This week on The Simulcast 133 we have recovered from our turkey hangovers, we have listener email, it’s Dave’s birthday, and we have lots of the week’s tech news!

Apple
Apple seeds 5.1 beta to devs
Apple approves subscription based iPad gaming service
Rumors starting to surface that Microsoft Office may be coming to the iPad
Converting protected iTunes songs through iTunes Match
Zagg.com starts iPad2 a day giveaway (Today – Dec 31)

Google
AT&T releasing LG Nitro on December 4th
Google Catalogs released for Android tablets
Google Maps 6.0 update brings indoor navigation
CM7 lights up the Kindle Fire
Samsung wins a patent battle to sell Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia, war with Apple not over
Apple seeking to ban sales of Modified Galaxy Tab 10.1N in Germany

Miscellaneous
Update on Bill’s home phone number porting to Google Voice and Obihai 110
Crapgadget: ‘you really shouldn’t have’ edition
Verizon and Cricket proposing Spectrum Swap to FCC
Spotify unveils developer platform to allow 3rd party apps using its service
Facebook settles its FTC privacy complaints
AT&T and Deutsche Telekom now talking joint venture partnership (Plan B?)

We have our own Google+ page! and an Android app!

Email #1
Hi Guys,

Need your help again!

Have an Uncle in Canada who has just been over to us here in the UK.
While he was here I lent him a MiFi of mine so that he wouldn’t get shafted with using his iPhone on data roaming charges and to be able to use his laptop.

I used a “Pay as You Go” sim card on a Data only deal (similar tariff to those for the iPad) and in fact the £15 credit i put on lasted him all month!
He was very impressed with the MiFi and the way it works.
Now here’s where I need you!

He’s off to Phoenix at the end of the year for 3 months and would like a Mifi to use there in the same way.

Q1 Can he buy a MiFi outright in the US that would still work when he brought it back to canada. (or even the other way round) http://www.amazon.com/Novatel-Wireless-MiFi-2372-Unlocked/dp/B0039ZLMK0
Q2 What are the deals (and are there any) on  Pay as you go basis for Data only rather than signing up for a contract.
Q3 What are the best networks?
Q4 He does have an iPhone with Telus.  Would tethering be an option, I would doubt it myself as once he uses in the States he’s going to get charged international rates I assume??

Anyway I think you get the picture!
Any suggestions?
Gordy

Email #2
Hey Guys,

Great podcast, love listening every week; even though Steve is the only one with anything decent to say (Bloody Android Fanbois!) Anyway I have a question about Sling Player, specifically the iPad app.

My setup is quite simple; I have a Slingbox Solo HD connected to a Sky HD satellite box via component connections. The SlingSolo is wired with Cat5E to a Netgear 5GHz N access point which is only there for the Sling Box.

Watching Sling via the PC the picture is perfect and the iPhone app is pretty good too. My complaint is with the iPad app, it looks like shit, its jerky and just plain bad. I actually use the iPhone version on my iPad in 2X mode as it is way better than the iPad app.

My question is do you think this is just another crappy job from Sling or is it a problem with my setup, the app shows great bandwidth so I thinks it’s the former. What does the Android tablet version look like particular with fast moving sports action? Would be interesting to know what you guys think!

Cheers guys
Chris Oldroyd

What are we playing with/watching/reading this week?
Bill – Shadowgun, Boardwalk Empire
Dave –  Misfits (Tv Show)
Patrick – How I Met Your Mother, Game of Thrones
Geoff – Walking Dead, The IT Crowd and Skyrim
Steve – Walking Dead

Picks of the week
Bill – Quick settings app for iOS – brdrck.me
Dave –  CM7 for LG Optimus
Patrick – Noteshelf (iPad)
Geoff – GrooVe IP for Honeycomb Tablets
Steve – ifrogz Backbone for iPad 2

Simulcast 133: Hell or High Water [ 1:26:55 | 39.89 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download