Tech It Or Leave It

Beginning:

An Orgy of Censorship, Max Mosley Sues Google to Block Search Results
http://www.betabeat.com/2011/11/25/an-orgy-of-censorship-max-mosley-sues-google-to-block-search-results/

The Week We Missed:

Amazon Silk Web browser doesn’t provide significant speed boosts
http://dvice.com/archives/2011/11/amazon-silk-web.php

Penguin fights Amazon by cutting off libraries’ access to the books they’ve paid for (Updated)
http://boingboing.net/2011/11/22/penguin-fights-amazon-by-cutti.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29
Penguin pulls new e-books from library distributor, citing concerns over security
http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/wQDu1E1dB-Q/
Penguin Shuts Down Libraries’ Access To New E-Titles On Amazon’s Kindle
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/hEAUL64z5MM/

Apple and Samsung’s patent battle draws concern from EU Competition Commission
http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/3SXXIoPDFwA/

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An Open Letter To Adobe Systems « Scott Kelby’s Photoshop Insider Blog
http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2011/archives/22903?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Microsoft will sell new Windows-optimized Kinect in 2012
http://dvice.com/archives/2011/11/microsoft-will.php
Microsoft announces Windows-specific Kinect for 2012 release
http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/blrz4G_0Vhc/

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Google to kill off more products
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15853323
Google sets execution dates for Wave, Knol, Friend Connect and more
http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/GLfL8bPJQDs/

Business Software Alliance speaks out against SOPA
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/business-software-alliance-speaks-out-against-sopa/

Court holds European ISPs can’t be forced to filter traffic, users free to fly the jolly roger
http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/sFP7NUo2YC4/
EU Court Rules ISPs Can’t Be Forced To Filter Out Illegal Content
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/iSIVLXk78U4/

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Simon’s Opinion on the Star Wars: The Old Republic Beta
http://www.swtor.com/
Probably a Origin/EA rant.

Xbox 360 gets new Windows Phone 7-inspired dashboard in December
http://dvice.com/archives/2011/11/xbox-360-gets-n.php
Xbox 360 Dashboard Update Goes Live Next Month
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/11/22/xbox-360-dashboard-update-goes-live-next-month.aspx
New Xbox Dashboard brings Cloud storage, Beacons, and more on December 6
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/new-xbox-dashboard-brings-cloud-storage-beacons-and-more-on-de/
Revamped Xbox 360 dashboard to launch on December 6th, Microsoft confirms
http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/79a8EQCj5Y4/

DC Universe Online revenue up 700% after free-to-play switch
http://www.gamesradar.com/dc-universe-online-revenue-700-after-f2p-switch/
DC Universe Online Continues To See Growth
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/11/21/dc-universe-online-continues-to-see-growth.aspx
What Difference Did Going Free-to-Play Make for DC Universe Online?
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/A8soLU_nfuY/what-difference-did-going-free+to+play-make-for-dc-universe-online
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Dixons’ half-year losses widen
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15867920

Researchers create spinal cord connectors from human stem cells, heralding breakthrough
http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/-xdAMyvLC4c/

Phones/ Tablets/ eReaders:

Some more news about CarrierIQ
http://boingboing.net/2011/12/01/some-more-news-about-carrieriq.html
Sprint loaded spyware on its Android phones
http://boingboing.net/2011/11/30/sprint-loaded-spyware-on-its-a.html
Carrier IQ: What it is, what it isn’t, and what you need to know
http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/carrier-iq-what-it-is-what-it-isnt-and-what-you-need-to/
Smartphone ‘surveillance’ app row
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15982225
Phone surveillance row escalates
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16000381
Carrier IQ, Samsung, And HTC All Facing Class Action Lawsuits
http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/02/carrier-iq-samsung-and-htc-all-facing-class-action-lawsuits/
Apple: We Don’t Use Carrier IQ… In Most Of Our Products… Anymore.
http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/01/apple-we-dont-use-carrier-iq-in-most-of-our-products-anymore/
FTC asked to open an investigation into Carrier IQ
http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/ftc-asked-to-open-an-investigation-into-carrier-iq/
Carrier IQ hit with privacy lawsuits as more security researchers weigh in
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/12/carrier-iq-hit-with-privacy-lawsuits-as-more-security-researchers-weigh-in.ars

Global Smartphone Adoption Approaches 30 Percent
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/11/smartphones-feature-phones/

Two iPhones Go Up in Smoke and Flame
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/11/holy-smokes-iphone/

BBC brings global iPlayer iPad app to Canada, one step closer to the US
http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/bbc-brings-global-iplayer-ipad-app-to-canada-one-step-closer-to/

New Version of Google Maps Brings Indoor Floor Plans to Your Phone
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/11/google-maps-indoor-update/
Google Maps 6.0 hits Android, adds indoor navigation for retail and transit
http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/google-maps-6-0-hits-android-adds-indoor-navigation-for-retail/
Google Maps For Android Now Lets You Explore The Great Indoors (And Find The Nearest Restroom)
http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/29/google-maps-for-android-now-lets-you-explore-the-great-indoors-and-find-the-nearest-restroom/

RIM unveils BlackBerry Mobile Fusion for enterprise, extends reach to Android, iOS
http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/rim-announces-blackberry-mobile-fusion-software-for-multi-platfo/

Spotify opens up to add-on apps
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15971514

Computers:

Western Digital Fires Up First Flooded Factory In Thailand As Recovery Continues
http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/02/western-digital-fires-up-first-flooded-factory-in-thailand-as-recovery-continues/

Social Media:

FTC Slaps Facebook’s Hand Over Privacy Deception
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/11/ftc-slaps-facebook-privacy/
In Response To FTC Privacy Settlement, Facebook Splits The Chief Privacy Officer Role In Two
http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/29/in-response-to-ftc-privacy-settlement-facebook-splits-the-cpo-role-into-two/
Facebook’s Settlement With FTC Confirmed: Privacy Changes Must Be Opt In – UPDATED
http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/29/zuckerberg-ftc-settlement/

Google+ Now Lets You Conference People Into Hangouts With Free Voice Calls
http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/01/hangouts-voice-calls/

Internet:

Crashing Google Wave Finds New Life in Open Source
http://www.webmonkey.com/2011/11/crashing-google-wave-finds-new-life-in-open-source/

Google Chrome becomes second most used Web browser globally
http://dvice.com/archives/2011/12/chrome-edges-ou.php
End of an Era: Chrome Surpasses Firefox
http://www.webmonkey.com/2011/12/end-of-an-era-chrome-surpasses-firefox/
StatCounter: Chrome leapfrogs Firefox for the first time, still trails Internet Explorer
http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/statcounter-chrome-leapfrogs-firefox-for-the-first-time-still/
StatCounter: Chrome Grabs 25.7% Of Global Market, Overtaking Firefox
http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/01/statcounter-chrome-takes-25-7-of-global-market-overtaking-firefox/

Google implements “forward secrecy” in its encrypted traffic, releases improvements to SSL library for all to use
http://boingboing.net/2011/11/30/google-implements-forward-se.html

Swiss gov’t study: downloading leads to sales, so we’re keeping it legal
http://boingboing.net/2011/12/03/swiss-govt-study-downloadin.html

The Painful Irony of an Anti-Piracy Group Being Sued for Piracy
http://kotaku.com/5864572/the-painful-irony-of-an-anti+piracy-group-being-sued-for-piracy
Copyright Corruption Scandal Surrounds Anti-Piracy Campaign
http://torrentfreak.com/copyright-corruption-scandal-surrounds-anti-piracy-campaign-111201/

YouTube rolls out site redesign
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16006524

Games:

Microsoft sells 960K Xbox 360s in one week, loves Black Friday
http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-sells-960k-xbox-360s-in-one-week-loves-black-friday
Xbox 360 Still Selling Like Console-Shaped Hotcakes
http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/30/xbox-360-still-selling-like-console-shaped-hotcakes
Microsoft sells almost a million 360s during Black Friday
http://www.gamesradar.com/microsoft-sells-almost-million-360s-during-black-friday/
Microsoft moves 960K Xbox 360 consoles, 750K Kinect units ‘week of Black Friday’
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/microsoft-moves-960k-xbox-360-consoles-750k-kinect-units-week/
Microsoft Sold Almost One Million Xbox 360s Last Week
http://kotaku.com/5863518/microsoft-sold-almost-one-million-xbox-360s-last-week

Nintendo: Wii and Wii U Can Coexist
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/12/01/nintendo-wii-and-wii-u-can-coexist.aspx

Battlefield 3′s ‘Back to Karkand’ expansion arrives on PS3 Dec. 6, 360 and PC on Dec. 13
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/battlefield-3s-back-to-karkand-expansion-arrives-on-ps3-dec/
Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand hits PS3 on Dec 6, PC and 360 versions arriving one week later
http://www.gamesradar.com/battlefield-3-preorder-bonus-dlc-hits-ps3-next-week-elsewhere-week-later/

Saints Row’s Dildo Bat: More Than Two Million Served
http://kotaku.com/5864037/saints-rows-dildo-bat-more-than-two-million-served

Germany Gets Around to Banning Dead Island
http://kotaku.com/5863642/germany-gets-around-to-banning-dead-island

Other:

IT teaching in need of ‘reform’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15923113

Motorola MotoActv coming to the UK to motivate armchair marathon runners
http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/motorola-motoactv-coming-to-the-uk-to-motivate-armchair-marathon/
MOTOACTV Fitness Tracker To Debut In U.K. On December 1
http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/29/motoactv-fitness-tracker-to-debut-in-u-k-on-december-1/

NASA commissions washing machine for zero gravity
http://dvice.com/archives/2011/12/nasa-commission.php

British Library digitizes 300 years worth of newspaper archives, brings 65 million articles online
http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/british-library-digitizes-300-years-worth-of-newspaper-archives/

Questions / Email:

Tablet Virus Question
http://www.simplysyndicated.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=2497

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From GAB on the forum;

I’m not ready to think music yet, but I do have a phone question related to this episode.
Work has finally ditched the Blackberry (I’ll pause politely for the applause … yay!). So, I’m in the market now for my first self-selected smartphone. I must have one for work, but I totally have my say on what to get.
I’m torn. I don’t have anything else Apple. While I use iTunes, I simply move those files to Zune because I’m still happy with the 120gb player that keeps me in 112,000 songs and room for every podcast that I listen to along with a handful of movies.
So, the Zune stays put for now, but I still need a new phone.
That led me to look at one of the ‘Droids that has a keyboard. Fair play making fun of RIM and their nonsensical keyboard comments … but I am old school. My other cell phone is a Samsung with a truly crap touch-screen.
I will give the iPhone4 touch screen a proper tryout. It will blow Samsung away, but will that be enough to win me over?
Of course, none of this is the real issue.
The one thing I’ve always wanted from a smartphone is available to me now and I WANT IT!
What’s that?
When I’m not at home on a Friday night, I want to listen to SHaFT from my phone. Even from Epcot at Disney a couple of years ago, I wanted to listen to SHaFT (and call in from the happiest place on earth). I couldn’t then, but I can now.
So, is there an advantage on the Synner app between iPhone and ‘Droid?
This isn’t my strength, so I truly need some opinions. As soon as 12/12, I’ll be swapping phones for good!

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Hi Rich, Simon & Andrew.

I have been listening to your Tech it or Leave it show since it began and it has become my favourite podcast.  You have on the latest episode started to offer advice to listeners regarding Tech and I could do with a bit of your worldly knowledge.
To set the scene a little bit I have until recently been a big Sony fan (cue ridicule).  I share your thoughts and feelings towards them regarding the last few years of products and misadventures but as my Tech budget has been limited and looks like it will continue that way I thankfully have not made any recent Sony purchases.  I currently have a Sony Bravia TV, Blu Ray Player and AV Receiver.
I am trying to streamline my Tech so it is both wife and time friendly.  The Streaming on the Sony Blu Ray player is OK not really delivering the solution I want.  I have toyed with the idea of a Home Theatre PC but have discounted that recently as it seems expensive, noisy and fiddly and not particularly wife friendly.  Also I am more drawn to out of the box simple solutions.  I would prefer the Media Server to be out of the lounge serving up the media via a Network (not wireless).  I constantly trawl the internet looking for solutions and with a Budget in mind I am drawn to a PC running ITunes with an Apple TV as a front end.  The PC could house some significant storage and backup via the internet to Backup solutions.
Looking ahead my Tech wish list includes and IPad and most likely additional Apple TV’s.  My day to day home computing needs are handled by a Windows Laptop that may be discarded upon IPad purchase.
With the above in mind can you offer any advice on the following areas:
·         ITunes as a Media Server
I would like to have ITunes handle all my media.  What are the best Handbrake settings to RIP a DVD to an ITunes/IPhone/Apple TV compatible format.  Ideally I want 1 file that does the lot and retains DVD quality Video and Digital Sound.
What spec PC or Mac do I need to be running to stream HD Videos.
·         Backup Solutions
What are the best solutions?  My research tells me ITunes Match for Music (when launched), DropBox for Documents and Picasa and Google storage for Photos.
·         Apple TV
What’s the verdict? Is it capable of handling a ripped DVD library at DVD quality served up by ITunes or is there a better alternative.  The interface looks good and the ITunes integration for rentals and purchases seems to suit my desire for a simple solution albeit possibly not the cheapest on cost of content.  Should I be considering Google TV or possibly a New TV with streaming built in.
Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated and I’m somewhat confident that other listeners may be interested to hear your views on the above.
I’ll be listening!

David Morris

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Hello, I’m on a 24 month contract with o2, i have 7 months remaining and i had an Iphone 4 Black 16gb which i have broke and i’m not insured with. I spoke to o2 and they basically told me that i’m not eligible to an upgrade before the last month of the minimum contract. This would be June, I’m under the impression that when i took out the 24 month contract you could be entitled to an upgrade about 18 months however i’m not 100% certain on this. I know that they have changed now to the 1 month before end upgrade but i’m not sure when or if this has changed. I can’t find any information online about this, i know its my fault i broke the phone but i am now stuck in a 7 month remaining contract without the original phone. o2 are not prepared to make the bills less a month. I guess this is because im still paying for the handset. I upgraded to this contract with one of the early upgrade offers when the iphone 4 first came out.

Regards

Matt

To Finish:

Man arrested at Large Hadron Collider claims he’s from the future
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/gadgets/man-arrested-at-large-hadron-collider-claims-hes-from-the-future-49305387/

Martin Aircraft tries to convince you that jetpacks are practical
http://dvice.com/archives/2011/11/martin-aircraft.php
Martin says its jetpack is ‘practical,’ offers crappy computer animation as evidence
http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/27/martin-says-its-jetpack-is-practical-offers-crappy-computer-a/

British pub offers urine-controlled gaming, “Wii” puns make a resurgence
http://www.gamesradar.com/british-pub-offers-urine-controlled-gaming-wii-puns-make-resurgence/
Urinal games make a splash in a British pub
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/urinal-games-make-a-splash-in-a-british-pub/

Bionic lenses to project emails
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15817316

A Half Dozen People Petition White House to Round Up All Copies of Skyrim, Outlaw and Burn Them [The Elder Scrolls]
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/KykxbRcUgR0/a-half-dozen-people-petition-white-house-to-round-up-all-copies-of-skyrim-outlaw-and-burn-them
Is Skyrim Teaching Your Children How to Perform “Rim Jobs” and Other Homo Erotic Sex Maneuvers?
http://christwire.org/2011/11/is-skyrim-teaching-your-children-how-to-perform-rim-jobs-and-other-homo-erotic-sex-maneuvers/

Impulse Technology suing Nintendo for patent infringement
http://i.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/impulse-technology-suing-nintendo-for-patent-infringement/

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