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The Microsoft Zune HD portable media player is officially available for preorder today. Outlets ranging from Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, and Microsoft itself are taking preorders on a black version of the 16GB Zune HD, or a silver version of the 32GB model. As Tuesday's pricing leak suggested, the players are retailing for $219 (16GB) and $289 (32GB). Preorders of the Zune HD are expected to arrive on September 15, the same day we expect they'll hit store shelves.

Also on sale today is the Zune HD AV Dock, which allows you to connect the player to your … Read more

Autumn Shell is a Windows enhancement that changes the look of the user's Start menu, desktop, and Taskbar. Calling this program an enhancement, however, is a bit misguided; it's more of a hindrance.

Part of the program's alleged appeal is that it replaces the standard Windows shell with an autumn-themed one. We liked the idea but didn't find it to be very attractive in practice. Far worse than the aesthetic concerns, though, is the fact that the program is so difficult to navigate. The Start menu is replaced with an oddly organized panel that slides into … Read more

Yeah, we're not sure what the title of our show means today, but it's what happens when you let the chat room run the show. We think they want us to take off our clothes. Anyway, we're back to our old antics today: Bittr, Wii, Wolverine, iPhone, and pedometers.

As you can see, Slate.com already stole our idea for a skit mocking Twitter. We were going to shoot a video about a one-character status update. Some times, "F" is the only character that describes exactly how we're feeling at the moment.

On today's show, we talk a bit about how Nintendo is almost literally printing money with its Wii console. Apparently, it costs Nintendo 45 percent less to make a Wii than when it first came out. Nintendo is also trying to make more bank by releasing a pedometer, a device that measures foot steps--not an alarm for child predators. Also, we've got some info on a new iPhone app called Bad Decision Blocker that blocks your ability to make drunk phone calls. Seriously, though, if you need an iPhone app to stop you from making drunk calls, you need to 1) stop drinking 2) leave your phone at home, and 3) go see a therapist about your lingering girlfriend issues.

Finally, we get to our favorite "It came from Fox News!" segment. This time around, a Fox News commentator was fired for reviewing a pirated copy of the new "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" movie. Yeah, smart one. Fortunately, Jeff stopped selling DVDs of "Two and a Half Men" a few months ago. And a reminder, please call in with your most death-defying story to win your copy of "To the End of the Death: Our Epic Journey to the North Pole and the Legend of Peary and Henson" by our guest, Tom Avery. Yeah, long, long title.

In Episode 24 of the Digital City, we discuss light-up MacBook mods, the pirated Wolverine film, how to repair your Guitar Hero drum kit, and the cool packaging for Nintendo's new DSi.

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Dennis Crowley, inventor of many things good, including Dodgeball (the social Web tool, not the terrible movie or the gym game Justin and Wilson can't play because of their thick glasses), joins The 404 today to talk about some interesting stories from the Web and his latest social Web tool, Four Square.

Today, we go a bit back in Web 2.0 history with the first Twitter/Loopt social-networking tool, invented by Mr. Crowley, Dodgeball--from its inception, to its purchase by Google, to its eventual shutdown.

Not to be deterred, Dennis is back at it again with Four Square, another social-networking tool, where users can compete with one another and earn badges and points when they hang at certain places. It's available for both iPhone/iPod Touch, BlackBerry, and SMS. We encourage you to check it out and report back to us, whether it improves your social life or earns you a "Douchebag Badge."

Also on today's show, we get to some voice mails about Buzz Out Loud infringing a little too much on 404-territory. It's no surprise, given our general awesomeness. In actual stories, we've got Justin Yu's review of the new "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" movie that his "friend" let him watch through a telescope in another room.

We learn through the new Digg Bar that young, white males binge drink. You can thank the U.S. federal budget deficit for that wonderful, no-duh study.

Per usual, send us a voice mail, especially about your social life experiments with Four Square, at 1-866-404-CNET (2638). Or via e-mail, if you're international, at the404 [at] cnet [dot] com. More guests coming up, including an appearance by Dan the Mantern and Alison Rosen.

A year before the Winter Olympics in Vancouver get under way the technological backbone is nearing the finish line.

The 2010 Olympic Games will depend on the 13 computer systems handling everything from streaming results worldwide to workforce management, as well as protecting the games from security breaches and technical faults.

Atos Origin, the company overseeing the installation of the Games' IT, says that systems are in place and are being put through 100,000 hours of testing.

"Like the athletes, this complex network of systems must work perfectly from the first moment, in front of three billion people. … Read more

Each season, 32 football teams battle it out in hopes of reaching the Super Bowl. This year the Arizona Cardinals (do they have cardinals in Arizona?) are one of the teams in the big game. Besides the teams battling it out on the field, there is a second, more delicious battle, vying for your attention on game day: the food spread. When I think of the Southwest, I think of spicy food, and considering that Arizona is home to a good deal of Mexican-inspired food, it only makes sense to include it in your game day festivities. When it comes … Read more

If you're going to go with an underdog like Zune, you may as well let your freak flag fly high by getting your player engraved. The Zune Originals online store, which went live last year, allows you to order your Zune MP3 player directly and receive an engraving of artwork or custom text on the back of the device.

There are new designs to select from, as well as new colors and capacities of third-generation Zune. While the Zune Originals engraving launched as a free service last year, the customization will now cost you an extra $10-$15 (depending … Read more

Here's an interesting post on how to save the Zune over at digital lifestyle blog Last 100. The blogger is Michael Pinto, creative director of Very Memorable Design, a design company that specializes in youth marketing.

To summarize: Microsoft needs a super-cheap Zune--maybe $25--to compete against the $50 iPod Shuffle, and should create limited-edition Zunes associated with fashionable brands, artists, comic books, and sports heroes. He also suggests preloaded content, including selling cheap Zunes loaded with concert recordings immediately after the show ends, as some artists are already doing with flash drives.

Memo to Microsoft: offer this guy a job … Read more