Hi, I�m Molly Wood and welcome to the Buzz Report � the show about the tech news
that everyone is talking about. This week, how to call someone a copycat in a legal filing,
Google stalking goes to the next level, and stock advice of the buzzkill variety.
But first, it�s the Gadget of the Week.
The Gadget of the Week is the rumored new Google Nexus 4G. Boy Genius Report has
the details on the next Nexus, which will reportedly take the smart phone arms race and
turn it into global thermonuclear war. But � in a good way. The Nexus 4G will reportedly
have dual 1.2 or 1.5GHz cores, but an ultra low-power Snapdragon processor that won�t
chew through battery life like a honey badger. 1 gig of RAM, an LTE radio, 1080p HD
video, a front-facing camera, and a rear-facing camera with a really GOOD sensor so
that finally an Android phone can have a camera as good as the iPhone 4. Oh, and
super thin. Plus, it�ll be the reference phone for unaltered Ice Cream Sandwich, the next
version of Android. Yeah. Even speculation that it might be an AT&T phone couldn�t pour
cold water on this smartphone buzz. Hot. Ness.
And now for the news. Apparently, when Google is mapping WiFi access points all over
the world, it�s mapping you, too! CNET News.com reports that when Google and
Skyhook Wireless are mapping public WiFi access points, they can tie those public
location databases to specific hardware IDs and street addresses.
So, if they�ve sniffed out your laptop or mobile phone as a WiFi access point, anyone
with the gadget�s unique MAC address could potentially track you to your house or
anywhere else you go.
And some researchers think maybe Google has picked up addresses even if you�re NOT
using your phone or laptop as an access point. Just if it�s like, on WiFi. They know where
you are. So, that�s � fun. Google won�t say whether it�s doing that, but they have said
they do collect MAC addresses from anything considere a WiFi access point, but they try
to throw away any data that seems to be mobile.
Now, yeah. I know. It�s easy to get all worried and want to freak out about privacy and
want legislation to force companies to tell us what they�re doing with our data or just stop
hoovering up every freaking move we make in our lives. But you know �I find it�s a lot
more relaxing to just assume that Google is with me everywhere I go, like an angel on
my shoulder or an ingrown toenail or a high-tech implant that watches my every move.
Crap, I don�t have an implant, do I? I probably do.
In the great Apple-Samsung pissing contest of 2011, Apple is saying that mean-old
Samsung is harassing them by asking for samples of its next-generation iPhone and
iPad products, neither of which has been announced. Apple, as you will recall, requested
access to Samsung's future products to make sure they weren't copying Apple. So,
Samsung did the same thing to support ITS counter-claim that no, Apple is copying
SAMSUNG. In the filing, Apple actually called Samsung "the copyist." That's as close as
you can get in the adult world to calling someone a copycat. I mean. Really, guys?
You know, I think �Fashion Police� has a name for what�s going on here.
The bitches were scheduled to work it out in court on Friday. We�ll be watching.
And in the bubble is growing news, it�s tech IPO season! Pandora had its IPO this week,
opening at 20 dollars a share, with total market cap value of 3 point 2 billion dollars.
Which is totally funny because of how their revenue is still negative, the royalty
payments for Internet music streaming keep going UP, and Spotify is apparently about to
storm U.S. shores and kill them. But hey, do whatever you want, investors. How�s that
LinkedIn stock workin� out for ya?
And finally, let�s see what�s clogging the tubes this week. You know what I liked? That
website �stuff white people like.� And also White Wine.com - a collection of first world
problems. I really related to those in a slightly uncomfortably accurate kind of way.
Which is also how I feel about this video, which almost every single one of my bougie
white friends has sent me or posted on Facebook.
Clogging the Tubes: Whole Foods parking lot
Yeah. Ouch. See you at Whole Foods tonight! I�ll be the one in the yoga pants!
And that�s the Buzz Report for this week, everyone. I�m Molly Wood, and thank you for
watching.
