decode

The 404 998: Where we draw the ace of spades (podcast)

Aunt Jill won't be here for our 1000th episode this Friday because she only works out of the CNET office on Wednesdays, so we're popping bottles prematurely because hey, it's the 90s.

Along with a light wine tasting, Jill also gives a quick duster on the state of the Greek debt crisis and the Dow cracking 13000 after almost four years. In return, we'll tell Jill about the wonders of Instagram and Kim Dotcom's release from the New Zealand prison system.… Read more

Encrypt your files with Encoding Decoding Free

There are plenty of encryption tools out there that let users encrypt files and protect them with passwords for enhanced security. Encoding Decoding Free is a simple program that lets users easily encrypt and decode files. It's definitely not the most sophisticated program we've ever seen, but it seems to work fairly well if your needs are simple.

The program's interface is basic and fairly easy to figure out. Users can either manually select the file they want to encrypt from within the program, or simply drag and drop the file onto the large padlock image on … Read more

The 404 850: Where Jill will do anything for love (podcast)

Aunt Jill's been busy with her own podcast Jill On Money, but today she joins us on The 404 to answer your financial questions. Listen to this episode to find out what each of us did as teenagers to make money, how kids today can make the most of their time, and the best way to handle your monthly credit card debt. Plus, Jill helps us out with another Tang That Tune, now with a video and audio intro thanks to Patrick and Jamey!

The 404 Digest for Episode 850

Listen and subscribe to Aunt Jill's podcast, Jill on Money! Check out #AuntJill's Twitter, and send her your questions!

Episode 850 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

The 404 769: Where Jill has a microphone and you don't (podcast)

The 404 Podcast has a symbiotic relationship with "Aunt" Jill Schlesinger aka The Financial Decoder for CBS Moneywatch: she helps our listeners create a foundation for their financial future, and we answer her tech questions about her Twitter account and yesterday's Apple iPad 2 announcement.

And sometimes she brings us cookies...giant, half-pound cookies from Levain Bakery!

You'll have to hold your breath for the iPad 2 discussion, though, because first we want to tell you guys about Jill's new podcast on the radio, appropriately called Jill On Money!

Episode 1 is already posted on the Moneywatch.com Web site; it's an hour-and-a-half broadcast where Jill answers plenty of questions about paying off mortgages, rising gas prices, and tips on how to maintain a good credit score. Plus, a little Cheryl Dunn in the morning ain't hurting anyone.

If you have a financial question for Jill, make sure you give her a call at 855-411-JILL (855-411-5455) and she'll schedule time to ask it live on the show, or you can also send her an e-mail at askjill(at)moneywatch.com or tweet her.

With Jill getting more involved in the tech side of broadcasting, she asks us for advice on whether she should buy the new Apple iPad 2. The way we see it, her buying decision depends on what she'll ultimately do with the tablet.

Since she already has a MacBook, she can either dish out $350 on a refurbished iPad 1 or spend $150 more for the 16GB iPad 2. Tune in to hear our advice, and as usual, we don't all agree on one path to take.… Read more

Morse decoder

OK, Computeers! What's the oldest form of electronic communication? If you said the telegraph, you're right. Most people know what Morse code is, too: Named for its inventor, it's the dots and dashes that the telegraph man so dramatically taps out on a metal key in old Western movies. Known by the shorthand CW, Morse code is a direct ancestor of computer code. The Internet uses the same basic technology, and probably the same wires, too, in some places, so it's appropriate that we should take a look at software for sending and receiving Morse code … Read more

The 404 737: Where Chinese mothers fight to the finish (podcast)

The 404 is back with our first show featuring all three of us back in our home studio, and it feels great! CBS MoneyWatch's Financial Decoder Jill Schlesinger, aka #AuntJill, makes her 2011 debut and answers a few listener questions about the uphill economic battle in 2011 and planning for your retirement.

We haven't had a chance to talk to Wilson about his month away in China, so he tells us how he got hit by a bus in Guangdong, and would you believe it? His iPhone was not to blame! Sounds like the Asian driver stereotype might actually be true when it comes to Chinese bus drivers.

Speaking of stereotypes, Amy Chua from the Wall Street Journal sparked some controversy for an incendiary article entitled Why Chinese Mothers are Superior so Jill posted her response that examines the surge of wealthy women in China and the effect that strong parenting can have on a country's economy. We all agree with Chua when she says that "nothing is fun until you're good at it." Sage advice!

Finally, Jill answers questions from listeners wondering about reporting taxes without a Social Security number, the best way to save for retirement, how to refinance or purchase a home, and what kind of economic growth we can expect in the new year!

Episode 737 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Get on the Paddy wagon

Text editors are by their very nature simple programs; they're made to handle text--often code--that does not require formatting or embellishment. Paddy takes the simplicity of the text editor format and adds a few useful features, many of which specifically have coders in mind.

The program's interface is plain and looks like most other programs of this type: a large, empty text field, and a handful of menus across the top. This isn't Notepad, though; there are some pretty interesting features in those menus. In addition to changing fonts, users can change the color of both the … Read more

Intel's 'Sandy Bridge' to use new specialized silicon

Intel's upcoming Sandy Bridge processors will include new circuits for handling demanding multimedia tasks, according to sources, more evidence of processor changes in store as the chip giant gets ready to shift over to a new processor architecture.

Sandy Bridge is Intel's next microarchitecture, or redesign, of its processors--which the chipmaker does every two years. The current design, Nehalem, was introduced in November 2008 and is used in all Core i3, i5, and i7 processors, which now populate the newest PCs worldwide. Sandy Bridge chips are scheduled to go into commercial production in the fourth quarter, and the … Read more

The 404 633: Where we welcome the financial femme fatale (podcast)

Natali can't make it on the show today because she's busy taking care of little Justin Junior, but Jill Schlesinger saves the day and joins us to answer some of your most pressing financial quandaries.

Our first order of business is figuring out how Jill can get 3,000 Twitter followers before the end of this year. She hasn't been on Twitter very long and already has 1,627 followers, but we're thinking a funny new profile picture could help increase her online presence. We know that all you 404 listeners are handy with the Photoshop, … Read more