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Updated: 29 weeks 2 days ago

The 404 Podcast 513: Where we did not put that sticker there

Sat, 02/06/2010 - 02:43

A More Perfect Union

(Credit: Schneids/The 404)

If you've ever petitioned Facebook to add a "Dislike" button to the site, you might get a kick out of a new antisocial networking site that lets your friends anonymously rag on you from the privacy of their homes. Failin.gs is currently in beta, but soon you'll be able to hit your friends up for anonymous comments about your mundane status updates. No, it doesn't integrate with Facebook itself (thankfully), but hopefully it'll force you to think twice about telling everyone what you had for dinner last night.

After 30 years of the same boring design, Heinz finally wised up and redesigned its ketchup packets. Fans of fast food will be treated to a new packet that opens up on BOTH ends: the top features the same tear-off perforation, but the new bottom opens to reveal a section for dunking your fries, which happens to be one of the most popular applications for the condiment! Check out this video on CBSNews.com for more details and look for the new packets coming to fast food joints near you!

Doppelganger week!

(Credit: The 404 )

Last week's viral "Post your doppelganger to Facebook" meme might violate Facebook's terms of service, but we're featuring our own celebrity photos on today's episode anyway...with a twist. Check out our cartoon doppelgangers above and let us know what you think: does Wilson really look like the Asian kid from "Up?" Does Jeff turn into a green-faced ogre at night? And should I seriously consider growing a goatee? Sound off by leaving us a voice mail at 1-866-404-CNET or send an e-mail to the404(at)cnet{dot}com.

Have a great weekend, everyone!


EPISODE 513 Listen now: Download today's podcast



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Originally posted at The 404 Podcast

Report: Apple paying 15 percent refund on broken 27-inch iMacs

Fri, 02/05/2010 - 04:58
Customers with cracked, tinted, or yellowed iMac displays say Apple is giving a cash reward for their trouble. pOriginally posted at a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-10447690-260.html" class="origPostedBlog"Circuit Breaker/a/p

The 404 Podcast 512: Where we don't sweat the small stuff

Fri, 02/05/2010 - 02:13


(Credit: Maahstud/The404)

We kick off today's episode of CNET's The 404 Podcast with a fun story about the Nestle Crunch Hotline number. The company's latest viral campaign offers a series of hidden menus within the prerecorded call center that lets callers choose between English, Spanish, and Pig Latin language options. You can also choose to hear prerecorded knock-knock jokes, "funner game options," and the weirdest feature of all, which lets you listen to the sound of bubble wrap. We attempt to call the number during the show, but the line is so popular that we keep getting busy signals, so call 1-800-295-0051 if you have time to waste after listening to our show.

Jeff also brings us an amazing deal from Dell for the new Alienware M11x. It won our Best of CES 2010 award and, judging by its size, it's comparable to a gaming Netbook. You get an 11.6-inch display and a 1.3GHz Pentium SU4100 processor inside as well as a battery with 2 hours of gaming play and 6.5 hours of standby time. Best of all, the gaming rig comes in at a base price of $799. No, we're not working on the Alienware payroll, but with portable gaming systems dropping in price, the appeal of PC gaming is bigger than ever and we thought our listeners would appreciate this deal. Check it out!

Lots more stories in the rundown today, including a $7,000 talking sex robot, a T-shirt that all predators will enjoy, the new Sonic the Hedgehog 4 trailer, and more!


EPISODE 512 Listen now: Download today's podcast



Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video

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...

Originally posted at The 404 Podcast

Gateway updates desktop lineup, revamps high-end case

Wed, 02/03/2010 - 13:01
Details of Gateway's first-quarter desktop refresh.

Best desktop computers

Tue, 02/02/2010 - 09:25
Desktop computers have not died yet, and we tell you which ones are the best. pOriginally posted at a href="http://www.cnettv.com/8301-13415_53-10445282-11.html" class="origPostedBlog"CNET TV/a/p

Microsoft announces SideWinder X4 game keyboard

Tue, 02/02/2010 - 04:50
Microsoft's new SideWinder X4 gaming keyboard may be the first to offer all-key anti-ghosting at an affordable price.

Windows 7 with Boot Camp 3.1: All-around great, except for battery life

Tue, 02/02/2010 - 02:00
Boot Camp 3.1 betters the functionality of a MacBook Pro running Windows 7, but it doesn't improve the battery life. pOriginally posted at a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31012_7-10431386-10355804.html" class="origPostedBlog"Windows 7 Insider/a/p

How to address a cracked, flickering, or yellow-tinted 27-inch iMac screen

Tue, 02/02/2010 - 00:26
What is your recourse in the event of a defective 27-inch iMac display?

Get a 17-inch Acer or Toshiba laptop for $550

Mon, 02/01/2010 - 21:55
In the market for a desktop replacement? Office Depot and Staples have two nearly identical models, each packing considerable horsepower, for cheap. pOriginally posted at a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13845_3-10444958-58.html" class="origPostedBlog"The Cheapskate/a/p

'Lost' case mod is perfectly suited for your hatch

Sat, 01/30/2010 - 06:05
You've got the whole jungle thing going on and a Dharma Initiative-flavored octagonal shape. Oh, and it can take down airplanes flying overhead.

A $200 computer sound card an audiophile could love

Wed, 01/27/2010 - 00:32
Stereophile magazine's John Atkinson loved the Asus Xonar Essence ST/STX sound cards. They are, by far, the least expensive way of turning a PC into a genuine high-resolution audio source. pOriginally posted at a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-10440755-47.html" class="origPostedBlog"The Audiophiliac/a/p

Get a quad-core desktop PC for $279.99 shipped

Tue, 01/26/2010 - 23:22
It's a Vista-equipped refurb, but it's also a powerful, well-appointed system that's perfect for anyone looking to upgrade an old XP machine on the cheap. pOriginally posted at a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13845_3-10441235-58.html" class="origPostedBlog"The Cheapskate/a/p

Audio vs. computers, and the winner is?

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 03:47
Are computers the least reliable consumer products ever made? pOriginally posted at a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-10439626-47.html" class="origPostedBlog"The Audiophiliac/a/p

Acer founder: U.S. PC vendors may 'disappear'

Wed, 01/20/2010 - 08:30
In a newspaper interview, company founder says U.S. computer makers could go the way of U.S. television brands in the next 20 years. pOriginally posted at a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10437359-17.html" class="origPostedBlog"The Digital Home/a/p

Is Dell's Inspiron Zino HD a Mac Mini killer?

Sat, 01/16/2010 - 01:13
We take a look at the Dell Inspiron Zino HD.

Top 5 1980s computers

Wed, 01/13/2010 - 06:55
The decade known for big hair and leg warmers was also the golden age of the personal computer. pOriginally posted at a href="http://www.cnettv.com/8301-13415_53-10433424-11.html" class="origPostedBlog"CNET TV/a/p

CES: CES 2010 wrap-up: Computers and hardware

Tue, 01/12/2010 - 07:10
This will go down as one of the best years for computers, and laptops specifically, at the CES show. We saw new and improved Netbooks, new CPUs from Intel, and a somewhat surprising number of slate and tablet PCs. pOriginally posted at a href="http://ces.cnet.com/8301-31045_1-10432595-269.html" class="origPostedBlog"2010 CES/a/p

CES: Will desktops make a comeback?

Tue, 01/12/2010 - 05:55
Desktop computers might not hold the market lead, but some are saying they could stage a comeback in the next few years. pOriginally posted at a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10432436-17.html" class="origPostedBlog"The Digital Home/a/p

CES: ViewSonic says new PCs are smarter, greener

Mon, 01/11/2010 - 10:35
A look at ViewSonic's PC lineup. pOriginally posted at a href="http://ces.cnet.com/8301-31045_1-10431857-269.html" class="origPostedBlog"2010 CES/a/p

CES: MSI teases three innovative proof-of-concept PCs

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 07:58
At CES 2010, MSI announces a series of concept products. pOriginally posted at a href="http://ces.cnet.com/8301-31045_1-10430954-269.html" class="origPostedBlog"2010 CES/a/p