GRΣΣK your Geek

Had an idea recently. How about we have a little show and tell with a twist. Wish we could make this a contest but we have nothing to offer. So this will be fore fun and recognition.

Between now and September 25 we would like to see anything you can come up with that is geeky but give it a Greek twist. For example you could take a picture of yourself dressed as Darth Vadar wearing a toga. Use your imagination and lets see what comes up. If you want to do a video then post it on Youtube and email us the link. We'll gather up or favorite submissions and talk about them on the show at the end of the month. If we come up with prizes we'll update you and let you know.

So send your submissions to ntechduo@gmail.com

Producer Mike

Show Notes, Episode 12: Zack's Rant

200,000 Android Phones activated everyday.
http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/04/android-activations/

Zach has officially ordered his Droid X on 08/08/10
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedPhoneId=5369&changingCompletedOrder=&capId=142&phoneTopRated=

The new Blackberry Torch has been announced and there is a hands on review from ars technica. Are they to late with consumer confidence, with a more consumer friendly multimedia phone.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/reviews/2010/08/blackberry-photos.ars

Blockbuster now adds Game rentals to its arsenal
http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/10/blockbuster-including-games-in-its-by-mail-rentals/

Net Flix has cut a deal with Lionsgate, MGM, and Paramount.
Epix is the movie library that includes films from MGM, Paramount and Lionsgate.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/10/netflix-epix-deal-is-official-paramount-mgm-and-lionsgate-mov/

Droid 2 is here, and has finally officially been announced

• 3g Mobile Hot-Spot, 5 device connectivity
• Flash Player 10.1
• Redesigned Keyboard
• Froyo 2.2
• Corporate E-mail Support
• R2-D2 Edition available online in September
• 5 Mega PX camera
• Swipe Keyboard
• 3.7 inch Display
• 8 GB on-board memory, 8 GB Micro SD card pre-installed  upgradable up to 32 GB.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/10/motorola-droid-2-and-r2-d2-edition-finally-official-android/

South Korean authorities raided Google’s South Korean headquarters today to see if the company has broken any local privacy laws after kicking off street view in that country.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-20013156-83.html

Google offers a way for Germans to opt out of Google street view.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hYMBZWNyfe2iANio6x28OBJKbJrQ

Google on whether or not selling user data is a problem.
http://gizmodo.com/5609061/leaked-google-vision-statement-shows-the-company-warming-up-to-selling-user-data

Madden 2011 is out today officially
http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/sports/maddennfl11/index.html

Mafia 2 coming by August 24th
http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/action/mafia2/index.html?tag=stitialclk;gamespace

Trying the Gazelle service this week will report on how well it works.
http://www.gazelle.com/

Square up credit card service ( investor Kevin Rose of Digg, Digg Nation Podcast  )
https://squareup.com/

Show Notes, Episode 11: We're on a Role

A first for us. We finally have some decent segways between stories. We where defiantly on a role today.

Topics Covered:

Fair use wins. Its legal to jailbreak your iPhone, rip a DVD for educational purposes and more.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/07/apple-loses-big-in-drm-ruling-jailbreaks-are-fair-use.ars

Black Hat Conference in Vegas starts this week. Black hat is a Conference for security experts and hackers to get together and try to break into each others systems and showcase new vulnerabilities and hacks that have been found. Its the corporate side of hacking while Def-con is the more unruly version for the hackers and crackers that hack for fun not business.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/201814/hackers_don_black_hats_in_vegas.html/

New iMac’s introduced today
New imac hardware

StarCraft 2 is released today (Tuesday). This sequel has been 12 years in the making. Starcraft is an RTS. First released in 1998. Was considered one of the best overall RTS of its time. It was soon overshadowed by Warcraft. Then Blizzard spent most of its game development on creating Warcraft 2 and 3 then it developed World Of Warcraft. Thus leaving any Starcraft Sequel behind. But now the day for Star Craft 2 has come to mixed reviews.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/hosted/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=226300023&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All

Droid X Sold out till August 4. Demand for the phone as far surpassed the expectations of both Motorola and Verizon.
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Motorola-Droid-X-Sold-Out-Through-Aug-4-138938/

Shortages push HTC to use a different screen technology for there phones.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/201883/shortages_prompt_htc_to_swap_display_technologies.html/

Google maps updated to 4.4 for android OS version 1.6 or higher
Google Maps

Nvidia loses suit with Rambus. Rambus hasn’t manufactured anything since there line of RD-RAM in 2000. Now they collect and file patents. Making there money in lawsuits protecting those patents and collecting royalties from them. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in Washington ruled yesterday that NVIDIA infringed on three patents owned by Rambus. Thus banning all import of Nvidia chips. Affecting companies like Asus, HP and others that use Nvidia chips in there systems. RAMBUS Also has a civil suit against Nvidia.
http://www.dailytech.com/Rambus+Strikes+Again+NVIDIA+Loses+Latest+Patent+Suit/article19162.htm

Chevy Volt priced at 41,000.00 / 33,500.00 after 7,500.00 Tax credit.
Chevy Volt

Facebook delete account option in BETA
Facebook account delete



 

White iPhone 4s Delayed

In a press release on Friday Apple stated that the White iPhone 4 will be delayed to the end of the year. Siting manufacturing problems with making the white case for the phone. It seems they are having trouble getting the white coating/paint to stick to the glass.

Also this past Friday the free iPhone 4 bumper/case program started. The online refunds for those who already purchased a case started as well. To get your free case you must first download an app to your phone which takes you through the proses of choosing which case you would like to receive.

Show Notes, Episode 10: Smart Phones at War

Mike talks about his recent vacation and visit to Assateague Island MD
http://www.assateagueisland.com/

Apple offers free case to users to Stem tide of faulty antenna complaints. Yet still denies any antenna problems saying all cell phones have this kind of a problem. Free bumpers for all who want one and refunds for those who have one already till Sep 30th.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66E52I20100716?type=domesticNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews

Apple’s rivals call out Steve Jobs on the claim that all phones have the same antenna issues as the iPhone 4.  
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-phone-wars-20100720,0,7490518.story

Verizon thought they had more then enough Droid X’s to go around. But Thursday’s release of the phone quickly saw online and retail sales being sold out.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/201276/droid_x_proves_a_hit_sold_out.html?tk=hp_new

Facebook pushing privacy boundaries
Facebook

New Ultra Violet service beta service coming this fall
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2010/07/dece-moving-forward-with-beta-tests-but-still-sans-apple.ars

last week Senate Committee decides to cancel NASAs moon mission efforts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/16/science/space/16nasa.html

This week Congress approves 19 billion for NASA to fund private industry development of rockets for use in space travel.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/policy/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225900096&subSection=News

Laser tracking space debris. Current system in use is the SPY-1 Radar.
http://news.discovery.com/space/laser-system-space-junk.html

Are you looking for a job. Do you think you could take charge of company worth an estimated $1.1 Billion? If so then you may be just the person Nokia needs to replace current CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo who has held the job since 2006. The move comes as Mr Kallasvou stuggles to find a foot hold for the company in the smart phone industry. Currently Nikia is the single larges producer of Cell Phones in the world making 108.5 million phones in the third quarter of last year.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703720504575377750449338786.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Mike talks about the new Anti-Aircraft Laser on the CWIS (Close-In Weapon System) platform. A 50 Kilowatt laser being used to take out Aircraft drowns and missiles. He also covers a bit about his time in the Navy and the current CWIS system that is in use.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10682693

Frustrated at Verizon Store!!!!

I recently went to Verizon store to check out the coveted Droid X Smartphone. What I found was that the customer service to be lacking, with absolutely no in-depth knowledge of what seems to be the next flagship Verizon phone. That is atleast for all of three to four months until the next non-I Phone / android phone comes out.  The Customer Service agent says there is no actual phones left in the store. Which would mean there is a backorder for which Verizon claims there wasn't going to be . Motorola claimed to have sufficiently stocked the Verizon stores and there should be no wait for this phone. I distinctly remember there was the same issue with EVO 4G on the Sprint network so Verizon knew there was going to be a great demand for this device.

I mention this because all backorder issues aside it looks like using the Verizon online store or the phone sales customer service representatives is the best way to go, if you plan to get this or any other phone from Verizon. Shipping is fast, either one or two day Fed Ex shipping. There is a instant rebate, instead of waiting for a rebate to show up in your mailbox. Verizon Wireless phone customer service seems to have a better working knowledge of your account, giving a phone upgrade to me on August 1st where as the store representative told me I would have to get another line added to my service just to get a new phone.

It may also be worth mentioning that there are still no HTC Incredible phones available even after arguably newer and better phones are coming out.

Host, Zach Chehi

Show Notes, Episode 009: Summer Vacation

Class action lawsuit against Apple and AT&T over “Apple's practice of "locking" iPhones so they can only be used on AT&T's network, and its absolute control over what applications iPhone owners can and cannot install on the gadgets.”
Apple VS. AT&T

Apple TV may include $0.99 TV episode streaming.
Apple TV

Borders new E-Reader meeting stiff competition from the recent drop in price of the Nook.
E-Reader

FireFox 4 beta 1 may be a new lease on life for the browser. Recently FireFox has had issues with add-ons and apps crashing the browser. So FireFox is taking hints from Chrome. Changing there look and isolating apps and add-ons from the browser. It also appears to be fast.
FireFox 4 Beta

Apple’s Steve Jobs claims that Google’s “don’t be evil” mantra is BS. Jobs believes Google is treading on his turf and trying to kill the iPhone. While google has sponsored a phone they don’t actually produce one. They are focused on developing the Android OS. Apples competition is actually coming from the makers who use the Android OS in there phones.
Don't Be Evil

Lucas Films threatens suit over high power laser that loos like a lightsaber.
Lucas Films

New Google app developer program
Google App