The 404 405: Where really?! No more Saturday mail!?
The CNET offices in New York just got a little more exciting, because Bonnie Cha is in The 404 studio to brighten up an otherwise sobering Monday morning! She's only here for one more day, but make sure you listen to the end of the show, because she has a very important announcement!Our rundowneth overfloweth today with quick little news bytes. The first one is about the U.S. Post Office no longer delivering mail on Saturdays! Calm down, the proposition is still in the infancy stage, but we're wondering if this is a real concern for anyone, or if this could just be another point on the board for THE INTERNET. Nevertheless, we're still going to miss our friendly neighborhood mailpeople who face dogs, weather, fatigue, and a million other things to bring us our daily book of ValuePak coupons.Next up is a little rumor we've heard from TechRadar about Sony releasing an emotion sensor at tomorrow's GamesCon media conference. We're not sure if this technology will ever actually materialize, but we do know Sony has already patented plans for a gaming console that can be controlled by touch, movement, and even emotions including laughter, boredom, sadness, excitement, and anger. Personally, I can do without a box reading my emotions and affecting my gameplay, but what do you think? Could you get into something like that?We also talk about "District 9" cleaning up the weekend box office, cocaine content of U.S. currency, and watch as Amy Winehouse has a complete mental breakdown, all on today's snapshot episode!EPISODE 405PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video 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.PlayFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Mercury Rises as Bruce Willis takes on Unbreakable iTunes terms
Mercury Rises as Bruce Willis takes on Unbreakable iTunes terms
Bruce Willis is reportedly preparing to battle Apple over the rights to his iTunes music collection after he dies. As it stands, Apple's terms and conditions for its iTunes store means that people are not actually purchasing music from the store, they're merely purchasing the rights to listen to the song in question. These rights are non-transferable, and "does not allow you to use the Licensed Application on any Apple Device that you do not own or control".Willis, who apparently has a particularly large iTunes collection, wants to pass on his music to his four children and has instructed his legal advisers to set up family trusts specifically for his music downloads. According to The Sun Willis is actively preparing to take Apple to court over this. He is also reportedly supporting legal initiatives in five US states that are aimed at providing greater rights for music downloaders. Given that, by the act of purchasing from the iTunes store, Willis has agreed to these terms and conditions, it's unclear how much of a legal leg he has to stand on. However, anything that raises awareness of the issues around ownership of digital editions of music, movies and more is always of benefit to consumers. Update Bruce Willis' wife, the model-actress Emma Heming-Willis, has taken to Twitter to refute the idea of her husband taking on the might of Apple, stating quite simply that "it's not a true story". Looks like our Sixth Sense for these things was wrong, and Apple remains The Last Man Standing after Willis turned out to be The Wrong Man to see Red over the iTunes T&Cs. People worried about digital ownership rights will need to wait for another Alpha Dog who would be willing to walk the metaphorical 16 Blocks to fight the good fight. Unless Willis is up for some Moonlighting?Updated at 9.16am AEST: added additional about the claim being refuted by Willis' wife.
Bruce Willis is reportedly preparing to battle Apple over the rights to his iTunes music collection after he dies. As it stands, Apple's terms and conditions for its iTunes store means that people are not actually purchasing music from the store, they're merely purchasing the rights to listen to the song in question. These rights are non-transferable, and "does not allow you to use the Licensed Application on any Apple Device that you do not own or control".Willis, who apparently has a particularly large iTunes collection, wants to pass on his music to his four children and has instructed his legal advisers to set up family trusts specifically for his music downloads. According to The Sun Willis is actively preparing to take Apple to court over this. He is also reportedly supporting legal initiatives in five US states that are aimed at providing greater rights for music downloaders. Given that, by the act of purchasing from the iTunes store, Willis has agreed to these terms and conditions, it's unclear how much of a legal leg he has to stand on. However, anything that raises awareness of the issues around ownership of digital editions of music, movies and more is always of benefit to consumers. Update Bruce Willis' wife, the model-actress Emma Heming-Willis, has taken to Twitter to refute the idea of her husband taking on the might of Apple, stating quite simply that "it's not a true story". Looks like our Sixth Sense for these things was wrong, and Apple remains The Last Man Standing after Willis turned out to be The Wrong Man to see Red over the iTunes T&Cs. People worried about digital ownership rights will need to wait for another Alpha Dog who would be willing to walk the metaphorical 16 Blocks to fight the good fight. Unless Willis is up for some Moonlighting?Updated at 9.16am AEST: added additional about the claim being refuted by Willis' wife.
Flurry uncovers Xiaomi's core customer
Flurry uncovers Xiaomi's core customer
Xiaomi's customers in China appear to be young, professional, and addicted to media and entertainment apps.Mobile researcher Flurry said in a new study that it analyzed a random sample of 23,000 devices in China throughout January to uncover Xiaomi's core user. It found that the China-based electronics company's customer base skews toward 18- to 34-year-old business professionals that tend to heavily use their devices for media and entertainment, as well as productivity. They are less focused on gaming, and social and messaging than the average Chinese smartphone user, Flurry said.That young, professional group is a coveted user base, Flurry noted, as the fast-growing segment has become a leading driver of China's new consumer-based economy, and could help Xiaomi keep up its rapid growth.The Beijing-based smartphone maker has quickly gained market share in China by offering high-end but lower-priced Android-powered smartphones, and has been moving into new regions in Southeast Asia, such as Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Earlier this month, Xiaomi said it sold 26.1 million smartphones in the first half of the year, up substantially from the 18.7 million it sold for all of 2013.Flurry also found that Xiaomi now leads in the Chinese market for time users spend in apps. That would signify a shift from Apple's iPhone leading in this metric by a wide margin for the past six years against every device powered by Google's Android operating system. The researcher attributed the lead in part to the Xiaomi core customer's big use of media and entertainment."This is the first time we've seen an Android smartphone catch up to the iPhone's most important engagement metric -- and exceed it," Flurry said.
Xiaomi's customers in China appear to be young, professional, and addicted to media and entertainment apps.Mobile researcher Flurry said in a new study that it analyzed a random sample of 23,000 devices in China throughout January to uncover Xiaomi's core user. It found that the China-based electronics company's customer base skews toward 18- to 34-year-old business professionals that tend to heavily use their devices for media and entertainment, as well as productivity. They are less focused on gaming, and social and messaging than the average Chinese smartphone user, Flurry said.That young, professional group is a coveted user base, Flurry noted, as the fast-growing segment has become a leading driver of China's new consumer-based economy, and could help Xiaomi keep up its rapid growth.The Beijing-based smartphone maker has quickly gained market share in China by offering high-end but lower-priced Android-powered smartphones, and has been moving into new regions in Southeast Asia, such as Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Earlier this month, Xiaomi said it sold 26.1 million smartphones in the first half of the year, up substantially from the 18.7 million it sold for all of 2013.Flurry also found that Xiaomi now leads in the Chinese market for time users spend in apps. That would signify a shift from Apple's iPhone leading in this metric by a wide margin for the past six years against every device powered by Google's Android operating system. The researcher attributed the lead in part to the Xiaomi core customer's big use of media and entertainment."This is the first time we've seen an Android smartphone catch up to the iPhone's most important engagement metric -- and exceed it," Flurry said.
First iPhone 4 buyers already camping out in SF
First iPhone 4 buyers already camping out in SF
SAN FRANCISCO--The iPhone 4 won't officially show up in stores until Thursday, but as has become a tradition, some of the more eager have gotten in line days ahead of time.Chris Bank, 24, camped out in a tent with a friend on Stockton Street Monday night in order to secure the first two spaces in line. He says he's never waited in linebefore for any gadget, but that this iPhone release is special. "I'm finally switching!" he said Tuesday, holding up his BlackBerry.Bank is renting the first space in line, along with use of his tent, for $200. (Click to enlarge.)James Martin/CNETBank is trying to gather as much attention as he can by Twittering about his exploits live, but that's also because he has something to sell. Bank has two spots and is trying to rent out the first spot in line along with his tent on Airbnb.com for $200. The highest bidder has the chance to be one of the first to get the iPhone at the Stockton Street store on Thursday morning--and the chance to get photographed by the media, which will swarm him. Apple has made him feel welcome. When he was almost issued a ticket by the San Francisco police for camping on the sidewalk Tuesday morning, Bank says "an Apple rep offered to pay" for it.Apple has in the past few years been happy to accommodate iPhone line waiters, bringing refreshments to them and allowing some who've camped overnight to recharge their laptops in the store.Joe Lobato is also taking an entrepreneurial tack. He's third in line at the San Francisco store, but is willing to sell his spot--just a lawn chair, no tent--for $200 cash because he says he wants a new iPhone, but can't afford the cost himself. Lobato is also Twittering about his experiences and streaming on Ustream.TV via the Webcam on his white MacBook.
SAN FRANCISCO--The iPhone 4 won't officially show up in stores until Thursday, but as has become a tradition, some of the more eager have gotten in line days ahead of time.Chris Bank, 24, camped out in a tent with a friend on Stockton Street Monday night in order to secure the first two spaces in line. He says he's never waited in linebefore for any gadget, but that this iPhone release is special. "I'm finally switching!" he said Tuesday, holding up his BlackBerry.Bank is renting the first space in line, along with use of his tent, for $200. (Click to enlarge.)James Martin/CNETBank is trying to gather as much attention as he can by Twittering about his exploits live, but that's also because he has something to sell. Bank has two spots and is trying to rent out the first spot in line along with his tent on Airbnb.com for $200. The highest bidder has the chance to be one of the first to get the iPhone at the Stockton Street store on Thursday morning--and the chance to get photographed by the media, which will swarm him. Apple has made him feel welcome. When he was almost issued a ticket by the San Francisco police for camping on the sidewalk Tuesday morning, Bank says "an Apple rep offered to pay" for it.Apple has in the past few years been happy to accommodate iPhone line waiters, bringing refreshments to them and allowing some who've camped overnight to recharge their laptops in the store.Joe Lobato is also taking an entrepreneurial tack. He's third in line at the San Francisco store, but is willing to sell his spot--just a lawn chair, no tent--for $200 cash because he says he wants a new iPhone, but can't afford the cost himself. Lobato is also Twittering about his experiences and streaming on Ustream.TV via the Webcam on his white MacBook.
First Intel Ivy Bridge launch expected on April 23
First Intel Ivy Bridge launch expected on April 23
The first of a series of Ivy Bridge chip announcements is expected on April 23, CNET has learned. Previously, CNET had been told the launch would happen between April 23 and April 29.Buy today an industry source familiar with Intel's plans said the initial rollout will happen on April 23. Ivy Bridge is the first in a series of upcoming Intel mainstream chips that emphasize graphics and multimedia processing.Preliminary benchmarks demonstrate the chip's graphics prowess compared to earlier Intel designs. Ivy Bridge is also the first Intel chip to employ new 3D transistors and the first to support USB 3.0 (in the companion chipset).Related storiesMore reasons to wait for 'Ivy Bridge' MacBook, Windows laptopsIntel offers clarification on 'Ivy Bridge' chip delayNvidia's Haas on being two places at once: Intel and ARMRumors have Apple bringing out a thinner 15-inch MacBook model in the coming months as well as 13-inch MacBooks.Those systems will likely tap Intel's more power-efficient Ivy Bridge chips. And Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Sony, Toshiba, Acer, and Asus will update and/or bring out new systems.These will run the gamut of laptop designs, but more systems are expected to be thin.Even many higher performance systems are expected to have a slimmer chassis. Those laptops typically use a separate graphics chip from suppliers such as Nvidia. Though the first Ivy Bridge announcement will come this month, rollouts are expected to be staggered. As Intel has done in the past, quad-core chips appear first followed by the most power-efficient processors that go into ultrabooks and the MacBook Air. Responding to reports about delays earlier in the year, Intel said some power-efficient mobile products may launch a few weeks later than originally planned.
The first of a series of Ivy Bridge chip announcements is expected on April 23, CNET has learned. Previously, CNET had been told the launch would happen between April 23 and April 29.Buy today an industry source familiar with Intel's plans said the initial rollout will happen on April 23. Ivy Bridge is the first in a series of upcoming Intel mainstream chips that emphasize graphics and multimedia processing.Preliminary benchmarks demonstrate the chip's graphics prowess compared to earlier Intel designs. Ivy Bridge is also the first Intel chip to employ new 3D transistors and the first to support USB 3.0 (in the companion chipset).Related storiesMore reasons to wait for 'Ivy Bridge' MacBook, Windows laptopsIntel offers clarification on 'Ivy Bridge' chip delayNvidia's Haas on being two places at once: Intel and ARMRumors have Apple bringing out a thinner 15-inch MacBook model in the coming months as well as 13-inch MacBooks.Those systems will likely tap Intel's more power-efficient Ivy Bridge chips. And Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Sony, Toshiba, Acer, and Asus will update and/or bring out new systems.These will run the gamut of laptop designs, but more systems are expected to be thin.Even many higher performance systems are expected to have a slimmer chassis. Those laptops typically use a separate graphics chip from suppliers such as Nvidia. Though the first Ivy Bridge announcement will come this month, rollouts are expected to be staggered. As Intel has done in the past, quad-core chips appear first followed by the most power-efficient processors that go into ultrabooks and the MacBook Air. Responding to reports about delays earlier in the year, Intel said some power-efficient mobile products may launch a few weeks later than originally planned.
Federal judge tosses Apple patent lawsuit against Motorola
Federal judge tosses Apple patent lawsuit against Motorola
According to the blog Foss Patents, which was first to report today's decision, Judge Barbara Crabb, of the Western District of Wisconsin, dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning that Apple will have to successfully appeal her decision to revive the case. Apple can't simply refile in another district court. Apple filed suit against Motorola Mobility in March 2011 after Motorola sought 2.25 percent of all net sales on iOS products that use essential industry standard patents. Companies that own industry-essential patents are expected to offer them under licensing terms that are "fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory " or FRAND for short. Related storiesAT&T to sell Moto Backflip March 7?Dialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Making MotoBlur manageableWSJ: Motorola rethinking spin-offGoogle's spy case: Not the first, nor the lastApple accused Motorola of gouging and seeking excessive royalty payments for its patents, which cover video streaming and Wi-Fi technology. Apple is engaged in a patent war with Google on numerous fronts and in multiple high-profile legal cases, including Apple v. Samsung. Things had gone mostly Apple's way up until last week, Foss Patents blogger Florian Mueller wrote, when the Google-owned Motorola filed a motion that would have required Apple to adhere to whatever the court decided was a fair royalty rate. But Apple played hardball, saying it would only agree to a court-determined rate if the rate didn't exceed $1 per iPhone.Mueller has consulted for Microsoft, which is pursuing a similar legal case against Motorola.
According to the blog Foss Patents, which was first to report today's decision, Judge Barbara Crabb, of the Western District of Wisconsin, dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning that Apple will have to successfully appeal her decision to revive the case. Apple can't simply refile in another district court. Apple filed suit against Motorola Mobility in March 2011 after Motorola sought 2.25 percent of all net sales on iOS products that use essential industry standard patents. Companies that own industry-essential patents are expected to offer them under licensing terms that are "fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory " or FRAND for short. Related storiesAT&T to sell Moto Backflip March 7?Dialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Making MotoBlur manageableWSJ: Motorola rethinking spin-offGoogle's spy case: Not the first, nor the lastApple accused Motorola of gouging and seeking excessive royalty payments for its patents, which cover video streaming and Wi-Fi technology. Apple is engaged in a patent war with Google on numerous fronts and in multiple high-profile legal cases, including Apple v. Samsung. Things had gone mostly Apple's way up until last week, Foss Patents blogger Florian Mueller wrote, when the Google-owned Motorola filed a motion that would have required Apple to adhere to whatever the court decided was a fair royalty rate. But Apple played hardball, saying it would only agree to a court-determined rate if the rate didn't exceed $1 per iPhone.Mueller has consulted for Microsoft, which is pursuing a similar legal case against Motorola.
First glimpse at the inside of Apple's new iMac line
First glimpse at the inside of Apple's new iMac line
Apple's new iMac has been taken apart and gutted for the world to see.Japanese Apple blog Kodawarisan today unboxed the iMac and then decided to take it one step further by fully disassembling the new computer. You can see the full set of teardown pictures here.The blog didn't spend too much time discussing the internal components, but did find that it took a "vacuum lifter" to peel the screen away from the back of the computer and see inside. Behind the display, the blog found a surprisingly tidy collection of components packed into an extremely cramped space.Many of the components appear to be kept away from the display by being covered under plastic compartments. A single band extends from the middle of the iMac to the top to connect the device's FaceTime camera.Perhaps the most interesting addition to the iMac is its oddly shaped logic board. Rather than the standard rectangular board, the iMac's board has a cut-out at the bottom to accommodate its design. The board, however, is awfully neat, making for a surprisingly simple internal design.Apple announced the new iMac line last month, and released the 21.5-inch model -- which Kodawarisan took apart -- today. The 27-inch version will be shipping in two to three weeks. As with other iMacs, it appears this model is extremely difficult to take apart -- a common attribute of Apple's products.(Via AppleInsider)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
Apple's new iMac has been taken apart and gutted for the world to see.Japanese Apple blog Kodawarisan today unboxed the iMac and then decided to take it one step further by fully disassembling the new computer. You can see the full set of teardown pictures here.The blog didn't spend too much time discussing the internal components, but did find that it took a "vacuum lifter" to peel the screen away from the back of the computer and see inside. Behind the display, the blog found a surprisingly tidy collection of components packed into an extremely cramped space.Many of the components appear to be kept away from the display by being covered under plastic compartments. A single band extends from the middle of the iMac to the top to connect the device's FaceTime camera.Perhaps the most interesting addition to the iMac is its oddly shaped logic board. Rather than the standard rectangular board, the iMac's board has a cut-out at the bottom to accommodate its design. The board, however, is awfully neat, making for a surprisingly simple internal design.Apple announced the new iMac line last month, and released the 21.5-inch model -- which Kodawarisan took apart -- today. The 27-inch version will be shipping in two to three weeks. As with other iMacs, it appears this model is extremely difficult to take apart -- a common attribute of Apple's products.(Via AppleInsider)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
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