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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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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Two men, one mic. Me and Anand are either the world’s worst standup comedians, or once again hosting the Not So Horrible podcast together, in person. If you chose the latter, good for you. If you chose the former, you are a special sort of person to willingly withstand that sort of torture.

Undoubtedly burnt-out from the magic of CES, there’s been few happenings in the tech world this week. But exciting stuff, nonetheless. Google’s made the decision to pull out of China, Rockstar games is facing some employment accusations, and Ubisoft is bringing yet another Assassin’s Creed to stores this year. We talk all this and more, so come along for one of the best shows yet of twenty-ten!

Listen here, or at the Not So Much News.

Length: 33:13
Close: Shampoo Suicide – Broken Social Scene
Download: 31.9 MB
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Holy mother of Troy, it’s 2010 people! We’ve made it through another decade alive, and the ice caps are still here too. I consider that a bonus. And of course, The Not so Horrible podcast is still here as well, and we’re back for another year of talk and tech. Me and Anand are back on our game, and have some exciting things to talk about this week, INCLUDING…

• Google’s JesusPhone, the Nexus One, is set to be formally announced tomorrow. Exciting!
• CES, the Consumer Electronics Show, starts tomorrow in Las Vegas, and there’s a swath of new tech being announced.
• Groovle, a Guelph-based company, goes against Google in a battle of names, and wins.
• AT&T thinks we should all start VoIPing, and the sooner, the better.
• Microsoft’s senior staff is mostly composed of those in their 40s-50s — which some say is a bad thing, when up against the social web’s twenty-something startups.
• And finally, in our new Forward Thinking segment, we look at some of the upcoming religious-themed games being released – Dante’s Inferno and Darksiders.

Listen here, or at the Not So Much News!

Length: 36:45
Close: Rock the Jungle – Little Big Planet: Little BIG Music Musical Soundtrack
Download: 35.3 MB
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This is it, people! The last episode of Oh-Nine! Me and Tony Stark will be taking the next week off, which means that this episode is closing down the first decade of the millenium. Will the next decade be just as magical? I do hope so. I figure it’s only a matter of time before we start doing these episodes in our flying cars, while robots cleanse our feet.

Oh, the possibilities.

And because we know you folks love surprises, we’ve brought resident curmudgeon Matt Demers back on the show, dropping knowledge and dashing good looks. This episode takes us all over the place, from phones to films, and you know it’s going to be a good time. So gather ’round the fire, roast some chestnuts and give us a listen while you await the most commercialized morning of the year. So concludes year one of the Not So Horrible Podcast!

Listen here, or at the Not So Much News!

Length: 40:39
Close: I Slept With The Bonhomme At The CBC – Broken Social Scene
Download: 39.0 MB
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