Hi, I'm Molly Wood, and welcome to the Buzz Report, the show about the tech news
that everyone's talking about. This week, it's bee-killing cell phones, AT&T changing
its data plans, and the new iPhone is coming! Hooray! But first, it's the OTHER
gadget of the week.
The Gadget of the Week is the Kodak Playsport. It's one of those mini HD
camcorders that everyone's so hot on, so it's totally portable and shoots video up to
1080p resolution. Good price, too, the standard $150 bucks. But here's the cool
thing. This one? Takes video underwater. Up to 10 feet. Yep. Perfect for snorkeling
and swimming. Plus, just think of all the high-quality shark attack videos that are
going to start showing up on YouTube. Yay!
And now for the news. The big news is coming Monday, as Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference
kicks off with a Steve Jobs keynote. We're expecting to find out whether the Lost Prototype of 2010 is
actually the new iPhone, and there's some talk of a new Apple TV box and, hopefully, a subscription music
service to replace the brutally murdered Lala.
But Steve's not waiting until Monday to do some talking. He got on stage at the All Things D conference to
talk to Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. Jobs "answered" questions on topics ranging from satirical
cartoons to Flash on the iPad and iPhone to the future of PCs and even movies. And he had these words of
reassurance for frustrated AT&T customers:
And that's that. Speaking of AT&T, though, maybe part of their network improvement plan is to just like,
keep people from using it very much. AT&T got rid of its unlimited data plans this week, even the one on
the iPad. Now, there are two plans -- 15 dollars a month for 200 megabites of data, and 25 dollars for two
gigabites of data. Then, they charge you if you go over.
Now, almost no one goes over 2 gigs, that's not as bad as it sounds. And if you already HAVE a 30-dollar
unlimited data plan, you can keep it! And you have until June 7 to sign up for that plan if you want to be
grandfathered in.
That's right. June 7. WWDC day. So, clearly SOMETHING about that new iPhone must be a data hog.
Like tethering. Yep, you can now do tethering with your AT&T devices, even the iPhone, but only for an
extra 20 dollar a month fee. And THAT fee? Does NOT INCLUDE ANY MORE DATA than the 2 gig
max. So that? Is paying for the privilege of not buying a crippled phone. And that? Is bull crap. The rest I'm
actually ok with. I know, shocker, right?
Moving on, the Financial Times ran a story this week about how Google doesn't want employees using
Windows, possibly because of security concerns. Seems plausible, right?
Although, wow, would they ban Office, too? Because ... I mean ... how could a multi-gazillion dollar
company run on Google Docs!? They will never take over the world using Google Docs.
Anyway, Microsoft fought back, with a blog post about how Windows security is not only way better, but
OS X security is not good at all. And Microsoft's corporate vice president of Corporate Communications --
that's his real title -- said maybe the "ban" might have a teensy little bit to do with Google developing its
own OS to compete with Windows. And then he tore INTO the Financial Times on Twitter. OH SNAP.
Which, actually, just a little aside ... Microsoft has been all about Twitter lately -- the corporate account
debunked rumors that Steve Ballmer might be at WWDC with this tweet.
See, and I noticed that Microsoft is funny and cool on Twitter. Maybe they could try that in like, the
commercials and the real world and stuff. Just a thought.
Other headlines in the tech world, researchers in India say from cell phones may be killing bees. Which is
weird, I didn't even know bees HAD cell phones.
Ok, kidding. In a controlled experiment, the researchers found that hives exposed to 900 megaherz GSM
phones eventually showed a reduction in population and possibly confused the bees navigation abilities.
Bee colonies exposed to dummy phones showed no ill effects. Obviously, more studies are necessary
before we jump to conclusions but ... when you read the report ... just try not to think too much about your
brain.
And that's the Buzz Report for this week, everyone. I'm Molly Wood, and thanks for watching.
