michael

Michael Dell ponders Google+ for sales, service

Chief Executive Michael Dell, who has been spending a lot of time in the Google+ video chat rooms called "hangouts," has raised the possibility that Google+ might be useful for customer service.

"I am thinking about hangouts for business," Dell said on Google+. "Would you like to be able to connect with your Dell service and sale teams via video directly from Dell.com?"

It's hardly the first time somebody has considered the idea of using technology to improve sales and support, with phone support now augmented by text chat windows and remote … Read more

Happy Tau Day, everybody!

There's a celebration for everything these days--National Yo-Yo Day, Ice Cream Day, even Corduroy Day. March 14 was Pi Day--3.14... get it? On Pi Day, which celebrates the number that represents the ratio of circumference to diameter of a circle, enthusiasts had pie-eating contests and played educational games.

Guess what today is! It's Tau Day. Tau represents the circumference of a circle divided by the radius, which is approximately 6.28. Today is June 28... get it?

Apparently, people have been celebrating this day for 10 years. On Tau Day last year, theoretical physicist Michael Hartl launched the Tau Manifesto, which explained why pi is confusing and instead should be replaced with tau.

One of his reasons: Since tau is the ratio of circumference to radius of a circle, circles are more naturally defined by their radius than diameter. (Are you still following this?)… Read more

The 404 845: Where we're allergic to oxymorons (podcast)

Today's "Not cool, man" segment once again goes to The Huffington Post, this time for rehashing the "Wet Hot American Summer" prequel/sequel rumors that first appeared on the Internet years ago. In other recurring segment news, we enjoyed testing Wilson's music knowledge so much yesterday that we're making it a daily thing, and a listener created a legit name for it too, so stick around for the second half to see if Wilson gets full credit.

We're also chatting today about Microsoft's new Decide.com tech forecasting site, how to DJ using just a Microsoft Kinect and a couple software programs, and an Apple patent that might spell the end of multitouch smartphones in the United States.

The 404 Digest for Episode 845

HuffPo teases 'Wet Hot' sequel/preview. Decide.com forecasts price drops and tells you when to buy technology. What's cooler than an iPad DJ? A Kinect DJ. Apple patent might mean the end of multitouch smartphones in the U.S.

Episode 845 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Former FCC Chairman Powell now talks cable

CHICAGO--Michael Powell left the communications sector six years ago when he finished his term as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Now he's back.

In March, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association hired him as president and CEO to advocate on behalf of the cable industry.

Powell, who served as the FCC chairman from 2001 to 2005, helped bring FCC regulation into the broadband age. Under his leadership, the FCC began dealing with communications move from voice to data services. And he helped push for more powerful digital applications and away from antiquated analog ones. Powell also pushed the … Read more

The 404 817: Where we sleep great and lose weight (podcast)

The Sleep Doctor Michael Breus is back in the studio answering your questions and telling us about his new book, "The Sleep Doctor's Diet Plan: Lose Weight through Better Sleep." We also have two copies of the book to give away, so be sure to follow The Sleep Doctor and The 404 on Twitter, mention both of us in a tweet, and you'll be on your way boosting your metabolism, decreasing your hunger, and increasing your energy and willpower through a good night's rest!

We always have plenty of questions to ask the doctor while he's here, and the chatroom helps us out today with questions about what foods to eat before hitting the sack, the effects of alcohol and smoking on sleeping, the benefits of temperature-sensitive mattresses, and more! Wilson's also taking a sleep diet challenge as well, so look out for Dr. Breus on the show six weeks from now to check up on his performance!

The 404 Digest for Episode 817

The Sleep Doctor's Diet Plan: Lose Weight through Better Sleep." The Nap-a-latte works every time. How to sleep anywhere! Too much sleep may accelerate cognitive aging. Air traffic controllers sleeping on the job: is it really their fault? Dr. Breus recommends the Sleep Smoothie. Check out Dr. Breus's line of temperature-regulated mattresses at Sleepy's!

Episode 817 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

AOL's TechCrunch and conflicts of interest

commentary Is it OK for AOL's TechCrunch editors to invest in companies they write about?

It's a question we once had figured out but a new generation of editors says it's OK. As long as it's disclosed. But is that enough?

Mike Arrington, editor and founder of TechCrunch, an AOL company, yesterday disclosed his investments in some high-profile start-ups.

He said he had refrained from making investments in start-ups since 2009 because of distracting accusations of conflicts of interest, but that he had recently changed that policy (following the sale of TechCrunch to AOL).

Over the … Read more

New York to curb dirty heat, use landfills for solar

New York City plans to restrict the use of dirty heating fuels, use its capped landfills for solar farms, and issue loans for green and energy efficiency upgrades to home owners.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the latest initiatives for PlaNYC, the city's sustainability plan, on Thursday at a press conference in Harlem.

It's part of the lead up to Earth Day, which is Friday, April 22, and also happens to be the anniversary of when PlaNYC was first announced, in 2007.

Over 132 initiatives grew out of "48 public meetings with 220 groups, yielding almost … Read more

Cirque du Soleil goes 3D with James Cameron (Q&A)

SAN FRANCISCO--If you're looking for powerful brands in the entertainment business, you'd be hard-pressed to find two with more influence than "Avatar" creator James Cameron and Cirque du Soleil.

So the marriage of the two, on a forthcoming movie project Cameron is executive-producing (and that's helmed by "Shrek" and "Chronicles of Narnia" director Andew Adamson) promises to offer fans a compelling mixture of the Cirque's unique hybrid of artistry, acrobatics, music, and showmanship and Cameron's mastery of the latest filmmaking technologies.

This partnership is just one of the latest … Read more

PayPal security chief on Epsilon breach and more (Q&A)

CNET got a few minutes on the phone today with Michael Barrett, chief information security officer at online payment processor PayPal, and asked him his opinion on some current events in the world of security. Here are edited excerpts of the interview with the man responsible for making sure the personal and financial data of millions of PayPal customers and thousands of employees is secure.

Q: Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) targeted at a specific organization and typically seeking to steal data have been in the news a lot lately. Has PayPal been hit by any such attacks?:: Barrett: I do … Read more