Talking Tech - Friday, Sept. 22, 2006

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Comments for Mark and Kevin can now be left on the new comment line: 1 206-333-1327 or you can email [e-mail] or check out Mark's blog at http://evans.blogware.com/blog

.16 - Mark sets things up by declaring 2006 the year of the video and YouTube in particular. The recent deal with Warner, coupled with Microsoft's announcement of the beta "YouTube for middle aged people," Soapbox, leads into a copyright discussion.

1.29 - Kevin loves the unregulated nature of video sharing but wonders how long left it has in its current form.

2.38 - Mark speculates that investment may be a part of the Warner Brothers deal which suggests YouTube will have to go legit and therefore become less compelling.

3.39 - Kevin would pay for high quality clips, on an a la carte, one off basis.

4.25 - Mark draws comparisons between YouTube (video) and Napster (music) and says that big media companies are being forced to sign agreements before the genie gets out of the bottle. He wonders what the business model will be and predicts a formalized agreement with content producers.

5.50 - Kevin responds to Mark's assertion that this isn't the first time Microsoft has been late to a party (browser and search in particular). He thinks that Microsoft just doesn't have that cool factor with consumer products and, although it'll make money with Soapbox, will never catch YouTube; it would have been easier to buy the traffic and the content.

6.54 - Mark brings some perspective and reminds us of Microsoft's record in playing catch up in the browser market and the gaming industry.

7.30 - The guys segue way into a discussion on the Wii - a completely different gaming console that may change the industry in the way Xbox online changed it a few years ago. The new device has been priced at $250 and is looking at a fall release which could herald a renaissance for Nintendo.

9.18 - Mark is very impressed with the "triple crown" Blackberry Pearl, and with the form of RIM's CEOs in particular. A Freudian slip may suggest a new entrant to the mobile email market? The sure-type key board works really well but people may wait for the Qwerty version.

10.42 - Kevin reveals what he'll be looking for from the RIM analyst briefing he's going to. He's impressed with the market that's opened up for the company after the introduction of more consumer-type functions such as the camera.

12.13 - Mark rounds things off by predicting more positive changes for the show.

As always, the music is No Mojo by Anthony Stauffer and Holy Smoke which is available on the pod safe music network.