The 404 408: Where we sweat while Libe Goad is here doing nothing
Libe helps us kick off the show with a chat about the new PS3 Slim. After yesterday's unboxing, we've all determined that you'd have to be a fool to upgrade from the PS3 Fat (that can't be the official name), but there are a few games to look for on the console, like Wet, starring Eliza Dushku as Rubi Malone, a "lethal heroine who will take any job as she likes it and the price is right." Other games of interest include Wolfenstein and Batman: Arkham Asylum.All this game talk leads us to a study that reveals the average gamer is 35, fat, and bummed. As a nongamer, I see absolutely nothing fallacious here, but Jeff and Libe have to disagree, and they make a good point. First, the CDC only surveyed 552 subjects in the Seattle-Tacoma area. 552 is a pretty small sample size to determine the "bummertude" of this group, and I'm sure it doesn't help that Seattle rains 226 days a year, these poor gamers are literally being forced to stay in their houses, can we blame them for actually being fat and bummed? We'll get to the bottom of this...We also talk briefly about the 12 most annoying types of Facebookers, like the Let-Me-Tell-You-Every-Detail-Of-My-Day guy (aka Twitter feeders), or the Town Criers who feel the need to broadcast every headline they see on TMZ. Unfortunately, I think all of us are guilty of being The Self-Promoter, but who isn't? Everything you post on Facebook is a form of self-promotion, isn't that why people join social networks in the first place?Per usual, we always need Calls From the Public, so if you have something to say feel free to give us a call at 1-866-404-CNET or shoot us a line at the404(at)CNET{dot}com! EPISODE 408PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. 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.PlayFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Michael Jackson's death won't affect any Beatles-iTunes deal
Michael Jackson's death won't affect any Beatles-iTunes deal
Michael Jackson's position in long-time efforts to make the much-coveted Beatles catalog available digitally is one of the most misunderstood aspects in the very complicated negotiations.The sudden death of one of the world's best known entertainers on Thursday will have no impact on whether songs from the Fab Four will finally make it to iTunes and other Web music stores. Rumors aside, no deals are imminent, music sources told CNET News.Jackson bought ATV Music Publishing, the company that owned the words and music to 250 Beatles songs, nearly 25 years ago. He sold a 50 percent share in the company to Sony in 1995 and together they operated Sony/ATV. The actual recordings of the Beatles playing their songs is owned by EMI, one of the four largest music labels, and Apple Corp., the company that looks after the Beatles' business holdings and rights. What that means is that if you want to record and release a version of "Help," then you need to compensate Sony/ATV. A filmmaker wishing to add a recording of the Beatles performing the song to a soundtrack must negotiate with EMI and Apple Corp. In the latter scenario, Sony/ATV would collect a share of that deal and could veto it since the company owns the copyrights to the music and words. That typically doesn't happen, and to be clear: Sony/ATV has never stood in the way of a digital deal for the Beatles catalog, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. Indeed, the sources said that Jackson and Sony/ATV welcomed it. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Jackson was in financial trouble at the time of his death. Jackson borrowed twice against his Sony/ATV stake, according to the Journal story. How that will affect Jackson's stake in Sony/ATV, which was held in trust, is unclear. "Jackson was incredibly proud of his association with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and his role in the company," said a company representative. "He was a great partner." Correction: Michael Jackson borrowed against his stake in Sony/ATV, and how that will impact the company is unclear.
Michael Jackson's position in long-time efforts to make the much-coveted Beatles catalog available digitally is one of the most misunderstood aspects in the very complicated negotiations.The sudden death of one of the world's best known entertainers on Thursday will have no impact on whether songs from the Fab Four will finally make it to iTunes and other Web music stores. Rumors aside, no deals are imminent, music sources told CNET News.Jackson bought ATV Music Publishing, the company that owned the words and music to 250 Beatles songs, nearly 25 years ago. He sold a 50 percent share in the company to Sony in 1995 and together they operated Sony/ATV. The actual recordings of the Beatles playing their songs is owned by EMI, one of the four largest music labels, and Apple Corp., the company that looks after the Beatles' business holdings and rights. What that means is that if you want to record and release a version of "Help," then you need to compensate Sony/ATV. A filmmaker wishing to add a recording of the Beatles performing the song to a soundtrack must negotiate with EMI and Apple Corp. In the latter scenario, Sony/ATV would collect a share of that deal and could veto it since the company owns the copyrights to the music and words. That typically doesn't happen, and to be clear: Sony/ATV has never stood in the way of a digital deal for the Beatles catalog, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. Indeed, the sources said that Jackson and Sony/ATV welcomed it. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Jackson was in financial trouble at the time of his death. Jackson borrowed twice against his Sony/ATV stake, according to the Journal story. How that will affect Jackson's stake in Sony/ATV, which was held in trust, is unclear. "Jackson was incredibly proud of his association with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and his role in the company," said a company representative. "He was a great partner." Correction: Michael Jackson borrowed against his stake in Sony/ATV, and how that will impact the company is unclear.
Foxconn looks to branch out, reduce reliance on Apple
Foxconn looks to branch out, reduce reliance on Apple
Foxconn, the company that has become best-known for working with Apple to produce iPhones and iPads, is looking to dramatically expand its product services, according to a new report.As Apple's product shipments start to slow, Foxconn, which produces the company's mobile products, has decided that it's looking to move into media content and software, as well as electronics accessories, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing people who claim to have knowledge of its plans.In an interview with the Journal, a Foxconn executive said the company needs to "actively expand our client base to help increase our manufacturing volume." The executive didn't say specifically which clients the company will be targeting.Related storiesApple, Dell, HP looking into Foxconn factory suicidesBuzz Out Loud 1237: Facebook privacy hangover (podcast)Buzz Out Loud 1238: Smell the light? (podcast)Sony, Nokia express concern over Foxconn suicidesSteve Jobs: Let the post-PC era begin (live blog)Foxconn is by no means tied to Apple. The company works with a wide range of companies, including Hewlett-Packard, Sony, and Nokia. Samsung has also played an integral role in the company's business.Looking ahead, though, Foxconn would like to play a slightly different role in the world of manufacturing, the Journal's sources say. Foxconn has hired software engineers to create programs that could sit atop the products it develops. Foxconn is also looking to make an electronics accessories line.Despite those plans, Foxconn still needs to play nice with Apple: the iPhone maker represents 50 percent of its business.
Foxconn, the company that has become best-known for working with Apple to produce iPhones and iPads, is looking to dramatically expand its product services, according to a new report.As Apple's product shipments start to slow, Foxconn, which produces the company's mobile products, has decided that it's looking to move into media content and software, as well as electronics accessories, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing people who claim to have knowledge of its plans.In an interview with the Journal, a Foxconn executive said the company needs to "actively expand our client base to help increase our manufacturing volume." The executive didn't say specifically which clients the company will be targeting.Related storiesApple, Dell, HP looking into Foxconn factory suicidesBuzz Out Loud 1237: Facebook privacy hangover (podcast)Buzz Out Loud 1238: Smell the light? (podcast)Sony, Nokia express concern over Foxconn suicidesSteve Jobs: Let the post-PC era begin (live blog)Foxconn is by no means tied to Apple. The company works with a wide range of companies, including Hewlett-Packard, Sony, and Nokia. Samsung has also played an integral role in the company's business.Looking ahead, though, Foxconn would like to play a slightly different role in the world of manufacturing, the Journal's sources say. Foxconn has hired software engineers to create programs that could sit atop the products it develops. Foxconn is also looking to make an electronics accessories line.Despite those plans, Foxconn still needs to play nice with Apple: the iPhone maker represents 50 percent of its business.
Foxconn confirms worker riot at Taiyuan factory
Foxconn confirms worker riot at Taiyuan factory
Foxconn, a contract manufacturer to Apple, closed a northern China factory for the day following an early Monday riot that, according to the company, began as a fight between workers. Details remain scarce.The company said several people were injured and sent to the hospital after the incident, and that some were also detained by police. The factory in question employees about 79,000 workers.Other reports, however, described a riot possibly involving as many as 2,000 people and, by one account, potentially sparked when a guard struck a worker. Photos posted by a user on the Chinese Internet service Baidu depicted lines of helmet-clad riot police surrounding what appeared to be workers and rooms littered with detritus and glass from broken windows.The video above contains YouTube footage that appears to be filmed early Monday morning China time near Foxconn's Taiyuan plant. CNET has not been able verify this footage. Earlier this month, a Shanghai Evening Post journalist claimed to have gone undercover at the Taiyuan plant. He described his orientation, plant security and his job, which was supposedly to manufacture the back plate of the iPhone 5.Back in March, the head of human resources at the Taiyuan factory reportedly told a South Korean newspaper that Foxconn had "just got[ten] the order" for the iPhone 5. That was just a few weeks after a reported strike involving hundreds of workers over a pay dispute at the Taiyuan plant.We'll update this story as we know more.Updated 8:46 p.m. PT: with more details.
Foxconn, a contract manufacturer to Apple, closed a northern China factory for the day following an early Monday riot that, according to the company, began as a fight between workers. Details remain scarce.The company said several people were injured and sent to the hospital after the incident, and that some were also detained by police. The factory in question employees about 79,000 workers.Other reports, however, described a riot possibly involving as many as 2,000 people and, by one account, potentially sparked when a guard struck a worker. Photos posted by a user on the Chinese Internet service Baidu depicted lines of helmet-clad riot police surrounding what appeared to be workers and rooms littered with detritus and glass from broken windows.The video above contains YouTube footage that appears to be filmed early Monday morning China time near Foxconn's Taiyuan plant. CNET has not been able verify this footage. Earlier this month, a Shanghai Evening Post journalist claimed to have gone undercover at the Taiyuan plant. He described his orientation, plant security and his job, which was supposedly to manufacture the back plate of the iPhone 5.Back in March, the head of human resources at the Taiyuan factory reportedly told a South Korean newspaper that Foxconn had "just got[ten] the order" for the iPhone 5. That was just a few weeks after a reported strike involving hundreds of workers over a pay dispute at the Taiyuan plant.We'll update this story as we know more.Updated 8:46 p.m. PT: with more details.
Foxconn chief- We can't keep up with iPhone demand
Foxconn chief: We can't keep up with iPhone demand
Foxconn isn't churning out iPhones as fast as Apple would like, the Chinese company's chairman told reporters today."It's not easy to make the iPhones," Foxconn chief Terry Gou said, according to Reuters. "We are falling short of meeting the huge demand."Gou didn't say which iPhones are actually difficult to produce -- Apple is still selling three models, the iPhone 5, the iPhone 4S, and the iPhone 4 -- but it's likely that he was talking about the company's latest smartphone.Related storiesApple, Dell, HP looking into Foxconn factory suicidesBuzz Out Loud 1237: Facebook privacy hangover (podcast)Buzz Out Loud 1238: Smell the light? (podcast)Sony, Nokia express concern over Foxconn suicidesSteve Jobs: Let the post-PC era begin (live blog)Last month, an unidentified Foxconn official told the Wall Street Journal in an interview that producing the iPhone 5 is "very complicated," causing supply issues. The official went on to say that the handset is "the most difficult device that Foxconn has ever assembled."The iPhone 5 is both thinner and taller than its immediate predecessor, the iPhone 4S. It also comes with a host of improvements, including 4G LTE support and a new, smaller Lightning port. That means Foxconn's workers are bundling lots of components into an increasingly tight box.Apple certainly can't be happy. The company's flagship handset is currently slated to ship in three to four weeks for folks who order it now. Customers who head to carrier stores are receiving similar lead times.The making of an iPhone (pictures)See full gallery1 - 4 / 18NextPrev
Foxconn isn't churning out iPhones as fast as Apple would like, the Chinese company's chairman told reporters today."It's not easy to make the iPhones," Foxconn chief Terry Gou said, according to Reuters. "We are falling short of meeting the huge demand."Gou didn't say which iPhones are actually difficult to produce -- Apple is still selling three models, the iPhone 5, the iPhone 4S, and the iPhone 4 -- but it's likely that he was talking about the company's latest smartphone.Related storiesApple, Dell, HP looking into Foxconn factory suicidesBuzz Out Loud 1237: Facebook privacy hangover (podcast)Buzz Out Loud 1238: Smell the light? (podcast)Sony, Nokia express concern over Foxconn suicidesSteve Jobs: Let the post-PC era begin (live blog)Last month, an unidentified Foxconn official told the Wall Street Journal in an interview that producing the iPhone 5 is "very complicated," causing supply issues. The official went on to say that the handset is "the most difficult device that Foxconn has ever assembled."The iPhone 5 is both thinner and taller than its immediate predecessor, the iPhone 4S. It also comes with a host of improvements, including 4G LTE support and a new, smaller Lightning port. That means Foxconn's workers are bundling lots of components into an increasingly tight box.Apple certainly can't be happy. The company's flagship handset is currently slated to ship in three to four weeks for folks who order it now. Customers who head to carrier stores are receiving similar lead times.The making of an iPhone (pictures)See full gallery1 - 4 / 18NextPrev
Fortune- Apple is world's most admired company
Fortune: Apple is world's most admired company
To collect its data, Fortune asked businesspeople to vote for the companies that they admired most, from any industry. This is the third straight year that Apple has taken the title of most admired company, but this year it also took the top position in the computer category. Last year, it was second in the category. In the computer category, Apple is followed by HP, EMC, Xerox, Dell, Canon, Seagate, and Western Digital. The computer software category is lead by Adobe, followed by Oracle, Intuit, Symantec, and Microsoft.Businesspeople were asked to rank companies in such areas as innovation, quality of management, and quality of products/services. The survey was done in partnership with Hay Group, a management consulting firm. The list of participants was put together from July through September and surveys were sent out in October. "What makes Apple so admired? Product, product, product," Fortune said on its Web site. "This is the company that changed the way we do everything from buy music to design products to engage with the world around us. Its track record for innovation and fierce consumer loyalty translates into tremendous respect across business' highest ranks."According to the survey, the Top 10 admired companies overall in the world are: Apple, Google, Berkshire Hathaway, Johnson & Johnson, Amazon.com, Procter & Gamble, Toyota Motor, Goldman Sachs Group, Wal-Mart Stores, and Coca-Cola.
To collect its data, Fortune asked businesspeople to vote for the companies that they admired most, from any industry. This is the third straight year that Apple has taken the title of most admired company, but this year it also took the top position in the computer category. Last year, it was second in the category. In the computer category, Apple is followed by HP, EMC, Xerox, Dell, Canon, Seagate, and Western Digital. The computer software category is lead by Adobe, followed by Oracle, Intuit, Symantec, and Microsoft.Businesspeople were asked to rank companies in such areas as innovation, quality of management, and quality of products/services. The survey was done in partnership with Hay Group, a management consulting firm. The list of participants was put together from July through September and surveys were sent out in October. "What makes Apple so admired? Product, product, product," Fortune said on its Web site. "This is the company that changed the way we do everything from buy music to design products to engage with the world around us. Its track record for innovation and fierce consumer loyalty translates into tremendous respect across business' highest ranks."According to the survey, the Top 10 admired companies overall in the world are: Apple, Google, Berkshire Hathaway, Johnson & Johnson, Amazon.com, Procter & Gamble, Toyota Motor, Goldman Sachs Group, Wal-Mart Stores, and Coca-Cola.
Forrester- iPad kicks off 'tablet mania'
Forrester: iPad kicks off 'tablet mania'
Since Apple reported selling 3.27 million iPads in its fiscal third quarter, numerous iPad competitors have been announced. Not surprisingly, most contain the word "pad" in their name, as companies hope to cash in on Apple's success and associate their product with Apple's.In its report released last week, Forrester cited the WebOS and Windows 7 tablets from HP, the Dell Streak, the Toshiba Smart Pad, rumored tablets from Acer and Samsung, and a Lenovo entry called LePad. One that Forrester didn't mention is the rumored BlackPad from Research In Motion.In its research, Forrester notes the rapid consumer awareness of the iPad. The company said that in online surveys in May and June, awareness for the iPad has gone way up. In May, 83 percent of the more than 4,000 respondents said they've heard of the iPad. In June, that number jumped to 95 percent awareness.As a point of comparison, in the same survey 25 percent of consumers said they have never heard of the Amazon Kindle. The Kindle has been on the market for three years."This iPad interest is fueled by the social influence of its buyers, who are 20 percent more likely to use Facebook, 40 percent more likely to use Twitter, and have more friends and followers than U.S. online consumers overall," wrote Sarah Rotman Epps, the author of the report.Forrester said that 1.3 percent of people in its survey already owned an iPad and an additional 3.8 percent of people intend to buy one."The iPad has become a major consumer electronics product category--unto itself--within one single quarter," wrote Epps.
Since Apple reported selling 3.27 million iPads in its fiscal third quarter, numerous iPad competitors have been announced. Not surprisingly, most contain the word "pad" in their name, as companies hope to cash in on Apple's success and associate their product with Apple's.In its report released last week, Forrester cited the WebOS and Windows 7 tablets from HP, the Dell Streak, the Toshiba Smart Pad, rumored tablets from Acer and Samsung, and a Lenovo entry called LePad. One that Forrester didn't mention is the rumored BlackPad from Research In Motion.In its research, Forrester notes the rapid consumer awareness of the iPad. The company said that in online surveys in May and June, awareness for the iPad has gone way up. In May, 83 percent of the more than 4,000 respondents said they've heard of the iPad. In June, that number jumped to 95 percent awareness.As a point of comparison, in the same survey 25 percent of consumers said they have never heard of the Amazon Kindle. The Kindle has been on the market for three years."This iPad interest is fueled by the social influence of its buyers, who are 20 percent more likely to use Facebook, 40 percent more likely to use Twitter, and have more friends and followers than U.S. online consumers overall," wrote Sarah Rotman Epps, the author of the report.Forrester said that 1.3 percent of people in its survey already owned an iPad and an additional 3.8 percent of people intend to buy one."The iPad has become a major consumer electronics product category--unto itself--within one single quarter," wrote Epps.
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