"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation." - Oscar Wilde

This week we began with a brief explanation for our absence over the past couple of weeks. My week / weeks in tech were particularly uneventful, just some research on the bits I will need for the upgrade I plan to my venerable G4 iMac. A solid state drive will hopefully extend it's useful life beyond the eight years I've already had. Gareth's busy schedule also prevented any tech action, apart from a few iPhone apps that is, the Google Voice web app, and TaskPaper being his current favourites.

Then I started off the stories....

MS unveil 'Windows Phone 7 Series' - Yet another product with a catchy name from Steve Ballmer's Microsoft. This one though carries a weight of expectation, not experienced in Redmond since, oh say, Windows 7. But maybe this one is a bit more critical. If MS want to stay in the mobile market, they had to pull something special put of the hat. And, colour me surprised, they did. Based on the Zune interface, it almost doesn't look like Windows at all, which in my book, is always a good thing.

Is Apple banning iPhone jail-breakers - Certain app store visitors are finding that their Apple ID's have been revoked. The common denominator at the moment seems to be that the phones were jail-broken, also one of the users in question is 'prominent' in the jail-breaking community. Apple's cry of security, as the reason for their death grip on the iPhone platform, is seen as the main culprit for this. We can expect a full explanation in the press conference Apple have scheduled, for when hell freezes over.

Manufacturers and Operators join forces to compete with the App Store - A veritable bucket full of operators and several major manufacturers are pooling their efforts to try to take on the juggernaut that is Apple's App Store. But with so many different handsets on different networks, it is sure to become a nightmare of Kafkaesque proportions. Missing the one thing that makes the App store so good for iPhone users. Keep it simple stupid!

You're never too old to Tweet - Vintage computing, something that generates huge passions. Well this time it's the turn of the Commodore Vic20, allow me to pause a while to bask in a wave of nostalgia, twas my first foray into the wonderful world of computing. Right where was I, oh yes. It's to get it's own Twitter client. Is it futile to try to keep a platform so slow and limited going, or will the coders who toil on these projects, be able to transfer the knowledge gained, in writing compact, low bandwidth programs and web apps, to today's computers. No your right, futile it is.

Google to build ultra high-speed networks in the US - Right now, if you want to nominate your town, those crazy guys in Mountain View might roll out 1Gbps fibre broadband to you. Hoping to stimulate the market incumbents to invest in their own high-speed networks, by delivering their network to up to 500,000 homes. It sound amazing, but does Google know something we don't, building high speed data networks, making phones, selling electricity. Hell they may as well just buy Amazon, and be done with it, then I wouldn't have to leave the Internet at all.

"Last time there was this much excitement about a tablet, it had some commandments written on it." - The Wall Street Journal

This week it was straight into it. The 'it' in question being, the iPad. Duh, hello.

The endlessly hyped, and much rumoured Apple tablet, is out of vapourware, and has been released into the meatspace. It's hard to believe that anything this hyped, I mean, it was even mentioned on Radio 4 and they've only just come to terms with the loss of Empire, could live up to expectations, and so it proved. Anyone who was expecting the 'Jesus Tablet', a miracle device with the potential to cure the worlds diseases, feed the hungry and reverse climate change were disappointed, and rightly so. Instead we got, I think, the tablet that everybody else has been trying to make, an integrated device, designed from the ground up to do a range of tasks, and do them well.

Whether it will be the success as the iPhone, it so closely apes UI-wise, only time will tell. It's already as polarising as the afore mentioned device, 'It's just a big iPod touch', to 'iPad 1.0 is still fantastic enough in its own right to be classed as a stunningly exciting object, one that you will want NOW'.

Either way, at least Dom Jolly can ditch his Nokia now.

"It's always darkest just before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbours newspaper, that's the time to do it." - Anonymous

My week in tech was pretty uneventful this week, whereas Gareth's was pretty full. He purchased an Elgato EyeTV Hybrid, which he has yet to unbox, though he does promise a review when he gets it plugged in. But he was particularly stoked about his other endevour, he has jailbroken his Apple TV. The superlatives came thick and fast, which I think indicated that he was quite pleased.

Then I kicked off the stories...

Bill Gates joins Twitter - The Uber-Geek has joined the eponymous micro-blogging site. At the moment he's using it, apart from following a few dubious Tweeters, to promote his new Gate's Notes site. Which is keeping us all informed about his charitable works. That's nice for him, but you'd think his ego would be stroked enough just looking at his bank balance.

$100,000 prototype laptop stolen from Apple's campus in 2009 - It's reported, on Zirana.com, that a prototype laptop, most likely the next Macbook Pro, was stolen from Infinite Loop. It's since been recovered and investigations are ongoing. I know it was probably something really low rent, a pissed employee trying to score big after being shit-canned. But I keep seeing a Mission Impossible kind of thing. Complete with Tom Cruise and all the cool gear, and the theme tune, definitely the theme tune. And maybe Howard Stringer stroking a cat, and laughing diabolically. But I'm guessing that's probably just me, time to up the dosage again.

Bing to be default iPhone search engine - Is it a negotiating ploy, to squeeze more money out of Mountain View? Or have relations between Google and Apple Become that strained. Either way Ballmer has sensed an opportunity to push MS' search alternative. And given the dominance of the iPhone in mobile data, and hence mobile search, this move should buy Bing some extra share points. However, there is no need for panic as it turns out setting your default search engine, is just a visit to Settings.app away.

YouTube and Vimeo get HTML5 video - You can sign up for the beta's right now, if you are using either Safari or Chrome. Firefox will undoubtably follow, although they're betting on the Ogg Theora codec, rather then H264. Either way it's a win win for Mac users, Adobe's Flash and IE in it's many flawed forms are bound to lose out.

Cisco successfully trials IP router in space - A point to point network in space, satellites bouncing data between each other, on route from ground station to ground station. Every day these boffins think up marvellous new way to improve the intelligence of the machines that they produce. The only thing wrong, in my opinion, is the name, IRIS or Internet Routing In Space, just doesn't do it for me. It's just begging to be called SkyNet.

IBM and Fujifilm develop 35TB magnetic tape cartridges - Tape devices are the last bastion of the old guard in storage. Dull and old fashioned, but reliable and with ever growing capacity, the work horse for archiving in most data centres the world over. So another increase in capacity, this time to 35TB, is just what the IT geek ordered. It's strange to think, that it's going to get to the point where you could probably store the sum of human knowledge on a single tape. As opposed to Rob Enderle's which could go on the back of postage stamp.

NY court revives antitrust against the major music labels - It's amazing that with all the competition in the music industry, the price of music downloads just sort of ended up at 70 cents. Now the antitrust investigators in NY have successfully appealed against an earlier ruling, the big four labels have a case to answer. On just how, with no collusion, that price, a price higher then the cost of physical media, came to be set. The major labels have nothing to fear though, they can always count on Bono to ride to the rescue of these poor oppressed corporations.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." - Edmund Burke

This week we began with the usual chat about our personal week in tech. My Time Capsule and Gareth's Drobo are, I'm happy to report, both performing flawlessly. Then I was reminded to tell Gareth of the '12 days of Christmas' app, a gift a day from Apple. A film, several TV shows, some music videos and some very good iPhone games, all for free, and you can't beat free. Then we talked a little about the imminent arrival of the Tablet, on the 26th, or 27th depending on the rumour site, of January Apple will host an event to unveil this mythical beast. At least they might, maybe, almost definitely will announce it.

Anyway on to the stories...

Psystar have another tilt at the same windmill - Who is paying these guys legal bills? Unwilling to take defeat, Psystar have launched an appeal against being laughed out of court the last time. This time they'd like people to recognise that they, indeed we all, have the right to take software, and use it anywhere we want. It's a noble ideal, and I think if they really believed in what they say, and weren't just trying to make a fast buck off Apple's back. These guys would realise where they are going wrong. The word is copyright. If they took a look around, they would see that some people agree with them, and have indeed, set up a movement to allow them to take software and use it anywhere they want. It's called Open Source, you dummies.

Google to China "We're taking our ball home" - Unwilling to play by the Chinese government's rules any longer. Google have decided, after much soul searching, and not an insignificant amount of hacking, to stop censoring search results in China. They have said that they will discuss with the Chinese whether this will be allowed, and if not, have stated that Google will pull out of China altogether. Larry, Curly and Moe, I mean Larry, Eric and Sergey, must have tripped over their corporate motto, 'Don't be evil', and had an epiphany.

iPhone OS 4.0 delayed by the fabled tablet - As much as I'm looking forward to the Tablet / iSlate / eReader (delete as applicable). I really hope that it's development hasn't been holding back any software updates, for my beloved iPhone. Because if it has I won't be best pleased. I want Apple to concentrate on making the best smartphone, even better. It makes sense to me, they have a huge installed base of enthusiastic customers for the platform, and the competition breathing down their necks. Plus there's no way I'll be able to afford a Tablet this soon after Christmas.

Apple and Nokia play patent lawsuit 'tennis' - Thwack, Nokia serve up a patent lawsuit, ostensibly to get Apple to cross-licence their technology. Thwack, Apple return with a counter-suit, to stop Nokia in their tracks. Thwack, Nokia attack with a complaint to the ITC, to stop Apple selling 'infringing' devices. Thwack, Apple counter with their own complaint to the ITC, to ban the import of Nokia phones into the US. And there we leave it for the moment, with the lawyers earning a fortune. And me with a really, really laboured analogy.

Verizon start a new skirmish in the mobile wars - A little price cut goes a long way in these straightened times. And Verizon has launched a salvo, across the bows of the other mobile operators. AT&T have responded immediately matching the cuts, and the other networks will surely follow suit. There is a catch, a there always is with mobile phone providers. It is now next to impossible to get a phone with out a data contract. They give with one hand and gouge with the other.

Italian class action against 'pre-installed' Windows - In a bizzare case of winning the war but losing the peace. Italian consumer groups are to launch another class action to recover the cost of the windows licence, that comes with a new PC. Having already won this case before you could be confused as to why they're going to fight it all again. Well it seems the PC manufacturers are demanding that customers return their computers to prove they're not running windows on them. Costing the customers more then double the 30 - 40 euros they might get back. Strange, I've never felt the need to delete Windows off the computers I buy. Oh, that's right, I don't have to.

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shore of Orion. I've seen C-Beams glitter in the dark near the Tenhauser gate." - Roy Batty from Blade Runner

We began 2010 with the usual chat about our tech week, or two in this case. Our gifts of tech were indeed wondrous to behold, Gareth's Drobo and my Time Capsule. Then on to a chat about the Great British weather and the big freeze currently hitting this country, more interesting then the LA weather, with it's positively balmy 55 degree average in December. Then, on to the really big question, the Dr Who Xmas special, was it awesome, okay, or did it suck.

The Googlephone is here - The Nexus One has arrived. The ultimate Android 'superphone' is here. It's going to kill the iPhone, cure disease and bring about world peace. Or alternatively, it could just be the best Android smartphone yet. With all the build up, you could be forgiven for thinking that something ground breaking was coming. Apart from the fact you can only get them online and they come unlocked for $600, to go on the network of your choice, or subsidised on T-Mobile for $180. Guess what, it's just another droid smartphone.

Bono prognosticates - The Irish rockstar has spoken, he has pronounced. And it appears that ISP's are to blame for file sharing, and they should put up a firewall like China, that great beacon of freedom and tolerance, to protect the hard pressed record companies and millionare rockstars. It's amazing to see a talented musician disappear up his own ass. But that's what he's doing, either that or he's been wearing those silly sunglasses because he's blind. Shut up and sing you tax evader you.

CES, 3D everywhere - There were 3D cameras, video cameras and a shed load of 3D TV's. Even the 3D Blu-Ray spec was finalised. So we have 3D everywhere, all we need now is content with some real depth.

AT&T want to chuck out the POTS - The Plain Old Telephone System that is. Like the incumbent operator this side of the pond is already doing. AT&T is asking Congress, if they can turn off the old PSTN system, and go over to IP switching. You'd think if they had the huge amount of money required to do this, just lying around, as it were. They'd invest some in improving their mobile network. Just a thought, no pressure.

Must have FireWire - A story from Cult of Mac suggested that all external hard drive sold in Apple retail stores must carry a FireWire port. The story came off a Buffalo spokesman at CES. It's quickly been proved incorrect, with many people pointing out it was plain wrong. Although it would be nice for Apple to support their own standard. Trust them to get BS from a Buffalo.

Your mobile has been cracked - The algorithm that encrypts the calls of over 4 billion mobile phone users, has been cracked. So now anyone with a few thousand dollars of electronics and the right software can listen to your calls. Just in time the GSMA are rolling out a new algorithm to protect us all again, until this one is broken anyway. But before you start feeling too safe, the Feds have been able to listen in the whole time.

A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world!" - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

This week we began with a catch-up, having not done a show for a couple of weeks. And we touched on the important issue of what Santa was bringing us tech-heads. Gareth will be finding a Drobo under his tree. While I, having rescued what I could from my faulty Seagate drive, will be receiving a Time Capsule for being a good boy this year.

And on to our final stories of 2009…

Zune Twitter app censors rude words - Why, who knows. Maybe they're trying to drum up some controversy for the Zune app store. Is there even a Zune app store yet? Or maybe Ballmer could only just bear to see his baby referred to as a….. F*^$@!g piece of s^%t.

Microsoft admits code theft - In a refreshing change from normal practice, M$ have admitted and apologised, for blatantly stealing the work of others, and passing it off as they're own. If it wasn't amazing enough that a few weeks ago, a Redmond exec admitted to copying Mac OS, when creating Windows. Truly, a Christmas miracle.

Android to burst iPhone's bubble - It's inevitable that Android will power the best smartphone ever. Google are using the monkeys, typewriters and Shakespeare principal. You get enough manufacturers making enough different handsets, running enough different versions of the OS, with enough different UI skins and enough different screen sizes. Eventually they're bound to make the best smartphone.

Google dumps Gears for HTML5 - Wanted to write up that important blog post, while the muse has struck. Use Google Docs, so you can share everything between your different devices. But shock, horror, gasp the 'cloud' has deserted you in your hour of need. That's where Gears came in, allowing to use all the Google office services and Gmail offline. But with the advent of HTML5, Gears has become defunct, it is on more, it is a dead service. Okay not quite yet, but you get the idea. HTML5 is seriously going to kick ass. Plus IE is incompatible, so it could kill that as well. It's a win win.

TechCrunch and Fusion Garage clash over 'bad' JooJoo - The Crunchpad has been crunched. And what ever is happening between Mike Arrington and Chandra Rathakrishnan, you can be sure the legal shenanigans will drag on for quite some time. But the Crunchpad renamed JooJoo will be with us shortly. Then everyone can compare it to the best tablet that's 'never' been made. The mythical, nay legendary Apple tablet.

VLC for the Mac might die - The excellent video utility software VideoLan Client, you can chuck practically any video format at it and it'll run without a hiccup, might whither and die. The open source software is running out of active developers, to drive the project forward. If there are any developers out there, with the time to donate to this software, please help. We cannot let this useful and important software languish. If this software dies, what am I going to use to watch my collection of Xvid porn.

Our opening chat this week began with Gareth's Black Friday experience, it's even catching on over here, just the discounts, no stampedes just yet. Then we bemoaned the lack of any juicy stories, we even considered making some up. Then the newly released beta of Chrome OS featured highly, and speaking of Google thanks to Gareth's endeavours we are now the proud users of Google Wave, but we don't know what it's for either.

Anyway on to the stories...

Zune Colours coming - MS' flagship mp3 player, sorry, only mp3 player. Is going all polychromatic in time for Christmas. Two colours, purple and magenta, are coming on the 1st of December with others to follow soon. I should say something here about Microsoft copying Apple again, al a iPod Nano. But it happens so often, I can't be bothered to say it again.

EU rides to file sharers rescue - With the impending arrival of the dreaded 'three strikes' laws all over Europe. The European Parliament is enshrining in law rights for accused file sharers. At least now we can appeal, and we might get to keep our internet connections. Or we could end up in Gitmo, who knows.

An Apple with out Steve Jobs - Talk about a dystopian alternate reality. But it almost happened. Where would Apple be now, would there even be an Apple. Or would it just be another technological footnote, in Windows' inexorable march to total desktop domination.... Oh god what a thought, I think I might have to change my underpants.

Android and Chrome OS expected to merge - In it's on going attempt to take over any device that might in anyway brush up against the cloud. Google have a desktop OS and a smartphone OS. They also have a cunning plan, unite the two and take over the world... Bwhahahahaha. I can see it now, the completely dominant Google OS, but what to call it? Android or Chrome? I think they should call it something associated with all Google software. Introducing the new Google Beta.

We started off this week with a rambling chat covering a lot of stories that we would have covered last week. But I went on a big night out with some friends and got extremely drunk instead. You know how it is, sometimes you have to have a blow out. You will be glad to hear I suffered for my fun. I could hardly string two words together, which might have been an improvement.

But anyway on with this weeks stories...

End of the line for Hacintosh's? - Is Apple trying to close off all avenues to hackintosh-dom? After the Psystar debacle, you could understand why Apple would want to. But already the hackers are fighting back, a patch was posted within a day. Steve maybe winning in the court room, but the hackintosh community are a dedicated bunch. If Apple have declared war on another front, let battle commence.

Public pressure keeps DRM off BBC, for now - Hollywood wants to DRM their stuff when its shown on the Beeb. The public however disagree, and unusually the regulator has backed the consumer, a newsworthy event in itself. But like Stallone in a Rocky film, Hollywood is down, but not out. It'll come back stronger and batter us down, until we have been beaten into submission.

Windows 7 'inspired' by Mac OS - File this under 'bleeding obvious', but a MS manager has admitted what we've known for a while now. They copied Mac OS! Simon Aldous Microsoft Partner manager said as much in an interview. He was promptly slapped down by Redmond HQ, and is probably considering his future employment. I wonder if Ballmer kicked a few more chairs when he heard one of his own had blabbed.

New PC for the 'older generation' - Would the first thing you think of, when planning a PC for older computer newbies, be Linux, no me neither. But, Valerie Singleton, the mature UK TV presenter is fronting just that. The SimplicITy PC is running a skinned version of the Mint Linux distro, with big buttons, for the internet, email and chat, to encourage the over 50's to get online. Over here they're called 'Silver Surfers', but you wouldn't want to see any of these naked on a surfboard.

Wheelchair users get an app for that - Dynamic Controls has unveiled an iPhone app, which will allow touchscreen control of its wheelchairs. Connecting via bluetooth, the app enables the user to control all aspects of wheelchair operation. Proving conclusively that there is is an app for everything. Now, anyone up for 'bluejacking' Steven Hawking and taking him for a joyride round Cambridge.

What does it take to simulate a cat's brain - A lot, a mean really, a lot. Nearly 150,000 Power PC processors, 143 terabytes of ram, a million watts of electricity, 6675 tons of air conditioning equipment and miles and miles of cabling. All set in an acre of floor space. All this just to simulate a cat sized brain of 1.6 billion neurons and 9 trillion synapses. The lead scientist is predicting a human brain simulation in about 10 years, but it will need 1000 times more power. If he aimed a bit lower I'd donate my G4 iMac and we could start with George W.

"I like an escalator because an escalator can never break, it can only become stairs. There would never be an escalator temporarily out of order sign, only an escalator temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience." - Mitch Hedberg

Gareth started this week with a bug he's uncovered in the Apple TV 3.0 firmware update. And I chipped in with a tale of woe, about my newish Seagate external HD. It's the second one and it's dead, it is no more, and it's going back to Amazon. Then we touched on Blu-ray, specifically the new 'managed copy' system the studios are allowing us honest consumers. They're far to good to us, after all we should just be sending them all our money, just because they're such nice people. Not.

Then I kicked off the stories proper...

Apple touting $30 a month TV subscription - For Apple TV and iTunes, at least. No details yet, but Cupertino are asking the networks if they'd be interested. I'm so glad that Steve has a hobby to keep him busy.

iPhone nano rumour just won't die - It'll be here in 2010, on Verizon. Or not. I just don't know, it seems very un-Apple like to mess with a formula that has worked so well up till now. But who knows, maybe Apple are really scared of the the iPhone killer that is....'Pixi'. Ha bet you thought I was going to say 'Droid' then, didn't you.

Windows 7 blocks the iPhone - There that's the scary headline out of the way, now for the real story. It seems a certain Intel chipset (P55) is causing sync problems for the iPhone when afore mentioned chipset is running Windows 7. A bios upgrade is required to get things playing nice again. But that all depends on your PC / motherboard manufacturer, so ask nice, and they might just be bothered.

Beatles release an Apple, before Apple release The Beatles - An apple shaped, MP3 including, novelty collection of the 14 recently remastered albums. All contained within a USB memory stick core. So the Fab Four are available in electronic form, but still not on iTunes. Even Steve's promise of payment in unicorn tears, hasn't tempted the fabulously wealthy Beatles or their executors.

Shock as MP uses electronic device in Parliament - Those, over here, entrusted with our law making and future infrastructure, are 'to be discouraged' from joining the 21st century. The Speaker does not want electronic devices to be used in the Commons. Of course, if MP's are active users of the Internet and electronic media they might understand the problems we ordinary consumers face. The powers that be, wouldn't want that, would they.

Create your own Bluetooth 'Star Trek' communicator - No matter what anyone one does to Bluetooth headsets, they will always be ugly and uncool. This on the other and is unquestionably cool, in a geeky kind of way. Unfortunately, thanks to the joy that is Voice control, "beam me up Scotty", will just call the boss, not get you anywhere near the Enterprise.

"If one could conclude as to the nature of a Creator from a study of his creation, it would appear that God has a special fondness for stars and beetles." - JBS Haldane

This week it was straight into it again. I mean, come on we're busy people here...

Android is on the march - The Motorola Droid is the first in a slew of new Android phones due out. Those, along with the version 2.0 firmware, is going to 'kill' the iPhone. Not because its necessarily better, but just by sheer weight of numbers. Will it be the triumph of 'good enough', where a whole plethora of pretenders have so far failed.

Apple TV updated - The other day Gareth and I were discussing the Apple TV, and how it could do with a software update. Well it turns out Apple was listening, and lo and behold, 3.0 was released. With a new interface and support for iTunes new LP format. We're genii and Apple TV 3.0 was our idea.

Google adds 'turn by turn' navigation to Android 2.0 - As part of the afore mentioned Android 2.0 software, Google are rolling in a complete 'turn by turn' sat-nav. And, pending approval, an iPhone app on the way as well. With the Google maps app and the compasses built in to the newer smartphones, it was probably a no brainer. That didn't help Garmin and Tom Tom et al, when their business model disappeared overnight.

Chrome OS released - With a whimper of news, that followed the bang of publicity greeting the initial announcement, Chrome OS has been released. Or has it? A distribution of Chrome OS appeared online featuring a Gnome desktop on a linux kernal, with Picasa and Chrome browser. While all seemed legit, it was posted on sites.google.com, this has site has since been disabled. I'm wondering if it was from the same people who will sell you a copy of Firefox, for a bargain price.

MS decides against Family Guy Windows 7 promo - Apparently the show 'is not a good fit with the Windows brand'. It's not as if I wasn't expecting this story to come out, about a nano-second after the original story, actually, it's the reason we didn't cover it initially. A show which finds humour in the holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest, that is not a fit with the Windows brand? Never. Did anyone in Redmond actually watch Family Guy before signing up?

Verizon getting the iPhone? - Will Verizon get the iPhone, next year? More rumours circulate of the end of AT&T's exclusive deal with Apple. With potential suitors lining up, it seems more likely that someone else will get to sell it. Maybe not Verizon, as their CDMA network would necessitate a new model, which goes against Apple's mantra of keep it simple. But with Orange and Vodafone to start selling them over here. America, land of choice and competition, could be the last place to get some.

Thin superconductors promise faster electronics - I found a fascinating article on the interwebs this week. About the development of a superconducting film, just a few nanometers thick, suitable for electronic devices. Unfortunately it only works at 32 kelvin (-241 centigrade) so far, but development are continuing. And as I talk, Gareth's eyes slowly close, and he starts to drift into a deep, deep slumber.

"You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi

This week was a busy one so we dived right in to the news. Plus Gareth got to play with his new toy, even if it was a bitch to set up.

Windows 7 out - After a plethora of alphas, betas and a release candidate, the saviour of Redmond is finally available. Will it be the success that Vista was, can it even improve on that, only time will tell. But if it's as good a copy of Mac OS X as the Microsoft stores are of Apple's, it should be a huge hit.

New Mac goodies released - After having to talk about Ballmer's new baby, it was nice to talk about something more edifying. And edifying they are, new iMacs, new Macbook and new Mini's as well. All released at the same time as something else that's coming out this week. But funnily enough I can't remember what it was.

Psystar give all PC users a Mac - Psst wanna get a knock off Mac. You can get one off Psystar for $50. Just a software download, and you're good to go. I think they might be about to change their name to 'Hackintosh R Us'.

BBC iPlayer to go international - Your favourite BBC shows, available to stream as soon as they're shown in the UK. And all for a reasonable fee of just $10 bucks a show, if a BBC Worldwide Exec is to be believed. Although it would be high price to pay for you, it could export a whole new cultural phenomena. Rip off Britain coming soon to a computer near you.

Best Buy opening in the UK - The retailer is bringing the American shopping experience to the UK. The cavernous warehouse filled with all the electrical goodies you could want. Maybe even some American style customer service. And heaven forfend, even American pricing.

Fuel cell actually released - Something we've discussed on the show before. Touted as an answer to our power portable gadgets, ravenous hunger for energy, and the consequent disappointing battery life. Promised a decade ago, finally Toshiba is releasing one to consumers. Next thing you know they'll be giving away a 'Mr Fusion' with your breakfast cereal.

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair." - Douglas Adams

This week we blathered on about a few different iPhone apps. I was quite enamoured with Layar, the augmented reality app we discussed on the show a while ago. Whereas Gareth was impressed with the new Photoshop Mobile app, I might be as well, if it's ever available on the UK app store. Also Gareth has changed alliegience, VMWare over Parallels it's a Snow Leopard thing.

Then on to the stories...

Sneaky Microsoft plug-in puts Firefox users at risk - Not content with with making their own software a hackers paradise. MS are offering free updates so those nasty people can pwn Firefox as well. By installing a windows update, users also installed a plug-in into Firefox, which opened up a great big hole there, as well as in Internet Explorer. They've fixed the exploit now. But for a while MS could have honestly claimed that Firefox was as vulnerable as IE, they'd have known, because they'd have made it that way.

An open letter to Steve Jobs. Fix Apple TV - A concerned user wants Uncle Steve to pour some love on Cupertino's media player. It would be a nice for Apple to invest some time and effort in their 'hobby', it could be a killer product. Like as suggested, make the hard drive optional and beef up the streaming, with Netflix perhaps. And add a 'bag of hurt', otherwise known as a Blu-ray player. Oh, and Safari for surfing the web from your sofa, would be nice, too. All in all, it'd be easier to just stick an HDMI port on a Mac Mini.

Mac Pro to get the exclusive on Intel's new six core Xeon - It is rumored that Apple will get another exclusive on a new 'top of the line' chip. The rumors of other goodies, 10Gb ethernet, support for upto 128GB of ram, make this sound like a beast of a machine. Cue another arbitrary Terminator reference....no, you get the idea.

Apple prepping a radio app for the iPhone - Bringing a whole new meaning to wireless, on the iPhone. Apple are rumoured to be enabling the FM radio built into the RF chip. I'm quite stoked by this news, Radio 4 without needing Flash for the BBC's iplayer. Gareth on the other hand, is less then impressed with option to listen to, and I'm paraphrasing here, radio of generally inferior quality.

Newest iPhones jailbreak proof? - It is popular for some people to jailbreak their iPhones as soon as they get them. Whether to enable multi-tasking, or install unapproved apps. But Apple are throwing a spanner on the works, with a new boot-rom to stop the hackers. Of course it'll get broken and probably very quickly, as well. And it does seem a lot of effort to go to, just to keep Google Voice 'under review'.

New hardware for the Amiga OS - Like Haiku, keeping the Be OS flame alive, before it. Morph is doing likewise for the old Commodore Amiga OS. The strength of the user community is such that the makers of Morph are releasing new hardware for it. Well they aren't, but Apple are. And new might be a bit of a stretch. Actually, it can run on a G4 Mac Mini. You've got to admire those retro computer guys, three year old hardware, an even older OS. Cutting edge stuff.

WiFi Direct, who needs Bluetooth - Ad-hoc peer to peer WiFi networks where ever you are. Hot spot not required, just two devices with WiFi chips. At up to 30 times the speed of Bluetooth, file transfers should be a breeze, but the headsets will make you look even more of a dork.

"Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction." - Albert Einstein 1879 - 1955

Not a lot happening on the tech front for Gareth or myself, this week. Still we managed to blather on about this and that for a few minutes before we dived into the stories. We're getting quite good at blathering, and I quite like the sound of the word.... blathering, blathering, blathering...

Anyway onto the stories...

AT&T to allow VOIP over 3G for the iPhone - In a move sure to cement it's position as the network of the consumer. AT&T has pushed aside the barriers to allow iPhone users VOIP over its 3G network. Did it work? I was trying for sarcasm. Anyway they're allowing iPhone users the same choice as Blackberry, and other phone users on their network. Whats next, Slingbox and Google Voice, who knows. They may allow anything but, as Mr de la Vega has intimated, throttle your connection. You greedy iPhone data users you.

Tiny 'nuclear batteries' unveiled - Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a battery that could power your mobile device of choice for 'up to hundreds of years, or more'. Sounds cool, but there is a small snag, these suckers are nuclear. "People hear the word 'nuclear' and think of something very dangerous," Said lead researcher Dr Jae. Really you don't say? Its claimed they will be perfectly harmless in normal operating conditions. Yeah, and so was the Chernobyl power plant.

Mossberg 'Windows 7 nearly as good as Mac OS' - The respected tech journalist has reviewed Windows 7 and proclaimed it 'the best version of Windows Microsoft have produced', and is rapidly catching up with Mac OS X. Which if you'll contrast with his scathing review of Vista. 'After months of testing Vista on multiple computers, new and old, I believe it is the best version of Windows that Microsoft has produced.' Doh! Move along people, nothing to see here.

Kindle to launch internationally - Good old Uncle Jeff is letting us unworthy non-Americans buy his famed ebook reader. Aren't we ever so lucky. In Spain with shipping and import taxes it'll cost $350. And in the UK we'll be charged 40% more to buy the ebooks. All in all it sounds like a really great deal. (That was a shot at irony). And I usually go to Amazon to get a good price.

Apple, taking the tablets since 2003 - If Joshua A Strickon, a former Apple engineer is to be believed, the almost mythical tablet, has been in development since 2003. Which given Steve Jobs known obsession with detail doesn't sound unreasonable. Apparently, one such prototype was based on a PPC chip and the components alone cost $500. Which, given Apple's very healthy margins, would have put the retail cost somewhere close to crippling.

Flash coming to (almost) everything - Adobe is building one multi-media plug-in to rule them all. Flash is coming to every device you can name. Android, Pre, Blackberry and Windows Mobile or Windows Phone or whatever the hell Microsoft are calling it this week. But with one notable exception, the iPhone. Apple is banking on HTML5 with its built in video and audio support. But, if Apple did relent and allowed flash on the iPhone, the day after will see the release of an app that blocks it.

"I would give all the wealth of the world, and all the deeds of all the heroes, for one true vision." - Henry David Thoreau 1817 - 1862

More grumbling about Netnewswire began this weeks show. But several solutions are being tried out, and any suggestions are gratefully received. Gruml looks an interesting candidate, we'll let you know how it goes. Simplenote was Gareth's iPhone app of the week. We are complying with FTC rules, no undisclosed freebies here, unfortunately.

Anyway onto the stories…

UK iPhone competition at last - Orange and Vodafone are set to join O2 in offering the iPhone. Real competition, cheaper plans. Who knows maybe even cheaper iPhones. Bloody typical, and I'm stuck in a plan with over a year to run.

Blackberry Desktop Manager for the Mac - RIM have released Mac sync software for their smartphones. Finally. It'll do contacts, pictures, notes and music. Yes that's right, your iTunes library will sync seamlessly, and Apple won't try to break it. That's because RIM are doing it the right way, using their own software, and Apple published API's, to access the iTunes library XML file. Somebody pass this on to Palm.

Over two billion served - Apps that is, iPhone Apps. In 18 months Apple have gone from nothing to two billion. No wonder everyone is opening an App store. Even Windows Mobile has opened an App store, with a whole 34 apps. I wonder when they'll reach two billion.

Steve Jobs climbs the Forbes rich list - He must make that dollar a year from Apple work really hard, or he's got a bitching second job. But as impressive as 5.1 billion dollars sounds, Bill Gates lost $7,000,000,000 in the crunch and he's still got ten times as much. Life is so unfair.

Police sell seized goods on eBay - All the stuff that criminals bought with their ill-gotten gains, can be confiscated and sold, thanks to the Proceeds Of Crime Act. Leicestershire Police have decided to use eBay as their retail channel of choice. And they will get 100% positive feedback, or you might just fall down some stairs while in custody.

Google AdSense leaks Apple's refreshed hardware - Faster, thinner and sexier, the new Macs are outed by Google AdSense in Holland. The ads go to dead links on the Apple Dutch website, but we now know they're on the way. How did the leak happen, come on, its from the country of legalized drugs.

"Let the future tell the truth, and evaluate each one according to his work and accomplishments. The present is theirs; the future, for which I have really worked, is mine." - Nikola Tesla 1856 - 1943

This week I was bemoaning the ruining of my Netnewswire experience. its all new on the desktop, iPhone and syncing by Google reader. But its not working for me, and other by the sound of the forums. Gareth's experience has been better, but he got the paid app. Maybe I shouldn't be so cheap.

Anyway on to the stories...

iPhone MMS now live - If you're on AT&T in the states anyway. The rest of us have had it since the 3.0 firmware came out. AT&T are relived it didn't bring their network down. Apple, are probably relived that AT&T didn't drop the ball, again. And you, long suffering iPhone user, can now use up your bundled texts four times as quick.

Palm ticked off by USB Implementors forum - If you go crying to Mom, you better have the best story, when she asks for answers. Unfortunately for Palm, Mom or the USB-IF in this case, is unhappy with the explanation given. I think an ass whooping is coming.

New iMacs on the way? - Rumours abound, and inventory is tight. Are new iMacs on the horizon? Of course they are. I just can't wait to tell my new switcher friend, that his week old baby, is gonna be outdated so soon.

Intel's Light Peak dictated by Apple? - Intel's new super fast optical interconnect standard was proposed by Apple, according to Engadget. Claiming to have seen documents, including a roadmap to when it'll be included in Macs. So having adopted and made defacto the USB standard, now its made over and up to version 3.0, Apple's preparing to dump it and move on. Its not you USB, Apple's like that, just ask the floppy disk.

AT&T and Google squabbling again - AT&T has gone crying to Mom (FCC), that Google isn't playing nice. Google voice won't pick up the tab for expensive interconnect charges to rural providers. But AT&T have to, poor baby. There, there let Mommy make it all better.

Microsoft doesn't like Google's Chrome Frame for IE - Duh, big surprise. But they're at it again with the FUD. "Its a security hole, its a potential problem, don't do it." They're advising their friends and family to stay away. But still want their friends and family to use IE. Luckily the rest of us can dump it, come on people.

"There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition." - Rod Serling 1928 - 1975

After a brief, technology related, hiatus we are back this week. And we began with a chat about the newly released iPods. How they stack up, and whats with the missing camera from the iPod Touch. Then on to my tech mishap, Snow Leopards minor disagreement with my router. Damn BT’s Home hub rubbish.

Then back into the swing of things...

BeOS reborn as Haiku - The compact, fast and elegant OS from the 90’s is back and it’s open source. Its the OS us Mac users could be using today. If Gil Amelio hadn’t bought NeXT from Steve Jobs instead. Thereby ensuring his own demise, and Apple’s rejuvenation.

Pigeon beats broadband - In Durban, South Africa, they’ve gone back to the future, and ‘re’-introduced a novel data delivery system. Got some big files that need transferring, don’t bother with your ADSL connection, that’ll only get 4% of 4GB done in two hours. Call on Winston the carrier pigeon, and he’ll get all of that data 60 miles. As long as Dick Dastardly doesn’t get him first.

Google or Apple, which one’s lying over the Google Voice App? - Well, I’m not generally a betting man, but if I had to put money on it.... I’m afraid I’d have to go for Apple. Dialers we got hundreds, SMS programs, no problem. Google Voice there was an app for that.

A Mac with an illustrious past - A chance to own Gene Roddenberry’s 128k Mac. The first one off the production lines at that. Okay, given its not going to be the speediest computer, but who knows what stories were produced on this Mac. But unfortunately you can’t interface with it by talking into the mouse.

Zune HD is out - Wow it doesn’t suck. Generally positive reviews all round for Redmond’s new media player. Could be a real contender in the MP3 player market. Some good competition is what’s needed to spur on Apple, they’ve had it to easy for too long. I can’t believe I wrote ‘it doesn’t suck’ in a story about a Zune.

Ballmer’s at it again - Monkeyboy is at it again. Now, its okay to trash the competition in interviews. I’m not sure if its okay to ban your family from superior products, just because you don’t make them. But trashing an employees iPhone at a corporate event? Thats it Monkeyboy one down 40 million to go.

FCC comes out for ‘Net neutrality’ - The FCC’s Julius Genachowski has announced that he will ask the commission to start the formal rule making process, to enforce ‘net neutrality’. A spokesman for the industry said. “We believe that this kind of regulation is unnecessary in the competitive wireless space as it would prevent carriers from managing their networks — such as curtailing viruses and other harmful content — to the benefit of their consumers.” Right.... like that’s what you were using traffic shaping for.

A rather British apology - The British Prime Minister has apologized for the treatment of the mathematician and so called ‘father of modern computing‘ Alan Turing. Turing, who successfully broke the German Enigma code thereby shortening the war and saving a considerable number of lives, was persecuted for his homosexuality. He committed suicide in 1954. Although his name lives on in the AI computing field.

'If it's a penny for your thoughts and you put in your two cents worth, then someone, somewhere is making a penny.' - Steven Wright

This weeks chat touched on quite a few subjects, news readers, Gareth's experiences with Snow Leopard, and the reason I haven't had any yet. We even had a chance to have a dig at Windows, all in all we could have left it there. But we'd made all the effort to get together.

So it was on to the stories...

Rumour: Apple TV news at iPod event - Is Apple going to put some effort into their hobby. Or is the promising media hub being forgotten about in Cupertino. Maybe Steve has put some time into the 'summer project', recovering from his recent bout of illness. Or he could have been playing 'paper toss' the whole time, that shit's really addictive.

Britains oldest working computer roars to back to life - The Harwell computer the world's oldest working 'stored program computer', will be restored If the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley Park can raise the funds. It has 112.5 bytes of memory, and could take up to ten seconds to complete a single multiplication. It was designed around 900 noen-filled valves, called dekatrons. I love that name dekatron. I want a dekatron, purely because the name sounds so cool. Sounds like the baddest Transformer ever built.

Japan to spend $21BN on a power station in space - In about four years, Japan intends to have a solar array in space, using a microwave beam to send the juice back to earth. Sounds like something that's waiting to be hijacked by a Bond villain. Or it might just be to warm up Godzilla's movie snacks.

Top 10 gadgets for social media addicts - Us geeks like lists, comparison charts, and specifications. And a top ten of gadgets is practically geek porn, so Gareth pounced on this with relish. Shall I tell you the number one..... No, you'll have to listen to the show, I'm such a tease.

eBay reaches deal to sell off Skype - What do you do when you have something you no longer need, or know what to do with. That's right you put on eBay. You know your not going to get what you paid for it, but it is second hand after all. Impulse buys are a bitch, aren't they.

Unexplained phenomenon Google logo: Can you explain it? - Strange happenings in the Google logo on the search page. Normally there's a reason for a change to the logo, a holiday or anniversary of a famous event. But this time just a animation of a UFO, tractor beaming an 'O' away, which linked to an apparently random page on strange phenomena. Just Google messing with us. Or, has an engineer seen through Eric Schmidt's disguise, and is trying to warn us.

Sony signs Google browser deal - Mountain View again in this story. In a deal talked about as, the first of many, Sony is making Chrome the default browser in all new PCs. I wonder which manufacturer will be the first to ship Chrome as the default OS in their new PCs. Can't wait for that one, 'cos its a small step from there to Ballmer selling Windows licenses at a yard sale.

"I wish there were a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence.  There's a knob called "brightness," but that doesn't work." - Author Unknown

We started off this week with Gareth regaling us with his experiences with Apple's latest baby. Snow Leopard is here! Gareth's already installed it on both his Macs and is full of good things to say about it. I shall let him test it for a few days before unleashing on my system, there's been no reports of any real problems, but you can't be too careful. Then we discussed a few iPhone apps, 'Where' is Gareth's current pick.

Then on to the stories...

All current iPods discontinued? - The supply channels are rapidly draining of the existing iPods, in preparation for new goodies from Jobs and Co. The SKU's of all current iPods have been discontinued. Gareth just bought an existing generation iPod classic, purely for reasons of nostalgia.

A remote that Twitters - Big Blue has patented a remote control that can twitter. TV is going to get more 'social'. But if the remote starts blogging about the rubbish shows you're watching. You've got nobody but yourself to blame.

Stunning image of single molecule - Those IBM boffins are having a busy week. This time they've produced an image of a single molecule of penacene Using an atomic force microscope, at near absolute zero, and complete stillness for 20 hours. Next up they're going to examine Steve Ballmer for business acumen. But only if they can improve the sensitivity of their equipment.

USAA bank lets you call in cheques - If you've got a USAA account and an iPhone you can ring your checks in. You take a picture of said check, and an app does the rest. Encrypting and sending to your bank and the bank credits you the money. Now if we could just get rid of the whole small irritating inconvenient piece of paper altogether, that'd be progress.

'Daily Prophet' comes to Entertainment Weekly - By embedding a slim-line player within the pages, video will appear in a magazine for the first time. Up to 40 minutes of video will be contained on the chip that powers the 'mobile phone' sized screen. Not as animated as Harry Potters Daily Prophet, but much more 21st century in editorial style.

iPod classic to get a camera too - If the rumours are to be believed. On September the 9th we should see a slew of new iPods, all bearing cameras. The venerable classic included. Flickr is going to be groaning under the wait of all the new 'fun' photo. If its video capable, who knows, it could break You Tube.

Evolutionary theory of tech - An interesting article I culled off the interwebs. If species evolution is driven by the survival of the fitest, is tech driven by the same goals? Do the fitest devices succeed, and the rest fall by the wayside? A good piece, but unfortunately it couldn't explain the success of Windows.

Sony's new kindle killer - The 'Reader Daily Edition' has been unveiled. With a 7" touch screen and 2GB of internal memory, it compares favourably to the Kindle. Topping it all off is a 3G connection powered by AT&T. So, they can grab books back off yours just like Amazon can.

"Do you begin to see, then, what kind of world we are creating?"
- George Orwell - 1984

We began this week with a tale of woe. About the hard drive I purchased only the week before. Should have done my homework first, I'm finding lots of complaints about it online now. Damn Seagate! On a more positive note Gareth was positively gushing about his new Google Voice service. Sounds like a well thought out utility, and its free, you can't beat free. But, no he can't get you an invite, if he could I'd have the first....

Then unto the breach...

Stephen Fry slams copyright holders - The English writer, actor and all round good egg, launched a blistering attack on copyright holders, at the London iTunes festival. Especially the ones that take consumers to court, you know how you are. You'll never win now record companies. Or if you do Stephen will hit you with a devastating put down.

Toshiba launching Blu-ray player - After losing the war, Toshiba plan to recoup some of the billions it invested in HD-DVD. By launching their own Blu-ray player. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Palm confirms iTunes update kills Pre syncing - Apple threatened to do it, and with iTunes update 8.2.1, they have. Pre users will have to find some other way to get there media on to their phones. The feature rich smartphone, is now one advertised feature down.

MS exec, 'We got Apple scared' - Apparently 'someone in Apple legal' called the MS executive in charge of the 'Laptop hunter' ads. And requested one be altered or removed for inaccuracies. The exec, COO Kevin Turner, now wants to keep 'running and running them'. You do that Kev, You keep spending millions advertising products you don't even sell. To customers who are computer illiterate, cheapskates and, according to the ads, uncool.

Amazon remotely delete Orwell novels. Kindle 'ungood' - This is so ironic its either a publicity stunt, or a once in a lifetime, to good to be true and 'finally story' for a tech podcast like ours. But to do this to George Orwell's 1984, that's just brilliant. I mean, remotely deleting any purchase from someone's Kindle is bad enough. Amazon it seems just refund the purchase price, and put it down to a 'malreport'. I wonder if the Kindle's EULA is in doublespeak.

And that was it for this week, There would have been six stories But both Gareth and I picked the Pre story. Still we managed waffle on for quite a while.

Killing Pixels Episode 18 - July 19th, 2009

"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five."
- Groucho Marx

Gareth's holiday in the Windy city started off our chat this week. Then, though it started optimistically enough, it all got a little bit political.

And then promptly degenerated into this...

Time Warner broadband usage caps spreading, consumers revolt! - I'm sure Time Warner thinks that the lowly consumers are always revolting, which is why they treat them like crap.

Austrialians to get 100Mb broadband - While Britain dribbles out a fibre network, and America ponders how, or if, they dare spend Obama's stimulus money on nationwide broadband. The Aussie's have looked around at their Asian neighbours, and decided to just 'bloody' do it.

New iPhone could have video chat - And not just video chat, but a new 'gesture' controlled interface. With a front facing camera, revealed in a patent application by Apple. Repeat after me. "Put your hands up in the air, wave them around like you just don't care."

Pirate Bay four found guilty - A resounding victory for the copyright holders, as they valiantly continue their struggle to push water uphill.

AT&T wants the iPhone until 2011 - The exclusive deal with Apple is coming to an end soon. AT&T, fearing the loss of their (cash cow) industry leading phone, get ready to bend over the negotiating table and squeal like a fax machine, when Jobs and Co. come to talk a new deal.

First Mac 'botnet' activated - After unwittingly downloading and installing a trojan into their machines, in pirated software. A botnet of Mac machines was created, and switched on this week, looking for instructions from its nefarious creators. Proving, conclusively that the biggest security risk on any platform, is the one between the keyboard and chair.

Wikipedia and Amazon dump Phorm - At last, someone sees sense! In the version of Orwell's 1984 that the UK has become, everybody is spying on everybody else. Phorm, the latest Big Brother to emerge, want to trawl through our browsing records, and feed 'relevant' ads, based on past behaviour, to our browsers. All perfectly confidentially of course, yeah right, its just a warrant away from the governments sticky hands. But at last some companies are asking to be left out, good old Jimmy Wales is even encouraging Google MS and others to do the same. If we're willing to put up a fight, we might even win this round.

Ohh, ohh, bit of politics there....my names Ben Elton. Goodnight.

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
- Albert Einstein

Again this week we started with a chat about various things. From our runs at Skype on the iPhone to Gareth's prognostications on the future. And a lot more in between.

Before we got down to these stories....

President Obama gives the Queen of England an iPod - "One hopes that the nice colonial doesn't get his arse nailed by the Feds." The Queen was quoted as saying, not knowing if the copyrights in the material given on the iPod, had been cleared by the President. "You don't mess with the DCMA."

China accused of cyberspying - A report commissioned by the Dalai Lama's office has found evidence of state sponsored cyberspying by the Chinese. It was an accusation strongly denied by the Chinese government. The Chinese spokesman that we contacted also denied any involvement, he then asked us if we wanted pancake roll or prawn cracker with our meal.

Hulu starts encrypting its HTML content - In it's ongoing war with Boxee and others, the TV streaming service resorts to more and more desperate measures. But we all know that the content wants to be free.

Conficker, disaster or damp squib? - After the media hype. With the virus 'just' updating. We ponder what the virus writers are planning for enormous botnet they have created.

Attack of the qwerty phones - Texting with a numeric keypad just sucks. It seems that mobile makers agree, with more and more phones coming with qwerty keyboards. At last no more texters thumb, so if you can still raise them, put them way way up.

New piracy laws nearly halves internet traffic in Sweden - With prosecutors already trying to put the operators of the Pirate Bay behind bars. New laws scare the users of P2P off the internet in Sweden. The only upside is the amount of bandwidth freed for access to Sweden's greatest export. And I'm not talking about ABBA.

And so you have Episode 6 of Killing pixels...

I love the smell of napalm in the morning. Smells like victory....

This week we started off just shooting the breeze. We went through quite a lot of things. The RIAA's attempts to got file sharers kicked off the internet, all the way through to the next Doctor Who

When we got round to it, we discussed these stories as well.

Sony's Mylo 2 near its end? - Is this cut down internet device from Sony past it? Has it been bypassed by all the smartphones offering the same features, plus a phone as well? Will Sony replace it? Who knows, this Sony we're talking about. I'm still completely gobsmacked they haven't stuck a phone and touch screen into the PSP. Killer device.

Sat-nav tries to kill man, man arrested - Was it a one off, or has the GPS become self-aware. No word on the make of the GPS, but the makers of the Atmos have denied any involvement. (Doctor Who in joke, for our American friends).

Mac Heist 3 is here - In this economy anything that offers this much value, has to be good. Pile 'em high and sell 'em cheap.

MS ad says Macs to cool for its customers - Does anybody know where Microsoft are going with this? Lauren, 'real person' and actress tries to find a 17" laptop for under a $1000. And discovers that if your obsessed by sticker price, your gonna buy cheap crap.

Windows 7 in May? - It's not being rushed out because Vista is rubbish. MS have just decided to speed up the release cycle for Windows. Honest. Hopefully Redmond have done a better job with this one.

Skype for iPhone imminent? - Will it be WiFi only, or will you be able to use it over 3G or Edge? Will the carriers allow it? Will they try to screw users for more money? How will it work if it doesn't run in the background? Will Burt become Sheriff? All these questions will be answered in tonight's episode of Soap.

And so you have Episode 5 of Killing pixels...

Well its like this...

This week we've done a Dell, we're going for quality as opposed to quantity. It didn't work for us either.

This week we concentrated on these stories.

iPhone 3.0 software - I know we talked about this last week. But now we have some facts to go with the wild speculation.

Battlestar Galactica at the UN - Yeah we know its not tech its Sci-Fi. But its our show and we don't care, so there!

iTunes Store starts HD movie sales - Now you can impulse purchase some really dire films, from the comfort of your computer. All in glorious HD.

MS bids to reclaim the web with IE8 - Missed the fact that Redmond have released IE8, nearly everyone did, so don't feel bad. The 'underwhelming' launch of the latest and greatest version of Explorer, passed almost unnoticed on to the net. The good news, it's the most standards, open ones not MS' own, compliant version of the browser. The bad news its still Internet Explorer.

Google Voice - Another new service from the search giant, they want all your calls. You get a single number, for your home, mobile and even business. Google does the rest, transcribes your voicemail, redirect your calls, and more. I am not a number, I am a free man!

LG confirm new OLED touchscreen device from Apple - Okay, so they don't really, they're just producing the screens that Apple bought off them. And also researching touch tech on OLED screens. So two plus two equals five, in the wacky world of Apple rumours.

Teens, a balloon and a camera - What do you get? No not porn. You get amazing shots of the Earth from 20 miles up. These Spanish students actually do something clever. Instead of just getting drunk, laid or high.

Ballmer blasts Apple the 'tide has turned back' - Would you pay $500 extra for an Apple logo? Monkeyboy wants to know. Its the same hardware so why pay more. In answer I can only say, 'ITS THE SOFTWARE, STUPID'. I pay extra not to have to use windows, my choice. But, riddle me this Monkeyboy, a Mercedes and a Trabant are both cars, same hardware, why pay more? I wonder if Ballmer drive a Trabant?

And so you have Episode 4 of Killing pixels...

Look Ma, top of the world...

Hell, this getting to be a regular thing. And its getting to sound like we know what we're talking about.

I know its only our opinions, and they're as biased as anyone else's. But it feels good to get that opinion out there. So, never mind the quality, feel the width.

This week the stories that have been vexing us are...

CD's are 30 years old - The venerable Compact Disc has reached a milestone that Blu-ray, hell any other physical media, seems unlikely to reach.

Mobile phone 'botnets' coming to a mobile near you - The hackers are after your smartphone, well the Sybian ones for now, and they won't stop until they have them. Faced with this dire threat, we discuss what it means for the iPhone, I mean come on...

iPhone software 3.0 - It was the obvious next thing to talk about, so what the hell, we did. What's coming, what would we like to see coming?

New iPod shuffle - It talks to you through the headphones. How long till you're massacring your family Amityville style?

Mimi switch. - It reads your facial expressions to control your devices. Wink to play a track, wink twice to skip a track. Wink three times and become real friendly with the big guy in the corner.

Brain scanners that know where you've been - At last some research with an instant practical application. You'll never lose your keys again.

Windows 7 IE may use 'multi-touch' - Multi-touch is everywhere, it will be interesting to see if you can use your own fingers. Or if you have to use MS standard fingers?

Adamo by Dell - Having reached the for lowest price, damn the quality. Dell go after the 'unibody' Macbooks. They may be in the gutter but they're looking at the stars. Failing that Mike could sell the company and give money back to the shareholders.

What is Wolfram/Alpha? - Is it a nascent Skynet, will it become self aware and launch its missiles. Or will it live up to the hype, and turn out to be really useful. Its not a search engine, its an answer engine. Got a question, don't Google it, and do all the boring research yourself. Wolfram/Alpha will go through the knowledge on the internet and give you the answer, maybe?

Battery that charges in seconds - Those clever MIT guys are at it again. This time they're going to save our wonderful mobile devices from the hours they spend chained to the power socket.

And so you have Episode 3 of Killing pixels...

And it goes on...

Hey there's no stopping us now, we're on a roll. Well almost no stopping us.

You know the way life gets in the way of your best laid plans. Episode 2 almost never made it because of life. But we won't let it get the better of us. We shall fight it on the......never mind!
This week these topics have been nagging at the edge of our minds...

Kindle iPhone app - Amazon's device becomes a platform. Well not quite, but they are certainly aiming that way.

Microsoft adds 'remove IE' option to Windows 7 - That and a bunch of other 'core' apps. Is this Redmond's way of avoiding further brushes with the anti-trust regulators in Europe and the States?

Apple update their desktop range - Loads of Apple goodness for us to drool over. In our own, slightly partisan, style.

Tesla, finally on the road - At last an electric car you might want to buy, if you're seriously loaded, that is. A cool looking EV, will it drive the market and/or save the planet.

VR headset that offers the sights, sounds and smells of cyberspace - More real than real. Waste time in a reality almost as convincing as the real thing.

HOTOL, the reusable space plane, back from the 80's The future of space flight is back, again. This time its a satellite launch vehicle, but the sky's the limit......Doh!

Hulu slams the door in Boxee's face! - Not content with getting the service removed from Boxee, Hulu blocks the app from its site altogether. Now now, play nice children.

Next generation Broadband Britain - Ofcom gives BT a license to print money, as Britain tries to catch up, with the speeds of the best countries. The leviathan ups the development pace from that of continental drift, to a speedy glacial.

And so ends Episode 2 of Killing pixels...

So it begins...

When you're as obsessed by all things tech related as we are, its just too painful to stay silent. When we read all the tech news every day, we just have to talk about these things. Nobody in our families will listen, neither will our friends. They are completely uninterested in what nonsense Steve Ballmer is spouting today, what's really wrong with Steve Jobs and will he be back at Apple.

So, dear listener, fellow tech-head, you are our captive audience. Our therapy if you will.
This week we discuss...

Kindle 2.0 - Amazon's baby, the device that they hope will read us all our bedtime stories. Well, if your Gareth's side of the pond anyway. New design, new features. Have Amazon done enough to part you from 360 bucks?

Mobile World Conference, Barcelona - Reading all the stories to come from there I was struck by the fact that it was dominated by a phone that wasn't even there...the iPhone!

Sony Portable Fuel Cells - These prototypes from Sony, demonstrate that the technology is not that far from market now. And they look cool too.

10 Trillion bits of data on a disk the size of a quarter. Nanotech research, everybody's favourite bogeyman, brings the promise of practically unlimited storage. But you'll probably lose it down the back of the sofa.

Safari 4 beta - Apple's stab at the one browser to rule them all. Gareth risks the stability of his systems to bring us, his considered opinion.

Netbooks, why? - Gareth tries to explain to me WTF is going on there!

Blackberry doesn't bite the bullet. Blackberry reject the 'confrontational' ad that could have burst Apple's bubble.

Sayonara Sony? - Is the CE giant going to fall? Or can Super Stringer keep them in the game through the downturn?

Windows 7 - Can Microsoft sweep the disaster that was Vista under the living room rug, and blow us away with Windows 7?

The end of Teletext? - Ofcom questions the need for the venerable old text service. Are we going to lose the first stab at interactivity delivered to our tellys?

And thats about it for our first show. If you want to get in touch, express your own opinions, argue with us or just flame. Blame Gareth, it was all his idea, honest!!
P.S. If you DO know what's wrong with Steve Jobs, and if he'll be back, let us know.

Killing Pixels Episode 1 - March 1st, 2009