prime

As a guy blogging for a site owned by a television network (CBS Interactive is the parent company of CNET), count me as both excited and worried about Amazon's lineup of pilots for original comedy series.

So far, the forays into original programming by the likes of Netflix and Hulu and Amazon have been a mixed bag -- Netflix's "Lillyhammer"? Blech. Hulu's "Battleground"? More please.

But the six comedy pilots that will be posted to Amazon Instant Video for free viewing look to be upping the game significantly. Some of the names behind … Read more

Amazon has finally delivered its Instant Video streaming app to the iPhone and iPod Touch.

The company announced the app's availability today, saying that over 30,000 titles in the Prime Instant Video library will be available for users to stream. In addition, the application allows for access to over 140,000 movies and television shows that can be downloaded for purchase or rental.

Amazon's Prime Instant Video is available only to customers who sign up for the company's $79-a-year Prime membership. With that, customers get free two-day shipping, as well as "free" access to … Read more

Today, I am just speaking to the ladies.

But the men can listen in.

Ladies, you know that feeling when you've dumped someone and you feel a little guilty? You know that you felt strong when you dumped him, but now you wish you hadn't.

But you don't have the courage to contact him, so you just wish that there was someone nice to share your bed and bring a little warmth to your miserable nights.

Perhaps, though, you've been dumped. The empty-bed feeling's the same.

There's no one there. And who wants to … Read more

Amazon is offering a new plan to Prime customers.

After a one-month free trial, Amazon customers can now sign up for Prime for $7.99 per month. The e-commerce giant previously offered Prime subscriptions only at $79 per year. That deal, which saves folks about 20 percent compared to the month-to-month offer, is still available.

Amazon's decision to offer a month-to-month offer puts it in direct competition with its chief rivals in the online-streaming business, Hulu and Netflix. Both of those companies charge customers $7.99 per month for access to their streaming libraries.

However, in addition to streaming … Read more

The British prime minister has received a free iPad from Apple, the U.K. government disclosed today.

According to the "ministerial gifts list," a requirement by government to disclose items and gifts presented by foreign states and other friends of the United Kingdom, David Cameron was gifted an iPad by no less than Apple itself.

The device model is not known, but it was gifted to Cameron only a couple of weeks after the third-generation iPad with Retina display was announced by the technology giant in March.

While it is no secret that the British PM is a "huge" Angry Birds fan, … Read more

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is the latest Android device to see its Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update, coming less than a day after Asus indicated it would be here "soon."

As is the case with every other Android 4.1 update, the Prime benefits from features such as Google Now, speed improvements, and enhanced notifications. Those of you who own the Asus TF201 tablet are advised to check the "About Tablet" section for a firmware update. Be sure to have plenty of juice in the battery and a good 10 minutes set … Read more

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Clint Eastwood's RNC Obama chair gets own Twitter account.

- Behold: Eastwooding. Because, of course.

- Live taste-testing Savory Bacon Lollipops and Sriracha Lollipops. Thanks Thinkgeek!

- Nobody gives a _ _ _ _ about Honey Badger BBQ sauce. Except for 1,420 backers.

- Netflix video streaming accounts for 25 percent of all Internet data transmitted in North America.

- Fantasizing about ditching e-mail is like porn for techies.

Bathroom break video: How to make a towel horn.

Video voice mail: Josiah talks Neti Pots, ear wax, and dub step beatboxing.… Read more

Think you've got a handle on what Windows 8 means for laptops and tablets? Based on Asus' announcement of a bevy of new products at IFA, you're not even close.

Asus has been a champion of aggressive design ideas for years, and to the company's credit, a lot of these products seem like clever ways to explore the touch potential of Windows 8. There are no fewer than three detachable tablet-cum-hybrid laptop products, two touch-screen laptops -- one of which has a two-sided screen -- and a large, standard but very stylish ultrathin 15-incher. Let's take a walk through the magical Windows 8 zoo, shall we?… Read more