Ma Bell is Back

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne and Chris chat about the imminent sale of T-Mobile to AT&T, Amazon having won the race to Cloud-Based entertainment content and Google’s move to NFC from QR Codes.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

News Discussion

Featured Music

• Get 9, Smile – Yoko Kanno, Ghost in the Shell Standalone Complex OST

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne and Chris chat about the launch of the iPad 2, Motorola vs. Samsung as Android leaders, and more!

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

News Discussion

• (01:48) Motorola is back from the dead/The Droid was not a One hit Wonder.
• (17:15) Is Samsung ready for the big time? It’s ruling Android and home tech/entertainment products, will they
• (24:44) iPad 2 thoughts. Is the iPad about the specs?
  • (31:39) Determining who it’s for: The Post PC isn’t about PC Specs
  • (35:40)  Clean your phones. Don’t take them to the bathroom. It’s gross.
  • (41:00) Thoughts on the iPad 2′s screen resolution
  • (45:55) The iPad 2′s case, err cover…sorta reminiscent of InCase’s design.
  • (49:16) iPad 3. Will it come out later this year? We breakdown the pros and cons. 4G? Tighter/Higher resolutions? Position in the markets
  • (58:38) /is the iPad disposable?
• (59:00) Intel’s Thunderbolt interface, AKA Lightpeak
  • (59:00) Which name is better for you?
  • (1:00:04) What is Thunderbolt? An Apple/Intel Love child?
• Rundown
  • Man installs MS DOS on a virtual machine and does a steady stream of upgrades until he hits windows 7. So geeky. So awesome. Doom II played on every OS.

Featured Music

• M83, “Teen Angst”; Sidhe, “Amethyst Caverns” (from the Shatter game soundtrack)

In this episode of the show, Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris chat about Google’s big week with the launch of the Nexus S, Chrome OS netbook, online eBooks, and more.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

News Discussion

• Google’s big week!
  • Nexus S coming
  • Chrome OS netbook stuff
  • Ebook store
  • Google Maps update looks CRAZY good
• Wikileaks talk
• Run down
  • Playstation Android phone gets benchmarked
  • Notion Ink Adam Android tablet up for preorder
  • BlackBerry PlayBook tablet updates
  • Looxcie

Featured Music

• “The Grid”, “Derezzed”, “Finale” – Daft Punk, Tron Legacy Soundtrack

Symbiotek Episode 57 is pretty much all about Mobile, with a little dash of Kinect. Devindra, Chris and Dwayne go into T-Mobile’s 4G network and Android handset offerings, which leads to a general discussion about the platform and where it’s going. The Apple competition still has some compelling properties which haven’t been outclassed yet, but was the iPhone 4 over-designed? All that and more on this episode of the Symbiotek  Podcast!

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (02:34)The Nexus S and why we’re so excited for it.
• (12:40) My Touch 4g and hands on w/ T-Mobile’s 4G network.
• (17:30) Near Field Communication (NFC) and the amazingly convenient possibilities it could bring to our lives:
• (21:45) Is Android still a second class community in the world of smartphones?
• (34:10) What’s the difference between Chrome and Android?
• (36:20) What’s Android Missing? Does Chris have buyer’s remorse?
• (44:05) The iPhone 4 – could it actually be that Apple overdesigned the uberphone? The 3G S is more reliable!
• (54:48) The Rundown!
  • (54:49) Introduction to Kik – the wildly popular alternative to SMS & texting.
  • (1:01:12) Facebook adds a serious messaging component to its platform.
  • (1:05:59) Introduction to Path – less of a social network and more of a online Clique environment.
  • (1:10:30) Is Kinect dangerous? We think it’s pretty safe, but man, do you have to be careful.

Featured Music

• Music: Bad Dudes – Chronotorious, Castle Rock, Cave Girl – from the Chrono Trigger tribute album Chronotorius

Back to the Mac - Apple's Conference Event

Symbiotek Episode 56! A foursome. Patrick Roanhouse guest hosts. We get into the Apple’s Back to the Mac event, go deep into Google TV, and talk about some other stories that border on the Rundown. This episode features one of our favorite people, Patrick Roanhouse from the Plan8 podcast.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (01:33) We review the Apple Back to the Mac Event.
• (13:17) The Macbook Air gets more than a re-fresh and signifies where laptops are going.
  Note: Dwayne’s Core i5 is a 520m, not a 460m, and it performs just under a Core 2 Duo Extreme Edition at lower temps due to the Nehalem technology)

Apple's Macbook Air 2010

• (30:30) Java and Flash – Patrick and Chris show why Apple means to change more than the conventional computer form factor.
• (34:20) Google TV via the Logitech Revue set top box. Devindra explains his hands on experience.
  • Is it all we expected?
  • Is it worth picking up right now, or worth waiting for maturity?
  • How does GoogleTV’s paradigm work with a No Cable Generation?

• (46:34) Ads. They play a huge role in the changing paradigm of television and online video. But most people hate them. Is there another way?
• (1:07:03) The Rundown!
  • (1:07:07) Who needs Flipboard when you’ve got PadPress!?!
  • (1:09:05) Hulu drops the price of their Plus service by half ($4.95), but they’re also dropping their service parameters too. 30 Days after air date… not so exciting.
  • (1:12:30) Foursquare from SPACE.
  • (1:15:50) Netflix is responsible for 20% of all downstream Internet use. Once again, TV is changing.

Featured Guest

• Patrick Roanhouse comes to us via the Plan8 podcast at www.Plan8ts.com. Check it out. Or just listen to this ep to gain some Proanhouse knowledge!
  

Featured Music

• Music: “Sidhe – Kinetic Harvest, Amethyst Caverns” from the Shatter OST

Windows Phone 7

Welcome to Symbiotek Episode 55, where it’s all about Mobile. This week, Chris, & Dwayne delve into the recent Apple/Verizon iPad deal – Verizon stores are more than a new place to buy an iPad, they’re the beginning of a new strategy for Apple. They get into Windows Phone 7, why it’s one to watch, and whether you should run out and get one. We’ll also talk about the deal is with “Free Public WiFi.”  There’ll also be a short rundown.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (02:39) Apple announces “Back to the Mac” event, and also explains that come November, the iPad will be available in Verizon Wireless stores. We explain why it actually might be a better deal.
• (14:45) But why announce on the 14th? To Steal Google’s earnings thunder.

• (14:45) Google is earning billions and showing phenomenal growth – but on more than just Search. We get into why this is important for them, even if the average consumer doesn’t care.
• Google’s also diversifying on some other fronts:
  • Renewable Energy
  • Cars that drive themselves

• (24:15) Windows Phone 7 – The New Kid on the Block.
  • Is it too late for MS?
  • How will they differentiate themselves in what seems to be a crowded mobile space? Answer? The HUB.
• (44:00) What the heck is Free Public WiFi? And how come whenever I join it, it never works!?! NPR broke it down, and we absolutely crush it into little digestible bits.
• (59:08) The Rundown!
  • (50:40) Logitech Revue does not support over-the-air HD TV. You need Cable!
  • (52:30) Google has a car which drives itself!
  • (57:40:) New Unbuntu is out – and Chris is excited.
  • (1:01:32) Virgin Mobile MiFi is not quite sold out, so get one soon if you want a wireless hot-spot with no contract.
  • (1:03:01) Chris’s Awesome Announcement. Congratulate the guy people.

Featured Music

• Music: The Dust Brothers, “Medulla Oblongata,” “Homework,” and “Psycho Boy Jack.”

The Logitech Revuew Set Top Box, powered by Google TV. Image courtesy of Ecoustics.com

Welcome to Symbiotek Episode 54, an episode all about possibilities. This week, Chris, Devindra & Dwayne delve into the recent talks between Microsoft and Adobe – are they plotting against a mutual enemy? Or are they in talks to merge? There’s also a lot of new talk behind a possible Verizon iPhone, and some analysis of what that might mean to the ever popular Droid line of Android powered smartphones carried by Verizon. We also try to understand the newly announced Blackberry Playbook tablet.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (02:39) MS in talks with Adobe. Is this about acquisition or just how to compete with Apple?
• (21:09) Google TV! The Logitech Revue is the first set-top box powered by Google TV. Pricing and feature-set have been announced. What does it mean to Google and more importantly, what does it mean to you?
  • $299 for the box & keyboard remote control.
  • $129 for the miniature remote which uses Logitech’s Harmony technology.
  • $150 for the Logitech optional WebCam.
  • Free Android and iPhone remote control apps.
• (37:33) Resurgence of the Verizon iPhone Rumour, and why it seems to matter more this time:
  • White iPhone 4′s delay could be to Apple ramping up on CDMA iPhone 4 production
  • Qualcom’s CDMA antenna technology mentioned as a piece of phone for the Verizon network
  • Verizon mentions that their LTE network will be in certain major US cities by the end of 2011 – exactly what would be needed to put all of the functionality of the current iPhone on Verizon.
  • The concrete bullet points are reminiscent of the buzz before the iPad announcement.
• (47:13) Amazon to launch their own marketplace for the sale and distribution of Android Apps. Is this more Android cannibalization? Or is it exactly what Google’s mobile platform needs?
• (51:10) The Blackberry Playbook: Enterprise’s dream device? Or vaporware desperation from the complacent grandfather of smartphones which doesn’t want to be left behind?
• (59:08) The Rundown!
  • (59:13) GDGT investigates & evangelizes an iPhone 4 problem which they see as the next AntennaGate
  • (1:04:29) LaTimes reports that Red Light/Traffic Camera’s don’t stop accidents and they don’t earn the city money.
  • (1:07:11) Graphene could change the world here in the 21st Century the same level silicon did in the 20th Century.
  • (1:12:28) Moore’s Law is in effect, but we wanna see higher specs! We love our quad cores and Nihalem technology, but where’s the 5ghz CPU!?!

Featured Music

• Music: M83 “Teenage Angst, Running into Flowers”, The Prodigy “Colours”

Blockbuster doesn't get the future.

Episode 53, is all about Social Media growing pains and the fact that we’ve arrived at the Age of Streaming Media. We break down what happened when Facebook broke down, alongside Twitter’s recent security issues. As for streaming media; we talked about all the set-top boxes last week, but this week, it’s really about the services that run on them, and how quickly the paradigm has shifted. The watershed moment? The bankruptcy of Blockbuster Video. And then, there’s The Rundown.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or   download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (03:50) Twitter Mouse-Over Exploit. How’d it happen? Repercussions?
• (12:47) Twitter in the long run – Security & Monetization (Chris breaks it down)
• (19:33) Facebook goes down…and the US sees a productivity uptick along the lines of the Arsenal of Freedom.
• (25:44) YouTube & Vimeo have HTML5 players, and Vevo’s App gets an update. Let’s not forget Netflix on iPhone
• (25:44) Netflix launches in Canada. What does this mean for content in the living room? Blockbuster finally falls and we take apart the media giant’s colossal fall (Redbox)
• (43:43) Apple changes it’s iOS developer agreement again – this time it’s for the better. Google Voice apps get accepted, and Apple allows for a VLC player app.
• (56:24) A Preview of Windows Phone 7 – Chris & Dwayne were hands on with the test devices.
• (1:02:32) Video and Casual gaming – then and now, a Chris Burnor perspective (read: MineCraft)
• (1:09:25) The Rundown!
  • (1:09:32) www.planetmichael.com – A Michael Jackson Massively Multiplayer game
  • (1:03:31) Transform your pizza box into plates! Saves some papr/cardboeard people!
  • (1:13:16) TuneUp – organize your music collection, automgically.
  • (1:17:33) Devindra goes over the Venturebeat DEMO conference with an emphasis on E-Fuel and Card 2.0.
  • (1:21:08) iPhone Awareness app will save hipsters’ lives.
  • (1:24:05) Mint – the Roomba-type robot that will mop your wood floors.

Featured Music

• Music: My Morning Jacket — One Big Holiday, Mahgeetah, Steam Engine

The Age of Digital Streaming Has Arrived

Welcome to Episode 52 people, where Apple reigns the conversation!  Apple drops new iPods, iTunes 10 and a new Apple TV. Ping falters as Apple forgets to add their Genius tech. The team gets into how to get the hell off the narcotic that is the cable We also speak about some tablet updates. And then, there’s The Rundown.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or   download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (02:50) Apple’s September 1st Event – Announcements and significance.
  • (08:19) The iPod Touch as a gaming platform: Epic Citadel & Apple’s Entertainment Competition
  • (17:52) Ping (and it’s problems) – Apple’s new “Social” network, but not really.
  • (22:36) Apple TV 2010 – Netflix, iTunes, AirPlay, FOX+ABC rentals, but no Hulu and no Apps.
• (33:39) Ready to free yourself from the Clutches of Cable?
  • (33:40) We start by looking at Boxee (platform) & Boxees’s upcoming Boxee Box by D-Link.
  • (40:24) Roku Player – $99 for 1080p, Netflix, Pandora, ABC+FOX rentals, & Hulu, but no DLNA.
  • (42:12) Google TV attempts to evolve TV – Apps, Netflix, full Flash support(YouTube) & built into your cable service without the clutter of many set-top boxes. Maybe DLNA
  • (46:34) X-Box 360 - ESPN3.com, Netflix, DLNA, MS Media Rental & Purchasing, but no 1080p divx streaming support.
• (49:06) The Fall and Winter will be full of Tablets (Christmas time):
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab (based of the Galaxy S), Notion Ink Adam update, and why Google may be choosing Chrome over Android for tablets
  • Archos is back too – with 5 separate tablets – “how do you tab?“
• (58:25) The Rundown!
  • (58:29) Virgin Mobile’s no-contract, $40/mo., unlimited data plan, MiFi (On Sprint’s Network)
  • (1:03:31) New Skype Beta allows for 10-person simultaneous video chat? This is crazy!
  • (1:05:36) Google purchases Social Deck – a social game developer.
  • (1:06:28) The JooJoo Saga - Judge throws out many of Arrington/TechCrunch’s Complaint claims. When will this Tale be over!?

Featured Music

• Music: Hans Zimmer – Mombasa, Dream Within A Dream, from Inception OST

Hoverboards beat Realtime Search and Video Codecs any day.

Episode 51!  Facebook’s new places feature has been alive for a week and there’s already a follow-up.  Google and Yahoo announce new moves in the Realtime Search market and Digg debuts it’s new version 4.x interface— Chris, Dwayne and Devindra break down what the big deal is. They also go into the headlines spawned by MPEG-LA’s move to keep their h.264 codec “free” until their rights to it run out. And then, there’s The Rundown.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or   download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (02:17) Facebook Places Vs. Google Places. Both are aiming for local advertisers. Which tech giant’s strategy will succeed?
• (17:47) Google’s Gmail Voice Call allows users to make calls from a web browser… to a real phone. Without paying. What’s Skype to do?
• (22:01) Realtime Search! What is it and why are Yahoo and Google making moves in this area?
  • Google’s Realtime Search Update
  • Yahoo’s Realtime Search Update (OneRiot)
  • Blekko’s New Search Tactics (Customized Searches)
• (33:55) The New Digg.com: Digg 4.x Can Kevin Rose save one of the pillars of Web 2.0?
• (40:20) MPEG-LA’s new plans for the H.264 Codec: It’s Free. Sort Of.
• (53:13) The Rundown!
  • (53:22) Facebook gives Hacker News/Y Combinator start-up’s “VIP treatment.”
  • (1:00:16) Diaspora’s almost here. Chris has the updates.
  • (1:05:20) Finally, a “stovetop” heating surface for the 21st Century.
  • (1:10:27) Nike patents automatically lacing sneakers and finally, we’ve been brought Back to the Future! (2!)

Featured Music

• Music: Shiro Sagisu – Magma Diver, Barefoot in the Park (from the Evangelion soundtracks)

Intel gobbles up McAffee & FB Places shows up too late.

The big Five-Oh! Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris go on about Facebook’s newly launched Places feature and whether it’s worth abandoning traditional geo-location social networks. They also head into the Intel purchase of McAffee, using the available data to look at where Intel’s heading a decade into the Third Millenuim. And then, of course, there’s the Rundown– this week, the three take time to explore New York’s rapidly growing tech scene.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or   download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (02:18) Facebook launches “Places.” How does it stack up to 4Square, GoWalla, and the previous late entry, Twitter?
  • (07:49) And what are the privacy issues?
• (26:06) Intel Spends all of its cash on virus-scan software maker McAffee, but WHY?! The guys use the available data to make sense of it all, and spark a discussion on the ethics of tech & a free market.
• The Rundown!
  • (50:44) New York as New Tech’s Rising Star? Why now? Kelly Sutton has some valid points for NYC over SF.
  • (58:12) Yahoo – Bingified. Finally.

Featured Music

• Music: Neon Indian, “Psychic Chasms”, “Mind, Drips.”

Google CEO Eric Schmidt with Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris chat about Google and Verizon’s plan for an “open internet”, foreign countries threatening to ban BlackBerries for security reasons, and the death of the Plastic Logic Que ereader.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or   download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (04:15) Google and Verizon talk net neutrality
• (30:10) BlackBerry comes under fire from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, India, and more
• (40:55) The death of the Plastic Logic Que ereader
• The Rundown!
  • (51:21) Samsung backs up Galaxy S Android phones with plenty of accessories
  • (57:05) How to get Amber Alerts for lost kids texted to you
  • (1:01:00) Apple TV now iTV, a few more potential details emerge

Featured Music

• Sex Bob-omb — “We Are Sex Bob-omb”, “Threshold” — from the Scott Pilgrim Soundtrack

Wikileaks puts the 'ass' in classified.

In this Episode, Dwayne and Chris are joined by Patrick Roanhouse of the Plan8 Podcasst. It’s all about Tech and Society– Literally. While law enforcement’s been using video as evidence in crimes for years, how does the flipside work in an age where every cell phone is a video camera, especially when social media allows these videos to easily be displayed for all eyes to see. The Freedom of Information Act is being usurped by WikiLeaks, a Web 2.0 strategy which allows anyone to distribute ‘secret data, and as technology moves citizens move from consumers to prosumers, large organizations like BP have to think twice before they attempt to fool the public with doctored propogandic images of their clean-up efforts in the Gulf. All right here, where we focus on how technology impacts our lives: The Symbiotek.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or   download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (02:47) Consumer tech and law enforcement. What happens when citizens start watching the watchers?
  • (15:22) Law enforcement isn’t ready to give up the privilege of having the infrastructure of evidence on their side.
  • (22:55) As society catches up with tech, is the response to citizen surveillance one that goes too far?
• (29:26) BP gets caught using doctored photos of their Gulf Oil Spill clean-up efforts– not by experts, but by tech enthusiasts. The Pro-Sumer has finally arrived.
  • (37:36) www.ErrorLevelAnalysis.com! Like playing sleuth? Take your browser there, the tech is a great treat.
• (44:14) Wikileaks - What is it? Who runs it? What’s its impact? Why is this new media technology the greatest thing to happen to old     media in a long, long time.
  • (55:50) So what makes Wikileaks different from any other user/fan-based site which hosts illegal content?
  • (59:10) So what’s the link to Journalism again? We spell out how they affect how you get your news.

• (1:04:53) Finally some Android Tablets are coming down the pike. (Follow-Up of story from last week)
  • Asus Drops Windows for Android Based Eee Pad Tablet
  • HP Moves to TradeMark “PalmPad”

• (1:14:08)The Rundown!
  • (1:04:24) Microsoft’s New Slogan, “Be What’s Next.” Will it help? Does it really matter? Patrick is out for blood, and wants Ballmer ousted.
  • (1:20:47) Boxee Box hardware finalized, but bizarre as it may sound, it might be too late for it to take off given the imminent release of GoogleTV hardware. Then again, you’d still need cable for GoogleTV. We lay it out.
  • (1:33:15) Symbiotek Green: Lincoln’s MKZ mid-sized luxury sedan is now available as a Hybrid– but instead of charging more, it will costs the exact same amount of money as the traditional V6. When Hybrids are dollar for dollar the same outset cost as traditional vehicles, will the promise of cheaper payments at the         pump help them fly out of showrooms?
  • (1:44:40) BioTech – Rat Lungs regenerated by scientists. Scientists GREW a pair of lungs. Fifth Element, here we come!
  • (1:49:49) Patrick Speaks out on Education and Anti-Intellectualism. Get some of the former and throw away the latter!
• (1:57:49) Easter Egg: 15 seconds of ridiculum….

Featured Music

• Radiohead, Studio Kid A: “National Anthem,;” “Idioteque;” and Scala covering Radiohead from the music from the Original Motion Picture Soundrack: “Creep.”

Go Here to Fix Your iPhone 4 Antenna Problem: http://www.antenn-aid.com/

In this episode, Dwayne and Chris mourn Devindra’s absence as they discuss Apple’s huge Anti-Recall, the fate of the Verizon’s Droid Marketing platform, and where Android 2.2 is going. NOTE: This is Dwayne’s first time editing, so you might have to just drop the volume a bit. He’ll do better next time.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or   download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (01:39) Apple’s Anti-Recall
  • It’s gonna cost Apple some MONEY as they give away many a bumper case
• (27:16) The Droid X launched on Thursday
  • Impressions
  • Specs
  • Efuse? What the What?
• (49:55)The Rundown!
  • (50:14) End of Nexus 1
  • (53:28) Why haven’t there been any Android Tablets launched?
  • (59:21) Michael Arrington’s new Robot…and why it costs more than the JuJu.
  • (104:19) Renewable Energy for Cell Phone Towers? Sign us up!

Featured Music

• Escaflowne, Music from the Original Series Soundtrack: “Cubic;” “Flying Dragon;’ & “Dance of Curse”

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris chat about the unsurprising demise of Microsoft’s Kin phones and the many internal details that have leaked out about it, as well as the iPhone 4 antenna issue.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or   download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (01:39) Microsoft kills the Kin
  • Engadget’s rundown on what happened, Ars Technica’s rundown
  • Mini-Microsoft’s compilation of insider info
• (31:58) Our thoughts on iPhone 4′s antenna issues
• The Rundown!
  • (48:52) Solar powered planes
  • (52:45) Lucasfilm upset about laser replicas
  • (55:23) Microsoft’s Instaload battery tech

Featured Music

• Them Crooked Vultures “Dead End Friends”; Ryuichi Sakamoto “Self Portrait”

In the first episode of Symbiotek’s second season, Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris discuss their impressions of the iPhone 4, Amazon’s state of affairs inspired by its Woot purchase, and how technology may be used in future World Cups.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or   download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (06:48) Our iPhone 4 impressions
  • We compare it to the Evo 4G, Samsung Galaxy, and iPad
• (44:14) On Amazon’s Woot purchase, and its expanding cloud
  • Including how Zappos, IMDB, and Audible fits into Amazon’s gameplan
• (1:10:08) On FIFA’s use of technology in the World Cup, and how that may change
• The Rundown
  • (1:23:00) Seagate launches 3TB external hard drive
  • (1:29:38) Blockbuster gets delisted from the NY Stock Exchange
  • (1:34:10) Hulu introduces Hulu Plus premium service
  • (1:39:45) Bloomberg says Verizon iPhone coming early next year
  • (1:45:28) Google buys travel data company ITA

Featured Music

• Bad Dudes and the One Ups – Chronotorious, Star Stealing Girl, Cave Girl – from Chronotorious and Time & Space

[Image: "Morning in the Amazon" via MarkG6 on Flickr]

The 4th iPhone, hitting shelves on 24 June, 2010. Can the Apple Empire hold onto their lead with this one?

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris go in depth about Apple’s WWDC, and spend some time focusing on the iPhone 4. The three get into it about iAd and whether or not Apple’s intentions here are competitive or not– especially with the new Reader feature on Safari 5. The rundown features the iPad security breach, Tested.com’s guide to ripping your data off of the Cloud, and China’s wage raising and how it might affect the US consumer. All right here, on the Symbiotek Podcast.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or   download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (01:52)Apple’s WWDC Overview
  1. (03:40) iPhone 4, design, features, and, new technology development history.
     • (22:00) Looking at the iPhone 4 hadrware and projecting it onto the iPad 2 (speculation station)
     • (27:00) iMovie on the iPhone. Apple shows advanced software that steps away from the keyboard and mouse paradigms.
     • (30:42) Apple & AT&T– the relationship under strain?
     • (39:08) A call to Congress to conform wireless network standards across 4G (LTE) and changes to the AT&T data plans
  2. (46:50) Apple’s iAd and competitiveness: A breakdown.
     • (50:35) Apple block’s AdMob
     • (51:55) What Ads are to the web
     • (52:41) The debate on whether or not iAd is anti competitive or not.
     • (59:55) The Safari 5 tie-in and the lack of B2B platform support.

• (1:11:27) The Rundown!
  • (1:11:30) iPad 3G/AT&T security breach
  • (1:18:30) China Raises Wages So Prices for their goods may Rise:
  • (1:24:46) Tested show us a really, really, useful How To: Utils for ripping your data off the cloud
    • Flickr, Google Docs, Word Press, and even Tumblr

Featured Music

• Music: M83 – Teen Angst, Run Into Flowers, Gone (Live)

We take a (six part) look at some of the follies of Microsoft and its enduring legacy (image thannks to Microsoft, Penguin Publishing and Chris Burnor)

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne, chat with Patrick Roanhouse since Chris had to save the world from a disgruntled Orc Sage who was a also master of dreams (no Joke, ask him- chris@symbiotekpodcast.com). The three adventurers read the tea leaves on Apple’s overtaking Microsoft in market value, as well as why Google seems to have dropped windows from the line-up of operating systems that their workers use. Could Microsoft be in decline? They certainly seem t be lacking in the innovation station… They also get into some of the new tablet/pad computing devices coming out of MSI as well as discussing the going’s on at last week’s Tech Crunch Disrupt conference. AT&T has data plan issues in the Rundown plus a lot more. If ep 42 was the answer to the universe, ep. 43 loves begging questions!

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or   download the episode. As always, you can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Patrick Roanhouse comes to us via the Plan8 podcast at www.Plan8ts.com. Check it out. Or just listen to this ep to gain some Proanhouse knowledge!

Discussion Highlights

• The Decline of Microsoft? (in 6 parts)
  1. (03:18) Microsoft has a lower Market Cap (numbers of shares multiplied by share price) than Apple.
  2. (06:40) The death of the Courier revisited- MS is lacking innovation! And great talent is leaving because of it.
  3. (09:50) Google rejects Microsoft Windows as an acceptable operating system for their employees.
  4. (19:37) The Kin phones and why they’re a symbol of a company out of touch.
  5. (27:01) Steve Jobs came back..but Bill Gates went away. Was that the beginning of the decline?
  6. (31:20) There is hope. It’s called the Xbox. X-Box live and X-Box’s Netflix implementation are nice.

• (42:00) Asus, MSI finally unveil their tablets!
• (50:33) TechCrunch Disrupt, why it was awesome, and why Yahoo!’s CEO told Arrington to f–k off. There’s also Solutu winning the start-up battlefield. Their tech is long overdue.
• (1:09:12) The Rundown!
  • (1:09:12) AT&T changes pricing. Why, and does it help consumers?
  • (1:18:55) We learned of a radical update to the Apple TV device. And we’re excited
  • (1:23:25) First HTML 5 video player @ www.videojs.com. Plays Web>M, H.264, and a whole lot more.
  • (1:25:23) Microsoft tests show that Internet Explorer 9 is totally HTML5 compatible
  • (1:27:43:) Steve Jobs says iPad will replace personal’s computer. Patrick goes into Apple’s patent portfolio to explain the integration between iPad and Personal Computer. (Yes, apple invented PCs…why they make fun of the term now, we may never know)
  • (1:30:55) The Dell Streak will cost $500 people. And it’s unlocked in the US. Patrick thinks it’s like Steak. A delicious mini tablet wonderful yummyt-bone. Dwayne disagrees. And don’t listen to Devindra – Dwayne wears Levis 527 boot cut jeans. And he’s insecure. (Who knows)

Featured Music

• Sleigh Bells – Tell ‘Em, Crown on the Ground, Rill Rill

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris discuss the Google’s recent developer conference, Google I/O – Android 2.2, Android Marketplace, the opening of Google Wave and Google TV! They spend some time on  the first artificially created cell  and then go on to talk about Tesla’s potential new partnership with auto-giant Toyota concerning the procurement of a Northern California factory for their upcoming Model S. In the Rundown they go over everything from the way MetaCafe saved some Russians from enslavement via human trafficking, to the first app store ever— the Star Wars Expanded Universe?

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or   download the episode. You can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (02:40) Google I/O– the Google Developer Conference: mindblowing item after mind blowing item
• (06:00) What made Google I/O feel different (the difference between Google & Apple?)
• (13:47) Deep into Google TV
• (32:09) YouTube “Lean Back”
• (33:39) Android 2.2: Froyo – Up to 5x Faster than Android 2.1
• (47:33) Chris calls out a disctintion: Apple’s a design Company while Google’s an engineering company.
• (49:47) Google Mobile Adsense
• (50:58) Digs at Apple by Google I/O speakers. But! Isn’t Apple is the reason why Android is so robust?
• (58:05) Google’s Android Marketplace (Music Store + Androd App Station)
• (58:38) Google Wave, Google Translate as an Android App and real-time subtitles.
• (1:05:01) The artificially created cell. Are Cylons next!?!
• (1:12:20) Moore’s Law for Biotech? Moore’s Law at all?
• (1:16:43) Have Tesla and Toyota Struck a deal? News on the upcoming Model S.
• The Rundown!
  • (1:25:11) Apple ready to sell 24 million 4th generation iPhone devices at launch
  • (1:28:45) Google allows for 3rd party gmail apps.
  • (1:31:21) WebM/VP8 already threatened by potential MPEG LA patent pool.
  • (1:39:00) MetaFilter uses the power of social networking to save some young Russian immigrants from human traffickers.
  • (1:42:21) The 4Chan effect revisited
  • (1:44:30) 30th Anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back. Geek out!!!

Featured Music

• My Morning Jacket – One Last Holiday, Mahgeetah, Steam Engine

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris discuss the Android operating system’s rise to the number two spot behind Blackberry,and where it’s headed, Google’s possible tablet collaboration with Verizon, and they spend some time on the recent lashback against Facebook. The guys also muse on how the independent music movement is making use of web 2.0 technologies.

Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS (for other media players), stream it with the player below, or   download the episode. You can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

• (02:57) The Rise of Android - Google takes the No. 2 spot in smartphone sales for Q1 2010.
• (16:39) Sprint announces release date for HTC Evo 4G – June 4, 2010.
• (23:03) More Facebook Backlash – Early De-Dopters (we told ya so) and the Uncanny Valley of FB Privacy.
• (35:16) And Facebook’s got multiple technical glitches to sort out.
• (40:20) Even social game giant Zynga may leave Facebook! But why?
• (50:00) The Music Revolution – is it here yet? How some bands are using Web 2.0 tech to make it without the recording industry.
• (58:12) Remembering the most excellent and righteous term: WebMaster
• The Rundown!
  • (1:00:56) Eco Eco Eco — China’s poop-powered meat factory (no joke!)
  • (1:06:15)Europe Finds Clean Energy in Trash.
  • (1:08:41) Obsolete phone boxes saved by rise of the electric vehicle (via Do the Green Thing)
  • (1:11:03) Microsoft announces October 2010 launch date for Natal.
  • (1:15:38) Blippy Users Streaming $1.5 Million in Purchases Per Week

Featured Music

• Shiro Sagisu – “Magmadiver”; ” Both Of You, Dance Like You Want To Win!” ; “Barefoot in the Park” – from the Neon Genesis Evangelion Soundtrack