The 404 362: Where the 404 goes CNET LIVE
So now that the weekend is over, we can talk about our top secret trip...to Atlantic City! It's always good to get away for a little bit, even if it's just for a day, so we packed up our bags and took off to AC for a little gambling and good times. What was supposed to be a relaxing trip turned out to be 24 hours of "The Hangover"-esque partying. We all indulged in our own vices: Jeff hit the blackjack tables like a white bat out of hell, Justin explored the dark crevices of AC's back alleys, and Wilson Tang ate chicken. That's right, you read it correctly: Wilson Tang finally broke his "vegetarianism" and is now an official chicken chaser. Unfortunately, his bout with poultry at Friday's dinner left him with a mad stomach ache and he party pooped his way out of the trip. What a shrew!Click here for a full set of pictures from The 404's trip to Atlantic City.Lots of stories to talk about today, namely two big news items from over the weekend: the DTV official transition and the mad rush for Facebook Vanity URLs. Actually, the long-awaited DTV transition went off without a hitch, which makes sense, because it's been in the works forever now, although we're pretty sure someone in Florida tried to eat her converter box. Facebook Vanity also had little to no effect on real life, although there did seem to be a slight flux in traffic on Thursday night as people rushed to reserve their own Facebook URLs. In the spirit of American sportsmanship, some of the landgrabs were a little disingenuous; for example, check out the profile for our own Molly Wood. In fact, my own name got snaked by another Justin Yu, so feel free to add him and let him know how much you love The 404. In the meantime, check out the Facebook profiles for the Real Justin Yu, Wilson Tang, and Jeff Bakalar.EPISODE 362Download today's podcast 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.PlayCheck out the pics from our trip to Atlantic City!DTV transition goes off without hitch, dogs and cats' hatred intactArmy says 10-4 to social networking"GI Joe" test screenings read GOD AWFULFacebook username landgrab turns out to be a snorefestFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson Tang
Lumosity shows what success is for an iOS app
Lumosity shows what success is for an iOS app
What does success look like for an iPhone app? Check out Lumosity. from Lumos Labs. It's currently the No. 1 app in the education category of the U.S. iTunes App Store and has garnered more than 25,000 five-star reviews. It is also ranked No. 1 in the education category in 38 other countries and No. 5 overall among iTunes App Store free apps category in about 80 countries.The Lumosity app features games that help people improve their cognitive skills, such as retaining information and focusing attention.The company has been around since 2007, and has 45 million members, mostly for its web-based service. Lumos Labs recently overhauled its iPhone app, and the company launched an iPad app Thursday. According to the company, Lumosity's iPhone app has been downloaded over 19 million times since it launched in November 2012, and more than 35 million mobile games have been played in the past month. It also currently accounts for more than half of the company's user registrations. Lumosity's iPad app.(Credit: Lumosity) "We attribute Lumosity's growth to its broad appeal and the universality of the program's benefits," said Krishna Kakarala, CFO at Lumosity in an email. "Cognitive training offers something for everyone. Similar to a gym, people of all ages use Lumosity to keep their brain in shape, whether it's to focus at work, do better at school and standardized tests, or just to stay sharp. " In 2012, the company reported $24 million in revenue, double from the previous year. "Lumosity has been growing at a quarterly rate of 20 to 25 percent and doubling every 6 to 9 months since launch," Kakarala said. Lumosity is free for a limited set of features and costs around $70 per year for access to the complete features.
What does success look like for an iPhone app? Check out Lumosity. from Lumos Labs. It's currently the No. 1 app in the education category of the U.S. iTunes App Store and has garnered more than 25,000 five-star reviews. It is also ranked No. 1 in the education category in 38 other countries and No. 5 overall among iTunes App Store free apps category in about 80 countries.The Lumosity app features games that help people improve their cognitive skills, such as retaining information and focusing attention.The company has been around since 2007, and has 45 million members, mostly for its web-based service. Lumos Labs recently overhauled its iPhone app, and the company launched an iPad app Thursday. According to the company, Lumosity's iPhone app has been downloaded over 19 million times since it launched in November 2012, and more than 35 million mobile games have been played in the past month. It also currently accounts for more than half of the company's user registrations. Lumosity's iPad app.(Credit: Lumosity) "We attribute Lumosity's growth to its broad appeal and the universality of the program's benefits," said Krishna Kakarala, CFO at Lumosity in an email. "Cognitive training offers something for everyone. Similar to a gym, people of all ages use Lumosity to keep their brain in shape, whether it's to focus at work, do better at school and standardized tests, or just to stay sharp. " In 2012, the company reported $24 million in revenue, double from the previous year. "Lumosity has been growing at a quarterly rate of 20 to 25 percent and doubling every 6 to 9 months since launch," Kakarala said. Lumosity is free for a limited set of features and costs around $70 per year for access to the complete features.
BlackBerry tablet out early 2011 for under $500
BlackBerry tablet out early 2011 for under $500
Research In Motion's first tablet computer will launch in North America in the first quarter and cost less than $500, RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie told Bloomberg late yesterday.Unveiling the new BlackBerry PlayBook in September, RIM was mum on the cost until now. The PlayBook's price tag sets it up to compete with Apple's iPad, which costs $499 for the least expensive 16GB Wi-Fi-only model.The PlayBook has a 1,024x600 pixel, 7-inch display, which is smaller than the iPad's 9.7-inch screen. It includes both a front-facing and a rear-facing camera, and a 1GHz dual-core processor. The initial models will offer Wi-Fi-only connectivity, but RIM has said it plans to offer 3G and 4G models in the future. And unlike the iPad, the PlayBook will support Adobe Flash.The PlayBook may be available through retail stores such as Best Buy and Target as well as from mobile carriers, Balsillie told Bloomberg. Following its North American debut, the tablet will be released elsewhere in the second quarter. South Korea will be one of the first countries on that list."Korea's such a strategic market, because it's so big, so innovative," Balsillie told. "It's going to be one of the very, very first."RIM is one of many companies gearing up to to launch tablet computers as potential rivals to the popular iPad. Apple's tablet sold 3 million units in its first 80 days on the market. Some analysts believe that as of early October, Apple may have sold more than 8 million iPads.Apple CEO Steve Jobs recently took a few jabs at RIM. Jobs touted Apple's apparent surge over RIM in the smartphone arena and also put down 7-inch tablets as being too small for "great tablet apps."Jobs' remarks prompted Balsillie to strike back in a blog post, condemning Apple's "closed system" and saying that 7-inch tablets will be a big portion of the market. The RIM co-CEO also hit an optimistic tone in his Bloomberg interview, forecasting that the iPad's dominance in the tablet-computer market will "change when we're in the market."
Research In Motion's first tablet computer will launch in North America in the first quarter and cost less than $500, RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie told Bloomberg late yesterday.Unveiling the new BlackBerry PlayBook in September, RIM was mum on the cost until now. The PlayBook's price tag sets it up to compete with Apple's iPad, which costs $499 for the least expensive 16GB Wi-Fi-only model.The PlayBook has a 1,024x600 pixel, 7-inch display, which is smaller than the iPad's 9.7-inch screen. It includes both a front-facing and a rear-facing camera, and a 1GHz dual-core processor. The initial models will offer Wi-Fi-only connectivity, but RIM has said it plans to offer 3G and 4G models in the future. And unlike the iPad, the PlayBook will support Adobe Flash.The PlayBook may be available through retail stores such as Best Buy and Target as well as from mobile carriers, Balsillie told Bloomberg. Following its North American debut, the tablet will be released elsewhere in the second quarter. South Korea will be one of the first countries on that list."Korea's such a strategic market, because it's so big, so innovative," Balsillie told. "It's going to be one of the very, very first."RIM is one of many companies gearing up to to launch tablet computers as potential rivals to the popular iPad. Apple's tablet sold 3 million units in its first 80 days on the market. Some analysts believe that as of early October, Apple may have sold more than 8 million iPads.Apple CEO Steve Jobs recently took a few jabs at RIM. Jobs touted Apple's apparent surge over RIM in the smartphone arena and also put down 7-inch tablets as being too small for "great tablet apps."Jobs' remarks prompted Balsillie to strike back in a blog post, condemning Apple's "closed system" and saying that 7-inch tablets will be a big portion of the market. The RIM co-CEO also hit an optimistic tone in his Bloomberg interview, forecasting that the iPad's dominance in the tablet-computer market will "change when we're in the market."
BlackBerry launches Secure Work Space for Android, iPhones
BlackBerry launches Secure Work Space for Android, iPhones
BlackBerry officially launched a service late Monday that allows Apple and Android users to separate personal data and company information on the same device.Managed through BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 (BES), the long-anticipated Secure Work Space creates a container to keep corporate applications such as e-mail, calendar, contacts, and tasks separate from users' personal apps. The service is designed to prevent data leakage -- including copy and paste -- between the Secure Work Space elements and the rest of the device.Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Kodak patent complaints target Apple, RIMSlacker brings Canadians into the foldThe module will also create a fully encrypted tunnel to the BES server, ensuring that all communications that originate from the device are secure, even if the Internet connection is not. Clients' IT personnel will also be able to remote wipe the Secure Work Space elements without affecting the personal data or apps on the device."With an integrated management console, our clients can now see all of the devices they have on their network, manage those devices and connect to them securely," David Smith, head of enterprise mobile computing at BlackBerry, told Reuters. "We now also have a secure work space on Android and iOS that allows our clients to secure and manage the data on those devices as well."The new module is expected to help the handset maker sell high-margin services to clients in which many or all of its employees are using devices sold by BlackBerry competitors. BlackBerry devices were once the de rigueur instrument of business communications, but that is no longer the case. The company hopes the new service, along with a trio of new devices, will help it reclaim market share lost to Apple and Samsung.
BlackBerry officially launched a service late Monday that allows Apple and Android users to separate personal data and company information on the same device.Managed through BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 (BES), the long-anticipated Secure Work Space creates a container to keep corporate applications such as e-mail, calendar, contacts, and tasks separate from users' personal apps. The service is designed to prevent data leakage -- including copy and paste -- between the Secure Work Space elements and the rest of the device.Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Kodak patent complaints target Apple, RIMSlacker brings Canadians into the foldThe module will also create a fully encrypted tunnel to the BES server, ensuring that all communications that originate from the device are secure, even if the Internet connection is not. Clients' IT personnel will also be able to remote wipe the Secure Work Space elements without affecting the personal data or apps on the device."With an integrated management console, our clients can now see all of the devices they have on their network, manage those devices and connect to them securely," David Smith, head of enterprise mobile computing at BlackBerry, told Reuters. "We now also have a secure work space on Android and iOS that allows our clients to secure and manage the data on those devices as well."The new module is expected to help the handset maker sell high-margin services to clients in which many or all of its employees are using devices sold by BlackBerry competitors. BlackBerry devices were once the de rigueur instrument of business communications, but that is no longer the case. The company hopes the new service, along with a trio of new devices, will help it reclaim market share lost to Apple and Samsung.
Biometric scanner code spotted in latest iOS 7 beta
Biometric scanner code spotted in latest iOS 7 beta
Apple's long been rumored to be working on adding fingerprint scanning technology to its gadgets, something that appears to be confirmed in a new version of its iOS software that went out Monday.iOS 7 beta 4, which was released to developers Monday morning, has some new code (but not a visually available feature) for biometric scanning. That technology was spotted by frequent code sniffer Hamza Sood (via 9to5Mac), who picked up on a folder inside iOS 7's code for "BiometricKitUI." That folder includes instructions for fingerprint recognition that can pick up on the person's left or right thumb while holding an iPhone.Apple spent $365 million on Authentec almost exactly a year ago. The company specialized in developing fingerprint sensors that can identify users. Authentec had Samsung, LG, and Motorola as customers before it was acquired. Regulatory filings following the sale included mention that Apple was eager to get the acquisition wrapped up to add 2D fingerprint sensors to its products. Apple's home button.Donald Bell/CNET NetworksFor years it was believed that Apple would adopt near-field communications (or NFC) as both a security measure for a mobile wallet and as a communications medium between devices. The company slammed the idea of NFC last September. More recently, Apple has focused on expanding its AirDrop file-transferring technology to the iPhone and iPad inside of iOS 7 as a way for users to share things with one another. It's worth pointing out that details inside unreleased versions of Apple's code do not always come to fruition immediately. Lines of code for a panorama feature were spotted as far back as 2011, but the feature didn't make it into Apple's iOS software until iOS 6 in late 2012. In this case, Apple's next iPhones are expected to be a few months away, making this discovery more curious.
Apple's long been rumored to be working on adding fingerprint scanning technology to its gadgets, something that appears to be confirmed in a new version of its iOS software that went out Monday.iOS 7 beta 4, which was released to developers Monday morning, has some new code (but not a visually available feature) for biometric scanning. That technology was spotted by frequent code sniffer Hamza Sood (via 9to5Mac), who picked up on a folder inside iOS 7's code for "BiometricKitUI." That folder includes instructions for fingerprint recognition that can pick up on the person's left or right thumb while holding an iPhone.Apple spent $365 million on Authentec almost exactly a year ago. The company specialized in developing fingerprint sensors that can identify users. Authentec had Samsung, LG, and Motorola as customers before it was acquired. Regulatory filings following the sale included mention that Apple was eager to get the acquisition wrapped up to add 2D fingerprint sensors to its products. Apple's home button.Donald Bell/CNET NetworksFor years it was believed that Apple would adopt near-field communications (or NFC) as both a security measure for a mobile wallet and as a communications medium between devices. The company slammed the idea of NFC last September. More recently, Apple has focused on expanding its AirDrop file-transferring technology to the iPhone and iPad inside of iOS 7 as a way for users to share things with one another. It's worth pointing out that details inside unreleased versions of Apple's code do not always come to fruition immediately. Lines of code for a panorama feature were spotted as far back as 2011, but the feature didn't make it into Apple's iOS software until iOS 6 in late 2012. In this case, Apple's next iPhones are expected to be a few months away, making this discovery more curious.
Bing nowhere to be found in iPhone OS 4
Bing nowhere to be found in iPhone OS 4
Rumors that Bing was to be the default search engine in an upcoming iPhone OS update can continue to be filed in the rumor bin, at least based on the developer preview release of OS 4.Bing is still nowhere to be seen in the iPhone's Safari app, or anywhere else in the preview version of the OS. Besides Google, which remains the default search engine, the only other option remains Yahoo.It's still possible that the Apple/Microsoft deal could be under way though. And if that's the case, it could just as easily make it into a future beta of the OS, or in the version that will be made available to iPhone owners sometime this summer.One interesting change worth noting is that Web searches are now more ingrained into the system search that was implemented in OS 3.0. Now, when doing a local search on your phone, the iPhone will spit up quick links for Web and Wikipedia searches using Safari. This could place more importance on whatever search engine you're using as the default.During Thursday's event, Apple CEO Steve Jobs went into detail on how search was largely a paradigm of desktop computing, but these changes could very well be the first inklings that the iPhone is getting a system search tool that is more integrated with the Web, as competitor Google has done on its Android OS.In the meantime, iPhone owners who are looking to get a hearty dose of Bing can download Microsoft's native iPhone app, which was released in December.
Rumors that Bing was to be the default search engine in an upcoming iPhone OS update can continue to be filed in the rumor bin, at least based on the developer preview release of OS 4.Bing is still nowhere to be seen in the iPhone's Safari app, or anywhere else in the preview version of the OS. Besides Google, which remains the default search engine, the only other option remains Yahoo.It's still possible that the Apple/Microsoft deal could be under way though. And if that's the case, it could just as easily make it into a future beta of the OS, or in the version that will be made available to iPhone owners sometime this summer.One interesting change worth noting is that Web searches are now more ingrained into the system search that was implemented in OS 3.0. Now, when doing a local search on your phone, the iPhone will spit up quick links for Web and Wikipedia searches using Safari. This could place more importance on whatever search engine you're using as the default.During Thursday's event, Apple CEO Steve Jobs went into detail on how search was largely a paradigm of desktop computing, but these changes could very well be the first inklings that the iPhone is getting a system search tool that is more integrated with the Web, as competitor Google has done on its Android OS.In the meantime, iPhone owners who are looking to get a hearty dose of Bing can download Microsoft's native iPhone app, which was released in December.
Biggest quarter for iPhone sales, says iSuppli
Biggest quarter for iPhone sales, says iSuppli
Apple is headed for a record quarter for iPhone sales, according to market researcher IHS iSuppli.The fourth quarter will be huge, iSuppli said in a research note today. "Apple's biggest quarter for iPhone sales in history." The iPhone 5 will drive Apple's smartphone shipments in 2012 to 149 million units, up 60 percent from 93 million in 2011, iSuppli said. "The new phone will be released with just over a week left in the third quarter, so most of the iPhone 5 sales bump in 2012 will be seen in the final [fourth] quarter of the year," iSuppli said. Some of this surge is due to buyers delaying iPhone purchases."Prospective buyers hold off on purchasing during the time leading up to the rollout of the new device. This phenomenon depressed iPhone sales in the second quarter of this year," according to iSuppli. IHS iSuppliThat said, today's announcement is bigger than the 4S."Unlike last year's release of the iPhone 4S, this year's iPhone 5 announcement comes as a significant departure from previous models," Daniel Gleeson, an iSuppli analyst, said in a statement.He continues."The addition of a new, larger screen is a fundamental change in product design. Furthermore, the iPhone 5 is the first member of Apple's smartphone line to feature 4G long term evolution (LTE) connectivity, accelerating data speeds dramatically compared to previous models. These major improvements will drive strong sales for the iPhone 5."And the fact that the iPhone 5 supports global 4G LTE frequencies will give it an additional boost.
Apple is headed for a record quarter for iPhone sales, according to market researcher IHS iSuppli.The fourth quarter will be huge, iSuppli said in a research note today. "Apple's biggest quarter for iPhone sales in history." The iPhone 5 will drive Apple's smartphone shipments in 2012 to 149 million units, up 60 percent from 93 million in 2011, iSuppli said. "The new phone will be released with just over a week left in the third quarter, so most of the iPhone 5 sales bump in 2012 will be seen in the final [fourth] quarter of the year," iSuppli said. Some of this surge is due to buyers delaying iPhone purchases."Prospective buyers hold off on purchasing during the time leading up to the rollout of the new device. This phenomenon depressed iPhone sales in the second quarter of this year," according to iSuppli. IHS iSuppliThat said, today's announcement is bigger than the 4S."Unlike last year's release of the iPhone 4S, this year's iPhone 5 announcement comes as a significant departure from previous models," Daniel Gleeson, an iSuppli analyst, said in a statement.He continues."The addition of a new, larger screen is a fundamental change in product design. Furthermore, the iPhone 5 is the first member of Apple's smartphone line to feature 4G long term evolution (LTE) connectivity, accelerating data speeds dramatically compared to previous models. These major improvements will drive strong sales for the iPhone 5."And the fact that the iPhone 5 supports global 4G LTE frequencies will give it an additional boost.
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