The Symbiotek Podcast

a podcast that shows where technology comfortably coexists with life.

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Symbiotek Podcast Ep. 20 “Google DNS, Comcast Buys NBC, the End of the Crunchpad”

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris discuss what Comcast buying NBC could mean, Google’s recently announced DNS service, the tragic end of the Crunchpad, and more!

Subscribe via iTunes of RSS (for other podcast clients), or download the episode. You can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

  • (05:55) Comcast wants to buy NBC
  • (23:28) Google DNS
  • (43:30) A variety of privacy issues involving Sprint, Verizon, and Yahoo
  • (1:09:25) Lamenting the end of the Crunchpad
  • (1:17:10) The Windows black screen of death, another tech blogging fail

Featured Music

  • OneUp Studios - Wings of Time, Star Stealing Girl, Field of Time. From Time & Space, a tribute to Yasunori Mitsuda
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Symbiotek Podcast Ep. 19 “Google Chrome OS, Apple’s Issues, Twitter Lists, Flash 10.1 Gets Sexy”

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris discuss the implications of Google’s Chrome OS announcement, rant about Twitter lists and their future ad plans, and update us on Apple’s situation with disgruntled developers. They also discuss the nifty new features in Flash 10.1.

Subscribe via iTunes of RSS (for other podcast clients), or download the episode. You can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

Featured Music

  • The One Ups - Punch Out, Green Hill Zone, Chrono Trigger
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permalink Why a lack of cross-platform support is bad for Silverlight and Microsoft

By Chris

It used to be that Microsoft could make a technology (like ActiveX) and impose it upon the internet.  It had overwhelming dominance both in the browser and operating system markets and the technology press pretty much accepted that fact.  The situation now has changed quite a bit.  Although Microsoft still dominates the operating system market and has a strong majority share in browsers, two important factors have changed.

First, although the majority of people still use Windows, a substantial percentage of geeks have moved to Mac or Linux, and the majority have moved to Firefox or Chrome.  These users are important to Microsoft because they have a strong influence on what the rest of the users will use.

The second, and more important problem for Microsoft, and probably the main reason that they need to strive for interoperability, is that their dominance in the desktop world does not mean as much any more. People access the internet from iPhones, Blackberries and Wii’s now.  In the near future, we can expect to see people accessing the internet from Chrome OS and Linux Netbooks, eReaders and low power tablet computers like the Crunchpad.  None of these systems will be running Windows, but most of them will support web technologies like JavaScript and Flash.  Web developers will realize that utilizing Silverlight will drastically limit access to their site and I expect this will hurt Silverlight adoption.

What is most dangerous to Microsoft about this is that it shows that they are still very much operating in the Desktop Computer model and failing to take note or adapt to the changing marketplace.
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Symbiotek Podcast Ep. 18 “Facebook iPhone App Dev Leaves, Wall Street Journal May Leave Google”

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris discuss the impact of the Facebook iPhone developer giving up on iPhone apps, Rupert Murdoch talks about taking the Wall Street Journal out of Google’s index, Google buys mobile application advertiser AdMob, and more!

Subscribe using the links to the right, or download the episode. You can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Featured Discussion

  • (03:17) Facebook App dev Joe Hewitt gives up on the iPhone
  • (20:00) We discuss the rumor of a Verizon and potentially world-compatible iPhone in 2010
  • (33:25) Rupert Murdoch wants to take the Wall Street Journal off of Google
  • (40:13) Google buys AdMob
  • (57:55) Intel pays AMD $1.25 Billion to end antitrust

Additional Notes

  • AppleInsider has updated info on our discussion regarding the potential Verizon iPhon. It looks to be Verizon only now, with a world phone following later.

Featured Music

  • The OneUps - Isle Delfino, Koopa Beach, Bossa De Link
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Ep. 17 “Motorola Droid Launches, AT&T Goes Sue Happy”

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris chat about the Motorola Droid launch, AT&T suing Verizon and Google, and tech bloggers making a huge deal over a piece of plastic that could be part of the next iPhone.

Subscribe using the links to the right, or download the episode. You can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

  • (02:45) Discussing the Droid launch
  • (20:07) AT&T goes sue happy with Verizon and Google
  • (41:50) Does a piece of plastic deseve to be news?

Featured Music

  • Yoko Kanno - Get9 (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex OST)
  • Yoko Kanno - Smile (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex OST)
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Symbiotek Podcast Ep. 16 “Google Maps Navigation, Looking Back on Android Year 1, Windows 7 Launches”

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris discuss Google’s just-announced Maps Navigation application for Android 2.0, and look back on Android’s first year. They also chat a bit about the Windows 7 launch.

Subscribe using the links to the right, or download the episode. You can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

Discussion Highlights

  • (02:30) On Google Maps Navigation and Android year one
  • (41:14) Discussing the Windows 7 launch

Featured Music

  • Philip Glass - The Grid, A Drive in the Country, Movement  1; Concerto Fantasy
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permalink Universal phone charger - Finally!

Sometimes its the little things that make a big difference in how we interact with technology.  The International Telecommunications Union has approved a standard, utilizing micro-USB for phone chargers that will hopefully be adopted to work with any phone in the future.

Imagine not having to worry about whether you brought ‘the right charger.’ Also, imagine the waste that will be reduced.  After all, though your new phone might have all the latest whiz, nothing has been updated in your charger.

Here’s to the (hopefully soon) day of universal phone chargers.
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Ep. 15 “New Apple Hardware, the Motorola Droid, and 10/Gui”

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris discuss Apple’s recent hardware announcements (and focus on the Magic Mouse), the Motorola Droid and Verizon’s attempts to market against Apple, and the new 10/Gui project, an attempt to redefine desktop interaction.

Subscribe using the links to the right, or download the episode. You can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

News Discussion

  • (02:50) The Magic Mouse and Apple’s new hardware
  • (29:22) The Motorola Droid and Verizon’s new anti-iPhone ads
  • (51:36) The 10/Gui project and how it redefines the desktop interface

Featured Music

  • Radiohead - Weird Fishes
  • Explosions in the Sky - Catastrophe and the Cure
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jaques Morelenbaum, Paula Morelenbaum - Bim Bom
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Symbiotek Podcast Ep. 14 “Microsoft’s Sidekick Fail, T-Mobile’s Project Dark, and Walmart’s Cellphone Plan”

In this episode, Devindra, Dwayne, and Chris chat about the massive Sidekick outage, cloud-based file storage solutions, T-Mobiles “Project Dark” plan to revamp their business, and Walmart’s deal with Tracfone to start their own cellphone service.

Subscribe using the links to the right, or download the episode. You can email us at symbiotekpodcast@gmail.com.

News Discussion

  • (02:06) The Great Sidekick Outage of 2009
  • (24:20) Cloud-based backup solutions: Ubuntu One, Dropbox, etc.
  • (36:00) T-Mobile’s “Project Dark/Black” business revamp
  • (51:04) Walmart joins up with Tracfone for unlimited no-contract cellphone plans

Featured Music

  • White Rabbits - Percussion Gun
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto - Self Portrait
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permalink nVidia Tegra wins contract for next-gen Nintendo DS

Following up on our nVidia Tegra discussion in the latest episode, it seems that Nintendo has fallen in love with the multipurpose CPU/graphics chip as well. I’m fairly certain this processor is the beginning of a new era in mobile computing.
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