interactive

The 404 686: Where Caroline McCarthy debuts Apple Mac OS X Keyboard Cat (podcast)

The big news this morning is Apple's invitation to a Mac OS X event next week that came with an accompanying image of a lion peeking out of the Apple logo to tease the next iteration of the Mac OS X operating system.

We're letting the CNET experts handle the predictions for what the event will unveil, so instead we're taking bets on the feline-inspired nomenclature for the update: Mac OS X: Tiger Woods; Mac OS X: Pussy Cat; and Mac OS X: Liger are being thrown around, but we're guessing Apple might just go with Mac OS X: Lion.

CNET's social-networking reporter Caroline McCarthy comes on the show today to tell us why she literally ran away from our meetup. Caroline will be running the New York Marathon on November 7 to benefit Camp Interactive, a year-round program that introduces inner-city youth to technology through the inspiration of the outdoors. There are only a few weeks left to donate to her team, so head over to the Crowdrise Web site and help out if you can!

Speaking of protecting children, Apple just filed a patent application for "systems, devices, and methods" that will allow parents to block adult content from text messaging. In other words, no more sexting. The application will take into account the child's age or grade level to determine what words or content should be censored from messages, and the system will even notify the user and administrator when the dirtiness pops up onscreen.

So now that the Facebook movie "The Social Network" has been out in theaters for a few weeks, we can finally talk to Caroline about the validity of its content in relation to screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and Ben Mezrich, author of "The Accidental Billionaires." If you haven't seen the movie yet, this is your warning that this segment features serious spoilers!

Tune in to find out if Mark Zuckerberg is really as much of a jerk as his onscreen counterpart, if Napster co-founder Sean Parker really got busted for cocaine at a Stanford party, and if there's any truth to that scene with the flaming bed. Big thanks to Caroline for joining us on the show, and don't forget to donate what you can to help Camp Interactive!

Episode 686 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Google: We're too sexy for your search

NEW YORK--In the future, run-of-the-mill search ads just won't cut it at Google.

Representatives from Google's display advertising team made a slick pitch to Madison Avenue this afternoon at the Interactive Advertising Bureau's annual MIXX conference, insisting that the short- and long-term strategy at the Mountain View, Calif., powerhouse will be to make display ads as crucial to its business as the search advertisements that propelled it to billion-dollar revenues.

Display advertising is "really front and center" to Google's current product strategy, Vice President of Product Management Neal Mohan explained to the audience, taking … Read more

Nearly 1 in 10 using e-readers, poll says

Eight percent of American adults now use e-readers and another 12 percent expect to buy one in the next six months, according to a new Harris Interactive poll.

Among the e-reading adults surveyed by Harris, 36 percent say they read 11 to 20 books a year, and 26 percent read 21 or more books each year. That compares with 40 percent of all Americans who say they read 11 to 20 books annually, and 19 percent who read 21 or more in a typical year.

Those who own e-readers are more likely to buy a book, though. Among the e-reader … Read more

Kane & Lynch 2: Not a tripod in sight

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is a complete reboot of the series. Set in gritty Shanghai, the game tells the story of an ordinary deal gone terribly wrong. Dog Days boasts a unique handheld-camera visual style, but does the gameplay live up to the styling? Read on to find out.

Kane & Lynch 2 is available now for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

Jeff: While we jest a bit with our headline, Io Interactive's latest take on the Kane & Lynch franchise propels the game into stylistically uncharted territory. It's by far the title's most attractive feature and easily the most impressive. Anyone who has shot on a budget MiniDV camera in low-light situations will instantly identify with the graininess and imperfections that are deliberately inserted into gameplay. Between the intentional pixelation, rough cuts, and dropped frames, Dog Days creates a consistent uneasy feeling throughout.

It's clear the developers spent a lot of time in Shanghai for research purposes, but we're not sure they did the city any service in terms of generating tourism. Dog Days is an ultra-violent and dark tale, with a healthy amount of scenes that include pretty graphic imagery. At times the content borders on campiness (something we actually enjoyed) whether intentional or not.

Gameplay doesn't quite live up to the unique visual style we're treated to. The vast majority of action is cover-based gun play, and we found a lot of the weapons to be underpowered. Enemies seemed to be able to take an awful lot of damage before defeat, and occasionally their AI would throw them into vulnerable cover.

Negatives aside, we really enjoyed the amount of environmental destructibility in the world. Most wood, paneling, and furniture disappears quickly, which kept us on our toes, adding to the chaotic atmosphere. … Read more

IAB sets new guidelines for online advertising

The IAB is hoping its new set of guidelines will help online advertisers better understand the interactive-ad market and how to work with ad networks and exchanges.

The Interactive Ad Bureau, a trade association consisting of almost 500 media and technology companies that sell online advertising in the U.S., released the final version of its "Networks & Exchanges Quality Assurance Guidelines" (PDF) document on Thursday. The goal behind the new guidelines is to bring some clarify and transparency to the world of interactive advertising so that online advertisers can find a sometimes-confusing market more hospitable.

Sherrill Mane, … Read more

Study has good news about kids' online behavior

commentary The headline of the press pitch I received a few days ago read "McAfee to release shocking findings of teen's online behavior," but the actual data from the study, "Secret Life of Teens," are far from shocking.

McAfee's study (PDF) is actually a reassuring portrait of how most young people are exercising reasonable caution in their use of technology. The study, conducted by Harris Interactive, included interviews with almost 1,400 10- to 17-year-olds.

The survey reported that "almost half of youth (46 percent) admit to having given out their personal information … Read more

Michael Jordan confirmed for NBA 2K11 cover

Last year, Take-Two Interactive secured Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant to be the cover athlete of its annual installment in the NBA 2K series of basketball sims.

So how does the company top having arguably the best current basketball player in the world on its cover? It goes out and gets perhaps the best player of all time, a 14-time All-Star with six championship rings and five league MVP awards on his resume.

There go the last bragging rights NBA 2K5 cover star Ben Wallace had on Jordan.

Take-Two on Thursday officially announced that Chicago Bulls legend Michael … Read more

PCRUSH.com has the Lexmark Interact S605 Inkjet Multifunction Printer for $146.46, after $103.53 savings.

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OLED gets arty with Mimosa installation

Named for a rapidly moving plant, and not the sweet cocktail, Jason Bruges' Mimosa art installation explores the artistic possibilities of small OLED displays.

Unveiled for the 2010 Milan furniture fair, Mimosa makes use of Philips Lumiblade OLED panels, networked together in a series of flowerlike modules that open and close in the presence of visitors.

Is it art? Sure. But it's also the most mesmerizing coffee table we've ever seen.

(Via Dezeen)