The Windows Phone platform is about to get a big boost from Nokia. The Finnish company, which made it big in handset phones is launching the Lumia 900, a smartphone that runs on Windows and will be available (at least for a while) at $99, making it half the price of the average new smartphone. But does the device have what it takes to compete against the big two and give customers a legitimate third major option? Also, we debate pros and cons of Google Glasses.

A new report from the American Civil Liberties Union says that law enforcement agencies are frequently using cell phone tracking information provided by wireless carriers. The ACLU claims the information is readily available, and that police are interested in figuring out where people go and what they do. But what is that info being used for? Finally, scientists at MIT have developed these tiny magnetic blocks that can communicate with one another and come together to replicate objects.

Up to 1.5 million credit card numbers for Visa and MasterCard accounts have been stolen from the databases of a company called Global Payments. We hear about how to know and what to do if you’re affected. Also on the show, evolving robots that are designed to be like animals — and even reproduce like animals.

A security company is charting the rise of spam in the 2012 election cycle. And it’s not spam for Viagra advertisements, or replica handbags and fake Rolex watches — but political-themed messages that are either pumping up a candidate or denigrating a particular candidate. It’s happening through methods like fake accounts on Facebook or news websites that do nothing but post suspiciously similar comments. Also, teaching bonobos how to use tablets.

“Monetization”: for social networks like Twitter and Facebook, it’s the most essential business issue they face. How do you turn all those eyeballs into money in your pocket — and do it without driving people away? One major social networking site has declared that it has no intention to ever monetize its audience. CaringBridge lets those facing serious health issues set up pages to network with the people who care about them. It’s a nonprofit, but it’s potentially big money: half a million users a day who might follow a link to buy cards or flowers, or whose data could be valuable.

Comcast is now available for users of Xbox Live, the online service for Xbox users. And when you’re a Comcast customer and watch Comcast shows, that won’t count against your Internet usage for the month. Watch all you want, watch TV all day long if that’s what you choose to do, you never have to worry. Which sounds great, unless you want to watch something other than Comcast. Plus, is Twitter’s random unfollow feature a bug or a feature?

Fight it if you want, but the robots are coming. Marketplace’s David Brancaccio is embarking on a deep investigative experiment in participatory journalism called Robots Ate My Job. “I am now trying to see if a guy can drive clear across the country and never have to do business with any other human being,” he says. We talk to him about the challenges so far. Also, the Instagrammiest Instagram, brought to us by comedian Rob Delaney.

This much we know: the National Security Agency is building a large structure in Utah and it’s called the Utah Data Center. Exactly what’s going on with the facility beyond that point remains a point of contention. A recent Wired Magazine cover story says that the Utah Data Center is being built for surveillance within the United States. In other words, it’s there to facilitate domestic spying. We talk to the writer of the story and gather the details. Also, sonnets made from tweets.

Fish: A Tap Essay is a new app created by author Robin Sloan. It’s not a game — it’s an essay. Words. Thoughts. Robin puts a few words on each screen, maybe a sentence or so, and then you tap to move on to the next set of words, the next thought Robin wants you to consider. Robin had noticed that there were plenty of chances to “like,” or “plus 1,” or “star” or “fave” things on the web on social media. And it’s easy to pass those things you like on to friends, but the like never turns into love. Also, the city where you are most likely to lose your cell phone.