How-To

As with any computing device there are times when you want to share what you're looking at with others. Without them physically next you such a task can be hard to accomplish. Fortunately, most devices have a screen capture option. Desktops and laptops often have very obvious options on their keyboards, but mobile devices tend to be a little more obscure.  In this how-to, we'll help you grab screenshots on your Apple iPad tablet and… Read More

Getting ready to start off vacation season, are we? Depending on your method of transportation, length of stay, and luggage capacity, you may need to enforce various packaging strategies in order to get your electronics, gadgets, and other basic necessities to travel with you safely. Follow our guide on the most efficient way to get your gears ready to go and you're on your way to a hassle-free vacation... at least in the situations… Read More

If you’re reading this there’s a 99.9-percent chance that you have used Google Search. Maybe you’re one of the rare few who rebel by using Yahoo! or Bing, but even if you are, you’re likely aware that there’s an advertising company called Google which also provides a really nice search engine. The capabilities of Google Search are massive and extend beyond keywords and phrases. There’s Image Search, Patent Search, Product Search and more. Typing… Read More

You've heard the commercials. "Your computer could explode at literally any moment. There is nothing you can do to protect yourself. Nothing except ... purchasing our product." It might sound like overblown infomercial fear mongering – and the product might be garbage – but don’t let that sour you on the idea of backups. As the records of our lives shift from notepads, photo albums and VHS tapes to hard drives, thumb… Read More

Not long ago, choosing a flat-panel HDTV was much easier: Figure out the right size for your room, decide between LCD and plasma, choose between 720p and 1080p, and you’re off and running. My, how times have changed. Nowadays, picture quality has significantly improved in all types of displays, but with all of the advancements in today’s flat panels, there’s more to consider than ever before: Stick with 2D, or go 3D? What about active vs.… Read More

When Ultrabooks first arrived, there was more than a little confusion about the hardware. How thin are they? How are the processors different? Do any provide decent integrated graphics? These answers were cleared up in an earlier article, so if you’re still a bit confused about the technical details, we suggest you check it out first. Here we’re going to help you deal with a slightly different issue – look and feel. We’ve had a number of… Read More

It’s the day before April Fools, and there is bound to a friend out there plotting to tamper with your computer in preparation for what they hope to be a prank of epic proportions. Luckily enough, some Reddit users had the foresight to mark March 31 as “World Backup Day.” If you've been putting it off — today might be the day to make it happen. It’s the one thing that we seem neglect to do despite the inevitability of a failed hard… Read More

Many people want to write, but getting started can be difficult. Double clicking Notepad or uncapping a five-cent Bic will get the job done, but the most widely used tools aren’t necessarily the best ones. A number of specialized software tools can help you at every step along the way, from brainstorming to final publishing. While a good app won’t plant the idea for a Pulitzer award winner in your head or help you effortlessly spin out prose… Read More

Although it hasn't made a huge dent in the tablet market yet — or perhaps we should call it the iPad market — Google's Android operating system has been the top-selling smartphone platform for a while. That also means it's a top target for scammers and malware developers eager to steal data and money from unsuspecting Android users. Last year brought some dire statistics, with security firms like McAfee and Lookout claiming… Read More

We warned you to get your credit cards out and pre-order the new iPad early on so you would avoid having to come to this. But it's Thursday, and just about 24 hours before national release of the new iPad. Here's everything you need to prepare for if you're planning to wait in line for the iPad come 8 A.M March 16: Know when and where to go The official Apple retail stores aren't the only place you can buy an iPad on… Read More

Almost everything about Android phones is getting bigger and better. The screens, processors, and antennas are larger and faster but one thing just can’t keep up with the rest – the battery. Batteries are being taxed further and further with all of these new technologies, and they haven't quite caught up. Here's a quick guide to make sure that you get the most out of your Android’s battery so your phone spends less time plugged into… Read More

By now you’ve heard of Ultrabooks: those lighter than air, sleek and slim, chromified, laptops. After only just being introduced, the market is already bursting at the seams with at veritable overload of the MacBook Air-inspired PC versions. While you might be able to spot one (if you can see it, that is), Ultrabooks remain something of a mystery to consumers. Here’s a quick introduction to the minimalist PC, and a guide to choosing a good… Read More

One of the most annoying aspects of changing phones is making sure all of your contacts are transferred to the new device. In the olden days, this meant manually typing in countless names and phone numbers, but our smartphones can now do most of the work for us. This guide will focus on moving contacts from iPhone to Android, but the main principles of this guide will help out other platforms. Setup The first thing you will need to do is to… Read More

So you were just given (or just bought) a kingly new gift: an Android tablet. You're probably excited, and a bit scared. It's thin; it has a giant touchscreen; but it isn't quite like a PC or smartphone. Well, fear not. We can't hold your hand, but we can guide you through some of the basics of Android tablet ownership.  Every Android tablet has different physical features, comes pre-loaded with different apps, and has… Read More

The current generation of gaming consoles have gone above and beyond being just devices to play video games. They have become entertainment systems in their own right, that can play DVDs (and blu-rays in the case of the PPS3), stream content online, and even act as media servers. So if you were among the lucky few that Santa left a shiny new PS3 for under the tree, but you’re still trying to get the hang of it, we cobbled together a few tips to… Read More