make

The number of programs claiming to allow conversion of video files and DVDs makes choosing an appropriate one difficult. MakeMKV for Mac performs this task well, but its lack of features and relatively complicated interface may make it a less desirable option for average users.

The program seems to be available as freeware, but its documentation states it is a beta version that will stop functioning after 60 days. It also states that downloading the latest version will reset this time limit. Installation was more complicated than expected and required us to accept a lengthy agreement disclaiming the developer's … Read more

With many photo-editing applications on the market, it's hard to choose one that is legitimately useful or at least amusing. Make Me Bald is neither. It functions poorly and features are limited.

This app loads easily and it's quite straightforward due to its uncomplicated nature. The application initially hesitated when opened, but eventually opened to a stock image. A universal menu button at the bottom of the screen allows you to take a picture from within the application. We tested this app on three different devices -- Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Acer Iconia A100, and Asus Transformer Pad -- … Read more

When I finally upgraded my desktop computer's hard drive to an SSD, I nearly slapped myself for not doing it sooner. There's just something so magical about your computer booting up in less than 10 seconds, or watching games load in a blink of an eye.

Memory makers Crucial and Micron released a video that shows the manufacturing process behind the SSD, and in some ways, the speedy drive represents a work of art. … Read more

Before we take on the Subway issue, we start today's show welcoming Ariel back from the dead. He spent the last week in bed, proving our theory once again that CES is bad for your health and should be treated accordingly.

On to the news. Google's security team just released a new research paper where GP Eric Grosse unveiled his vision of our future in terms of Web security.

Phishing attacks, malware, and poor password choices are making it hard to keep private data in the cloud, but Grosse proposed a new method called the Yubikey USB card that automatically logs you into your Google account when you plug it in. If you're thinking that sounds like a step back, check out what Google has to say.… Read more

We've had some awesome guests on The 404 Show before, but nothing could have prepared us for Danny DeVito. Well, except for all the preshow preparation we did. None of that mattered though, because Mr. DeVito stole the show with a wiggle of a toe on his #trollfoot.

At the CES 2013 CNET stage, Mr. DeVito joined us to talk about filmmaking, Twitter, social media, and the story behind his Twitter profile picture. The iconic star has appeared in countless legendary films and currently plays Frank Reynolds on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."… Read more

The phrase "immersive experience" gets bandied about quite a bit when talking about technology. I wouldn't use those words to describe the online video experience... until now. The Making View 360-degree ViewCam video system brings you into the action much more than a regular clip.

Remember those panoramic house tours that were popular for a while on real estate sites? The ViewCam videos created with Red Bull are like that on steroids -- with a shot of adrenaline on the side. … Read more

The zombie craze is everywhere: movies, television, and even large-scale events. MakeMeZombie aims to bring the zombie fun to your Android device, but it could use a few more editing options.

MakeMeZombie is fundamentally a photo-editing app. Though its interface could be more straightforward, we found that the process was actually very simple after a bit of trial and error with the various buttons. You upload a picture from one of your galleries and mark the photo to identify the eyes of the person you want to apply the effects to. You can then apply various texture filters that provide … Read more

123D Make is an app that lets you turn 3D models created in any tool but saved as STL or OBJ files into a real-world product made out of flat (2D) material that can be cut and assembled into a 3D model. While this may sound confusing, you'll instantly recognize some objects made in this way, most likely the 3D dinosaurs assembled out of 2D pieces of wood and sold in toy and museum shops worldwide. 123D Make is a 40MB download that is easy to install.

The 123D Make interface is a little overwhelming to start with, but … Read more

As part of its "make the Web fast" effort, Google has released version 1.0 of a module designed to improve the very widely used Apache software that's very widely used to host Web sites.

The Apache Software Foundation's flagship project is Web server software that delivers Web pages to people's browsers when they request it. It can be extended, and Google believes its mod_pagespeed extension for Apache is ready for use, Google said in a blog post.

"Users prefer faster sites and we have seen that faster pages lead to higher user engagement, … Read more