The 404 341: Where we like Natali a-latte
On today's show, we've got Wilson Tang backers calling to defend the man.Lots of e-mails as well from supporters, who think finding out Tyler Perry is in a movie is about as much of a non-spoiler as you can get. But if you really want spoilers, check out Wilson's lastest Tumblr post, where he finds many faults in the new "Star Trek."In more stories from the Interwebs, Craigslist has finally acquiesced to state attorneys general, who wanted the erotic service section taken down. Now, a new section will appear, which will be moderated by Craigslist employees. We think it's too bad that all it took was one bad apple to ruin it for everyone. Now, Jeff has to find a new side job.Speaking of bad apples, Microsoft has been running these "Laptop Hunter" ads on television, and Apple comes back with its own "Megan" ad.We just think it's hilarious that these customers end up buying a 10-pound monster with a 22-inch screen. Wilson thinks it's even funnier that a "filmmaker" would buy a PC to edit her film on.What's she going to use?Windows Movie Maker?Come on, if you can afford Avid, the price difference between a Mac and a PC is trivial.Natali's best contribution to the show today is that she says the words "penis phone" on air and teaches us the Spanish slang for "schlong." Apparently, Venezuela's leftist president Hugo Chavez is releasing a government-subsidized cell phone named after a certain male body part. It's because of the vibration function we suspect.Finally, "404" shows up in some of the most random places.Check this out. It's a demolished building with a 404 sign. Be sure to send in your favorite 404 signs around the world at the404 (at) cnet (dot) com. Or drop us a voice mail with more Wilson love at 1-866-404-CNET (2638).EPISODE 341Download today's podcast Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video Craigslist to remove 'erotic services' sectionVenezuela's penis phoneApple responds to Microsoft's 'Laptop Hunter' ads404-signs'Star Trek' was great, but...Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson Tang
Lego Harry Potter- Years 5-7 debuts for iOS
Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 debuts for iOS
I'm a full-grown adult, and I must confess that some of my favorite Xbox games have "Lego" in the title.Lego Star Wars, Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones -- these games may be aimed at kids, but they're funny, clever, and thoroughly entertaining for all ages.Alas, although they're available for nearly every platform known to man, only one has made its way to iOS: Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4. It was great -- but it was also 18 months ago.Finally, finally, there's more Lego goodness for iOS, even if it's just a sequel: Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7.Needless to say, this is a port of the console game that debuted just a few months ago, which GameSpot awarded an 8.0 rating.The iOS version brings much of the same adventuring, fighting, and spell-casting to your iPhone and iPad (and make no mistake -- it's a much better experience on the iPad's larger screen). There are 25 achievements to unlock and leaderboard bragging rights to be earned.Alas, like its predecessor, the iOS version lacks any kind of cooperative play, an oversight I don't understand. How awesome would it be to play this on side-by-side iPads, without all the usual split-screen hassles? Half the fun of all the Lego games is playing with a friend.A Warner Bros. PR rep declined to provide a review copy of the game, so I wasn't able to test it firsthand. The user reviews on iTunes are mostly positive, though many players found the app's onscreen D-pad control difficult to use. As I recall, Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 had the same issue, but the developers released an update that allowed for other, better control schemes. Why revert to the old, unpopular method here? The rep also offered a "no comment" on questions regarding Android versions of the Lego Harry Potter titles or any future Lego games for either platform.This vexes me. Instead of giving fans something to look forward to, of perhaps hinting at "exciting things to come," Warner Bros. takes the old "we're not discussing our plans at this time" approach. Barf.That grievance aside, it's hard to argue with the economics: Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 for iOS costs $4.99. The PlayStation Vita version sells for $19.99, while the Xbox version runs around $40. Even a Muggle can figure out that if you're itching for some Potter-themed gaming, this is the deal to beat.
I'm a full-grown adult, and I must confess that some of my favorite Xbox games have "Lego" in the title.Lego Star Wars, Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones -- these games may be aimed at kids, but they're funny, clever, and thoroughly entertaining for all ages.Alas, although they're available for nearly every platform known to man, only one has made its way to iOS: Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4. It was great -- but it was also 18 months ago.Finally, finally, there's more Lego goodness for iOS, even if it's just a sequel: Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7.Needless to say, this is a port of the console game that debuted just a few months ago, which GameSpot awarded an 8.0 rating.The iOS version brings much of the same adventuring, fighting, and spell-casting to your iPhone and iPad (and make no mistake -- it's a much better experience on the iPad's larger screen). There are 25 achievements to unlock and leaderboard bragging rights to be earned.Alas, like its predecessor, the iOS version lacks any kind of cooperative play, an oversight I don't understand. How awesome would it be to play this on side-by-side iPads, without all the usual split-screen hassles? Half the fun of all the Lego games is playing with a friend.A Warner Bros. PR rep declined to provide a review copy of the game, so I wasn't able to test it firsthand. The user reviews on iTunes are mostly positive, though many players found the app's onscreen D-pad control difficult to use. As I recall, Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 had the same issue, but the developers released an update that allowed for other, better control schemes. Why revert to the old, unpopular method here? The rep also offered a "no comment" on questions regarding Android versions of the Lego Harry Potter titles or any future Lego games for either platform.This vexes me. Instead of giving fans something to look forward to, of perhaps hinting at "exciting things to come," Warner Bros. takes the old "we're not discussing our plans at this time" approach. Barf.That grievance aside, it's hard to argue with the economics: Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 for iOS costs $4.99. The PlayStation Vita version sells for $19.99, while the Xbox version runs around $40. Even a Muggle can figure out that if you're itching for some Potter-themed gaming, this is the deal to beat.
Apple's vanishing iPad
Apple's vanishing iPad
The iPad we know and love seemed to vanish yesterday. Call it the featherweight KO'ing the heavyweight.On the first day of sales, the 312-gram Mini knocked the 652-gram fourth-generation iPad into quick obscurity. I knew there was a problem when I had to explain to people asking me about the iPad Mini that there was also this thing called the gen 4 (gen 3.5 may actually be more accurate) iPad. And some stores weren't exactly aware of the new iPad either.A sales rep at a certain large U.S. retail store (which will go unnamed) in Los Angeles gushed about the iPad Mini but was stumped when I asked about the gen 4 iPad. Related storiesCNET's review of the fourth-generation iPad"You know, the one right in front of you," was (more or less) what I had to say. Though I like the Mini, I'm partial to the fourth-generation iPad for, among other things, reasons I reported on yesterday. It's the first iPad to get Apple's A6 chip -- in this case a turbocharged version called the A6X -- and every step the iPad takes toward laptop-class processing power has got my attention. But I'm in the minority.The problem, of course, is that it looks the same as the gen 3 iPad, except for the Lightning connector.There are other minor improvements too. The front-facing FaceTime camera has been upgraded to HD 720p video. The 4G/LTE iPad also works with a wider range of international carriers.None of that appears to be enough to get people's attention, though.And it's not going to get easier for Apple.With the Nexus 10 tablet, Microsoft Surface, and the crush of tablets and hybrids coming from the Windows 8 crowd, Apple is going to need to make a bold statement with the next 10-inch class iPad. Until then, we have the incredible invisible iPad. Lest we forget, the gen 4 iPad also went on sale yesterday.Apple
The iPad we know and love seemed to vanish yesterday. Call it the featherweight KO'ing the heavyweight.On the first day of sales, the 312-gram Mini knocked the 652-gram fourth-generation iPad into quick obscurity. I knew there was a problem when I had to explain to people asking me about the iPad Mini that there was also this thing called the gen 4 (gen 3.5 may actually be more accurate) iPad. And some stores weren't exactly aware of the new iPad either.A sales rep at a certain large U.S. retail store (which will go unnamed) in Los Angeles gushed about the iPad Mini but was stumped when I asked about the gen 4 iPad. Related storiesCNET's review of the fourth-generation iPad"You know, the one right in front of you," was (more or less) what I had to say. Though I like the Mini, I'm partial to the fourth-generation iPad for, among other things, reasons I reported on yesterday. It's the first iPad to get Apple's A6 chip -- in this case a turbocharged version called the A6X -- and every step the iPad takes toward laptop-class processing power has got my attention. But I'm in the minority.The problem, of course, is that it looks the same as the gen 3 iPad, except for the Lightning connector.There are other minor improvements too. The front-facing FaceTime camera has been upgraded to HD 720p video. The 4G/LTE iPad also works with a wider range of international carriers.None of that appears to be enough to get people's attention, though.And it's not going to get easier for Apple.With the Nexus 10 tablet, Microsoft Surface, and the crush of tablets and hybrids coming from the Windows 8 crowd, Apple is going to need to make a bold statement with the next 10-inch class iPad. Until then, we have the incredible invisible iPad. Lest we forget, the gen 4 iPad also went on sale yesterday.Apple
Apple's TV plans on hold -- again, DisplaySearch says
Apple's TV plans on hold -- again, DisplaySearch says
The long wait for an Apple TV will get even longer. Blame wearable devices. That's what NPD DisplaySearch analyst Paul Gagnon claimed Monday in a research note.Apple is shifting its focus to wearable devices and pushing TV plans out -- aside from its existing set-top box -- according to Gagnon. The shift appears rather recent as even DisplaySearch had been expecting a product in 2014. "Indeed, our own information from TV supply chain sources pointed to the fact that Apple appeared to be lining up resources for a product introduction in the second half of 2014, likely with 2-3 large screen sizes and 4K resolution," Gagnon wrote. But that's not going to happen, at least not right away, until Apple achieves some critical goals. Apple needs to: Offer a unique point of differentiation to capture market share from leading TV manufacturers such as Samsung and Vizio, while at the same time being able to sell the products for a high enough price to deliver typically high Apple margins.[And] create follow-on replacement purchases to keep hardware sales from flat-lining once household penetration peaks. To offer truly unique product differentiation that would allow Apple to capture market share from existing smart TV brands, they would need to either deliver some exclusive source of content that the other brands cannot, such as a la carte pay-TV channels, or proprietary content not available on other devices. Neither of these is easy to achieve, and our sources indicate this is one of the principle reasons for the delay in the project.This may offer some relief to potential Apple rivals, Gagnon said. "For the current smart TV brands, this will be a big relief. While Apple may not have sold very many units, it would have had significant impact on the upper-tier product ranges from most of the top brands," he wrote.This speculation follows a report last month that Intel is abandoning its TV project. The DisplaySearch note comes as rumors heat up foran Apple iWatch, expected next year.
The long wait for an Apple TV will get even longer. Blame wearable devices. That's what NPD DisplaySearch analyst Paul Gagnon claimed Monday in a research note.Apple is shifting its focus to wearable devices and pushing TV plans out -- aside from its existing set-top box -- according to Gagnon. The shift appears rather recent as even DisplaySearch had been expecting a product in 2014. "Indeed, our own information from TV supply chain sources pointed to the fact that Apple appeared to be lining up resources for a product introduction in the second half of 2014, likely with 2-3 large screen sizes and 4K resolution," Gagnon wrote. But that's not going to happen, at least not right away, until Apple achieves some critical goals. Apple needs to: Offer a unique point of differentiation to capture market share from leading TV manufacturers such as Samsung and Vizio, while at the same time being able to sell the products for a high enough price to deliver typically high Apple margins.[And] create follow-on replacement purchases to keep hardware sales from flat-lining once household penetration peaks. To offer truly unique product differentiation that would allow Apple to capture market share from existing smart TV brands, they would need to either deliver some exclusive source of content that the other brands cannot, such as a la carte pay-TV channels, or proprietary content not available on other devices. Neither of these is easy to achieve, and our sources indicate this is one of the principle reasons for the delay in the project.This may offer some relief to potential Apple rivals, Gagnon said. "For the current smart TV brands, this will be a big relief. While Apple may not have sold very many units, it would have had significant impact on the upper-tier product ranges from most of the top brands," he wrote.This speculation follows a report last month that Intel is abandoning its TV project. The DisplaySearch note comes as rumors heat up foran Apple iWatch, expected next year.
Apple's Tim Cook- Wearable tech is 'profoundly interesting'
Apple's Tim Cook: Wearable tech is 'profoundly interesting'
It doesn't look like Apple will be cooking up its own rendition of Google Glass, but some other sort of wearable technology could be brewing. During an interview at the D11 conference on Tuesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that he thinks wearable computing is "profoundly interesting." While he noted that glasses seem to be "risky," the idea of wearing something on the wrist is "natural."However, he said, "you have to convince people it's so incredible you want to wear it." Cook pointed out that most young people don't wear watches, so it would be the company's job to make them appealing.During the interview, Cook showed off his Nike Fuel Band, which is integrated with iOS. "I would say the ones that do more than one thing" would be more successful, Cook said. "There are lots of things to solve, it's ripe for exploration." Rumors of Apple's interest in a wearable gadget heated up in February with a report from The New York Times, which claimed that Apple was "experimenting" with wristwatch-like devices. Bloomberg followed on from that, adding that Apple had a team of around 100 people working on such a device. Since then, there have been new patents pointing to Apple's exploration in the concept, as well as murmurings about rival products from companies like Samsung, Google, and Microsoft. The most recent rumors have said that a possible device most likely wouldn't launch until 2014. While Cook never said whether Apple will definitively set to work in wearables, he did say they are "an important branch of the tree," just like the iPhone and iPad.
It doesn't look like Apple will be cooking up its own rendition of Google Glass, but some other sort of wearable technology could be brewing. During an interview at the D11 conference on Tuesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that he thinks wearable computing is "profoundly interesting." While he noted that glasses seem to be "risky," the idea of wearing something on the wrist is "natural."However, he said, "you have to convince people it's so incredible you want to wear it." Cook pointed out that most young people don't wear watches, so it would be the company's job to make them appealing.During the interview, Cook showed off his Nike Fuel Band, which is integrated with iOS. "I would say the ones that do more than one thing" would be more successful, Cook said. "There are lots of things to solve, it's ripe for exploration." Rumors of Apple's interest in a wearable gadget heated up in February with a report from The New York Times, which claimed that Apple was "experimenting" with wristwatch-like devices. Bloomberg followed on from that, adding that Apple had a team of around 100 people working on such a device. Since then, there have been new patents pointing to Apple's exploration in the concept, as well as murmurings about rival products from companies like Samsung, Google, and Microsoft. The most recent rumors have said that a possible device most likely wouldn't launch until 2014. While Cook never said whether Apple will definitively set to work in wearables, he did say they are "an important branch of the tree," just like the iPhone and iPad.
Apple's Tim Cook promises 'big plans' in 2014
Apple's Tim Cook promises 'big plans' in 2014
Apple has "big plans that we think customers are going to love," CEO Tim Cook said in a memo thanking employees for their work in 2013. Snagging a copy of the memo from "multiple sources," 9to5Mac posted the employee e-mail on Sunday. Cook started by reflecting on the new and improved products unveiled this past year, including the iPhone 5S (the 5C didn't make the cut), iOS 7, the free OS X Mavericks upgrade, the iPad Air, the Retina iPad Mini, and the new Mac Pro now shipping from a factory in Texas.The CEO then discussed the various charitable causes toward which Apple contributed in 2013. Cook also brought up Apple's fight against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In the the final paragraph, Cook expressed his admiration for his employees and also teased the year ahead.We have a lot to look forward to in 2014, including some big plans that we think customers are going to love. I am extremely proud to stand alongside you as we put innovation to work serving humankind's deepest values and highest aspirations. I consider myself the luckiest person in the world for the opportunity to work at this amazing company with all of you.What could those big plans be? Some products are a virtual certainty. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 6 by next October, a model that could bump the screen size. iOS 8 will pop up with its enhancements. New versions of the iPad and iPad Mini will appear, perhaps even an iPad Pro with a 12-inch screen.Past rumors have suggested that Apple is working on a smartwatch and a television. Either or both of those may appear next year. But the company also needs to create something different and unexpected to once again excite consumers. Could 2014 be the year when Apple does just that?
Apple has "big plans that we think customers are going to love," CEO Tim Cook said in a memo thanking employees for their work in 2013. Snagging a copy of the memo from "multiple sources," 9to5Mac posted the employee e-mail on Sunday. Cook started by reflecting on the new and improved products unveiled this past year, including the iPhone 5S (the 5C didn't make the cut), iOS 7, the free OS X Mavericks upgrade, the iPad Air, the Retina iPad Mini, and the new Mac Pro now shipping from a factory in Texas.The CEO then discussed the various charitable causes toward which Apple contributed in 2013. Cook also brought up Apple's fight against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In the the final paragraph, Cook expressed his admiration for his employees and also teased the year ahead.We have a lot to look forward to in 2014, including some big plans that we think customers are going to love. I am extremely proud to stand alongside you as we put innovation to work serving humankind's deepest values and highest aspirations. I consider myself the luckiest person in the world for the opportunity to work at this amazing company with all of you.What could those big plans be? Some products are a virtual certainty. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 6 by next October, a model that could bump the screen size. iOS 8 will pop up with its enhancements. New versions of the iPad and iPad Mini will appear, perhaps even an iPad Pro with a 12-inch screen.Past rumors have suggested that Apple is working on a smartwatch and a television. Either or both of those may appear next year. But the company also needs to create something different and unexpected to once again excite consumers. Could 2014 be the year when Apple does just that?
Apple's Tim Cook gifts new iPhone 5 to Mark Zuckerberg
Apple's Tim Cook gifts new iPhone 5 to Mark Zuckerberg
Having nearly a billion friends has its perks, especially when one of them is Tim Cook sending you a free iPhone 5.The Apple CEO sent Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg one of Apple's new handsets gratis, the Facebook chief executive told Matt Lauer of "The Today Show' in an interview. "It's a wonderful device," Zuckerberg told Lauer during an interview scheduled to run Thursday, steering the conversation more toward Facebook's mobile presence.iPhone is a great platform. There are more people who use Facebook on Android -- because Android is just -- more people use it, at this point. And the thing that I think a lot of people don't think about is that there are actually more people in the world using Facebook on mobile Web, right, so not using the apps on iOS or Android, but actually just going to a browser on a phone. There are more people doing that than the iPhone and all of Android phones combined, right? So it's actually a pretty diverse ecosystem.This type of gesture is normally reserved for important business partners or public figures, so it's really no surprise that Zuckerberg would be a recipient.The two companies have become much more friendly with tighter integration between Facebook and Apple's iOS and OS X.But they weren't always so cordial. In 2010, Zuckerberg reportedly dissed the iPhone on his Facebook page, saying that he needed four charges to keep it charged "and a landline so I can actually make calls." The post quickly vanished, and perhaps he will be happier with the new handset, which has a larger battery with greater capacity.Zuckerberg also revealed that -- shocker -- he's not much of a clothes horse."I wear the same thing every day, right? I mean, it's literally, if you could see my closet," he said, adding that he has "about 20" of the same gray T-shirt.
Having nearly a billion friends has its perks, especially when one of them is Tim Cook sending you a free iPhone 5.The Apple CEO sent Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg one of Apple's new handsets gratis, the Facebook chief executive told Matt Lauer of "The Today Show' in an interview. "It's a wonderful device," Zuckerberg told Lauer during an interview scheduled to run Thursday, steering the conversation more toward Facebook's mobile presence.iPhone is a great platform. There are more people who use Facebook on Android -- because Android is just -- more people use it, at this point. And the thing that I think a lot of people don't think about is that there are actually more people in the world using Facebook on mobile Web, right, so not using the apps on iOS or Android, but actually just going to a browser on a phone. There are more people doing that than the iPhone and all of Android phones combined, right? So it's actually a pretty diverse ecosystem.This type of gesture is normally reserved for important business partners or public figures, so it's really no surprise that Zuckerberg would be a recipient.The two companies have become much more friendly with tighter integration between Facebook and Apple's iOS and OS X.But they weren't always so cordial. In 2010, Zuckerberg reportedly dissed the iPhone on his Facebook page, saying that he needed four charges to keep it charged "and a landline so I can actually make calls." The post quickly vanished, and perhaps he will be happier with the new handset, which has a larger battery with greater capacity.Zuckerberg also revealed that -- shocker -- he's not much of a clothes horse."I wear the same thing every day, right? I mean, it's literally, if you could see my closet," he said, adding that he has "about 20" of the same gray T-shirt.
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