Show #54

[Download Show #54 as MP3]

News

• Walgreens Readies Movie DVD-Burning Kiosk System
• Imagine a the photo printing kisok systems but for burning movies
• Recent changes in the copyright laws have freed retailers to look at new methods of movie distribution
• Such a method would ease the need for in-store inventory of DVD discs
• The major reason for the change is the DVD Copy Control Association allowed the copy protection scheme to be licensed more broadly
• Gmail Gets IMAP
• In a move that could change how webmail works forever, Google has announced IMAP for Gmail
• IMAP access is similar to POP access but it does not have to download the messaged onto your local computer, instead it can keep the messages on the server
• Allowing free IMAP access to Gmail is a very smart move by Google for a few reasons
• No other FREE webmail service offers this kind of access
  
• This has been a largely requested feature
• This allows people to access their email without having to maintain it in two places, unlike POP
• Google is making serious moves at ensuring they stay on the forefront for webmail.
  
• Top Gear Test Track to Appear in Grand Traismo 5 on the PS3
• Facebook takes $250 Million from Microsoft, Snubs Google
• This deal makes Microsoft, Facebook's exclusive advertising partner in the U.S. and abroad until 2011
• Rumors as to why Google was snub seem to relate to it being too expensive to buy out the remainder of Microsoft's previous 2 year advertising contract
• One wonders what this means for Facebook as Microsoft is now a major investor
• In other Facebook news, Facebook has announced a Blackberry application so that users do not need to use their phone's browser to keep up with their Facebook friends.
  

Software / Hardware / Power Web Picks

• The magic of home stereos, setting up surround sound properly.
• 5.1, 7.1, or ?.1?
• What is is all this something point one stuff anyway?
• Why would you go with 7.1 over 5.1?
• Amplifiers
• What to look for
• What to avoid
• Speakers
• Hey, those Bose systems sound great in the store, and they aren't too expensive
• Why you want to avoid tiny speakers
• What are some of the advantages to going with those kinds of systems?
• What should you look for in speakers
• Front, Rear, Center
• Some brands to consider (not affiliated with any of the following)
• KLH (Redesigning website)
• Setting it all up
• Speaker placement
• Getting optimal sounds/range
• Finding the sweet spot
• Hiding the wires
  

Penny Pinchers

• Where and how to get the most "BANG" for your buck when building your home surround sound system.