The 404 416: Where our stocks are on fire and Jill hoses us down
For the last couple of months, stocks have been soaring more than 50 percent since their March low. Jill says all that means is that the market doesn't think we're headed for Great Depression 2.0, but that doesn't mean we're out of trouble. In the dark, we imagine what V-, U-, and W- recoveries would look like. Strange... Justin, is that your hand on my leg?Further down the line, we jump into the health care debate. Jill tells us her generation is screwing our generation and not in a good way. Essentially, they took all the good health care, and we (the 20-somethings) will just not be able to afford the premium "best health care" in the world, when we really need it. And somehow, Wilson reveals some of his Republican leanings? Say what?Finally, we get into personal savings for the future, and we pick up the ashes of our 401(k)s. So while your parents may have lost a bundle on their retirement funds, we 20-somethings still have another 40 years before we really have to worry about our returns. Meanwhile, Social Security is a toss-up. Jill wants to advise President "Barry" Obama that the easy solution to fixing the "Third Rail" of American politics is just tying benefits to an age index. People are just living too long...death panels, any one?Wow! So we hope you finally learned something on The 404. We sure did! Send in your feedback to the usual at the404 [at] cnet [dot] com. Follow Jill on Twitter. Or leave us a voice mail at 1-866-404-CNET, and you can debate us on the finer points of the liquidity of the money supply and U6 unemployment figures.Episode 416PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Subscribe 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.Play Jill Schlesinger's Financial Decoder blog Jill Schlesinger's TwitterFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Microsoft still pushing 'Apple tax' notion
Microsoft still pushing 'Apple tax' notion
I made the argument when Microsoft first brought up the concept that, if it is a tax, it is a tax that a growing number of buyers seem willing to pay.Brooks said on Monday, though, that he expects the weakening economy will limit the number of people willing to pay more for a computer."More and more people are going to be scratching their head and say is that a tax I am really willing to pay," he said.He noted that the tax isn't just about the higher sticker price, but also about the lack of choice that Mac users have. Certainly there are fewer hardware options and the Mac software aisles remain far narrower as well. Brooks also tried to position the Mac as less open, pointing to the iTunes App Store as an example of Apple forcing a "walled garden" on users. Were he to be comparing the iPhone and Windows Mobile, he might arguably have a point, but last I checkeddevelopers are free to write whatever program they want for the Mac.Although I don't buy the idea that Mac users don't know there are cheaper PC options, I think the sorry state of the economy will pose challenges for all PC makers, including Apple. Consumers are clearly going to have to weigh any computer purchase against more basic needs, the prospect of not having a job, etc.That said, it is unclear who will be hurt more by the economy. Apple is in many ways akin to BMW or another automaker that plays only at the high end of the market. I expect Apple will have a tough time keeping up with recent growth trends. But, as the car market shows, the Fords, GMs, and Hyundais of the world are also taking a huge hit.I don't want to take this auto analogy too far, either. I don't see Microsoft running to Capitol Hill for a bailout anytime soon. Microsoft makes huge margins on its products. And while I hear layoffs may indeed be in the works, the company doesn't face anywhere near the structural issues of the auto industry (the Google threat notwithstanding).Brooks would not specifically comment on whether Microsoft has trimmed its PC outlook for 2009, but did say that clearly the whole global economy is far weaker than it was in October, when Microsoft issued its last forecast."It continues to be a tough economic time for everybody," Brooks said. "We continue to see that our customers are suffering out there. Click here for more Macworld Expo coverage from CNET News.
I made the argument when Microsoft first brought up the concept that, if it is a tax, it is a tax that a growing number of buyers seem willing to pay.Brooks said on Monday, though, that he expects the weakening economy will limit the number of people willing to pay more for a computer."More and more people are going to be scratching their head and say is that a tax I am really willing to pay," he said.He noted that the tax isn't just about the higher sticker price, but also about the lack of choice that Mac users have. Certainly there are fewer hardware options and the Mac software aisles remain far narrower as well. Brooks also tried to position the Mac as less open, pointing to the iTunes App Store as an example of Apple forcing a "walled garden" on users. Were he to be comparing the iPhone and Windows Mobile, he might arguably have a point, but last I checkeddevelopers are free to write whatever program they want for the Mac.Although I don't buy the idea that Mac users don't know there are cheaper PC options, I think the sorry state of the economy will pose challenges for all PC makers, including Apple. Consumers are clearly going to have to weigh any computer purchase against more basic needs, the prospect of not having a job, etc.That said, it is unclear who will be hurt more by the economy. Apple is in many ways akin to BMW or another automaker that plays only at the high end of the market. I expect Apple will have a tough time keeping up with recent growth trends. But, as the car market shows, the Fords, GMs, and Hyundais of the world are also taking a huge hit.I don't want to take this auto analogy too far, either. I don't see Microsoft running to Capitol Hill for a bailout anytime soon. Microsoft makes huge margins on its products. And while I hear layoffs may indeed be in the works, the company doesn't face anywhere near the structural issues of the auto industry (the Google threat notwithstanding).Brooks would not specifically comment on whether Microsoft has trimmed its PC outlook for 2009, but did say that clearly the whole global economy is far weaker than it was in October, when Microsoft issued its last forecast."It continues to be a tough economic time for everybody," Brooks said. "We continue to see that our customers are suffering out there. Click here for more Macworld Expo coverage from CNET News.
Google Maps for iOS gets first big update
Google Maps for iOS gets first big update
Google today pushed out its first update to its mapping software on Apple's iOS, adding a few new features. Chief among them is integration with a user's Google contact list, a feature that will pull up any addresses you have stored with Google, and not just on your phone. The update (iTunes) also adds a new option in the search menu that will quickly look for nearby points of interest, including restaurants, gas stations, movie theaters, and coffee shops. You could search for these things before, but the new menu means you don't actually have to type out the search.Google released a standalone maps app for iOS in December, three months afterApple replaced Google's technology with its own inside the Maps app that ships on iOS devices. The main attraction, besides Google's more mature set of mapping data, was spoken turn-by-turn directions, something that Android users had enjoyed for years but wasn't offered out of the box for iOS users until iOS 6.Other features in the update are the option to toggle between kilometers or miles, regardless of what country you're in, and the app's release in Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.Google's iOS app is still missing a few things found on the Android version. That list includes mapping layers, the offline mode that lets you save mapping tiles to your phone for use if you're away from a data connection (though it will temporarily save them once loaded), biking directions, and indoor maps. Google has not spelled out if those features will be carried over.
Google today pushed out its first update to its mapping software on Apple's iOS, adding a few new features. Chief among them is integration with a user's Google contact list, a feature that will pull up any addresses you have stored with Google, and not just on your phone. The update (iTunes) also adds a new option in the search menu that will quickly look for nearby points of interest, including restaurants, gas stations, movie theaters, and coffee shops. You could search for these things before, but the new menu means you don't actually have to type out the search.Google released a standalone maps app for iOS in December, three months afterApple replaced Google's technology with its own inside the Maps app that ships on iOS devices. The main attraction, besides Google's more mature set of mapping data, was spoken turn-by-turn directions, something that Android users had enjoyed for years but wasn't offered out of the box for iOS users until iOS 6.Other features in the update are the option to toggle between kilometers or miles, regardless of what country you're in, and the app's release in Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.Google's iOS app is still missing a few things found on the Android version. That list includes mapping layers, the offline mode that lets you save mapping tiles to your phone for use if you're away from a data connection (though it will temporarily save them once loaded), biking directions, and indoor maps. Google has not spelled out if those features will be carried over.
Google laptop shows Apple a thing or two
Google laptop shows Apple a thing or two
Thank you, Google. For obsoleting my MacBook. Question: What two killer hardware features are missing on MacBooks? My answer: a touch screen and 4G. What a coincidence.Just what Google is offering on the Chromebook Pixel. And in a package that comes close to matching the MacBook's aesthetics. Not everyone may agree with that.Take the laptop flat-earthers.They will say touch is stupid (or "pointless" as one columnist said) on a laptop.Yeah right, just like the mouse was a stupid idea.Related storiesGoogle Chromebook Pixel reviewThen there's Apple's your-arm-wants-to-fall-off on vertical touch surfaces excuse. That will eventually give way to a touch-screen MacBook of some sort. You heard it here first. The point is, Google knows (they're not stupid) that touch is important on a laptop. As does Microsoft (Windows 8 and Surface).That leaves Apple in Luddite land. 4G: And some might say that a Chromebook needs 4G more than a MacBook because the Chromebook is so immersed in the cloud. Hmm, my MacBook spends lots of time in the cloud too. And the last time I used it on the road, I was constantly hauling out my Verizon MiFi or running down my iPhone's battery with the Personal Hotspot.Come on, LTE belongs in a laptop.And the operating system?I believe that cool hardware is the first step in luring consumers to a new operating environment.While Chrome OS is still a work in progress (and lacks key features that many users need), with the success of Android, I do think it's possible that an improved Chrome OS combined with a second-generation Chromebook Pixel could reel in more consumers. Google certainly has my attention. Google Chromebook Pixel.CNET
Thank you, Google. For obsoleting my MacBook. Question: What two killer hardware features are missing on MacBooks? My answer: a touch screen and 4G. What a coincidence.Just what Google is offering on the Chromebook Pixel. And in a package that comes close to matching the MacBook's aesthetics. Not everyone may agree with that.Take the laptop flat-earthers.They will say touch is stupid (or "pointless" as one columnist said) on a laptop.Yeah right, just like the mouse was a stupid idea.Related storiesGoogle Chromebook Pixel reviewThen there's Apple's your-arm-wants-to-fall-off on vertical touch surfaces excuse. That will eventually give way to a touch-screen MacBook of some sort. You heard it here first. The point is, Google knows (they're not stupid) that touch is important on a laptop. As does Microsoft (Windows 8 and Surface).That leaves Apple in Luddite land. 4G: And some might say that a Chromebook needs 4G more than a MacBook because the Chromebook is so immersed in the cloud. Hmm, my MacBook spends lots of time in the cloud too. And the last time I used it on the road, I was constantly hauling out my Verizon MiFi or running down my iPhone's battery with the Personal Hotspot.Come on, LTE belongs in a laptop.And the operating system?I believe that cool hardware is the first step in luring consumers to a new operating environment.While Chrome OS is still a work in progress (and lacks key features that many users need), with the success of Android, I do think it's possible that an improved Chrome OS combined with a second-generation Chromebook Pixel could reel in more consumers. Google certainly has my attention. Google Chromebook Pixel.CNET
Google Chrome already No. 1 among free iOS apps
Google Chrome already No. 1 among free iOS apps
Google's new Chrome browser for Apple's iOS seems to be a hit.Released on Tuesday but available only since yesterday, the new mobile version is the top free app in both the iPhone and iPad categories. Google created dedicated versions for both devices, so iPad users running the browser can take advantage of the tablet's ample 9.7-inch screen.Chrome now joins Opera, Dolphin, and other browsers as yet another alternative to mobile Safari for iOS users. The Chrome app has also made its splash in the Android world, officially out of beta mode and available through Google Play.Mobile Chrome offers some of the same features as its larger desktop cousin, including an integrated address and search box, tabbed browsing, and the ability to switch the position of tabs. An Incognito feature lets you browse securely without having your history tracked.Chrome for iOS also lets you view your open tabs, bookmarks, and passwords from other computers and devices running the browser. And you can send Web pages from your PC to your iOS device to read them remotely, even if you're not online.The new app has been garnering rave reviews from the iOS crowd. A peek at the 3,574 ratings tallied so far reveals a full 2,855 users rewarding Chrome with a 5-star thumbs up.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.PlayDownload.com review: Google Chrome for iOS
Google's new Chrome browser for Apple's iOS seems to be a hit.Released on Tuesday but available only since yesterday, the new mobile version is the top free app in both the iPhone and iPad categories. Google created dedicated versions for both devices, so iPad users running the browser can take advantage of the tablet's ample 9.7-inch screen.Chrome now joins Opera, Dolphin, and other browsers as yet another alternative to mobile Safari for iOS users. The Chrome app has also made its splash in the Android world, officially out of beta mode and available through Google Play.Mobile Chrome offers some of the same features as its larger desktop cousin, including an integrated address and search box, tabbed browsing, and the ability to switch the position of tabs. An Incognito feature lets you browse securely without having your history tracked.Chrome for iOS also lets you view your open tabs, bookmarks, and passwords from other computers and devices running the browser. And you can send Web pages from your PC to your iOS device to read them remotely, even if you're not online.The new app has been garnering rave reviews from the iOS crowd. A peek at the 3,574 ratings tallied so far reveals a full 2,855 users rewarding Chrome with a 5-star thumbs up.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.PlayDownload.com review: Google Chrome for iOS
Google brand reputation tops all others in U.S.
Google brand reputation tops all others in U.S.
Google has the best reputation of any company in the U.S., a new study from Harris Interactive has found.According to the research firm, Google secured a reputation quotient (RQ) of 84.05, easily besting the second-place company, Johnson & Johnson. The conglomerate 3M and conglomerate holding company Berkshire Hathaway came in third place and fourth place, respectively. Apple was able to nab the fifth spot in the study with an 82.05 RQ.Harris Interactive's reputation quotient is determined by surveying more than 30,000 Americans on their opinions of the top 60 "most visible companies" in the U.S. Harris Interactive groups the responses into six categories that matter most to a firm's reputation, including emotional appeal, products and services, social responsibility, vision and leadership, workplace environment, and financial performance.Aside from earning the best reputation, Google secured the top spot in financial performance and workplace environment. Intel earned top honors in products and services.Outside of the top five, the technology industry performed exceptionally well in Harris Interactive's study. Intel, Amazon, Sony, and Microsoft all made it into the top 16. For the first time, Facebook made a showing in the list, securing the 31st spot. All told, the technology sector was viewed most favorably by Americans--75 percent of respondents gave the industry a "positive rating," Harris said today.One other interesting tidbit from Harris Interactive's study: insurance and financial services giant AIG was the lowest-ranked corporation, followed closely by oil and giant company BP and investment banking and securities firm Goldman Sachs.Here are the lowest-rated companies per Harris' survey.Harris Interactive
Google has the best reputation of any company in the U.S., a new study from Harris Interactive has found.According to the research firm, Google secured a reputation quotient (RQ) of 84.05, easily besting the second-place company, Johnson & Johnson. The conglomerate 3M and conglomerate holding company Berkshire Hathaway came in third place and fourth place, respectively. Apple was able to nab the fifth spot in the study with an 82.05 RQ.Harris Interactive's reputation quotient is determined by surveying more than 30,000 Americans on their opinions of the top 60 "most visible companies" in the U.S. Harris Interactive groups the responses into six categories that matter most to a firm's reputation, including emotional appeal, products and services, social responsibility, vision and leadership, workplace environment, and financial performance.Aside from earning the best reputation, Google secured the top spot in financial performance and workplace environment. Intel earned top honors in products and services.Outside of the top five, the technology industry performed exceptionally well in Harris Interactive's study. Intel, Amazon, Sony, and Microsoft all made it into the top 16. For the first time, Facebook made a showing in the list, securing the 31st spot. All told, the technology sector was viewed most favorably by Americans--75 percent of respondents gave the industry a "positive rating," Harris said today.One other interesting tidbit from Harris Interactive's study: insurance and financial services giant AIG was the lowest-ranked corporation, followed closely by oil and giant company BP and investment banking and securities firm Goldman Sachs.Here are the lowest-rated companies per Harris' survey.Harris Interactive
Google axes UDID support with updated SDK for AdMob
Google axes UDID support with updated SDK for AdMob
Google released an AdMob SDK for iOS developers today that completes its transition away from allowing apps access to Unique Device Identifiers, weeks before Apple's official deadline for retiring the system.UDIDs are the unique string of numbers that individually identifies each cellular device. Typically, they have been used by developers to track app installations across Apple's user base. Tracking users lets companies tailor advertising to each individual, but it also raises a host of privacy concerns.In response to those concerns, Apple announced last month that, as of May 1, it would no longer accept new apps or app updates that access UDIDs, but the announcement wasn't a total surprise. The company announced in March 2012 that it was beginning to roll out a rejection process for apps that access UDIDs.The update, which was announced on Google's Developer blog, includes a number of bug fixes and maintenance updates: Fix for GADInterstitial crash that occurs when app is running in the backgroundFix for GADMRAIDInterceptor threading crashRenaming symbols to prevent duplicate symbol errorsSupport for receiving test ads when using AdMob through mediationTest ads are only available on devices running iOS 6 and above Google acquired AdMob for $750 million in 2010, giving the Web giant a leg up in the quickly evolving world of mobile advertising. In addition to serving up ads on thousands of Web sites, the acquisition also offered Google direct access to data on mobile trends gleaned from the traffic AdMob managed.
Google released an AdMob SDK for iOS developers today that completes its transition away from allowing apps access to Unique Device Identifiers, weeks before Apple's official deadline for retiring the system.UDIDs are the unique string of numbers that individually identifies each cellular device. Typically, they have been used by developers to track app installations across Apple's user base. Tracking users lets companies tailor advertising to each individual, but it also raises a host of privacy concerns.In response to those concerns, Apple announced last month that, as of May 1, it would no longer accept new apps or app updates that access UDIDs, but the announcement wasn't a total surprise. The company announced in March 2012 that it was beginning to roll out a rejection process for apps that access UDIDs.The update, which was announced on Google's Developer blog, includes a number of bug fixes and maintenance updates: Fix for GADInterstitial crash that occurs when app is running in the backgroundFix for GADMRAIDInterceptor threading crashRenaming symbols to prevent duplicate symbol errorsSupport for receiving test ads when using AdMob through mediationTest ads are only available on devices running iOS 6 and above Google acquired AdMob for $750 million in 2010, giving the Web giant a leg up in the quickly evolving world of mobile advertising. In addition to serving up ads on thousands of Web sites, the acquisition also offered Google direct access to data on mobile trends gleaned from the traffic AdMob managed.
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