natali

The 404 560: Where Uncle Sam traps Jeff in a dutch oven (podcast)

The IRS gods must have tuned in to yesterday's episode and heard Jeff complaining about the tax system, because he woke up this morning to a very lofty charge from his bank to the tune of $600 owed to the state of New Jersey. We're all doing our best to cheer him up, but it doesn't help that the Devils lost game one of the Eastern Conference quarters to the Arkansas Fliers last night.

On the other hand, if Natali Del Conte Thursdays on The 404 aren't enough to cheer him up, all hope might be lost for our beloved Haterader. The first story on the table is about Amanda Flowers, a woman in the U.K. who's blaming the Wii Fit for an injury that's left with her a rare affliction called "persistent sexual arousal syndrome." Seriously, it's a real thing, not an ironic joke made up by the writers of "Grey's Anatomy." Flowers claims that a fall from her Wii Fit balance board damaged a nerve in her "lady garden" and made her into a nympho, which begs the question: where's the CNET office in the U.K.?

A recent study in Time Magazine shows that spanking leads to aggressive behavior as an adult, but one clever clown in the U.K. is offering alternative disciplinary action. For a small fee, you can hire Dominic Deville to dress up in a horrifying clown costume and stalk your misbehaving kid for a week!

Deville will send "chilling text messages," make prank calls, and set traps warning of an impending attack before the entire operation culminates in a cake to the face. Did we mention the service is supposed to be in celebration of a child's birthday? If the young child manages to "avoid the hit," they are given the cake as a present. Yes, it's all fun and games until your kid grows up to be a serial clown killer.

It's no surprise that 3D TVs are making big waves in 2010, but Natali and her n00b in beta might have more to worry about than those silly glasses. A disclaimer on the Samsung 3D LEDTV site dictates important safety information that warns children, teenagers, pregnant woman, elderly, the sleep-deprived, and alcoholics about the health issues associated with viewing in 3D.

A laundry list of symptoms could potentially occur after long periods of time, including altered vision (duh), nausea, convulsions, cramps, confusion, and more. In fact, we're starting to notice an alarming parallel between those side effects and the ones in those Extenze commercials, and we're praying ED isn't one of them. Click that play button down yonder, and enjoy the show!

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The 404 557: Where we just add water (podcast)

Wilson's taking a three-day weekend to recuperate from last week's Apple madness, so Natali takes his place to kick off this week of Apple-free episodes...not. Just when you thought Apple would let someone else have the news spotlight, out comes Stop the Madness Steve Jobs, an open letter written by developer Jack Freeman about Apple recently changing the requirements in the iPhone OS terms of service, limiting the programming languages developers can use to create applications.

According to the letter, "these new terms will shut down many current developers, and disallow many popular game engines and other "middlewares." The article also pleads with Jobs to filter the current app store based on quality of the end product instead of the programming methods. There's no petition to sign, but Jack encourages all supportive developers to comment on the letter and forward it to friends!

Meanwhile, in Droid country, a YouTube channel called DROIDshortcuts is showing off codes that let you use the phone to access very "special" features including changing traffic lights and improving your billiards game.

The most controversial app lets you detect a woman's bra size with a simple swipe of the handset. The video demo posted shows a couple guys walking into a "random" bar and asking the bartender's permission to "scan" her female parts with the Droid, although we're pretty sure this is old technology--version 1.0 didn't even need a phone; it was just called using your eyes.

Finally, we have some bad news for fans of "Arrested Development"--the much-discussed movie adaptation might actually be dead in the water, or at least that's what star David Cross recently said to a reporter, claiming too much time has passed since the series finale. It's not an official death sentence, so we'll just have to assume that the movie would've been a crappy, stretched-out version of the series anyway. Hopefully.

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The 404 555: Where we're sweating in our jeans (podcast)

Another Natali Del Conte Thursday is upon us, and, as usual, her timing is perfect because all this week we've been talking about parenting! So far, we've only talked about how frustrating it can be to teach parents how to use technology; however, today's episode exposes all the creative ways we got into trouble as children. It turns out, Justin record isn't exactly "clean," and Natali has something of an evil twin...

It all starts with a story in the news about a 16-year-old in Arkansas suing his mother for stalking him on Facebook. According to the KATV article, the mother, Denise New, read a few comments on her son's Facebook page about his reckless driving and decided to "hack" into his Facebook account, change his password, and read his messages.

While parents are certainly within their rights to monitor their children's Internet usage, it sparks a larger conversation about parental responsibility and the minimum age suggestion for allowing children on social networks. We'd love to hear parents chime in with a comment about how you check up on your special little guy or girl. Keyloggers? Password hacks? Over-the-shoulder reading? Let us know!

One of The 404's recurring themes is our fierce hatred and disgust over men's feet, and more specifically, men wearing flip-flops. However, we've decided that the only time the visual is acceptable is if you're using an exposed foot to control Liu Yi's Toe Mouse (or if you're preparing this entree).

It's only a concept for now, but Yi's toe-operated mouse is specifically designed for users with physical disabilities that limit the use of the upper body. The mouse is ergonomic, so it fits just like a normal sandal--between the big and second toes--but don't expect to see a CNET video review anytime soon...for your sake, trust me.

Finally, we have a full spread of calls (and e-mails) From the Public with your comments about tech-inept parents, listening to the show in class, hot sauce gifts, and more! Add your input to The 404 Podcast by leaving a voice mail at 1-866-404-CNET or send us an e-mail to the404(at)cnet(dot)com. Stay cool!

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The 404 551: Where Natali and Justin have an Apple iPad battle (podcast)

The CNET New York office is typically a tame environment--unless it happens to be the eve of a big Apple product drop and turns into pure unapologetic madness! It's the day before the release of the much-anticipated Apple iPad and Natali picked one up this morning for a CBS News segment, but little does she know The 404 has our own version, and it's bigger, cheaper, and even comes with its own stylus! Unfortunately, we can't do a side-by-side comparison because the real iPad is currently submerged in a puddle of Wilson's saliva, but we'll try to get the thing in the studio for Monday's show, pending a serious wipedown.

Jeff and I are still disappointed by the lack of features on the iPad, but we can't shrug off the awesome-factor of the new Netflix for iPad app that dropped yesterday. Some disregarded it as a cruel April Fools' joke, but it is indeed available now on the App Store. The service is free to all Netflix customers, who will now have mobile access to more than 20,000 movies and television shows currently in the library. You can even continue watching movies from where you left off on your TV or computer at home.

We can already sense your irritation at all this iPad talk, so let's move on. Sending dirty text messages to your boo bear isn't just for professional golfers and tweens anymore. Studies show that more and more adults are using "sexting" to get nasty on the run, so we're running down a list of five tips for safe sexting. The list is cheeky, and while we agree that the No. 1 tip is to be discreet, the article neglects to address the wonderful world of multimedia messages that can add a visual aid to your naughty text.

Guess we know what you're doing this weekend! And after you do that, shoot us a line by leaving a voicemail at 1-866-404-CNET or send a message to the404(at)cnet(dot)com and let us know what's on your mind!

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The 404 550: Where we April Fool Wilson into thinking we bought him an Apple iPad (podcast)

April Fools' Day isn't particularly special for The 404 since we prank each other all year, but that doesn't stop the rest of the Internet (or Natali Del Conte) from participating. Google continues its tradition of April Fools' Day hoaxes with a new Android app that finally bridges the language gap between humans and our furry friends. It's called Translate for Animals and uses the microphone to analyze and transcribe common phrases of your household pets. In related news, Google has also appointed this guy as its newest chief engineering officer.

Google isn't the only one pranking the Web; Razer also introduced its new Venom gaming enhancement solution that might actually appeal to the most hard-core gamers. The Razer Venom comes with its own IV drip bag and a variety of gold-plated needles to suit your vein sizes; just inject the serum additives Oxymialterxin or Doctixillin into your veins and you'll never let stupid things like sleep or hunger interrupt another precious gaming minute again.

April Fool's aside, the big news of this week is the upcoming release of the Apple iPad, and Natali Del Conte is on hand to tell us about her first date with the device on this morning's Early Show. She only spent a brief amount of time with it, but her first impression is that the giant screen is perfect for her favorite recipe app Epicurious. She also gushes about a Marvel comic book app and addresses our concerns about the durability of the screen and aluminum casing.

Keep the e-mails and voice mails coming everyone! Call us up at 1-866-404-CNET or send a message to the404(at)cnetcom and let us know what's on your mind. We're starting to read listener e-mails on the air now, so make them good! As always, sticker pictures are appreciated as well, and don't forget about Steve Guttenberg's ongoing "Audiophillie" awards--we've already received submissions but you still have plenty of time to send yours in before the April 12 deadline, so get to work!

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The 404 549: Where we finally explain 'PC Load Letter' (podcast)

Wilson is out today. He's supposedly covering the New York auto show for CNET TV, but we suspect that he's at home still trying to get the Cheeseburger Doritos flavor off his tongue from yesterday's episode. We aren't mad at him either, because Natali Del Conte steps into his shoes to sort out a few stories on today's episode, starting with a short explanation behind that "PC Load Letter" message you've probably seen on your office printer.

Immortalized in the classic scene from Office Space, Michael Bolton probably wouldn't have been so pissed if CNET's prestigious printer Editor Justin Yu was around to show him that "PC Load Letter" means you have to load letter-size paper into the Paper Cassette. It's that simple, now put the bat down.

The next story might not be so easy to explain. "Security experts" suspect that terrorists have plans to smuggle explosives onto planes using bombs in fake breast implants. Since you can apparently hide up to five ounces of pentaerythritol tetrabitrate (yes, from "Die Hard 3"), airline officials will likely start more "in-depth" examinations of women that have undergone breast augmentation surgery. No, this is not a ploy by Wilson G. Tang to make some money on the side, but we're still wondering if it's possible to feel the difference between silicone and pentaerythritol tetrabitrate..."Oh my!"

Some people just can't have a conversation online without punctuating their thoughts with a silly emoticon. In fact, as Natali tells us, there's even a new emoticon out now that conveys sarcasm! Theo Watson adds his own twist on the funny faces with a new Auto Smiley program that uses a Web cam to automatically insert a smileycon into whatever program you're using. You can download the app and source code here and enjoy your hands-free smiling!

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The 404 545: Where we've got an intern for the day (but he won't get us coffee) (podcast)

404-listener Blake Stevenson heard us fanning out on The Sandlot during yesterday's episode, so he whipped up a 404ified poster for today's blog image. Thanks Blake!

It's almost the end of the work week, so Natali Del Conte is on the show and she's bringing the dirty starting with the queen of filthy pop, Lady Gaga. According to video analytics company Visible Measures, the diva has just become the first artist ever to achieve one billion online video views thanks to her three hit singles: Poker Face, Just Dance, and Bad Romance. If you're new to Gaga fandom, you have a lot of homework to do, because the one billion doesn't even count her live performances, video diaries, and popular interviews--not to mention her upcoming 3D concert DVD. Speaking of which, anyone have extra tickets to the sold-out MSG show in July?

On a completely unrelated note, law enforcement can now expose and track pedophiles by their typing habits. Apparently the typing speed and rhythms of these predators are unique and researching are currently investigating ways to identify the typist's age, sex, and culture within TEN KEYSTROKES! We're fully backing any new methods that put these idiots behind bars, but with no explanation of exactly how pedophiles type, we can't help but be skeptical with their findings. How about casting a smaller net and focusing on the dude asking for a WEP password at Chuck E. Cheese?

Be sure to stick around to hear Natali and the guys debunk 5 myths about the male body, starting with this foolish rumor about shoe size. The days of being too ashamed to ask a shoe salesperson for your size 7 loafers are over!

All this and more stories guaranteed to leave a bitter taste in your mouth, plus a new "E-mails From the Public" segment that forces us to question our potty-mouth promos. Talk to you tomorrow!

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Buzz Out Loud 1189: Slide to explode (podcast)

Google and China's war heats up a bit. Amazon is apparently not going to war against the iPad. But the most compelling news of the day? Swipe to unlock existed long before Apple ever thought of it. It involved Aliens. And Predators. And self-destruction.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 1189

Chinese Media: Google Is Tied to U.S. Intelligence http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/chinese-media-calls-google-arrogant-alleges-ties-to-us-intell/19407888/

And China could care less about a Google pull out http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62L14V20100322

UK announces online site for … Read more

The 404 542: Where the babysitter's on fire (podcast)

A lot of critics accuse The 404 of resorting to juvenile humor for cheap laughs, and even if that's absolutely true, we've never had an actual 14 year old call us out on it...until this morning, when young Daniel showed up at the CNET office! Dedicated 404 listeners will remember Daniel as the kid who got robbed for his iPhone, so he joins us on today's episode as a junior podcaster to tell his story. And don't worry--his mother is fully aware of his location.

Daniel is visibly excited about the first topic of discussion, … Read more

The 404 540: Where we find out if that's your REAL name (podcast)

Today's episode of The 404 Podcast starts off with a intimate glimpse into Justin's mind, so we recommend throwing on some goggles before watching. He reveals that his name was initially supposed to be Jonathan, but due to complications surrounding the pronunciation of his name, the doctor just shortened it to the simpler-sounding Justin. Jeff also has a funny story about his father's name, and it turns out it wasn't always Sweet Lou!

It's Thursday, so you know what that means: Natali Del Conte joins the fun and adds a valuable female perspective on our motley crew.

We've been talking about the Sony PlayStation Move since it debuted at last week's Game Developers Conference, and Sony just announced its first Move commercial, brought to you by...the future. The video features a very Colberian Kevin Butler, the PlayStation's VP of Realistic Movements, who takes sarcastic shots at Nintendo and Microsoft in the very distant future (November 2010).

We could spend an entire show on this next topic, a list of 10 things women do that turn men off. It's all in good fun and we're obviously generalizing, but we're finding it hard to dispute the irritations that writer Brendan Tapley brings up, including "assuming we know what you want us to do," "smothering instead of mothering," and "over-sharing." Thanks to NDC for sticking around to keep us in check!

Finally, a new study in the latest Retrevo Gadgetology Report (gadgetology?) anecdotally shows that one in 10 people under 25 would pause coitus to check their social networking updates, which begs the question: is Facebook better than sex?

Short answer: No, dude.

Long answer: Listen to the show!

EPISODE 540 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more