ALS

Senators aim to cut through 4G baloney

A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday would compel wireless carriers to be more forthcoming about what exactly customers can expect from services marketed as 4G.

The bill from Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with Connecticut's Richard Blumenthal--all Democrats--is similar to the " Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act," which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in June by Palo Alto Democrat Anna Eshoo.

Together the lawmakers are aiming to cut through the marketing mishmash that slaps the 4G label on a handful of next-generation network flavors such as LTE, … Read more

Al Gore confirms multiple iPhones coming

Former Vice President Al Gore, of all people, is the latest to confirm that Apple will be selling multiple iPhones next month.

"Not to mention the new iPhones coming out next month. That was a plug," Gore said today during the Discovery Invest Leadership Summit in South Africa. The comments were reported by The Next Web.

Gore serves as a director on Apple's board, so is in a good position to know about the company's future products. The comments also jibe with increased chatter that the company would release two iPhones by the end of the … Read more

Did WikiLeaks cable lead Al Jazeera news head to resign?

WikiLeaks--famed for making worldwide waves by leaking secret documents--is commanding headlines again, this time in relation to a management shakeup at Arab news television network Al Jazeera.

Wadah Khanfar had been news director at the network for eight years before resigning today. His resignation followed the release of WikiLeaks material suggesting that he had, under pressure from the United States, modified the network's coverage of the Iraq war. These alterations, according to the leaked cable, include the removal of images of injured children from a Web piece in which witnesses gave their accounts of U.S. military operations in … Read more

Gore tweaks climate call with '24 Hours of Reality'

Climate change activist, former vice president, and near-president Al Gore will present a 24-hour live Webcast--"24 Hours of Reality"--on September 14-15 that's meant to counteract what a statement about the event calls misinformation on global warming.

The Webcast consists of 24 back-to-back screenings of a new multimedia presentation by Gore, introduced live by presenters in 24 different parts of the world, and in 13 different languages. It heralds a new focus for Gore's nonprofit Alliance for Climate Protection, which is changing its name to The Climate Reality Project. Reads a statement on the Reality Project's Web site:

This campaign comes at a critical time. As the impacts of climate change are growing more prevalent, so is the resistance to finding the truth and implementing solutions. Just like the tobacco companies that spent decades in denial that smoking causes cancer, oil and coal companies are determined to sow denial and confusion about the science of climate change, ignore its impacts, and create apathy among our leaders. This event is the first step in a larger, multi-faceted campaign to tell the truth about the climate crisis and reject the misinformation we hear every day."

OnStar For My Vehicle coming to Best Buy July 24

If you want the benefits of the OnStar system, such as emergency services and turn-by-turn navigation, but your car didn't come with OnStar hope is not lost. OnStar FMV (For My Vehicle) will be available this week.

Launching July 24, OnStar FMV will be available at Best Buy for $299.99, plus $75 for installation. Service plans for OnStar FMV will start at $18.95 a month, or $199 a year.

"The wait is over," OnStar President Linda Marshall said in a press release. "Since we announced OnStar FMV at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, … Read more

Hackers shut down Al Qaeda Net communications

Hackers have temporarily shut down Al Qaeda's online distribution of videos and statements, NBC News reported today.

"Al-Qaeda's online communications have been temporarily crippled, and it does not have a single trusted distribution channel available on the Internet," Evan Kohlmann, of Flashpoint Global Partners, told NBC. Flashpoint monitors the extremist organization's communications.

The attack happened within the past few days and was "well coordinated and involved the use of an unusual cocktail of relatively sophisticated techniques," he said, adding that it could be several days before the network is up and running again. … Read more

Shave a tarantula with Weird Al Yankovic app

From the same man who brought us the songs "Nature Trail to Hell" and "Trigger Happy" comes an iOS app geared for kids. The Al Yankovic: When I Grow Up app expands on the Weird Al children's picture book of the same name.

The picture book portion is chock full of interactive Easter eggs that can be found by swiping, tapping, and turning the device. The story itself is a breezy and creative look at a young boy considering his career options. Snail trainer? Giraffe milker? Anything is possible.

Choose between the read-it-yourself option or have Weird Al read the story in his own enthusiastic way. This may or may not scar your kids for life.

There are several mini-games built into the app that are just challenging enough to keep an adult occupied for a few minutes. I sucked at being a masseuse for gorillas, but I pulled off the tarantula shaving pretty well.… Read more

Senate iPhone hearing preview: Don't single out only apps

New privacy laws should not single out only mobile app developers, a trade association representing small software companies is planning to tell a Senate committee tomorrow.

Jonathan Zuck, president of the Association for Competitive Technology, said in an interview with CNET this afternoon that any legislation arising out of the recent controversy over Apple iPhones and location tracking should be broad, not narrow. (See a list of related stories.)

"If you're going to put some privacy legislation in place, it shouldn't be some piecemeal regulation of some small portion of the technology industry because it's new … Read more

WikiLeaks docs: Nuclear reprisals if bin Laden killed

Recently-released WikiLeaks documents show that detained al Qaeda members have predicted nuclear reprisals if Osama bin Laden were captured or killed.

The classified Defense Department files, obtained from detainee interviews at the Guantanamo Bay prison, were released by the document-sharing Web site a week before the raid in Pakistan that resulted in bin Laden's demise. (See list of related CNET stories.)

Abu al-Libi, al Qaeda's third in command and "operational chief" before he was captured in 2005, reportedly said the nuclear device was "located in Europe" and would be used in retaliation over bin … Read more

The 404 804: Where we understand your plan (podcast)

It's Natali Morris' penultimate episode and National High Five Day! Wilson's back on the show after yesterday's trip to the New York auto show, and today we're chewing the beef between Lady Gaga and Weird Al Yankovic and chatting about a 3D porno topping box office records in China, a dispute over Apple's environmental footprint, and a pair of 2D glasses that just makes things more natural.

The 404 Digest for Episode 804

Today is National High Five Day! 3D porn movie beats "Avatar" box office record in China. 2D glasses make 3D movies more natural. Turns out Apple ain't that green.

Episode 804 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more