Google to Lower Garbage Count in Searches

All eyes are posed on San Francisco this week…Apple is holding a large press conference to announce something new.  The rumor mill is in high gear with all kinds of speculation…is it the new iPhone 5, a new iPad, or yet something else? Frankly I think Apple starts most of these rumors to build up interest.  Whatever it is, we will have for you on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Google is on a mission to give you higher quality search results and less garbage. I applaud that, for sure. And were you aware the Internet will have to change from IPV4 to IPV6? What’s that you say? What is it? Actually its extremely important, so if you are curious, read the article below. - JRC

Google search to reward high-quality sites

With the latest changes to its search algorithm, Google is aiming to reward Web sites that offer original, in-depth content at the same time that it penalizes those that simply borrow content from others. Rolled out this week, the changes will help ensure that sites considered to be of "high quality" will rank higher in Google's search results, while those deemed of "low quality" will get dumped lower in the ranks. Google is clearly looking to crack down on "content farms," sites that purposely tailor their pages with content that often makes little to no sense but is loaded with keywords and other information designed solely to generate a huge number of hits.

Shoddy Web experiences driving users from the mobile Internet

According to the results of a recent survey by Antenna Software, poor experiences are deterring users from surfing the mobile Web via their Internet-enabled smartphones. Device makers, Web designers, and mobile service providers alike have their work cut out for them to make the mobile Internet experience more affordable and appealing.

The New Internet Protocols: What Users Should Know

IPv6 has been introduced, allowing a previously impossible variety of Internet addresses to be used now that the supply of useable addresses governed by the IPv4 standard has been exhausted. But what does this change mean for everyday surfers? Most computers will be able to process the new standard, but an IPv6-capable OS is needed.

So Many Online Coupon Sites, So Little Time

Groupon thrives on a simple concept: It posts one deal a day for local restaurants, bars and other businesses, and visitors have 24 hours to sign up for the deal. Now a flurry of copycat services have popped up, including LivingSocial, Scoutmob, DailyCandy Deals and Gilt City. How do the contenders stack up against the original daily-coupon king?

TweakNow PowerPack 2011 3.0.1 (Windows) - Free

TweakNow PowerPack is a fully-integrated suite of utilities that lets you fine-tune every aspect of your computer's operating system and Web browser. The Registry Cleaner module provides you with a safe and simple way to clean Windows Registry. To keep your computer always at top performance, we recommend to clean your registry at least once a month. For Windows tweaking lovers, the suite provides more than 100 hidden Windows settings in the Windows Secret section.

Apple Updates Pro Line with Sandy Bridge and Thunderbolt

I know most of my readers are Windows users. So why am I telling you about Apple products here? Well, a few of you might be thinking of moving over to Apple. But the most important part of this story is the inclusion of Intel’s new super high speed Thunderbolt data transfer technology. I hope we get these soon in the PC World.

The other important story here is Windows 7 SP1 release. You won’t see any new bells and whistles but you need to upgrade to it if you use Windows 7. Lots of fixes. I have installed it on all three of my active computers and be aware that it requires about an hour of time to complete its work. Just thought you should know. - JRC

Apple updates MacBook Pro line for 2011

After weeks of a growing chorus of rumors, leaks, and anecdotal evidence, Apple announced a series of updates to its popular MacBook Pro line of laptops. The biggest changes are all under the hood. The entire updated line now offers Intel's latest Sandy Bridge CPUs. Just as significantly, the new MacBook Pros are also the first products to feature Intel's new Thunderbolt technology (formerly known as Light Peak). The Thunderbolt tech is envisioned as a sort of unified successor to USB, FireWire, and DisplayPort, allowing peripherals to hypothetically carry data and video at 10Gbps.

What you need to know about Windows 7 SP1

With Windows 7 Service Pack 1 generally available, Win7 users need to know what SP1 brings — and doesn't bring — to the game. In short, this service pack adds surprisingly little to Windows 7. You'll want to install it — eventually.

Taxes 2010: Four tax prep solutions compared

We've all heard the famous quote before: Nothing is certain in life but death and taxes. And while you could try to avoid your taxes, Uncle Sam is probably going to make your life even more miserable if you do. Rather than suffer the consequences of illegal action, we suggest you get a jump on your taxes with one of the four tax prep solutions we have thoroughly tested out for you.

Searching for Torrents (Torrent Search Sites)

There is a great deal of content available in bittorrent.  There is over 10 PetaBytes of content available in over  10 million plus active torrents.  Finding the content you want within all that is what these torrent search sites are about. This article is also a great introduction for folks who have never used a torrent. 

Taxes 2010: Four tax prep solutions compared

We've all heard the famous quote before: Nothing is certain in life but death and taxes. And while you could try to avoid your taxes, Uncle Sam is probably going to make your life even more miserable if you do. Rather than suffer the consequences of illegal action, we suggest you get a jump on your taxes with one of the four tax prep solutions we have thoroughly tested out for you.

Big Events for Both Microsoft and Apple

For Microsoft, it’s the release of Service Pack One…for Apple, it looks like the new iPad 2 will be announced in early March. That will be interesting…and I wonder how it got leaked. Apple is very secretive and if the leak source is ever found, he or she will be fired.  Of course, the other big question is…will Steve Jobs be there to present it. He is currently on a medical leave of absence.

But two other heavy hitters in the tech world, Amazon and Google, both have interesting stories to tell, both listed below. You never know what is going to show up in this newsletter, so stay tuned… - JRC

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Now Available

Service Pack 1 combines a number of updates and improvements into a single download, so if you haven't been keeping your computer up to date thus far, this one download is a good way to catch up.

Apple to Unveil IPad 2 on March 2 in San Francisco

Apple will hold its much-anticipated event on March 2, where the tech giant seems poised to unveil a new version of its hugely successful iPad, according to multiple sources. Analysts expect the iPad 2 to be thinner than its predecessor and feature an improved display, as well as front-facing camera and Facetime video chat support. And some reports suggest it will be powered by one of Qualcomm’s multimode chips and will run on both GSM and CDMA-based networks around the world.

Amazon Launches Streaming Onslaught Against Netflix

Netflix faces some serious competition as Amazon.com added instant streaming of more than 5,000 movies and TV shows for Amazon Prime members. Amazon's Prime service already offers unlimited two-day shipping for $79 a year. That compares to about $100 a year for Netflix streaming.

Hidden Secrets of the Google Search Box

From math problems and package tracking to flight information and playing music, the humble Google search box is a gateway to knowledge. With a few tips and tricks, you can use Google as a full-fledged calculator, mine local information, get answers to specific questions, find a package or flight, translate foreign words, and much more.

10+ Chrome extensions and Web apps for new users

I've become a big fan of the Chrome Browser. In fact,I use Chrome 50% of the time (the other 50% on Firefox). It is a clean interface and it is fast. It is constantly being updated, but that happens in the background so you don't have to worry about it. Like Firefox, it can use extensions and it now has thousands available to make your browsing experience even better. If you want to give Chrome a spin, here is a list of important extensions you should consider adding to it.

More Apple Antics and Kindle E-book Piracy

Apple Smacks Readability In The Face With Subscription Rules

Readability, a service which takes text on the web and strips out ads and other distractions to make posts more readable, had been planning to bring an app to the iOS platform. In fact, they worked with Instapaper creator Marco Arment to build it. It seems like it would be been a pretty popular app. Except it was rejected on the grounds that it circumvents Apples in-app subscriptions today.

Kindle e-book piracy accelerates

A lot of people think moving away from paper is a good thing. Maybe it is. But what should also be alarming to publishers is that the number of people pirating books is growing along with the number of titles that are available for download. As I've written in the past, the rise of the iPad has spurred some of the pirating, but now the huge success of the Kindle is also leading to increased pirating.

What You Need To Know Upgrading To Windows 7 SP1

Windows 7 SP1 will be available tomorrow. Is there anything that the average PC user will have to do to get the service pack? Not really, it’s a fairly straightforward process for most. Microsoft will be making it available from the Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center. Microsoft recommend that single PC and home PC Users should be using Windows Update instead of the standalone installer from the Microsoft Download Center.

Unlock the power of the Quick Access Toolbar

In just minutes, you can transform Word 2010 and other Office apps from general-purpose tools to custom software with exactly the features and functions you need. Microsoft Word 2010, and all the Office 2010 and Office 2007 mainline applications, share a common interface that's amazingly configurable, once you know the tricks.

Best Free Microsoft Downloads

When people talk about freeware, a lot of times they think about free alternatives to Microsoft products – free office suites, free operating systems, even free alternatives to products that are already included with Windows like Paint, Notepad and Internet Explorer.  However, Microsoft does provide a collection of free software that is definitely worth checking out.  This article is designed to provide an overview of the best free Microsoft programs,

Special Report–Apple’s Puts a Noose on Content Providers

Last week, Apple published new rules about software running on iPads, iPods, and iPhones. While Apple has always controlled what programs will run on these devices, the new rules say that if you have a program that is already approved, such as an e-book reader or music player, you must pay Apple a 30% tax, even if the customer buys source materials directly from the manufacturer.

For example, Amazon has a Kindle Reader program that runs inside of both the iPad and iPod. If I buy an e-book through my Windows-based computer directly from Amazon, it will be available on all my Kindle equipped devices (such as other computers or my Android phone).  Under its new policy, Apple wants a 30% cut from Amazon if I try to read my new book on an iPad. This is just an example as Apple has not officially notified Amazon of this new policy. However, they did turn down an application from Sony for their e-reader software because the purchase of books did not go through Apple.

These new rules apply to music, magazines, newspapers, and books. Apple has always been accused of having a “walled garden” for applications, but now they have made that wall even higher. And they have put a noose around the neck of several music services in competition with Apple’s iTunes store.

As you will see from the last story here, this new policy has already peaked the interest of government anti-trust investigators. Personally, I hope Apple fails in this new policy and that companies boycott Apple for what they are trying to do. Your thoughts are always welcome. - JRC   

How Apple will crush its competition with iTunes Online

Rhapsody. Napster. MOG. Rdio. What do these four music subscription services have in common? Each company survives on monthly subscription revenues. Each one has an iPhone/iPad app that is prominently featured on its home page. Each one offers a free trial that they hope you’ll love and that you’ll convert to a paid subscription when the trial runs out. And under Apple’s new subscription rules, each one will soon be forced to start paying 30% of its revenue for each of those easy, one-click subscriptions it gets through an app on an Apple device. In short, each of those four services has just been torpedoed by Apple. Each one is taking on water.

Apple's subscription plan: Time for an app work stoppage

In a nutshell, Apple wants a 30 percent cut of in-app purchases. If you are a publisher of movies or music this could be a big issue. First, companies like Rhapsody and Netflix pay content owners and then pay Apple another cut for the privilege of being in the App Store.

Apple's luxury tax should spark a showdown with publishers

Just as all of the big content providers were starting to get chummy with Apple and its media savior - the mighty iPad - ol’ Steve Jobs went and pulled a fast one on his new publisher buddies. He changed the rules of the game and hit them with a new revenue-sharing structure that essentially forces publishers who charge subscriptions outside of the app to either cough up a 30 percent tax on subscriptions purchased from inside the app or do business elsewhere.

Report: Apple's subscription plan draws antitrust scrutiny

U.S. antitrust investigators are examining the terms Apple placed this week on publishers wishing to sell digital subscriptions through the App Store, according to a Wall Street Journal report that cited people familiar with the matter. The Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission are interested in whether Apple is violating antitrust laws by routing customers through Apple's App Store and taking a 30 percent cut of each subscription, sources told the newspaper.

Watch Out For Those Solar Flairs

Note: Look for a special edition of Rants and Raves this weekend…devoted entirely to how Apple is trying to throttle it’s competition by demanding money from competitors and even forcing retailers like Amazon to give Apple a 30% commission on books sold for use on the Apple iPad, even though the customer bought the books direct from Amazon. Looks like the government anti-trust folks are getting involved in this one.

Solar Flares Could Affect GPS, Satellites, Power

If your GPS Relevant Products/Services system's performance is a little spotty on Friday, don't call tech Relevant Products/Services support. Blame the sun. Three waves of charged particles that erupted from its corona Sunday, Monday and Tuesday will hit the Earth in the next few days in what scientists are calling the biggest solar event since December 2006.

How IBM's Watson hammered its 'Jeopardy' foes

In the big Jeopardy showdown, the IBM computer Watson, hammered two human Jeopardy champions. Here's how IBM's brainiac works its artificially intelligent magic

Piracy: Everybody Does It; Everything Should Be Free

Pirates are in it for the free stuff, and there are plenty of them: That’s the gist of a new PricewaterhouseCoopers study of consumer attitudes toward piracy. The study asked some 202 self-described pirates about their behavior and the reasons for it. At the top of the list was the fact that pirated content doesn’t actually cost anything. Duh!

250+ Places for Free Books Online

This is a listing of 260 sites that legally offer free books (eBooks) for download or for online viewing. Some time ago I went looking for some free eBooks and was surprised to find that there are many resources for this. I decided to put together this list of sites that offer free eBooks as a reference.

A complete guide to Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts

One of the best ways to increase your computing productivity doesn't cost a cent: learn the keyboard shortcuts for your most-used commands. To help you stop mousing around and become a keyboard maestro, I rounded up the best resources for finding, using, and creating shortcuts.

Mobile Computing Updates Galore…and Private Browsing

My interest in portable devices, ie: cell phone, has shot up recently as I am a brand new owner of a Droid X Phone. I’m still exploring all it can do, and quite frankly, I am totally amazed. In short, I love it. By the way, if you use an Android phone of any type, you might be interested in this list of the best free applications for Android Devices.

The big news for all cell phones and other mobile devices is pouring out of the Mobil World Congress now going on in Barcelona. It’s the most important show for these kinds of devices Be sure and check out the first story. 

Latest Updates from the Mobile World Congress 2011

Want to know the latest info on new cellphones, touch pads, and other wireless devices? The Mobile World Congress is underway in Barcelona...and lots of new products and services announcements are coming down the pike every minute! Check this out to see what might be in your mobile future.

InPrivate Browsing made easy with Internet Explorer 9 pinned sites

InPrivate Browsing is Internet Explorer's answer to Chrome's Incognito and Firefox's Private Browsing. In essence, it gives you a very quick way to surf the Internet without leaving traces of activity on your computer

Dual Boot Your Pre-Installed Windows 7 Computer with XP

So you got your shiny new pre-installed Windows 7 computer over the holidays, but you want to have trusty XP standing by in a dual boot setup. Today we’ll walk through creating a new partition in

How to Develop Your Photography Skills: 11 steps (with pictures)

If you've mastered the basics of framing, shooting, and taking a photograph, try taking it further. Make it a hobby, or maybe even a career, rather than taking the usual holiday, pet, and kid snapshots. It is time to start making stunning, rather than simply passable, photographs.

A Windows Troubleshooting Tool - Free For Non-Commercial Use

While the concept of logging all errors and unexpected events is a good one, Microsoft doesn't make it terribly easy to examine those logs. So if you want something a bit more flexible and powerful, there's a program called Event Log Inspector. You can get it from www.snmpsoft.com. Prices start at $4.99 per PC, for commercial use, but for non-commercial use it's free.

IE9 Protects Your Privacy, Offers Tracking Protection

IE9 and Tracking Protection: Microsoft disrupts the online ad business

Microsoft has just launched a remarkably effective tool to protect your privacy on the web. Using the IE9 RC, it takes exactly two clicks to begin blocking cookies, web beacons, and other third-party tools that track your movements and activities on the web.

Obama pushes for national 4G-speed wireless

President Obama said today he wanted 98 percent of Americans to have 4G-speed wireless Internet connections within five years, calling it necessary for the United States to remain internationally competitive and "win the future." In a speech at Northern Michigan University in snowy Marquette, Mich., Obama offered details on his administration's proposal to promote high-speed wireless Internet connections in rural areas, elaborating on a point he made in his State of the Union speech last month.

Facebook Pages redesign available, takes effect for everyone March 10

Facebook has overhauled Facebook Pages for 2011, so you should be noticing a new look and some new features. If you're a Facebook page admin, you've also got some work to do. On March 10, everyone will be upgraded to the new version of Facebook Pages, but page admins can preview the new layout now, and opt in early.

Should Amazon change how Kindle pages are numbered?

People are passionate about page numbers. Just ask the hundreds of posters in Amazon's Kindle forums who've debated the issue of how Amazon numbers its pages with "locations" on the Kindle and in its Kindle e-book-reading apps. And just ask the readers who've e-mailed me over the years complaining about Amazon's numbering scheme.

LibreOffice 3.3 Now Available - Free

Created as a result of the recent split between Oracle and the OpenOffice.org community, LibreOffice is a brand-new spin on OpenOffice.org that was just released by the Document Foundation. The software includes Writer, its word processor; Calc, a spreadsheet module; Impress, for presentations; Draw, for sketching and diagrams; Base, a database front end; and Math, a simple equation editor.

Guess What Google Calendar Chrome Extension Does?

If you're a Google Calendar user who's also a fan of Chrome, you'll want this excellent, free extension from Google itself: Google Calendar Chrome extension. With it, you'll be able to access your Google Calendar wherever you are on the Web, without having to visit the calendar itself.

Microsoft’s Big Week

It’s been a busy week for tech news…especially for Microsoft. First, they announced the release date for Windows 7 SP1; then they released IE9 RC (pretty much the final version); and finally they announced a partnership with Nokia to include Windows Phone 7 operating system in future Nokia phones.

In other phone news, Verizon officially started selling the iPhone, AT&T announced free calling to all cell phones in the US, HP announced its first cell phones (and tablet) using the WebOS system that they acquired when they bought out Palm…and I switched from T-Mobile to Verizon and purchased a Droid X phone. So far, I love it. By the way, it’s available at Costco for $10.

Just this morning, I downloaded the IE9 RC. Will let you know if I like it.  Most tech journalists have given it rave reviews.  Enjoy your weekend - JRC

Get ready for Windows 7 SP1 - Hits Windows Update on February 22nd | ZDNet

Microsoft has finished work on Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and will begin pushing the update to systems on February 22nd via Windows Update. If you are a TechNet or MSDN subscriber you will be able to get your hands on the code from February 16th.

Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) Release Candidate Review & Rating

The release candidate of IE9 is even faster than the beta, adds more HTML5 support, and it sticks with that software's trimmed down UI, giving the most space to the webpage of any browser. Microsoft has also built in the unique new Tracking Protection feature for added privacy. Finally, it tweaks tabs, search, and its unique pinned site capability that places site icons in the taskbar. Sadly, it only works on Vista and Windows 7 machines. It is especially powerful on Windows 7.

IE9 review: will Microsoft's big browser bet pay off?

With Internet Explorer 9, Microsoft gets to show off some of its best work to an audience that is increasingly indifferent and hard to please, and in some cases downright hostile and dismissive. It is not an enviable task. By any objective standard, Microsoft has succeeded at the task it set out to do: build a fast, standards-compliant browser with a clean, modern design that integrates well with Windows 7.

HP unveils TouchPad tablet, WebOS headed to PCs

Hewlett-Packard today took the wraps off its long-anticipated tablet, a 9.7-inch device it's calling the TouchPad, along with the bombshell that its WebOS is headed to PCs. The TouchPad will run the company's WebOS, which it acquired along with Palm as part of a $1.2 billion deal in April. Among its list of features are: a 1024x768 pixel display, a weight of 1.5 pounds, 13mm thickness, front-facing cameras for video chat, 16GB or 32GB of built-in memory, support for Adobe's Flash, Beats by Dre speakers, and a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor.

Report: iPad 2 in Production

The iPad 2 is coming soon, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal that said the next-generation device is currently in production. Citing "people familiar with the matter" the new slimmer, lighter iPad will include a faster processor, a camera, and more memory. The resolution of the display, however, won't get much of an upgrade from the existing model, the report said.

Evernote helps you get organized

Download it and you can sync notes, lists, voice memos, Web clips, pictures and more between computers, phones, tablets and other gadgets. The app is free and comes with 60 MB of Web space a month. Install it on all of your favorite devices and suddenly you have access to your thoughts via computer, Web browser and mobile device. It works especially well on Android-based phones. And it is free!!

Trade in Your Old Cell Phone for a New One

Lots of news happening in the cell phone world these days…or should I say Smart Phone World. Verizon is now taking orders for the iPhone; two companies are offering trade-in programs (see below); all the major carriers will soon have 4G systems (or something they call 4G anyway); AT&T is launching its free calling to any cell phone in the US'; and, of course, new cell phones are constantly being released.

I have not covered wireless phone service much in this blog, but maybe I need to expand that coverage as that is the fastest rising market in technology today…as these smart phones are really portable computers. I will say, in the fairness of full disclosure, that my cell phone contract is up and am looking around to see what I want to do next. Regardless, I think the world of smart phones are worth covering more than I have in the past. Let me know if you have any thoughts on that matter. - JRC

AT&T, Verizon Wireless trade-in programs may change smartphone buying process

Verizon Wireless launched a trade-in program ahead of the launch of the iPhone and AT&T quickly followed. These efforts may just change the smartphone buying process and minimize the reliance on two-year contracts.

Microsoft gives Hotmail users instant access to chuckaway email accounts

The chuckaway email addresses are generally used by people who sign up for free coupons and newsletters that they would otherwise not want delivered to their real account. Microsoft currently permits users to add up to 15 aliases per email account, so they can read all messages from alternative emails within one inbox.

Learn the Sounds of a Failing Hard Drive to Avoid Lost Data

Most hard drives make certain sounds when they start failing, but every drive and brand of drive is different. Data recovery company Data Cent has put together a database of sounds that let you know what's going wrong with your drive.

Windows 7 and SSDs: Cutting your system drive down to size

Solid-state drives are wicked fast. They can breathe new life into a PC whose performance is being dragged down by a slow conventional hard drive. They’re also expensive and (at least for now) limited in total capacity. So how do you get the performance benefits of an SSD upgrade without breaking the bank?

Create Your Own DVD Menus for Free With DVDStyler

DVDStyler accepts any unprotected video file format under the sun. Simply drag and drop or browse for your AVI, MP4, WMV (or whatever) unprotected videos, and put them where you want on the DVD. I liked how straightforward DVDStyler is to use. Set each video file as its own Title (like an episode on a TV on DVD disc), or set each one up as a Chapter within a single Title (like how a movie on DVD is divided into chapters).

Will IBM’s Watson Defeat Humans on Jeopardy?

I’ve been following the unfolding story of IBM’s Super Computer named Watson and its ability to play the Jeopardy game. IBM ran several commercials on their “Intelligent” new computer system recently and the media has picked up on the story.

On the 14th, you can watch the broadcast of the match between the computer and two Jeopardy champions (it will run over three nights). The computer has no advantage over humans in the way the questions are presented. It will read the board and hear the questions the same as humans do. The show’s writers were not told that one of the contestants is a computer so there would be no bias in creating the questions. I think it will be a fascinating show to watch.  Also look for a special PBS Nova program on building this supercomputer.

The story I‘ve included here on Watson also has links to the story on a practice round complete with video.  Highly recommended. And you will be surprised at the quality of the computer’s voice. - JRC

Report: Hackers penetrated Nasdaq computers

Federal authorities are investigating repeated intrusions into the computer network that runs the Nasdaq stock exchange, according to a Wall Street Journal report that cited people familiar with the matter. The intrusions did not compromise the tech-heavy exchange's trading platform, which executes investors' trades, but it was unknown which other sections of the network were accessed, according to the report.

Takeaways from Egypt: Kill the kill switch and decentralize the Internet

The five-day Internet outage in Egypt has two big takeaways. It’s time to shoot down the Internet “kill switch” and we need a new way to decentralize the Internet.

Patch Tuesday heads-up: Critical flaws in Windows, Internet Explorer

As part of this month’s Patch Tuesday schedule, Microsoft plans to ship a dozen bulletins with fixes for 22 vulnerabilities, some serious enough to allow hackers complete access to a vulnerable Windows machine.

Why IBM’s Watson experiment is important for artificial intelligence

Will artificial intelligence capture the public’s imagination? By now, you have no doubt heard about IBM’s daring experiment to pit its latest supercomputer — dubbed “Watson” — against Jeopardy champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter on Feb. 14. (In fact, we covered the practice round)

Chrome 9 goes stable with WebGL and Chrome Instant

In a statement on the official Google Chrome Blog, the browser's developers have announced the availability of a new version in the stable channel. It brings some performance improvements and a handful of new features. Google's development efforts on Chrome have been moving forward at an impressive pace.

Some Info on TV’s That Might be of Help

Consumers Don't Want 3-D TVs, Survey Reveals

The push to make everything in 3-D seems to be getting stronger and stronger, but it seems that consumers may not be the ones who want it. A survey by Nielsen revealed that the majority of consumers had no plans to get a 3-D TV any time soon.

TV Refresh Rate Explained: 60Hz vs. 120Hz, 240Hz, and Beyond

If you're in the market for an HDTV, you've probably heard a lot about "speed." When ads and reviews talk about how fast an HDTV is, they're referring to the display's refresh rate, or how often it changes the picture. Television and movies don't show actual motion so much as dozens and hundreds of frames per second, like a reel of film or a huge flipbook. The faster the HDTV, the more frames it displays per second. So the faster the refresh rate, the better the HDTV, right? More frames look smoother, right? In theory: yes. In marketing: very yes. In practice: not so much.

Facebook 'Instant personalization' launches: How to disable it, and why

Facebook’s ‘instant personalization’ feature is to be switched on today, allowing the walls between the social network and the world to be broken through for a seamless experience for all. It is turned on by default so many will be entirely unaware the feature even exists. However, this raises serious privacy concerns amongst the 500 million and growing population of the social network, with the potential for better targeted adverts and more of your data handed out to other websites.

Watch out for 'Microsoft Tech Support' scams

"I'm from Microsoft and I'm here to help." At least, that's what reader MP thought he heard when he answered the phone. It wasn't. Con artists all over the world are bilking big bucks out of unsuspecting Microsoft customers — including savvy Windows users.

Microsoft Mathematics

Microsoft used to sell a program called Mathematics, which was aimed at students. It was a very capable product, able to solve equations, draw graphs, do calculus, and much more. Ideal for anyone involved with mathematics, science, engineering, physics, and so on. So why do I say "used to sell"? Have they stopped producing it? No. They've merely stopped selling it, and are now giving it away! There's even a brand new version, 4,0, which was launched only last week

Egypt, China, AT&T, and Google Are Today’s Stars in Tech News

Events in Egypt occupy the news these days. Well, the good news is that Egypt has restore the Net to its citizens. But Internet access on the Egyptian revolution has been blocked in China…raising the question is Internet access is a human right? A very interesting question, since there is a bill in Congress now to set up an Internet Kill Switch in the USA.

Are you an AT&T customer? If you are, you may have been overcharged on a regular basis. I have heard these accusations before, but now a major lawsuit has been filed against the giant communications company. We will see how that shakes out. And now Google claims that Microsoft’s Bing is copying its search results. Wow, that could get messy, if true. Hope it is warm where you are. - JRC

Lawsuit: AT&T "systematically overstates" data usage on iPhone bills

One of the biggest problems that consumers have faced with mobile phone billing in recent years is that there's really no way of independently measuring the amount of data that's being consumed by a mobile Web session. Consumers are at the mercy of the wireless carriers and have put their trust in these providers to accurately bill them. Now, AT&T finds itself at the center of a class action lawsuit that alleges that the provider's bills "systematically overstate the amount of data used on each data transaction."

#Egypt Blocked in China: Is Internet Access A Human Right?

China has blocked searches for #Egypt on its State-approved, State-controlled version of Twitter. Searches for #Egypt on Sina (with over 50 million users) returns the message, “According to relevant laws, regulations and policies, the search results are not shown.”

Egypt gets its Internet back

Egyptian authorities have restored Internet service to the country after anti-government protests last week led to a five-day Net blackout. "Egyptian Internet providers returned to the Internet at 09:29:31 UTC (11:29 a.m. Cairo time)," said a blog post by Net monitoring firm Renesys today. Indeed, a variety of Egyptian Web sites, including the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, the Central Bank of Egypt, and the Egyptian Sock Exchange are available. And Twitter activity relating to Egypt is surging.

Google claims Bing copies its search results

The story began with Google's team for correcting typographical errors in search terms, which monitors its own and rivals' performance closely. Typos that Google could correct would lead to search results based on the correction, but the team noticed Bing would also lead to those search results without saying it had corrected the typo.

A Quick Way To Install Dozens Of Free Apps

If you're setting up a new PC, or you simply feel like a major download-fest, then www.ninite.com could save you a lot of time. The home page contains a list of around 80 of the best-known free applications for Windows, including web browsers, messaging apps like Skype, media players like Spotify and Songbird, image viewers, security tools, and more. Just tick the boxes for as many apps as you want, then download the custom installer that will be prepared for you.