It's the latest internet webcam sensation that has taken over the BOL crew. Google is bidding for some sweet telecom patents, but is anyone bidding on MySpace? We don't think so. Plus, Computer Love returns to brighten up this Monday.
Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (640x360) | RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS (640x360)… Read moreAmazon scored tops in customer service out of 143 different companies, according to the Temkin Group.
Based on a survey of 6,000 different consumers in January, the 2011 Temkin Experience Ratings rated companies across a variety of industries based on recent dealings with customers. The survey looked at interactions online, in person, and over the phone, and asked consumers how their needs were met, how easy it was to do what they needed to do, and how they felt about the overall experience.
Retail chains did well in the survey, with Amazon followed by Costco, Lowe's, and Sam'… Read more
Happy 404 Day! To celebrate the second most popular day in April, we've kicked Wilson off the show and replaced him with Mark Licea. Happy Monday! Today we're chatting about an immersive new take on Shakespeare's "Macbeth" story, nude therapists working in New York, an Android bootleg that publicly embarrasses pirates, and Web vigilantes Anonymous joining hackers GeoHot and Graf_Chokolo in their fight against Sony.
The 404 Digest for Episode 791 "Sleep No More" offers a modern take on classic theater. Pirates beware: a bootleg Android app punishes with public shaming. A therapist in NYC meets with clients with clothes on, then slowly takes them off. Speaking of nudes, a Web developer site is looking to recruit nude female Web coders. .01% of Wikipedia is equivalent to 952 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica...and it's for sale. Episode 791 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read moreCablevision Systems released an iPad app today that lets subscribers use the tablet at home--instead of just using their television--to view programs carried by the cable-TV distributor.
The news comes as fellow cable TV, Internet, and phone-service purveyor Time Warner Cable wrestles with programmers such as Discovery and Viacom over whether it can legally distribute their content on Apple's tablet via the Internet without paying to do so.
Unlike the Time Warner app, though, Cablevision says its offering sidesteps the Net and instead uses the company's proprietary Advanced Digital Cable network.
In a press release today, Cablevision said … Read more
On Jeff's last day on The 404 before he gets married, Justin unfortunately is out sick, but we've got something better! Ms. Natali Del Conte fills in, and we talk about life after getting married. Jeff admits he'll miss his days as a single guy. Don't worry, though, we'll be around to make sure he gets into enough trouble with his soon-to-be wife.
We do get into some tech stories today, and if you can't tell from the giant picture above, it's about the PSP Phone... or PlayStation Phone. Whatever it's called, we can't really figure out whether the photo, which was leaked on Engadget last night, is legit. It looks like it could be a Photoshop job, as there is nothing about the user interface that says PlayStation. But Jeff wonders out loud whether the oval-shapped indentions in the middle are really analog joysticks? And Natali wonders what's a analog joystick again?
After that, we get into some more Cablevision versus Fox outrage, which has stirred up a lot of questions from non-geeks these days because of the World Series. Scores of people in the Tri-State area are desperately trying to find ways to catch the games, which are still blocked from Cablevision customers. Jeff and Natali literally go on a tirade, while Wilson wants to know how this affects the debate about Net neutrality. (Wilson doesn't subscribe to cable video.)
Finally, we get to some voice mails about how Wilson dresses the best... strange. Maybe it's because he has a larger wardrobe that has more variety than black or flannel shirts? And we also get to a video voice mail from the self-proclaimed 404 Grandpa. Keep those video voice mails or video mails or video mails voices coming!
Episode 696 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read moreThe New Nook Color makes its debut: is it half a loaf or a half-bottle of wine? It's a tortured set of analogies, but we hope you'll get the point. Plus, big news about the show's host lineup (welcome Brian Tong!), Spotify is in the news but still not in the U.S., and the white iPhone 4 officially reaches "annoying tech unicorn" status. Oh, and "Avatar" will never die. Ever. --Molly
Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (640x360) | RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS (640x360)… Read more
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the original "Back to the Future" release, so today we're running down the top 21 BTTF2 innovations everyone is still waiting to see. The list includes classic BTTF gadgets like Marty's self-drying jacket, the Mr. Fusion home energy reactor, and of course flying cars in the Skyway, but there are a few inventions on here that actually do exist in some form or another.
For example, cops in the 21st century may not have scrolling LED hats, but walk into any mall and you'll see a dude walking around in an LED message belt buckle. Same goes for bar code license plates and modern vehicle identification numbers.
Be sure to check to see if your local movie theater is screening the movie tonight at 7 p.m., exactly 25 years from when Marty first went back in time!
Halloween is coming up fast, and the holiday wouldn't be complete without the annual American tradition of forcing your dog to wear uncomfortable costumes for the enjoyment of others. On Saturday I attended the yearly Halloween dog parade in Tompkins Square Park, so check out that link to see some of the funnier costumes, like the "Tron" console, a couple of bedbugs, and my favorite: Antoine Dogson.
In other nerdly news, 23-year-old Brittney Schnecks just finished rebuilding her 1994 Dodge Caravan to look exactly like the Ninja Turtles van from the comic book/cartoon series!
A dedicated fan of the original TV series, Brittney has been building the van since last July using money she saved at her cashier's job. She used a Dodge Caravan instead of a VW due to availability of parts, but the final outcome looks great and even includes fake gun turrets, a spoiler, and hand-painted decals!
Finally, thanks to the two Zachs and Jennifer in the U.K. for sending the following video voicemails. We love watching these, so keep them coming by sending your YouTube link to the404(at)cnet.com!
Jenny from the U.K. has a message for the dudes.
Zach thinks The 404 is the best...we agree!
Episode 694 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read moreIt's been six days since News Corp. pulled Fox from the 3.1 million subscribers to New York-area TV provider Cablevision, and the dispute shows no signs of ending soon.
So if you're one of the afflicted, and want to watch any of Fox's programming--including the national League Championship Series' pivotal Game 5 tonight--here's a reminder that cable TV isn't your only option. Other avenues exist, and might not cost you any extra money.
Hook up an antenna: Chances are good you have an HDTV, and chances are even better that that HDTV has an antenna input on the back. Dust it off and put it to use. Connecting an antenna--whether it's an old one on your roof, a pair of rabbit ears you find in your closet, or a new one you buy today (indoor versions are pretty cheap)--could get you Fox for free right now.
After hookup you'll need to scan for channels on your TV to find the station, and you might have to play around with the antenna location, but for many subscribers in the Cablevision area, an antenna will work. Bonus: You'll get Fox in HD, complete with surround sound, and the picture will probably look better than cable.
If you have an old antenna we recommend trying it. If you need to buy a new one, antennaweb.org is a good place to start. In New York City we've also had good luck with "silver sensor"-based units like the Philips SDV2708 ($18 at Amazon). If you're having trouble getting reception, the FCC's DTV.gov has some tips on antenna placement and a coverage map.
Do not attempt to adjust your picture- today's guest on The 404 Podcast prefers to remain anonymous, even using the pseudonym "Eklund" to protect his sources. Still, there's no way to hide to the giant grin on Jeff's face because Eklund grants us the favor of his first ever video interview, and it's an insider's look at sports blogging and how technology is shaping the future of media.
There's no doubt that he's the expert, either-- Eklund is the founder and CEO of Hockeybuzz.com, a hockey fan's best friend for news, season predictions, game day updates, and more!
But none of us seem to mind that Eklund hides his face on camera, because he brought over his GTR Pedal board that he brings to every game- it's basically a portable broadcast center that allows him to maintain his Twitter page and blog posts, and there's no other way to describe it than straight up NERD PORN (<---click that).
The beautiful spread includes four Apple iPod Touches, an HTC Evo 4G for tethering and Qwik live broadcasts, a Toshiba dual-screen Libretta, an iPad with an AIDA case that has a built-in BT keyboard, a Pico mini projector, a Palm Pre, a Clear Wi-Max modem and router, a Windows tablet PC, and a Snowball mic for podcasting on the run! Our number one recommendation for his next purchase? A full-time bodyguard.
Eklund is truly on the bleeding edge of hockey blogging, and as he tells us stories from the Olympics we begin to understand how the future of media is tenderly shaped by his near-bionic hand. Apparently security at the Olympics weren't thrilled with Eklund broadcasting footage (firsties!) using just his Evo 4G and Qik, the provider for the Evo's video chat application, but Eklund imagines a world where every fan will have the technological ability and the NHL's sanction to record live events from alternate angles, providing a unique perspective on the game play.
There's plenty more we talk about with Eklund, but you'll have to listen to the entire episode to hear the rest of his insights...or, if you're in the New York area, drop by our Fall Meetup tonight to meet Eklund in person--he'll be the guy wearing a full-body radiation suit. We'll all be hanging out at 7:30 p.m. at the Frying Pan bar at the Chelsea Piers. See our 404 Meetup.com page for more details, and don't forget to RSVP!
Episode 682 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read moreWelcome to another week of The 404 Podcast! We're running through several stories on today's episode, including OnStar reading you Facebook updates in the car, Cablevision and Time Warner teaming up to offer "free" public Wi-Fi in NYC parks, carrier pigeons beating the Internet, Americans increasingly distracted by the Internet, a useless product appropriately called the "Textee," and a nerdy new Tumblr that looks at how the Internet and hacking culture are portrayed in film!
Our first story in the rundown is a shameless plug for AccessMainComputerFile, a new blog that pokes fun at images of hacker culture and embellished UI in popular movies like "Independence Day," "Richie Rich," "Terminator 2," and more. Submissions are also welcome, so send over your YouTube links!
Facebook is already a ubiquitous part of daily Interlife, but now OnStar is testing a service that connects your car to the social network as well. The system uses voice recognition and even interprets Web-slang like LOL as "laughing out loud," and drivers can also record audio as status updates without taking their hands off the wheel.
Additionally, if you have an Android-powered phone with Bluetooth, OnStar can receive your text messages and translate them to audio and from there, you can use voice commands to send a reply (like "yes" or "can't talk--driving"). OnStar hopes to have an similar app available for the iPhone soon, but in the meantime iPhone users can download OnStar's MyLink App that shows you service information, tire pressure, and even offers the capability to lock your doors remotely from anywhere in the world.
New York's two main cable providers are teaming up to offer free wireless Internet in select New York City public parks. Before you head out, though, we should mention that Time Warner and Cablevision promise only three free 10-minute sessions per month; after that, you'll be charged $0.99 a day to get on the network. It sounds like a classic bait-and-switch scenario, and we can't see people jumping to pay for public Internet when truly free wireless access is already available in thousands of hot spots around the city.
Everyone complains about sluggish Internet, but a CTO of a U.K. ISP put his own pathetic broadband speeds to the test...against a carrier pigeon. The only thing more bizarre than the test setup is the result: the pigeons were able to deliver the 100MB of video by MicroSD Card faster than it took to upload the clip to YouTube. The stunt is a half-joke, but it makes a good point about the necessity for Net neutrality.
No voice-mails today, so it's up to you to call us up at 1-866-404-CNET and help out the show! You can also hit us up on Twitter or just e-mail us at the404(at)cnet(dot)com!
Episode 669 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more
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