Geekly Update January 26

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

YouTube has gone into the movie rental business, competing with Netflix and iTunes. During the rollout phase, several selections from the Sundance Film Festival will be available. Will this save Youtube, or will the "everything must be free" crowd revolt and bolt?

LG has come up with the flexible e-paper, a 19" e-book designed to look and feel like a real newspaper page. If this trend continues, what will we use to wrap fish?

In a related story, the New York Times will begin to charge non-paying subscribers next year, using a "metered model" to keep track of how many articles are read online. Huh, the NYT is still in business? I stopped reading when their lack of journalistic ethics became a bigger story than their own headlines.

Facebook is cautioning its members to beware of scams that claim they are matching $1.00 donations to assist Haiti. They have put up a Global Disaster Relief page offering legitimate sources for donations. Wouldn't it have been better if they just friended Haiti?

In a definitely decent move, T-Mobile is waiving charges through January 31 for those who are trying to find loved ones in Haiti. Calls from there will also be free and the company plans to donate wireless equipment to help repair the communications infrastructure.

A Kaiser Family Foundation study found that kids between the ages of 8 to 18 have an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes daily of "media exposure", which includes TV, music, computer, and video games. Not surprisingly, the study also showed that kids who spend the most time consuming electrons are more likely to do worse in school, and get into trouble. Score one for mean parents.

T-Mobile has teamed with Fender and Eric Clapton to produce a limited edition myTouch 3G Fender. The Android phone comes loaded with some of the artist's best known tunes as well as an interesting user interface for creating ringtones from songs that are playing. The phone can be yours for $199.99 with a two year subscription. Nice, but where's the guitar simulator app?

Kodak has filed lawsuits against both Apple and RIM, claiming that they are infringing upon digital "image preview" technology.

A flaw that has been in Microsoft software since 1993 is still affecting Windows 7. Heise Security claims that the problem lies in the Virtual DOS Machine and provides a workaround as a solution.

Beginning next month, Amazon will be offering a beta Kindle Development Kit. The KDK will allow software developers to offer free, one time charge or subscription for content with 70% of the price going to the developer.