squatting

The 404 907: Where we 'stiL be making bank' (podcast)

The existence of the @Qwikster Twitter account proves that even the biggest dummy with Internet access can accidentally stumble into a squatting payout. Jeff dons his reading glasses today to give a dramatic reading of some of our favorite tweets from Mr. Jason Castillo.

We're also looking forward to Facebook's F8 developers conference on Thursday, during which the company is rumored to announce its hyped-up media streaming platform as part of a "major" profile redesign.

Like it or not, Facebook is pushing more for e-commerce and TechCrunch's Leena Rao thinks we'll see more buttons popping up to give users more specific sentiments like "Listened," "Watched," "Read," and maybe even "Want."

Along with a story about girls not using BitTorrent, we'll also report on a story update from three years ago about Heinz's new "Dip and Squeeze" ketchup packet.

Since everyone consumes ketchup differently, Heinz developed a packet that lets the consumer decide whether to squeeze out all the ketchup, or peel back the lid for dipping. And with three times more ketchup per packet than the old design, it might be a sign that Heinz could care less about this country's fight with obesity.

But at least this country earns the top spot in something. We finish the show with a group groan about our country's dismal Internet speeds. According to an article in "The New York Times" last week, the U.S. dropped to 25th in the global ranking of Internet speeds, just behind Romania and the Czech Republic. It could be worse for New Yorkers, however--the report also blasts Idaho for its 318 Kbps "speeds."

Enjoy today's show, and leave us a voice mail at 1-866-404-CNET--we're running low!

The 404 Digest for Episode 907

Twitter's Qwikster wants money from Netflix. Talk of 'major' redesign of Facebook profiles as F8 nears. Facebook to launch Read, Listened, Watched, and Want buttons. Button fatigue settling in at Facebook. Welcome to your Hungarian Internet. For Idaho and the Internet, life in the slow lane. Old Ketchup packet heads for trash. Girls are not into The Pirate Bay, or BitTorrent. Bathroom break video of the day: Flying lawnmower.

Episode 907 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

The 404 535 part deux: Where we're raising money for Sex.com (podcast)

Hey 404 listeners, we're having some trouble with the iTunes feed, so we're hoping this new blog will address the issue. Thanks for your patience!

Your friends, The 404

EPISODE 535 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video

Check back soon for video, sorry for the delay!… Read more

The 404 535: Where we're raising money for Sex.com (podcast)

Natali Del Conte is back from a quick trip to Europe and will be on the show every Thursday to get down with the nerdy dirty. We're hoping that she'll also help us raise $1,000,000 for a bid on Sex.com. The domain has a rich history of ownership and even spurned a book based on its popularity. The site originally belonged to Gary Kremen, founder of Match.com, then changed hands for 14 million dollars to a company called Escom, and is up for auction next month as part of a foreclosure deal. We each have our own ideas about what we would do with it, but we can all get into the idea of broadcasting the Official Sex.com Podcast. If nothing else, the SEO would work much better than The 404.

Rock Band 3 has already been confirmed for the 2010 holiday season, but fans of the franchise can get their Gaga on next week singing the pop star's hit singles "Bad Romance," "Just Dance," "Monster," and "Poker Face." Being the unabashed Lady Gaga fan that I am, I'm obviously ecstatic, but since I don't personally own a gaming console, the best solution would be for YOU to buy it, send me a Twitter message with your address, and I'll be there within the hour. See you soon!

While we're on my favorite topic of conversation, Sony deserves a mention for unveiling its new PS3 motion controller called Move at this year's Game Developers Conference. Phallic though it may appear, the light on top of the handheld device apparently serves a purpose, although you'll have to listen to Jeff's explanation to get the full story, because I'm still scratching my head. Sony hopes that the move will gain popularity among both casual and hardcore gamers, with games that let players simulate sword fights, bows and arrows, guns, and more. You can purchase a Move starter kit this fall that includes the controller, a PlayStation eye camera, and a game all for less than $100. More details to follow!

A very special thanks to 404 listener Bernard in Ottawa for sending us one of the best voice mails we've ever played on Calls From the Public. He calls in reference to Monday's discussion about "Legend of the Guardians," aka Owl Movie, and his delivery has Jeff in tears. It's so good, in fact, that we posted it online for you to hear, so check it out!

EPISODE 535 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Namechk scours 84 sites to find open usernames

Namechk is a new service launching on Wednesday that helps you find open usernames at 84 different Web sites. Like UsernameCheck, a service we covered last year that has since shut down, it takes only a few seconds to come up with the results and provides a link to the page for each user at the sites where it's taken.

What's really impressive about this service is the speed. In a few sample searches, it averaged about 8 seconds from start to finish. And you don't even have to wait to see all the results because they … Read more

SitOrSquat tells you where to go (literally)

SitOrSquat is a handy service that helps you find the nearest public bathroom. Unlike MizPee, which has been doing this since October of last year, SitOrSquat has gotten its act together enough to put out two great apps for iPhones and Blackberry phones. The key benefit of these being the inclusion of GPS, which narrows down where you are with just one click. If you're in a hurry--which is inevitable when using a service like this, this feature is immensely helpful.

In addition to its GPS locating, the mobile application lets you take photos of the facilities from your … Read more

Nombray lets you cybersquat your online identity

Nombray is a new site that lets you buy vanity domains for your name. The service is aimed at people with very little experience setting up a Web site, letting them "squat" the page while funneling any traffic to third-party services they're already using.

On Nombray's home page, you simply type in your first and last name, and the site will search to see which coordinating domains have been taken and which are still available. From there, you're able to claim available domains for $20 a pop, which gets you a free year of hosting … Read more