The Geekcast

News: Outlook.com moves out of preview mode with multimillion-dollar ads aimed at Gmail users Microsoft first introduced Outlook.com back in July as a preview service designed to replace Hotmail. Starting this week, the company plans to aggressiv...

  News: Comcast acquires full ownership of NBCUniversal ahead of schedule Comcast, the nation's largest cable provider, will consolidate its control over NBCUniversal by buying out the 49 percent of the media company that it doesn't already own. Comcast will pay General Electric $16.7 billion for the shares and shell out $1.4 billion for related real estate, including the iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Under a deal announced in 2009, General Electric spun NBC, Universal Studios, and various other media properties off into a new joint venture and sold 51 percent of the shares, and effective control, to Comcast. The merger was intensely controversial. Critics charged that the acquisition would further cement Comcast's already dominant position in the cable market, making it impossible for competitors such as Netflix to compete on a level playing field. But regulators decided not to challenge the merger, settling for a long list of regulatory concessions. By structuring the deal so that GE initially held 49 percent of NBCUniversal, Comcast limited its downside risk: if the merger went sour, as some some media mergers have, GE would have eaten some of the losses. The original deal gave Comcast an option to buy the rest of NBCUniversal in 2014, but evidently the merger has been going well and Comcast decided to buy GE out ahead of schedule. Even after the early acquisition, Comcast evidently had cash to spare. The firm also announced a larger shareholder dividend and a $2 billion share buyback plan. As we reported when the merger was approved, Comcast will now control its massive cable network, 234 NBC affiliate stations, the Telemundo Spanish-language network, the NBC television network, TV production studios, the Universal movie studio, the Universal theme parks in LA and Florida, channels like MSNBC and CNBC, and a stake in Hulu. Prior to the merger, Comcast already owned TV channels like E! and G4, the Philadelphia Flyers NHL franchise, and the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/02/comcast-acquires-full-ownership-of-nbcuniversal-ahead-of-schedule/     Factory Entertainment to release Back to the Future Shakems Factory Entertainment has acquired the Back to the Future license and they will be rolling out some cool BTTF products in 2013. Starting off with their Shakems line, which are similar to bobbleheads as in mini statues with spring action. The first four BTTF Shakems are as follows.   Doc Brown Shakems Marty McFly Hoverboard Shakems DeLorean Time Machine Shakems Manure Truck Accident Shakems   These are prototypes and are still in approval stages. Yes, there are no actor likeness on these products and due to the bobblehead type nature of these products, they appear to be more cartoonized versions of the characters. Still the sculpts looks good and costume details are captured quite nicely, but Marty's face needs to be more expressive. Also Doc's costume needs the orange markings and his shoes could use the brown color touch up. Overall it's refreshing to see a company releasing BTTF products beyond DeLorean models. I love the DeLorean Time Machine and I'm looking forward toHot Wheels releasing their Elite BTTF DeLorean Models in 1:43 and 1:18 scale later this year.   But I also want to see more characters from the BTTF universe being released in the figure and statue format. These Shakems from Factory Entertainment is a good start towards that. And I have to say, that Biff's car filled with manure display is just brilliant. This is what I want to see, a company doing the unconventional and really embracing their acquired licenses. It's great to see that memorable and hilarious moment from the film being captured in a sculpture format like that. More movie scene specific sculptures please.   Mattel acquired the BTTF action figure license along with actor likeness rights back in 2011 and then backed out from producing the figures.

News: Dell goes private in $24.4 billion deal, including $2 billion loan from Microsoft   Dell has officially closed a buyout of the company, taking the company off the publicly-traded stock market and into private hands. The deal is being financed by cash and equity from CEO Michael Dell, funds from investment firms Silver Lake and MSD Capital, a $2 billion loan from Microsoft, plus debt financing from a number of banks as well as Dell's cash on hand. Dell's shareholders will receive $13.65 for each share of common Dell stock they hold, up about 25 percent from Dell's closing share price of $10.88 back on January 11th, which Dell says is the last day prior to rumors of the buying starting to circulate. Those rumors have escalated in the last week, when Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal reported that discussions to bring Dell private were serious, and that a deal could be reached in the following six weeks.   Bloomberg also reports that board members met last night to vote on the move, while the Wall Street Journal cites top execs as saying company founder Michael Dell is a man "increasingly worried about his legacy." Michael Dell has reportedly lost enthusiasm for the day-to-day running of the company since reclaiming his position as CEO of the company in 2007. http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/5/3904452/dell-goes-private Note from us: At the Gartner Symposium and ITxpo97 here today, the CEO of competitor Dell Computer added his voice to the chorus when asked what could be done to fix the Mac maker. His solution was a drastic one. "What would I do? I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders," Michael Dell said before a crowd of several thousand IT executives. Google Glass will speak to you by vibrating the bones in your head Google Glass’ papers have arrived at the FCC, according to filings posted Thursday. The headset, likely the Explorer edition promised to developers at Google I/O last year, includes an 802.11 b/g 2.4 GHz WLAN, a low-energy Bluetooth 4.0 radio, and—if one sentence and a corresponding patent are to be believed—a “vibrating element” for transmitting sound to the user’s head via bone conduction. Google filed a patent for a headset that uses bone conduction audio, which was granted only a week ago. The audio would work similar to that of certain children’s toothbrushes: a vibration transducer vibrates the bones in the user’s head, which translate the vibration to the cochlea, the fluid-filled cavity inside the ear, which then reads the vibrations as sound. The technology is already used in many headphones, with the advantage that such sound can be clearer than it is from the tiny speakers that are in earbuds. In its FCC filing, Google makes only one mention of a “vibrating element” in the headsets, wherein a video stored within the headset plays and transmits audio via vibration. The video test was conducted as part of testing the Bluetooth Low Energy mode. Google has also indicated plans for user input to the headsets, including number pads projected onto surfaces and gesture interpretation from the headset’s camera. Google co-founder Sergey Brin stated shortly after the 2012 Google I/O that ideally the company would get the Glass headsets into developer hands “early” this year. Google has already held one developer conference this past week in San Francisco, and a second conference is currently in progress in New York. http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/02/google-glass-will-speak-to-you-by-vibrating-the-bones-in-your-head/   iPhone 5, iPad mini jailbreak now available All iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and iPad mini models running iOS 6 can now be jailbroken thanks to the evasi0n tool   It's taken around five months since the release of the iPhone 5, but the moment many of you have been waiting for has finally arrived: an untethered jailbreak for iOS 6.1 has been released. The tool, dubbed evasi0n, is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux,

News: THX Tune-Up iOS app will have your new HDTV looking better than ever Can an app make your TV look better? According to THX, the answer to that question is yes. Today the company is releasing THX Tune-Up, a calibration app for iOS it claims can help you get the best performance from your home theater setup. Tune-Up arrives just in time for the rush of HDTVs being sold ahead of this weekend's Super Bowl, and there's good reason for new TV owners to give the app a look. True, there are those people that will pull a $1,500 big-screen TV out of its box, plug it in, and live happily ever after with their new purchase. Considering the investment high-end HDTVs demand, though, it's worth doing some extra work to ensure you're getting the optimal viewing experience. That's where calibration comes in, but why is it necessary to begin with? … BRINGING CALIBRATION TO THE IPHONE THX Tune-Up marks the first time we've seen a smartphone assist users with setting up their home theater centerpiece. Even so, the execution here is largely similar to optical media solutions. Tune-Up displays various visual patterns on your TV with step-by-step audio and text instructions guiding you through each test. They're all extremely straightforward, and a photo sample paired with each test helps you better understand how each change impacts image quality. THX has also come up with a clever substitute for those plastic color filters; since the company can't exactly include physical accessories with a digital app, it uses the iPhone's camera to mirror their utility. As for the included sound system tests, they're a bit simpler but will help you verify that audio is being routed through the proper speaker. Just how do you go about connecting Tune-Up to your HDTV? There are a few methods, none of them free. The first is AirPlay mirroring over the $99 Apple TV, though THX cautions this isn't an ideal solution since you can't run audio tests thanks to current limitations with Apple's protocol. The company would instead prefer that you use Apple's official AV cables and tether directly over HDMI. And while the app is free (for a limited time), those cables aren't cheap — the Lighting AV cable is $50 — and may convince some to skip Tune-Up entirely in favor of cheaper solutions or free online resources like AVS Forum.   But those that do try out THX's method will be rewarded with modest improvements. In our tests, it worked as advertised. Speaking to The Verge, company reps made clear that Tune-Up isn't meant to be a substitute for having a professional visit your home for a thorough calibration. Instead, it's a tool that can (fairly quickly) help your new TV look better than it did the first time you turned it on. And as an added bonus, you'll be able to play the famous "deep note" that moviegoers hear before THX-certified movies in lossless audio. Available in the App Store now, THX Tune-Up is free for one week, after which it will run $1.99 in the US and abroad. An Android version is planned for spring 2013.   http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/29/3927728/thx-tune-up-calibration-app-iphone-home-theater   Apple announces 128GB iPad with Retina display, available February 5th starting at $799 Just as the rumors foretold, Apple has just anounced a 128GB version of its fourth-generation iPad with Retina display — the Wi-Fi model costs $799, while the Wi-Fi plus LTE model costs a whopping $929 — that's nearly as expensive as the base model MacBook Air. The new iPad model isn't available in the store yet, but Apple says it will be on sale as of February 5th. In Apple's press release, the company cites a few specific use cases for such a giant iPad. Specifically, AutoCAD files and multi-track music files — we've been seeing lots of evidence of the iPad's growing prominence in music-making, so it's not unreasonable to imagine those power users requiring more storage. Unfortunately for prospective iPad mini owners craving this capacity bump,

News: RIM CEO says company is open to licensing new OS, stock jumps 10 percent A week before BlackBerry 10's launch, exec says firm undergoing major "review." After Research in Motion's CEO told a German newspaper the company may be considering big changes, the company's stock shot up on the Toronto Stock Exchange, ending Monday more than 10 percent up, at CAN$17.41 ($17.41). In an interview with Die Welt (The World), Thorsten Heins, the German-born executive, suggested that the company could sell the company’s hardware division, or license its upcoming operating system, known as BlackBerry 10—as part of the company’s “comprehensive review.” "The main thing for now is to successfully introduce Blackberry 10. Then we'll see," he told the German paper (Google Translate). Given the company's struggles in recent years—against the iPhone and Android—it seems likely that licensing the OS would be one way of shoring up the company's finances. In a hands-on with the new OS at CES earlier this month, Ars editor Florence Ion found it to be very gestures-heavy, noting that “upon first use, we had a difficult time understanding which gestures to use and how to swipe between screens without bringing up something we weren't trying to.” That said, Canadian financial analysts seemed to be relatively bullish on the company and its pending launch of BlackBerry 10 on January 30. "There are several emerging datapoints that suggest this may be a more successful product cycle than many expected," Tom Astle of Byron Capital, wrote in an investor’s note, raising his price target from CAN$14 to CAN$18. http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/01/rim-ceo-says-company-is-open-to-licensing-new-os-stock-jumps-10-percent/   Atari files for bankruptcy protection in bid to save legendary brand The leadership of Atari Inc., what’s left of the gaming legend behind Pong and the Atari 2600, is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to free the company from French parent Atari SA, formerly Infogrames, reports the Los Angeles Times. An unnamed "knowledgeable person" says that the plan is to develop Atari, Inc. into a "modest" business based on "digital and mobile platforms," presumably along with licensed merchandise, which CEO Jim Wilson says brings in about 17 percent of the company's revenues. The report notes that Atari Inc.’s fortunes have been improving lately, thanks in part to the success of mobile titles like Atari Greatest Hits. And according to the Times, the company has several offers on the table for the $5.25 million it needs in debtor-in-possession financing in order to continue its operations. If its Chapter 11 efforts are successful and Atari finds a new buyer, it could possibly make a comeback, unobstructed by its considerable debt to London-based BlueBay Asset Management.   http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/21/3898962/atari-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-in-bid-to-save-legendary-brand   Mozilla devs working on Firefox for OUYA   Sure the OUYA may have captured the imagination of indie game developerseverywhere, but open-source fans will be glad to know it's sparked the interest of Mozilla's Firefox team as well. According to an OUYAForum post by administrator Ed Krassenstein, a Mozilla developer had sent him a note detailing the process of bringing the popular browser to the Kickstarter-funded gaming console. The team apparently managed to get it running after some preliminary patches, but it still has a ways to go -- WebGL, Canvas and relevant API support are still lacking. The dev in question has since been identified as mobile platform engineer Chris Lord, who tweeted the revealing picture above along with the note that it's "kinda unusable" for now. Still, they do have around three months before the console ships, which could be enough for them to perfect an OUYA version of the foxy browser just in time for launch day. http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/22/mozilla-firefox-for-ouya/  

News:   Facebook Unveils a Smarter Search Engine   Now we know what Facebook is building: a better internal search system. Speaking at a much-hyped event at Facebook HQ, founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a raft of improvements to "graph search" — that is, the ability to search within your social graph for specifics. The search improvements involve the ability to ask questions in regular English, such as "which of my friends live in New York?" The search is now intelligent enough to rank your friends based on how much interaction you've had — so that closer friends will appear higher up the results list. It can also search based on stories or photos you've Liked. One example Zuckerberg offered: the site can now display which of his friends have Liked the HBO show Game of Thrones. You can search for people who Like multiple products or services, which seems likely to be a bonanza for marketers. Photos can also be ranked by which have the most Likes, based on the people most important to you in your Friends list. And one of the most useful use cases appears to be searching for local businesses that have received a thumbs-up from friends (and their friends). Graph search starts today in beta, and will appear as a large blue search bar at the top of your Facebook page.   http://mashable.com/2013/01/15/facebook-graph-search/   Exclusive: CBS forced CNET staff to recast vote after Hopper won 'Best in Show' at CES The Dish Network's Hopper wasn't simply in the running: it had actually taken the top prize On Friday, news broke that CNET had been forced by its parent company CBS to remove the Dish Network's Hopper set-top box from its "Best of CES" awards due to ongoing litigation between the two companies. CBS has been battling the Dish Network in court over the Hopper's ability to skip past commercials automatically (NBC, ABC, and Fox are also taking action). CBS Interactive representatives told The Verge that the Hopper with Sling had been "withdrawn from consideration" from the "Best of CES" awards due to CBS's lawsuit with Dish; that the ban on coverage is limited only to specific products implicated in ongoing litigation with CNET's parent company; and that the ban only applied to product reviews and that news coverage would be exempt. That policy appears to have been hastily put in place. Prior to the move Friday, CNET had reviewed the Hopper and written extensively about the device. But the problems may go deeper than that. The Verge has now learned that the facts of the case are somewhat different than the story CNET and CBS had previously shared with the public. According to sources familiar with the matter, the Hopper was not simply an entrant in the Best of CES awards for the site: it was actually chosen as the winner of the "Best of Show" award (as voted by CNET's editorial staff). Apparently, executives at CBS learned that the Hopper would win "Best of Show" prior to the announcement. Before the winner was unveiled, CBS Interactive News senior-vice president and General Manager Mark Larkin informed CNET's staff that the Hopper could not take the top award. The Hopper would have to be removed from consideration, and the editorial team had to re-vote and pick a new winner from the remaining choices. Sources say that Larkin was distraught while delivering the news — at one point in tears — as he told the team that he had fought CBS executives who had made the decision.   http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/14/3874682/exclusive-cbs-forced-cnet-editors-to-recast-vote-after-hopper-win   Internet prodigy, activist Aaron Swartz commits suicide   Aaron Swartz, an Internet savant who at a young age shaped the online era by co-developing RSS and Reddit and later became a digital activist, has committed suicide. Swartz's body was found Friday evening in Brooklyn, said Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman with the New York medical examiner's office. The 26-year-old had hanged himself in his apartment.

News:   Walmart and Straight Talk Wireless Now Carrying iPhone 5 Walmart and Straight Talk Wireless are now carrying the iPhone 5, offering a $45 unlimited talk, text and data plan with no contract. It was previously reported by That's It Guys. Straight Talk is a subsidiary of TracFone, and its iPhone customers will use AT&T's network. There is no indication of whether the phones will support AT&T's LTE network or not. Like other prepaid plans such as Virgin Mobile, users must pay full price for their iPhones without having them subsidized by the carrier. Unlike Virgin Mobile, Walmart is offering holders of the Walmart credit card a no-interest fixed payment plan for $25/month. This allows customers to have a unlimited talk, text and data plan for a total of $70/month before taxes and fees.   Walmart and Straight Talk Wireless, America’s largest and top rated no-contract cell phone provider, today put the power back in the hands of customers with an industry game changing offer. Starting on January 11, 2013 in more than 2,000 Walmart stores and online at Walmart.com, customers now have access to the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4 on Straight Talk’s $45 no contract unlimited talk, text and data plan. To make this offer even more affordable, Walmart will be offering customers who purchase the phone in the store, a no interest fixed-monthly payments special financing offer for only $25 a month with a Walmart Credit Card.   The Straight Talk wireless no contract plan, exclusive to Walmart, saves consumers on average $950 a year when they switch from conventional contract plans with similar unlimited plans. To learn more about how Straight Talk Wireless saves consumers $950 a year, please visit:www.straighttalk.com. The iPhone 5 is available in black or white for $649 for the 16GB model only, and the iPhone 4 is available in black or white for $449 for the 8GB model.   http://www.macrumors.com/2013/01/08/walmart-and-straight-talk-wireless-now-carrying-iphone-5/   Prima Cinemas PRIMA Cinema is a California-based company that can make you a Hollywood insider. PRIMA members can enjoy newly released films at home as soon as they’re released in theaters. All they have to do is download (not stream) the movie for $500 (apiece) from the PRIMA unit, which connects via HDMI. The company promises that PRIMA will deliver much higher quality than Blu-ray disks as well as top-notch sound in lossless PCM or Dolby TrueHD. For security purposes, the unit even comes with a remote fingerprint reader, so that only the owner can play the movie. PRIMA also supports full HD and 3D films, with a particular focus on opening-weekend releases, and each device comes with 2TB of storage, which allows for 50 full-length films.   Todd Lokken, PRIMA's senior vice president of marketing, says that private screening parties are popular among members. “Many of our clients hold their own 'premiere' parties, just like in Hollywood -- but with a much smaller audience, obviously,” says Lokken. Red carpet not included. I should note that it’s not cheap. At a cost of $35,000 for PRIMA alone, the unit is for the early adopters and the elite. And to think I was upset about Netflix jacking its price up a few dollars two years ago. On the bright side, no athlete wants to get caught in public sobbing to "Les Miserables." While PRIMA officials say that athletes and team owners have already purchased the system, they’re keeping the names under wraps out of respect for client privacy. Still, I have the perfect spokesperson in mind for the system -- none other than former NFL receiver Terrell Owens, who already has his own built-in catchphrase: “PRIMA, get your popcorn ready!” Stay tuned daily as I spotlight more noteworthy gadgets from the CES show floor that sports fans and even pro franchises should watch.   http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/tech/post/_/id/3582/prima-cinema-tricks-out-home-theaters  

On today's show we review our tech predictions. 2012 Tech Predictions: Aaron: Google puts parts of Chrome into Android and then kills the Chrome OS. Netflix announces a landmark licensing deal with all content companies that ends all content problems with streaming and enters a renaissance for their service. Color eInk hits the market, leading to ePaper versions of Kindle, Nook & Sony reader. Gozer: PS Vita will sell moderately well. Wii U? WTF? Next Xbox announced ( just a glimpse ) at E3. Console and portable gaming cloud saves iPhone 5 (4g) next fall. 15 -20 new Android phones in 2012. Allen:  Netbooks begin exiting the market Gestures, voice & speech dictation/services will gain traction; people will be comfortable using it Streaming services will exponentially grow out of convenience and to defeat pirating 38.5 new Android phones in 2012 ************************ 2013 Tech Predictions: Aaron: This will be the year Blu-Ray dies.  It'll be come a niche product with everyone opting for streaming. Windows 8 will be a success after its stumble out the gate, though Win RT will be a bomb. Apple TV will not happen, but likely in 2014. Kickstarter will have a major project fail where people give tons of money, but nothing is delivered. People will get serious about password security. 2-factor authentication, passphrases, ect will become the norm. People will no longer accept that 'buying' digital media is only buying a license. A culture of ownership will return strong in 2013. Gozer: Streaming will become dominant, Blu Ray will not die. Next gen console, all in one device. DVR like features and partnerships with cable companies. Xbox 720 and Ps4 at E3. More day 1 downloadable games, decline of physical disc but not death. With the death of DLP tvs, led prices will continue to decline. 4K tvs will begin to emerge. 3-D will just be a bonus but not a selling point. ************************ Aaron: Top Product of 2012: iPad Mini. Who knew people would go nuts for this thing? I still don't get it, but the sales don't lie. Also shows that Apple can continue to execute post Steve Jobs. Top Company: Google. The big G made huge strides this year to push Chrome further into the mainstream, make Google even more dynamic, G+ integration everywhere, Android's quite solid. Let's not forget Google Glass! Biggest Stumble: Security & Privacy. Tons of data breaches, Facebook and Instagram ToS changes, SOPA, PIPA, ect. Big companies and government just don't get it yet that while we are living in a connected world, we still value our privacy and ability to control who sees what. Gozer: Top Product of 2012: Top 5 Games: 5) Skyrim 4) X Com 3) Borderlands 2 2) Halo 4 1) Black Ops 2 Top Company: Biggest Stumble: Apple maps Top Selling Game of the Year : **************

News:   Microsoft expands retail distribution for Surface RT tablets   Microsoft revealed today that it is expanding the retail availability for its Surface RT tablets. Surface RT will be made available at additional retailers from mid-December and Microsfot is also transitioning some holiday stores into permanent retail outlets.   http://www.theverge.com/2012/12/11/3756004/microsoft-surface-rt-retail-stores-expansion   Twitter takes on Instagram with filters   Twitter unveiled its much talked-about photo filters today, giving users of its iOS and Android apps a way to edit their pictures and share them directly from their smartphones. The move, which comes just days after Facebook-owned Instagram blocked its photos from being displayed properly inside the Twitter timeline, sets up a new rivalry between two social networks eager to capture as many of their users' photos as possible.   The new features are available in updated versions of the iOS and Android apps. The big changes, taken from Twitter's blog post on the subject: Filters. Apply one of eight filters, ranging from black & white to vintage, to add a new look and feel to your photos. Take a bird's-eye view. See how each filter would affect your photo in a single grid view, or swipe through looks to compare your options. Frame the action. Crop and pinch to zoom in order to focus attention. Auto-enhance. Make your photos pop with balanced light and colors by tapping the wand.   http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57558346-93/twitter-takes-on-instagram-with-new-photo-filters/   Yahoo Mail Gets Major Overhaul With Emphasis on Fewer Distractions   It's been a long time coming, but Yahoo Mail is finally get a much-needed redesign to its email platform.   Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer announced in a blog post on Tuesday that the company has rolled out major improvements to Yahoo Mail, with an emphasis on getting through messages faster than ever.   "You’ve told us loud and clear that you want fewer distractions when it comes to email," Mayer said. "You want to quickly login, communicate, and get on with your day. And we've listened. Starting today, the new Yahoo Mail is fast, easy and available anywhere you go. These improvements will be available on all major platforms: Web, Windows 8, iPhone/iPod touch and Android."   Mayer said most mail users will start to see the latest web version of Yahoo Mail in the next few days.   The news doesn't come as a complete surprise. Not only has Hotmail rolled out a new look this year, many suspected Mayer -- who spent years at Google -- sought to improve the Yahoo Mail experience since joining in July.   http://mashable.com/2012/12/11/yahoo-mail-redesign ************ Geek This Week: Aaron: Checked out the new MySpace. Uber to the rescue last night.   Gozer:   ************* The Geek’s Choice: ************** Featured Segment:  The Brydge Review Today we review the Brydge iPad keyboard. www.thebrydge.com ************** Feedback & Items of Note: ************** Sponsors: Check us out on Stitcher! Visit http://www.stitcher.com/geekcast and sign up. Not only can you catch the podcast through the app, but if you use the code ‘geekcast’ within the app and you’ll be entered to win $100!   Hover.com: Domain names made simple! Experience minimal cross-sell, ‘no wait’ phone support where your call is answered on the first ring, and a simple interface. See how easy and hassle-free registering your next domain can be. Just visit http://www.hover.com/geekcast and see for yourself.   Audible: Try Audible Now and Get 1 Free Audio Book Download with a 14 Day Trial. Choose from over 85,000 Titles. Continue your membership and receive 1 audio book credit a month for only $14.95 per month!  Just visit AudiblePodcast.com/TheGeekcast

News: Netflix signs unprecedented movie deal with Disney The deal will let Netflix subscribers stream films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Marvel and Disney nature. Starting in 2016, that is. You knew there was a catch. First the good news: Disney is giving Netflix access to some of its top movies at the same time it releases them to pay TV services. Now, the bad news: The deal doesn't kick in until 2016. The companies announced today that Netflix will become the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for first-run, live-action and animated feature films from the Walt Disney Studios. Sure, the delay is a drag. But this is still a groundbreaking deal for Netflix and the entertainment industry. In the past, Netflix has typically obtained content from the six major Hollywood studios through intermediaries such as pay TV services. Netflix once had access to movies from Disney through a licensing agreement with Starz, but that deal expired earlier this year. Since at least early 2011, Netflix has struggled to obtain movies from most of the largest Hollywood studios, and customers were irked. This agreement now promises to make Netflix's subscribers happier --  in 2016, at least -- while also putting it on the same footing with some of its competitors in cable, such as HBO, Verizon and Time Warner Cable. What we don't know is how much Netflix had to shell out for this, but it seems safe to say it was a lot of money. Some more good news for Netflix: Managers cut a separate multi-year deal with Disney to bring some older catalog titles to Netflix streaming immediately. Some of the titles include movie classics such as "Dumbo," "Pocahontas" and "Alice in Wonderland." The news had to trigger a collective gasp from Netflix shorts. In afternoon trading, the company's shares were up 15 percent to $87.60. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57557110-93/netflix-signs-unprecedented-movie-deal-with-disney/ Texting Turns 20: The History of SMS The first SMS was sent in 1992 by Neil Papworth. He sent the message “Merry Christmas” from his personal computer to his friend Richard Jarvis' Orbitel 901 handset over the Vodafone GSM network. The text message was first commercially deployed a year later, in 1993, and after a relatively slow start is now one of the most popular ways for people to communicate with one another. Text messages are used for companies to send news to subscribers, as a way to enter contests, and were even used as a way to campaign during this year’s political election. Check out this infographic created by Twilio for a look at how the text message got where it is today, then let us know about your first texting experience in the comments. http://mashable.com/2012/12/03/texting-turns-20/ ************ Geek This Week: Aaron: Finished season 5 of Doctor Who. It’s the December of stuff! Hover boards, new Smashing Pumpkins, music, The Brydge! Woot! Gozer:  Chrono Virus. Wanting Far Cry 3. Black Ops 2. Comic recommendations? Boardwalk Empire Season Finale. Toy Hunter TMNT collection ************* The Geek’s Choice:  Nintendo Sales History http://www.1up.com/news/charticle-compare-nintendo-console-launch ************** Featured Segment:  iTunes 11 http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/12/itunes-11-review-simple-is-as-simple-does/ ************** Feedback & Items of Note: ************** Sponsors: Check us out on Stitcher! Visit http://www.stitcher.com/geekcast and sign up. Not only can you catch the podcast through the app, but if you use the code ‘geekcast’ within the app and you’ll be entered to win $100! Hover.com: Domain names made simple! Experience minimal cross-sell, ‘no wait’ phone support where your call is answered on the first ring, and a simple interface. See how easy and hassle-free registering your next domain can be. Just visit http://www.hover.com/geekcast and see for yourself.

News: Chevy details 2014 Spark EV: under $25,000, 0-60 in 8 seconds and a 20-minute fast charge News of Siri integration isn't the only tool in Chevy's belt today, as it's also unveiling key details of the 2014 Spark EV. The all-electric subcompact won't reach dealers until the summer, but it may be worth waiting for given a surprising emphasis on speed. Its 130HP motor puts out 400lb-ft of torque, or enough to reach 60MPH in under 8 seconds -- quite a bit of pep for any stock compact car, let alone one with green credentials. Drivers who don't always mash the throttle will still get a dose of speed through industry-first support for SAE Combo DC Fast Charging, which delivers an 80 percent charge in 20 minutes. The cabin technology parallels developments in the powertrain through its two customizable, 7-inch screens and the expected smartphone tie-ins for MyLink and Siri. Combining the tarted up performance and interior tech makes the Spark EV's sub-$25,000 price (after EV tax breaks) seem like a better value than usual for lower-cost electric vehicles -- and with Chevy's expanded plans to sell in Oregon, Canada and elsewhere, more of us can actually take the plunge. http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/27/chevy-details-2014-spark-ev/ Wii Mini coming for $100, but only in Canada The new Wii U is still a big thing, but that hasn't stopped Nintendo from announcing the release of a revamped Wii Mini for the holiday season. It will be available December 7 for only $99.99, but there is no Internet connectivity, and it's exclusive to Canada. The Mini will play more than 1,400 disc-based Wii games, including Super Smash Bros Brawl, New Super Mario Bros and Wii Fit Plus, but it is not compatible with GameCube games. The black and red system is much smaller and designed to sit flat. It comes with a Wii Remote Plus and a standard nunchuck controller. Nintendo offered no word on whether the console will be available in the United States at a later time, so if you want it for the holidays, be prepared to make a run to the northern border to grab one. http://www.shacknews.com/article/76794/wii-mini-coming-for-100-but-only-in-canada Apple reportedly fires Maps manager after iOS 6 complaints The flawed debut of the iOS 6 Maps application didn't just leave some consumers frustrated — according to Bloomberg, it has resulted in one manager at Apple being fired outright. Richard Williamson is said to have been the individual that oversaw the Maps team — he's currently listed as a senior director of iOS Platform Services on LinkedIn — and was reportedly let go by Apple Senior VP Eddy Cue. The Maps teams had previously been overseen by Scott Forstall; when it was announced last month that Forstall was leaving Apple, both Maps and Siri become Cue's responsibility. According to Bloomberg, Cue plans to appoint new leadership to the team in order to quickly turn around what became an embarrassment for Cupertino. He is also said to be pushing Apple's mapping partners, including TomTom, to quickly rectify any errors in their own data that could be contributing to the service's issues. While Apple did release a formal apology saying that it would be addressing the problems, that hasn't prevented competitors like Google and Nokia from touting their own mapping alternatives in the meantime. Nokia launched its new Here app for iOS earlier this month, while Google has been announcing numerous improvements to its own service as well. While Google is widely expected to reveal its own native mapping solution for iOS, no availability date has been announced just yet. http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/27/3697978/apple-reportedly-fired-maps-engineer-after-ios-6-debut ************ Geek This Week: Aaron: Loving Letterpress. Now in season 5 of Doctor Who. Black Friday: black blah. Gozer:  Black Ops 2 multiplayer. Not Geeking out to Zombies or Declassified. Nerdist. *************

News: Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 now on sale through US Play Store Google has started accepting orders for the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 in the Play Store. Shoppers in the UK eager to pick up the stock Android phone can choose from 8GB or 16GB variants,...

News: Disney Buys Lucasfilm, 'Star Wars 7' Set For 2015 Release In one of the biggest movie studio purchases in history, Disney is paying $4.05 billion to buy Lucasfilm Ltd., the production company behind the blockbuster "Star Wars" franchise. The payment will be made with both cash and stock -- around 40 million shares. Lucasfilm's chairman, founder and owner George Lucas, has agreed to the deal; Disney also announced that it will be making a seventh "Star Wars" movie, set for release in 2015. Lucas will now be the creative consultant on the new "Star Wars" film. No word yet on cast, official title (other than "Episode 7"), or when in the "Star Wars" timeline the film will take place. There are, however, plans to follow up the seventh installment with "Episode 8" and "Episode 9" in the years to follow. Kathleen Kennedy, currently the co-chairman of Lucasfilm, will become president, and report to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn. Lucas said in a statement: "It's now time for me to pass `Star Wars' on to a new generation of filmmakers." The six existing "Star Wars" films have earned a total of $4.4 billion worldwide, slightly more than the purchase. "Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas," said Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, to ABC News. "This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including 'Star Wars,' one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney’s unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value.” http://news.moviefone.com/2012/10/30/disney-lucasfilm-star-wars-7_n_2045777.html Scott Forstall Reportedly Forced Out of Apple Apple announced a major change up in their executive management. Most notably, Apple Senior Vice President of iOS Software Scott Forstall will be leaving. Forstall moved over to an advisory role effective immediately, and will ultimately depart Apple in 2013. As Senior Vice President of iOS Software, Scott Forstall has been a prominent public figure at Apple. He was originally recruited to NeXT, Inc. after college and came to Apple with Steve Jobs after Apple's acquisition of NeXT in 1996. He has been on stage numerous times during Apple keynotes to demo the latest iOS features. Forstall was even profiled as Apple's CEO-in-Waiting back in January. That article, however, was a not always flattering look at the executive who reportedly had many clashes with others at Apple. http://www.macrumors.com/2012/10/29/scott-forstall-reportedly-forced-out-of-apple ************ Geek This Week: Aaron: Gozer:  Halloween! ************* The Geek’s Choice:  Argo & Wreck it Ralph Movie Review ************** Featured Segment:  Gozer’s Games Review XCom Review Halo 4 Assassin’s Creed Liberation for Vita ************** Feedback & Items of Note: Help victims of Hurricane Sandy: http://gum.co/ParadoxSandy Text: Red Cross to 90999 Donate to Island Harvest: www.islandharvest.com ************** Sponsors: Check us out on Stitcher! Visit http://www.stitcher.com/geekcast and sign up. Not only can you catch the podcast through the app, but if you use the code ‘geekcast’ within the app and you’ll be entered to win $100! Hover.com: Domain names made simple! Experience minimal cross-sell, ‘no wait’ phone support where your call is answered on the first ring, and a simple interface. See how easy and hassle-free registering your next domain can be. Just visit http://www.hover.com/geekcast and see for yourself. Audible: Try Audible Now and Get 1 Free Audio Book Download with a 14 Day Trial. Choose from over 85,000 Titles. Continue your membership and receive 1 audio book credit a month for only $14.95 per month!  Just visit

Enjoy today's episode where we cover NY Comic Con. We speak to Mattel, eat candy, and interview Batman.

News: Android 4.1.2 goes live, gives Nexus 7 owners landscape home screen We've been seeing a mysterious Android 4.1.2 update mentioned in conjunction with a few unreleased devices in the past few hours, so it's only fitting that we're seeing the official release today. Google's Android Open Source Project lead Jean-Baptiste Queru has posted word that the 4.1.2 release should be available on Tuesday for at least those relying on pure AOSP builds of the mobile OS. While we haven't seen the update reach our own devices yet, some Nexus 7 owners already report getting 4.1.2 on their tablets with a pleasant surprise in store: in addition to the expected bug fixes and performance boosts, the software lets the home screen rotate to landscape mode on the smaller Jelly Bean slate. We're keeping an eye out for when other hardware gets the patch, although it's expected that the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S and Xoom will follow quickly enough. http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/09/android-4-1-2-goes-live-gives-nexus-7-owners-landscape-home-screen/ 10 inch Nexus ???? The next Nexus tablet will be 10-inch Samsung-made slate, according to tipsters, not aiming at the Google Nexus 7's low end of the market. Rather, an analyst told Cnet, the so-called Nexus 10 will be a "high end device" with a 2560x1600 display with a 299 ppi pixel density – that's a higher resolution than the Retina display iPad. Although there was no word of any potential Nexus 10 pricing, it's likely to set you back a packet more than the cheap-and-cheerful Google Nexus 7. Tablet time Unfortunately analyst Richard Shim couldn't give any details on what will be running the supposed new slate; although to keep a souped-up display happy we'll be expecting some serious processing muscle and a decent battery too. The news of the potential Google-Samsung tablet collaboration comes as talk of an LG-made Nexus smartphone grows harder to ignore. Word of the Nexus 10 comes only from an analyst though, rather than an actual Samsung or Google insider; but with Android Jelly bean well and truly doing the rounds now, we'll be looking out for a new Nexus device to showcase Key Lime Pie on – and this Nexus 10 could just fit the bill. Stay tuned. http://www.techradar.com/us/news/mobile-computing/tablets/google-chasing-the-high-end-with-samsung-galaxy-nexus-10-tablet-1103094 Google Play developers can now offer free trials for in-app subscriptions Google app developers can now give users a trial of subscription content (like additional game levels or video access), before they buy it. Google added in-app subscriptions in late May, but now users have the chance to test out subscription services for seven days or more at the discretion of the app's developer — unlike Apple, who offers no trials of any kind in its apps. There is a catch, however: consumers have to enter their payment information in order to access the free trial, and will be automatically charged for the subscription should they not cancel before their trial is over. Also, the trial period ends immediately after cancellation, so no signing up and cancelling immediately for your peace of mind. The new service is another way for Google to help developers create better apps, and despite minor inconveniences, it's great news for consumers who get to test drive app subscriptions before they pay up. http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/9/3480360/google-play-free-trial-in-app-subscription Wal-Mart aims to one-up Amazon with same-day delivery The retail giant started testing the service in Northern Virginia, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis. Up next: San Francisco and San Jose. Wal-Mart is testing a same-day delivery service in a bid to outmaneuver Amazon in the increasingly cutthroat retail world. The Bentonville, Ark., retail giant began testing the service in Northern Virginina last and has expanded to Philadelphia and Minneapolis. It will next expand to San Francisco and San Jose.