CNET News Daily Podcast

In today's episode, we talk about Amazon's new Kindle software application for PCs, a super cheap Windows 7 laptop that costs about the same price as a copy of the new operating system, and Google's gift of free airport Wi-Fi for the holidays.

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On November 9, 2004, Firefox 1.0 launched to fight the growing dominance of Microsoft's Internet Explorer, the browser that had essentially killed the first major consumer browser, Netscape Navigator. The project, originally named Phoenix to symbolize rebirth from Netscape's ashes, has now clawed its way back to account for nearly a quarter of the browser usage today. It's been an eventful five years. We discuss Mozilla, Firefox, and the future of browsers with CNET News senior writer Stephen Shankland.

Also on the podcast: Google buys advertising technology company but may loose content, CPU sales bounce back, … Read more

eBay will move forward with selling its stake in Skype, the company said Friday, now that a licensing dispute over the software that underlies Skype's service has been settled. eBay will get $1.9 billion in cash in the deal, which will close by the end of the year.

Also on the podcast: Smartphone sales rise, the Motorola Droid has its coming out party, more charges in the Galleon insider trading case, and Google aims to be less "creepy."

Today's stories:

eBay's Skype sale gets go-ahead

Smartphone market unfazed by recession

Slow start for the Motorola Droid?… Read more

Known for using brilliant engineers, complex algorithms, and speedy servers to organize online information in a simple and accessible way, Google is learning how to add the human touch to its repertoire as customers look for answers that can't be found on an FAQ. CNET News reporter Tom Krazit talks about what the search giant is doing to improve the customer experience and why that task is getting more difficult.

That, plus other headlines of the day, on Thursday's CNET News Daily Podcast.

Today's stories:

Senate panel approves Democratic climate bill

Windows 7 sales outshine Vista

FAQ: Buying the right Windows 7 upgrade… Read more

Today's tech update includes a new antitrust lawsuit filed again Intel, a legal challenge to Barnes & Noble's Nook e-reader, AT&T sues Verizon over commercials, and more.

Today's stories:

N.Y. antitrust suit accuses Intel of bribery

Spring Design seeks injunction barring Nook sales

AT&T vs. Verizon: There's a lawyer for that

Comcast earnings climb 22 percent

Microsoft cuts 800 more jobs

Microsoft makes over the MSN butterfly

Images: MSN through the years

Twitter translates into Spanish

Hacker breaks into jailbroken iPhones, asks for $7

T-Mobile experiencing widespread outage

Black Friday will be here in mere weeks, but the extended warranty business runs year round. What are some things to watch out for, and do you really need to buy a warranty for some of the smaller ticket items? We get CNET News reporter (and fellow CNET News Daily Podcast host) Erica Ogg in the studio to give us a breakdown on tech warranties, along with what gadgets you should and shouldn't buy one of these warranties for.

We also talk about Best Buy's upcoming video service, batteries made out of zinc, and a new wireless device … Read more

Forrester Research says that while retail sales will probably be flat this holiday season, online sales are expected to reach $44.7 billion, an 8 percent jump over last year. Seventy-two percent of retailers questioned said they expect holiday sales to increase over last year. And the customer experience may be improved as well. Online retailers may also show a new focus on customer engagement and service.

Also on the podcast: The Wii is losing ground, Amazon has finished its acquisition of Zappos, phishing attacks are up, file sharers spend more, and the military is testing new force-feedback packbots.

Today'… Read more

Motorola has been desperate for a hit phone since the Razr. The Droid, powered by Android 2.0, and available beginning next week, could be the beginning of a comeback for the handset maker, says CNET's Maggie Reardon. She talks about the importance of the Droid's exclusive contract with Verizon, and why it could be the key to its success.

Also on today's podcast: Sony suffers another bad quarter, ICANN makes one of the biggest changes to the Internet in 40 years, Facebook gets a huge judgment against the infamous spam king, and some scary Halloween tech … Read more