The 404 712: Where we don't take on anything (podcast)
Thanks so much to Props Guy Jim for Photoshopping The 404 Podcast into the "disappearing" photo from "Back to the Future"! The movie recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and check out this picture Jim snapped of the photo in action at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance. Thanks again Jim!DragCloseThis content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Mark Licea joins us for a chat about television programming as it's affected by streaming content providers like Hulu and Netflix.As those two companies compete to offer the cheapest monthly subscription price, consumers face a decision to either stick with HD cable/FIOS and a DVR box or cut the cord and stick with Internet video.Regardless of your decision, there's plenty of content available online for your entertainment, and our conversation naturally steers toward late-night programming and Conan's second week of shows on TBS. There's also the AMC zombie series "The Walking Dead" and "Boardwalk Empire" on HBO. On the other hand, sometimes we just want to sit on the couch and channel surf!After the break, we run through a few voice mails that humiliate and educate our audience, and there's also a question for Jeff about his experience traveling through the TSA's new airport security scanners. We try not to get too serious about it, but everyone seems to have an opinion, so tune in to find out why Wilson will be taking a boat ride to CES next year.Episode 712PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Open Television Network- YouTube meets iTunes-
Open Television Network: YouTube meets iTunes?
Publishers, likewise, sign up on the OTN site. They're given instructions to publish their content to the OTN servers so the technology can track downloads and credit their account. The site is self-service, and there are no content gatekeepers. Pornographic content is removed, though.There is no DRM inherent in the OTN universe. While file locations are obscured through the system, downloaded files are not protected. Once they hit a user's machine, they can be copied.I discussed this philosophy with OTN CEO Philip Hodgetts. My takeaway is that OTN was not designed to prevent content from being stolen. Rather, it's to enable content to be sold. There's a big difference, especially for the "long-tail" content publishers that OTN was built for.Selling video via RSS: Cool. Overcharging: Not.Big publishers will continue to sell content through major stores like iTunes. OTN, by contrast, allows publishers to self-publish content that, if fairly priced, might make a few bucks. Hodgetts told me, "I think it's really egregious that people would not be willing to pay a few pennies a minute for content." Television content, he said, monetizes at roughly a penny a minute per viewer, taking advertising and cable subscription revenues into account. He thinks that's about the right price for long-tail content like obscure hobby videos.That resonates with me. By Hodgetts' metric, the sample site he showed me, Wonderful World of Flying, overcharges by about a factor of 30 for its airplane porn. Thirteen cents for a 13-minute video tribute of the Stearman biplane makes sense. But at $3.99 I'm skipping it, or going to BitTorrent instead. OTN's fee is 15 percent for the money it collects. The service starts out new users with a $5.00 credit.As Hodgetts says, current video technologies have "democratized production, but not distribution." Advertising only pays for a small proportion of online videos. OTN might help everyone else get paid.
Publishers, likewise, sign up on the OTN site. They're given instructions to publish their content to the OTN servers so the technology can track downloads and credit their account. The site is self-service, and there are no content gatekeepers. Pornographic content is removed, though.There is no DRM inherent in the OTN universe. While file locations are obscured through the system, downloaded files are not protected. Once they hit a user's machine, they can be copied.I discussed this philosophy with OTN CEO Philip Hodgetts. My takeaway is that OTN was not designed to prevent content from being stolen. Rather, it's to enable content to be sold. There's a big difference, especially for the "long-tail" content publishers that OTN was built for.Selling video via RSS: Cool. Overcharging: Not.Big publishers will continue to sell content through major stores like iTunes. OTN, by contrast, allows publishers to self-publish content that, if fairly priced, might make a few bucks. Hodgetts told me, "I think it's really egregious that people would not be willing to pay a few pennies a minute for content." Television content, he said, monetizes at roughly a penny a minute per viewer, taking advertising and cable subscription revenues into account. He thinks that's about the right price for long-tail content like obscure hobby videos.That resonates with me. By Hodgetts' metric, the sample site he showed me, Wonderful World of Flying, overcharges by about a factor of 30 for its airplane porn. Thirteen cents for a 13-minute video tribute of the Stearman biplane makes sense. But at $3.99 I'm skipping it, or going to BitTorrent instead. OTN's fee is 15 percent for the money it collects. The service starts out new users with a $5.00 credit.As Hodgetts says, current video technologies have "democratized production, but not distribution." Advertising only pays for a small proportion of online videos. OTN might help everyone else get paid.
Find your gate before leaving home
Find your gate before leaving home
Airport Remote, developed by Sojern, shows real-time departure and arrival screens from 100 major airports across the United States, plus 20 of the biggest fields around the world. The list is surprisingly extensive so even the most-frequent globetrotter should be covered. What's more, all airlines that serve a particularly airport are listed; you'll even see details for cargo and charter flights and executive aircraft.The interface is minimalist and straightforward. Some might find the deep blue backgrounds a bit boring, but I don't expect too much from such a simple productivity app. On the main screen, you'll find options for seeing your closest airport or selecting from the full list. When inside the full list, you can scroll down with a finger swipe or use the search bar.Once you select an airport, you can choose to see departure and arrival information. The latter is especially helpful since some airports, like San Francisco International, are removing arrival displays from terminals. Each screen has all the vital details including the departure or arrival city, the flight number and gate, the airline (complete with logo), the departure or arrival time, and the flight's status. You can sort by any of the fields and view cities in reverse alphabetical order. And if that isn't information overload already, you can click through for options to send the flight details to a friend, check weather reports, and see the reason for the delay.The app's accuracy is commendable. When I tested Airport Remote at San Francisco's airport, it matched what I saw on the actual screen in the terminal. And when there was a flight status change, it registered on the phone within seconds. As for complaints, I only had two. The app ran a little slowly on our iPhone 4, sometimes taking a few seconds to switch between screens. I also found that some information, particularly the baggage claim carousel number for arriving flights, was occasionally missing.
Airport Remote, developed by Sojern, shows real-time departure and arrival screens from 100 major airports across the United States, plus 20 of the biggest fields around the world. The list is surprisingly extensive so even the most-frequent globetrotter should be covered. What's more, all airlines that serve a particularly airport are listed; you'll even see details for cargo and charter flights and executive aircraft.The interface is minimalist and straightforward. Some might find the deep blue backgrounds a bit boring, but I don't expect too much from such a simple productivity app. On the main screen, you'll find options for seeing your closest airport or selecting from the full list. When inside the full list, you can scroll down with a finger swipe or use the search bar.Once you select an airport, you can choose to see departure and arrival information. The latter is especially helpful since some airports, like San Francisco International, are removing arrival displays from terminals. Each screen has all the vital details including the departure or arrival city, the flight number and gate, the airline (complete with logo), the departure or arrival time, and the flight's status. You can sort by any of the fields and view cities in reverse alphabetical order. And if that isn't information overload already, you can click through for options to send the flight details to a friend, check weather reports, and see the reason for the delay.The app's accuracy is commendable. When I tested Airport Remote at San Francisco's airport, it matched what I saw on the actual screen in the terminal. And when there was a flight status change, it registered on the phone within seconds. As for complaints, I only had two. The app ran a little slowly on our iPhone 4, sometimes taking a few seconds to switch between screens. I also found that some information, particularly the baggage claim carousel number for arriving flights, was occasionally missing.
Find movies and TV shows online with WhereToWatch
Find movies and TV shows online with WhereToWatch
To guide you to a legal viewing of a movie or TV show, the Motion Picture Association of America has come out with WhereToWatch, a website that shows you which services you can use to stream, rent, or purchase a movie or TV show. And for movies currently in theaters, it provides showtimes nearby.WhereToWatch is similar to Can I Stream.it? that I covered last year with a few important distinctions. Can I Stream.it? has apps for iOS and Android, whereas WhereToWatch is only a website, but one that works as well on your phone as your laptop. WhereToWatch is also ad-free while you will run into the occasional ad on the other site.The entertainment focus is also a bit different between the two services. WhereToWatch provides showtimes in your area for movies currently in theaters, a functionality that Can I Stream.it? lacks. For its part, however, Can I Stream.it? lets you know if a TV show is available on cable TV for Xfinity subscribers, which is something WhereToWatch does not do.Between these two free services, however, you should be able to find out if an entertainment vehicle -- from a movie currently in theaters to an old TV show -- is available for your enjoyment.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETWhereToWatch is labeled as beta, so it's not unreasonable to expect to encounter a few kinks in addition to the arrival of new features as we move forward. At present, WhereToWatch serves only the US and searches the following services: Amazon, iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, Crackle, Flixster, Paramount Movies, Bravo Now, CNBC Full Episodes, E! Now, Esquire TV Now, Oxygen Now, Sprout Now, Syfy Now, ABC, ABC Family, Disney Movies Anywhere, Vudu, Xbox Video, Sundance Now, SnagFilms, Fandor, Wolfe on Demand, Target Ticket, Movies On Demand, Reelhouse, and IndieFlix.Via Lifehacker.
To guide you to a legal viewing of a movie or TV show, the Motion Picture Association of America has come out with WhereToWatch, a website that shows you which services you can use to stream, rent, or purchase a movie or TV show. And for movies currently in theaters, it provides showtimes nearby.WhereToWatch is similar to Can I Stream.it? that I covered last year with a few important distinctions. Can I Stream.it? has apps for iOS and Android, whereas WhereToWatch is only a website, but one that works as well on your phone as your laptop. WhereToWatch is also ad-free while you will run into the occasional ad on the other site.The entertainment focus is also a bit different between the two services. WhereToWatch provides showtimes in your area for movies currently in theaters, a functionality that Can I Stream.it? lacks. For its part, however, Can I Stream.it? lets you know if a TV show is available on cable TV for Xfinity subscribers, which is something WhereToWatch does not do.Between these two free services, however, you should be able to find out if an entertainment vehicle -- from a movie currently in theaters to an old TV show -- is available for your enjoyment.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETWhereToWatch is labeled as beta, so it's not unreasonable to expect to encounter a few kinks in addition to the arrival of new features as we move forward. At present, WhereToWatch serves only the US and searches the following services: Amazon, iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, Crackle, Flixster, Paramount Movies, Bravo Now, CNBC Full Episodes, E! Now, Esquire TV Now, Oxygen Now, Sprout Now, Syfy Now, ABC, ABC Family, Disney Movies Anywhere, Vudu, Xbox Video, Sundance Now, SnagFilms, Fandor, Wolfe on Demand, Target Ticket, Movies On Demand, Reelhouse, and IndieFlix.Via Lifehacker.
Sprint sells out of entry-level iPhone 4S models
Sprint sells out of entry-level iPhone 4S models
Four days ahead of the iPhone 4S' launch, Sprint now says it's sold out of pre-orders for the entry-level model of the device.In a statement issued to CNET, as well as other outlets, a Sprint spokeswoman said that the company has sold out of both the black and white versions of the 16GB iPhone 4S, and that just the 32GB and 64GB models are still in stock for those who wish to get the device on its release day. "It is important to note that Sprint is not taking backorders of our iPhone devices," the spokeswoman said in a statement. "Sprint is committed to delivering devices to our pre-order customers on or very near the time of launch and also making these devices available for purchase on launch day--Friday, October 14. Apple and other carriers may continue to take pre-orders that will be delivered to the customer at a later time." Despite a luke-warm response by some following its unveiling at an event last week, the iPhone 4S has gone on to become Apple's fastest moving device ahead of its release. In a statement issued this morning, Apple said it, along with its carrier partners, sold more than 1 million iPhone 4S preorders in the first 24 hours it was on sale, building on AT&T's announcement on Friday that it had moved more than 200,000 orders in half that time. This is Sprint's first time offering Apple's iPhone. The company joins Verizon, which began selling the iPhone 4 in February of this year, as launch partners for a new Apple device. Last year's model launched in the U.S. only on AT&T's network. The iPhone 4S goes on sale this Friday at 8 a.m. Pacific.
Four days ahead of the iPhone 4S' launch, Sprint now says it's sold out of pre-orders for the entry-level model of the device.In a statement issued to CNET, as well as other outlets, a Sprint spokeswoman said that the company has sold out of both the black and white versions of the 16GB iPhone 4S, and that just the 32GB and 64GB models are still in stock for those who wish to get the device on its release day. "It is important to note that Sprint is not taking backorders of our iPhone devices," the spokeswoman said in a statement. "Sprint is committed to delivering devices to our pre-order customers on or very near the time of launch and also making these devices available for purchase on launch day--Friday, October 14. Apple and other carriers may continue to take pre-orders that will be delivered to the customer at a later time." Despite a luke-warm response by some following its unveiling at an event last week, the iPhone 4S has gone on to become Apple's fastest moving device ahead of its release. In a statement issued this morning, Apple said it, along with its carrier partners, sold more than 1 million iPhone 4S preorders in the first 24 hours it was on sale, building on AT&T's announcement on Friday that it had moved more than 200,000 orders in half that time. This is Sprint's first time offering Apple's iPhone. The company joins Verizon, which began selling the iPhone 4 in February of this year, as launch partners for a new Apple device. Last year's model launched in the U.S. only on AT&T's network. The iPhone 4S goes on sale this Friday at 8 a.m. Pacific.
Sprint says it can handle the iPhone traffic
Sprint says it can handle the iPhone traffic
Sprint is watching the network and investing in the infrastructure as needed to ensure a good customer experience, regardless of the rumors, Chief Financial Officer Joe Euteneuer said during an investor conference yesterday. The comments were reported by Fierce Wireless.It's widely believed that Sprint will sell the iPhone alongside AT&T and Verizon Wireless. While Apple has set no date for the next iPhone, it is expected to come in October. Euteneuer didn't confirm that Sprint would sell the iPhone, but discussed the possibility of getting the blockbuster device from Apple. A bigger question remains whether Sprint will be able to keep offering an unlimited data plan with the device. Eutenuer said "we think we have great runway room," but kept the possibility open that it would move away from the offer. "Offering unlimited data is about 'managing the network properly,'" Euteneuer said. "If we got to a point where we thought that keeping an unlimited plan wasn't going to create the profitable marketplace that we wanted, then we would have to look for change."Chief Executive Dan Hesse had previously warned that the unlimited data plans couldn't last forever. As previously written, even if Sprint offers the iPhone with an unlimited plan now, it may not be a permanent option. Verizon and AT&T have already switched to a tiered-pricing model. Euteneuer acknowledged that the iPhone could potentially hurt the company in the near term because of the higher subsidies involved, but said the device has the benefit of improving its brand and reducing customer turnover. "The benefits of having such an iconic device are really huge," he said.
Sprint is watching the network and investing in the infrastructure as needed to ensure a good customer experience, regardless of the rumors, Chief Financial Officer Joe Euteneuer said during an investor conference yesterday. The comments were reported by Fierce Wireless.It's widely believed that Sprint will sell the iPhone alongside AT&T and Verizon Wireless. While Apple has set no date for the next iPhone, it is expected to come in October. Euteneuer didn't confirm that Sprint would sell the iPhone, but discussed the possibility of getting the blockbuster device from Apple. A bigger question remains whether Sprint will be able to keep offering an unlimited data plan with the device. Eutenuer said "we think we have great runway room," but kept the possibility open that it would move away from the offer. "Offering unlimited data is about 'managing the network properly,'" Euteneuer said. "If we got to a point where we thought that keeping an unlimited plan wasn't going to create the profitable marketplace that we wanted, then we would have to look for change."Chief Executive Dan Hesse had previously warned that the unlimited data plans couldn't last forever. As previously written, even if Sprint offers the iPhone with an unlimited plan now, it may not be a permanent option. Verizon and AT&T have already switched to a tiered-pricing model. Euteneuer acknowledged that the iPhone could potentially hurt the company in the near term because of the higher subsidies involved, but said the device has the benefit of improving its brand and reducing customer turnover. "The benefits of having such an iconic device are really huge," he said.
Speak for Yourself app might make iPad comeback, report says
Speak for Yourself app might make iPad comeback, report says
After taking down a speech therapy application designed for children, Apple might eventually reinstate it, according to a new report.The Register is reporting today, citing sources, that Apple plans to bring the Speak for Yourself iPad application back to its App Store if the company behind the program -- Speak For Yourself LLC -- wins a patent case brought against it recently.Apple earlier this month removed the Speak for Yourself augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) language app from its store after Prentke Romich Company (PRC) and Semantic Compaction, companies operating in the AAC field, sued Speak for Yourself for patent violation. The companies said that that the application, which is designed to help children with developmental disabilities communicate through the iPad, was found to have "numerous instances of infringement."PRC has a technology it calls Unity, which it claims Speak for Yourself infringed upon, to power language devices.For its part, Speak for Yourself, which was started by two certified speech therapists, has fought hard against the infringement claim, and has even launched a petition to get Apple to bring the application back to its store. So far, that petition has over 4,000 signatures out of the desired 5,000.Apple has not commented on the takedown, but the Register claims to have received an "off-the-record briefing" in which it was told that Speak for Yourself would be making a comeback if all goes well in court.Until then, Speak for Yourself is still offering its SFY-Lite application for free in the App Store.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the Register's report. We will update this story when we have more information.
After taking down a speech therapy application designed for children, Apple might eventually reinstate it, according to a new report.The Register is reporting today, citing sources, that Apple plans to bring the Speak for Yourself iPad application back to its App Store if the company behind the program -- Speak For Yourself LLC -- wins a patent case brought against it recently.Apple earlier this month removed the Speak for Yourself augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) language app from its store after Prentke Romich Company (PRC) and Semantic Compaction, companies operating in the AAC field, sued Speak for Yourself for patent violation. The companies said that that the application, which is designed to help children with developmental disabilities communicate through the iPad, was found to have "numerous instances of infringement."PRC has a technology it calls Unity, which it claims Speak for Yourself infringed upon, to power language devices.For its part, Speak for Yourself, which was started by two certified speech therapists, has fought hard against the infringement claim, and has even launched a petition to get Apple to bring the application back to its store. So far, that petition has over 4,000 signatures out of the desired 5,000.Apple has not commented on the takedown, but the Register claims to have received an "off-the-record briefing" in which it was told that Speak for Yourself would be making a comeback if all goes well in court.Until then, Speak for Yourself is still offering its SFY-Lite application for free in the App Store.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the Register's report. We will update this story when we have more information.
Some Retina MacBook Pros hit by image persistence flaw
Some Retina MacBook Pros hit by image persistence flaw
The Retina Display MacBook Pro may have bumped into its first technical issue.Some owners of the new laptop are posting messages at the Apple Support Communities complaining of an image persistence problem in which an image remains on the screen for several minutes after it should have faded away. As noted by AppleInsider, the lasting image is obvious only on light backgrounds and persists for around five minutes before it disappears.Related storiesApple MacBook Pro with Retina Display reviewRetina MacBook Pro is the least repairable to dateAddressing common problems with LCD displaysTackling LCD "burn-ins", and dead/stuck pixelsA few owners say that Apple Store workers ordered replacement units for them after they demonstrated the issue. Some have speculated that this could be just a bad batch of laptops since the problem has yet to be reported on a widespread basis.However, AppleInsider did caution that image persistence, or image retention, has affected IPS (in-plane switching) displays on other devices and is seen as a major drawback of the technology.Returning or replacing a defective product shouldn't pose a problem for affected users as Apple offers a 14-day "no questions asked" return policy.The company also provides a 90-day warranty for technical phone support and a full year limited warranty on defective parts.CNET contacted Apple for comment and will update the story if we get more information.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
The Retina Display MacBook Pro may have bumped into its first technical issue.Some owners of the new laptop are posting messages at the Apple Support Communities complaining of an image persistence problem in which an image remains on the screen for several minutes after it should have faded away. As noted by AppleInsider, the lasting image is obvious only on light backgrounds and persists for around five minutes before it disappears.Related storiesApple MacBook Pro with Retina Display reviewRetina MacBook Pro is the least repairable to dateAddressing common problems with LCD displaysTackling LCD "burn-ins", and dead/stuck pixelsA few owners say that Apple Store workers ordered replacement units for them after they demonstrated the issue. Some have speculated that this could be just a bad batch of laptops since the problem has yet to be reported on a widespread basis.However, AppleInsider did caution that image persistence, or image retention, has affected IPS (in-plane switching) displays on other devices and is seen as a major drawback of the technology.Returning or replacing a defective product shouldn't pose a problem for affected users as Apple offers a 14-day "no questions asked" return policy.The company also provides a 90-day warranty for technical phone support and a full year limited warranty on defective parts.CNET contacted Apple for comment and will update the story if we get more information.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
Some iPhone 4 owners report discolored screens
Some iPhone 4 owners report discolored screens
The iPhone 4 won't be available in stores until Thursday, but the reviews are coming in from those who were able to get their hands on them ahead of time. Despite a mostly warm reception, there are already scattered reports of defective screens.By Wednesday afternoon Gizmodo and MacRumors had reports from 20 people with a brand new iPhone 4 who say there is a yellow discolored area on the screen, or an overall yellow hue to the display even after adjusting the phone's display settings. In most cases, the users say Apple has offered to replace the phone.The new Retina displayis supposed to be one of the biggest improvements to the iPhone. CEO Steve Jobs said at WWDC two weeks ago that "the display is the most important component of the entire phone." Jobs said the Retina display makes fonts appear sharper and is better than an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, which is used in some smartphones and televisions for its high pixel density.The new Retina display isn't the first time Apple has dealt with reports of defective displays. When the latest model of the iMac desktop began shipping in early 2010, there were widespread reports of people whose 27-inch iMacs had yellowed or flickering displays. Apple eventually acknowledged the issue and offered refunds to those customers.Though some began receiving their preordered phone Tuesday and Wednesday, the majority of iPhone 4 customers will have to wait until Thursday to get one. If you experience similar discoloration problems on your iPhone 4's display, we'd like to hear about it in the comments section.
The iPhone 4 won't be available in stores until Thursday, but the reviews are coming in from those who were able to get their hands on them ahead of time. Despite a mostly warm reception, there are already scattered reports of defective screens.By Wednesday afternoon Gizmodo and MacRumors had reports from 20 people with a brand new iPhone 4 who say there is a yellow discolored area on the screen, or an overall yellow hue to the display even after adjusting the phone's display settings. In most cases, the users say Apple has offered to replace the phone.The new Retina displayis supposed to be one of the biggest improvements to the iPhone. CEO Steve Jobs said at WWDC two weeks ago that "the display is the most important component of the entire phone." Jobs said the Retina display makes fonts appear sharper and is better than an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, which is used in some smartphones and televisions for its high pixel density.The new Retina display isn't the first time Apple has dealt with reports of defective displays. When the latest model of the iMac desktop began shipping in early 2010, there were widespread reports of people whose 27-inch iMacs had yellowed or flickering displays. Apple eventually acknowledged the issue and offered refunds to those customers.Though some began receiving their preordered phone Tuesday and Wednesday, the majority of iPhone 4 customers will have to wait until Thursday to get one. If you experience similar discoloration problems on your iPhone 4's display, we'd like to hear about it in the comments section.
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