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Buzz Out Loud 1438: Microsoft and the crushing anvils of irony (Podcast)

Microsoft tries to poke the European antitrust bear and point them in the direction of Google--ok, guys. Just, you know, beware of karma. Also, Google cracks down on the Android chaos (and hopefully the crapware, too), the +1 button points to, yet again, the all-consuming importance of recommendations, and Samsung did not--I repeat, did NOT--install keylogger software on its laptops. Plus, introducing our new app, Smart Fart. (Sigh.) --Molly

Molly Wood Former Executive Editor
Molly Wood was an executive editor at CNET, author of the Molly Rants blog, and host of the tech show, Always On. When she's not enraging fanboys of all stripes, she can be found offering tech opinions on CBS and elsewhere, and offering opinions on everything else to anyone who will listen.
Molly Wood
4 min read

Microsoft tries to poke the European antitrust bear and point them in the direction of Google--ok, guys. Just, you know, beware of karma. Also, Google cracks down on the Android chaos (and hopefully the crapware, too), the +1 button points to, yet again, the all-consuming importance of recommendations, and Samsung did not--I repeat, did NOT--install keylogger software on its laptops. Plus, introducing our new app, Smart Fart. (Sigh.) --Molly

Watch this: Ep. 1438: Microsoft and the crushing anvils of irony

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EPISODE 1438

NEWS

Microsoft files European antitrust complaint against Google
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/03/microsoft-files-european-antitrust-complaint-against-google.html

Google cracks down on chaos in Android-land
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_15/b4223041200216.htm
http://www.bgr.com/2011/03/31/android-loses-more-open-cred-as-google-fights-fragmentation/

PSone emulator pulled from Android market; dev blames Xperia Play
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/03/google-yanks-psone-emulator-developer-blames-xperia-play-launch.ars

Meet +1: Google's Answer To The Facebook Like Button http://searchengineland.com/meet-1-googles-answer-to-the-facebook-like-button-70569
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2382878,00.asp

Google Losing Ground in China
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704530204576234693138486996.html?mod=e2tw

Samsung investigating report of keylogger on its laptops
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9215367/Samsung_investigating_report_of_keylogger_on_its_laptops?taxonomyId=66

Samsung responds, says it’s a false positive
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20048896-245.html?tag=topTechContentWrap;editorPicks
http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2011/03/samsung-laptop-keylogger-almost-certainly-a-false-positive.ars

Apple to absorb increasing costs created by Japan earthquake
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20110330PD216.html

Apple paid 300-400% premium for new iPad 2 display order, report claims
http://www.bgr.com/2011/03/31/apple-paid-300-400-premium-for-new-ipad-2-display-order-report-claims/

Limited supply of Apple’s iPad 2 keeps 65% of eBay resales in US
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/03/31/limited_supply_of_apples_ipad_2_keeps_65_of_ebay_resales_in_us.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20049011-37.html

Paul Allen rips ‘mercenary’ Bill Gates in autobiography
http://www.itworld.com/tech-society/142004/paul-allen-rips-gates-autobiography

Quick Hits

Microsoft: Run IE9 for long-lasting laptop battery
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9215358/Microsoft_Run_IE9_for_long_lasting_laptop_battery?taxonomyId=89

HTC holding announcement event in London April 12
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/htc-invites-us-to-see-whats-next-on-april-12th/

Obama says federal fleet to run on alternative fuels starting in 2015
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/obama-says-federal-fleet-to-run-on-alternative-fuels-starting-in/

Google's Music Search Engine Quietly Vanishes From The Web
http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/31/googles-music-search-engine-quietly-vanishes-from-the-web/

Gadgets

ZShock diamond Lunatik iPod nano watch wrists-on!
http://www.bgr.com/2011/03/31/zshock-diamond-lunatik-ipod-nano-watch-wrists-on/

Science News

Google Doodle Celebrates Robert Bunsen
http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpps/news/offbeat/google-doodle-celebrates-robert-bunsen-dpgoha-20110331-fc_12563769

Happy Ending
Angry Birds champion crowned in Finland
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20048937-1.html?tag=cnetRiver

Today is World Back Up Day
http://www.worldbackupday.net/

VOICEMAIL

Josiah in San Leandro Ca thinks Microsoft is smoking crack for not making a tablet yet

Darren from Columbus wants a PDA Style Tablet

EMAILS

Hey BOL Crew,
As a developer from Kansas City, *Kansas* I have to admit I was caught off-guard by the announcement that Google was bringing the heat to the Dotte (local speak for Wyandotte County aka Kansas City, KS). There’s some good history here. About 15 years ago, the city and county amalgmated in an effort to streamline government. KCK/WyCo had been in some serious decline, but since then there’s been a good bit of comeback with local development. I believe the rather unique government structure played a huge part in lessening the red tape. Interestingly, the aging infrastructure also played a part. Unlike lots of places around here, much of our power comes overground and the stuff in the ground is in conduits that are better suited to what Google wants to do. It was funny to hear Gov. Brownback say “”everything’s up to date in Kansas City, KS,”" about this announcement when it was clear that part of the reason it happened is because everything’s not up to date… yet. :-) Love the show!

Bob Campbell

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BOL crew,

I know you have a lot of overseas listeners like myself so I thought you might want to pass along this experience to your listeners. This is a copy of the email I just sent to Amazon.com's customer service:

Yesterday I was overjoyed about your cloud drive. I’m a Naval Officer stationed with NATO in Naples, Italy. I then saw your offer to get storage increased to 20 GB with the purchase of an Mp3 album for your store so I bought two albums and listened at my desk in my office through your cloud player all afternoon…great!

Then I went home and uploaded about 1 GB of music from my home computer so I can listen at work through the cloud player.

This morning, I opened up the cloud player to listen to music at my desk and it said, “”Sorry, this product is intended for US Customers only.”"

Please refund my money for the two MP3 albums I downloaded to the cloud drive yesterday. They have not been downloaded off the cloud drive.

I wonder if Apple and Google will have the same restrictions.

Keep up the great work!

Tim Smith
Commander, US Navy

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On Monday, there was a caller who asked whether to buy the Verizon iPhone 4 or wait for the iPhone 5. You laughed off the question, listing (better) android phones. I have a friend who is looking to buy his first smartphone. He would buy an android phone if it weren’t for one thing. He, like myself, is a teenager without a credit card. In order to buy apps for android, you need a credit card. For the iPhone, you can go to just about any store and buy a gift card with cash. If Google did something like this, my friend would get an android phone in a heartbeat.

Love the show,
Nathan from Louisiana

Sent from my HTC Incredible

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http://bol.cnet.com, 800-616-2638 (CNET), buzz@cnet.com

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