Buzz Out Loud

Buzz Out Loud 1021: Bird-eating blob

buzz@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:08:00 PDT

While Yahoo and Microsoft are flirting again and video game sales are plummeting, it doesn't matter. We are all going to be eaten soon by the blob of organic material floating by Alaska. It ate a bird, people! Get with it! Seattle is next. Oh and we can film our demise with the first 3-D webcam. So that will comfort us during our demise.

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EPISODE 1021

Yahoo, Microsoft finally near deal
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10289209-56.html

Video game sales revenue plummets 31 percent
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-10289207-235.html

Games Industry Suffers From Recession, Finally
http://technologizer.com/2009/07/16/games-industry-suffers-from-recession-finally/

Blu-ray celebrates 91 percent sales increase for first half of 2009
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/16/blu-ray-celebrates-91-percent-sales-increase-for-first-half-of-2/

Possible Twitter lawsuit would dive into murky blog waters
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135606/Possible_Twitter_lawsuit_would_dive_into_murky_blog_waters

Cosmetic surgery co. gets slapped for fake online reviews
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/07/cosmetic-surgery-co-gets-slapped-for-fake-online-reviews.ars

World’s First 3D Webcam Tested
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/07/16/2213224/Worlds-First-3D-Webcam-Tested

New Air Force BACN system ends incompatibilities between comm systems
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/07/air-forces-universal-translator-has-everybody-talking/

New DVDs For 1,000-Year Digital Storage
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/07/17/1213203/New-DVDs-For-1000-Year-Digital-Storage

Huge Unidentified Organic Blob Floating Around Alaska
http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/07/16/1421255/Huge-Unidentified-Organic-Blob-Floating-Around-Alaska

VOICEMAIL
Pastor Hudson with an idea for Twitter CS.

Don agrees with Cooley about hybrids

Elliott with question about the blue lights

EMAIL
Hi buzz team

I need to start paying more attention when listening to your show at
work. Sometimes I try to find the story you are talking about and I
get nsfw results. Yesterdays show got me when I absentmindedly searched
for “perfect silicon”. Yeah. Not a good idea. I got hit in the past
with “bingle” as well. Wonder if anyone else has come across this
problem while enjoying the show.

I’ll be more careful from now on.

Thanks and love the show.

Joey

**********

Hey Buzz Crew,

While listening to the BOL 1019 discussion of Natal I was struck by the thought of using Natal to extend the idea of a ‘waldo’ (you should know what that is Tom) or telefactoring arm. Natal combined with a good computer, the internet and some handy robot arms would allow all sorts of remote actions by location based experts, such as, surgery in Antarctica, working with radioactive material underground, dismantling a bomb on the battlefield in another country, or remotely performing a repair on the space station from Houston (Cooley ought to like that – in space but not in space – very zen). In fact, the younger generation using this type of technology provides a burgeoning class of gesturing tech savvy doctors and engineers who can change the world from wherever they are. Oops, sorry, got carried away. Love the show.

Bob from the Shenandoah Valley

Shimmering icons of wild fiery joy compose the psychedelic canvas of our lives!

**********

Hey Buzz Team

About “theRocco” and his twitter crusade:

I work on the web team here at DISH Network, but I’ve also been working with our Twitter team. We use Twitter for two purposes here: Promotions and Customer Support. Everyone tweets from the @dishnetwork account to avoid identity issues as much as possible. I think you covered most of the ins and outs of CS through Twitter on the show yesterday, but I thought I’d add that:

1) We’ve found that people complain on Twitter when they feel like they are frustrated to the point of needing a public outlet, and are generally pretty open and approachable once contacted. We’ve had a lot of success resolving people’s complaints through the service (and yes, anything more than just the initial contact should be done through DM or some other communications means). It’s also a little more laid back then talking to someone on the phone.

2) The CSRs on Twitter are from our escalations group, so they are higher level reps that have been with the company longer. They have more access and resources than your generic phone rep, and so personally I’d say that going through Twitter for customer support is sort of a secret back-door to better service, at least in our case. At least for now since we only have a couple hundred cases coming in through Twitter as opposed to the hundreds of thousands we get on the phone. (And the Twitter team is on Twitter because it is something they are interested in, rather than being mandated from above, so they really want to prove that it is a viable means of support)

Love the Show
- Derrick Bowen

Buzz Out Loud 1020: Perfect, luminous, and lustrous balls

buzz@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:10:00 PDT

Who has the most perfect balls in the world? Metrologists. No, seriously. They do. You should see the pictures. This is serious science, people, so quit your childish snickering. In actual news for the day, Apple misses its chance to make iTunes the world's music software (again) by blocking Pre syncing with its latest iTunes update, and Apple actually called Microsoft to demand that it take down its Laptop Hunters ads. Wow. Talk about balls.

Listen now: Download today's podcast
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EPISODE 1020

p>Apple blocks Pre from iTunes
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124768832987747365.html#mod=rss_whats_news_technology

New Pre owners can get the old version of iTunes if they want
http://www.oldapps.com/itunes.php

A better solution for Pre users might be DoubleTwist
http://www.doubletwist.com/dt/Home/Index.dt

First Microsoft retail stores to open this fall
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10287499-56.html
http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=3358

Apple demands Microsoft stop its Laptop Hunters ads
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/07/apple-demanded-microsoft-to-stop-its-laptop-hunters-ads.ars
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10288022-37.html

Apple drops to fifth in U.S. computer sales
http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/07/15/idc.prelim.q2.2009/

Debbie Downer BBC reports "Dip in global computer shipments"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8153651.stm

While perky CNET says "PC market improvement on the horizon"
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10287728-92.html
http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2009/07/intels-gain-dells-pain-as-pc-market-coasts-along-bottom.ars

Dell Consumer Products VP hints at a smartphone
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/15/dell-consumer-products-vp-hints-at-a-smartphone/

Google's chiller-less data center
http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/07/15/googles-chiller-less-data-center/

Sony's new development strategy for PSP
http://www.develop-online.net/news/32374/Exclusive-Sonys-new-development-strategy-for-PSP

Hybrid drivers are a lousy insurance risk
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090715-713631.html

Navy spends $33 million on hybrid for the high sea
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/07/16/035245/Navy-Spends-33-Million-For-Hybrid-of-the-High-Sea

Houston, we erased the Apollo 11 tapes
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106637066

VOICEMAIL
Paul from Verizon on the Verizon app store

E-MAIL
I thought I would follow up with you guys on this. Not only did Comcast refuse to take a firm "No" for an answer, their Twitter rep decided to access my account without permission anyways and post about it on Twitter... I'm flabbergasted.

Love the Show,
The Rocco

On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 8:18 PM, Rocco Augusto wrote:
Hey Gang,

So I was complaining about how my Comcast service blows on Twitter today, like I always do, and I received a tweet from someone from their public relations team wanting to know if they could help in fixing my problem. I would describe the conversation but I figured it would be better to just let you read the transcript:

therocco: I love how without fail my Internet dies for 5 minutes everyday at 6:15PM. I hate you #comcast.

ComcastBonnie: @therocco can i help?

therocco: Unless you have a magic switch you can flip to not make my service blow, I highly doubt there is anything you can do @ComcastBonnie

ComcastBonnie: @therocco you'd be surprised

therocco: @ComcastBonnie I would be surprised as my neighbors and I have been filling complaints for over a year and service STILL drops constantly

ComcastBonnie: @therocco DM the phone# we have on file for you so i can check the node you're on. prepare to be amazed

therocco: While I appreciate your good intentions @ComcastBonnie... there is no way I'm DMing my phone or any information to anyone over the Internet.

ComcastBonnie: @therocco google me :) bonnie smalley check nytimes article

therocco: I shouldn't have to Google you, @ComcastBonnie. If the problem is so easy to fix I shouldn't have to turn to a public forum to get help.

therocco: @ComcastBonnie If #comcast cared about fixing the problem it would have been fixed a year ago, not when I complain on Twitter.

therocco: @ComcastBonnie and if Twitter is the key to getting help with a #comcast problem, why the heck do you have a support line?

ComcastBonnie: @therocco if you don't want the help, you can just say no :) i'm here to fix the weird issues, which sounds like your node's problem

therocco: @ComcastBonnie If getting help from #comcast means sending my personal information over Twitter's insecure network, I'll pass. Thanks anyway

-----

Am I the only one that is annoyed by these big name companies trying to offer support for customers problems over Twitter instead of taking care of the problems in-house? Can you imagine how many people are out there daily sending their personal information over Twitter, most likely not over SSL, to Comcast's crackerjack "support staff" because they can't get help over the phones? Is this Comcast's first *INSERT BAD WORD HERE* day on the Internet?! Have they never even read their own support disclaimers on their site and every other site out there that states to never send your personal information to ANYONE over the net?! I mean, really?!

I 100% acknowledge that I am most likely overreacting but you would think that when you spend over $100 a month for their unreliable service that they would at least humor you and pretend to fix problems instead of passing the buck off to a select group of "problem solvers" that spend their days trolling Twitter trying to mitigate annoyed tweets from dissatisfied. I officially declare shenanigans on Comcast.

INSERT MOLLY RANT THEME HERE

Love the Show,
The Rocco

**********

Dear Tom,

After witnessing Molly and Cooley selflessly sit down with fan, after
fan, after fan at B Bar, getting their pictures taken in a veritable
sweatshop of memories, I felt I should probably do something nice for
them. I don't know what I am going to do for Molly, but it seemed the
least I could do for Cooley would be to send his name on a vacation.
I'm sure you'll want to pass this along to him.

Your bon ami,

-Aaron

Brian Cooley... your name will be carried to Mars on a microchip carried by NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover.

**********

Who made perfect balls out of silicone? Metrologist!!!
http://gizmodo.com/5315383/worlds-most-perfect-pair-of-ballsyes

Muahahahaha!

Javier Ardila

**********

Is Woodford Reserve better than Nob Creek?

Lee in Boston

Buzz Out Loud 1019: What is a browser anyway?!

buzz@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:40:00 PDT

Bill Gates wonders why Google would want to make a browser-based operating system. In fact he wonders what exactly a browser is anyway. We also have some crazy Steve Ballmer quotes and some crazy stats of how many people respond to spam.

Listen now: Download today's podcast
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EPISODE 1019

Bill Gates on Google's Chrome OS
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10286308-56.html

Ballmer: what IS this thing!?
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-microsofts-microsofts-ballmer-on-google-chrome-os-who-knows-what-this-t/

Gates: Natal to bring gesture recognition to Windows too
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10286309-56.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10286772-56.html

TechCrunch receives confidential Twitter documents from hacker
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/14/in-our-inbox-hundreds-of-confidential-twitter-documents/

Comcast offers HBO, Cinemax on the Web and on-demand
http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2009/07/comcast-welcomes-hbo-cinemax-to-online-offerings.ars

CBS is first broadcast network to sign on for "trial" period
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-cbs-signs-on-for-comcast-broadband-trial-first-broadcast-network/

Google Voice coming to Android, BlackBerry
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10286763-2.html

Apple cops to OS 3.0 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth problems
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-10285817-233.html

New Service Converts Torrents Into PNG Images
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/07/15/1314253/New-Service-Converts-Torrents-Into-PNG-Images

12% of e-mail users have actually tried to buy stuff from spam
http://arstechnica.com/web/news/2009/07/12-of-e-mail-users-try-to-buy-stuff-from-spam-e-mail.ars

State Dept. to Clinton: Please let us use Firefox
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10287084-16.html

VOICEMAIL
Steve from Seattle on economics

Pastor Hudson on Verizon Store

EMAIL
Hey Buzz Hosts,
All the talk yesterday about Netflix possibly being purchased by Amazon really made me think about how Netflix is predominately a tech company and how funny it is that my grandparents have a Netflix subscription.
You see, my grandparents have never had a computer, Internet, cable, or satellite. They don't see any need for modern technology and really couldn't care less about it. That was until my family introduced them to Netflix.
My grandparents still don't have a computer, but they are in love with Netflix. They have developed their own hack to manage their que without a computer. My grandma writes down the movies she wants and calls my mother about once a week to have her add them to the Que. My grandmother manages her Que, with shipping dates, by paper and pencil. This speaks very highly of Netflix's shipping reliability as my grandmother can tell you with accuracy when her next movie will arrive without having access to her account.
I also like the set up, since I get to use the streaming feature of their account on my XBOX 360.
I've include two photos of my grandparents' "Que."
Pic #1 and Pic #2.
I thoroughly enjoy the show. Thanks for keeping my up to date on the tech world!

-Clayton from Oklahoma.

**********

Hey BOL-
In episode 1018, you mentioned what would child between Netflix and Amazon? Its already out there: RokuPlayer. After all, they both joined forces to get more content and even cross promote each other to sell more boxes. I even have an account with both and just got a RokuPlayer. Maybe they could iron out more included content if Amazon does buy them, but I enjoy what they both currently offer on the RokuPlayer.

Kevin in Pittsburgh

**********

The Risky Business podcast has the presentation of the security researchers (hilarious, actually), and an interview with them, both discussing the 2 keystroke capture techniques you talked about on the show. There are a few points that will get missed by mainstream reporting because these are corporate security researchers, not end-user security researchers.

1) An attacher who wants to use either of these method is going to choose a valuable target that meets the functionality of the attack. E.g., many, many ATMs use the PS2 keyboard interfaces required by the electrical fluctuation attack, making this a perfect exploit to capture pin #s. Niether attack is presented as a possible for use against individuals at home or in coffee shops.

2) The point is that sensors, such as those used to detect small electrical fluctuations and physical vibrations, are becoming cheaper and more sensitive every day, and these and other methods will be more and more viable proportionally.

http://risky.biz/netcasts/rb2/rb2-shakacon-presentation-hackers-freakin-laser-beams-their-heads-presentation
http://risky.biz/netcasts/rb2/rb2-shakacon-interview-hackers-freakin-laser-beams-their-freakin-heads

Ben
The Sysadmin in Minneapolis who listens to lots and lots of security podcasts.

Buzz Out Loud 1018: We're gonna need a bigger bump

buzz@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:55:00 PDT

Bing's June bump won't be enough to take significant share from Google according to JP Morgan analysts. Of course, analysts will say anything anyway. And apparently so will we. It's kind of a complaining podcast today, but we do find a shining example of good at the end.

Listen now: Download today's podcast
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EPISODE 1018

Netflix rises on speculation of Amazon.com buyout
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a8Q1tcifhazo
http://kara.allthingsd.com/20090714/amazon-buys-netflix-microsoft-is-much-a-better-guess-as-a-potential-acquirer/

Verizon to start it's own app store
http://gigaom.com/2009/07/13/verizon-to-mobile-developers-can-you-hear-me-now/
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/13/verizon-to-its-smartphones-thou-shalt-have-no-other-app-store-b/

RIM Launching A BlackBerry social network for venting tomorrow
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/13/rim-launching-a-blackberry-social-network-for-venting-tomorrow/

Windows Marketplace taking app submissions on July 27, coming to WinMo 6.0 and 6.1 later this year
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/14/windows-marketplace-taking-app-submissions-on-july-27-coming-to/

JP Morgan survey shows Bing won't gain much against Google
http://www.businessinsider.com/henry-blodget-survey-confirms-bing-will-bomb-2009-7
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10285524-2.html

U.K., not North Korea, source of DDOS attacks, researcher says
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135492/U.K._not_North_Korea_source_of_DDOS_attacks_researcher_says

First portable HD Radio on the way, and it's cheap
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10284790-1.html

Swiss Postal Service lets users check snail mail online
http://arstechnica.com/web/news/2009/07/swiss-postal-service-lets-users-check-snail-mail-online.ars

NASA has the lost tapes
http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/07/13/2342220/NASA-Has-the-Lost-Tapes

Photos: Paws-on with the Pet's Eye View Cam
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/gadgets/0,39029552,49302958,00.htm
http://www.mr-lee-catcam.de/cc_index_en.htm

Make sure to check out Dan Lueders' remix of "In The Chatroom" at the end of today's episode! It's pretty awesome.

VOICE MAIL
Ted in Farmington on how downloading could show as streaming

Jim the SysAdmin on Google's plan

E-MAIL
Hey Buzz Crew!

Molly, this is specially for you. On his last encyclical letter, Pope Benedict XVI talked about the "unduly rigid assertion of the right to intellectual property, especially in the field of health care."

In a way, it's a holy rant... check it out:

http://www.keionline.org/blogs/2009/07/07/pope-ipr/
http://legalpad.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/07/things-the-pope-doesnt-like-poverty-injustice-ip-lawyers.html
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.html

All the best,

Henrique from Brazil

**********

Hi Buzz Crew,

Long time, first time. I was just listening to your audio podcast today and you reported a story where 6 out of 10 corporations don't plan to migrate to Windows 7. Tom specifically mentioned Intel as still being on Windows XP. I am an Intel employee and I can confirm that we had a pilot program for Vista but our IT department decided not to go through with the migration for several reasons (security issues, hardware requirements etc.) We had a couple of members of our group participate in the pilot and they couldn't stand it. During meetings the Vista people were always a few minutes behind the rest of us because it took them that much longer to come out of sleep mode, collaboration was nightmare for them as well (Live Meeting and Sharepoint were hit or miss on Vista). Bottom line, I believe we still use XP because it just works. I haven't heard anything about migrating to 7 anytime soon, will keep you posted if I do.

Love. The. Show.

Anonymous Intel ASIC Designer

P.S. Tom, cheer up! You'll get sponsors any day now.

**********

Dear Buzz Out Loud,

I just finished listening to epsiode 1017 and i am truly sickened by your continuous criticism, pot shots, and negative comments towards the blu-ray format, sony's playstation 3 game console, and apple's iphone as well as other products. I understand as well as anyone that companies often make stupid decisions, boneheaded moves, and other poor choices. Sony's game marketing in itself is a tragedy. They have at least ten (10) potential million+ selling games but only three to four will ever sell to that level due to poor marketing. if the Playstation 3 had Microsoft's marketing they would be on the heels of the Wii in sales by now.

The reason i write though is that the extent to which you all HARP on the negatives is just too much. Nearly every week (if not every other day) you heap more criticism on top of the mountain that you have already created. Natali and Molly are especially guilty. I doubt that they even reasearch into, inquire about, or ever use a PS3 to even be knowledgeable about it. I fear that they just repeat what they hear others say without ever verifying the information... much like a lazy and ignorant parrot would.

I admit that i love the Playstation 3 because of the incredible amount of features that it has. And it does irritate me, not that you criticize the console, but that you do it while omitting, skimming over, or rationalizing the faults of its competing products and even the console's strengths. For example Molly trashes the PS3 because it costs $100 more than the midrange xbox 360 pro but actually justified the additional xbox live yearly fee as a "cost as a online gaming." For her it may be something she pays for without a second thought, however after five years that very xbox live membership costs the same as a Wii and listeners should be made aware of that additional cost when they listen to a technology journalist (who we are told by CNET is both objective and knowledgable) compare the two consoles.

Also you fail to mention that the PS3's hard drive can be upgraded with any off the shelf laptop hard (2.5" SATA) which is an incredible strength in terms of storage costs of the limited Xbox 360 options. Playtv allows the PS3 to act as a digital video recording device even while you are playing a game (currently avilable in Europe and possibly Asia). Remote Play allows PSP owners to access data and even play select games on the PS3 from any wireless hotspot anywhere in the world. Each point is a significant strength kept from listeners by Buzz out Loud and also CNET. Please note that keeping information away from the public is the opposite of respected journalism.

Since you all are so well adept at creating criticism though i challenge you to curb (or even shut down) the criticism until you can create a better portable high definition storage (i.e. blu-ray) format, or game console with online network, or even the perfect smartphone. You do not even have to create a physical product... just make the design and technical specifications for one that could be built. I really would like to see and hear your ideas. Then you could post the designs on your Buzz out Loud web site and have audience members vote on the best and also comment on them. Then you could show those companies how you are so much smarter than they are. I am sure that they would appreciate the education.

I certainly hope that your audience is more merciful on your work than you have been to the companies whose actual products you criticize.

Best Wishes,
-Playstation fanboy Raf (not Rafe)

P.S. I will not be surprised if you choose no to create because it is always easier to criticize than to create. That is why despite all of Molly's rants she will never change the world for the better. that is because it takes more than just hot air to make things better!

**********

Hey Tom,

About Episode 1017 and Blu Ray Players. I have actually read that Blu Ray is way up. EngadgetHD has several reports on this. Way back in January they reported that compared to the original rate of DVD adoption, Blu Ray is outpacing it 2 to 1 http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/06/blu-rays-first-two-years-outpaces-dvds/
They also reported that Blu Ray Player sales were up 72% in the 1st Quarter of 09
http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/05/06/blu-ray-making-greenbacks-sales-up-72-to-start-09/ The fact is the Blu ray player being sold for under a $100 dollars is slow and just isn't very good. Don't take the experience of one Walmart in Wisconsin as the way BluRay is doing everywhere. Blu Ray is doing fine in the US and is doing even better overseas. Love the Show

Steve from Texas

Buzz Out Loud 1017: Armpit passwords

buzz@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:58:00 PDT

Natali has some tips for secure password hints that involve her armpits. You'll just have to listen. We also give our thoughts on Office 2010 and what kids these days are doing on the Internet. That includes Brian Tong.

Listen now: Download today's podcast
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EPISODE 1017

First Take: Microsoft Office 2010 technical preview
http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-10284013-12.html

Monday's Office 2010 preview leaks to BitTorrent
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135454/Monday_s_Office_2010_preview_leaks_to_BitTorrent?taxonomyId=1

Ericsson to run Sprint's wireless network, but how?
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/07/ericssons-rx-for-us-broadband.ars

Collapse in illegal sharing and boom in streaming brings music to executives' ears
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jul/12/music-industry-illegal-downloading-streaming

Note by 'teenage scribbler' causes sensation
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/035e83fe-6f18-11de-9109-00144feabdc0.html

Six in 10 companies plan to skip Windows 7: Survey
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE56C0NC20090713

Re-Rumor: Apple tablet coming in October, priced at $800
http://gizmodo.com/5313266/re+rumor-apple-tablet-coming-in-october-priced-at-800
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/13/apples-9-7-inch-netbook-to-debut-in-october-for-800/

How to use electrical outlets and cheap lasers to steal data
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/070909-electrical-data-theft.html

Strong passwords not as good as you think
http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/07/13/1336235/Strong-Passwords-Not-as-Good-as-You-Think

iPhone in China without Wi-Fi
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10285137-37.html

Apollo 11 moon mission to be recreated on the Web
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/13/apollo-11-moon-mission-to-be-recreated-on-the-web/

Mario Marathon
http://www.mariomarathon.com/

VOICEMAIL
Crowdsourcing player movements is a bad idea

Tech support call

E-MAIL
I was shopping at a local Wal Mart this weekend when I came across $98.00 Blu Ray players. Alot of them, shelves FULL! Everyone was just walking by I didn't see anyone buying them or even giving them a second look.

Seems to me the interest is fading. Sony may have really screwed up on this format, just like every other format they've come up with.

Regards

Robert King
Eau Claire WI

***********

Dear Buzz Crew,

I have to comment on the gaze-tracking privacy software discussed in
Wednesday's episode 1014. Tom was absolutely correct that it shows
normal text to the authorized user and gibberish to everyone else.
(At least for the high-end product Chameleon; the consumer product
PrivateEye just obscures the whole screen.) I guess not everyone has
taken a visual perception class, so I'll try to explain.

We have the intuitive impression that our eyes behave like cameras –
constantly reading in all the pixels, and smoothly panning around from
object to object. Not so at all! Half of your visual cortex is
devoted to the central two degrees of your visual field. That works
out to half an inch of good focus area at a standard reading distance
of 14 inches. Moreover, your eyes constantly jump around in
incredibly fast, involuntary movements called saccades, only pausing
for about 200 milliseconds at a time. During the saccades, visual
input is suppressed. With decent gaze-tracking equipment (such as
from you local college's cognitive psychology department), you can
flash up pictures of penguins during saccades, and the user won't
notice anything odd.

Here's a video showing someone's eye movements while reading Google
search results:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w29DrEEsqT4
And yes, your eyes still jump around even when you're reading a
structured text document. Chameleon just fills everything except the
tiny, fluctuating area you're looking at with random text.

Thanks for this and all the other cool stories!
–Amy in Pennsylvania

http://oculislabs.com/Products/ChameleonP.htm (mouse over “oculis in action”)

Buzz Out Loud 1016: Summon the royal Twitterer

buzz@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:07:00 PDT

The monarchy comes to Twitter, but of course the Queen doesn't sully her fingers on the keyboard, she has a royal twitterer do that. We also discuss whether the new Universal Music Group deal with TuneCore will change the landscape of music. We also absolve North Korea of the botnet.

Listen now: Download today's podcast
Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | iTunes (video) | RSS (audio) | RSS (video)

EPISODE 1016

Universal/TuneCore deal opens major doors for indie artists
http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2009/07/universaltunecore-deal-opens-major-doors-for-indie-artists.ars
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13526_3-10283224-27.html

Korean DDoS Bots To Self-Destruct
http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/07/10/0452256/Korean-DDoS-Bots-To-Self-Destruct
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2009/07/pcs_used_in_korean_ddos_attack.html

Looks like it's not DPRK either
http://intelfusion.net/wordpress/?p=593

Google's Schmidt initially opposed to Chrome, says Microsoft is welcome to port Internet Explorer on over
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/10/googles-schmidt-initially-opposed-to-chrome-says-microsoft-is/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-10283555-250.html

Report: 20% of online video fans watch less TV
http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2009/07/report-20-of-online-video-fans-watch-less-tv.ars

New York Times Considers $5 Monthly Web-Access Fee
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a8GofbbtFf8w

Google image search gets usage rights filtering
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10283315-2.html

Clippy stars in new Office 2010 promo video
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10282944-56.html

Royal household turns to Twitter
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8144381.stm

But there will be no twittering from the end-zone
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Trenches/entry/view/28161/no_fun_league_bans_in-game_twittering

VOICEMAIL
Joe from Baton Rouge has a mulitfunction device issue of his own

RogueTess has good news for recent Kindle purchases

EMAIL
sup Buzz Crew

Regarding Pandora and the 40 hours per month cap; couldn't anyone just create an additional account, therefore getting 40 hours per account per month for free?

Granted 99 cents a month isn't a lot of money to spend, but in these troubled times -DRINK- , it could be a relatively simple alternative for any frugal music listener.

Stay awesome,
Terrence the Fraud Analyst from Madison, WI

**********

Hey, Buzz-keteers:

I know there's only about one day of voting left - and you've already received a couple of kickin' campaign videos for Molly's effort to become President of the Internets - but I had some extra time last night when it turned out I couldn't sleep. So I thought I'd whip up a little website to go along with everything else that's been done to-date.

It's not much, but it helped me pass a couple of hours. And maybe it can be used as an information portal or something when our new benevolent overlord takes office in the fall. Pardon the strange URL, but - hey, whaddya want for work done at 3 AM: http://www.wix.com/pbrentwilliams/mollywood

Good luck, Miss Molly! Love the show!
http://www.wix.com/pbrentwilliams/mollywood

**********

Hey Buzz Crew,

Regarding your discussion of lithium polymer batteries (lipos for
short) in episode 1015, they are not immune to exploding.

Lipos are a common power source in electric powered radio controlled
models, particularly RC helicopters, due to their high energy-to-
weight ratio. If they are compromised, they can spontaneously combust.

Also, if the cells are overcharged, they can outgas, causing a
condition called puffing, and can explode if charging is taken to an
extreme. Special cell-balancing chargers are typically used to avoid
overcharging battery packs consisting of series-connected cells.

This doesn't instill my confidence in lipos as a power source in cars,
particularly if you're in a crash.

Love the show.

Alan in McKinney, TX

Buzz Out Loud 1015: Keep it convenient

buzz@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:25:00 PDT

We all get in a big arguments over whether all-in-one devices are more convenient than discrete devices. Cooley thinks discrete devices are un-American. I think the opposite. And Molly has the logical arguments for discrete devices. We also find out a judge has ruled IP addresses can only prove a computer existed and not a person. Good on ya, Judge!

Listen now: Download today's podcast
Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | iTunes (video) | RSS (audio) | RSS (video)

EPISODE 1,015

Google names Chrome OS compatriots, Dell noticeably absent
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/08/google-names-chrome-os-compatriots-dell-noticeably-absent/

OEMs mum on actual partnerships
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2349895,00.asp

Intel thinks Chrome is peachy
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/09/intel-doesnt-view-chrome-os-as-a-threat-to-moblin-just-wants-w/
http://chrome.blogspot.com/2009/07/google-chrome-os-faq.html

Meanwhile LiveAndroid lets you try Android OS on any computer
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10282885-94.html

Judge rules IP addresses not “personally identifiable”
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/07/08/1522247/Judge-Rules-IP-Addresses-Not-Personally-Identifiable

Netflix streaming coming to Sony TVs, not yet the PS3
http://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-streaming-coming-to-sony-tvs-not-yet-the-ps3-2009-7

Kindle’s $9.99 books may shrink publishers’ profits
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aWhjmdVFcC2Q

Amazon opens AmazonWireless, for no-hassle cell phone buying
http://richdemuro.com/amazon-opens-a-real-wireless-website-no-rebat

Standalone GPS receivers going the way of the dodo
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/09/07/09/1339225/Standalone-GPS-Receivers-Going-the-Way-of-the-Dodo

Hyundai hybrid launched with li-Polymer batteries
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE5670CF20090708

Designers conjure up wacky ‘car of the future’
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/07/09/atnmbl/

E-MAIL
This is Chip the Mech. Engineer and on episode 1013 you were talking about Sprint offering a netbook with broadband. I am looking at getting one because not everyone can get wireless everywhere they go. I live in a small town in Virginia that has 2 maybe 3 places that offer wireless (coffee shop type places). I have it at my house but the wireless at work is locked down so not everyone can get on it. Also my family has a cabin on the Blueridge Parkway and there is cell service there, Sprint and Verizon are the only ones that can get service though (don’t even turn on your phone if it’s AT&T). No DSL offered there, only dial-up so this would be great for weekend trips to the cabin and moving about around the town I live in.

PS
I have a PRE and LOVE IT. I am listening to your podcast, texting my brother and typing this email.

Love the show, keep up the great work.

Chip

**********

Something that might help the residents of buzztown … I purchased a
kindle on tuesday and of course the price drops the next day. I
didn’t hear about the price drop until I listened to your show in the
evening – but at that point I opened my kindle, loaded it with a bunch
of stuff and started reading.

Of course after hearing about the price drop the day after my purchase
I contact Amazon about getting some kind of a price adjustment. Their
first response from the initial support person was they don’t do that
and if I want I can either return the item and repurchase it or keep
it and take a $20 gift card to make up for the $60 price difference.

I calmly explained to the support person that this was idiotic – for
me to have to do repackage it, get a refund, repurchase and reload the
new kindle – and stupid for amazon to pay for shipping it back, and
basically replace a brand new (but now used) kindle for another one -
when the end result is the same. I had to demand to speak to a
supervisor, but he relented and gave me the refund.

Normally I have found Amazon’s service to be very good – I have only
had to call a handful of times (and this is the first time I have had
to ask for a supervisor) – but you think amazon would have had a
solution for this already in place – I am sure I am not the only one
that purchased a kindle recently who is still in the return window.

Anyway – just thought that there might be people in buzztown who are
in a similar situation.

Love … The … Show

Matt Brown
Louisville, CO (hopefully soon San Francisco, CA)

**********

Dear Buzz Gang,

After the chat room today, I just COULDN’T stop myself from making a campaign ad for Molly to be President of the Internets.

Here is the download –
http://kelvington.com/MollyWoodPresident.avi

Here it is on YouTube –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD9HziisdSM

And Yes that is my voice… Love the show, I’m still working on my Buck Rogers Parody, Rafe “Rubbings” Needleman – In The 19th Century!

Take Care,
Rick Kelvington

**********

Kevin Chen made one too – http://tr.im/ruOC

**********

hi buzz generals!

for a few weeks i had my exams at the end of high school here in
switzerland. The oral exam was about a newspaper article, and guess
what… it was about something you have brought up several times in
the show: the grand dam youth protection software!
i almost didn’t have to read the article at all, i already knew
everything thank’s to you. a just talked and talked and talked… even
gave updates about the story, the teachers were very impressed. now
i’ve recieved my results: i got the highest grade possible.
i really can’t thank you enough for the great show you do, i’ve been
listening to it since a couple of years now and it has really helped
me to improve my english. when i started i often had to rewind, listen
again, but now everything goes just fine.

right now i’m on holiday in sweden, i’m on a train between Stockholm
and Göteborg, traveling at 200km/h, i’ve got free wireless internet
with 3mb/s download 1mb/s upload! nice! all that thank’s to a
combination of satellite and 3G.
another funny thing is that on the train there is a Sony Ericsson
salesman that you can borrow a phone (W995) from, for free, and it’s
packed with movies! really nice!

have a great week

Pierre from Switzerland

Buzz Out Loud 1014: Goobuntu lives

buzz@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:20:00 PDT

On today's Buzz Out Loud, Natali and Molly form a new Amazonian society in advance of the development of artificial sperm. But in much more important news, Google is finally building the thin-client, Netbook-friendly operating system that Molly predicted back in 2005. And poor Yahoo is stuck in 2005: it just announced Search Pad. Aw. Poor Yahoo.

Listen now: Download today's podcast
Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | iTunes (video) | RSS (audio) | RSS (video)

EPISODE 1014

Introducing the Google Chrome OS
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10281744-2.html

Which Molly predicted in 2005!
http://www.cnet.com/4520-6033_1-5759958-1.html

Yahoo Search Pad
http://yhoo.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=394383

Michael Jackson memorial pushes Internet traffic to its limits
http://gigaom.com/2009/07/07/michael-jacksons-memorial-online-traffic-pushes-internets-limits/
http://mashable.com/2009/07/07/cnn-live-stream-michael-jackson/
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-jackson-memorial-stats-roughly-6000-facebook-status-updates-per-minute-/

Federal sites hacked
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/07/AR2009070703250.html
http://government.zdnet.com/?p=5093

RIAA/music streaming sites agreement
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/08/technology/internet/08radio.html
http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/07/08/1339224/Pandora-Stabilizes-No-Longer-Completely-Free

LG Chocolate Phone: what is this aspect ratio??
http://gizmodo.com/5309204/new-lg-chocolates-secret-feature-is-an-800x345-resolution-219-cinema-widescreen-display

West Virginia sues Comcast over cable box tying
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/reviews/2009/07/west-virginia-sues-comcast-over-cable-box-tying.ars

Gaze-tracking software protects computer privacy
http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/07/07/1946217/Gaze-Tracking-Software-Protects-Computer-Privacy

British scientists can make sperm
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2009/07/08/3007405-british-scientists-claim-to-create-human-sperm

VOICE MAIL
President of the Internet

Dwight on Gmail

E-MAIL
Team Buzz

During your discussion of Google Chrome OS today, I am curious as to what impact, if any, GCOS might also have on older PCs. Since GCOS is already targeted at low-powered Netbooks, it stands to reason GCOS might also breathe some extra life into that 5-year-old laptop you were thinking of ditching. By moving a lot of the processing power from your lap to the cloud, could an unintended consequence be a reprieve on hardware's life cycle? Certainly Google wouldn't complain.

Mike in Dayton

************

Hello Buzz crew!
We are one month away from the coolest day/time, according to my friend, Saud:

On August 7, 2009
At 12hr 34 minutes and 56 seconds on the 7th of August this year, the time and date will be
12:34:56 07/08/09

Khaled from Saudi Arabia.

************

iTunes 5-star club
The Geek Master
zippyg
3thom
Norman from Novato
BryanBR
delmauriow
Vance M
ihatebillg
iFOREIGNi
jbpounders
Tommollijas
yoyojam55
legend2k
niatish
pmm217
johnnyg123
yokonative
ct06
shetbomb78
Club Debit
Nostra Thomas
Tiki Guy
vaso247
Sunder_r
poly915
mdr33
tav72
tecknodragon
greghutch
techgolf
cubanmike82
natePickard
Gildorluthien
Dingo42
pmm217
Kenwait
Big JT
BraveJHawk
mike e_p
drsid
HonestReviewer9000
Real_MrHappy
Polarfreeze
colintethys
michelleh45
mhanley
satguy (a little weird with the wal-mart tale there)
currently downloading
merrittgene
sandbox32
ewavemedia
Mareshalu
Jasc79
Mike798001
Gale the Third
macSK
BobMac
Matt1212

CrAzY Tom M.
Jesse Vazquez
KeatonTech
Dfaoj
Dr. Sanseveria
zypher.the.one
MiliaryLovesBOL
Ikcor
watchmesoar
slamshrk31
Jonathan55
njk828
SmittyRedcard
yourmomisanillegalimmigrant

Buzz Out Loud 1013: 21st century episode for the 21st century listener

buzz@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:20:00 PDT

Just like the LG Watch, we are a 21st century product for the 21st century consumer. Which means we exist now for people who exist now. Sigh. Ryan Block of Gdgt joins us to talk about an algorithm to steal your Social Security number and how Gmail finally came outta beta! Yay! Bad times and good times all in one. Now if only we could get those implants for cell phones. In our neck people, in our neck!

Listen now: Download today's podcast
Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | iTunes (video) | RSS (audio) | RSS (video)

EPISODE 1013

Gdgt
http://www.gdgt.com/

New algorithm guesses SSNs using date and place of birth
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/07/social-insecurity-numbers-open-to-hacking.ars

Google Apps shed beta label
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10280473-2.html

Palm Pre hitting U.K., Ireland, Germany and Spain by Christmas
http://www.slashgear.com/palm-pre-hitting-uk-ireland-germany-spain-by-christmas-0748655/

Sprint offers a Netbook for under a buck. Will ATandT and Verizon follow?
http://jkontherun.com/2009/07/06/cheap-netbook-from-sprint/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10280886-94.html

Sony Viao W: the actual Sony Netbook
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2349770,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03069TX1K0001121

LG Watch really coming!
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/07/07/lg-to-finally-sell-that-dumb-phone-watch-for-2000/

Microsoft opens Hohm to energy monitoring
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10280237-54.html

Toyota going whole hog on plug-in hybrids by 2012
http://www.reuters.com/article/earth2Tech/idUS23679304520090706

VW to sell electric car by 2013
http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Story/A1Story20090706-153053.html

McDonald's to charge electric vehicles
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/07/07/green-mcdonalds-installs-electric-vehicle-charging-stations/

Haystack, anti-censorship tool specifically for users in Iran, to launch soon.
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/06/haystackanticensor.html

Facebook's own estimates show declining student numbers; now more grandparents than high school users
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/facebooks_own_estimates_show_youth_flight_from_sit.php

Sprint to preload bar code reader on Samsung Exclaim: a first for a U.S. carrier
http://www.emediawire.com/releases/ScanLife/Exclaimpreload/prweb2611374.htm

Voice mail
Mike the Sales Guy to potential sponsors

E-mail
Hi Buzz Crew,

Just wanted to remind you that there is a very special time occurring
tomorrow.

12:34:56 7/8/9

The only time this occurs this century. Unless, of course you follow
the d/m/y standard. Then YOUR special time will occur on August 7th!

Thought Tom, in particular would appreciate this!

Can you recommend an online clock site that has the time/date
displayed in that format?

Shove the low!

Todd in PEI Canada (where I will experience my special second 4
hours before you do in SF!)

***********

Hello Tom and various rotating Buzzing hosts,
I just might have an extreme solution to getting those pesky LinkedIN profiles deleted ... The next time I am over at my Data Center I will see if I can hook a cable off the LinkedIN server farm in the cage next to mine and when the guy comes over to fix it I will hold him hostage until we get some deletions.

Peper 'PKTHerder'
The Packet Herder from Denver

(Pronounced like Pepper ... and no I am not a Dr., I was not a Sgt, I don't have a lonely heart, I don't belong to club or a band, and my wife's name nor nickname does not happen to be salt, however, my family does have a six pack of Dr. Pepers. ... Wouldn't you like to be a Peper too?)

Buzz Out Loud 1012: Disregard this episode

buzz@cnet.com (CNET.com) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:07:00 PDT

Well, you don't really need to totally disregard this episode, but that is what 10-12 means in CB radio talk. And the news is light. Although we do learn that the head of MI6's Speedo is not a state secret. But it SHOULD be!

Listen now: Download today's podcast
Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | iTunes (video) | RSS (audio) | RSS (video)

EPISODE 1012

MI6 boss in Facebook entry row
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8134807.stm

Small towns and farms to get Net Neutrality
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10278484-94.html

Apple orders up a ton of cameras, rumored to hit the iPod
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/07/06/apple-orders-up-a-ton-of-cameras-rumored-to-hit-the-ipod/
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/06/prepare-yourself-for-ipod-video/

iPhone 3GS unlocked with Purplera1n + UltraSn0w
http://gizmodo.com/5307693/iphone-3gs-unlocked-with-purplera1n-%252B-ultrasn0w

For Mac, too
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/05/iphone-3gs-jailbreak-mac/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10279029-1.html

Free Wi-Fi for the residents of Venice, Italy
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/09/07/04/2236213/Free-Wi-Fi-For-the-Residents-of-Venice-Italy

We rent movies, so why not textbooks?
http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/07/05/1546214/We-Rent-Movies-So-Why-Not-Textbooks

AOL shuts down CompuServe
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/07/04/169220/AOL-Shuts-Down-CompuServe

Billions stolen in online robbery
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8132547.stm

Desperate-to-leave LinkedIn users rename accounts “delete delete delete”
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/05/desperate-to-leave-l.html

Geek Atlas provides tour guide for geeks
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8132924.stm

VOICEMAIL
Kelly the Gaffer on why OS X is so cheap

E-MAIL
Hi Buzz crew this is Marlon – “guyfromtrinidad”, I am a lover of Nokia’s E series and am absolutely delighted with my E71. So I got even more excited when I saw this article concerning Android coming to Nokia’s smartphones, http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2009/jul/06/nokia-mobile-internet-phones. I mean the idea of a very slick touchscreen E series phone had me super excited, gone would be the dated OS that I tolerate, yes, yes, yes. And then I read this http://gigaom.com/2009/07/05/will-nokia-jettison-symbian-for-android/ and this http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSL613838520090706. A a quick and emphatic no, no, no by Nokia. Though it still leaves the door open for the Nokia/ Intel partnerships to embrace Android. What do you think?
Luv the show

Guyfromtrinidad
Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

**********

Hey Buzz Crew

As self appointed captain of the Buzz Navy’s ship “paradigm panda”, i hereby issue a call to arms for all buzz citizens!

1: For once! SOMEONE must defeat Leo Laporte in an online poll, and hence, Molly must be declared president of the internet!

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/hiner/?p=1894

2: Tom must defeat Patrick Beja in a different online Poll! To prove that A: The Buzz Brigrade always wins, and B: Brian Coulis-ites (anti european) can get along with regular folk in a common cause!

http://frenchspin.com/en/2009/07/a-feud-of-epic-proportions/

(Robot Voice) Love-The-Show

Techpriest

PS: (Tom merrit shouting voice) DON’T OPEN ATTACHMENTS! (old skool joke i know, couldnt help it…)

**********

Hey Buzzers,

I’ve got fios at my house here in Camarillo, Ca and one of the selling points for me, my girlfriend not as much, is the Fios. The only other option for internet here is Time Warner and given their track record I will do nearly anything to not give them a penny of my money. So yes, Fios can be a selling point, especially for a buzz listener.

Secondly I’ve got a pre and let me tell you, RocknRollHax is great. I get html formatted emails fairly regularly and some (looking at you newegg) benefit greatly from landscape mode (for readability). There is no need for landscape while composing (obviously) and I really wish they included an option foramdscape on email reading only.

Anywho, I’m also part of the engineer/architect/programmer cabal when it comes to caps lock…but it should be moved.

Keep up the good work,
Ted the Engineer