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The 404 1,169: Where we're back in the saddle again (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Did RIM just stage this BlackBerry 10 "leak"?

- Do we need this? Kohler shower head doubles as a wireless speaker.

- Dude builds OSX into old Macintosh Portable, let's talk about RETRO OBSESSION.

- Bionic mannequins spy on shoppers to boost sales.

Bathroom break video: One of the best couples Halloween costumes ever recorded.

Episode 1,169

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Rutgers student gets 30 days for spying on gay roommate with Webcam

A Rutgers University student was sentenced to 30 days in jail today for spying on his gay roommate's romantic encounter, an act that may have been related to the roommate's subsequent suicide.

Dharun Ravi, 20, set up the Webcam several times, urged others to watch and tweeted about watching his roommate, Tyler Clementi, "making out with a dude." The 18-year-old Clementi jumped to his death from a bridge a few days after learning about the spying.

Ravi, who faced up to 10 years in prison, was charged with 15 counts, including invasion of privacy, bias intimidation, … Read more

And, poof, the Winklevoss twins become VCs

The latest job title for the Winklevoss twins -- the Olympian duo made famous for their role in the founding of Facebook -- should come as little surprise. What, after all, do you do when you have more money than you know what to do with and you're just 30 years old?

Naturally, you become a venture capitalist. Or, in the case of Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, just hang out a VC shingle and become Winklevoss Capital. Remember, these Harvard alums gave up their long legal battle with Mark Zuckerberg last June and agreed to a $65 million settlement. … Read more

Watching TV backfires during 'SuriTV' parody

As we well know from that recent video of a surly Scot trying to get Siri to fetch him a jammy dodger, misunderstandings can fast spell disaster during conversations between people and voice recognition software.

Check out this amusing parody by comedic duo Tripp and Tyler that envisions a future with "SuriTV." With rumors circulating regularly about the possible emergence of a real Apple TV, it seems like an appropriate time to imagine the positive and negative aspects of having Siri baked into the boob tube. … Read more

Leaked docs rehash Winklevoss-Facebook drama

Previously sealed court documents leaked to gossip site Radar Online reveal that Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the identical twins who became famous through their portrayal in the film "The Social Network," are continuing their legal action against Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and that Facebook unsurprisingly continues to denounce the claims.

To clarify: This isn't actually a new lawsuit, as a handful of media outlets reported yesterday following a report in the Daily Mail about the Winklevosses suing Facebook again. The U.K. outlet subsequently took down its story.

The partially redacted documents, which surfaced on Radar Online … Read more

Tyler Clementi's death is a call to action

commentary The recent suicide of Tyler Clementi, which raised the visibility of cyberbullying and digital ethics, is serving as a call to action to end something much deeper than that: cruelty, homophobia, and a distorted sense of entitlement to disclose information about others.

Clementi, an 18-year-old freshman at Rutgers University, jumped off the George Washington Bridge after his roommate, Dharum Ravi, and Rutgers student Molly Wei (both also 18) allegedly used a Webcam to record and live-stream Clementi kissing another male in his dorm room.

What these two students did was wrong for a number of reasons--and it would have … Read more

Fox News: Suicide is proof tech dehumanizes

commentary Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old Rutgers University student, leaped off the George Washington Bridge last week, apparently committing suicide after learning that his college roommate had video recorded him during a sexual encounter with another man, according to The New York Times.

Because much of the tragedy has played out online and because a computer cam was used to do the recording, some critics are now warning the public of apocalyptic consequences involved with social networking and technology.

"This 'stunt' isn't just a college prank gone bad," wrote Dr. Keith Ablow, for Foxnews.com. "It is … Read more

Fresh legal woes for ConnectU founders

It must have been quite the unwanted holiday gift: CNET has learned that there's a new lawsuit on the table against Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the identical twins who alleged that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg stole their code and business plan--and who will be prominent supporting characters in the forthcoming film "The Social Network."

Now, a former partner of the twins claims in the suit that he was shut out of ConnectU's own business and is owed a part of the settlement it recovered from the Facebook suit.

The court complaint obtained by CNET, filed December … Read more

The 404 Podcast 473: Where Papa's got a brand new plaid

Jeff is taking the week off to get a head start on Thanksgiving, so Wilson and I invite Mark to help us out on today's episode of The 404 Podcast. After spending a couple days out of the office last week, it feels great to get back in front of the mic. It's no fun being home with the flu, but it did give me an opportunity to check out Twilight. No, not The Twilight Saga: New Moon, I meant the first one, which I never bothered to watch in theaters. I'm glad I didn't spend $12 to watch it, too! Get all the details plus a sneak peek at the new movie in theaters now. Wilson also checked out Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey's new movie, "Precious." The movie also features Mariah Carey and Mo'Nique, who's up for an Academy Award nomination for her performance as Precious' abusive mother.

The first story of the day is about the much-publicized-but-never-materialized Hulu iPhone App. The self-proclaimed "bada**" portable player was first announced in April '09, successfully drumming up hype for a product that never actually came out. Wilson and Mark speculate that it could be because Hulu is preparing to launch a paid version of the streaming video site, which could potentially be holding up development of the iPhone version, which leads us to pose the question: How much would YOU be willing to pay for a monthly Hulu subscription on your iPhone? Do you frequently watch video on your smartphone, and if so, how much does it eat up your battery life? Leave us a comment and let us know.

Mark and Wilson know a thing or two about Black Friday after heading out to Best Buy every year to video tape the anxious shoppers waiting in line, but this year is a different story. While those two are fast asleep in their beds, others will be pushing, fighting, and kicking to get the best deals at their local big box retailers. But as Chris Matyszczyk tells us, some of the deals might not be awesome as they seem. Watch out for deceptively low product quantities that give zero hope for anyone NOT third in line, as well as "derivatives," aka products that are advertised as brand name but are actually "inferior models." If you're planning on waiting in line, be sure to listen to this segment for helpful tips on how and where to shop for the best deals this Black Friday.

We're only recording three shows this week, but be sure to tune in LIVE tomorrow and Wednesday for a few surprise guests and more turkey talk!

EPISODE 473 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS VideoRead more

You can't beat the Tyler Minigyro for image stabilization

Most cameras these days come with some form of image stabilizer, whether it's optical or sensor-shift. However, these implementations have limitations. Taking shots with a telephoto lens extended fully or on a boat in choppy waters will amplify hand shakes that result in blurred images.

The Tyler Minigyro is meant for photographers who shoot from moving vehicles such as boats, cars, and even helicopters. Given that these modes of transportation usually vibrate a fair bit (and even more on rough terrains), you'll need a pretty good stabilizing system to get a clear shot of your subject.

The Minigyro … Read more