Loaded: Stalk your loved ones with TextGuard

>> Mark: Expecting someone else? Actually, Natali is feeling a bit under the weather today so she asked me to fill, but don't go anywhere 'cause there's more news on the G1 launch, Google saves you from hidden fees, and finally, a release date for the BlackBerry Bold. It's Thursday, October 23rd, I'm Mark Licea and it's time to get Loaded. ^M00:00:17 [ Music ] ^M00:00:22 >> Mark: The T-Mobile G1 launch came and went without too much hullabaloo, as far as I know no one was camping out, no one was arrested, or killed anyone over the G1, it was pretty tame. There is however a software update, T-Mobile issued a notice saying that an over the air update would come out today, Thursday, and would address a few of the issues that had come up since the launch, they didn't specify what the issues were but TMO knew that is may be related to some of the Amazon MP3 playback. None of us on the Loaded crew have the phone but if you do let us know how it's fairing so far, write in at Loaded@CNET.com. [sound effect] You know when you find a good deal online and then realize it isn't such a good deal because of tax and shipping? Well, Google wants to save you that frustration with a new tool on Google Product Search, which they used to call Froogle, this is a chance for retailers to keep it real, they can include shipping and tax info in their product listings, it's also location based as well so it'll show you the appropriate shipping charge for where you live. You can choose to have this information always show up on product listings in your own Google base account. [sound effect] EA is getting slapped with another lawsuit, the composer of the UNLV football team's fight song Win With the Rebels claims that EA used the song in 10 of their video games without permission. He registered this song under a copyright in 1990 and is now requesting $150,000 per each copyright violation. The games are from the popular NCAA series that date back to earlier titles like NCAA March Madness 2006 to NCAA Basketball 2009, suspiciously the lawsuit was just filed in September and most of these games have been out for years but if it works in his favor, Win the Rebels may become his anthem into early retirement. [sound effect] At last we have a release date for the new BlackBerry Bold, AT&T has made it official, the release date is November 4th. The phone will cost $299 with a contract. Natali just lost her phone in a cab this week and I think she may hold out for the Bold, such a tough decision. [sound effect] Yesterday Natali did a report for the CBS Early Show about a new technology called TextGuard, it's an application for BlackBerry and Windows mobile phones that lets you monitor and block all calls, texts, e-mails, and mobile web browsing, your boss, your parents, or your spouse can control and monitor this data over the web once you've downloaded the program to your phone. Of course, when I thought about it I thought, uh uh, red flag, but the New Yorker's Natali spoke with didn't have such a big problem with it, take a look. >> The younger kids like junior high school age or some high school kids it's a good cautionary measure. >> Well, I wouldn't tell them at first, but I would do it just to see if they're tellin' the truth or not. >> In terms of reading text messages, that's not right but finding out where you are I don't think that's so bad. >> As a parent you try to protect your kid and I'll do anything that I can to do that. >> It is a violation because I really wouldn't like them to know where I am exactly every minute, I would kind of freak out actually. >> Joining us to talk more about this, Natali Del Conte, Senior Editor at our partner CNET, good morning. >> Natali: Good morning to you. >> You were out there in Central Park talking to those people, were you surprised by anything they said? >> Natali: I was surprised, I kind of learned about this software and I thought, oh, civil liberties issue, but all the parents that we talked to said, "Yeah, I would have no problem using this," so I guess we're all sneakier than we tend to admit to ourselves. >> When you have kids you'll get it. >> Natali: I guess so. >> How does this -- it's called TextGuard right, how does it work? >> Natali: So, you download a program on your cell phone and right now it only works with BlackBerry or Windows Mobile and then you go to the Internet and you set up an account and you track as many numbers as you want. So, when you log into the website you can see all activity, you can read all text messages ingoing and outgoing, you can also read e-mails and call logs and see mobile browsing history. >> Is it a difficult thing to do? >> Natali: Well, it's a new technology I don't find it super easy to download the program on the phone, but the website is really easy to navigate, basically you just click the number and say what's been going on there? >> And your kids don't need to know that it's on their phone? >> Natali: Well, they probably will know, because it's an application but, ya know, there's the question you're probably paying for that phone so you have the right to put whatever application on that phone that you want, maybe. >> How much does it cost? >> Natali: It's about $11.00 a month for a specific amount of data and then if they're sending more and you're keeping that data then it costs a little bit more. But what's also interesting is that you can block that activity as well if you think, oh, ya know, little Eddie Haskell's not a good influence on my kid, they're not gonna be calling or texting them anymore, you can just say, "Block that number." >> Mark: So, what do you think of this, would you use it to track your kids, your employees, your spouse, yourself? Ring it at Loaded@CNET.com. [sound effect] Get your neighbors ready, Karaoke is coming to the Xbox 360, this November the video game Lips is coming to the console just in time for you to strut your vocal skills for the holidays. The game features over 40 songs from artists such as Beyonce' to Lupe Fiasco and performers will be able to sing to the original music video. There are various game modes where you'll be able to competitively sing along and for $69.99 you'll get 2 wireless mics so you won't have to embarrass yourself alone. [sound effect] Microsoft is getting wiser to Windows pirates, Chinese users who were running a pirated copy of Windows were greeted to a black screen this week, that's because Microsoft started using a validation test to determine if users were using a fake copy of the operating system or Microsoft Office. Once the test has been initiated the user's screen will turn black every 60 seconds if validation fails. As you can imagine this was an unpopular move, a Chinese attorney filed a complaint with the Ministry of Public Security, he says Microsoft should not punish users who may not even know that their software was invalid, they should go after the pirates, but they've already done that they've made several arrests of software pirates in China. Microsoft sees this as the next step because apparently one in five PC's have pirated software. What are you gonna do? [sound effect] Those are all your headlines for today and that wraps another week of Loaded, if you missed any episodes head on over to Loaded.CNETTV.com and you can catch up. Thank you folks for watching, I'm Mark Licea with CNET TV and you've just been Loaded. ^M00:06:04 [ Music ]