Engadget Podcast 072 - 03.07.06

We've been a little while since our last podcast, but we're back, and just in time, too. After last week's Apple non-announcements, we got some blockbuster business news: RIM and NTP finally settled? AT&T buying BellSouth (and thus the controlling stake of Cingular) for 67 billion dollars? Microsoft learns how to launch a buzz campaign with Origami? And if that wasn't enough Engadget turned two years old last Thursday. It's been loads of fun, but we're only getting started. Also, be sure to phone, Gizmo, or email in your usual questions and comments -- and especially your tech support horror stories for our support nightmare podcast later this week. Thanks for the last couple of years, here's to a couple more!

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS] Add the Engadget Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically (MP3).
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).
[AAC] Download the show (enhanced AAC).
[OGG] Download the show (OGG).
[Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley!

Hosts
Peter Rojas and Ryan Block

Producer
Randall Bennett

Music
J J J - 'Suits' in Japan

Format
1:26:10, 39.7 MB, MP3

Program
01:48 - Engadget turns two!
06:16 - Steve Jobs Keynote
11:47 - Intel Mac Mini
12:14 - iPod Hi-Fi
15:28 - Microsoft's Oragami
27:26 - AT&T buys BellSouth, Ma Bell is back
35:11 - RIM & NTP settle for $612 million
40:59 - Former Gizmondo executive's wrecked Ferrari
47:34 - ROKR E3 exclusive
52:18 - Listener Voicemail
84:43 - SXSW, and the week ahead

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Contact the podcast: 1-888-ENGADGET, Engadget (Gizmo Project) or podcast at engadget dot com

[veniex @ Mar 7th 2006 3:52PM]

Great, cant wait to get this on my ipod.

[Dignan17 @ Mar 7th 2006 4:00PM]

I think there's a problem with your MP3 version. Either that, or it's REALLY short. My download was over in about 1 second, and I was left with a 400KB file.

[Josh @ Mar 7th 2006 4:08PM]

The iTunes one is 1:52 long

[Ryan Block @ Mar 7th 2006 4:26PM]

Should be working, please let us know if you're still experiencing problems!

Best, Ryan

[Earl @ Mar 7th 2006 5:31PM]

hm
itunes version = 41:49 minutes

gonna try again

[Karl Viklund @ Mar 7th 2006 5:32PM]

Thanks again guys!
You are doing a fantastic job with the site and the Podcast! Thanks to the whole engadget staff! :)

[ron gold @ Mar 7th 2006 5:33PM]

Listening to this podcast, I am left with the impression that you do not understand the significance of Apple updating Front Row with Bonjour compatibility packaged with the new Mac minis. Do you remember how he paused (for effect) after saying that you can even hook it up to a tv in a completely serious voice as he stared directly at one individual. Quite telling where they are now moving into, don't you think!?!

Now we understand how Apple plans to proceed with their media strategy. The 2 year wait for Apple to enter the living room has ended and the mini will play back HD content in its multiple resolutions. You have your choice of using DVI, HDMI, or VGA to display video and it even includes SPDIF in and out so you can enjoy 5.1 sound. Heck, they even include an overscan adjustment built into the display preferences.

This, to me, is not to be underestimated. In one foul swoop, they have trumped Microsoft's 2+ year effort in the living room.

The new Mac mini IS NOW a media center and you didn't get it one mention. You just trash talked the event which Apple purposely planned, small in size, and low key in a decidedly different nature for Apple.

[Peter Rojas @ Mar 7th 2006 5:45PM]

We understand it just fine, but Apple putting Front Row on the Mac mini was something we expected, not something that was a surprise. I know it's hard to believe, but the Mac mini is just getting stuff that a lot of Media Center PCs have had for a long time. Yes, this "reveals" Apple's strategy, but is this really anything we didn't already know about the direction they're headed?

[Karl Viklund @ Mar 7th 2006 5:55PM]

THink it's something wrong. Have tried to download the .ogg version 4-5 times now but it stops after 20 MB. Tried to download it with Getright in 4 segments and that worked :)

[Dignan17 @ Mar 7th 2006 6:03PM]

"Should be working, please let us know if you're still experiencing problems!"

No sir I am not! Wow! Not only was the new file a logical 40MB, but somehow I was downloading it at 1200Kbps! I've never downloaded anything on this computer faster than 400Kbps! Did you guys sprinkle some fairy dust on this one or something? Did you maybe store it on my company's servers? :)

[Derrick @ Mar 7th 2006 6:10PM]

While I agree that Apple wants there to be excitement about it's product announcements ... I think the blogosphere and stock analysts were responsible for setting expectations so high ... not Apple.

[Randall Bennett @ Mar 7th 2006 6:20PM]

Hey,

We've got all the problems ironed out. If you've got an incomplete file, try refreshing your RSS reader or re-download the podcast.

Thanks,

Randall

[Karl Viklund @ Mar 7th 2006 6:26PM]

Thanks Randall! :)

[Malte @ Mar 7th 2006 6:43PM]

roj.as is alright but how's this for a cool URL, steve.jobs ?

Come on Apple fanboys, it's only 450 bucks.

[ron gold @ Mar 7th 2006 6:54PM]

OK! I'm done. Now back to listening to your podcast. I think it's worth mentioning at this point that I do enjoy it.

Thank you

[Peter Rojas @ Mar 7th 2006 8:42PM]

Ron,

I don't think we're really disagreeing with each other here, but a few things:

1. There are plenty of Media Center PCs that are about the size of Mac mini -- and that can function as a DVR, something the Mac mini cannot do (at least not without an external third-party add-on).

2. I don't think anyone was too surprised that Apple improved the multimedia connectors and functionality on the Mac mini -- as you may recall, it seemed odd that some of those features weren't included in the Mac mini the first time around. Is the Mac mini a nice little box for your living room? Sure. But is it some gigantic leap forward? Not really, and it is just the latest step in a direction almost everyone agreed that Apple was moving in (for example, it would have been absolutely shocking if Apple DIDN'T put Front Row in the new Mac mini given that they put it in the MacBook Pro).

Thanks for the kind words, glad you're enjoying the podcast. It's a lot of fun to record each week!

[Karl Viklund @ Mar 7th 2006 9:15PM]

Rojas is right here. Apple just did what was expected.

[New Zealand Nick @ Mar 7th 2006 9:20PM]

Great podcast, listen to it every week. I had problems with a 'short' mp3 file, ill try again now.

You guys ever listen to the Ricky Gervais podcast?

It has really nice features like artwork that changes when the next segment is reached.

You guys are spose to be cutting edge? Its a pain when you are talking about the 'xsv-8740i'you have to check the site to see what you are talking about. You guys should do it.

ps i think i started the complaints about the 'hard house' soundtrack. Glad to hear its gone.

EZ

[Josh @ Mar 7th 2006 9:41PM]

I'll be around for SXSW Music, but not Interactive. It would have been good to catch you there. Oh well.

[Peter Rojas @ Mar 7th 2006 10:10PM]

New Zealand Nick--

Download the Enhanced AAC version of the podcast and you'll find what you're looking for -- we've been offering this enhanced version for a while now. We'll also have a feed for it soon, there are just some annoying issues on our end that we're trying to work out first.

[Wysz @ Mar 8th 2006 1:38AM]

In the podcast, you said that you wondered what car Steve Jobs drives. I remembered seeing his car on Flickr a while back, so I found it again for you. It looks like a Mercedes AMG, and Steve Jobs don't need no stinkin' license plate!

Steve's car in Apple parking lot: http://www.flickr.com/photos/46281582@N00/61490613/
On the road after an Apple Store opening: http://www.flickr.com/photos/osakasteve/7274131/
Read the comments about the lack of a license plate: http://www.digg.com/apple/Steve_Jobs:_No_License_Plates_

[Arthur @ Mar 8th 2006 3:02AM]

Ryan i feel with you, turning up so early for the apple announcement *tear* it was quite dissapointing what they released though.

[Anders "uFo" Miller @ Mar 8th 2006 4:35AM]

The swedish what ?
maffia?

i�m born in sweden, have lived in sweden for my whole life. and if there is some kind of swedish maffia here. GIVE ME THEIR NUMBER, I WANT IN!

[weXe @ Mar 8th 2006 4:36AM]

ha, Peter, you really showed that Ryan Block dude a thing or two there. Sometimes you just gotta remind him who's the co-founder, and that he so did NOT start in the second month of Engadget. The guy can write, sure, but sometimes he needs a soft slapping down to remind him not to get too cocky.

[Evan @ Mar 8th 2006 5:41AM]

Hey Peter and Ryan, are you going to be around for the whole SXSW? You should whip up an engadget reader meeting for the Austinites! Great podcast btw, glad to see they're back.

[Karl Viklund @ Mar 8th 2006 10:35AM]

Peter Rojas.
Is it possible to offer a .ogg-feed?

And, tbh. I think it's strange that Apple iPod doesn't support .ogg-files. Must be easy to implement. The MP3-era has ended, it's .ogg-from now on.

[Karl Viklund @ Mar 8th 2006 10:38AM]

#24 LoooooooooL :D

Noo, we love Ryan Block too :)

[Thataboy @ Mar 8th 2006 12:51PM]

The Apple announcement was not a "Steve keynote" -- I apologize if I am mistaken, but I don't recall the invitation even indicating Steve Jobs himself was going to be announcing anything. Moreover, it was certainly not a "keynote" -- it was just a tiny event for a few journalists to introduce some "fun" products. WHAT is so wrong about that?

The media is backlashing because the media feels like fools for creating hype where none existed. It is easier to blame Apple than blame themselves. Should Apple have countered all of the media's delusional rumor-mongering with a "hey guys, the products we are announcing are actually gonna suck, so don't get too excited."

Apple is not going to ever be a "quietly introduce press releases" kind of company, nor should they be. Maybe if Samsung or Creative were more creative in their product announcements, then people would actually know they have products out there.

[Richard @ Mar 8th 2006 1:51PM]

The Cook Islands registry is through this crowd, is this who you were using Ryan? http://www.oyster.net.ck/about/index.php?about=domain

[harry @ Mar 8th 2006 3:27PM]

It seems that all of the Engadget RIM vs. NTP coverage has been very one sided toward RIM. Other reporters have provided coverage about RIM arrogance allowing this to reach the courts in the first place, RIM courtroom shenanigans, RIM political pressure on the USPTO and others, and the large RIM PR campaign. I rarely hear other reporters place the "patent troll" tag on NTP. NTP origins and patents are based on real products from a "real engineer". NTPs transition to a large patent law firm and investors only came about when RIM attempted to bury the original two person NTP with legal fees. While my personal opinion is that RIM should not have "gotten off" for $600M+, I do feel there are certainly two sides to the story. With regret, your complete lack of mentioning the NTP side of the story raises credibility concerns with me.

I do hope NTP continues with the patent appeal process. I for one would certainly like to know how RIM got the USPTO to move so fast when so many others have tried and failed in the past. I also would like to see the process play out to see if the strongly worded rejections from the USPTO are merited.

[Nick Postagulous @ Mar 9th 2006 2:55PM]

Next time one of you is on the road, you might want to try the Keith and the Girl method. Chemda, the girl, often is on tour as she's a singer. She will take the laptop and a mic. Keith is still in the studio, calls her on the phone, and they start recording, talking both into the phone and into the mic, recording two seperate tracks, as it were. Chemda emails her track to Keith, who combines both tracks, compresses it, etc. You cannot tell they aren't in the same room unless they tell you. Low tech, high quality.

Just thought I'd share.

[Ron Gold @ Mar 9th 2006 3:17PM]

Heck, Steve Jobs even stuck with the idea of keeping computers (turning your mind on) seperate from TVs (turning your mind off) up until The Wall Street Journal�s last E! conference and he was quite verbal about it, so I'm not sure why people would think any differently.

Although as an explanation as to why he eventually changed his mind, one could look at the Delphi method which is an obvious methodology that Steve relies on. Basically, that of popular opinion. If the majority of people think Beethoven is the greatest composer on earth, then that is what Steve Jobs thinks too.

[Adrian @ Mar 16th 2006 7:38PM]

Could you guys PLEASE fix the fricken podcast so it works properly on PSP's. People have been asking for this for weeks and it's still broken.

[bbxboy @ Mar 17th 2006 9:39AM]

Hey guys, where's Podcast 073 ??? Some of us rely on some sort of schedule with these things (my daughter and I generally hang out in the car and listen in on Wednesdays while my wife takes our little guy to his toddler art class). Is this a new trend, this sporadic casting thing?

[Kracko @ Mar 17th 2006 4:04PM]

I too miss the 3/14 podcast. What happened? Is this podcasting or pod-semicasting pod-we'll do it whenever we darn well decide to do it-casting?

Just curious :)

[ipodman715 @ Mar 17th 2006 4:22PM]

Yeah, what happened to this week's podcast? lol the lost episode?

[Zack @ Mar 22nd 2006 2:07AM]

Where's this week's podcast? Please don't tell me I have to wait yet another week for my next dose.....

[jimmy B @ Mar 22nd 2006 3:11AM]

i need my fix man, do i have to send the swedish mafia out there to get the podcast done?

[Jordan @ Mar 22nd 2006 4:13PM]

Dude, 2 weeks skipped? This sucks! Where you at? Ryan lose his voice? Peter's voice peter out? :)

[DRock @ Mar 22nd 2006 6:59PM]

Yeah, WTF?

Don't get me wrong- we appreciate the fact that you guys come through with a quality podcast for us week after week etc..., but a little heads up on the 2 week hiatus would have been nice. Even a short "Hey guys, we are taking 2 weeks off, so chill" would have done the trick.

[jp @ Mar 23rd 2006 4:17AM]

I think they've been kept busy with the charades going on over at digg - the whole "OMG Engadget compiles its news from other sources!!!one!" thing

[Timothy @ Mar 23rd 2006 4:45PM]

Yeah I am really starting to miss it. A heads up would be nice just so we know what's going on at the engadget mansion.

[tom @ Mar 27th 2006 2:59PM]

Hey Im feeling neglected.. pining for my weekly dose of the sweet sweet Engadget love.

Come on.. bring it!

[DRock @ Mar 27th 2006 5:45PM]

Yeah, jp, they are probably still recovering from the stomping they got over the DAPreview thing.

[Gulli @ Mar 27th 2006 7:41PM]

No, Engadget was sold to Google and the guys are in italy trying out those new Enzo's they bought for the cash.
But seriously som post on the front page would be nice, so I dont have to check my feeder evry 10 min or so.

[mmcalli @ Mar 27th 2006 10:33PM]

Hey--I'm Jones'n for the next Podcast!

[Chris @ Mar 28th 2006 2:31AM]

What...the...hell?

[SLim @ Mar 28th 2006 9:13AM]

jeeze! where my tech fix dudes? hope you're ok.

[Randall @ Mar 28th 2006 11:03AM]

It's coming back today.

Promise.

Later,

Randall

[jamie @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:14PM]

Great Podcast. Trying to catch up I've downloaded the early ones first.
Can you do me a favour and increase the level of the podcast. I get it from Itunes and it always seem quite low in level