Do you hate cutting weeds and trimming shrubbery around your home or business? So do we! Thats why we invented the Best Damn Shears!

Geeks wanting to participate in a Guiness World record are being called upon to participate in "Download Day" which represents the release of Firefox 3.0. The folks at Firefox are looking for the title of most downloads in a 24 hour period. The day has not been set but will occur some time in June. Sign up at http://www.spreadfirefox.com/en-US/worldrecord/

The D: All Things Digital conference commenced, opening with the comedy duo of Gates and Balls, showing off some features of the new Microsoft 7 predominately multi-touch and banking on this new system to bring them out of the toilet.

Google is wooing developers, at their recent inaugural Google I/O get-together. Some 2500+ web developers were plied with orgasmic delights like Gears, HTML5, Javascript/AJAX and Android. MySpace has already deployed a new email system using Google Gears offering the ability to sort message on your desktop.
AOL also announced that they will be jumping on OpenSocial with open arms

In an attempt to combat apparent lagging broadband adoption here in the States (well behind other countries like Korea, Australia, Canada and Europe), the FCC is proposing that the company buying the newly planned spectrum auction must provide free wireless access nationwide. They will still have the ability to place restrictions on content.

Rand, Iggs and Adam check out Verizon's 'My Home 2.0' event featuring Ryan Howard from the Philadelphia Phillies. Adam cooks burgers and hot dogs while helping Iggs solve his personal network security issues.

Schmidt faced

Around the World Wide Web
Google is by no means the only street mapping system in the world, in fact geo-mapping company MapJack out of Hong Kong and Thailand has been doing the rounds, currently featuring several cities in the US and a couple of Thailand. They tout better quality images, more features and a more immersive experience with additional backpack carrying cameras walking the streets.

Columbia is jumping on board the new XO laptops, ordering 65,000 of them. The addition of XP was the clincher. Plus the secret compartment for storing drugs made the deal a winner.
Meanwhile Dell, Acer and HP are also vying for a spot in the cut-price PC market following the success of OLPC and the recent Asus EEE PC which sold for $299 and is almost at 2 million sold. After seeing the popularity of these machines Windows is extending support of its XP sub-notebook OS and slashing the price to $32.

Best Damn News
Following their failed bid on Yahoo, Microsoft is giving Facebook a bit of a poke to see if they'll poke back over the possibility of a full acquisition. While they already claim $240 million investment in the company, values are being thrown around in the ballpark of $15 billion.

As anticipated, Grand Theft Auto smashed all sorts of sales records, raking in some $500 million in its first week. The Hooker and Prostitutes Union (HPU) have now changed their tune, now staking a claim in the success of the game. "Even though the game depicts violence against us, it's all true and now it gives us an extra element of credibility" says Lindy LaLa the union's spokeperson. Now a new group has come out against the game, RAD (Russians Against Defamation) are complaining that "in the game Russians are depicted in a bad way" they go on to say that "not all Russians are that ugly" citing Baryshnikov, Kournikova and Sharapova as examples. Plus, only 70% of Russians regularly wear sweat suits. (Side note, most copies sold on XBOX)

MySpace launches "Open Availability", data share with Yahoo, Ebay and Twitter, et al.

http://mashable.com/2008/05/08/breaking-myspace-announces-data-availability-with-yahoo-ebay-and-others/

Pownce says game on with shared files in friend streams, and more storage space for everyone. Competitor to box.net, ups the game on twitter.

Drewmors

Microsoft trying to buy Facebook now that they've dumped Yahoo at the arranged marriage alter?

The debate on Net Neutrality rages on. Also raging on...

Schmidt faced

Senators to ISP's: "Think twice" about 'Net neutrality or else.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080506-senator-to-isps-think-twice-about-net-neutrality-or-else.html

Years ago, Congress began protecting ISPs from the twin threats of regulation and taxation; in return, ISPs were expected to deliver an unimpeded connection to the Internet. A move away from a neutral 'Net would undermine the "very philosophical underpinnings of what we fought for for the last 15 years," according to Ron Wyden (D-OR). If that happens, he sees no reason for Congress to continue sheltering ISPs.

Iris on the Virus
Chinese cyber attacks
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/08/belgium_india_china_warnings/

Tech Tip
Getting away from your PC

Tech this out
More proof that hackers are generally assholes....the website for the epilepsy foundation was recently hacked with the intent on causing seizures. They exploited a vulnerability in the publishing software that would barrage the users with a lot of flashing images and bright colors.

The MPAA has won a victory against TorrentSpy, claiming a $110 million judgement and permanent injunction for distribution of pirated video. As a result TorrentSpy has shut up shop.

Sites of the week

www.Domize.com

www.Xkcd.com

Flemo's back from Australia!

Happy Birthday to the Internet!

Microsoft struggles with XP SP3 and Vista.

eBay vs. CraigsList

Hookers Pissed Off over Grand Theft Auto 4 (IV).

CrudWare Company Sues despite sucking ass.

BBC uncovers Facebook flaw

Justin.tv Representative pisses off Podcamp community.

Google's Great American Wireless Auction 'game' annoys US lawmakers Worth mention.

IRIS ON THE VIRUS
From Phishing to Whaling

Best Damn News

Quarterlife Dies in the Ass on NBC

Only 3.1 million viewers gets the web-tv series the boot to Bravo

http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/2/nbc_shifts__quarterlife__to_cable

A software glitch caused a mass outage for Skype users last Thursday. Some for as long as 14 hours leaving folks livid, particularly with their lack of communication on the issue. People expect a high-level of transparency in these issues.

iPhone owners are starting to get their first bills, many of them complaining at the fact that they are very detailed, some as long as 300 pages. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdULhkh6yeA

Around the World Wide Web
Two Dutch bloggers have been ordered to court to answer charges of filming up womens skirts. They apparently did so with permission in order to alert females to the dangers of see-through stairs and floors.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/upskirting-bloggers-facing-court/2007/08/15/1186857565394.html

In Australia, a man faces up to 5 years in prison for uploading a copy of The Simpsons movie taken on his mobile phone to Bittorrent.

Google is going after China and ordering more than the Kung Pao Chicken. They have been quoted as planning on buying 1 to 2 Internet Companies, most likely in the search or portal space to upset Baidu which has a 55% market share.

Also in China, in a growing trend, a couple has made an attempt to name their child @.

Iris on the Virus

Tech it Out
Google finally rolling out embeddable mapping features so that folks can add their maps to websites and blogs etc.

Google has also added Sun’s StarOffice to their Google Pack.

Remember when hotmail was hot? MS thought that going with Live Mail would boost subscriptions but not so, now they have to resort to bribery (4 GB storage – 10 for paying customers). Still no Pop3 support…goodbye.
http://internetcommunications.tmcnet.com/topics/broadband-mobile/articles/9642-lack-email-users-has-microsoft-hot.htm

Directtv has been testing a partnership with Current, a carrier of BPL services apparently with great success. They will be rolling out the bundled packages in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

TECH BIFFO
Or more a case of stupidity, American Airlines is suing Google for trademark infringement because they display advertising when someone searches for their keyword. Gimme a break. http://techdirt.com/articles/20070817/021228.shtml

One of the earlier players in the MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) marketplace is shutting up shop. Amp’d launched in late 2005 on the Verizon service and was one of the early 3G adopters targeting the 18-35 market. Verizon brought on the bankruptcy ny threatening to cut off its services.

Apple releases its latest update nicknamed Leopard or 10.5 to very hum drum reviews claiming that there is very little new there.

Digg jumps in bed with Microsoft, offering their ads for the next 3 years

Around the World Wide Web
Google Australia is asking kiddies to design their specialty logos for certain days like Australia Day and anzac Day.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/google-wants-your-doodle/2007/07/23/1185043014717.html

Chinese Pirates busted with $500 million of software
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070724-chinese-pirates-busted-with-500-million-of-software.html
US and Chinese officials announced today that they have busted two Chinese software piracy groups in possession of illegal software with an “estimated retail value” of close to $500 million. The groups operated out of Shanghai and Shenzhen, and sold much of the software through the Internet, according to the FBI.

The Comsec ipod index reveals that Brazil is the most expensive place to buy an iPod nano at around $330 for the 2GB model more than twice that in the US. Canada is cheapest at $144.

TECH IT OUT
$100 laptop program is almost ready to go. Production begins in October and several countries have all but spat on their hands and shaken.

The head of Acer has spoken out against Windows Vista, stating that “The entire industry is disappointed by Windows Vista”.

Tech Biffo
A San Fran woman was recently contacted by Universal to inform her that a video she posted has been removed from Youtube as is violates copyright laws. The video of her son dancing to Prince’s Let’s Go Crazy in the background. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has stepped in and filed a lawsuit on behalf of the woman to protect her fair use and free speech rights. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1KfJHFWlhQ
Apparently when asked about the biffo, Prince was quoted as saying “People still listen to that crap?”

Mark Zuckerberg, the 23-year-old founder of Facebook, has been accused of stealing the idea for his enormously popular social networking site from a rival website ConnectU

Site of the Week
www.simpsonizeme.com

AOL is apparently for sale. Time Warner announced that they have upgraded the stock from “Neutral� to “Buy�.

Google Streetview cars are unveiled
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/eye-on-you/google-streetview-camera-car-fleet-set-to-invade-america-279222.php

Around the World Wide Web
Hanover Germany – A German man who startled his neighbours when he hurled his computer out of the window in the middle of the night, was let off for disturbing the peace by police who sympathised with his technical frustrations.

Tech it Out
As Promised, Google are now cutting their cookies to 2 years instead of 30.

Firefox has released 2.0.0.5

X Box head Peter Moore has jumped ship over to EA

Transformers the movie is being hailed as a cgi marvel but here is a video of a real transformer presented to a Japanese audience. Very cool. http://hitslot.com/?p=111

Tech Biffo
Iran has unveiled a new game that simulates an attempt to rescue 2 iranian nuclear scientists kidnapped by the US. They claim it is a response to the game “Assault on Iran�. The game is called “Rescue the Nuke Scientist�
http://www.smh.com.au/news/games/iranian-game-promotes-sacrifice-and-martyrdom/2007/07/17/1184559749090.html

The RIAA has been ordered to pay legal fees from a case they brought against the Fosters of Oklahoma. After Capitol Records could not provide the exact details of the alleged infringement and was ordered to pay legal fees to the tune of $68,685.23

Site of the Week
www.jingproject.com – visual conversation

NEWS

Sony has slashed prices on PS3 by some 17% and increased capacity from 60GB to 80GB in an attempt to compete with the Wii. The current model will be reduced by $100, the upgrade will still be $599.
Microsoft is also cutting prices in an attempt to compete with the others. No word yet as to when and how much.

It seems MSN has made some impact in search, increasing from 8.4% in May to 13.2% in June. Many are touting their move in offering prizes through the club.live.com. I personally attribute a lot of it to the fact that many users find it difficult to change the default search through Vista and IE7

WORLD WIDE WEB
MSN are claiming the crown for the largest online event in history with some 30 million (15 during the show and 15 since) views online. TV views were well beneath these numbers which has many channels concerned. Boo Hoo.

GEEK PSYCHIC has predicted a smaller, cheaper iPhone in the works. Based on the iPod Nano, this version will most likely utilize a scroll wheel priced around the $300 mark. She reports this as a false rumour.

TECH IT OUT
It’s becoming an interesting race to watch MySpace v FaceBook. More rumours abound regarding the purchase of Facebook by Google.

Meanwhile apparently FaceBook is blocking gays, that is people with the surname “Gay”. All the gays around the world are fuming.

Geek Chick
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/07/how_to_geek_you.php

Tech Biffo
ISP’s are coming under increased pressure to become the Internets Gatekeepers after a ruling in Belgium stating that they one of their ISP’s has the capabilities to block or filter copyright infringing traffic on their networks and should do so in 6 months.

The iphone release is starting to die down in the news which is why I thought we should mention it. I like the folks who decided they would like to see inside. Some doing it very methodically, others prefering brute force like on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy20b7pCcrY

Around the World Wide Web
Russian music downloading site that came under immense pressure from Visa and even got the U.S government involved has shut down. According to John Kennedy of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry “If this is the end of allofmp3.com, this is good news�. Coincidentally, a new website www.mp3sparks.com launched as it closed.

In Japan, the Wii outsold Playstation 3 to 1

Tech it Out
Feedburner purchased by Google recently is now free for all. You do have to login to activate the services where you will see the message “Thank You for Using FeedBurner. You owe us $0.� It also includes MyBrand where you can point your URL and stats.

Google has also acquired Grand Central Communications, a service which include some interesting telecommunications function including visual voicemail, playing voicemail from computer…a whole slew of interesting features. For more go to www.grandcentral.com

Yahoo has been testing a SmartAds function that targets user behavior and has shown to have click thru rates some 2-3 times higher than regular advertising.

Dr. is In
Talk about Pownce v Twitter.