Buzz Out Loud 1536: TouchPad frenzy ignites the Internet (Podcast)

HP has a winner on its hands, now that it's killed off that particular winner. The Internetorati clamor to buy discounted TouchPads, while HP's stock plummets 20 percent to a six-year low. So, Apotheker, who's right? You or the geeks? Also, Facebook finds out once again that censorship is hard, and the real reason aliens want to kill us: we'll ruin the entire galaxy if we get off this rock!

Watch this: Ep. 1536: TouchPad frenzy ignites the Internet

44:49

Podcast

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NEWS

HP’s TouchPad fire sale: the fallout
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/hps-touchpad-fire-sale-the-fallout/55594
http://betanews.com/2011/08/21/it-was-like-a-stampede-and-they-went-quick/

BREAKING: HP Crediting Fire-Sale Difference to Current TouchPad Owners
http://www.webosroundup.com/2011/08/breaking-hp-crediting-fire-sale-difference-to-current-touchpad-owners/

HP plummets 20% to six-year low
http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/19/technology/hp_stock/index.htm?hpt=te_bn2

Who Should Buy WebOS?
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2391422,00.asp

Microsoft woos WebOS developers with free phones, training
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/microsoft-wooing-webos-developers-with-free-phones-and-training/2011/08/22/gIQAofyFWJ_story.html

Skype buys group messaging company GroupMe
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-20095226-94/skype-to-buy-group-messaging-company-groupme/

Facebook removes Arizona Governor's post criticizing Obama
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/facebook/facebook-removes-arizona-governors-post-criticizing-obama/2865?tag=content;selector-blogs

German official: Ditch Facebook’s ‘like’ buttons
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/social.media/08/19/facebook.germany.like/index.html?hpt=te_bn1

Hazards Lurk Between TV and Sofa
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/22/technology/hazards-lurk-between-tv-and-sofa.html?_r=1&ref=technology

Watching Too Much TV as Harmful as Smoking, Study Says
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/08/17/watching-too-much-tv-as-harmful-as-smoking-study-says/

Google+ Introduces Identity-Verification Badges
https://plus.google.com/103618543375127073102/posts/ZiXUSJQ3fGA

Quick Hits

HTC's September 1st event to feature only Windows Phone Mango devices: Eternity, Omega
http://www.bgr.com/2011/08/22/htcs-september-1st-event-to-feature-only-windows-phone-mango-devices-eternity-omega/

Amazon seeks Lab 126 trademarks in advance of expected tablet launch
http://www.geekwire.com/2011/amazon-seeks-lab126-trademarks-advance-expected-tablet-launch

Early Earthquake Warning System In iOS 5 for Japanese users
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/08/22/0349241/Early-Earthquake-Warning-System-In-iOS-5

Science News

Science: To save the galaxy, destroy humanity
http://news.discovery.com/space/save-the-galaxy-destroy-humanity-110818.html
http://arxiv.org/abs/1104.4462

VOICEMAIL

David from Florida says that Cell Phones are not radioactive

EMAILS

Hey Buzz Crew! Let me tell you about my HP TouchPad Odyssey.

- I bought an HP TouchPad on launch day for $521 (including tax & $10 off coupon from Best Buy).
- I sell the same TouchPad for $350 the day HP pulls the plug.
- On Saturday, I buy a new HP TouchPad on eBay for $131 shipped.
- I go back to BestBuy (after they start selling the TouchPads for $99) and get a price match. They refund me $425.

So….

I basically end up with a FREE HP TouchPad AND $123 in my pocket. Not too bad.
Tech Harvest

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Buzz Crew,

I’ve been seeing a lot of stories over the weekend about the $99 HP TouchPad, and a lot of them were why you shouldn’t get one. But most of those stories talked about the lack apps, the lack of support, etc., when this is actually a great thing for the ecosystem, no matter how dead it may or may not be. HP probably made at least 500,000 of these, since Best Buy had 200,000 alone, so that’s 500,000 new app costumers, and also 500,000 new WebOS users. If HP is smart, which is questionable these days, they would license it out, or make it open source, so that people who got a TouchPad dirt cheap and realize they like WebOS could still get a device, and so WebOS developers still have some platform to develop for. I have a feeling that WebOS developers are going to make a lot of money in the next few weeks. Also, HP just killed the hardware. They are still providing support and a 1 year warranty for TouchPads, so its not a completely dead product.

Love the show (especially computer love)
Ryan from New Jersey
rygavs in the chatroom

PS- I bought 3 32GB ones- one for me, my dad, and a friend

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As I was walking out of Stop & Shop yesterday I noticed that the hand held easy checkout devices you can manually use to purchase in store all said “”Motorola”" on them. I assume this is motorola mobility. Now that Google has acquired Mobility will they be getting into the consumer shopping experience as well? I could absolutely see Android as a vital component to large food chain shopping stores everywhere. From cashiers corner to aisle inventory. Just wanted to get your thoughts. The show is amazing, huge fan.
- Brett

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Hey Buzz Crew!

Taylor From Canada Here,

I just finished reading your WP7 Challenge Verdict and I can't believe some of the comments people are leaving on the story! I'm shocked! I thought you gave a very good unbiased review of the phone and the OS. You gave a review from the "everyday consumer's" point of view who just want things to work. You even tried a few services that where suggested to you and you didn't really like them, that's fine! You're allowed to dislike it! People just need to realise that, as you said, a Smartphone is now a lifestyle and clearly WP7 just isn't for you. But for people to now dislike you or say you're not into technology is ridiculous. All the WP7 fanboys/girls owe Molly an apology.

But that's just my opinion… I'm 16 what do I know? Later!
Taylor

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