Topic: Html5

Cliff Stoll acknowledges that while the internet can feel like "magic," it is incapable of providing deeply touching or supportive human experiences. He compares the experience of parenting to looking at billions of photos of children online, noting that the digital version is a poor substitute for the reality. Stoll argues that even with modern glitzy websites, the most profound life lessons must be learned firsthand.

The Brave Browser, created by Mozilla co-founder Brendan Eich, is highlighted for its ability to block "canvas fingerprinting." This advanced tracking method uses HTML5 to identify a user's unique hardware and software configuration, making them trackable even without cookies. The browser aims to create a more private ecosystem by limiting the data sent to servers.

The push for new cable box standards is identified as an effort to create a common API for Digital Rights Management (DRM). The hosts suggest this is a "quid pro quo" for Hollywood and tech companies to ensure controlled content flow across all devices. They argue that the administration's rhetoric about "competition" is disingenuous and masks an anti-competitive play for data and rights control.

A prediction is made that the mobile app ecosystem is unsustainable due to storage requirements and update fatigue, suggesting a return to open HTML5 browser-based protocols. The hosts also express skepticism about the reliability of current cloud services, specifically Microsoft's offerings.

Mozilla is incorporating DRM (Digital Rights Management) into its browser to support streaming services like Netflix. This shift toward cloud-based streaming is criticized as technically inferior to local storage, especially given the low cost of high-capacity hard drives and the bandwidth limitations of the "sluggish cloud."

The battle between HTML5 and Flash is framed as a struggle between open standards and proprietary spying tools. The hosts criticize Apple CEO Tim Cook for potentially "pissing on the legacy of Steve Jobs" by allowing Adobe's technology back onto the iOS platform through the back door.

The hosts discuss a list compiled by the ACLU regarding the erosion of civil liberties in the United States. Dvorak claims his research shows a geometric increase in rights loss since the Truman administration. The segment briefly pivots to a technical complaint about the transition from Flash to HTML5 and the persistence of tracking cookies.

New community projects are highlighted, including an HTML5-based soundboard compatible with mobile devices and a "super karma" package featuring pins for the date October 10, 2010. These pins incorporate binary code for the number 42, crop circle designs, and tracking numbers for a global geocaching initiative.

Steve Gilmore reportedly informed Dvorak about new features in HTML5, including a native video tag that could potentially eliminate the need for Adobe Flash. The hosts also joke about the rumored return of the "blink" tag. They discuss the technical implications of browsers handling video files directly rather than relying on external plugins.