Ad: Manage updates with the Download App
ie8 fix

breaks

Mechanical hammer attempts to destroy phone. Film at--right now!

The Sonim XP1 has been lauded as a "tough and strong" phone. CreativeFeed, a digital marketing agency, has decided to put it to the test.

It's launched a Web site that features "The Destroyer"--a machine-operated hammer that will pummel the phone 24 hours a day live over the Intertubes until it breaks.

Visitors to the Web site have a chance to win the Sonim XP1 handset if they can correctly guess how long it will take for the phone to break/crack/explode, and how many hits it will take before that happens. The … Read more

Video site Break.com lays off 11

Video site Break.com has laid off about 11 workers, according to CEO Keith Richman.

The Beverly Hills, Calif.-based company, which was once considered a YouTube competitor in video sharing, now bills itself as an online "entertainment destination for guys." It's planning to hire the same number of people in the future, just "with different skill sets," Richman said.

"Essentially, we are profitable," Richman said in an e-mail Wednesday night. "We have 80 people, are growing 100 percent year over year and still actively hiring for a bunch of jobs." … Read more

Innovation gap? Blitz survey among professional innovators

Despite an over-abundance of media coverage about the importance of innovation in recent years, it seems the business media may not have gotten its point across. Instead of hailing innovation as The Next Big Thing, journalists and book authors now wonder if there's an Innovation Gap in U.S. business. The September 22nd issue of BusinessWeek, "Keeping America Competitive," is coupled with online articles like "Firing Up America's Idea Economy" and "Can America Invent Its Way Back?." Judy Estrin also examines flagging innovation culture in her new book, "Closing the Innovation Gap." … Read more

WiiWare and Virtual Console releases for this week

This week brings our favorite online flash cartoon to the Wii along with two classic TurboGrafx 16 games.

WiiWare

Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, Episode 1: Homestar Ruiner (Telltale Games, 1,000 Wii points): After countless years as one of the Internet's most beloved flash cartoons, the Homestar Runner gang invades the Wii in an episodic game. Episode 1 is available now while the other titles will be released every month. Virtual Console

Break In (1989, TurboGrafx 16, 700 Wii points): This billiard simulator lets you enjoy six different types of pool. Play with up to … Read more

The 404 154: Where we eat wasabi peas for breakfast

On the show today: Linda Nguyen from Chickipedia, dirty door-to-door Verizon salesmen, weekend box office hits and misses, and guest call-in from Lou Bakalar!

Why do all of our most exciting shows happen on Fridays? Could be because everyone's in a great mood today, instead of just Wilson. Or maybe it's because we actually managed to con two females into joining the show today. Alex, aka A-Rod, plays team Mom for the day and brings us cookies to munch on and Linda Nguyen from Break Media jumps on the mic and shows us Chickipedia.com, the world's … Read more

Magnetic guitar cables prevent pops, jack damage

You're on stage, in the middle of your first song. The band's tight. The sound's dialed in. The audience is grooving. But you--idiot guitarist--forgot to do the Stevie Ray Vaughan trick of tucking your cable up through your strap, so instead it's running straight down to the floor, next to your feet. Excited, you take a step forward to pose for your friends in the front row and step right on your cord. It comes out with an ear-splitting pop and buzz. The bass player rolls his eyes as you get down on the stage, pick … Read more

The 404 147: Where we're looking for the big E

Self-proclaimed audiophiliac Steve Guttenberg sits in with us today and gives us the inside scoop on the many benefits of ear cleansing. Light candles in your ear, pouring hydrogen peroxide into the ear canal, what the...? We also talk more about the latest headphones on the market and even gain some insight into the Steve's former political agenda! We also play a heartbreaking voicemail that Natali received from our buddy Phil Ryan and EVENTUALLY get into the rundown at the tail end of the show, talking about (dare we say) hot, sweaty lesbians! 'Tis true, take a peek! EPISODE … Read more

N.J. Turnpike Authority hops ride on 'Let's sue YouTube!' bandwagon

YouTube just can't seem to keep those lawsuits off its back. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has sued the massive video-sharing portal for copyright infringement concerning a widely-circulated video of car crash footage that was taped with an NJTA camera.

The crash in question took place on the N.J. Turnpike on May 10 and resulted in one fatality. The NJTA's complaint, a copy of which was obtained by CNET News.com, says that "the video serves no worthwhile purpose and shows a tremendous lack of common human decency towards the family of the victim." It'… Read more