Hi, I'm Molly Wood, and welcome to the Buzz Report. This week, removable batteries,
teenage drivers, and the big, green Army. But first?it's the Gadget of the Week.
The Gadget of the Week is the new BlackBerry Storm. Duh! Officially announced this
week, the 3G Storm will be a Verizon phone in the U.S., featuring a big touch-screen
with click-response typing, a very nice 3.2-megapixel camera that takes video and it has a
flash, the BlackBerry OS and all its business support, plenty of multimedia awesomeness,
and copy and paste. It appears to square off quite nicely against the iPhone, except for the
fact that we still don't know when it will be released or how much it costs. You know
what, RIM? Release all the details you want. Until it's in my hot little hands, it's still in
the same league as the tooth fairy. But thanks for the news conference.
The European Union is considering a new rule that requires all consumer electronics
devices to have removable batteries. Many believe the rule would affect Apple the most,
considering that the iPhone, every single iPod model, and the MacBook Air all have
locked-in batteries. According to the EU, removable batteries are consumer-friendly and
make the batteries easier to recycle. But see?Apple already has a recycling plan for
iPods. It's called, release a new one every six months. You don't have to throw away the
battery, just recycle the whole thing! Just?throw it away. There ya go.
This week, Ford said it would release programmable car keys designed for parents to give
to their teenage drivers. The keys will limit a car's top speed to 80 miles per hour, set the
stereo volume at 44 percent of maximum, permanently enable traction control, and
introduce a nagging seat belt chime. That's terrible, but I'll probably totally get one for
my son when he's old enough to?hey! Can we also get this key for the old people? But
with a minimum speed setting, too? Like 60? That's all I ask. Just 60.
The Army is installing a massive solar array in the Mojave Desert, reportedly to help
bring down its $3 billion a year energy bill. Uh huh. Now, the Army can tell me that a
solar array that's 35 times larger than the current largest solar thermal installation is all
about going green. But don't think I don't know that they're actually working on an
infinitely hot, directed giant laser beam designed to vaporize hostile aliens upon arrival.
I'm not saying I object. I'm just saying I know.
And finally, let's have a look at what's clogging the tubes. Dude. Do I even need to tell
you what's clogging the tubes? The whole Internet is only watching one thing. Tina Fey
as Sarah Palin.
OK, two things. First, I would totally vote for Tina Fey, and second, I have a very
important election prediction to make.
Sarah Palin will be the No. 1 Halloween costume at every party this year. Boom. Who's
gonna bet me? No one? Yeah, thought so. Winner!
I'm Molly Wood and this has been the Buzz Report. Thanks for watching.
