The 404 929: Where we hail to the chief (podcast)
Jim kicks off the conversation and tells us about his experience in the start-up world with eTour, Clicker, and Ask.com, then we explore his ideas about the future of television and how Web programming will compete with DVRs.We'll also chat about GameSpot and EA teaming up for The Controller, a competition reality show where the best pro-gamers from around the country battle in a high-stakes competition without ever touching the controller.Finally, we're taking questions from the live chat room and talking with Jim about today's tech news headlines, like the new Lytro camera that captures light in every direction in every point in space (whoa), the most annoying tech words in Web 2.0, and a reminder to turn off Siri access in your iPhone 4S's lock screen!The 404 Digest for Episode 929This 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.PlayCBS Interactive hires Jim Lanzone as president.New Lytro camera captures light in every direction in every point in space.Has Siri left your iPhone 4S unlocked?Sleeper iPhone Siri feature: Phonetic name fields.Intexicated, Twittersphere, Tweetup, and Scareware top list of most annoying tech words.Follow Jim Lanzone on Twitter.Bathroom break video 1: Watch the trailer for GameSpot's The Controller: Battlefield 3.Bathroom break video 2: Don't leave me hanging!Episode 929PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in 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
Pondering 'Battlestar' puzzler- Ratings down, popularity up
Pondering 'Battlestar' puzzler: Ratings down, popularity up
As a fan of Battlestar Galactica, I've watched every episode thus far. What didn't fully dawn on me until I pondered an Associated Press article this week, however, was that out of all the 60-plus episodes I've seen, I've probably watched less than five "live" on TV (I don't have a DVR yet).I discovered the series on DVD and was able to catch up that way. After that, I began downloading it from iTunes when it was available. On those rare Friday nights that the planets aligned and I was at home, I'd watch it on TV--if I remembered to, that is. Accustomed to watching the show on DVD and on my PC, I sometimes just plain forgot that it came on Friday nights.According to the AP article, I'm not alone. BSG's Nielsen ratings have steadily dropped since the series debuted in 2004. "The series averaged 2.8 million viewers an episode during Season 1. During the most recent run of 10 episodes, the show averaged 2.2 million viewers, a slight dip overall but up from Seasons 2 and 3. The series lost some of that steam by the midseason finale, falling to just 1.8 million viewers," according to the article.Despite this, the show's popularity has seemingly only increased. Jamie Bamber, who plays "Apollo" on BSG--and is the one actor whom virtually every woman I know has a crush on--said he gets hounded on the street much more frequently now that the ratings are lower than in 2004 when the ratings were at their peak.Also, I know many people who only watch it on DVD, and most of these people aren't even the sci-fi-watching types. For many reasons I won't go into right now, this show transcends the Trekker/nerd stigma. The producers of the show believe most people do watch the show during long DVD marathons or a few days after an episode has aired on their TiVo or DVR. This doesn't even mention sites like Hulu, where users are able to stream the episodes over the Web for free.Even with its recent improvements, the Nielsen system is broken, as it still does not account for all the many ways that someone can watch a show. It's basically biased towards shows that are viewed in the more traditional manner. DVD, DVR, services like iTunes, and sites like Hulu are changing he way we watch TV. Here's hoping a much more accurate gauge of a show's popularity is on the horizon.
As a fan of Battlestar Galactica, I've watched every episode thus far. What didn't fully dawn on me until I pondered an Associated Press article this week, however, was that out of all the 60-plus episodes I've seen, I've probably watched less than five "live" on TV (I don't have a DVR yet).I discovered the series on DVD and was able to catch up that way. After that, I began downloading it from iTunes when it was available. On those rare Friday nights that the planets aligned and I was at home, I'd watch it on TV--if I remembered to, that is. Accustomed to watching the show on DVD and on my PC, I sometimes just plain forgot that it came on Friday nights.According to the AP article, I'm not alone. BSG's Nielsen ratings have steadily dropped since the series debuted in 2004. "The series averaged 2.8 million viewers an episode during Season 1. During the most recent run of 10 episodes, the show averaged 2.2 million viewers, a slight dip overall but up from Seasons 2 and 3. The series lost some of that steam by the midseason finale, falling to just 1.8 million viewers," according to the article.Despite this, the show's popularity has seemingly only increased. Jamie Bamber, who plays "Apollo" on BSG--and is the one actor whom virtually every woman I know has a crush on--said he gets hounded on the street much more frequently now that the ratings are lower than in 2004 when the ratings were at their peak.Also, I know many people who only watch it on DVD, and most of these people aren't even the sci-fi-watching types. For many reasons I won't go into right now, this show transcends the Trekker/nerd stigma. The producers of the show believe most people do watch the show during long DVD marathons or a few days after an episode has aired on their TiVo or DVR. This doesn't even mention sites like Hulu, where users are able to stream the episodes over the Web for free.Even with its recent improvements, the Nielsen system is broken, as it still does not account for all the many ways that someone can watch a show. It's basically biased towards shows that are viewed in the more traditional manner. DVD, DVR, services like iTunes, and sites like Hulu are changing he way we watch TV. Here's hoping a much more accurate gauge of a show's popularity is on the horizon.
Possible iPhone 5C casing endures damage tests
Possible iPhone 5C casing endures damage tests
The rear plastic backing that may or may not belong to Apple's next iPhone is already being tested for durability, weeks before the device is expected to debut.Taiwan-based news site Apple Daily (via MacRumors) posted on Wednesday a brief video showing a blue plastic version -- which looks much like others that have made the rounds in recent days -- undergoing damage from metal objects. That includes being thrown into a plastic bag and shaken with keys and pocket change, as well as being aggressively scratched with a car key. The short video suggests the plastic back is resistant to such types of damage, which would likely occur for people who placed the device in the same pocket as these objects. However the tests do not cover durability in the event of a drop, something that's frequently done at, or just before, the launch of the product, when all the other components are in place. Along with the scratch tests, Apple Daily also measured the thickness of the shell itself, which came in at 8.98mm. Even without a display, that's thicker than the iPhone 5's 7.6mm, which is made out of aluminum. Apple is expected to unveil a less-expensive, plastic-backed iPhone model at an event on September 10, alongside an updated iPhone 5 model. For more on what to expect, read CNET's FAQ.
The rear plastic backing that may or may not belong to Apple's next iPhone is already being tested for durability, weeks before the device is expected to debut.Taiwan-based news site Apple Daily (via MacRumors) posted on Wednesday a brief video showing a blue plastic version -- which looks much like others that have made the rounds in recent days -- undergoing damage from metal objects. That includes being thrown into a plastic bag and shaken with keys and pocket change, as well as being aggressively scratched with a car key. The short video suggests the plastic back is resistant to such types of damage, which would likely occur for people who placed the device in the same pocket as these objects. However the tests do not cover durability in the event of a drop, something that's frequently done at, or just before, the launch of the product, when all the other components are in place. Along with the scratch tests, Apple Daily also measured the thickness of the shell itself, which came in at 8.98mm. Even without a display, that's thicker than the iPhone 5's 7.6mm, which is made out of aluminum. Apple is expected to unveil a less-expensive, plastic-backed iPhone model at an event on September 10, alongside an updated iPhone 5 model. For more on what to expect, read CNET's FAQ.
Pomera DM100 from Japan and iPhone make an odd couple
Pomera DM100 from Japan and iPhone make an odd couple
Japan has a knack for marketing odd products. Many of them thrive, however.Enter King Jim's Pomera DM100.When I lived in Tokyo, I spent way too much time in the Akihabara electronics district.That's where stores hawked, for example, pint-sized laptops made for the Japanese market by IBM Japan.To me, those Big Blue portables seemed impractical but always found plenty of buyers. In that vein, the Pomera DM100 has apparently struck a chord of sorts in Japan. Enough to be deemed worthy of a lengthy review in Japan's leading business daily, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun.So, why would an august publication like Nikkei write up a device with a 5.7-inch monochrome screen, no Wi-Fi, and no broadband? Well, because it's a very fast way to take notes, let's say, in a meeting.Not convinced yet?It turns on instantly.Not yet?Has a rated 30 hours of battery life and weighs only 399 grams.Still not interested? It sends text instantly to an iPhone or iPad via QR code using a Bluetooth connection.And it's priced over $350.OK, so I lost you there.But if you want to go minimalist and chuck that bulky MacBook, it's an option--in Japan, at least.If you need more convincing see this video review or a more in-depth video review here.
Japan has a knack for marketing odd products. Many of them thrive, however.Enter King Jim's Pomera DM100.When I lived in Tokyo, I spent way too much time in the Akihabara electronics district.That's where stores hawked, for example, pint-sized laptops made for the Japanese market by IBM Japan.To me, those Big Blue portables seemed impractical but always found plenty of buyers. In that vein, the Pomera DM100 has apparently struck a chord of sorts in Japan. Enough to be deemed worthy of a lengthy review in Japan's leading business daily, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun.So, why would an august publication like Nikkei write up a device with a 5.7-inch monochrome screen, no Wi-Fi, and no broadband? Well, because it's a very fast way to take notes, let's say, in a meeting.Not convinced yet?It turns on instantly.Not yet?Has a rated 30 hours of battery life and weighs only 399 grams.Still not interested? It sends text instantly to an iPhone or iPad via QR code using a Bluetooth connection.And it's priced over $350.OK, so I lost you there.But if you want to go minimalist and chuck that bulky MacBook, it's an option--in Japan, at least.If you need more convincing see this video review or a more in-depth video review here.
TweetDeck returns to Apple's App Store
TweetDeck returns to Apple's App Store
TweetDeck, the popular Twitter app for the iPhone, was pulled from the Apple App Store on Monday due to a crippling crash bug.An update was quickly resubmitted to Apple and the new version (1.1.1) is now available for download (iTunes Link).The new version includes Facebook integration, video uploading, and support for Twitter trending topics.The Facebook support in TweetDeck for iPhone works very well, allowing you to add columns from Facebook by either selecting a feed of all your friends or separating them into groups.The feed support is restricted to status updates, so you cannot see when new photos or events are posted, but comments and Likes on status updates are visible.It also allows users to comment or Like a post from the app as well as post a message on someone's wall.Of course, Facebook's own iPhone app is a much more robust offering, but it is nice to have data from Facebook and Twitter centralized in one app.TweetDeck now also offers video recording and uploading for iPhone 3GS owners.This service is supported by 12seconds, which has an iPhone app of its own.This type of short-form video plays nicely with the overall concept of Twitter and should help to cut down on upload times when posting new updates.Additional features included in this update are the inclusion of Twitter trending topics, the ability to cross-post updates to Twitter and Facebook, nearby tweets, bit.ly support, and landscape composing.These are all features that make a lot of sense for TweetDeck and were surely highly requested.A nice video of the new features, put together by the TweetDeck team, is included below.
TweetDeck, the popular Twitter app for the iPhone, was pulled from the Apple App Store on Monday due to a crippling crash bug.An update was quickly resubmitted to Apple and the new version (1.1.1) is now available for download (iTunes Link).The new version includes Facebook integration, video uploading, and support for Twitter trending topics.The Facebook support in TweetDeck for iPhone works very well, allowing you to add columns from Facebook by either selecting a feed of all your friends or separating them into groups.The feed support is restricted to status updates, so you cannot see when new photos or events are posted, but comments and Likes on status updates are visible.It also allows users to comment or Like a post from the app as well as post a message on someone's wall.Of course, Facebook's own iPhone app is a much more robust offering, but it is nice to have data from Facebook and Twitter centralized in one app.TweetDeck now also offers video recording and uploading for iPhone 3GS owners.This service is supported by 12seconds, which has an iPhone app of its own.This type of short-form video plays nicely with the overall concept of Twitter and should help to cut down on upload times when posting new updates.Additional features included in this update are the inclusion of Twitter trending topics, the ability to cross-post updates to Twitter and Facebook, nearby tweets, bit.ly support, and landscape composing.These are all features that make a lot of sense for TweetDeck and were surely highly requested.A nice video of the new features, put together by the TweetDeck team, is included below.
Tweaked iOS 5.0.1 for iPhone 4S released, Apple TV 4.4.4 also
Tweaked iOS 5.0.1 for iPhone 4S released, Apple TV 4.4.4 also
The version of iOS 5.0.1 for iPhone 4S users is build 9A406 and does not have any listed changes from the version of iOS 5.0.1, which was released last month in an attempt to solve battery life issues many people had been complaining about.According to iDownloadBlog.com, this new update now includes decrypted RAM disks, which essentially means that users can write a script to download iOS 5.0.1 and extract files that one might need to effectively port Siri to another device. This update is particularly interesting for hackers who would like to stay legal while porting Siri.After the iOS 5.0.1 update last month, users still complained of battery life issues. In fact, many developers claim that the iOS 5.1 beta that has been distributed by Apple is also not fixing these battery problems.If you are already running iOS 5.0.1 on your iPhone 4S, you will not be instructed to download and install it. You can, however, download it using a direct link, and installing it with iTunes.To update your Apple TV to version 4.4.4, simply access your settings and choose to update. So far, the only known additions in the Apple TV 4.4.4 update are minor bug fixes and stability updates.
The version of iOS 5.0.1 for iPhone 4S users is build 9A406 and does not have any listed changes from the version of iOS 5.0.1, which was released last month in an attempt to solve battery life issues many people had been complaining about.According to iDownloadBlog.com, this new update now includes decrypted RAM disks, which essentially means that users can write a script to download iOS 5.0.1 and extract files that one might need to effectively port Siri to another device. This update is particularly interesting for hackers who would like to stay legal while porting Siri.After the iOS 5.0.1 update last month, users still complained of battery life issues. In fact, many developers claim that the iOS 5.1 beta that has been distributed by Apple is also not fixing these battery problems.If you are already running iOS 5.0.1 on your iPhone 4S, you will not be instructed to download and install it. You can, however, download it using a direct link, and installing it with iTunes.To update your Apple TV to version 4.4.4, simply access your settings and choose to update. So far, the only known additions in the Apple TV 4.4.4 update are minor bug fixes and stability updates.
TuneCore ties up with world's largest record label
TuneCore ties up with world's largest record label
Drake's story is instructive: days after distributing the single through TuneCore, he signed a deal with the world's largest record label, Universal. Today, TuneCore announced its own deal with Universal; specifically, the TuneCore Store will resell services offered by Universal Music Group Distribution, such as mastering (the final step in a professional audio production) and album art. Guitar Center, a massive guitar retailer with more than 200 stores, will also cooperate with Universal Distribution to sell physical CDs by TuneCore artists at its stores.But the real opportunity is more subtle. You have to ask what a big label like Universal gets out of the deal. Simple: this is a way to discover independent artists without doing the traditional boots-on-the-ground work of an A&R (artist and repertoire) representative. If a TuneCore customer buys Universal services, and then turns out to be a hot-seller, the artist and the label already have a relationship on which to build. Big-label contracts aren't--and shouldn't be--the goal of every indie musician, but for those who want a shot at reaching a large audience fast and are willing to give up some control to do so, they're still tempting.
Drake's story is instructive: days after distributing the single through TuneCore, he signed a deal with the world's largest record label, Universal. Today, TuneCore announced its own deal with Universal; specifically, the TuneCore Store will resell services offered by Universal Music Group Distribution, such as mastering (the final step in a professional audio production) and album art. Guitar Center, a massive guitar retailer with more than 200 stores, will also cooperate with Universal Distribution to sell physical CDs by TuneCore artists at its stores.But the real opportunity is more subtle. You have to ask what a big label like Universal gets out of the deal. Simple: this is a way to discover independent artists without doing the traditional boots-on-the-ground work of an A&R (artist and repertoire) representative. If a TuneCore customer buys Universal services, and then turns out to be a hot-seller, the artist and the label already have a relationship on which to build. Big-label contracts aren't--and shouldn't be--the goal of every indie musician, but for those who want a shot at reaching a large audience fast and are willing to give up some control to do so, they're still tempting.
TubeRadio helps you discover great music on YouTube
TubeRadio helps you discover great music on YouTube
TubeRadio has a few interesting wrinkles that make it worth checking out. If you select the "Discography" tab, then search on an artist's name, it will return a list of that artist's albums. Select any album, and it will cobble together a streaming playlist of songs from the album in in the proper order--not all of the songs will be the original studio versions, but might be lower-quality live or bootleg recordings. It all depends on what YouTube has available. For each album, TubeRadio also provides links to buy the physical CD from Amazon, or MP3 downloads from 7digital. When a song is playing, a window at the bottom of the screen contains tabs with information such as lyrics (this doesn't work all the time, but seems reliable for studio-based recordings), plus an artist biography, discography, and suggestions for other albums you might like (the last three features are provided by Last.fm, which is owned by CNET News publisher CBS Interactive). All in all, it's a slick and convenient way to discover the great wealth of music available on YouTube, and it doesn't cost a dime.
TubeRadio has a few interesting wrinkles that make it worth checking out. If you select the "Discography" tab, then search on an artist's name, it will return a list of that artist's albums. Select any album, and it will cobble together a streaming playlist of songs from the album in in the proper order--not all of the songs will be the original studio versions, but might be lower-quality live or bootleg recordings. It all depends on what YouTube has available. For each album, TubeRadio also provides links to buy the physical CD from Amazon, or MP3 downloads from 7digital. When a song is playing, a window at the bottom of the screen contains tabs with information such as lyrics (this doesn't work all the time, but seems reliable for studio-based recordings), plus an artist biography, discography, and suggestions for other albums you might like (the last three features are provided by Last.fm, which is owned by CNET News publisher CBS Interactive). All in all, it's a slick and convenient way to discover the great wealth of music available on YouTube, and it doesn't cost a dime.
Trip through your MP3s with Playlost
Trip through your MP3s with Playlost
The app comes in a ZIP file with two components. First you have to run the Library Scanner, a Java application. It took about 30 seconds to scan my entire library, and found about 400 MP3 files. One word of caution: if you rip your CDs in iTunes, they're probably in the MPEG-4 (.m4a) format, and Playlost won't recognize them--or any other file format, for that matter. Once you're done scanning, open the Playlost Viewer, which is an HTML file, in the browser of your choice, and you'll see all your MP3s laid out before you like a giant black-and-blue beehive. (The viewer uses Adobe's Flash technology, and you might get a security warning. If so, click the "Settings" button and add the Playlost viewer's file location to the safe list.) Select any song and it'll start playing. Then, you can click any of the six adjacent songs to begin building a playlist. A small set of playback controls lets you stop, resume, and move to any point in the song. I had a lot of fun navigating through my library this way, and found it surprisingly easy to build a coherent playlist with only a handful of "next song" choices at any given time. (Hat tip: Indie Music Tech)
The app comes in a ZIP file with two components. First you have to run the Library Scanner, a Java application. It took about 30 seconds to scan my entire library, and found about 400 MP3 files. One word of caution: if you rip your CDs in iTunes, they're probably in the MPEG-4 (.m4a) format, and Playlost won't recognize them--or any other file format, for that matter. Once you're done scanning, open the Playlost Viewer, which is an HTML file, in the browser of your choice, and you'll see all your MP3s laid out before you like a giant black-and-blue beehive. (The viewer uses Adobe's Flash technology, and you might get a security warning. If so, click the "Settings" button and add the Playlost viewer's file location to the safe list.) Select any song and it'll start playing. Then, you can click any of the six adjacent songs to begin building a playlist. A small set of playback controls lets you stop, resume, and move to any point in the song. I had a lot of fun navigating through my library this way, and found it surprisingly easy to build a coherent playlist with only a handful of "next song" choices at any given time. (Hat tip: Indie Music Tech)
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