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Facebook's price too high for a 'fad'?

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:02:00 -0700

In today's show, the postman always scans twice, a new Kindle could let you read in the dark, and catch all the Pokémon hiding in your living room:

We're keeping a close eye on Facebook as it prepares to go public on the Nasdaq this week. Values for its initial public offering are in the $34 to $38 range. At the high end, it would make Facebook worth more than $100 billion. But we will find out Thursday what the actual initial stock price will be.

But will it keep that high value for long? A poll shows most Americans think the stock is overvalued, and that Facebook is a passing fad.

Twitter has begun sending out a weekly email digest of the top tweets and stories relevant to who you follow. But if you use Twitter regularly, you already know what stories were big in the week. And every account is automatically enrolled in the email blast, leaving users to manually opt-out if they don't want the digest.

Amazon plans to release a front-lit e-ink Kindle in July, or so one source tells Reuters. That's a plus for those wanting the flexibility to read in sunlight and in the dark. Barnes & Noble already came out with its GlowLight Nook in April.

According to Vanity Fair, CBS has ordered a sitcom about two friends that work at Groupon. It'll be called "Friend Me."

In July and August, the United States Postal Service is giving a two percent discount on postage when a QR code is used on a card, letter or envelope. The code, which can be scanned by a smartphone app, must link the receiver to an online store or mobile-friendly website. The USPS is hoping this will encourage businesses to send more mail, and it could show how snail mail can engage customers.

Last week, we reported that the chief of the Foxconn factory said the facility is preparing to manufacture Apple televisions. Well apparently, no such thing was said. Foxconn denies any talk of an Apple television. (You just can never trust those Apple rumors.)

And if you ever wanted to catch Pokémon in real life, now you can -- well, sort of. Pokémon Dream Radar is an augmented reality game coming to the North American 3DS eShop this Fall. Using the 3DS camera, players can see Pokémon hiding in the real world. Catch 'em, and use the characters in other Pokémon games.

Want to share your thoughts on a story? Your questions and comments can make it on the show! Use Tout to message Bridget with a 15 second video reply from your webcam or smartphone camera. Or, simply post a reply video to the CNET YouTube channel. You can also write to update@cnet.com.

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The 404 1,054: Where we're gonna need to see some ID (podcast)

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:54:38 -0700

(Credit: http://www.quickmeme.com/)

This Friday, 25 bars and restaurants around the San Francisco Bay Area will adopt Scenetap, a social analytics app that uses facial recognition technology to gather real-time data on customer relations and crowd sizes. Don't worry, the cameras only analyze facial features to determine approximate age and gender of clients entering the bars, and the restaurants swear that they won't upload videos of patrons stumbling out and doing whatever people do outside of bars at 4 a.m.

Today we'll also tell you about a new project from Disney called Touche that can turn anything into a button using a single electrical wire and a wireless connection back to a controller. This new device is still in testing, but soon you'll be able to effortlessly automate all the functions in your house, from doorknobs to couch cushions and even underwater. This is not the same thing as the The Clapper.

Finally, we're warning all our young listeners about their long-banged hairstyles -- according to optometrist Andrew Hogan, young chaps with "emo" hair are at a higher risk of developing Amblyopia, commonly known as a "lazy eye." It's all blamed on the long, sweeping bangs that have a tendency to obstruct view in one eye that can lead to stunted visual developments, so either cut your hair or harness the power of the head-shake-bang-straightener.

Video Voicemail: Matt honks his horn

Ep. 1054: Where we're gonna need to see some ID

Episode 1,054

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iCloud gets a lift

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:10:00 -0700

In today's show, Yahoo gets a fresh coat of CEO, iCloud gets a lift and it's IPO week for Facebook:

After four months on the job, Scott Thompson resigned as Yahoo's chief executive. Although he has been in the middle of a scandal about the false statements made about his education, he also is leaving for health reasons. It's been reported that Thompson told the board he's battling thyroid cancer. Yahoo named ad-guru Ross Levinsohn as interim CEO. Levinsohn is the sixth Yahoo CEO in the past five years.

After Best Buy dropped the prices of Macs, there's speculation that a new line of MacBooks are coming soon. It's expected the new Macs would be thin and have the latest Intel Ivy Bridge processors and retina displays.

The latest iPhone 5 rumor claims the phone will hit stores in October. But before you roll your eyes, this is actually one in several reports we've seen about October being the launch month.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is working on a social update to iCloud. It would allow other iCloud users to comment and share photos. Right now, iCloud is just a personal tool for storing files and syncing between your own devices -- not for sharing.

Facebook is set to launch one of the largest initial public offerings in history on Friday. And when Facebook goes public, expect the company to focus on new ways to make money.

Last week, we reported on Facebook testing a new status-highlight feature. The network would charge roughly $2 to get your status seen by more friends. We asked if you would pay for something like that, and you gave some great responses via Tout.

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The 404 1,053: Where we'll never pay for that (podcast)

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:14:08 -0700

(Credit: http://www.eversostrange.com/)

Would you pay $2 if you knew that every single one of your Facebook friends would be exposed to your status update? The social network may soon give an eBay-esque highlight ability to those with the most disposable income, and some users in New Zealand already have access. But what could be so important that you'd pay to spam your friends? Let us know in the comments.

The police force in Fort Lee, New Jersey, is so tired of distracted pedestrians clicking on their phones that they've made it illegal to send a text message while walking. Sources in Fort Lee just started issuing tickets after one of the largest crackdowns on jaywalking in the borough -- more than 117 jaywalkers have already been arrested, but now legislators are honing in on texting pedestrians, many of which are responsible for accidents involving cars and public property.

We're running low on video voice mails, so record a YouTube video of yourself saying hello and e-mail the link to the404(at)cnet.com and we'll put it on the air!

Bathroom break video: 60,000 dominos falling to the floor

Ep. 1053: Where we'll never pay for that

Episode 1,053

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Pay $2 to promote your Facebook status?

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:12:00 -0700

In today's show, we're buying status updates, finding a new route and building a new game addiction:

Would you pay $2 to get your Facebook status message seen by more people? It's something Facebook is testing in New Zealand. (And tell me your two-cents on the issue via Tout!)

The Foxconn factory for Apple products is preparing to build the much anticipated Apple television set. The chief at the Foxconn spilled the beans in a news conference.

According to 9to5Mac, the next version of iOS will not include Google Maps. Rather, it will have Apple's own mapping software.

If you're buying a new Windows computer, wait until at least June. By then, Microsoft will launch a promotion that discounts the upgrade to Windows 8.

Starting May 16, the United States Post Office will ban international shipments of lithium batteries. That includes any gadgets that use lithium batteries, such as tablets and smartphones. However, the rule could change in January.

Diablo III, which comes out Tuesday, is the most preordered PC game ever on Amazon, beating out other Blizzard titles like World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.

And get ready for a new addiction. The creator of Angry Birds is launching a new game series this summer called Amazing Alex. Players control a boy named Alex who enjoys building things. The Angry Birds game just reached one billion downloads, so let's see if Alex can stack up.

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The 404 1,052: Where we meet the million dollar man (podcast)

Fri, 11 May 2012 11:32:46 -0700

(Credit: Reddit user: Vettit)

2K Sports held its annual "Perfect Game Challenge" last night with a million dollar prize, and today we'll chat with the winner of the MLB2K12 tournament, Mr. Chris Gilmore.

Twenty-year-old Gilmore bested Charles Bates 10-1 in the tournament final that pitted him against eight other highly ranked players. We'll obviously ask him what he plans to do with the bounty, but we also want to know about his history with competitive video games, his preparation process in the weeks leading up to the event, and how it felt to breathe the same air as Kate Upton.

MLB 2K12 champion visits the 404

Click here for the full interview and the rest of today's show.

Check out all the coverage on Spike TV's special airing on May 24 at 11:30 p.m. ET.Other stories to round out this week include a portable bidet that attaches to any squeezable bottle, a Wi-Fi blocking wallpaper for your Web fortress, and the U.K. Prime Minister confusing LOL for "lots of love."

Bathroom break video: Portal theme song "Still Alive" programmed into an exercise machine

Ep. 1052: Where we meet the million dollar man

Episode 1,052

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Bing pings Facebook

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:38:00 -0700

In today's show, we're Binging our friends, casting spells in Kindle's library, and bracing ourselves for the return of the browser wars:

Microsoft's Bing search engine now includes Facebook integration. When you search for something on Bing, a side panel will pop up and show which of your friends might help you with your search. So for example, if you search for hotels in Chicago, Bing will point out which of your friends live in Chicago.

Microsoft is also in the news today for stirring up the browser wars again. According to Mozilla, Microsoft is preventing Firefox and Chrome to run on Windows RT. (Windows RT is the light version of Windows 8 that you'll see on some tablets and smartphones. It's a version of Windows designed for devices powered by ARM processors.) Mozilla (Firefox) and Google (Chrome) are crying foul.

Facebook now has its own app store. Facebook is launching App Center, a hub that features various apps. Users will be directed to download the apps off the app stores from Apple or Google. Developers can create a device-agnostic app with HTML5 and post it in the App Center, to which Facebook will take a 30% cut of the sales.

Amazon Prime subscribers will be able to access the whole Harry Potter series through the Kindle owner's lending library, starting June 19. It costs about $80 a year to access the lending library and all the perks of Amazon Prime.

Nintendo dropped the prices of the DSi to $100 and the DSi XL to $130. Prices take effect May 20.

Dish Network announced its new Hopper DVR system will be able to skip commercials with a feature called Auto Hop. (Get it? Hop? Hopper? Dish has a kangaroo thing going, if you haven't yet noticed.) But it only skips commercials recorded during prime time shows, in HD, from the four major networks. And only when you watch it the day after it originally aired.

And the app we're buzzing about today is Google+ for iOS. The app just got a major update and design overhaul, putting a big focus around user photos. And get this: Google released this update to Apple users before Android. How scandalous. But Android users should be getting this update -- plus a few more perks -- in the coming weeks.

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The 404 1,051: Where we were big in the '90s (podcast)

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:59:10 -0700

(Credit: http://mindisthemagic.tumblr.com/)

Today we'll take a critical look at the way people respond to celebrity deaths in the wake of Maurice Sendak, Adam Yauch, and Vidal Sassoon. We'll take you through the five typical stages of "grief" based on what Vice Magazine calls the Facebook Death Patrol.

We also have some bad news to report to children of millennials: your parents are still getting it on, and they're probably using a smartphone at the same time. A survey from Meredith's Parent Network questioned 1,000 moms born between 1977 and 1994 and found that 21 percent of them used their smartphones in the bathroom, while an astounding 12 percent admitted to using them in coitus! Sorry if we just ruined your day, kids.

After the break, we'll dive into a discussion about the gulch of the Internet and whether or not Internet users are legally responsible for the images that appear on their screens.

It stems from a New York Court of Appeals case that closed on Tuesday concerning a college IT office that found images of child pornography stored in the cache of a professor's computer. His actions are obviously deplorable, but should some kind of affirmative act be required (in the form of clicking a download button o print button) to show that one actively sought out the images?

Tune in for the verdict.

Bathroom break video: Le manege pour pauvres

Must listen: Justin and Jeff try and get through a CBS Radio spot about iPads and Orangutans

Ep. 1,051: Where we were big in the '90s

Episode 1,051

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Ultrabooks no longer ultra-pricey

Wed, 9 May 2012 14:30:00 -0700

In today's show, Google takes us for a spin, ultrabooks are no longer ultra-pricey, and the iPad isn't just for humans anymore:

Hewlett-Packard announced several new thin and light laptops under the Envy brand. Some are officially called ultrabooks, equiped with Intel's latest Ivy Bridge processors, while less-expensive ones are called sleekbooks. But regardless of the different labels, it means high-quality thin and light laptops are moving into the $600 to $700 price range. (There's even a rumor that the MacBook Air -- the computer that kickstarted the ultrabook craze -- will drop its price to $800.)

Techies are buzzing about a photo taken with Google's Project Glass prototype headset. It shows a first-person action shot that could really sell people on the potential of the glasses.

Scammers are causing trouble on Pinterest and Tumblr, so be sure to think before you click on suspicious posts. A report from GFI Software indicates there is an increase of cyberattacks on these growing networks, tricking users to click on malicious links.

Lots of gadget news coming out of the CTIA Wireless show in New Orleans. Sprint has a new hotspot that will support all three of it's data networks. It's called the Tri-Fi Hotspot and goes on sale next week. Virgin Mobile will also launch two hot spots at the end of the month, as well as its first 4G phone, the HTC Evo V 4G.

Kyocera announced two phones: the Rise, with a slide-out keyboard, and the Hydro, which is waterproof.

And if you're hankering for an iPhone, head to Target. The retailer just cut $50 off the price of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S (in-store only), and the sale goes on until the end of June.

The Associated Press has a neat story on Jungle Island, an animal attraction in Miami, where orangutans are using iPads to communicate with trainers. It's the younger oranutans of the group that are interested in the iPad, and they are using an app designed for people with autism to express what they want and how they feel. They also play games and expand their vocubulary.

For now, the trainers have to hold the iPad or the orangutans might break it. But Jungle Island plans to get a protective case so the orangutans can use the iPad themselves. And then, the park will put another iPad outside the enclosure so visitors can use an app to ask questions and communiate with them.

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The 404 1,050: Where we're a little off-color (podcast)

Wed, 9 May 2012 13:09:39 -0700

(Credit: http://www.stressmanagementactivitiesguide.com)

Should you invest in Facebook's upcoming IPO? Aunt Jill Schlesinger from CBS MoneyWatch is on the show today to help us make sense of the changes to the social network's regulatory filing and advise on the company's reported range of $28-$35 share pricing.

Everyone needs an Aunt Jill, and we've also been gathering your financial questions for her to answer on today's episode. We'll chat about unbanked citizens, how to use this refinance calculator, and if it makes sense to go back to school for a master's degree after turning 35.

Ep. 1050: Where we're a little off-color

Episode 1,050

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Yahoo's 'resumegate' heats up

Tue, 8 May 2012 13:17:00 -0700

In today's show, Google takes the wheel, Microsoft listens to your movements, and 'resumegate' fires up:

Yahoo's "resumegate" has claimed it's first victim -- but it's not the CEO. Yahoo board member Patti Hart said she plans to not seek re-election to Yahoo's board. She's tied up in the drama because she was in charge of the search to hire the chief executive and vet his resume. The scandal, which has been developing for nearly a week now, surrounds Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson and his bios that claimed he had a computer science degree, but he did not. And this education misstatement was not properly vetted when he was hired.

Yahoo's board is forming a "special committee" to review the academic creditials of Thompson. And Thompson has sent a memo to employees that he's sorry this investigation has been disruptive to the company. (Yet he didn't admit any wrongdoing.)

A jury has sided with Oracle and determined that Google infringed on Oracle's Java language when it made the Android operating system. But the jury couldn't decide if Google was protected under the fair-use doctrine. And because the jury couldn't come to a full decision, Google's laywers are asking for a mistrial. Legal experts say it's unlikely Google will have to make a big pay-out to Oracle. This is only the first half of the two-part trial.

AT&T said it will offer a family data plan this year, although executives have not shared any other details. We've already heard from Verizon that it also is planning to launch a family data plan sometime this year.

You've seen how Microsoft's Kinect uses cameras to detect motion, but now Microsoft can use speakers. It's called SoundWave. Using a laptop speaker and microphone, it can sense hand gestures. The speakers give off an inaudible tone, and when a hand interrupts the sound, it can tell someone's moving becuase the frequency changes.

Nevada is the first state to allow Google's self-driving cars on the road. But when Google employees test these cars, they're still required to have someone behind the wheel and one person in the passenger's seat.

Boost Mobile is getting it's first 4G phone. At the end of this month, Boost Mobile will sell the HTC Evo Design 4G, which runs on Sprint's WiMax network.

And could we be seeing the downfall of Facebook's social reader applications? The number of users to these apps have rapidly declined.

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The 404 1,049: Where so, it's come to this (podcast)

Tue, 8 May 2012 11:38:13 -0700

(Credit: Twitter user: shawnelliott)

Here's another reason not to blow your cash on those Beats by Dr. Dre headphones: the NYPD is reporting that the headphones have become the new top target for thieves based on their $500 resale value. With dozens of Beats heists occurring over the last four months alone, your best bet is to avoid the red "b" altogether and invest in a better pair of cans.

Did you know that by age four, about 90 percent of children have already grasped the concept of lying, and that statistic only gets worse with time? It turns out that 60 percent of people can't even survive a 10-minute conversation without telling at least one lie, according to this study in Mental Floss. Today we'll also look at the lying epidemic, break down the most common lies, and maybe even come clean on a few of ours.

These stories and more on today's 404 episode!

Video voice mail from Marcos training for an Iron Man race!

Bathroom Break Video: Sleep eating an ice cream cone

Ep. 1049: Where so, it's come to this

Episode 1,049

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The 404 1,048: Where we can't believe how much it made (podcast)

Mon, 7 May 2012 13:15:52 -0700

$200 million. That's how much money "The Avengers" brought in this weekend. And who says the movie industry is in trouble? On today's show we welcome CNET editor Scott Stein to the show and discuss the disgusting amount of money Joss Whedon's Marvel mash-up accumulated. We'll compare it to the other top weekend grossing film of the past 30 years and then decide on whether or not "The Dark Knight Rises" will join the list.

Next we'll get into a discussion about the possibility of an $800 MacBook Air and whether or not Apple settled on the design of the iPad 3. Finally, it's an E3 2012 preview. Scott and I will be at the big show in Los Angeles next month and have some pretty bleak outlooks on what the world's biggest video game expo will bring.

Ep. 1048: Where we can't believe how much it made

Episode 1,048

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Hangout live with the world on G+

Mon, 7 May 2012 12:56:00 -0700

In today's show, it's time to Hangout with the world, seek out new smartphones and take a ride on the Yahoo drama train:

Your Google+ Hangout video chat sessions can now broadcast live to the world. Google made it easy to share the live stream of a Hangout on your Google+ page, or embed it on another Web site. You can see how many people are watching, and once the live show is done it can be uploaded to YouTube.

Google has been working with some television shows to broadcast their Hangouts live. If you want to check it out, Gayle King from CBS This Morning will be doing a live Hangout early Tuesday. And Conan O'Brien will also be doing a live Hangout late Tuesday.

The drama continues over at Yahoo. Last week, shareholders demanded the firing of CEO Scott Thompson over accusations that he lied about earning a computer science degree. The hedge fund Third Point is pushing for a public investigation and is demanding to see documents relating to Thompson and the vetting process for when he was hired.

AT&T will be selling more products for home security. It's sold security cameras before, but this is a larger push to offer several different connected devices, including various sensors and thermostats. All these devices would be hooked into the home's broadband network and controlled from the owner's smartphone or tablet.

Reuters reports LG could be launching another television with Google TV later this month. The last Google TV from LG, the G2, received a mixed review from CNET.

There's a bug in some Nokia Lumia 900 Windows phones that gives the screen a purple tint when the brightness is turned down. Nokia says it will be fixed in the next software update. Nokia is betting big on the Lumia's success, so it really can't afford any more glitches.

The CTIA Wireless conference is going on this week, and the new phone announcements are starting to roll in. Verizon announced that the HTC Droid Incredible with 4G LTE will hit stores in the coming weeks. HTC is showcasing the One V, saying it will arrive sometime this summer. And AT&T showed off the Samsung Focus 2, a $50 windows phone that will tap into AT&T's 4G LTE network.

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Evernote CEO Phil Libin talks valuations and bubbles

Mon, 7 May 2012 10:25:58 -0700

I'll disclose this off the top: I'm a big fan of Evernote. I like the app and use it all the time. I even pay for it. I also enjoy talking with Evernote CEO Phil Libin, who I have found to be uncommonly deliberate and transparent for a startup CEO.

With the news around Evernote lately -- the company's recent $70 million funding round and its acquisition of Penultimate -- I thought it'd be good to bring Libin back to the Reporters' Roundtable to discuss the current state of the software economy, and what Silicon Valley looks like from the startup's perspective today.

In this discussion we also talk a little about Libin's "100-year startup" talking point. We don't get too much into the company's global ambitions, though, and I do want to point out that as popular as Evernote is here in the U.S., it's also apparently very big in Japan, and, Libin hopes, will also soon be big in China (subscription to The Wall Street Journal required).

Libin is probably going to become CEO of a public company within a few years. Do you think he'll be able to keep Evernote innovating, figure out how to turn its revenue stream into a flood, and keep investors happy? Watch the video below.

Evernote CEO Phil Libin

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Show notes

[0:15] Rafe admits he loves Evernote. Also: Phil Libin introduced.

[2:00] Are you going to raise more money?

[2:40] What will you do with the money you've raised so far?

[3:00] Libin: We want to be isolated from the bubble.

[4:00] Libin on durable companies.

[5:00] Can you justify a billion-dollar valuation on Evernote? (Libin: You're looking at it wrong)

[7:00] Are we in a bubble?

[7:45] Libin: The world economy is unique today...

[8:40] How this bubble (if it is that) is different from the last one.

[9:45] The Instagram discussion.

[11:15] More about the Facebook effect on Silicon Valley startups.

[12:20] How Evernote is following the Facebook path to IPO.

[13:55] Advice: How to keep your head up while companies around you are exiting for hundreds of millions of dollars.

[16:45] Ad break

[17:00] The epochs of technology are getting shorter. How to navigate?

[19:00] Libin: Let's talk about the current epoch. "It's a bubble of awesome."

[21:00] What's next? Libin: Integrated experiences "across your life."

[22:00] What about Big Data?

[23:20] What's next for Evernote?

Liar, Liar: Shareholders demand firing of Yahoo CEO

Fri, 4 May 2012 14:20:00 -0700

In today's show, Microsoft makes things more difficult, jurors wrestle over Java, and the CEO of Yahoo has his pants on fire:

Yahoo's CEO Scott Thompson is being accused of lying about his college degree for years, and shareholders demand he's fired by Monday... or else.

The FBI says in this age of Internet communication, the department needs the power to wiretap into online chat and video services to find the evil-doers. CNET has learned that the FBI is talking to Internet companies like Facebook and Google, asking them to work with the FBI to build backdoors to make it easy for law enforcement to wiretap -- when, of course, there is a court-order to do so.

Microsoft said it will not include Media Center in Windows 8. Instead, users have to pay more to upgrade to a Media Center Pack. Without Media Center, a user won't be able to play DVDs. Needless to say, users are upset.

Google News has been upgraded to include comments from Google+ users.

Coverage of the CTIA Wireless show begins Monday. And next week we should hear a verdict in the first part of the Oracle v. Google trial.

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The 404 1,047: Where we go one-on-one with James Gunn (podcast)

Fri, 4 May 2012 12:22:38 -0700

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Director James Gunn goes one-on-one with The 404's Jeff Bakalar to talk about his writing duties on the new video game, Lollipop Chainsaw. James is the man responsible for films such as the "Dawn of the Dead" remake, "Slither," "Super," and the cult-classic "Tromeo and Juliet."

James has teamed up with legendary game-maker Suda 51 (Shadows of the Damned, No More Heroes) to bring us Lollipop Chainsaw, the story of a cheerleader who must take on a swarm of the undead led by a colorful cast of zombie punk rockers. We asked James what it was like to work with the iconic producer and the various special guests that voice the game's bosses.

There's something for everyone in today's show: zombies, music, video games, movies, and much more!

Ep. 1047: Where we go one on one with James Gunn

Episode 1,047

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Samsung Galaxy S III knows your voice

Thu, 3 May 2012 13:30:00 -0700

In today's show, it's time to teach your phone new tricks, get creeped out about privacy settings, and tag up the office:

Samsung unveiled it's newest Galaxy smartphone, the Galaxy S III, and it's got some serious specs that could challenge the iPhone. It's fast, with a quad-core processor, and will be loaded with latest version of Android (Ice Cream Sandwich). But the most notable highlights are new photo and voice command features. The phone will first roll out to Europe within the month, and eventually make it's way to the U.S. this summer.

Consumer Reports released some scary privacy statistics. Nearly 13 million Facebook users in the U.S. do not use Facebook's privacy settings.

Toyota will publicly debut the RAV4 EV on Monday. It's Toyota's all-electric SUV that it developed with Telsa Motors.

The New York Times tells us more about why Target will stop selling Amazon's Kindle. Put simply, Target is fed up with Amazon's sales tactics.

You'll start to see new "action links" popping up around Facebook. They're new ways to interact with posts.

And today we're checking out the iOS app Wallit. Users can slap up a virtual wall anywhere -- home, office, or landmark -- and write a message on it. Only users of the app will be able to see the message. It's still a young app, and it was pretty buggy when I used it. But if they can smooth out the kinks, it could be a quirky and cute way to leave your mark on places you've visited.

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The 404 1,046: Where we're going beard-core (podcast)

Thu, 3 May 2012 12:37:04 -0700

(Credit: trailsedge.com)

Our favorite Aussie Ty Pendlebury stops by The 404 today to chat about what's new in the world of TVs. It's only May, but Ty thinks he's already seen this year's best TV. Tune in to find out which set he's talking about.

From there it's a discussion about what Minecraft creator "Notch" said about EA, and how he thinks the mega-distributor is ruining the industry. We'll also debate the validity of rhythm games and scratch our heads in confusion at the ones that won't seem to go away (we're looking at you, Rock Band for iOS).

Speaking of iOS apps, Ty will give us the quick and dirty Spotify for iPad review -- what he likes, what he doesn't like, and what he wishes made it to the final build. All this plus calls from the public, Jeff screwing up today's date, and much more on today's episode!

Ep: 1046: Where we go beard-core

Episode 1,046

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The buzz over BlackBerry's keyboard

Wed, 2 May 2012 14:20:00 -0700

In today's show, we're flowing through apps, fixing our faces and keeping track of the roomie's tab:

At the BlackBerry World conference in Orlando, we learn more details on the BlackBerry 10 operating system. The interface has a multitasking feature called Flow View and the camera has a time-bending feature that can make sure everyone in a photo looks their best.

And though Research in Motion is pushing it's new virtual keyboard, the CEO made it clear today that the company is not abandoning physical keys. After this new all-touchscreen model is released later in the year, RIM will continue to create phones with physical keyboards.

Thanks for sending in your thoughts on BlackBerry's new virtual keyboard. We got some great responses on Tout. And when you have a question or comment about a story, jump on Tout to send a 15 second video. It could make it on the show.

In other news, streaming music service Spotify released an app for the iPad (something fans have been long requesting).

Target stores will stop selling Amazon's Kindle e-readers because of... a conflict of interest?

And if you're in the market for a new smartphone on AT&T, the HTX One X goes on sale Sunday. Our editors are quite fond of it.

Here's a handy app for housemates or for anyone going off to college: Conmigo. It helps you track and share living expenses with roommates. Log your purchases and record how much everyone owes -- keeping things fair and square.

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The 404 1,045: Where we're outed on Facebook (podcast)

Wed, 2 May 2012 12:17:24 -0700

(Credit: Thereifixedit.com)

We love Facebook pranks as much as the next guys, but not when it's coming from an anonymous source at Best Buy. As if we needed another reason not to step foot in the big blue retailer, we read this story about a Best Buy employee that posted a phony Facebook status update on a customer's phone. The message declared, "I am gay, I'm coming out," but there's one problem: the customer is straight.

Next we're looking at the rise and fall of Draw Something, the formerly addictive Pictionary rip-off that netted OMGPOP and its 40 employees about $200 million dollars. As it turns out, Zynga is likely regretting their purchase already, as the number of gamers playing Draw Something has dwindled from its peak at 15 million players a day down to just 10 million.

Are smartphone games doomed to be disposable from the start, or can developers learn from successful series games like Angry Birds? We'll explore this on today's episode, along with more stories about the new Call of Duty: Black Ops II trailer, the forthcoming Walking Dead game and as handful of Calls From the Public!

Bathroom break video: Val Kilmer losing his glasses

Ep. 1045: Where we're outed on Facebook

Episode 1,045

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The 404 1,044: Where we make May day (podcast)

Tue, 1 May 2012 13:05:51 -0700

(Credit: Brecht Vandenbroucke)

Could you last a year without the Internet? It's not the first time we've heard of someone going off the grid, but a guy from The Verge has decided to spend the next year offline, so we'll challenge each other to do the same.

In other online news, Facebook has launched a new organ donor tool for Timeline that lets users add a life story to their profiles with a link to sign up for donation services in their area. Mark Zuckerberg went on ABC news and credited Steve Jobs as inspiration to use social networking to help the more than 114,000 American citizens waiting for organ donations.

Would you continue to pay for Hulu if it required you to pay for cable or satellite television? The video-streaming service is rumored to be switching from the free model we've come to love to a plan that asks viewers to prove their subscription to cable or satellite TV.

Hulu's 31 million users generated $420 million in ad revenue for the service last year, and even though we may not see it materialize for a few years, we'll spend a few minutes today discussing the ramifications of such a pay model.

Bathroom break video: Dog guards owner's bike while he's away.

Ep. 1044: Where we make May day

Episode 1,044

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Get touchy with BlackBerry 10

Tue, 1 May 2012 13:05:00 -0700

In today's show, it's time to get touchy with BlackBerry, bite your nails over courtroom drama, and share your spleen on Facebook:

Research in Motion showcased the new BlackBerry 10 operating system and its new touch-screen keyboard. Senior Editor Brian Bennett called the keyboard 'freakishly smart, and it was as if the device could read his mind.

On Facebook, you can now add organ donor information to your timeline. To add it to your profile, select life event, and find it under health and wellness.

The first phase of the Oracle v. Google trial heads to jury. Google argues it used Java fairly when creating the Android operating system.

And send a quick free $5 gift card to a Facebook friend with Wrapp.

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Wrapp: Giving you free stuff to 'gift' to your Facebook friends

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:29:35 -0700

Wrapp partners will spot you gift-card money you can give to your contacts... if they qualify.

(Credit: Screenshot by Rafe Needleman/CNET)

Wrapp rolled out in the U.S. today. It's a mobile/Facebook gifting platform, kind of like Karma, which I covered recently and liked quite a lot. I don't think Wrapp is as slick or as fun as Karma, but it's got a devilishly clever business model, and I'm having a hard time seeing how it can go wrong.

See my Reporters' Roundtable interview with Wrapp CEO Hjalmar Winbladh, below, for more. His perspective on the business of gift-giving is interesting, and it might help you come up with ways you can think around the edges of your business.

What Wrapp does that's so clever: It combines gift-giving with targeted marketing with social metrics. The idea is that if you want to gift someone (I guess that's a verb now), Wrapp will look at the person you're thinking of, figure out where they are and how valuable they are to the Wrapp partners, and display for you a number of potential gift card option. For example, if you're looking at getting something for your fashionable girlfriend, you might see a $10 gift card from H&M you can give her -- at no cost to you.

You can add on to the gift card value (and you'd better, you lout), to give her $100 (at a $90 cost). Or you can just cheap out and go for the freebie.

Either way, H&M gets a good potential customer into the store, and for a very reasonable (to H&M) expense of only $10.

Wrapp, of course, takes a fee when the "card," which resides on the recipient's smartphone, is redeemed. The company also helps brands collect data on who's connecting with whom. If the companies working with Wrapp are smart, they're also correlating big data about who's buying what based on their social profiles.

Personally, I'd rather pay for a box of chocolates with cash and give that as a gift; I don't like the thought of an honest gesture being exploited as a datapoint on some product marketing wonk's Powerpoint. But that's because I'm a romantic. Wrapp is a smart business and it really could help more people connect through gifts and gift-like gestures.

Reporter's Roundtable Ep. 122: Free gifts for your Facebook friends, with Wrapp

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Show notes

[0:30] The Wrapp pitch.

[2:00] The qualification angle.

[4:00] You call this a gift?

[5:00] Lessons from the launch in Sweden?

[6:15] The gift card market in the U.S. is $100 billion!

[7:00] Discussion of the mobile angle on Wrapp.

[8:20] Why gift cards are so popular as gifts.

[9:00] Comparison to Karma.

[10:00] Talking about the launch of Wrapp in the U.S

[12:00] How hard or easy is it to sell Wrapp to clients?

[13:30] Is there a Groupon danger with Wrapp gift cards?

[15:30] Wrapp-up (sorry).

Microsoft's got the hots for Nook

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:58:00 -0700

Every weekday afternoon, CNET Update delivers the top tech stories of the day. The show keeps a close eye on emerging trends, hot devices and new apps. And it's all in less than three minutes.

In today's show, Microsoft's got the hots for Nook, LG has its head in the cloud, and we're battling pigs in space! (space! space! space!):

Microsoft is investing $300 million in a new Barnes & Noble subsidiary that will handle digital and college business. With this investment, expect the Nook to become a stronger player against the Kindle and iPad.

A Dell executive says demand is greater than expected for the XPS 13 ultrabook. It's thin and light, but heavy on the wallet.

Walmart will begin selling U Prepaid-brand phones in May.

Nintendo gives the 3DS a new color option with Midnight Purple, available May 20th.

Groupon sells 1.5 million Groupon Now deals in the first year.

LG is taking on the iCloud and launching LG Cloud Beta on Tuesday.

More than 50 million people have downloaded Angry Birds Space since it launched (pun intended) a month ago.

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Zillow launches Android app for rentals (podcast)

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:24:10 -0700

If you've ever been curious about the price of a particular house in America, chances are you've been to Zillow.com. That's the site that lets you type in an address to find out its estimated sale price (called a "Zestimate") along with details about the house and, in most cases, the exact date and price it last sold for as well as information about property taxes, nearby schools, and neighboring homes.

In addition to sale prices, the company also estimates rental prices and displays rentals in your area.

Zillow Rentals Android App displays listings of nearby rental units

(Credit: Screen shot by Larry Magid)

Having all this on the Web is great, but if you're looking for housing -- whether to buy or rent -- at some point you have to go out and look at properties, which is when mobile apps are key. The company had earlier released listing apps for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, iPad and even the Kindle Fire. But now it's offereing a rental app for Android, designed to help people who are looking to rent houses, apartments, condos, or townhouses.

The new app allows users to enter their location or draw on a map to select the area they're searching in. They can specify the type of housing they're looking for and get notifications when new rental homes that meet their criteria come on the market. They can also compare homes to side by side.

In an interview (scroll down to listen to podcast), Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff said the new app has "hundeds of thousands" listings, rent Zestimates, and other data on rental properties." There is currently no dedicated iPhone rental app, but the general iPhone real estate app does have rental estimates. He said that rent estimates typically come in within 7 percent of actual rental prices.

Audio interview with Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff

Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff

(Credit: Zillow.com)

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The 404 1,043: Where we advocate hacking (podcast)

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:14:53 -0700

(Credit: CNET/The 404 )

Our old friend Andrew Mager joins us in the studio this morning to tell us what it takes to earn the role of Hacker Advocate over at Spotify.

He'll also give us a live demo of some of the popular apps you can download for Spotify that help you discover new music, browse music lyrics, read more about your favorite artists, scan your albums using a Web cam, and more. Somewhere during this episode, we also decide to start a four-man band, so let us know what you think our name should be.

Other stories we'll cover after the break include Ikea's new disposable Knappa camera, a 92-year-old bootlegger that's sent more than 4,000 boxes of copied DVDs to soldiers overseas, and an upcoming rally at Citi Field against...the Internet.

Bathroom break video: Siri auto destroy on iPhone 5

Ep. 1043: Where we advocate hacking

Episode 1,043

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Kindle Fire hotter than any Android tablet

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:14:00 -0700

Every weekday afternoon, CNET Update delivers the top tech stories of the day. The show keeps a close eye on emerging trends, hot devices and new apps. And it's all in less than three minutes.

In today's show, Kindle is king, Google's got Zergs and gamers are gabbing:

Amazon had a stellar start to 2012 with it's Q1 earnings report outshining analyst predictions. And ComScore reports that there are more people using Kindle Fire tablets than any other Android tablet. (The Galaxy Tab family of tablets come in second.)

The controversial CISPA bill has been approved by the House and will now head to the Senate.

Do a Google search for Zerg Rush and see what happens.

The Brydge turns your iPad into a laptop/tablet hybrid.

Gamers can now Skype on the PlayStation Vita. It runs in the background, and alerts you during a game when there's an incoming call.

And looking ahead, there's lots of smartphone news coming next week. BlackBerry World begins Tuesday, and expect to hear more about the Blackberry 10 operating system. Wireless trade show CTIA also takes place next week. And we'll be hearing more about the Samsung Galaxy S3.

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The 404 1,042: Where the Enterprise has landed (podcast)

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:26:15 -0700

(Credit: Explow)

Steve Sphere Guttenberg returns to close out the week and he's calling on all our listeners to submit and vote for their favorite speakers, sound bars, headphones, subwoofers, and other home theater products for the first ever Stevie Awards for Excellence in Audio. So far, my personal top pick, the Koss PortaPros, are leading the headphones category!

Steve also tells Jeff and me about the leaps in technology that blew his mind growing up, the most prolific of which happens to be a head-shaped JVC binaural recording device that he used as a wingman in bars around New York -- at least I think this is what he said, but you'll have to listen to today's show for more details.

Ep. 1042: Where the Enterprise has landed

Episode 1,042

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Can Groupon grow up?

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:16:00 -0700

Every weekday afternoon, CNET Update delivers the top tech stories of the day. The show keeps a close eye on emerging trends, hot devices and new apps. And it's all in less than three minutes.

In today's show, we speculate on Spotify, shop online with cash, and crack open a beer to look mature:

It seems the controversial cyber security bill CISPA (short for Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act) is on shaky ground. The White House threatened to veto the bill, saying it endangers the privacy of Americans and gives Homeland Security too much power.

Groupon's CEO held a staff meeting to discuss the company's future and how he hopes to see the company grow up. It's just hard to take that seriously if he's holding employee meetings while drinking.

Walmart lets you shop online -- and pay with cash. No credit card? No problem. Order at Walmart.com and pay in store.

Samsung won't unveil the Galaxy S3 (or whatever it will be named) until next week. But in the meantime, we know the phone has gone quad-core.

Spotify could be moving into Pandora's territory. Bloomberg reports that Spotify is working on a customizable radio player that's similar to Pandora.

And we ended the show with a great question from CNET reader iPlayNice. The comment was about AT&T customers who are hanging on to an old unlimited data contract. Will AT&T allow the unlimited data contract to continue for a 4G iPhone? Yes, they will. (Unless AT&T changes its stance.) Right now, if you switch from an iPhone to a 4G Lumia 900, you still can hang on to your unlimited data contract. But you will experience data throttling if you use more than 5GB on the 4G network.

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The 404 1,041: Where we unbox this box (podcast)

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:47:41 -0700

(Credit: http://www.metayweando.tk/)

Jeff and I find ourselves in a conversation about candy in this morning's preshow that bleeds over into today's recorded episode. Why? Well, we heard a story about Steve Jobs proposing a Willy Wonka style contest to celebrate the sale of the millionth original Apple iMac.

It comes from a book coming out soon called "Insanely Simple: The Obsession That Drives Apple's Success," and it talks about how Steve wanted to put a custom gold ticket inside a single iMac box that would land the winner a trip to Cupertino, Calif., for a tour of the Apple factory -- not quite as exciting as Oompa Loompas and a chocolate waterfall, but at least you'd get reimbursed for the iMac. As awesome as it would be to see a picture of Steve Jobs dressed as Wonka, it turns out that California law prohibits contests that require a purchase for entry, so it never happened.

Regardless, Jeff is extra psyched for today's episode because there's a ton of video-game related stories in the rundown. Unfortunately, it's not all good news for Nintendo, who posted a disappointing annual loss of $460 million last year due to dismal Wii sales and slashed 3DS prices to attract new customers. The company plans to turn things around later this year with the release of the Wii U, but Jeff is skeptical that it can reach its goal of earning 820 billion yen at the end of this fiscal year.

In other gaming news, there's no way that this NBA Baller Beats game is real, except that it definitely is. The game hopes to improve your basketball handling skills by asking you to dribble a real basketball (ball not included) in your living room in time to the beat of a soundtrack. The game features tracks from Kanye, the Gorillaz, Run-DMC, Skrillex, Common, and more, but the ambitious game looks really lame in comparison to actually playing in a court. I also foresee plenty of broken televisions due to poor dribbling in its future as well...

Bathroom break video: 007 Theme Played on Daisy-chained Floppies

Ep. 1041: Where we unbox this box

Episode 1,041

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How Wavii understands news (Reporters' Roundtable)

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:04:06 -0700

The startup Wavii fascinates me. I've spend a career honing my writing and analysis skills, and here comes a punk startup that can read what I write and summarize it in a clear headline that's often better than my own.

How does it do it? Is my job threatened? I sat down with the CEO of Wavii, Adrian Aoun, and we talked about how the product works, why he built it, and how it traces its lineage back to the famous linguist Noam Chomsky.

For more on Wavii, read my review, Wavii groks the news so you don't have to.

Reporters' Roundtable Ep. 121: Wavii founder on the future of news

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Show notes

[0:50] Adrian Aoun introduced

[1:15] Aoun introduces Wavii: It's like Facebook for news

[3:20] "When Facebook bought Instagram, it didn't change its relationship status."

[4:00] Why do we need a timeline, when the news is already in front of us?

[7:00] How does Wavii do what it does: Write headlines that are better than what a story's author writes?

[10:00] What is the Wavii technology based on? How is it different from or the same as how people learn language?

[12:50] How did you come to work in the field?

[16:00] How does Wavii use social network or other signals?

[20:00] What is the role of the writer, then?

[23:00] Wrap-up

CISPA debate heats up

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:29:00 -0700

Every weekday afternoon, CNET Update delivers the top tech stories of the day, exploring why it matters and how it impacts your life. The show keeps a close eye on emerging trends, hot devices and new apps.

And it's all in less than three minutes. Watch today's show:

Stories from Wednesday's CNET Update:

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The 404 1,040: Where we've got 404 in your cup (podcast)

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:37:43 -0700

(Credit: Jill Schlesinger)

Aunt Jill is on the show once again, back by popular demand to tell us more about Apple's massive earnings that blew past our initial profit forecast.

She'll also update us on her LinkedIn privacy fiasco and answer more questions from our listeners -- this week's advice includes what to do with extra savings, tips to reduce interest on school loans, how to use 401(k) rollover at a new job, and more.

We tried to answer everyone's questions today, but be sure to follow Jill Schlesinger on Twitter if you think of another. If not, Jill will be back on the show in two weeks, so get ready!

Bathroom break video: Floor opens up and eats Chinese teenager.

Ep. 1040: Where we've got 404 in your cup

Episode 1,040

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Google goes for a Drive

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:38:00 -0700

Stories from Tuesday's CNET Update:

Google Drive launches today
Shortage of blue and white versions of Nokia Lumia 900
Startup wants to start mining asteroids
Netflix earnings report
Windows 8 preview in June
Today's App to Watch: Lego Super Hero Movie Maker

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The 404 1,039: Where we start back at one (podcast)

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:28:38 -0700

(Credit: http://www.garfield.com)

Of all the terrible video game movie adaptations, the 1991 version of "Super Mario Bros." got the most critical reaction.

Its story is chronicled in a new book called "Generation Xbox: How video games invaded Hollywood," so we'll spend some time today dissecting all the negative reviews and discover how it became a cult favorite.

Bridget Carey joins us for the first half with a backstage pass to her new show, CNET Update!

It rounds up all the top tech stories of the day and keeps a close eye on product updates, emerging trends, and new apps, so be sure to follow CNET Update on Twitter and share your feedback at update@cnet.com. Congratulations Bridget!

After the break, we'll run through the top 10 most outdated gadgets you can still buy to this day. The list is incomplete, though -- my suggestion? Those VHS tape rewinders shaped like sports cars.

Got one of your own? Send us a video voice mail to the404(at)cnet(dot)com and let us know!

Bathroom break video: The Yo-Yo trick you've never seen

Video voice mail: Dan on Gray's Peak

Ep. 1039: Where we start back at one

Episode 1,039

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Get your daily tech news fix with CNET Update

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:26:00 -0700

I'm proud to introduce the first episode of CNET Update, our new tech news show. Every weekday afternoon, CNET Update delivers the top tech stories of the day, exploring why it matters and how it impacts your life. The show keeps a close eye on emerging trends, hot devices and new apps. As your host, I'll also give you a heads up about upcoming news and announcements.

And it's all in less than three minutes. Take a look:

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CNET Update is the tech news you need, fast and complete. It'll publish every afternoon, so be sure to sync up with the video or audio podcast to listen on your commute home. You can also catch it on CNET's mobile apps, and subscribe to the CNET Update newsletter for links to all the stories mentioned in the show. For all our episodes and links to subscribe to the podcast, visit CNET.com/Update.

Today is also the launch of CNET's new interactive video player, which you can find on stories throughout CNET News. While I'm discussing a story in the show, a link to more information will appear on the right side of the video player. Click on the link and the video will pause, opening the story in a new window.

The new interactive video player includes links to stories mentioned in CNET Update.

We hope you find the show to be a helpful source of insight into the exciting and ever-changing tech world. And please share your feedback with us at update@cnet.com, or send a message via Twitter to @BridgetCarey or @CNETUpdate. We want to hear what you think as the show evolves.

Thanks for watching.

(Credit: Sarah Tew / CNET)

The 404 1,038: Where you're going to want to sit down for this (podcast)

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:14:47 -0700

(Credit: http://errthng.com/)

Crusty Craigslist may finally be getting an update based on this job listing for a senior user-interface engineer, so Jeff and I are brainstorming the features we think Craig should incorporate in CL2.0.

Jeff likes to indulge in the art of self-reflection, and a friendly chat about Blu-ray discs this weekend inspires him to question the value of physical discs and their jewel cases. On that note, what is the best way to display a collection? Is it on...what are they called again? Oh yeah, towers? A discussion on subtle self-promotion follows.

Next we'll talk about the dangers of sitting and a study out of Australia that shows people who sit more than 11 hours a day are 45 percent more likely to die in the next three years than their active counterparts that sit less than four hours a day. Confused? Get off your butt a few times a day and you'll be fine.

Finally, it's no surprise that Google maintains a dossier on each of its users, but what information can wireless providers extract from your phone calls and text messages? The answer is "the same, if not more," according to a story in the Los Angeles Times that claims women's focus shifts from their spouse to their adult daughter as they age, demoting husbands' familial popularity down to second place or lower.

And finally, just to even the playing field, we'll also relay yet another study that says women are twice as likely to accidentally hit the gas pedal by mistake while driving on freeways in North Caroline and beyond. As we tell this story, please remember that The 404 merely reports the news, and these statements don't necessarily reflect a modicum of seriousness on our behalf...you know, as usual.

Video Voicemail: Australia in Phillip

Ep. 1038: Where you're going to want to sit down for this

Episode 1,038

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The 404 1,037: Where Wayne Brady gives the Internet a swirly (podcast)

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:10:24 -0700

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Wayne Brady makes his second appearance on The 404 today to expand on some of the gaming topics we covered back at CES in Vegas, but first he has a few words for his Twitter trolls.

He's daring all of them to show up to his improvisational comedy show at the Gotham Comedy Club here in NY. He's putting on three shows running today through Sunday and would love to face his critics in person, so check it out!

Wayne mentioned that he's always been into video games, so he'll update us on what he's playing these days and touch on why he thinks society tends to use gaming as scapegoat for youth violence.

Finally, Wayne is announcing two very special projects exclusively on The 404: one is a new improv show coming this summer to ABC called "Trust Us With Your Life," and the other is an upcoming smartphone app that gets personal with his classic skit on Chappelle's Show: it's called "Is Wayne Brady Gonna Have to Choke a _______!

Ep. 1037: Where Wayne Brady gives the internet a swirly

Episode 1,037

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The 404 1,036: Where they should make a movie out of that (podcast)

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:34:08 -0700

(Credit: http://diary.chromeo.net)

Nike is introducing a new RSVP system on Twitter to handle the release of its limited edition sneakers, and we think Microsoft and Sony should adopt a similar model for their new consoles so fools like Jeff won't have to camp out in the cold.

Here's how it works: Nike will send out a Tweet at random on release day that includes a specific hashtag that prospective buyers will then have to copy into a Direct Message back to the company, along with the last four digits of any government-issued ID and shoe size. Stores will then contact buyers on a first come, first serve basis and arrange for local pick up, and confirmed recipients must present their ID to redeem the sneakers. Make sense? Death to lines!

It's just me and Jeff on today's show, but Richard will chime in as well when we discuss some of our favorite TV shows on the air right now in a segment about Netflix releasing a new season of "Arrested Development." We read today that the streaming site will also make all ten episodes in the new season available at the same time, so we might all collectively skip a week of 404 episodes when they drop next year.

Lastly, Richard and I let Jeff go off for a couple minutes on people that complain about a lack of privacy in their cars--these are the same people that willingly giving up far more personal information online to sites like Google and Facebook, so what difference is one black box going to make? Check out today's show and let us know what you think!

Bathroom break video: Domino's Pizza safe sound

Ep. 1036: Where they should make a movie out of that

Episode 1,036

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The 404 1,035: Where this episode is spoiler-free (podcast)

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:04:04 -0700

(Credit: Tumblr user: lilvickig)

"Does anyone else want to tackle the "adorkable" Zooey Deschanel after watching those Siri commercials?" You may not be as annoyed with Apple as Jeff, but we can all agree that the latest batch of iPhone 4S commercials have lowered the bar.

After wagging our fingers at Samuel L. Jackson and Zooey for misrepresenting a product still in beta, we'll move onto an article that lists six reasons why being a 30-year-old gamer isn't always so fun. The writer argues that a combination of money, external stress, and just plain growing up have squeezed the excitement out of the gaming experience. Do you agree? Let us know!

After yesterday's chat about the Tupac hologram, we finally get to see a diagram of how the technology actually works. Spoiler alert! We'll also reveal a few of our favorite surprise endings from movies, which also begs the question -- is acknowledging the existence of a spoiler constitute a spoiler itself? Whoa, spoiler inception...find out on today's episode!

Bathroom break video: Larissa's dog Langston loves The 404

Ep. 1035: Where this episode is spoiler-free

Episode 1,035

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The 404 1,034: Where Jeff takes an ice nap (podcast)

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:11:51 -0700

(Credit: Funsterz)

Jeff took a spill on the ice during a hockey game yesterday, but he manages to limp his way into the studio to help us out with today's rundown. We wouldn't be The 404 if we didn't cover the 2Pac holographic concert at Coachella last weekend, and even though it's technically just a clever optical illusion, we're excited about the upcoming 2.0Pac tour and the potential of resurrecting our own favorite performers from history.

Meanwhile, Ikea furniture designers in Sweden have come up with a new way to vertically integrate their furniture with another crucial piece of your living room: the television set.

It's called Uppleva, and it combines an LED flat panel television set with built in speakers, a wireless supwoofer, a baked-in Internet connection, and a combination CD/DVD/Blu-ray player into a console that includes a shelf to house your other electronics. No word yet on how much assembly will be required, but at least its name sounds cooler than this.

Finally, we'll tell you about an upcoming art exhibition in Australia that will feature a scent that encompasses the smell of a MacBook Pro unboxing: everything from the printed ink on the cardboard, the plastic components, and the aluminum used to build the Macbook body itself will be represented in the fragrance we hope will be called "Eau de Chinese Foxconn Factory."

Bathroom break video: Eye drop swag.

Ep. 1034: Where Jeff takes an ice nap

Episode 1,034

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The 404 1,033: Where we break records with Katie Linendoll (podcast)

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:16:56 -0700

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Katie Linendoll returns to the show with big news! She recently entered the Guinness World Records book for slapping the most high fives in a single minute, leaving a certain clown in her dust. Check it out on "All Access Weekly," Katie's new show on Spike TV.

Katie always brings engaging talking points to the show (not to mention the best gifts), and today she has an opinion about the lack of women in the tech scene. She offers suggestions on how the U.S. education system can start a grassroots movement to expose young people to career options in the field, and we'll also explore why working women are underrepresented in tech media.

We'll also chat about the success of Kickstarter and whether or not the business model is an effective way to see an idea through to production. Lastly, Katie will give us a glimpse into her everyday carry and how to truly earn your geek cred.

You can watch Katie on "All Access Weekly" every Thursday at 12/11c on SpikeTV, follow her on Twitter and on her blog.

Ep. 1033: Where we break records with Katie Linendoll

Episode 1,033

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The 404 1,032: Where we get lucky with Morgan Spurlock (podcast)

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:34:43 -0700

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Our guest today is documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, who joins us today to talk about his new film "Comic Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope."

He'll tell us about what it was like to meet geek royalty like Joss Whedon, Stan Lee, Frank Miller, Kevin Smith, and more. We also ask him about his own history with comic books and how sci-fi movies pushed him to create his own movies.

Jeff and I love reading comics as well, so we'll all discuss how the comic publishing industry is shifting to digital comics and how it affects the way we read and collect.

We also want to know more about New Blood, an exhibit on street art that Morgan is curating at the Thinkspace Gallery in Culver City, California. It brings together established artists like Albert Reyes and Saber with their apprentices to highlight work from the next generation. The show kicks off April 28 and runs through May 19.

Be sure to follow Morgan Spurlock on Twitter and check out Comic Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope, screening now in theaters across the country and on-demand!

Ep. 1032: Where we get lucky with Morgan Spurlock

Episode 1,032

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Reporters' Roundtable: Google Glasses you can buy today

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:00:00 -0700

It is the coolest tech demo we've seen this year: Google's Project Glass, which is an effort to create a glasses-based heads-up display for the real world.

With the Google glasses, you look out a window and get a weather report overlaid on your field of view. Look at a product and get information about it. Look at a bus stop and see when the next bus is arriving. Share photos. And maybe even look at a face and get the name that goes with it. Who wouldn't love that?

If you can't wait for Google to launch its augmented-reality product, I hope you like snow because Recon Instruments makes a heads-up display product just for skiers. Today, I'm talking with two guests about Google Glasses, the Recon products, and personal augmented-reality in general with:

Martin LaMonica, senior writer for CNET News
Dan Eisenhardt, CEO of Recon Instruments

Reporters' Roundtable Ep. 120: Google Glasses

Discussion points

[0:10] Intro video.

[1:30] Guests introduced.

[2:00] The Project Glass news reviewed.

[3:25] The Recon Instruments products for skiers.

[4:20] What can users process? Let's talk about safety.

[5:15] Is Google's campaign good for the AR business?

[6:00] Martin, are people ready for this? Is the product ready for people?

[7:20] Are these things real yet?

[8:00] A review of the technologies required to make AR glasses work.

[11:00] Was Google testing retinal projection technology?

[12:20] Dan shows us his product for skiers.

[13:45] How does Google get the information necessary to make this idea work.

[15:10] Let's talk about safety and distraction.

[16:20] Are we going to see ads popping up in our field of view?

[17:45] How much does this stuff cost?

[18:50] When will the Google Glasses be available?

[19:50] What else is happening at the Google labs?

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One last time to get Loaded

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:56:00 -0700

One last time to get Loaded

Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded:

Android app security flaw
Google+ redesign gets mocked
Sony launches SmartWatch
And this is the final episode of Loaded! In just a few days, we will launch our new daily tech news show, CNET Update. We thank you for watching Loaded all these years, and we can't wait to show you what we have in store.

Listen Now: Download Today's Podcast

The 404 1,031: Where it's cheaper if you get our e-book (podcast)

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:55:11 -0700

(Credit: http://penny-arcade.com)

CNET laptop editor Scott Stein returns to The 404 guest seat, and the room is apparently full of onions today as we discuss this short film about a 9-year-old's homebrew cardboard arcade. If you look closely at Jeff's face during this segment, you may even catch a rare glimpse of his upturned frown.

We'll also introduce you to a highly funded Kickstarter campaign for an iPhone and Android-compatible smart watch that goes the opposite direction of traditional e-watches and uses a digital ink display (similar to the original Amazon Kindle) that lets users check messages, play music, and more without the threat of sun glare or unreadable reflections.

We'll also explore an article on CNET today about the outcome of an e-book price war between the five major book publishers and Amazon.com, who they claim are undercutting the industry at 45 percent off the cover price, effectively doubling its price break.

CNET's Nathan Bransford argues that most of the costs associated with printing a physical book come from expenses that digital authors also face; things like author advances, cover design, marketing, and publicity costs. Read the rest of the article for more of Nathan's insights in the world of e-book publishing.

Ep. 1031: Where it's cheaper if you get our e-book

Episode 1,031

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Vic Gundotra: How we claim 170M Google+ users (Reporters' Roundtable)

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:48:50 -0700

Google launched a redesigned version of the social network Google+ this morning. In the blog post announcing the upgrade, Google Senior Vice President of Social Vic Gundotra wrote, "More than 170 million people have upgraded to Google+." What does that really mean? Are 170 million people using the social network the way they use Facebook? I talked to Gundotra, as well as VP of Product for Google+ Bradley Horowitz, on a special Reporters' Roundtable interview this morning.

When I asked Gundotra how many people are using Google+, he deftly told me I was looking at it wrong. "You have to understand what Google+ is," he said. "It's really the unification of all of Google's services, with a common social layer."

Reporters' Roundtable Ep. 119: Google+ leaders talk about the redesign

This counting method is a bit fuzzier than techies might like, but Gundotra does get a little more specific: "We really mean anyone using a Google property, signed in as a Google+ user, and taking advantage of the social graph. It's pretty stunning number."

To focus on just the Google+ landing page misses the point, he maintains. When asked how many people actually go to plus.google.com, he says, "It's a misunderstanding of the Google strategy to focus on... the stream. Then you're not getting the Google+ strategy."

In other words, to understand Google's numbers, you have to see the social Web the way Google does, which is quite different from the way you might be accustomed to if you're used to thinking of the social Web as the leading social network, Facebook, has defined it.

The new Google+ design leaves more room for growth, its creators say.

(Credit: Screenshot by Rafe Needleman/CNET)

Google execs see Google+'s features as a layer of social functionality on top of Google's services. More specifically, users' social signals, like those from the +1 feature, don't just show up on Google+. Rather, the change Google's core function, search -- at least for people you're socially connected to.

As Bradley Horowitz says, "The +1 button gives you the opportunity to provide contextual value. It changes what used to be spam into a gesture of generosity."

Google's Google+ leaders say they are happy with the way people are using the service, while effectively avoiding a discussion about the success of Google+ as a standalone destination.

Meanwhile, however, it's clear that Google+ is being prepped as a platform for major new initiatives. Horowitz said that a big reason for the redesign was to "make space in an information architecture sense, for where to put new stuff." He wouldn't say what this new stuff is, but in the new page design there's a lot of white space where information from other services could show up. The new, customizable nav bar could also handle apps, either from Google or other developers.

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The battle over e-book prices

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:38:00 -0700

The battle over e-book prices

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

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The 404 1,030: Where bubble is a bad word (podcast)

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:17:39 -0700

(Credit: Twitter user: Pleatedjeans)

Aunt Jill Schlesinger of CBS Moneywatch and Jill on Money is back in the studio today answering all your financial questions and helping us make sense of Facebook's $1 billion purchase of Instagram.

She also gets heated with another social network -- LinkedIn. We'll collectively discover the perils of stalking your ex-coworkers on the site and why an active profile on LinkedIn is kind of like cheating on your current employer.

In light of the recent Mega Millions jackpot reaching an estimated $640 million, Jill also helps us decide what to do with the money, if it ever happens again. Pay attention if you don't want the winnings to ruin your life, and listen up as Jill establishes a solid financial plan to manage the money!

Ep. 1030: Where bubble is a bad word

Episode 1,030

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CNET audio podcasts Uber-feed

Facebook's price too high for a 'fad'?

The 404 1,054: Where we're gonna need to see some ID (podcast)

Ep. 1054: Where we're gonna need to see some ID

Episode 1,054

iCloud gets a lift

The 404 1,053: Where we'll never pay for that (podcast)

Ep. 1053: Where we'll never pay for that

Episode 1,053

Pay $2 to promote your Facebook status?

The 404 1,052: Where we meet the million dollar man (podcast)

MLB 2K12 champion visits the 404

Ep. 1052: Where we meet the million dollar man

Episode 1,052

Bing pings Facebook

The 404 1,051: Where we were big in the '90s (podcast)

Ep. 1,051: Where we were big in the '90s

Episode 1,051

Ultrabooks no longer ultra-pricey

The 404 1,050: Where we're a little off-color (podcast)

Ep. 1050: Where we're a little off-color

Episode 1,050

Yahoo's 'resumegate' heats up

The 404 1,049: Where so, it's come to this (podcast)

Ep. 1049: Where so, it's come to this

Episode 1,049

The 404 1,048: Where we can't believe how much it made (podcast)

Ep. 1048: Where we can't believe how much it made

Episode 1,048

Hangout live with the world on G+

Evernote CEO Phil Libin talks valuations and bubbles

Evernote CEO Phil Libin

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Microsoft's got the hots for Nook

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The 404 1,043: Where we advocate hacking (podcast)

Ep. 1043: Where we advocate hacking

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Kindle Fire hotter than any Android tablet

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Can Groupon grow up?

The 404 1,041: Where we unbox this box (podcast)

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Episode 1,041

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Reporters' Roundtable Ep. 121: Wavii founder on the future of news

CISPA debate heats up

The 404 1,040: Where we've got 404 in your cup (podcast)

Ep. 1040: Where we've got 404 in your cup

Episode 1,040

Google goes for a Drive

The 404 1,039: Where we start back at one (podcast)

Ep. 1039: Where we start back at one

Episode 1,039

Get your daily tech news fix with CNET Update

The 404 1,038: Where you're going to want to sit down for this (podcast)

Ep. 1038: Where you're going to want to sit down for this

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The 404 1,037: Where Wayne Brady gives the Internet a swirly (podcast)

Ep. 1037: Where Wayne Brady gives the internet a swirly