Buzztown Archive

Verizon’s launching its LTE network on Sunday, the FCC is proposing a plan for Net neutrality tomorrow, and Google is about to take over the world EVEN MORE with its e-book venture (we’re sure the EU is going to love that). Also, that deafening silence you hear on Twitter is the sound of a bunch of celebrities playing dead to raise money for AIDS. New meme: celebrity zombie impersonato...

On today’s show, once the amazing Benito finally gets the studio in working order, we break down the Level 3 and Comcast battle–no matter how you slice it, it’s still very, very, VERY bad for the Web. VERY. Also, Cyber Monday proves, once more, that marketing works. And NASA is apparently set to announce that aliens are walking among us. And we’re just buying the Playboy ha...

Wikileaks uncovers a treasure trove of diplomatic dish that could disrupt not only the political but social fabric of the world. Online spending finally takes off (again), and Homeland Security confirms it’s planning to systematically dismantle the structure of the Internet at the behest of private companies. So, that’s awesome. Also, the zombie apocalypse is nigh, led by a phalanx of...

Gobble Gobble! It’s all about the tech turkeys of 2010. Companies want to target data packets to monitor your activity and serve you ads! Facebook trademarks your “Face” and the aroma of pumpkin spice puts guys in the giving mood. From CNET Buzz Out Loud episodes are released in their original audio form. Some metadata supplementation and/or correction has been done for SEO, clar...

On today’s show, we’re totally hoping the music industry will finally catch up to reality, or at least the year 2010. Or the tensies, as we’re now calling them. Forever. Spotify is under pressure to just launch, already, but this time it’s from their investors. Also, is Farmville on the decline because Facebook users are just narcissistic quiz-takers? –Molly Buzz Out...

Microsoft now says the Kinect was left open by design. Ok, if that’s what you have to say to save some face, guys. We know you got the Lego robotics model idea from us. Also, Netflix officially launches its streaming-only plan, Murdoch brings the paywall to the iPad, and FIOS gets even faster for the lucky few who have it (or can afford it). –Molly Buzz Out Loud episodes are released i...

On today’s show, Gowalla teams up with Disney to offer virtual pins, instead of the real ones everyone actually wants. And we discover Molly’s never been to Disneyland, so maybe Gowalla should sponsor a road trip! Also, Google eyes Groupon, Cox becomes the first cable company to get into the mobile phone game, and carriers threaten to stop subsidizing iPhones if Apple tries to free the...

All the news today was totally shocking: MySpace and Facebook having an announcement? Together? Stuxnet now the biggest threat to industry everywhere? National Unfriend day!? What!? Also, the scariest robot we’ve ever seen: Snakebot. Oh, and I have my own dirt track to nowhere in the UK. Suck on that, haters. –Molly Buzz Out Loud episodes are released in their original audio form. Some...

Turns out, you get punished for being a cute girl on Facebook … at least that’s our speculation about the bug that was disabling some women’s profiles. Also, Google Voice debuts in the iTunes app store, Hulu Plus drops to $7.99, and we watch the Green Lantern trailer live, and … we’re not impressed. Plus, Cooks Source Magazine elects to go quietly and passive-aggressi...

The Internet is profoundly underwhelmed by Apple’s announcement that the Beatles catalog will now be available on iTunes. The more germane question, really: where the heck is iOS 4.2? Also, turns out the Kinect (unlike Apple’s Beatle announcement) is a runaway hit. Schmidt’s not worried about Facebook Messages, and also, the Internet wants to stop the TSA’s airport junk-gro...

We’re joined today by Cheezburger CEO Ben Huh, who’s trying to get Brian Tong to love cats. Also, we dissect Facebook’s new attempt at a universal inbox: it’s email, but not really email, and there’s some stuff you’re probably going to want to opt out of. As usual. Also, previewing Apple’s unforgettable iTunes announcement tomorrow, and why did Netflix del...

Brian Cooley’s on the show today to issue some bizarre challenge to the chat room, related to an old Dick Van Dyke movie he thought was only available on 16-millimeter film. That kind of thing just happens when he’s around. Also, iOS 4.2 delayed, Facebook’s Gmail killer, and why is working at Google so bad? Too much time in the ball pit? –Molly Buzz Out Loud episodes are re...

In titles we didn’t use because they’re not SEO-friendly, topics today include the fact that it’s on like Brian Tong ™, Jessica Simpson’s tooth fur, gold does grow on trees, and tiny fists of rage. We interview RockMelt’s CEO and ask him to explain that name, and we preview the latest TRON trailer MST3K style. Did we mention the tooth fur? Ew. –Molly Buzz...

Amazon comes up with the best idea ever for converting terrible gifts to good gifts — before they even get to your doorstep. Take that, Aunt Mildred! Also, RockMelt stands us up, so we demand 50 more invites (which seems counterintuitive, I know). Also, Glassgate hits case-makers, goodbye to Ask.com, and what social networks are doing with all those email addresses, anyway! –Molly Buzz...

On today’s show, a brief digression on the topic of McRibs and then back to the serious news of the Windows Phone 7 launch, Amazon doubling rev share for newspaper and magazine publishers, and broadband satellite service with real speeds. Also, our review of the first TV with Google TV inside, and the best looking iPhone game ever. –Molly Buzz Out Loud episodes are released in their or...

Happy Monday, everyone! On today’s show, we’re loving the new RockMelt browser, even though yes, we know, we could do the same thing with extensions. We just don’t want to. Also, Apple doesn’t care if you make it to work on time, they’re not fixing that DST alarm bug. Maybe you’re just waking up wring. Also, we go crazy for the Call of Duty: Black Ops ad and I l...

The EU is standing up for your right to be lonely and off the grid. And we’re glad they are. Plus, Google lays down the smack on Facebook–no importing without reciprocity, suckaz! And in other tech beefs, Consumer Reports goes after Gamespot’s claims that the Kinect can’t see darker-skinned players. Plus, apple pie sparks an Internet war. –Molly Buzz Out Loud episodes...

Some Gamespot.com editors discovered that the Microsoft Xbox Kinect seems to have trouble recognizing darker skinned players. Plus, it pretty much requires you to have a big, giant house. So, you can see how we arrived at the obvious conclusion in our headline, there. Plus, why Hulu is, in fact, destroying the TV industry, and we’re ok with that. And Facebook Beacon returns in the form of De...

On today’s show, we rush you along so we can go watch the San Francisco Giants ticker-tape parade. But in actual tech news, Silicon Valley fails to take over California politics, Google’s really sorry about the whole Buzz thing, but not in a pay you kind of way, and if you’re a Rangers fan, we now have the technology to erase that painful memory from your brain. –Molly Buzz...

Natali Del Conte Morris joins us on today’s show to talk voting, iOS 4.2 and the curse of that dreaded mute switch, and some notes from the future of technology (hint: it knows where you are). Plus: the real reason DirecTV dropped G4! –Molly Buzz Out Loud episodes are released in their original audio form. Some metadata supplementation and/or correction has been done for SEO, clarifica...

It’s Glee meets BOL! Ok, no, don’t panic, there’s not that much singing. But it’s Brian Tong’s first day in the co-host chair, and we are having a good time. Off the rails. In the news today: Facebook app developers were evidently selling your personally identifiable information, which Facebook could barely be bothered to punish them for. Also, group gifting on eBay a...

On today’s show, we discover that he may not be a fan, but Rafe makes a mean Mario for Halloween. We give him a good sendoff with cake and bourbon as Brian Tong prepares to join the show. Oh, and there’s news: Facebook wants to try out peer-pressure ad targeting, Boxee gets some painkillers and a bedpan and gets sent home from deathwatch. And the best iPhone costume ever. From CNET Buz...

It’s time to start a TV revolution: over-the-air and over-the-top. Join us, won’t you? And maybe someone can build the blog for us? In other news, Apple may be trying for a home run where Google struck out, with carrier-independent phone sales. And watch Oompa Loompas build the next Mars lander, live! –Molly Buzz Out Loud episodes are released in their original audio form. Some m...

The New Nook Color makes its debut: is it half a loaf or a half-bottle of wine? It’s a tortured set of analogies, but we hope you’ll get the point. Plus, big news about the show’s host lineup (welcome Brian Tong!), Spotify is in the news but still not in the U.S., and the white iPhone 4 officially reaches annoying tech unicorn status. Oh, and Avatar will never die. Ever. –M...

It’s our long-awaited Nerd Show (i.e., episode 1337), and in my opinion, we rose to the occasion admirably. Our show covers everything from the iPhone security secret sequence to how to become a lazy hacker. Plus, WiFi Direct certification, a ghostly white iPhone sighting, and PAT vs. NAT. Again. — m011yW00t Buzz Out Loud episodes are released in their original audio form. Some metadat...