We seem to be on a roll here, because it’s episode 33, and we’ve got yet another guest. This time it’s columnist extraordinaire Matt Demers, who has, in fact, graced our fine podcast before on a few select episodes. His self-imposed exile is over now, however, so he joins myself and THE RAM this week for more crazy hi-jinks and shenanigans.

Things are looking pretty light this week, so here goes:

• Ars Technica is pleading you not block their ads. Apparently that – surprise – prevents online sites from earning money! Demers weighs in.
• The Oscars went down last night. We talk a few of our favourite films, and what should/shouldn’t have won – for a little while, at least. We’re still a tech podcast. For the most part.
• Is Google’s Android fragmenting its OS, and as a result, it’s market share? It’s more interesting than it sounds, I swear. At least listen for the shiny, Apple-related mention.
• In what is probably the most pressing question of this episode: how long did Frodo’s journey take in the Lord of the Rings? I wish I could entice you to listen and find out, but we didn’t know either. It’s actually three. Damn.

Listen here, or at the Not So Much News!

Length: 34:23
Close: The New Dork – Entrepreneur State of Mind
Download: 33.0 MB
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We’re a few days late, but we trust you’ll forgive us. The extra time was spent sorting a bag of M&M’s based on flavour. It’s the sort of thing required when trying to get a SUPERSTAR SCREENWRITER like DANNY VIOLA on the show.

Luckily, we won out in the end, and our good friend Danny is the second guest on our fine little series. As if we weren’t already HILARIOUS ENOUGH, Danny brings a little extra wit, and a lot more chest hair than you’re used to. In fact, some might believe a gorilla is guesting on the show. However, this is not the case — the zoo has stopped returning our calls.

What’s in this week’s latte of wisdom?

• Apple lays the smack down on HTC, serving the asian company with not one, not two, but TWENTY patent violations. Juicy details include infringement upon the iPhone’s slide-to-lock functionality and multitasking. Watch out, Android.
• Sony, in a gaffe of millennial proportions, sends Playstation phats to the year 1999. The problem first appeared on February 29th. Which is, in fact, the problem.
• Infinity Ward’s bigwigs are out job-hunting, and Activision’s floating Death Star is to blame.
• A new Halo: Reach multiplayer beta trailer has been released, and by jove, is it ever filled with GRADE A CERTIFIED AWESOME.
• Our on-air adventure with Chatroulette, Trust us, it’s as bad as it sounds. But also HILARIOUS.

And that’s that. Danny’s exemplary performance has saved him from the stake — this time. He’s still a witch, after all, and must be burned eventually.

Listen here, or at the Not So Much News!

Length: 29:28
Close: Prelude – Christophe Beck (The Lightning Thief OST)
Download: 28.3 MB
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Episode 31, and the apocalypse has yet to arrive. Quite frankly, I’m a little disappointed. Nevertheless, we must soldier on here at podcast HQ, and solider on we shall. Some strands of thinking from today’s off-the-cuff adventure include:

• Anand plays the Heavy Rain demo, and, unsurprisingly, we talk about it.
• I go to a swanky Microsoft Silverlight party and, unsurprisingly, talk about it.
• I run out of water mid-way through the podcast. This was not discussed.
• Microsoft and Yahoo are now some giant search conglomerate, which means Cylons are not far behind.
• The internet killed Gordon Lightfoot for a few hours last Thursday. Hoaxes can be dangerous, kids.
• Finally, it’s New Year’s Eve, and HTML5 is the innocent little baby preparing to beat Old Man Flash into submission — OR IS IT?

Listen here, or at the Not So Much News!

Length: 30:40
Close: Panoramic – Atticus Ross (Book of Eli OST)
Download: 29.4 MB
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I’ve been playing the Heavy Rain demo a lot lately. While I won’t ruin things for Anand’s sake, I will tell you that I’ve started to view real world objects in a new light. Punching my keyboard should magically produce coffee. Waving my mouse above my head like a wildman should, theoretically, allow me to produce swiss cheese from my pockets. The game is making me do strange, ungodly things to my Playstation’s controller, and now that habit is spreading to other devices.

Which is exactly what we’ll be talking about on today’s magical 30th show. It’s taken a lot of elbow grease and unicorn blood to get this far, but by jove, did we ever do it in style. So without further ado…

• Holy crap, did Microsoft ever unveil a winner today with Windows Phone 7 Series. Never mind the clunky name — this is exactly what needed to happen to the aging mobile platform
• X10 also happened, which is basically Microsoft’s Xbox PR bonanza. Goodies include Alan Wake and Fable news
• I play Heavy Rain on the PS3, while Anand laments the still-downloading demo on his own console
• Microsoft apparently decided they weren’t willing to ship the US Army a huge shipment of Xboxes — something about fearful parents having their children playing the same games as trained soldiers. Are you as confused as I am?
• Google Buzz. What the buzz is it, and why should we care?

And that’s that. It’s a pretty Microsoft heavy episode, but that’s just how these things work out sometimes. We haven’t quite sold out…yet.

Listen here, or at the Not So Much News!

Length: 36:31
Close: Wolf Suite Pt. 1 – Danny Elfman (Wolfman OST)
Download: 35.1 MB
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Me and Anand have descended from our treetop houses once again to bring you this week’s episode of the Not So Horrible podcast. The monkeys were particularly feisty this week, and the vines secreted some sort of strange goo all over my khakis. But luckily, the water taxi was on time, and we made it to the shortwave radio with only minor discomfort.

Note to self: bring back monkey repellent.

Having spent all our money on Khaki-specialty dry cleaning, we couldn’t afford paper this week. Thus, today’s episode is being brought to you with little to no planning whatsoever. This is probably for the better — the trees have taken root in our inkwells. Talking points include:

• The Super Bowl comes to town. We pretend we actually watch sports. Pigs everywhere worry for their skin for yet another year.
• We discuss Caprica, the new, hit teen drama! It’s like 90210 in space. But not quite. In fact, not at all. It’s a Battlestar Galactica spin off, you fools. With wallpaper I can’t stop looking at.
• I finished Mass Effect. In unrelated news, 2007 called — they want my computer back.
• Anand plays Oblivion all day and forgets to take out the trash again.
• Finally, we talk Project Tentacle Titan, Facebook’s rumoured webmail platform. With over 400 million users worldwide, this could be the platform that ensnares us all.

Listen here, or at the Not So Much News!

Length: 32:49
Close: M4 Part II – Faunts (Mass Effect OST)
Download: 31.5 MB
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