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Buzz Out Loud Ep. 1297: Facebook wants to own your face (Podcast)

We're back from our BOL summer vacation, only to find that Paul Allen is trying to patent-troll the Internet out of existence, Netflix seems to have finally put BlockBuster out of existence, and Foursquare ain't going down without a fight. Oh, and Donald Bell gives us his predictions for Apple's Sept. 1 event. --Molly

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FLASHBACK! Buzz Out Loud 1223: We'll be watching you (podcast)

This flashback was selected simply because of the song.

Our theme for today's show? Somebody's watching you, and it ain't just the Police. It's also Facebook and Google, and apparently some people think Net neutrality means the government will be watching you, too. Watch for the Net neutrality 101 rant at the end of the show plus a lot of singing of the "I'll be watching you" song. Because Brian Tong is on. We just hope Sting doesn't sue.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) … Read more

How Foursquare wants to out-Apple Facebook

It has never been my ambition to be mayor of an artisan bakery or a partisan gas station.

However, I know there are quite a few people, some of whom remain my friends, who delight in attaining such a respected position on Foursquare. Their joy is doubled when they manage to oust someone else from the mayoral seat. Even if they don't know that person and will never meet them.

Such enthusiasm has clearly attracted the attention of Facebook, which, by launching Facebook Places, foresees a future in which your friends--as well as your very good friends at retail … Read more

Hot Potato officially lands in Facebook's lap

Hot Potato, an online "check-in" service that lets users report their whereabouts and activities to friends, announced on Friday that it had been acquired by social-networking behemoth Facebook.

The deal, which has been talked about for several weeks, is the most recent development in Facebook's efforts to juice up the location-based aspect of its hugely popular service, which lets people connect with friends and family via the Web and share thoughts, links, photos, and more.

On Wednesday, Facebook unveiled Places, a feature that enables Facebook account holders to advertise their current location to friends, and lets users … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1296: Booty type coming to a PSP near you (podcast)

In PlayStation news this week, the PS3 may be jailbreakable via USB dongle, until Sony breaks down your door and takes your PS3 straight out the door. Also, touch-controls on the back of the PSP may be nigh, we show you the 53 steps it takes to turn off Facebook Places, and Apple tries to climb in your window and snatch your jailbroken iOS device up. See you all in a week!

Halo: Reach on Xbox Live

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded: Google's Chrome Web Store opens to developers Halo: Reach is leaked early on Xbox Live Toshiba's SmartPad has pictures An ISP in the UK has a special broadband package for gamers HP confirms upcoming WebOS and Windows 7 tablets

Topguest kicks off Facebook Places integration

That was fast: just 24 hours after Facebook unveiled its geolocation and "check-in" service, Facebook Places, ambitious start-up Topguest tells CNET that it's already worked Facebook Places into its hotel loyalty points offering.

Topguest, which aims to partner with hotel chains, restaurants, airports, and other travel- and hospitality-related venues to power rewards programs for frequent customers, now counts Facebook Places among the check-in services that it aggregates. It joins the likes of Foursquare, Gowalla, Loopt, and Yelp.

Topguest CEO Geoff Lewis told CNET that the start-up was able to launch Facebook Places integration so quickly simply because … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1295: Facebook Places knows when you miss the bus (podcast)

On today's show, how future generations will know all too well where they were conceived, thanks to Facebook Places--and yes, it's opt-out and lets your friends check you in, but somehow, I can still find a way to love it. Plus, Intel buys McAfee, Verizon's bringing TV to your iPad (in bed), and Windows 7 is killing it!

Facebook goes Places

Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded: Update your Facebook Places Verizon on the iPad Google Chrome Web Store leaks Intel to buy McAffe Personal spy game with the iPhone

Facebook Places: One check-in to rule them all

There was something very much in the vein of Utopian science-fiction fantasies to Facebook's announcement of "Places," its location-based "check-in" product that it launched on Wednesday night. (CNET was the first to report its impending debut last week.) In short, Facebook not only wants to be the digital sovereignty toward which all other geolocation apps direct their figurative roads, it also wants to be the Web's own omniscient historian.

"Too many of our human stories are still collecting dust on the shelves of our collections at home," Facebook vice president of product … Read more