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The 404 713: Where we're ready to believe you (podcast)

Wilson's taking a day off to devote more time to early-morning photography, so Mark Licea sits in his seat to fill in. We received a handful of listener responses about yesterday's TSA scanner conversation, so we spend part of the first half clarifying our stance on the issue, but also discuss our typical Friday stories--Asians, vacations, video games, Apple, Kool-Aid, and paper airplanes just a few things you can expect to hear on today's show!

A 17-year-old geek bearing a striking resemblance to Wilson in middle school is getting heat from Apple after running a six-figure business out of his home selling white iPhone 4s. Six months ago, high school senior Fei Lam contacted Apple's Chinese supplier Foxconn and somehow convinced them to sell him white iPhone 4 parts.

He used those parts for Whiteiphonefournow.com, a site specializing in converting black iPhone 4s into the missing white version. After selling more than $130,000 worth of parts since, Lam just received a letter from a private investigator hired by Apple to investigate accusations of stolen goods, but there's no word yet from Apple about what they plan to do with the litigation. Another reason explaining Wilson's absence today!

Social networks are all fun and games until someone gets outed for digging Asian girls--that's the lesson of the week for Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, whose old Friendster profile is making the rounds on the Internet for comments made about Asian females under the "What I Enjoy Doing" heading.

We'll grant Zuckerberg some slack since he was just a 19-year-old teenager at the time, and the rest of the content is equally lighthearted--he also lists "coding," "IN n Out," "bad life decisions," and "defeating nemeses" under the same category.

Our final story of the day comes from South America, where Brazilian Christians have banned the use of all USB connections and their associated products after claims that the logo for USB resembles the Satanic trident.

The Web is divided on the origin of the USB logo, but some suggest that the artist based the design on Neptune's Trident, with three shapes adorning the points that symbolize several connections to one destination.

Unfortunately, the ban on USB devices means that flash drives, mice, keyboards, and printers all fall under the same devil-worshiping umbrella, so hold onto your parallel port cords and PS/2 extensions--someday you might need them in Brazil.

Episode 713 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Carriers creating Isis mobile payment network

AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile are creating a mobile payment network designed to help consumers more easily pay for items at stores using their cell phones, the trio announced today.

The three mobile companies are building the network, known as Isis, with the initial goal of setting up a mobile payment system in which people can use cell phones to pay for items directly at a retailer, known as point-of-sale purchases.

The system will use a technology called near-field communication (NFC), which provides short-range and encrypted wireless communication between different devices. The companies said the system will … Read more

Management shuffle for Facebook Places

Facebook's been launching lots of new products and making big changes to existing ones recently, and in conjunction the company has been moving around some of its high-profile employees to new roles.

CNET learned from several sources that Justin Shaffer, the Facebook product manager who most recently spearheaded the overhaul of Facebook's Groups, is now in charge of the company's Facebook Places geolocation service--something that was speculated this summer when Facebook acquired his "check-in" start-up, Hot Potato. Facebook confirmed the new role on Thursday.

Michael Sharon, who had been in charge of Places, will move … Read more

MP3tunes: iTunes will benefit if we win copyright case

Michael Robertson, a well-known technology entrepreneur, has tweaked the music industry for years. But in his latest copyright fight with EMI Music, the founder of MP3tunes.com could be betting all the marbles.

"EMI is suing me personally," Robertson said today. "My personal assets are on the line."

EMI, the smallest of the four top record companies, accused Robertson and MP3tunes.com of copyright infringement three years ago. Robertson filed for summary judgment on Friday, and that means the case is nearing an end. The judge still needs to hear from EMI and then allow both … Read more

Google the vote

Links from Tuesday's episode of Loaded:

Google launches search tools to help Americans vote

Sophos unveils free antivirus software for Mac users

T-Mobile announces a $10 Android phone

Hotmail now works with other e-mail accounts, even Gmail

Google blurs images of homes and faces in Germany on Street View maps

Ubisoft's Michael Jackson Experience game will come with a free sparkly glove if you preorder the Wii version

Martha Stewart launches an iPad app to help you make the best holiday cookies on the block

Wii gamers get sparkly glove with new Jacko title

Those looking forward to the Michael Jackson Experience, raise your hand. Now put a rhinestone-bedazzled glove on it.

Ubisoft says it's giving those who preorder the game--it launches for the Wii, PSP, and DS on November 23 and other platforms later--a holiday gift. Yep, it's a glove just like the one Jacko was famous for wearing the night he introduced the world to the Moonwalk.

It's a free extra for those who preorder the Wii version only, and the company isn't raising the cost of the Wii version to make up for it. The price will … Read more

NBA 2K11: The one and only (this year)

Looking for a basketball game this season? The choice is simple: NBA2K11. EA has pushed its contender, NBA Elite, to 2011, so your only option for any action this fall comes courtesy of 2K Sports. Though that might make those who like choice a little apprehensive, the good news is that 2K11 has pulled out some extra surprises to turn what was already a really strong game into a classic overall package.

Adding Michael Jordan on the cover seemed like a publicity stunt at first, but the extra challenge modes and authentically re-created vintage playoff games help add something timeless to a game that's destined to be replaced next year. Maybe the idea's pretty smart: collector's features could make certain editions of sports titles worth keeping.

Jeff: 2K Sports has dominated the basketball video game market for years now, so it's no shock that NBA 2K11 is the most realistic basketball game ever made. Though the game's laundry list of tweaks and improvements are all welcome additions, we were floored to see how deeply detailed the game's Michael Jordan mode has been developed.

The amount of painstaking detail that must have gone into crafting the Jordan Challenge mode in NBA 2K11 should not be overlooked. Sure, we've seen sports games opt for a gimmicky add-on before, but the Michael Jordan features in 2K11 are anything but.

Just getting his Royal Airness to even grace the cover is an achievement in itself, but giving the player the chance to participate in 10 of his most legendary games is something any basketball fan--casual or die hard--can instantly relate to. Not only are 10 of his most iconic games represented with astonishing attention to detail, the opposing teams in which he faced are sized up right down to game-accurate plays. Each of the 10 challenges transports the player back in time--complete with uniforms and fashion styles of that specific era.

Jordan himself has been captured with mind-blowing precision, from his casual mannerisms, shooting technique, even down to his iconic tongue that came out during his spectacular slam dunks. The Jordan Challenge is one of the most substantial side quests we've been presented with in a sports game, and something fans of basketball should not miss.

Scott: As for me, I'm not actually a basketball fan at all. Other than attending a few NBA drafts and watching the Lakers three-peat in the late '90s when I lived in Los Angeles, I've lost touch with who's even playing in the NBA, other than the lineup for the Miami Heat. I've treated sports games as my educational tools. I learned a ton about the NFL through Madden over the years. I'm banking on NBA2K11 to do the same for me and hoops.… Read more

Digital City 99: Social Networks, laptop tans, and dreams of PS3/360 friendships

Can you believe we're only one episode away from No. 100? We can't either, and we discuss our various plans for next week's very special podcast. But, while Dan is away in Texas, it leaves Joey, Scott, and Julie feeling restless in the rainy city.

Scott's finally seen "The Social Network," and he finds it oddly self-contained but very well-made. But, as Julie points out, where are the other movies based on computer pioneers? Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were relegated to a 1999 made-for-TV movie. We wonder what other tech endeavors deserve feature treatment...the Palm Pre story?

Also, we discuss "Toasted Skin Syndrome" and whether we fear hot laptops on our skin; Andy Rooney's latest rant goes off on car gadgets, but we find them useful; Joey wonders why PS3/360 multiplatform games can't play with each other (can't a person dream?); and Scott talks about some recently-released games he's played, including the potential sleeper Enslaved and Nintendo's latest Mii-fest, Wii Party.

See you next week on Episode 100!

Report: Dell's 7-inch tablet due in 'next few weeks'

Dell will unveil its second Android tablet in the next few weeks, this one sporting a 7-inch screen. And a 10-inch model could arrive sometime in 2011.

The new tablet's debut was confirmed by Dell Greater China President Amit Midha in a Wall Street Journal interview published today. The news follows CEO Michael Dell's appearance last week at Oracle World in which he teased the audience with a brief glimpse of a 7-inch tablet but was mum on any details.

"It was showed off at Oracle World by Michael last week and we'll be launching very, … Read more

AOL acquires TechCrunch blog network

AOL has added another blog to its stable, snapping up Michael Arrington's TechCrunch for an undisclosed fee today.

Tim Armstrong, AOL's CEO, made the announcement on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2010 along with TechCrunch founder and co-editor Arrington and TechCrunch CEO Heather Harde. They actually signed the deal before the conference audience, although they did not say anything about valuation during a conference focused almost exclusively on start-ups, venture funding, and exit strategies.

TechCrunch will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary and Armstrong promised Arrington that he would have complete editorial freedom over content posted on TechCrunch. AOL operates … Read more