CNET News Daily Podcast: Supercomputers and the future of Hulu

Supercomputers are in the news again. First Microsoft has a new version of its Excel program that can tear spreadsheets that used to take weeks to calculate, down into a few hours. Then we've got results released early Monday that unveil which company gets to claim its supercomputer as the fastest among the top 500 in the world.

We also get CNET News senior writer Greg Sandoval on the phone to talk about what's going on with Hulu, and why it may soon cost you money to watch your favorite TV shows and movies on the popular site.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

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Today's stories:

Judge rules for Apple in Psystar case

'Jaguar' supercomputer races past 'Roadrunner'

Cisco boosts bid for Tandberg to $3.41 billion

Microsoft testing Excel for supercomputers

iPhone app developer quits over approval process

Oxford's word of the year? 'Unfriend'

Hulu's backers bicker as Web video soars

[studiodave56]

It will never cost me money to watch Hulu. If they start to charge I will not watch.

[kpepps17]

I will not be paying for Hulu. There is too much other stuff on the internet. I pay for internet access already and Murdoch wants to charge me more. They can charge but will people pay. Maybe a few folks will pay but with a drop in traffic, will advertisers stay? I can already see reruns on cable anyway. Sounds kind of half cocked and half crocked. Old media is a dying flame. And this pay wall will blow it out. Good riddance.

[Robert G K]

The only way I'd pay for Hulu is if they get enough content for me to get rid of my extended cable service. Meaning I'd get basic cable but like not have to pay for HBO or Showtime. If I can get rid of cable all together and get a Hulu box and just get all my shows on on demand, I may pay for it if the price is right. I doubt this will happen so they won't be getting my money.

I bet the site will tank because more people will just do and download the shows off bit torrent for free in stead. Hulu will go bye bye and sites like boxee and the seperate channel sites will grow, maybe someone will write an index just for those sites with show times and such so you just click on the show you want...say CSI on CBS and I'll take you to CBS's website and the new episode of CSI will start playing. We already pay for cable, people aren't going to want to pay for Hulu too.