22 chapters across the catalog
The discontinuation of Google Reader is cited as an example of tech giants forcing users into controlled social media environments rather than open protocols. Modern browsers like Safari and DuckDuckGo are criticized for obfuscating the URL bar to prioritize search products over direct web navigation. This shift is viewed as a defensive move to keep users within proprietary app ecosystems.
The hosts discuss the TV show "Cheers," noting its slow start in the first season before becoming a massive success. They also recommend the "CamScanner" app for mobile devices, praising its ability to adjust and focus on documents better than traditional flatbed scanners.
Health Passport Ireland is a new mobile technology designed to track COVID-19 test results and vaccination status via a digital "green, amber, or red" display. The system requires regular testing to keep the passport active for travel and hospitality access, which is characterized as a "scam" to enforce permanent digital surveillance.
App Ecosystem Decline, Browser-Based Future Prediction
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.
A new mobile application in China allows students to answer classroom questions silently via their phones to avoid embarrassment. The results are projected on a screen for the teacher to monitor progress. The hosts predict this technology will come to U.S. universities, potentially allowing students to communicate using only emojis or to spam professors with anonymous messages.
A recent power outage in Washington D.C. occurred shortly after the previous broadcast, famously leaving State Department spokesperson Marie Harf using an iPhone flashlight during a briefing. The discussion shifts to the annoyance of constant Android app update notifications and the habit of turning off mobile devices to avoid maintenance prompts.
New automation "recipes" for the IFTTT (If This Then That) platform allow users to receive the "Bat Signal" notification for live broadcasts on both iPhone and Android. This provides a workaround for ongoing technical issues with the dedicated PocketNoAgenda mobile application.
Uber Experience in New York City, Surge Pricing
The hosts recount their first experience using Uber in New York City after arriving at JFK Airport. They discuss the lack of price transparency, the 1.3x surge pricing encountered, and the contrast between the app's convenience and the traditional yellow cab industry.
A promotional video featuring Kathie Lee Gifford explaining how to use the PodcastOne app is mocked. The hosts view the celebrity's entry into the space and her "five simple steps" tutorial as a "jump the shark" moment for the podcasting medium.
Adam Curry notes a recurring glitch where Google Maps and Apple Maps appear "upside down" when used in Tokyo. He also highlights the popularity of the messaging app Line in Asia, noting its dominance over WhatsApp in the region. Curry mentions that installing the app resulted in his contact list being automatically messaged.
John Dixon, Mobile App Security and Trusted Brand Proxies
John Dixon explains the differences between the "closed" Apple iOS ecosystem and the more "open" Android platform regarding security. He points out that users often rely on brand trust (e.g., a bank's logo) as a proxy for security because there is no independent auditing or rating system for mobile apps. Dixon notes that Apple's app review process focuses more on competition and content than on detecting sophisticated backdoors.
Adam Curry announces the upcoming "No Agenda Hot Pockets 2008 Tour" (held in 2011), which involves traveling through Virginia in an RV to meet listeners. The segment includes a list of newly registered domain names pointing to the show and updates on the No Agenda Android mobile app. The hosts also briefly mention the News of the World phone-hacking scandal in the UK.
Senator Chuck Schumer, Mobile App Restrictions
Senator Chuck Schumer called for the removal of mobile applications from the App Store that alert drivers to sobriety checkpoints, claiming they facilitate drunk driving. These comments occurred during hearings ostensibly focused on the AT&T and T-Mobile merger and mobile security. The hosts criticize Schumer's push for increased regulation of public information and travel.
Several new community-purchased domain names now forward to the show's website, including BaronessAshton.com and BestPodcastInTheWorld.com. Listeners Julio Romero and Jenny Mendez are recognized for tuning in from the Tijuana-San Diego border. Additionally, the No Agenda mobile app has been updated with Game Center support and an expanded soundboard.
Nokia's Ovi Store rejected the No Agenda mobile widget after a three-month application process, citing "offensive language." The hosts dispute the claim that they use specific racial slurs and label Nokia the "douchebags of the week." They contrast this experience with the iPhone's more permissive stance on podcast language.
Chatroulette PR Campaign and No Agenda Mobile App
A PR associate reports on a seven-hour campaign on Chatroulette to promote the show using visual scrolls and audio clips. Additionally, a new No Agenda mobile application has been approved for the Apple App Store. The app utilizes iAds to generate revenue for the show while users listen to the live stream.
No Agenda Stream Apps, Media Deconstruction
The show announces new lo-fi stream options for mobile users and various apps for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry. The hosts reiterate their mission of media deconstruction, aiming to identify propaganda at all levels of mainstream news to understand major trends impacting personal freedom.
The hosts promote the No Agenda mobile app for iPhone and discuss plans for a high-end $500-a-plate fundraiser dinner in Las Vegas. The episode concludes with the standard sign-off from the "Crackpot Command Center" in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
The hosts announce the release of the official No Agenda iPhone app, now available in the Apple App Store for 99 cents. Developed by a listener, the application allows users to stream the show, download podcast episodes, and follow the hosts' Twitter feeds. Plans for a future "G-phone" or Android version are also mentioned.
A new mobile-optimized website, noagenda.mobi, has launched to provide users with easy access to podcast episodes, show notes, and social media feeds. The site is described as an "iPhone app for the rest of us" and serves as a precursor to a larger planned web presence.
