Buzz Out Loud 1534: Cognitive semiconductors: here comes the Singularity! (Podcast)

IBM has created what they're benignly calling "cognitive semiconductors," which are computers that can actually learn, think, and creatively process information. So, that sounds like a good idea, right? I mean, seriously, great work, IBM, but when one of your big backers is DARPA, you can't fool us. We know Skynet is upon us. Also, don't get caught with your patents down!

Watch this: Ep. 1534: Cognitive semiconductors: here comes the Singularity!

46:19

Podcast

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NEWS

Motorola Mobility Faces Suit Over $12.5 Billion Google Sale
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-08-16/motorola-mobility-faces-suit-over-12-5-billion-google-sale.html

Kodak Worth More in Breakup With $3 Billion Patents: Real M&A
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-08-17/kodak-worth-more-in-breakup-with-3-billion-patents-real-m-a.html

Hackers Expose San Francisco Subway Police Data
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/08/hackers-expose-police-data/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20093747-281/hackers-break-into-bart-police-union-web-site/?tag=topStories

IBM creates cognitive semiconductors: A step toward right brain computers
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/ibm-creates-cognitive-semiconductors-a-step-toward-right-brain-computers/55289?tag=content;selector-blogs
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-20093845-52/ibm-says-new-chip-mimics-the-human-brain/?tag=topTechContentWrap;editorPicks

Google brokers deal in YouTube-music publishers fight
http://www.siliconvalley.com/ci_18701316
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20093663-261/youtube-music-publishers-settle-copyright-beef/?tag=topTechContentWrap;editorPicks

AT&T cuts cheaper messaging plan, now only offers unlimited
http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/17/atandt-streamlining-individual-messaging-plans-august-21st-leavin/

Verizon Wireless 4G LTE service now available to more than half of U.S. population
http://www.bgr.com/2011/08/17/verizon-wireless-4g-lte-service-now-available-to-more-than-half-of-u-s-population/

Microsoft lists ‘App Store’ as a Windows 8 feature
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-20093865-75/microsoft-lists-app-store-as-a-windows-8-feature/?tag=topStories

Quick Hits

Scott Adams’ Windows Phone Challenge Results
http://dilbert.com/blog/entry/windows_phone_challenge_result/

Rain or shine, see the weather in Google Maps
http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2011/08/rain-or-shine-see-weather-in-google.html

Ahead of Tablet Launch, Amazon Boasts About Its Digital Video Library
http://allthingsd.com/20110818/ahead-of-tablet-launch-amazon-boasts-about-its-digital-video-library/

The Apple Store is down – and not in a good way
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/08/17/the-apple-store-is-down-and-not-in-a-good-way/?cnn=yes&hpt=te_r1

Teens’ racy Facebook pics are protected by US Constitution, judge rules
http://news.yahoo.com/teens-racy-facebook-pics-protected-us-constitution-judge-155605082.html

iPhone Alarm Clock Donates Your Snooze to Charity
http://mashable.com/2011/08/17/iphone-alarm-clock-donates-your-snooze-to-charity/

Space Vacation: Orbiting Hotel Ready For Guests by 2016 [PICS]
http://mashable.com/2011/08/18/commercial-space-station/

VOICEMAIL

Caller has a problem with Patents

Maurice from Florida talks about paying your parking meter with your smart phone
Alaa..Dubai has it

Please Send in some more video voicemails

EMAILS

Hey guys,

I bought an iPhone on the day it came out but because the 3′s came out before my AT&T renewal for a free upgrade, i skipped the entire iphone 3 generation.

I just checked and since I bought an iPhone 4 on day 1 (june 16, 2010), that means I’m eligible for a free upgrade to an iPhone 5 starting on November 16, 2011.

I think by waiting to upgrade until people can freely upgrade, Apple will get a lot more customers, like me, who will be willing to get one of each generation instead of skipping every other generation.

That’s a lot of extra money for Apple.

Just saying.

Love the show etc!

-Dave

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It’s Patentville! In the highly competitive world of technology, it’s up to you to build your patent portfolio and crush your competition! You must properly balance the snail-like pace of the Patentville Patent Office with the need for those killer patents that will rake in the dollars through licensing fees. File too many and your patents will never be approved in time. Collect your favorite patent trolls along the way. Make appropriate licensing arrangements and partnerships with your Facebook and Google+ friends and use them to squash weaker players. Leverage the variety of courts in the Patentville world to hopelessly stall any attempt at innovation by other players. Don’t be caught with your patents down, though, as your products may become irrelevant and you’ll be forced to sell your patent portfolio. Coming soon!

-Todd from St. Louis

P.S. I’m going to patent this idea before Zynga uses it.

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In a way I can understand Fox’s choice to delay their Hulu release of new episodes. They can encourage people to watch their shows and ads on TV, and I’m sure there are other motivations. But what I find highly illogical is the length of their delay. Eight days? I often go to Hulu if I happened to miss a favorite show on TV. If I have to wait eight days for the online show, that means that I’ll have to MISS the next show’s airing. This makes it difficult to catch and actually discourages me getting back to the TV. Wouldn’t it be more logical to delay it 5 or 6 days? That way I can watch the show I missed and then begin watching it on TV again.

An even worse example is the show Alphas on Syfy (new summer series). My recorder ran out of space and missed the last 10 minutes of an episode. I checked the Syfy web site and they aren’t releasing ANY of the episodes, but for the pilot, until October 4! It makes me just want to stop watching altogether. It’s just not worth playing their games.

Regards,
Doug from Dallas

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Hey Buzz-Crew,

We all know that the reason Google bought Motorola was for the patents – which is great for Android’s position in the ongoing patent warfare with Microsoft, Apple, etc.

But when you look at what it means for the Motorola handset business and other handset makers (like Samsung and HTC), the most important question to ask is: HOW DOES GOOGLE MAKE MONEY? They track your every move online and sell very compelling advertising against it!!! (That’s where 97% of their revenues comes from!!!) Android is a great platform for doing this so they will do everything in their power to keep it’s momentum going across as many manufactures as possible.

What does this mean for the 20,000 Motorola employees hoping to get free food and all sorts of other Googlie perks? My best guess is that Larry will either spin them off immediately as there own company (while keeping the patents for himself) OR keep it 100% separate from the rest of Google. Molly’s read “”In the Plex.”" Larry takes hiring very seriously – the last thing he wants is 20,000 old school Motorola employees tainting Google’s culture.

Love the show!

Rob

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

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