Why there's no color Kindle Video

Why there's no color Kindle Video Transcript

Hello everyone, I'm Tom Merritt and welcome to the CNET mailbag. Molly Wood is on holiday, so you're stuck with me. Send your complaints to mailbag@cnet.com and Molly will read them next week. On with the show. Matthew writes: --------- Dear Molly, I was just watching CNET Top 5 (Best products of the summer 2009, 23/08) and I saw that Tom was giving out a flash drive with the CNET logo on it. I also remember that there were CNET stickers at one time. Because I'm just not cool enough to actually win prizes, is there a way to actually buy CNET stuff? That would be awesome! Thanks Molly, keep up the great work! -Matthew PS: Tell Brian Tong that he's my hero. ------------ I will tell Brian Tong. He'll be flattered. In fact, I'll sing "Did you ever know that you're Matthew's hero." And then he'll be frightened. Or in pain. Or both. As to buying CNET stuff. There is, in fact, a CNET store! Point your favorite Web browser to http://store.cnet.com/ where you can buy notebooks, a mug just like the one I use on Buzz Out Loud, even a laser-etched USB drive with a full 2GB. Much better than that crappy 256MB one I gave out on Top 5. Over to Justin who typed out the following: ----------- Molly, What's up with the new e-book readers? Have they never heard of color? A guy needs to read his digital comics on a COLOR device! With all of the modern tech out in the world, it seems e-readers are stuck in the 90's. Until I can get a color e-reader, I won't buy one. I guess I'm stuck with getting a smaller, but bright and colorful ipod touch. Apple, you win again. ~Justin R. Hall~ ---------- As a matter of fact Justin, I believe they're stuck in the 1970s. Nicholas K. Sheridon developed "electronic reusable paper" at Xerox in the late 1970s and even came up with a catchy name, Gyricon, Greek for rotating media. That refers to the fact that e- ink works by having plastic balls that are black on one side and white on the other rotate in an electrical field, creating the display you see on e-book readers. It's much easier to deal with white and black than color. However, it's not impossible and E ink told Wired earlier this summer they should have color displays ready for large- scale manufacture by the end of next year. Hope you're not sorry you asked. On to Anjuan who has a suggestion: ---- Hi Molly, While I admire the push by Buzz Out Loud to gather votes for your live broadcast at South by Southwest (SXSW), I was wondering why you're not getting love from the conference organizers? CNET is always well represented at CES, and you even host a "Best of CES" show. Shouldn't SXSW fly you in on private jets, set you up in Austin's finest hotel, and drive you to and from the Austin Convention Center in gold plated Humvees? Also, will you guys host a "Best of SXSW"? Anjuan ------ Humvees in Austin? You haven't been to Austin much have you? But I appreciate the concern. See, SXSW is a lot different than CES. It is much less corporate and much more laid back, and frankly more populist. So they like the people attending to get in on the selection process. panelpicker.sxsw.com is the place to go to vote on hundreds of panels. But it's not just a popular vote. The SXSW folks work to take the wishes of the populace and combine that with what makes a good balanced conference for attendees full of new ideas and good info. So adding your support int he vote just helps us make the case better for us to be part of the show. But...you know...if you want to put the gold Humvee thing in the comment section, I know Molly wouldn't mind. Finally B. Valentine, your middle name is My isn't it?, writes: -------- Brain Cooley says in the latest Buzz Report that he doesn't have a Wikipedia page...Well, Mr. Cooley, I tried creating a page for you a couple years ago when I had nothing better to do, but those Wikipedia-creeps-who-live-in-their-parents'- basements deleted it because it wasn't cited correctly or your own website wasn't a "reliable source" or some garbage like that. I tried! Maybe you might have better luck. --B. Valentine ------------- Yes, it's very difficult to prove you exist to Wikipedia, but it can be done. But the right way is not to create a fake page that will be marked for speedy deletion the way "somebody" did. Instead, find sources that are independent of Cooley himself, and show that he is noteworthy, and cite those when you make a bio. I know he'd appreciate all the hard work, especially because writing your own bio is frowned upon. And that concludes our mail call. Molly will be back next time, so keep those cards and letters coming. E-mail goes to mailbag@cnet.com and cards and letters go to CNET TV c/o Molly Wood 235 Second Street San Francisco CA 94105. Thanks for watching!