Hasta La Gadget!

Frankly, a few things in life are just too hard. Taxes being one of them, and moving from one’s spot in a hot tub to adjust the temperature and / or jet pressure being another. In a bid to solve issue number two, Arctic Spas has shoved out an iOS app (Android and BlackBerry are inbound) that interfaces with a WiFi module on some of the company’s hot tubs. Once loaded up, owners can control temperature and jets with a simple touch, though we hear that loads of steam and moist fingers aren’t exactly great for consumer electronics. Either way, you’ve got a video to entice you down below.

Continue reading Arctic Spas shows off hot tub-controlling iPhone app, waterproof iPhone case sold separately (video)

Arctic Spas shows off hot tub-controlling iPhone app, waterproof iPhone case sold separately (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The first Batman: Arkham City trailer to feature actual gameplay just debuted for mass public consumption, and we can’t stop replaying it.

The rumors are true, instead of simply offering old content from others, Netflix is jumping back into the content business by licensing David Fincher’s upcoming drama House of Cards for Watch Instantly streaming in the US and Canada before it airs anywhere else, or has even been produced. In a blog post and interview with AllThingsD, Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos justifies signing up for the series sight unseen by pointing out the popularity of the earlier BBC miniseries on which it is is based among Netflix members and the collective skills of both the director and lead actor Kevin Spacey. However, if you’re waiting around for fresh content to pop up on Watch Instantly don’t hold your breath, the 26 episode episode run produced by (interestingly, Netflix will neither produce nor own the show) Media Rights Capital isn’t due to arrive until late 2012.

Continue reading Netflix is getting into the content biz, confirms ‘House of Cards’ will launch in late 2012

Netflix is getting into the content biz, confirms ‘House of Cards’ will launch in late 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sarah Tew/CNET)

The 404 Digest for Episode 780

• Scott Stein sits in for Wilson.
• Jeff feeds trolls in his Nintendo 3DS blog post.
• Check out the 3DS review in its 4,000-plus word entirety. TL;DR? The gist: 3.5/5 stars for impressive 3D experience with a weaker-than-usual launch lineup and inactivated online features.
• Check out this bamboo iPad 2 case by Grove!
• Video voice mail by Luke from Austin.

Record your own video voice mail on YouTube and send the link to the404(at)cnet(dot)com or leave an audio voice mail by calling 1-866-404-CNET (2638).

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Episode 780

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Originally posted at The 404 Podcast

On Saturday March 19th, the Moon will be closer to the Earth than it has been in 18 years. The technical term for this moon phenomenon is perigee-syzygy, but I greatly prefer the popularized term: super moon!

NASA says, the Moon “will be around 17,000 miles (27,359 km) closer than usual as it rounds Earth in its elliptical orbit.” Don’t get too excited; that’s still 221,567 miles (356,578 km) from Earth, so it’s not exactly “close.” The effect of this change of distance is that the Full Moon will be appear 14% bigger than usual. Though it will be closer, brighter, and appear bigger, these differences will be difficult to notice, seeing how it’s an orb in the massive sky with no objects for size reference. 

But, nonetheless, it’s still pretty cool and probably worth trekking outside to take a peek at, so you can at least say you say you saw a “super moon.”

Photo via NASA