Buzz Out Loud 1509: Hey, Windows Phone 7, how much does a polar bear weigh? (Podcast)

Today on the show, we discover that Windows Phone 7 does have a life in the wild -- at least one phone does, anyway. Also, Plants vs. Zombies are taking over the world and BT, Steve, and I are headed for a Tetris showdown. RIM continues to try to defend its co-CEO setup (why!?) and fans rage, rage, against the dying of the cheap Netflix plans. We direct them elsewhere: toward the studios who want so much for streaming content in the first place.

Watch this: Ep. 1509: Hey, Windows Phone 7, how much does a polar bear weigh?

53:50

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NEWS

EA buys PopCap for as much as $1.3 billion
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_18463712

RIM Has Six Months to 'Prove' Need for Joint Chairman-CEO Role
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-07-13/rim-has-six-months-to-prove-need-for-joint-chairman-ceo-role.html

RIM promises seven new BlackBerry smartphones in coming months
http://www.intomobile.com/2011/07/12/rim-promises-seven-new-blackberry-smartphones-coming-months/

New app brings Facebook to “every phone”
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388410,00.asp

Facebook for Every Phone
https://www.facebook.com/notes/facebook-mobile/facebook-for-every-phone/200217473360613

Fans rage over Netflix plan changes — selection is to blame
https://www.facebook.com/netflix?sk=wall&filter=1
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/netflix-price-hike-creates-social-media-firestorm/13664

Netflix’s vanished Sony films are an ominous sign
http://money.cnn.com/2011/07/08/technology/netflix_starz_contract/

A new Android Market for phones, with books and movies
http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-android-market-for-phones-with.html

Frustrated by Apple's Long Approval Process, WhitePages Goes Android First With Latest App
http://allthingsd.com/20110712/frustrated-by-apples-long-approval-process-whitepages-com-goes-android-first-with-latest-app/

Just Say No to Data Caps
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388437,00.asp
http://www.ozymandias.com/the-day-comcast%E2%80%99s-data-cap-policy-killed-my-internet-for-1-year

One-Third of iPhone Users Mistakenly Think They Have 4G
http://www.retrevo.com/content/blog/2011/07/confusion-and-skepticism-may-impede-4g-adoption

Xbox Music Service Announced
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/07/12/xbox-music-service-announced.aspx

Woman sues man for ending Facebook relationship
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20078860-71/woman-sues-man-for-ending-facebook-relationship/

Quick Hits
Those Were Mac Mini and White MacBook Part Numbers, Not Mac Pros
http://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/13/those-were-mac-minis-and-white-macbook-part-numbers-not-mac-pros/

New MacBook Air to offer backlit keyboard
http://www.bgr.com/2011/07/13/new-macbook-air-to-offer-backlit-keyboard/

Pandora reaches 100 million listeners
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/07/12/pandora.users/index.html?hpt=te_bn6

Reports: U.K. paper paid police to ‘ping’ phones
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20078948-245/reports-u.k-paper-paid-police-to-ping-phones/

Science News

Gemasolar solar thermal power plant supplies power for 24 hours straight
http://www.zeitnews.org/energy/gemasolar-solar-thermal-power-plant-supplies-power-for-24-hours-straight.html

VOICEMAIL

TiVo: The app is better but the box UI still sucks!

Bruce says that whe works near or inside of Microsoft and he sees more iphones than windows phone phones

Dude has a suggestion for how we can make some mega bank on ebay

EMAILS

Hey Guys,

Regarding the Netflix change – I know that there’s been a lot of heart burn over it, but for some of us, it’s kind of nice.

I live way out in the Styx (rural Grass Valley) and have wireless broadband that is fast for browsing but throttles down if you try to stream video. So Netflix streaming is totally worthless to me. Having the option to not pay the extra for that and just have DVD’s is kind of a bonus. I assume I’m not the only Hick that feels this way.

Keep up the good work – love the show!

Chris (cslater in chat and on Twitter)

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Hey Buzz Crew,

I was hoping for a good Molly rant, but it's worth mentioning this is the 2nd price increase for Netflix this year! The first price increase for 1-DVD+ Streaming took effect on Jan 2nd, increasing from $8.99 to $9.99. The next price increase for 1-DVD+Streaming takes effect on Sept. 1st, increasing from $9.99 to $15.98.

That's a 78% price increase in less than a year! Meanwhile, my health care cost increased 22%, inflation ticked up only 2.5%, and Netflix Streaming catalog still sucks. Time to cancel.

Love the show.

John in San Diego

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Hey guys,
To answer your question about Windows Phone 7 being out in the wild: Yes! Last week I jumped off of AT&T and ditched my iPhone 3G. I made the switch to Verizon and my new Windows Phone 7 the HTC Trophy. So far I'm really impressed. I love the look, the feel, and most importantly, the call quality. Nearly all the apps I used on iOS are there, but the CNET app is a bit lacking. The Xbox Live integration is awesome! I spent a four hour train ride racking up some Achievements in Angry Birds and Uno. These did cost more than $.99, but I'm okay with that. The quality is there to justify the price. I do miss visual voice mail. Calling into the mailbox and having to remember a code and then which numbers do what action does feels kind of old. Windows Phone 7 may not have the mind or market share as iOS or Android, but it has the potential.
-Mike from Illinois

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I know you got a ton of emails requesting Google invites but within minutes of me sending an email to you guys requesting one yesterday my cousin came through with one for me. So I can spare at least 5 invites to buzz town if they want, they can hit up this email address or do a DM to @guyfromtrinidad on twitter (no worries about saying on the show this is my gateway email)
Marlon”"theGuyfromTrinidad”"

love the show

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Hey Buzz Crew,

Yesterday, EP. 1508, You Mentioned That All Hell Broke Loose In BOL’s Inbox, Mostly Because Of People Asking For A Google+ Invite. Being The Good Canadian I Am, I Decided To Lend A Hand By Giving You Guys My Secondary E-Mail Address (Not The One I Am Sending This One From…) : mrschmoo102@gmail.com. Do Whatever You Want With It (Even Give To Anonymous).

P.S: I Won’t Be In The Chat Room Today(?)

P.P.S: iFridge STILL Patent Pending :(

-Bradley From Can(t)ada

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Hey Buzz Crew,
Here I am, waiting for my invite to Google+, and I find out my wife is already on it. She got her invite from a friend on Facebook. I refuse to be on FB mostly out of sheer stubbornness. She sent me an invite after finding out I wanted on there, but I’m not sure I want it that way. I know it sounds dumb, but hey, that’s how I feel. Thought you guys would enjoy the irony.
As always, love the show.
Steve

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Been a listener since the early days & I don’t think I’ve ever heard any of the hosts open the flood gates quite like Brian did when he offered to give out 5 google + invites a day!

So, I know I’m probably requestor # 278,422…but, I figured if I can’t get an invite I could at least say…”"Tong, you so crazy!”"

Big Fan!!!

Scott from Orlando

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

Follow us on Twitter: @mollywood @brian_tong @stephenbeacham