rock

Intel's "rock star" ads will try to show that Intel is more than just microprocessors--a theme of its broader ad campaign to launch on Monday.

One of the first Internet-based ads focuses on Ajay Bhatt, an Intel Fellow who was one of the principal engineers behind the development of USB, a crucial Intel technology used in virtually all PCs today. (Intel engineers in the ads are personified by hired actors. "Several of the engineers we're personifying confided that acting isn't within their comfort zone," said Sandra Lopez, Intel's global consumer marketing manager … Read more

It's just the three of us today, but that's when we have the best shows. Before we get into stories, please be sure to check out the preshow some time at the404.cnet.com or watchbol.com. During the weekdays, around 11 a.m. EST, Jeff, Justin, and Wilson spend about 20 minutes goofing off, and it becomes a riot.

Today's show is jam packed with stories. First, Pizza Hut is trying to hire an intern, who's only job is to Twitter for the company. We think they should have advertised this yesterday on 4/20. So-called "beer googles" don't really exist, according to scientists. We never believed they did either. We just think that it makes most guys say, "Why not?" Last story for the first half is the release of the new T-Mobile Sidekick LX. It's no longer a brick. Justin is still intent, though, on keeping his iPhone since Hulu announced it would release an app.

Second half of the show, we've got Tuna Tuesday again! This time from Amsterdam! Also, the press seems to hate "Sit Down, Shut Up." Jeff and Wilson aren't big fans of the pilot, either, from "Arrested Development" creator Mitchell Hurwitz. Further along, we find out there's a Lego Rock Band game and a DJ Hero game! Finally, vote for CNET TV for the People's Choice Award at the 2009 Webby Awards. Our jobs depend on it... not really, but it would be nice to play dress up.

Follow us on the Twitter at @the404, and send us your comments. We listen. We promise.

Maggie Reardon from News.com joins Natali and me to talk about a host of cell phone news, including new iPhone patents, legislation around sexting, and of course, courier pigeons that deliver contraband cell phones to inmates. I mean, we all saw that last one coming...right?

eBay buys Gmarket http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/04/16/technology/business-us-gmarket-ebay.html

Apple iPhone patents http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10220939-37.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0

PC sales are down but it is not that bad http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10220392-92.html http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/dell-still-struggles-hp-and-acer-grow/… Read more

A couple of years ago, I bought an Xbox 360 for the sole purpose of playing Rock Band. I'd played it a few times and fell in love. I also love the Guitar Hero series and most of the other music-themed modern games out there. But sometimes things can go too far, and this might be one of those times.

Oh-No Banjo is a Guitar Hero-based game students from the Rochester Institute of Technology cooked up for the school's president, Bill Destler. He happens to be a hard-core collector of antique banjos from the 1840s to 1920s (as … Read more

Wireless-sensor start-up Arch Rock thinks it has found a killer application: measuring energy use in commercial buildings.

The company on Monday introduced Energy Optimizer, a product line that combines its Internet Protocol-based sensors with server software for collecting and analyzing energy data.

The sensors can be attached to different circuits in a data center, for example, to measure electricity consumption over time.

Because they have radios to transmit information, the installation doesn't require laying new wires into a building, Arch Rock CEO Roland Acra said. And because they are IP-based, they can be managed on an existing corporate network, … Read more

If you enjoyed Eric Franklin's post on 8-bit NES-style hip-hop, you'll definitely enjoy Team Teamwork's "The Ocarina of Rhyme." It's a mix tape of mashups that combines hip-hop tracks with the score to the Zelda game Ocarina of Time.

Team Teamwork produced the mix, which features unique tracks by Spank Rock, Common, Aesop Rock, Clipse, and my personal pick: MF Doom. Most of the songs fit well with the background score; for example, in "Fumbling Over Words," artist Edan Portnoy's intensity melds seamlessly into the rumblings of the "Battle" … Read more

The long-buzzed-about Beatles video game, from the creators of the Rock Band franchise, made news this past week with some pricing details and an official release date. The Beatles: Rock Band, coming September 9, 2009, will be available as a $59 stand-alone game, a $99 bundle with a guitar, and a $249 bundle which also includes a drum kit.

While this is about as big a coup as a video game publisher could hope for, and we'll be the first in line to jam along with "Hey Bulldog" (which will hopefully be included), there's still reason … Read more

Riding an electric motorcycle can make you smarter, but as Molly points out, it can also kill you. So six to one, half a dozen to the other. We also can break you off a piece of that Ice Pod bar. As soon as someone sends us one. And Sweden is trying to send us some bandwidth. Thanks, Sweden!

Obama names IT change-agent Vivek Kundra as federal CIO http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/hiner/?p=1175

Sprint and Palm hosting Palm Pre Webcast on March 12 http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10188601-1.html… Read more

We knew the music of the Beatles was coming to the MTV video game Rock Band, but now we have a release date: September 9, 2009. That's when you'll be able to get The Beatles: Rock Band, a new edition of the game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii consoles. You can start working on your bad "lonely hearts club band" puns now.

The game itself will retail for $59.99 in the U.S.; there will also be a $99.99 version that comes with Beatles-inspired guitar controllers, and a $249.99 "… Read more