25/taking_liberties/entry5770280.shtml
Blackberry finally gets official, free eBay app
http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-10404316-12.html
Your Xbox and Wii could be used as an emergency broadcast system
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/state-emergency-alert-system-now-includes-xbox-and-wii/
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/11/25/xbox_ebs/
Kindle gets better battery life, native PDF support
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10404507-1.html
Comments on Net neutrality irk AT& T
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/24/AR2009112404175.html
Two US senators demand publication of ACTA
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/24/two-us-senators-dema.html
Iraqi government launches YouTube channel
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/iraqi-government-on-youtube.html
First Else plans to make every smartphone obsolete
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/emblazes-first-else-unveiled-in-london-promises-to-be-a-game-c
Online matchmaking site analyzes attractiveness vs. message traffic
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/24/online-matchmaking-s.html
CNET get’s to play with a Nissan Leaf EV today
http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/tour.jsp
VOICEMAIL
Chris the DJ
http://technoblog.com/bol/bol_appl_smoker_vm.mp3
E-MAIL
CNET and Roku — Hey guys. While it is not the cleanest solution, you can get all the CNET video and audio content using the mediafly channel. You can even link your mediafly and roku box to browse only shows you watch.
Andrew Baisden
**********
AT&T points out that with Verizon you can’t talk and use data while on
their 3G. But with the iPhone you can’t talk and use data while on
Edge or GPRS. So that map that Verizon showed is the only time you can
do this on AT&T.
As far as the iPhone and SSH. Just because an iPhone is jail broken,
doesn’t mean SSH is installed.
Love the show.
Bob
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.
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EPISODE 1108
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
Molly and I go off on the Net neutrality debate, not so much about what the meaning of it is, but more on why you shouldn't use lies to defend your position. We also discuss the attractiveness of the Nook from Barnes and Noble, and Molly and Rafe have a BlackBerry fight. About the phones. Not the fruit.
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EPISODE 1089
Retail distribution may tip e-reader race; Barnes & Noble rolls out Nook
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=26305
Barnes & Noble’s Nook: A virtual e-reader tour
http://www.pcworld.com/article/173999/barnes_and_nobles_nook_a_virtual_ereader_tour.html
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/10/21/barnes.noble.nook/
BlackBerry Bold 9700 (Onyx) now official
http://www.intomobile.com/2009/10/21/blackberry-bold-9700-onyx-now-official.html
http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-10379329-85.html
Google to blend search, music in One Box
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10379922-261.html
Exclusive: Guess who else is coming to dinner? Twitter-Microsoft Bing deal confirmed, but so is Facebook-Bing
http://kara.allthingsd.com/20091021/exclusive-guess-who-else-is-coming-to-dinner-twitter-microsoft-bing-deal-confirmed-but-so-is-facebook-bing/
Time Warner testing fix to hole in home router
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10379477-245.html
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/10/time-warner-cable/
Amazon: Windows 7 is ‘the biggest preorder product of all time’
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/44377/140/
AT&T enlists employees to oppose Net neutrality
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10379360-266.html
Verizon CEO slams Net neutrality at conference
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10379932-266.html
Nvidia targeting real-time Cloud rendering
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/10/21/1354224/NVIDIA-Targeting-Real-Time-Cloud-Rendering
LHC reaches operational temps, collisions start in 5 weeks
http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2009/10/final-lhc-segment-reaches-operational-temperature-at-19k.ars
GE shows off pocket-size ultrasound scanner
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10379692-2.html
VOICE MAIL
Frank L has a crafty Windows upgrade plan
E-MAIL
Hey BOL
U2 is live streaming their Sunday concert form the Rose Bowl! How cool is that?! http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10379610-52.html. I went to the Vertigo Tour in LA in 2005, so I know this will utterly fail in comparison, but still, a free, online concert from one of my favorite bands? Sign me up, cuz now I’ll definitely be waiting for the DVD (maybe Blu-Ray?) to come out. Hope this becomes a new trend with music in the very near future. Plus, I also think this lines up with someone’s New Years prediction if I’m not mistaken.
LTS,
Ben the Industrial Engineering Grad Student from Arkansas
Have a Google Voicemail account? Have some voicemails in there? I may have listened to them today! Thanks to some leaks in the Google cloud (rain?) it seems some folks voicemails are searchable on Google. Glad that eye appointment went well! Also Verizon and Motorola are bringing it to the iPhone. But will Verizon have to make a switch next year if the rumors are true?
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EPISODE 1087
Verizon’s anti-iPhone gets its first commercial: ‘Droid Does’
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/17/verizons-anti-iphone-gets-its-first-commercial-droid-does/
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/18/verizon-droid-is-the-real-deal/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10377603-1.html
http://fonefrenzy.com/2009/10/18/bigger-news-for-verizon-than-motorolas-droid/
Google Voice voicemails appearing in public search results
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/google-voice-voicemails-appearing-in-public-search-results/
Facebook and Twitter Founders Join Net-Neutrality Wars
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/10/18/facebook-and-twitter-founders-join-net-neutrality-wars/
Telcos and Hollywood ask Canadian govt for right to secretly install spyware, listen in on your network
connection http://www.boingboing.net/2009/10/16/telcos-and-hollywood.html
Wolfram Alpha iPhone app is cool but overpriced
http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-10377493-250.html
http://mashable.com/2009/10/18/wolfram-alpha-iphone-app/
Plastic Logic Shows Off a (Quick) Look at its Kindle Killer: Meet the Que
http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20091018/plastic-logic-shows-off-a-quick-look-at-its-kindle-killer-meet-the-que/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10376178-56.html
Barnes & Noble gets FCC nod for e-reader
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10377573-56.html
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/spring-design-alex-dual-screen-android-based-e-reader/
New camera promises to capture your whole life
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17992-new-camera-promises-to-capture-your-whole-life.html
MIT Researchers Develop Autonomous Indoor Robocopter
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/10/18/1320259/MIT-Researchers-Develop-Autonomous-Indoor-Robocopter
VASIMR Ion Engine Could Cut Mars Trip To 39 Days
http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/10/19/1324222/VASIMR-Ion-Engine-Could-Cut-Mars-Trip-To-39-Days
EMAIL
Hey Guys,
I thought you might want to know that Best Buy is getting into the highly profitable used games market here in Canada. I went yesterday (Oct 17) and they had a whole shelf including several major releases from the last 6 months or so. Discounts were not deep, somewhere in the neighborhood of $5-10 less compared to a brand new disc. Looks like Best Buy is trying to eat EB Games’ lunch.
Love the Show,
Kevin the Psychiatrist
Kingston, ON, Canada
***********
I first found a Vook in the iPhone app store from my iPhone … having
just heard Tom’s desire for some innovative new approach to books …
I forwarded the link to that so ya’ll could check it out … here is
another link in this regard http://www.vook.com/
***********
I really don’t think the type of phone matters to people who use prepaid
plans. We all don’t live in a big city with the greatest 3G access and
wonderful plans. I love new technology but can’t afford it currently with
kids and other expenses. Also people have no idea what 3G access is
because we can’t get it. I currently have one ATT phone for my family that
is 46 dollars a month (that locks me into a two year contract) and use
magic jack for cheap landline. The ATT plan gives me no Text message, no
Data, and 450 minutes only. I think this Wal-Mart plan sounds great for us
“dumb people” that don’t have the luxury of the big fancy city. What
matters to us is how good the phone service is and I am not sure how good
Wal-Marts(I know Wal-Mart doesn’t do the service) phones service will be?
Thanks,
Jeff from OHIO
There's a little panic over the fact that Bing's market share dropped last month, but you have to remember, folks, Bing is young. Rafe puts it in perspective for us. Also, Kindle gets a price cut and goes worldwide, yo. That's big. What is also big is the keylogger network that's hijacking everyone's Web mail accounts. We can help you out with that, a bit.
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EPISODE 1079
Another Kindle price cut…and it goes wireless internationally
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/10/06/financial/f210208D88.DTL&tsp=1
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10369321-93.html
AT&T to allow VoIP iPhone apps on 3G network
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10368955-37.html
Huge Web mail phishing scam spreading fast
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8294714.stm
Australian ISP in court for not disconnecting users
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/10/australian-isp-in-court-for-not-disconnecting-users.ars
Court rules for software ownership over licensing
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/10/06/2245214/Court-Rules-For-Software-Ownership-Over-Licensing
HitWise says Microsoft Bing fell 0.5 percent to Google’s gain
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Search-Engines/HitWise-Says-Microsoft-Bing-Fell-5-to-Googles-Gain-529954/
DoubleTwist unveils an alternative to the iTunes music store, powered by Amazon MP3
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/06/doubletwist-unveils-an-alternative-to-the-itunes-music-store-powered-by-amazon-mp3/
E.U. approves test of Windows 7 ‘Browser Ballot’
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2353906,00.asp
Fans come together to complete "Star Wars Uncut"
http://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/09/10/06/1647234/Fans-Come-Together-To-Complete-Star-Wars-Uncut
“Apps for Innovation” Developer Contest
http://www.ce.org/GovernmentAffairs/Innovation_Movement/apps-contest.asp
VOICE MAIL
Rick on Vonage
Stewart on gas masks
E-MAIL
Hey Buzz-Crew,
In ep 1077 you asked for a CIO/CTO to weigh in on the IBM Inotes vs Goolge Docs hypothetical prize fight for our hypothetical business. While I am not of that stature at my company I do sit right outside the out CIO’s office so I wrestled him down, duct taped him to his chair and made him answer this very question!
Okay, well not really that first part but he did answer and here is what he said:
“We actually looked at Google Docs for cost reduction and there is no way we could use it. With all the customer data that we have and the nature of our business (not to mention internal systems) having something in the cloud would be much to risky. Cloud stuff just isn’t reliable enough for us to even consider using it. Not only that but there was no way that Legal would let us (not to mention that it didn’t clear SOX compliance). And let us not forget about our ‘wonderful’ users. The learning curve that they would have to deal with might just break them.”
So there you have it. The argument against clouds at my company are (1) Reliability, (2) Legal / SOX issues and (3) Inept users.
Love the show,
M
The overweight I.T. Ninja
P.S.- Sorry for the anonymity but I’m just covering my bacon (if you know what I mean).
**********
Hey, Buzz crew,
With all the discussion about mobile OS platforms and developers in
yesterday’s show (episode 1078), I’m surprised you didn’t mention the
announcement Adobe made on Monday about how they’re going to enable
Flash developers to code apps in Flash that can then be converted into
native iPhone apps. Technical merits aside, it’s an interesting move by
Adobe to keep Flash application and game developers from abandoning
Flash to take a swing at developing apps solely for the iPhone, and you
have to wonder if Apple is somewhat annoyed that five iPhone apps
created with this technique made it into the app store.
–Brian from Bowie, MD
**********
Hey Buzz Crew,
I am listening to Episode 1076, (I’m a bit behind) and upon hearing Tom’s dreams of “Tenspeed and Brownshoe” being streamed online, I ran over to Google to find out what in the world he was talking about. So of course, I wound up at IMDB reading up on the subject, how mundane right? Why would I be emailing to tell you this? Well, I noticed at the top of their page, a popularity ranking, and had to laugh when I saw that the popularity of the series went up 34% this week. Glad I wasn’t the only one left wondering “wtf?” after that comment!
Love the show!
Patrick Sullivan
Augusta, GA
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Hey guys,
I’m a couple episodes behind, so you may have already talked about this but: things just got real with Palm http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/palm-throws-the-doors-open-review-free-app-distribution-over-th/
What better way to compete with the iTunes app store than to lower the barrier of entry for open source apps and decentralize the distribution of free apps.
Jake (the computer science student in Grand Rapids)
While the Apple Tablet is much more fashionable to hype, the Microsoft Courier turns out to be very hype-worthy. We also find out, once again, that Rafe knows where he works. And the U.S. has relaxed its grip on the Internet. Good thing? Bad thing? Irrelevant thing? Or over-hyped thing like an Apple tablet?
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EPISODE 1074
Everything we know about Apple’s touch-screen tablet
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/09/apple-tablet-everything/
http://gizmodo.com/5370252/apple-tablet-aiming-to-redefine-newspapers-textbooks-and-magazines
Microsoft’s Courier tablet details emerge
http://www.pcworld.com/article/172872/microsofts_courier_tablet_details_emerge.html
U.S. relaxes grip on the Internet
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8283310.stm
Internet overtakes television to become biggest advertising sector in the U.K.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/sep/30/internet-biggest-uk-advertising-sector
Misfired e-mail was never viewed by Gmail user
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10363663-245.html
Sources: ‘Light Peak’ technology not Apple idea
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10363956-64.html
OnLive raises big round from AT&T and others for on-demand gaming
http://games.venturebeat.com/2009/09/29/onlive-raises-big-round-of-money-from-att-and-others-for-on-demand-gaming/
http://games.slashdot.org/story/09/09/30/0426236/OnLive-CEO-Provides-Details-On-Cloud-Gaming
Verizon CTO argues for metered pricing
http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/09/30/0131236/Verizon-CTO-Argues-For-Metered-Pricing
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10363801-266.html
Microsoft’s top executives get a paycut
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-microsofts-top-executives-get-a-paycut/
Microsoft says automated ‘Fix it’ is working
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10364104-56.html
Video screen enters record books
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8282701.stm
VOICE MAIL
Jeff from Arkansas solves the manual in cars problem
E-MAIL
The bigger unreported piece of Google creating a Google Docs for students is the development of college students using their technolgy. If google is going to get a larger share of the marketplace over Microsoft Office, they will need to develop future workers who demand to use their software.
This is a major of the reason behind software companies offering steep discounts for college students to purchase their software. If you only know how to do something with their software, you will be more likely to purchase or request your business to purchase the software program in your future place of employment. -ccarline
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Hey bol,
On Friday you open your show and spend the first five minute on how Palm is in trouble because Verizon wasn’t going to carry the Pre.
Well, according to a Verizon VP they still are, and according to the Register, maybe even an updated Pre.
So how about an update on BOL? I guess 3 days later is all we can hope for, after all its not like an apple tablet rumors hasn’t been talked to death.
Felipe
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This is Chip The Mech. Engineer. On Episode 1073 you were talking about the new Garmin phone and you kept comparing it to the iPhone with the $100 Tom Tom app. I just want to tell you that my Palm PRE has turn by turn directions that you get with the data package and I just drove from Virginia to Louisville, KY and it worked great and even warned me about road construction and detoured me around it.
You guys are great.
Love the show.
ChipForget the tablet, let’s hype the Courier
A Google Android mod received a cease and desist for including Google apps in the mod. Seriously? Google may not be a walled garden with a high wall but it's a walled garden nonetheless. And it's pretty sad when your open-source project gets protested for not being open. We also discuss whether the Dell Latitude Z series is for posers. Or us. Or both. Which makes us posers. Own it, people.
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EPISODE 1073
Dell Latitude is like Adamo with wireless charger – fancy and expensive
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE58S0L320090929
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/29/dells-latitude-z-600-is-a-16-inch-thin-and-light-makes-overcom/
Garmin-Asus Nuvifone G60 finally ready for AT&T: $300 on October 4?
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/28/garmin-asus-nuvifone-g60-finally-ready-for-atandt-300-on-october/
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ATT-and-Garmin-Announce-a-New-prnews-2551171109.html?x=0
Open Android Alliance formed http://www.h-online.com/open/Open-Android-Alliance-formed–/news/114347
Apple hires Newton dev, restarting tablet rumors
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2353455,00.asp
Microsoft Security Essentials available free starting today
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9138633/Microsoft_confirms_free_security_software_ships_Tuesday
Take that, Twitter: Google Hot Trends integrated into Google Search
http://searchengineland.com/google-hot-trends-integrated-into-google-search-26717
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/keep-up-with-latest-trends-using-google.html
Kindle DX gets bad grade at Princeton
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/28/kindle-dx-called-poor-excuse-of-an-academic-tool-in-princeton/
Google Docs for students
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/back-to-school-with-google-docs.html
“Time Telescope” could boost fiber-optic communications
http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/09/28/1849231/Time-Telescope-Could-Boost-Fibre-Optic-Communications
Robot can read your thoughts
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2009/09/25/20090925p2a00m0na015000c.html
VOICEMAIL
Anonymous question about RIAA legal winnings
EMAIL
Hi Buzz Folk –
Episode 1072 included some speculation as to why AM broadcast band
reception is seldom included with portable media devices. I think the
problem comes no so much from the receiver technology as from the
antenna requirements.
FM broadcast uses a wavelength on the order of three meters, so a
relatively short whip antenna can efficiently capture the signal. a
three or four foot long headphone cord typically doubles as the
antenna on these devices.
In contrast, the wavelength used by AM broadcast ranges up to 600
meters, so a very short antenna is quite ineffective. If you dig
around the bottom of your closet, find your old AM/FM transistor radio
and take it apart, you will notice something called a ferrite
loopstick antenna. This device makes use of a high permeability
ferrite core inside a relatively small coil of wire to provide
sufficient antenna capture area for these low frequency signals. As
far as I know, there is no way to provide for AM broadcast reception
that does not require a relatively bulky antenna such as the ferrite
loopstick, and this is probably why you seldom find this feature in
portable media players.
You will find a very brief discussion of this type of antenna at:
http://www.electronics-tutorials.com/antennas/antenna-basics.htm
Great show, looking forward to many more episodes.
William, Metropolis, IL (Hometown of Superman — Really!)
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This article talks about a new book “Three Felonies a Day” that makes the premise that the lag between the legal system and technology causes you to commit an average of three felonies per day just by using the Internet.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704471504574438900830760842.html?mod=rss_opinion_main
btw, what is BOL’s e-mail address?
LTS
Maurice in New Orleans
That beautiful silvery comet you saw in the sky recently was actually astronaut urine. No joke. We also avoid talking about pee for most of the show. Bing is still on the rise and Facebook is making money. Wow. Things are looking up all over. Just be careful when you look up. There's astronaut pee up there.
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EPISODE 1064
Facebook grows and makes money
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8258117.stm
Bing grabs 10 percent of search market
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-10354394-75.html
France passes harsh anti-P2P three-strikes law (again)
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/09/france-passes-harsh-anti-p2p-three-strikes-law-again.ars
New Android SDK adds support for CDMA phones, text-to-speech
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10353867-265.html
Chrome 3 out, JavaScript performance increased 150 percent since v1
http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/09/chrome-3-out-javascript-performance-increased-150-since-v1.ars
Kindle edition of Dan Brown’s new book outselling hardcover
http://thekindlenationblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/kindle-edition-of-lost-symbol.html
“Right To Repair” bill advances in Massachusetts
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/09/15/2236213/Right-To-Repair-Bill-Advances-In-Massachusetts
Are ESL bulbs better than CFL or LED?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10354160-1.html
Mystery explained: glow in night sky was astronaut urine
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/090911-space-water-dump.html
First rocky exoplanet confirmed
http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/09/16/1327212/First-Rocky-Exoplanet-Confirmed
VOICE MAIL
Chris from Staples on Windows XP
James from Irvine on drinks in a podcast
E-MAIL
I’ll get it out of the way first, Love the show!!!
in episode 1063, a voice mailer lamented about Steve Dahl not being on ‘the air’ any more.
Here is a link to his daily podcast….
Thanks for a great indeterminate time each day! http://www.dahl.com/ – Tim
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Hey Buzzcrew,
I thought you might find this news from Canada interesting. Rogers, one of the biggest carriers in the country is upgrading their network to a 21 Mbps HSPA network. It went live in the major cities up here on the 14th.
http://www.androidincanada.ca/news/rogers-launches-21mbps-hspa-network/
Cheers,
Andrew (from Toronto)
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Hi Buzz crew,
Andrew from Australia here. I had an interesting conversation with my teenage daughter and her friend yesterday about the number of incidents where they walk into an object or pole while texting. It got me thinking – what if a phone had a proximity sensor similar to a rear parking sensor on your car? That way if you were texting and walking you could be warned by vibration or beeps if you are about to walk into something? What do you think – the next great thing or useless tech?
Regards
Andrew
Tom Merritt appears on
CNET TV, specializing in help and how-to and the ever popular Top 5
lists. He also co-hosts CNET's The Real Deal podcast. 
Jason Howell can
often be found producing Buzz Out Loud from the audio studios at CNET,
updating XML feeds from the comfort of his cubicle, and saying "uh-oh"
from time to time. 
