Hi, everyone, I�m Molly Wood and welcome to the Buzz Report,
the show about the tech news that everyone is talking about.
This week, Nokia and Microsoft are saved!
Maybe!
The future is
here and probably fatal.
And this is the end, friends.
Of the Buzz
Report.
But not quite yet!
First, it�s the gadget of the week.
The Gadget of the Week is the Nokia Lumia 900 � Nokia and
Microsoft�s LAST STAND when it comes to saving Nokia�s hide
and pushing Windows Phone into the mainstream.
And
mainstream it is, this phone!
Maybe not the electric blue one, but
it also comes in black and white, it�s 99 bucks, and our editors
say it�s the best Windows Phone on the market.
Plus, it�s LTE on
AT&T, so � faster data than an iPhone!
If the iPhone is too
expensive, or too Appley, and you�re hoping for something a little
prettier or easier to use than Android, the Lumia 900 is for you.
Now, is that the kind of recommendation that can save two
companies� bacon?
That�s another story, sadly.
And now for the news.
Speaking of sadly, Yahoo announced
today it�s laying off two thousand people and re-focusing on
three areas: content, media, and communications, one; core
platforms, two; and third, leveraging data sets.
You know, make
more money off our personal information, Facebook-style.
And
that is BASICALLY all the details the new CEO, Scott
Thompson, had to offer.
Sounds like kind of the same strategy of
the past few years, just, um � minus two thousand people.
At
least he didn�t say they�re gonna �pivot.�
As for Yahoo using �suing Facebook� as a strategy, that could
get a bit rougher -- Facebook counter-sued Yahoo this week,
saying Yahoo actually violated 10 of Facebook�s patents.
It�s all
standard operating procedure in these kinds of lawsuits, and
experts say it�s really just setting up for a settlement...a
settlement that might be roughly equivalent to 2,000 Yahoo job
salaries.
What�s amazing, actually, is the stuff these guys have managed
to patent.
Like, "Method for Enabling a User to Fetch a Specific
Information Item from a Set of Information Items and a System
for Carrying Out Such a Method.� Seriously?
Patent office?
Really?
And now, � the future is here.
Google announced this week it
has started testing its augmented reality glasses, but only,
apparently, on REALLY attractive and happy people.
They put
up a video showing a day as viewed through the glasses, where
you see heads-up weather, maps, you can take pictures, chat
with your friends, find out that the subway is closed, that kind of
thing.
But judging from this video, I don�t think I want the glasses
until they can also HEAR my thoughts so I don�t have to talk to
myself all the time.
Oh, who am I kidding.
GIMME THOSE.
NOW!
Actually, producer Sarah points out that a lot of people are
going to get hit by cars in the early days of these glasses.
But I
kind of don�t care.
And finally, a flying car made its debut at the New York Auto
Show this week.
YES.
FINALLY.
It�s kind of more like a hybrid of
plane and car?
Like you can drive it to the airport, then fly for
about four hours, then land and fold up the wings and drive
away.
And there were a bunch of nerdy types out there claiming
that, in fact, this is not a TRUE flying car, and therefore only
barely cool at all.
WHO ARE YOU KIDDING!?
GIVE IT!
NOW!
And speaking of the future � we�re getting on to it, to.
This is the
last regular episode of the Buzz Report, which I believe, but can�t
be bothered to prove, is the longest-running Web video series
ever.
But all good things must come to an end, and I have a new
project in the works that I�m thrilled about.
We�ll do a special clip
episode next week with some of the funnest things we�ve done
over the past, yes, almost seven years.
SEVEN.
Meanwhile, stay
tuned for my new project, Always On.
Here�s a preview!
And that�s the Buzz Report for this week, everyone!
I�m Molly
Wood, and thanks for watching.