Author: techvi
Added: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:33:31 -0800
Duration: 0

It's inevitable... at some point a company loses its "cool" factor, and while we're not ready to declare Facebook as "uncool" just yet, it's definitely prepping the waterskis for a potential shark jump. A report says Facebookers have either stopped going to school, or have at least stopped pegging their high schools and universities into their profiles. Can the company with the 25-year-old CEO keep its cool? We ask two of our "coolest" tech journos friends, Matt Burns from CrunchGear and Brian Heater. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:33:31 -0800
Duration: 0

Much has been made of Google's supposed "entry" into the desktop operating system market next year as a direct warning shot to Microsoft. Some people are speculating today that the timing of the Chrome OS vaporware announcement coincides with a Microsoft announcement on Monday, which will bring an online version of Microsoft Office. The dramatic angle is that the companies are gearing up for what could be a slugfest, both in the operating system world as well as the search space, where Microsoft's Bing search engine has surpassed some web2.0 companies in terms of traffic. Are the two companies really about to do battle? We ask Seth Porges from Popular Mechanics, and Tom Merritt from CNET. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:52:35 -0800
Duration: 0

Sure, Palm just announced the device this morning, but the new phone looks pretty sexy. We talk to Iyaz Akhtar from Gadgetell about the new phone, where it sits in the landscape of phones, and if it changes the game or keeps the status quo. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:52:35 -0800
Duration: 0

Steve Jobs made his first public appearance since undergoing a liver transplant earlier in the year, and the company unveiled a few software updates, including iTunes 9, but on the hardware side of things the company added a camera to the iPod nano. The biggest surprise? Apple didn't end up unveiling any sort of real hardware updates to the iPod touch, though it did add a 64GB model. We talk to Stuart Miles from Pocket-Lint about the event, and he echoes our sentiment that the event was rather bland. The iPod camera seems rather odd, since it can't take stills, though the company tells Pocket-Lint users can extract stills from the software after it's been downloaded. What's your take on the news? Are you excited about the new nano, or are you more excited about other upcoming players like the Zune HD? Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:50:37 -0800
Duration: 0

Its a browser Tuesday, with Opera, one of the classic web browsers thats been around since the late 90s, releasing its 10th version, and Google partnering with Sony to get its new browser on the block, Chrome, on every Vaio machine shipped from Japan. What do we expect from browsers now that theyre maturing, what are the most important things that browser makers need to get right for users, and which browser should you be using? We ask GDGT co-founder Peter Rojas and LAPTOP Magazines Dana Wollman. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:38:14 -0800
Duration: 0

Now that we've all had the weekend to tinker around with Snow Leopard, we bring in Jason Snell from MacWorld and Kevin Tofel from JKOnTheRun to talk about our first weekend impressions of the new OS. For me, anyway, I noticed a huge hard disk gain... roughly 20GB. Jason and Kevin explain that some of it has to do with the way math is calculated, and explain some of the ins-and-outs. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:33:31 -0800
Duration: 0

We've heard lots of people chime in with reviews of Snow Leopard, and for the most part reviewers are encouraging the $29 upgrade... but why? What's the motivator? We talk to Michael Gartenberg from Interpret and Rory Reid from CNET UK about the new OS. Michael tends to think the upgrade is worth it. He's been using the OS for a few weeks, and says it's noticeably faster and a "no-brainer upgrade," not to mention the business shenanigans that Apple pulled against Microsoft's upcoming Windows 7, beating it to market by nearly two months. Rory, on the other hand, isn't so convinced. Sure, it might be faster, but is it really worth spending the cash? He's not so sure...

Author: techvi
Added: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:57:26 -0800
Duration: 0

Yesterday we talked about the basics of the new Sony Reader line, including the $399 behemoth that has a lot of buzz. Today, we talk with Clayton Morris from Fox News, and Ross Rubin from The NPD Group about the lesser known kids, the $199 and $299 Pocket and Touch editions. So far, I'm most impressed with Sony's embrace of open standard ebook formats like ePub, which seems like Sony's new direction. What's your take? Do you want one of these devices, or are they still too pricey? Sound off in the comments Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:52:34 -0800
Duration: 0

Sony unveiled a couple new e-book readers today, and in a startlingly un-Sony-esque fashion, the readers are actually build on an open standard, are semi-affordable and seem like they could be a hit. Could the new trio of e-books threaten Amazons position as top dog? We ask Jason Perlow of ZDNet, and Iyaz Akhtar from Gadgetell. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:33:43 -0800
Duration: 0

We've seen some great choices for cell phones this year... on virtually all carriers. And whether you're into the Palm Pre, the iPhone 3GS, or any flavor BlackBerry, the era of smartphones that actually do what users want is finally upon us... but in our case "us" is a relatively small minority. 72% of phones sold are still dumb featurephones, according to NPD, and while that's not a huge shocker... what's preventing everyone from getting a truly smart phone? We ask Harry McCracken from Technologizer, and Jeremy Kaplan from PC Mag. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:35:13 -0800
Duration: 0

Coming into this show, I was sure Id hear phone aficianado Chris Ziegler from EngadgetMobile and HowStuffWorks.com guru Jonathan Strickland expound to me about how the iPhone will do everything, and how stand-alone GPS devices were the next gadget to fall to the iPhones mighty app-store induced dominance. But, much like sports, we do the shows for a reason. Turns out, phone aficinados arent necessarily sold on the idea of smartphone-integrated GPS-centric wonderment. For one, the new turn-by-turn Tom Tom application, which is the impetus of this whole conversation, costs $99 extremely close to the price of many bargain basement GPS units. And secondly, car drivers value the ability to be able to talk on the phone and use a GPS device at the same time without being interrupted. Two extremely right-on-the-money ideas, among the many that we talk about on the show, which you can watch right now. Are you in love with the all-in-one device, or would you rather have two distinct ...

Author: techvi
Added: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 01:52:43 -0800
Duration: 0

PC Mag's Lance Ulanoff and Engadget's Joshua Topolsky take sides on the Zune HD. Does have a shot at living up to the hype? Should people be excited about it? What's the big story with the device? Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:36:29 -0800
Duration: 0

Lots of iTunes rumors floating today... among them, purported screenshots of iTunes 9 showing social features like Twitter and Facebook integrated into the software. Is this how Apple is going to try to stay ahead of the pack, by adding social networking features? Or, are there other things they could focus on to truly keep them ahead of the pack? We ask Todd Haselton from LAPTOP and Jason Wilk from TinyComb their takes. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Sun, 02 Aug 2009 15:33:04 -0800
Duration: 0

The prepaid wireless market is hot so hot that Sprint decided it wasnt enough to just lease its wireless network to Virgin Mobile, it went ahead and bought the entire company. Prepaid offers some advantages over contract plans, most notably in the fact that you dont have a contract. Youre free to come and go as you please and can better budget your spending. While prepaid phones have come a long way in form and function, theyre generally not the slickest handsets out there. Still, you can find some gems in this episode of The 5, were taking a look at five mobile phones that dont look prepaid. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:33:44 -0800
Duration: 0

We've been watching all day as bloggers start to pontificate about what exactly Yahoo and Microsoft's pairing means for each of the companies, shareholders and the technology industry, but what does it mean for you, the end user? We bring in one of our good buddies from ReadWriteWeb to talk about the agreement, and how Microsoft and Yahoo are still going to have a difficult time taking on Google. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:52:49 -0800
Duration: 0

Google Voice, the service that aims to "Googlify" the traditional telephone, has a problem: It can't get accepted on the largest modern smartphone platform in existence today... the iPhone. Why? Apple says the software duplicates too much of the iPhone's core features, most notably SMS and calling. It's Apple's party, so they can realistically do whatever they want, but is the Cupertino-based company getting to the point of a mobile monopoly? We ask Jeremy Kaplan of PC Mag and James Papadopoulos of TechSpank, and they don't hold back. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:52:42 -0800
Duration: 0

Typically we stay a bit more neutral when it comes to gadgets, and we love to give companies the benefit of the doubt before products hit store shelves, but after two years of waiting for a GPS-Phone hybrid from Garmin, who makes great stand-alone GPS units, weve come to realize the company might want to stick to what its good at. In the time weve been waiting for the Nuvifone to materialize on shelves, in Taiwan today, mind you, weve seen countless phones that deliver on the promise of GPS as well as media playback, independent applications, and so many more features that make the Nuvfone seem pretty, well, pointless. If you cant tell, were pretty much writing this device off right now. We bring in VP of Interpret, Michael Gartenberg, and Engadgets Ross Miller to sort out the mess. Why would a device come out like this? In what scenario would we actually recommend it as a useful device? Whos the target? Why should Garmin even bother? Just watch the show, well try to ...

Author: techvi
Added: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 10:32:56 -0800
Duration: 0

There was a day when a video camera was a bulky black box requiring a resting place on your shoulder or a tripod for steady shots even then, the best you could hope for was a grainy VHS or Hi8 memory sure to fade along with the tape quality. Today, you can have digital HD quality in the palm of your hand with no tapes to worry about and files that play well with editing software and video sharing sites. TechVis newest contributor, Rich DeMuro, shows us 5 Pocket-Sized HD Camcorders. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:59:30 -0800
Duration: 0

We heard today that Windows 7 was released to manufacturers, meaning the software is essentially finalized and ready to be sold. The next step? Computer makers start installing and testing the software, and manufacturers create the retail box copies. With that in mind, what does Microsoft need to keep in mind to prevent another Vista disaster? We talk to Doug Aamoth from CrunchGear and new TechVi contributor Rich DeMuro about what it's going to take. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:50:38 -0800
Duration: 0

With Apple's intro of the iPhone App Store last year, mobile apps have simply exploded. The new category has given developers another place from which to make money, but is the hyped-up mobile app market hyped-out? We talk to Engadget's Paul Miller and LAPTOPMAG's Mark Spoonauer. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:33:07 -0800
Duration: 0

Comcast has signed on CBS and 17 other cable networks to participate in a limited study of 5,000 households who get to watch OnDemand content online. Obviously, this requires the participants to have Comcast's cable service in addition to internet service, so it throws up some unique hurdles to online adoption. Is this a good idea, or is this taking online video in the wrong direction? We talk with two members of Engadget HD, Richard Lawler and Ben Drawbaugh and get their take on the situation. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:50:20 -0800
Duration: 0

Happy first birthday, Apple iPhone app store! In the last year, eager iPhone and iPod touch owners have installed nearly 1.5 billion applications on their little devices, and we've had a fair amount of drama around the store's odd rejection policies. That being said, it was definitely a revolution in the mobile space. We talk to Iyaz Akhtar from Gadgetell and Stuart Miles from Pocket-Lint about the iPhone app store's first year in biz, and where the App Store's heading for the future. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:54:26 -0800
Duration: 0

Google's CEO, Eric Schmidt, told reporters at a press conference he was reluctant to start developing software applications for consumers, and had resisted the eager Google founders' wishes for six years before Chrome saw the light of day. Did he have it right then? Should Google be focusing more on developing software, or defending its core business (search) from its competitors? We ask Ross Rubin from The NPD Group and Kevin Tofel from JKOnTheRun.com. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:49:52 -0800
Duration: 0

Taking a quick look at July 9th's headlines Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:33:31 -0800
Duration: 0

T-Mobile gathered together a bunch of journalists to look at its latest device, the MyTouch3G. We stopped by to take a look at the device, and see what people think of it. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:33:31 -0800
Duration: 0

Google says they'll be releasing a new operating system next year called Chrome OS which is a simplistic method for getting online. This announcement came by surprise to almost everybody, so we grabbed Stephen Shankland of CNET News, who covers Google on a regular basis, to talk about the announcement, and what it really means. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:34:35 -0800
Duration: 0

We heard that McDonalds will be installing a vehicle charging station in North Carolina, but is this really a big first step, or publicity stunt? We talked to Ryan Levasque, cohost of the electric vehicle podcast EVCast. While he'd be excited if this was the first of a new breed of electric charging station, he still thinks we're at the chicken and egg stage of not having enough electric vehicles to create an effective infrastructure, and not having enough infrastructure to create vehicles. He also points out this isn't the first go 'round for electric vehicles, but unlike the 90s when car companies were mandated to create electric vehicles, it seems that with the success of the Prius, that the marketplace is actually ready to accept electric cars, and thereby get more infrastructure in place to support it. The McStunt is fun, but we're still looking toward the future. Are you looking forward to electric cars? What's the hold up, in your mind? Sound off in the comments. Distribut...

Author: techvi
Added: Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:52:40 -0800
Duration: 0

It's funny that 10 years after Microsoft was busy monopolizing the browser space, we've seen a flurry of competition that makes even the most anti-competitive practices seem easy to overcome. Take, for instance, the recent report claiming Microsoft's IE share dropped 11% in March. Whether the data proves to be accurate or not, the more important takeaway is that people are leaving Internet Explorer in droves, whatever the percentage. Today, we talk to Clayton Morris from Fox News and HarryMcCracken from Technologizer about the browser wars, and where they're headed. Clayton contends quickness is king. The faster the performance, the more he's going to use it, and recommend it to others. On the Mac side, Clayton typically rocks Safari, due in part to its speed and the fact that it's pre-installed. On the Windows side, where Safari is also available, Clayton tends to use Google Chrome. He thinks it's much faster, and has the potential to take over the world, if they ever get out a .....

Author: techvi
Added: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:34:07 -0800
Duration: 0

As we've covered over the last couple days, Obama's man-in-charge, CIO Vivek Kundra unveiled a new IT dashboard which aims to give regular people access to spending data, in an effort to make the government more transparent. Will it work, and how significant is it? We talk to PCMag's Kyle Monson and BuyMeGetMe's Gary Krakow about the topic. Gary has high hopes but is extremely skeptical. As a former NBC news-er, he's seen his share of government misinformation and he thinks that people will try their best to fudge the numbers. Kyle thinks the data is there, and that it's pretty in-depth, but he thinks its missing the next step of how to act on the data. Regular people won't know what to do with the data, but the fact that the project went from concept to action in 90 days speaks well for the future of the project. What's your take, is it going to change the government or is it in vain because the government can't truly change? Sound off in the comments, and be sure to check out .....

Author: techvi
Added: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:34:07 -0800
Duration: 0

President Obama's CIO-in-chief stepped up to the podium at the Personal Democracy Forum and unveiled a new "dashboard" which lets users track where the government spends money, and the person responsible for each project. Users can start at a broad level, like each individual agency, and drill down to look at each individual CIO responsible for each pet project. The hope is, by providing more information to more eyes, governmental waste can be reduced. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:34:07 -0800
Duration: 0

We stopped by the Personal Democracy Forum, which aims to bring the best of tech with democracy to better mobilize citizens. We talked with the founder for a few minutes, and took temperature of the crowd. Seems like everyone is particularly excited this year, with many more initiatives being created to allow more open access to government data. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:34:07 -0800
Duration: 0

President Obama's CIO-in-chief stepped up to the podium at the Personal Democracy Forum and unveiled a new "dashboard" which lets users track where the government spends money, and the person responsible for each project. Users can start at a broad level, like each individual agency, and drill down to look at each individual CIO responsible for each pet project. The hope is, by providing more information to more eyes, governmental waste can be reduced. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:49:37 -0800
Duration: 0

We find it kind of odd, to say the least, that The Pirate Bay, the most notorious and belligerent BitTorrent tracker and site on the planet, was sold to a Swedish video game company for around $7 million dollars. Call us skeptical, but looking in the past with sites like Napster, piracy-to-legit transformations don't often work out the way the founders' hope, but you never know. We talk to Doug Aamoth from CrunchGear and JG Mason from Gadgetell.com about the situation. They're as perplexed as we were. Doug maintains the game maker is buying The Pirate Bay to simply gain a marketing foothold with the piracy-friendly 18-34 gaming set. JG thinks it might just be one big shell game, wherein the founders sell off the current company just to prep another on the side. Whatever the case may be, the situation is odd, and it seems like the average pirate's go-to destination is going to be extinct soon enough. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:52:55 -0800
Duration: 0

Geeks might know the under-powered under-sized notebooks offer more tradeoffs at a lower price, but according to an NPD survey, 42% of people are dissatisfied with their netbook purchase. Does that indicate people won't be back for another round at netbooks, and could the last few years of growth in the tiny computer market just be a figment of imagination? We talk to Nate Laxon of CNET UK and Mike Rose of TUAW. Nate doesn't think the netbooks are all they're cracked up to be, and would much prefer a properly priced computer that offers adequate performance, but that being said he doesn't think they're going anywhere anytime soon. He sees the future of netbooks as pretty bright, especially considering how they're being bundled with cellular data plans overseas. Mike thinks as people learn more about what the devices do, buyers will know better what to expect from the machines, and as performance increases, some of the tradeoffs will go away. What's your take, do you like ...

Author: techvi
Added: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:33:04 -0800
Duration: 0

So what's the real reason behind Steve Jobs' medical leave? If a Wall Street Journal report is accurate, it's because the Apple CEO underwent a liver transplant in Memphis a few months back. That's not the end of the story, though, the weird revelations were oddly revealed Friday night at midnight, a perfect time for Apple. Should we believe anything Apple has to say? Should people look at Cupertino with an even more skeptical eye? We ask Executive Editor of PC Mag, Jeremy Kaplan, and JKOnTheRun.com's Kevin Tofel. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:33:04 -0800
Duration: 0

Yes, we all know Google rules the roost when it comes to traditional link-pointing search engines, but typically when users are making a decision, they turn to Google, who points them to someone else. Now, Hunch, a new startup with many startup veterans, aims to actually provide useful decisions based on a series of questions. The company is fairly unique, and we're impressed with the depth of the site, despite only being about a week old. The decisions range from the fun, (which haircut should I get?) the useful, (which digital camera should I buy?) to the downright whacky. (What world am I from?) All-in-all, it's up to the user community to figure out if this thing is actually going to prove useful, entertaining, and successful, but so far, so good. We talk to the company's chief scientist, Hugo Liu, about what makes the site tick, and how the Hunches are generated. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:32:55 -0800
Duration: 0

The S really does stand for speed in the iPhone 3G S, as the folks from Anandtech have tested that the iPhone 3G S is currently the fastest web browsing phone of the current generation of "blockbuster" smartphones, including the T-Mobile G1, iPhone 3G and, perhaps most notably, the Palm Pre. We talk to Anand from Anandtech about the test results, and get his extremely informed opinion as to why the latest iPhone can beat all comers. His take? On top of the fact that the iPhone 3G S actually has a faster processor than the G1 or 3G, the iPhone OS has been developed for a few more years than any of the other OSes, which leads to significant speed improvements and optimization. Anand thinks that materially, the Palm Pre and 3G S are extremely similar devices, and that the Palm Pre still has lots of room for speed improvements in the browsing experience, especially if Palm doubles down on optimizing code. Keep in mind, these aren't necessarily the 100% conclusive results, and much ...

Author: techvi
Added: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 03:57:27 -0800
Duration: 0

We round out our day of coverage on the iPhone 3GS with two more journos' take on the device. First, Christina Warren from TUAW.com tells us that the reduced crowds might have actually played in Apple's favor, since they haven't seen as many emails and comments about activation issues. Marco Chiappetta from HotHardware headed down to his local store, and saw much of the same subdued environment echoed across the country. Christina is poised to pick up the phone once her upgrade pricing kicks in, but Marco still can't live without that physical keyboard. What's your take? Are you going to take the plunge? Head to our new YouTube YourVoice page, and let us know what you think of the device, or leave a comment here. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:49:51 -0800
Duration: 0

Many would-be iPhone 3GS owners are speculating about the new device, but what does Engadget think of the next StevePhone? We talk to Engadget Editor-In-Chief Joshua Topolsky about the new device, and get his take on the next iteration of the iPhone. Hes lucky enough to have had the phone for a bit, and gave the device a thorough run-through. His takeaways? Its a nice update that adds many natural items, but rather than the revolution of the original iPhone, and the subsequent madness of the iPhone 3G, this next iteration is just that an iteration. When hard pressed, he thinks hes still in the market for a device thats somewhere between Android and a Palm Pre, but says that the vast majority of non-nerds (and nerds, for that matter) will still dig the iPhone 3GS, if for nothing else but the improved video recording. The biggest downsides to the device? Joshua thinks that they have little to do with the actual device itself, and more to do with AT&Ts lack of braincells ...

Author: techvi
Added: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:55:48 -0800
Duration: 0

Right out of the gate, Apple's update process for eager iPhoners wasn't exactly smooth sailing. While some people, like Iyaz Akhtar, one of our guests on today's show, didn't have a problem updating their precious phones, others actually had the phone deactivated, making it unable to place calls. We hear the troubles all stem from activation servers getting hammered, but tell that to someone whose phone isn't working and its little consolation. Should big companies like Apple and Nokia be more prepared than they have been, or should early adopters wait a few minutes extra before adopting? [More...

Author: techvi
Added: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:32:54 -0800
Duration: 0

It's been a rather eventful June thus far, with Apple unveiling the iPhone 3GS, Palm releasing the Pre, and today RIM announced the BlackBerry Tour. Each phone has its own ups and downs, but which phone is going to end up in your pocket? We ask John Biggs of CrunchGear, and Jason Hiner of TechRepublic their takes on the latest crop of smartphones. John's phone of choice looks to be the iPhone 3GS, while Jason is eying the Pre. Both of our panelists think the real news this summer is that those cheaper, free with contract feature phones look to be going the way of the dodo, especially with a $99 iPhone on tap. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Author: techvi
Added: Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:32:55 -0800
Duration: 0

Ahh, the Zune. Microsoft's been trying extremely hard to break into a market that Apple has on all-but-complete lockdown, but with the announcement of the Zune HD, Microsoft might have a shot at cracking the stranglehold of Apple's preminent media player that is, if they can get nearly everything right. What's it going to take for people to buy the device? We talk to Chris Ziegler from Engadget, and Todd Haselton from LAPTOP Mag about the bloodbath. Chris thinks Microsoft's biggest omission is iTunes synching support. Add in the ability for people to seamlessly move from iPod to Zune with their current libraries, and the proposition makes a bit more sense. Todd thinks a potential key to the hearts of consumers might be the upcoming Xbox support. He thinks most people look at the current crop of PMPs as multifunction devices, and being a solid portable media player won't be enough. What's your take? Do you think the Zune HD has a shot, or is Microsoft going to fail with another ...

Author: techvi
Added: Fri, 29 May 2009 07:52:41 -0800
Duration: 0

While the iPhone, and its app store have been seen as a blockbuster, Google's Android operating system still hasn't achieved the rockstar status if there is such a thing in the mobile realm. Google hopes that'll change, by announcing its expecting 18 Android handsets to be available worldwide by the end of the year. Is this a big deal, and should you be earmarking one of these devices for your next purchase? We talk to Brian Brushwood, host of Revision 3's Scam School, and Seth Porges of Popular Mechanics. Brian thinks the new devices will be a big deal for competition, so regardless of their success or failure, a competitive marketplace is the best way to push everyone forward. Seth gives a good bit of background on the announcement, mentioning that since practically anyone can add Android to a device without too many restrictions, these 18 devices could be 15 more no-name Chinese phones, with two that actually make it to American shores. Translation? Don't hold your breath for ...

Author: techvi
Added: Thu, 28 May 2009 20:33:21 -0800
Duration: 0

First there was MySpace, then there was Facebook, and even though the company was born right around the same time as the other two, Multiply hasn't caught fire the way the other two dominant social networks have. While tech industry knee-jerk reactioneers might think of the company as "yet another social network," the company isn't exactly sitting around waiting while the users magically come out of nowhere. Today, the company rolled out its latest iteration, which focuses on more of the multimedia and privacy features that have come to define Multiply. Rather than a catch-all party-promotion music-mashups hotspot, Multiply CEO Peter Pezaris says Multiply has always been focused more toward the digital mom who's looking for a way to share and organize photos, in addition to other regular social network mainstays like wall posts, blogging, and other expected activities. Should TechVi viewers use the network? We don't expect the social network to replace Facebook, MySpace or ...

Author: techvi
Added: Mon, 25 May 2009 11:49:39 -0800
Duration: 0

We've been hearing rumors for at least two years now about a potential Apple tablet computer, but to date, they've all been little more than hot air. The latest report from an analyst pegs the release of a new tablet for 2010, but does Apple really need to push this device out to compete with the netbook trend? We talk to Erica Ogg, correspondent for CNET News, as well as Jonathan Strickland of HowStuffWorks about the rumors. Erica maintains it isn't a do-or-die situation for Apple, though if they do it, Erica expects they'll do it properly, as they've done in the past with cell phones and MP3 players. Jonathan wouldn't mind if Apple released it as a sort-of Kindle-esque competitor, with its own app store and the like. What do you think? Are you excited for a multi-touch tablet, or would you rather take the plunge on a regular notebook or netbook? What's your dream tablet device that you'd love to see Apple implement?

Author: techvi
Added: Sat, 23 May 2009 08:33:22 -0800
Duration: 0

Another day, another bundle of Apple rumors such is life in May. This time, we're hearing the iPhone might get an incremental storage bump to 32GB, plus an expanded processor, which would make applications easier to develop. Will it happen, and are these going to change the mobile landscape? We talk to Kevin Tofel of JKOnTheRun and Iyaz Ahktar of Gadgetell. Kevin maintains it's not that different from things we've seen before, and that the storage bumps are sort of "no duh" level rumors. Iyaz thinks if the rumors are true, there could be next-iPhone exclusive apps that wouldn't work on older models like the 3G and original. When pressed whether this rumored iPhone is in either of their futures, both disagreed. Kevin's looking most forward to the Pre, and its Web OS based life, and Iyaz, though not planning to upgrade in the near term, doesn't think an OLED screen and extra storage will be enough to satisfy him. What about you? Are you eying any of the next generation of ...

Author: techvi
Added: Fri, 22 May 2009 11:33:01 -0800
Duration: 0

Google has been atop the internet search world for nearly a decade, and once again it seems a new crop of competitors is lining up to take shots at the company's dominance. In one corner, while not a direct Google competitor, Wolfram Alpha is stepping up to the plate to try to give consumers answers on tabular data, and in another, it seems that Microsoft will be unveiling a new search engine competitor. So where is Google's weak spot? Where should these competitors be hitting? We ask Kyle Monson from PC Mag, as well as James Papadopolous exactly where they think Google could improve. Kyle thinks Wolfram Alpha is an interesting concept, but he thinks consumers want a one-stop shop where they can type in a search query in the way they expect, and get the best answer possible. Wolfram Alpha might, instead, be something Google starts integrating in its own results, instead of taking marketshare from the search leader. James, thinks Microsoft's best shot at dethroning Google is to go b...

Author: techvi
Added: Wed, 20 May 2009 08:33:19 -0800
Duration: 0

Consumer electronics retailing giant Best Buy recently acquired the brand name to Napster, the first mainstream P2P music sharing client. Now, Napster's service is getting a makeover from a DRM-laden $13/month service to a $5/month service, which includes five MP3 tracks, and unlimited on-demand streaming of seven million tracks from Napster's catalog. Is this rebirth enough for people to sit up and take note? We talk to John Falcone from CNET, and Rob Enderle from the Enderle Group, a consumer electronics research and consulting group. John thinks the service is nice, but when you compare it to the likes of Last.FM and Pandora, it might be $5 too expensive for the average consumer. Rob's not too optomistic either, as he's not sure consumers are going to want to be limited by their on-the-go access. I'm still reserving judgement for the whole thing. It doesn't seem too far fetched to spend $5 a month on music, so if Napster can provide an excellent music discovery experience and cou...

Author: techvi
Added: Sun, 17 May 2009 08:33:19 -0800
Duration: 0

We heard earlier today the PS2 continues to outsell the PS3, and the gap continues to widen. What's the hold up for consumers, and what does it mean for Sony? We talk to CNET TV's Molly Wood, as well as Gear Diary's Chris Spera about the situation. Molly sums it up nicely: If Sony wants the PS3 to stick around as a platform like the PS2 has done, they need to listen to customers instead of dictating to them. That means, for one, the system needs to see a price drop, and fast. Chris agrees, stating as a "non gamer" he picked up the Wii, but he doesn't actually see any benefit to owning a PS3. He doesn't care about Blu-ray, he doesn't see the "Wii sports" equivalent, he just sees the dollar signs. Sony's always been a company to decide what's best for its customers, much to its detriment, but maybe CEO Howard Stringer's admission of lack of forsight means the company will be more responsive in the future...

Author: techvi
Added: Sun, 17 May 2009 06:52:45 -0800
Duration: 0

Waves of reality are rippling throughout the Internet. Whenever the monolithic Google is unavailable for a period of time, users feel like they're returned to a late 90's dark age where the rainbow logoed search giant hasn't yet achieved complete dominance...

Author: techvi
Added: Thu, 14 May 2009 11:52:33 -0800
Duration: 0

Microsoft, not content with nitpicking Apple's "pricey" notebooks, now has taken to making fun of the iPod, but is it too little too late? We talk to Ross Rubin of the NPD Group and Alfredo Padilla of Reviewed.com about the newest foray. Ross points out the ads have a few oddities, namely Microsoft claims it'll cost $30,000 to fill up the iPod, but how many people do you know that strive to fill up their player? Also, Alfredo mentions the problems inherent in any subscription system: DRM. So while, yes, it might cost $30,000 to fill up an iPod, it's impossible to use your existing iPod with Microsoft's ecosystem, even if it is only $15 per month. In other Microsoft news, some people are whispering that the Redmond-based giant might be looking to get some fire sale specials on tech companies whose stock prices have sagged, so what are our panel's picks for companies worth checking twice? Ross points to an interesting company called Vuezone whose goal is to create affordably priced s...

Author: techvi
Added: Wed, 13 May 2009 07:52:31 -0800
Duration: 0

The New York Times has launched a new application for reading the paper's content in a standalone application. While the hype train behind the death of newspapers has been going in full force since the start of the economic downturn late last year, this new initiative has been going for a few years though the refreshed interface makes it a much more attractive offering. Will people be into using it, and should you give it a shot? We ask Brad Linder, writer for Download Squad and Liliputing, as well as Frederic Lardinois of ReadWriteWeb about the new program. Both feel like it's a beautiful program that's worth trying out, but since beyond national headlines, which are free, the $4 pricetag (per week, mind you) is extremely prohibitive for most users, relegating this to a niche service at best. Neither Brad nor Frederic, given their internet-enriched natures, will be plopping down the cash or using it on a daily basis, but it's worth trying out. Also in the news, next Monday marks t...

Author: techvi
Added: Fri, 08 May 2009 14:34:21 -0800
Duration: 0

One of the few growth areas of PC sales over the past few years have been netbooks. The low cost, low powered tiny machines have been a real boon for manufacturers like Asus and MSI, but now inexpensive machines look like they're hitting a whole new level, with a machine announced from Gecko that runs on AA batteries and costs $200. Is there a limit for how cheap we'll see these machines go? Todd Haselton from LAPTOP and Seth Porges from Popular Mechanics join us to talk about the bargain basement of computers. Todd thinks we'll keep going down the slippery slope, and that the only bottom we'll see is when computers are on sale at 7-11. Seth concurs, but more to the point he's skeptical as to whether we'll ever see one of these machines hit the market. On the other side, we talk cheap media centers and Asus' Eee Box. The machine is simple, a couple hundred bucks for an underpowered machine with an HDMI connection for hooking up to an HDTV, but hardware publication the Register say...

Author: techvi
Added: Thu, 07 May 2009 23:32:54 -0800
Duration: 0

With a few minutes, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos unveiled the newest Kindle, named the Kindle DX a larger screen version of the Kindle 2 that adds some features like PDF reading and an accelerometer to dynamically switch orentations. We linked to the specs earlier, so it's time for the meat: Our impressions of the device. On the panel today is freelance writer and columnist Gary Krakow, and Jason Hiner, Editor-in-chief of TechRepublic. We're all feeling a bit of apprehension toward the device, with Gary pointing out the $490 is going to be a tough pill to swollow for most people. Jason points out the device has a companion application for the iPhone platform, which leads to the logical conclusion: Why haven't they made software for desktops? I'm pretty much dead set against the Kindle DX, though I might opt for the Kindle 2. It's pretty ballsy to market a $490 device for reading books, when I could get a 10.1" netbook for around the same price that can surf the web on a color screen, and ...

Author: techvi
Added: Thu, 07 May 2009 07:49:36 -0800
Duration: 0

Our good buddies from CNET's The 404 stop by to wax philisophically about Amazon's new biggie Kindle. Specifically, the crew sees it as a bad fit for regular commuters (along with themselves) but Justin posits that students could see a real appeal, though there are still some operational issues to work out. We also talk Windows 7's RC release, with the trio seeing the new free release as something to almost ignore. Jeff hopes for a return to the "glory days" of Windows 2000 and XP, while Wilson cant find a way to get excited about explaining the difference between Windows 7 and Vista. [sidenote, you'll notice some technical issues. We were trying something new, so we had some slight problems. Thanks for being understanding!]