Episode 2 of the CPC and bit-tech Podcast

Episode 2 of the CPC and bit-tech Podcast

We're back with a second episode of the all new, combined CPC and bit-tech podcast, featuring Alex and James from CPC and Richard and Joe from bit-tech. First up, the panel talks news, and in the last week there's really only been one story: the £948 million fine the EU handed Intel for violating violating EC Treaty antitrust rules on the abuse of its dominant market position.

Now that the dust has settled, and both Intel and AMD have responded, the panel looks ahead to how the fine may - or may not - change the CPU market. The fine is an enormous amount of money, which in the current economic climate, will dent even Intel's bank balance, but despite this, few people seem convinced that it will really change the balance of power.

Intel's fine is the biggest that the EU has ever imposed, but prior to it, the EU had fined Microsoft hundreds of millions of pounds for similar abuses of its monopoly. Intel and Microsoft aren't the only IT firms to enjoy massive dominance of the arenas in which they compete, so the team also considers why it is that the technology world produces so many hugely dominant companies.


Also under the microscope are Jmicron SSDs and the fact that 3D Realms apparent closure means Duke Nukem Forever may never see the light of day. As with the previous episode, two regular features return: the first is a discussion of the Top 10 PC games chart, and the second is the 'Guess the Game Music' competition. We play a tune from a popular game, and all you have to do is tell us where it's from. The lucky winner receives a copy of frantic indie RTS Project Aftermath.

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Episodes are provided as MP3s, and you can download the files themselves, or subscribe to the podcast - either in iTunes, or in any other podcast program, feedreader or browser which supports RSS.

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Previous Episodes

Catch up with previous CPC and bit-tech episodes using the links below.

• Series 3, Episode 1 - GeForce GTX 275 and Radeon HD 4890, as well as the Radeon HD 4770, plus AMD's Phenom II X4 955 BE. The team also debate whether this is the beginning of a real return to form for AMD or whether Intel's upcoming dual-channel Nehalem CPUs will put an end to that.
  
• Series 3, Episode 1 Extra - Energy-drink-roundup.

We'd like to thank Shure for supplying microphones for us to use to record these podcasts. The podcast also features introductory music from Brad Sucks.