whining

ComplainApp shames companies into helping their customers

Since a good part of the content on the Web is whining and complaining, it stands to reason that there's a nice, perpetual business here. People love to kvetch, and companies will always giving us reasons to do so.

A new mobile app, ComplainApp, harnesses this fundamental human behavior and uses social media platforms (mostly Twitter) to help consumers get the help (they feel) they deserve.

With the app, you get, first, a hot list of other users' recent complaints. If one resonates with you, you can retweet it with a single click, which should help the complaint get noticed by the offending companies. ComplainApp founder Noam Gordon says this is a critical step in getting a complaint resolved today. "Most modern CRM systems use Twitter," he says, and companies have people monitoring Twitter and other social platforms. Make a big enough stink on a social network and you're likely to get a personal response from the company.

The 404 844: Where we're all missing the point (podcast)

Your favorite snacks from the '90s, including Gushers, Fruit by the Foot, and Handi Snacks are making a comeback on today's show, and we're also talking about what happens on the Internet every 60 seconds, new top level domains, and the worst sound in the world, CONFIRMED.

We're also debuting a new Stump the Host segment today! Enjoy today's episode of The 404 Podcast!

The 404 Digest for Episode 844

What happens on the Internet every 60 seconds. ICANN approves expansion of top-level domains, .sex included. 20 snacks that will make you miss the '90s. Whining is the worst sound in the world, study confirms.

Episode 844 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Tech media gadgets swamp Net at CES

LAS VEGAS--What's the easiest way to tell you're at a trade show full of thousands of people who make a living writing on the Internet? The Internet doesn't work.

CES doesn't really start until tomorrow, but today's traditional slate of press conferences posed quite the challenge for anyone trying to document the goings-on. Press Wi-Fi, 3G cards, MiFi devices, tethered smartphones, pick a device or a carrier: finding a steady wireless connection at the Venetian Hotel was a difficult prospect.

Not impossible, as our steady stream of live coverage shows, but extremely frustrating and slow … Read more

Crazy company name alert: Get Satisfaction Unlimited

Sometimes, you can just be too direct.

VentureWire announced today that a company called Get Satisfaction Unlimited, which provides a forum for consumers to discuss customer service issues, has secured $1.3 million in funding from First Round Capital, O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures and a group of individual investors.

It's a great idea. But there are probably a lot of names that wouldn't make a 13-year old laugh. Kvetch.com, Alwaysright.com, Whining Old Ladies. If I were a naming consultant, popping off those three would probably net me $50,000. Not bad for 45 seconds of labor. … Read more

Thirteen reasons to doubt the iPhone hype

The honeymoon is over for the iPhone.

It's not that we're sick of it already (well, maybe a bit), it's just time for it to answer some questions. Otherwise, it may join the Sony PS3 in the realm of "tech that looks absolutely amazing but is far too expensive for most people to even consider buying."

Here, accompanied by rambling speculation, are those questions:

1. Why no 3G compatibility? The answer might be as simple as the fact that Cingular's 3G coverage still has gaping holes outside of major U.S. cities.

The 3G … Read more