Friday, December 7, 2007

Show #59



[Download Show #59 as MP3]

News
  • Google Confirms 700Mhz Spectrum Bid
    • Must meet $4.6 billion reserve price
    • Makes wireless internet faster for everyone
    • "We believe it's important to put our money where our principles are," said Eric Schmidt, Chairman and CEO, Google. "Consumers deserve more competition and innovation than they have in today's wireless world. No matter which bidder ultimately prevails, the real winners of this auction are American consumers who likely will see more choices than ever before in how they access the Internet."
    • All applicants had to file by last Monday
    • FCC will release a public list of eligible bidders after review mid-december
    • Auction begins Jan 24th and experts believe it could last as long as March 28th
    • Unfortunately, the information will all be protected under order from the DCC until the bidding is over
  • NBC Takes Shows Off iTunes, Goes Home
    • NBC's (more specifically Universal's) contract with Apple iTunes Store expired
    • As a result they have removed much of their content from the iTunes Store
    • This includes shows like Heroes, The Office, and other popular NBC shows
    • NBC is currently working on their own digital distribution method that will be windows only
    • I think that NBC/Universal are making a big mistake in this decision and I think we can expect to see the shows back in the iTunes store before the middle of 2008
  • Russian Firm Buys LiveJournal
    • Russian firm SUP has purchased LiveJournal from SixApart, whom acquired LiveJournal in 2006
    • This gives SUP ownership of Russia's most popular blogging site
    • LiveJournal is a free blogging service that competes with Google's Blogger.com and Wordpress.com
    • This will allow SixApart to focus on their other products, we have linked to each of these on our show notes
      • TypePad - Professional Blogging Platform similar to Wordpress
      • Moveable Type - Business Blogging Platform
      • Vox - Personal Blogging Platform
  • GMail Adds and Adds
    • More space everyday, we're at 5.4 gigs now
    • Color coded label system
    • Group chat
    • AIM Integration
    • Emoticons
  • Dell Moves 40,000 Ubuntu PCs
    • Dell agreed to ship PCs and laptops with the Ubuntu operating system after more than 130,000 people promoted the notion on the company's IdeaStorm web site.
    • Dell has shipped close to 40,000 systems pre-installed with the Ubuntu flavor of Linux, according to multiple sources.
    • David Lord, a spokesman at Dell, declined to discuss the 40,000 figure, saying the company "does not break out" those types of numbers.
    • Is 40,000 units over a number of months enough to keep Dell interested?
    • Your guess is as good as ours. The company does sell about 10m machines per quarter.
Software / Hardware / Power Web Picks
  • Christmas Top 5's
    • Computers
    • Guys
      • 5) 802.11n Wireless Router
        • Netgear
        • Linksys
        • 74Mbits/Throughput & 248Mbits maximum data rate
        • this is a HUGE improvement over the current 802.11g routers which get 19Mbits throughput on average and are capable of 54Mbits of maximum data rates
        • Prices vary depending on features and product Netgear's start at around $100, Linksys has not posted prices yet
        • Remember the 802.11n standard is not complete at this time (scheduled for late next year)
      • 4) dRobo
        • Four Drive USB Storage Device
        • Put in 4 drives of any size (can vary)
        • dRobo automatically maintains the highest level of data redundancy with the drives available
        • Only downside is that there is currently no network connectivity without the use of file shares, but a networked version is in the works.
        • At $499 it's a hair cheaper then the TerraStations but for no network connectivity is a little pricey
      • 3) Phillips Power2Go Portable Charger
        • We all have stuff we need to charge
        • This device is a portable rechargable charging solution
        • You charge this device then you can use it to charge other devices with the included cords.
        • You can charge just about any device with it and
        • it contains 60 hours of juice on a single charge
        • $130
      • 2) Apple iPhone
        • Such a cool phone
        • Touchscreen, iPod, Video/Photo viewer, PIM, and Google Maps
        • Plus the built in WiFi makes it easy to grab free internet on the go.
        • Downsides are EDGE only speeds and the touchscreen gets smudgy after a while
        • $399 for 8GB (with 2 year contract at AT&T Wireless)
      • 1) Nintendo Wii
        • It's the hardest geek toy on the planet to find for a reason
        • Motion controllers are all the rage. Nintendo changed the way games are play like the iPhone changed how people think about cell phones
        • Plus the virtual console so you can play your old NES, Super NES, and N64 favorites. But don't forget the Genesis and TurboGraFX 16 games that are available as well.
        • $249 if you can find one
    • Ladies
      • 5) Sony CyberShot DSC-T200 $359
        • Super Thin
        • Available in Pink
      • 4) HoMedics iSOUNDSPA
        • HoMedics Relaxation Sound Machine
        • 2-pc. Set Includes Main Unit, Remote Control
        • Consists of Electronic Element, Alarm Clock
        • Ideal for Meditation, Reducing Stress
        • Subwoofer Bass and Treble Adjustment, Wake to Radio, iPod or Tone, 6 Natural Sounds,
        • Dual Alarm with Snooze Feature, Projects Time on Wall or Ceiling, Automatic Shutoff Timer, 3" Subwoofer with Bass and Treble Adjustment
        • Features 15, 30, 45 or 60-min. Nap Modes
      • 3) BlackBerry Pearl
        • QWERTY keyboard
        • Contact, Calendar, and Thrid Party Application support
        • This is a texter's dream phone
        • Retail is $299 (no contract) can be had for as little as $149 with a 2 year contract (The "Pearl 2" at Sprint is $199 with contract)
      • 2) FujiFilm Finepix F480 8MP Digital Camera
        • 8 Megapixels
        • Image Stabalization
        • 14 Scene Modes to get that perfect picture no matter where you are
        • Currently $135 at Amazon.com
      • 1) iPod Nano / Zune
        • iPods are still popular (and probably will be for a nice while longer)
        • The recently updated iPod Nano now handles videos so you can watch movies and TV shows purchased from the iTunes Store while on the go
        • Comes in 6 colors and includes the updated iPod interface complete with CoverFlow
        • 4GB/$149 (Silver Only) and 8GB/$199
        • Suzy to ask: do you have to use iTunes with iPod?
        • Manage it with Floola
    • Family
      • 4) TomTom One XL / TomTom GO 700 / Navigon 7100 Portable GPS
        • Everyone needs a little direction every now and again
        • It's nice to get the right directions
        • TomTom ONE XL ($300)
          • a 4.3in Touchscreen LCD
          • Spoken Directions
          • bluetooth technology to connect to the net via your phone and grab traffic updates (Subscription required)
        • TomTom GO 700 ($500)
          • Traffic patterns change; GPS units don't--until now
          • Learns from its users
        • Navigon 7100 Portable GPS ($650)
          • Assist mode to help identify proper lanes for highway exits
          • Free real-time traffic for life
          • Realistic depictions of complicated intersections
          • Bluetooth-phone syncing
          • Voice command
          • Restaurant guides
          • Dhopping destinations
          • points of interest you can search by price, rating, or popularity
          • Bigger GPS players: Magellan, Garmin, and TomTom are surely reverse-engineering the device as you hear this.
      • 3) Playstation 3
        • Video Games, Blu-Ray, Music, & Photos
        • A true multimedia console
        • $399 for 40GB & $499 for 80GB
      • 2) Onkyo HT-SR800S
        • Full 7.1 Surround Sound Package
        • Includes receiver & speakers
        • Receiver contains 2 HDMI inputs and 1 output so this is also a switchbox, if you need one
        • Check the specs for more information
        • NexTagged between $400-$499
      • 1) 52in Samsung HDTV LCD Television
        • Full 1080p Resolution
        • 3 HDMI & 2 Component Connections
        • $2250 from Amazon.com
    • Kids
      • 4) Pooh Knows Your Name
        • This personalized plush features over 100 phrases, games, and stories
        • Pooh knows your name, your family & friend?s names and your birth date
        • Schedule your daily activities and see Pooh's speech and play change throughout the day
        • Programming Pooh is as easy as 1,2,3! Requires 3 "AA" batteries. Operating System - Windows 2000, XP or higher
      • 3) PlasmaCar
        • It's like magic, but you don't need to be a magician to get it to work.
        • The PlasmaCar is a mechanical marvel that makes use of that most inexhaustible of energy sources, kid-power, by harnessing the natural forces of inertia, centrifugal force, gravity, and friction.
        • It's so easy to operate; all it needs is a driver and a smooth, flat surface.
        • No batteries, no power-cells, no liquid fuel-just the occasional cookie or two.
        • It's quiet too-the only sound you'll hear is the sound of its wheels.
        • Yes, its adult safe too, 220lb limit on a flat surface
      • 2) LeapFrog
        • Handheld computerized learning system
        • Learn to write letters on the L-Max handheld screen - the letters you write will appear on the TV and star in an animated story!
        • Learn on the go or at home
        • Works with the full Leapster and Leapster L-Max software library
        • Four AA batteries required (not included)
      • 1) Nintendo DS
        • Brain Age
        • $149 for various System/Game bundles
          • There's one for Zelda, Nintendo Pets, and Brain Age
Next Week: The 21 New Rules of Tech and we reveal how to find out if that special someone is being Naughty or Nice when they are online
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