Hi, I'm Molly Wood, and welcome to the Buzz Report, the show about the tech news
that e eryone's talking about.
This week, we're gonna need a new iPhone rumor, we
finally get our orientation switch back, and a totally gratuitous bit of Internet
ridiculousness.
But first, it's the Gadget of the Week.
The Gadget of the Week is the Verizon iPhone.
I know, shocking, right?
After literally YEARS of rumors and months of increasingly frantic speculation, the
Verizon iPhone is available for preorder on February 3 if you're already a Verizon
customer.
If not, you get to wait one more week ...
but at least it's not a damn rumor.
It's actually happening!
Now, it's NOT a new 4G phone -- it's the same 3G iPhone as on
AT&T, except that it can complete calls.
[rimshot]
Also?
Don't email me, AT&T fanboys.
I'm hardly the only one making this joke.
Anyway, back to the device.
There's a slightly different antenna design, and it can work
as a mobile hot spot for up to 5 devices -- which the one on AT&T cannot.
One drawback -- the Verizon iPhone doesn't currently let you do voice calls and use data
simultaneously.
So, you can't call someone while checking your e-mail.
Honestly,
though, isn't that a bit rude anyway?
But that might change later, possibly this spring.
No word on calling or data plan pricing, just yet, but keep checking CNET for the latest
details.
And now for the news.
Not content to have its own version of the iPhone, Verizon is also planning to sell a Verizon iPad -- one
that won't require a MiFi to get on the big red network.
Verizon CFO Francis Shammo didn't say exactly when this was happening, but
there's a good sporting chance it will before we see a white iPhone at the store.
In OTHER Apple product news, iOS 4.3 is out for developers, and it appears to enable the mobile hot spot
capability for ALL iPhones.
AT&T says it's "considering" allowing you to use a feature that would extend
your network usage from one phone to five devices.
Don't hold your breath.
And the update finally ...
FINALLY ...
lets you CHOOSE whether you want the switch on the side of your iPad be EITHER an
orientation switch OR a mute switch.
So, thanks, Apple, for giving me back the option of retaining the
feature you gave me and then took away.
'Preciate it.
Moving off of Apple, here's some "way to start off a new year" news.
MySpace laid off 500 workers --
47% of its workforce.
MySpace CEO Mike Jones says the company is looking for "sustained growth
and profitability." Unfortunately, Facebook still has a little something to say about
that, but MySpace did say they've gained more than 3 million new users since
the recent profile redesign made the pages visible by humans and focused a lot
more on pictures of Rihanna.
Really, though, I think the big news here was that MySpace still had more than 1,000 employees.
Really?
Guys.
And finally, lets take a look at what's clogging the tubes this week.
The Internet is full of musically inclined folks who share music through a wide assortment of instruments.
And they're a nostalgic bunch, too ...
like YouTube user UnderHero5, who offers his rendition of the Super
Mario Brothers theme.
With hand farts.
Enjoy.
And that's the Buzz Report for this week, everyone.
I'm Molly Wood, and thanks for watching.
