Some Good Tech Info Today

Lately it seems this blog has been full of blockbuster news. Not this time. Sorry. All is quiet on the tech front…at least for now. But stay tuned…there are rumors everywhere about some pretty neat things coming our way soon. For today, I have a cornucopia of really good information and a free program you just might find useful.

On a personal note, I installed a Roku box this weekend…you know, the little box that streams Netflix and 300 other channels to your TV. It took a painful two days of installation, but thanks to help from Netflix, I finally got it running…but only with a direct wired connection to the Internet. The wireless connection did not work properly…keep this in mind if you are thinking about getting a Roku box. Now, it works perfectly and the picture is terrific.

The day after I installed the Roku, my computer refused to turn on. I was pretty sure it was a power supply, but that seemed strange as the current one was only 90 days old. I took it back to SWS Computers here in Tucson, and they happily exchanged it for a new one. As soon as I installed it, the computer powered right up. All is well in my little world of technology.

Enough about me…now, on with the show…. - JRC

Missed out on the $99 TouchPad? You may get one last chance

HP will produce "one last run of TouchPads" to meet the outpouring of demand that came after various outlets began selling the device at a deep discount price of $99 for the 16GB version and $149 for the 32GB version. The company provides no guarantees that the run will be priced so aggressively, but promises the fadeout of webOS hardware will go on as scheduled.

Fox's 8-Day Content Delay Encourages Piracy

Fox recently decided to stop releasing free online streams of its TV shows on Hulu the day after they air--instead, Fox is delaying free streaming for eight days. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this choice by the network has resulted in an over-100-percent increase in piracy. It's pretty clear: denizens of the Internet don't take too kindly to being stripped of instant gratification.

Microsoft teases more Windows 8 details

Microsoft has posted a detailed explanation of the new, improved, ribbonized Windows Explorer in Windows 8. In a nutshell, Microsoft is grafting a ribbon onto the top of the Windows Explorer window -- no surprise -- that closely resembles the ribbons in Office and a handful of Windows 7 applets.

Google offers peek behind its search results

Recognizing that it's no longer the only search engine in town, Google recently shed some light on how it keeps tweaking its algorithms to improve its search results. (Includes a video)

Tame a new system’s hard-drive bloat

You just bought that new Windows 7 computer, and the next thing you know — you’re running out of space. Here are some tips and tricks to show where your hard drive space is going.

How to rid your HDTV of reflections

Most people don't like watching TV in the dark. The problem is, flat-panel TVs tend to reflect light in the room. Even if you have a matte-screen LCD, light bouncing off the screen is going to diminish picture quality in one way or another. This how-to guide has some obvious and some not-so-obvious tricks and tips to help you make sure that no matter what lighting you have in your room, you're still getting the best picture quality.

How to check if a Web site is safe

Have you been phished? Whether you use a Mac, Windows, or Linux, iOS or Android, there's a real strong chance that somebody has sent you an e-mail or text message in an attempt to get at your personal information. Data means money, and you're a big ol' dollar sign to the bad guys.

The Best Application Launcher for Windows

Windows has a bevy of great app launchers available, but when it comes to power, ease of use, and configurability, Executor is our pick for the best.

Steve Jobs Resigns as Apple CEO

Wow! Was this news a shocker. The last few days have been filled with surprise news stories…HP drops it’s tablet and phone business (and maybe its computer business), Google buys Motorola…and now Steve Jobs resigns as Apple CEO. That is too bad, especially since it is probably health-related. I hope whatever may be wrong with him is not life threatening.

He certainly has been the most innovative CEO I have ever seen. His computers are very good (albeit very expensive), but his real genius has been in devices…such as the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad. He set the standard for all these devices and everyone else is just playing catch-up. The iPods are still the best devices available for music and the iPad leaves all other tablets in the dust. Can’t wait to see the iPad 3. Not only that, it is changing the way we compute. In short, he created and successfully marketed whole new lines of products and made them easy for people to use. 

Arguably, the smartphone market has caught up to the iPhone, specifically the Android-based phones, but there is a new iPhone coming out very soon so it will be interesting to see what new things it has to offer.

I think his latest innovation, the iCloud, is so simple but so smart. It keeps all your devices in sync instantaneously. It just shows how far ahead of everyone else. Microsoft has everything it needs to do the same thing, but they seem to lack the vision to make it work as easily as Apple. Microsoft’s implementation of cloud-based synchronization is so arcane and difficult to use that is makes me ask the question, “What were they thinking.”

It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Apple without Steve Jobs. Even though I only use one Apple product, I always look forward to seeing their next new product. Good luck to you, Steve. You did good. - JRC

Steve Jobs steps down from Apple

Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs resigned today as chief executive officer from Apple. His place at the top of the company will be taken by Tim Cook, previously Apple's chief operating officer. 

Love Him or Hate Him, Steve Jobs Has Transformed Your Life

Steve Jobs is still Chairman of the Board at Apple, and he is still going to be involved in steering the iconic tech company, but he has officially handed the CEO duties over to Tim Cook. Whether you are an avid fan of Apple, or an ardent Apple-basher, Steve Jobs has had an undeniable effect on technology and the world around you.

HP single-handedly destroys non-iPad tablet market

After getting a taste for $99 tablets, will consumers continue to stomach $500 price tags?

Report: Military video shows China mounting cyber attacks

The Chinese government is under scrutiny after posting a military video that reportedly shows the country engaging in a cyber attack on an American target. The video could represent a smoking gun, demonstrating that China does engage in unsavory cyber warfare tactics, despite its protestations to the contrary.

Facebook moves privacy controls inline, simplifies sharing

Facebook today announced a bunch of privacy improvements for what shows up on your profile and what happens when you share something new. The company isn’t adding new features per se, but it is making it easier to share posts, photos, tags, and other content with only the people you want to do so. (Includes a video on how to use the new controls)

Gadgets and computer gear: How to clean them

We all love our gadgets and computer gear, but how often do we actually take the time to clean them? Probably not often enough.
The cleaning tips here will not only make them look good, but will make them more sanitary and run better. Complete with videos.

Cheap External Hard Drives

Our lives are going digital, and we need storage to hold all of that data. While your computers come with built in storage, it's a good idea to have a backup of your documents, photos, music, and anything else you wouldn't want to lose in a freak hard drive crash. In this economy, however, it might be hard to justify spending an arm and a leg on terabytes of data. Don't worry - we're here to help. We've come up with a list of cheap external hard drives to keep that precious data (and your bank account) safe.

Everything You Need to Know to Buy Your First DSLR

Tired of missing those action shots? Are blurry indoor photos getting you down? A DSLR might be just the cure for your point-and-shoot blues

The Best Free uTorrent Apps

uTorrent is a highly popular BitTorrent program, but of course you probably already know that. Recently uTorrent has introduced a new feature; apps. Although all these are free, I feel I should review them and try to reveal the best one

HP Blows It…Big Time!!

HP's Inability to Communicate Dooms webOS, Mortally Wounds PC Business

It was the biggest tech news of the year so far, but last week's revelations by HP about its PC and mobile OS businesses was so badly bungled by the computing giant that we all got the wrong message. The net effect, of course, is that HP has accomplished what it never intended: It has killed any future for its webOS mobile system. And it has possibly mortally wounded its thus-far dominant PC business as well.

U.S. Best Buy to sell $100 HP TouchPad Sunday

Select Best Buy stores will sell the HP TouchPad tablet for $99.99 on Sunday. A store manager in suburban Los Angeles said the TouchPad will go on sale when Best Buy opens its doors Sunday at 10 a.m. The sale applies to all Best Buy stores that have stock, but not all stores do, he said

Fox's 8-Day Content Delay Encourages Piracy

Fox recently decided to stop releasing free online streams of its TV shows on Hulu the day after they air--instead, Fox is delaying free streaming for eight days. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this choice by the network has resulted in an over-100-percent increase in piracy. It's pretty clear: denizens of the Internet don't take too kindly to being stripped of instant gratification.

Which streaming media device is right for you?

Once a fringe activity for the geeky set, online video streaming is now officially mainstream, thanks in large part to the omnipresence of Netflix on nearly all Internet-connected entertainment devices. But with so many options now available, what's the best solution--be it for Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu, Amazon, or any of the myriad other online video sources?

Windows 8 to bring USB 3.0 to the masses

Why is USB 3.0 a big deal? Because it offers greater speed compared to USB 2.0 (up to 5 Gbit/s, or 10 times faster than USB 2.0) and also because it is more energy efficient and promises greater battery life for portable devices.

6 Key Facts About Firefox 6

Continuing its trend for fast-track releases, Mozilla has officially launched Firefox 6, just two months after the launch of Firefox 5. While hardly a major overhaul, the new version includes a number of noteworthy feature updates and additions. Here are six of the most salient developments in Firefox 6.

Everything You Need to Know to Buy Your First DSLR

Tired of missing those action shots? Are blurry indoor photos getting you down? A DSLR might be just the cure for your point-and-shoot blues

Five freeware gems for Windows

The title of this article says it all. There is some very good, if not excellent software listed here...all of them free!!

It’s Moving Day!

Hello everyone. Today is moving day for me…am staying in the same apartment complex, but moving to a different apartment. Change is good, right? Hope so.  Anyway am doing a lot of heavy work and cleaning right now, so I have not had time to gather as many stories as I would have liked…but I have a few of interest.

The big news today comes from HP. They are discontinuing their cell phone line and tablets that run the webOS operating system that they acquired when they bought out Palm. This is bit of a shock as they just purchased Palm less than a year ago for $1.2 billion. Wow. Even more shocking, is they are strongly considering spinning off the PC manufacturing business. They sell a lot of HP computers these days. But, I guess not enough.

Well, I must get back to moving so here is the rest of the days news and info. – JRC

HP murders webOS tablets, phones

HP has announced that it will discontinue its webOS TouchPad and webOS phones, just weeks after the arrival of the TouchPad and a little more than a year after the company acquired the webOS mobile operating system from Palm in a $1.2bn purchase. In a press release floated before the company's quarterly earnings call, HP also confirmed that it is considering a spinoff of its PC business. In April, the company announced that it would bring webOS to PCs as well as new mobile devices.

Firefox 6 patches 10 dangerous security holes

Mozilla has shipped a critical Firefox update to fix at least 10 security vulnerabilities, some serious enough to expose web surfers to drive-by download attacks. According to an advisory from the open-source group, 8 of the 10 vulnerabilities are rated “critical,” meaning that they can be used to run attacker code and install software, requiring no user interaction beyond normal browsing.

When Facebook Gets Creepy - Slideshow from PCMag.com

Facebook, while informational and entertaining, can also be creepy. But aside from the sometimes borderline-disturbing behavior of Facebook users, the site itself has been accused of violating personal boundaries.

Netflix vs. Blockbuster: What's the best service for streaming and DVDs?

here are more choices than ever for your entertainment dollar, but Netflix and Blockbuster remain the only two that offer both online streaming and disc-by-mail options. Recent changes to both--a controversial Netflix price hike and a change of ownership for Blockbuster--make this a perfect time to re-examine how both of these vendors stack up against one another.

It's iPad or nothing, survey says

The study found that out of more than 1,100 potential tablet purchasers, an overwhelming 94.5 percent cited the iPad as a device of interest.

Who makes the best Windows security software? Surprise...

Does antivirus software work? Online criminals have beaten traditional security software that relies on signatures and scans. But there’s an alternative: smarter software that turns the bad guys’ own actions against them. I found some refreshing new ideas from one of the oldest brand names in personal computing.

Surprise! Google Snaps Up Motorola

Google shocked everyone by purchasing Motorola Mobility, the wildly popular cell phone manufacturer. But what does it mean? Will Android phones be limited to Motorola or can other phone makers still play in that sandbox? Android-equipped phones are most popular smartphones on the market, even more popular than Apple iPhones. So many questions…but not enough answers. By the way, S&P has downgraded Google stock to sell, saying that the purchase of Motorola puts Google at risk.

In other news, the Bay Area Rapid Transit system is under heavy fire for turning off the cell phone service in its station during a recent protest. They wanted to stop protest organizers from using phones to organize the protests, much like was done recently in London. Was it illegal? The FCC will let us know.

Lots and lots of news and info today so let’s get started…JRC

Google to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5B

Google said today it has agreed to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, giving the search giant valuable intellectual property and getting it directly into the handset business. Google will pay $40 a share in cash for Motorola, a 63 percent premium over the company's closing stock price on Friday. The acquisition will "mildly" add to earnings once the deal closes by year's end or early 2012, Google said.

FCC to Scrutinize BART's Cellphone Block

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system, or BART, will reportedly come under the FCC's microscope following the block that the public transportation system put on mobile devices inside its stations. BART says it instituted the block to keep a public protest from growing out of hand. That decision spawned further protests and may have violated the law.

Gartner: 94 Percent of New PCs Will Ship with Windows 7 in 2011

We've all heard about how people are abandoning Windows in droves, moving to Macs or leaving for Linux. Well, maybe not so much. A recent report from research firm Gartner says by the end of this year, 42 percent of all PCs in the world will be running Windows 7 (and of course, there are still many, many individuals and businesses that are sticking with XP until official support ends in 2014). Even better, they expect 94 percent of new PCs shipped in 2011 will come with Windows 7 - close to 635 million of them.

No contest: Mac vs. Windows security

For nearly two decades now, security experts have debated whether Microsoft or Apple offers superior security. The battle heated up again in the wake of news out of Black Hat about a newfound weakness in the Mac platform. However, the question of whether Microsoft or Apple is more secure is no longer even relevant: Security threats of today and tomorrow aren't as tied to specific desktop platforms as they once were.

Microsoft making big speech bets with Windows 8

The Microsoft Tellme team is working with the Bing, Windows Phone, Kinect/Xbox, Azure and other Microsoft teams to add new speech-centric capabilities to Microsoft and third-party products in the coming year-plus.

Beat the Cell Phone Data Cap Game

We're cutting through the noise to tell you exactly what you need to know, how to avoid getting charged overages, and ways to bring down your data use before your wireless carrier cuts your speed.

Why do people fall for Trojans?

Out in the physical world, crime happens every day. People get robbed and have their pockets picked, and no one blames the victim. So why do the rules change when nontechnical PC users fall for a Trojan online?

Help CERN find the God particle

As a rule, I advocate turning off your electronics whenever they are not in use. It is good for the planet and good for your electric bill. However, if you are using that otherwise dormant silicon to do something spectacular, say, locating the Higgs boson (also known as the God particle), I am all for that.

Hong Kong Stock Exchange Hacked!

It seems it’s a quiet day for tech news. I think we are all still reeling from all the news that indicates our deep recession is going to continue for a while. Not good. I am thankful I retired from the working world so I don’t have to be out pounding the streets for a job. But being on a relative fixed income, I am acutely aware that food, gas, and other prices are on the rise. And many times, the price increases are shockingly large.

Putting all that aside, I have found some interesting stories for this edition of Rants and Raves. I was amazed how the Hong Kong stock exchange was shut down because of hackers…and how Amazon has beaten Apple 30% fee demands through innovation…and how cable and satellite subscriptions are on a downward spiral. Lots of things to digest here.

So without further delays…read-on! - JRC

Hong Kong stock exchange halts trading after hack attack

Hackers broke into the Hong Kong stock exchange news Web site today, forcing the exchange to suspend trading of seven companies, according to The Wall Street Journal. The affected companies, which included HSBC, Cathay Pacific Airways and the Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing, which runs the bourse, had all released price-sensitive information earlier in the day. The exchange's news site publishes corporate filings.

Wal-Mart Shuts Down MP3 Store

When I saw the news that Wal-Mart was shutting down its online music store, I had the same reaction that most of you probably did: Wait, Wal-Mart still has an online music store? The retailing giant started up its online music store in the wake of Apple's success with the iTunes Store, and like many of the MP3 sellers of that era--MSN Music, Yahoo! Music, and so on--it's now dead.

Kindle Cloud Reader Rains on Apple's In-App Fee Parade

Amazon has found a way to give iPad users easy access to their Kindle books -- and the Kindle Store -- without having to give Apple a 30 percent cut of its revenue. Other content providers, including Walmart and textbook company Kno, are following suit. The trick? HTML5 Web apps with caching features that allow offline access. The apps also work with PCs and Android tablets equipped with browsers that support HTML5.

Mozilla shrinks Firefox's memory appetite

Mozilla's Firefox 7, slated to ship in late September, will be significantly faster because of work done plugging the browser's memory leaks, a company developer says. Firefox has long been criticized for using large amounts of RAM and for not releasing memory when tabs are closed, practices that can degrade the browser's performance, or in extreme cases, cause it to crash or lock up.

Cable, satellite see quarterly loss of TV subscribers

That loud snipping sound is a greater number of Americans cutting the cord and ditching their cable and satellite TV subscriptions. That's the verdict today in an analysis done by the Associated Press of the pay TV companies' quarterly earnings reports.

Sorry, Hollywood: It’s time for a piracy comeback

The U.S. credit ratings downgrade, tumbling stocks and international instability have made not just financial analysts nervous this week. Consumers are also starting to wonder whether we’re about to enter another recession. Whenever that happens, people start to tighten their belts and cut unnecessary expenses — like paying for movies and TV shows.

Five (And Then Some) Tech Tips for Travel

I’ve been racking up about 70 round-trip flights a year, so I know this space pretty well. I’ve got the tech part of it down to a science. Here’s what I’ve learned along the way—tips for maximum flying efficiency and minimum misery.

Folder Axe Cuts Unwieldy Folders Down to Size

In a nutshell, it's a folder splitter. You know all those utilities that split large files? Folder Axe is the same thing, just for large folders. If you've ever struggled to manage a folder with 8,000 image files, you might see why this can be a useful thing. Actually, a folder with thousands of image files is an easy case: How about a folder full of thousands of random files, with no rhyme or reason at all, like a typical downloads folder?

Tuesday Potpourri of Tech News and Tips

In case you’ve forgotten, today is Patch Tuesday…Microsoft’s monthly day where they send you the latest fixes for your Windows Operating System. Just make sure you get it, or better yet, have your computer set to do it automatically. As I mentioned in the last edition, there are some important fixes coming our way.

Of course, the important news these days revolves around the economy and the lowering of the US credit rating. This affects us all, and the politicians of both parties are very much to blame for all of this. Both parties have had ample opportunities to fix this issues facing us now…both have let us down. I truly wish there was a third party filled with moderates who can work together and have our best interests at heart…not their own bank accounts and the wishes of their corporate masters. It is time to stop fixing the blame and fix the problem.

My 5th story covers the economy in terms of tech spending and how this ongoing, worsening recession will affect the tech industries. The rest are just stories that may help you with your own personal tech…which is what I usually offer, of course. So, away we go…JRC.

Experts: Mobile devices a growing target for criminals

Mobile security is still evolving, and smartphones are vulnerable to hackers and to social engineering schemes. The smartphones make an alluring target because they so often combine both personal and corporate information.

Bing ads lead to more malware; new Mac Trojan in the wild

Malware authors will do just about anything to fool you into installing their software. A popular target is search engine advertising, which one gang is using on Microsoft’s search results. In a separate attack, Mac users are being targeted by a Trojan that mimics a Flash installer.

200,000 BitTorrent Users Sued In The United States

The avalanche of mass-lawsuits in the United States that target BitTorrent users has reached a new milestone. Since last year, more than 200,000 people have been sued for allegedly sharing copyrighted material online, and this number continues to expand at a rapid pace. Added up, the potential profit from the so-called pay-up-or-else scheme runs into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Why Google+ is very much here to stay

The speculation of the month seems to be how long will Google+ last? Does the social network have what it takes to stick around for the long haul? Or is Google’s latest offering too little too late?

If IT spending plummets, blame your politicians

It didn’t have to be this way. If our politicians had put America first, put our economic recovery first, we wouldn’t have scared our creditors.

Most Popular Personal Finance Software

Personal finance applications usually aren't the topic of much debate, but when we asked you earlier this week which application or service you prefer, there was plenty of discussion to go around. You responded, and we highlighted the top five. Now we're back to reveal the winner.

How to organize all your files using tags

If you've ever had to look for that old letter of recommendation or sample design work from years past, you probably either wished you had an intern or prayed for a miracle. Media sorting has been far beyond other file management in terms of ease of use and quick searching thanks to the power of tags. Now you can use Elyse (for Windows and Mac) to tag your non-media files as well to make searching a snap.

Build Your Own iCloud

There must be ways to replicate the iCloud experience with existing services. It turns out there are-in spades. The challenge is in paring them down. Once you do that, you can get everything you get from iCloud-and more-for free if you're willing to mix together a cocktail of services. Here's your shopping list.

WinUtilities Free Edition 10.31

WinUtilities (Free Edition) is a multi-functional system performance and optimization suite for Microsoft Windows. This collection of tools lets you supercharge your PC's performance, enhance its security, tweak and optimize its settings, and customize and personalize your screens.

Special Edition–Social Networking

How many of you are on Facebook? How about Twitter…do you Tweet? And have you tried out the new Google+? In this edition of Rants and Raves, we focus on giving you good information on how to get the most out of these social networking sites.

Personally, I am involved with all three, although I am still feeling my way with Google+. So these articles have been very helpful for me. But, if you come here to read the latest tech news and computing tips, they are still here, although moved down a bit from their normal leadoff position. But, in finding these great recent articles on social networking, I could not resist giving them top priority for this edition.

I hope you find them as useful as I did. So, without further ado, onward and upward…and thanks for subscribing. - JRC

Social Networking 101: A Beginner's Guide to Facebook, Twitter, Google+, & LinkedIn

Whatever your experience or inexperience, we're here to advise you about what you should and shouldn't be doing on today's most-popular social networks.

How to Get More Twitter Followers--The Right Way

People who are new to Twitter sometimes ask me "How can I get more followers?" The quickest way: Follow enough people, and a good percentage of them will follow you back. But the "follow you, follow me" method is flawed.

Your complete guide to Google+

Not everyone has access to the new social network, so if you're waiting patiently for your invite, we've got a few tips on how to take a peek inside, gain access, and bring your Facebook friends along for the ride. Once you've settled into Google+, browse our handy collection of tips including the essentials, profile tweaks, and a few guides for moving your photos from other social networks (like Instagram and Facebook) swiftly into Google+.

Privacy smackdown: Facebook versus Google+

With Google+ rocketing to millions of users in record time, many people wonder whether the claims are true: is Google+ really that much better at defending your privacy than Facebook? Facebook’s rocky history with fluctuating privacy settings and a memorable, scummy, mud-slinging attempt to smear Google make it easy to jump to conclusions, warranted or not. Here’s what you need to know.

Has the United States already suffered its cyberwar Pearl Harbor?

Cyber-warfare sounds like something from a science fiction novel. It’s not. It’s reality. Cyber-security firm McAfee claims to have uncovered a cyber-espionage campaign that’s been going on for five years against more than 70 public and private organizations in 14 countries. The campaign, called “Operation Shady RAT” (remote access tool), are major assaults against both countries and corporations.

Patch Tuesday heads-up: Critical IE update among 13 bulletins

Microsoft is planning a bumper Patch Tuesday for August — 13 bulletins with patches for 22 potentially dangerous security vulnerabilities. Two of the 13 bulletins are rated “critical,” Microsoft’s highest severity rating.

Are you overpaying for smartphone data?

Most smartphone subscribers only use about 20 percent of the data in their monthly plan. But heavy data subscribers are flocking to Sprint Nextel, while light users looking for a good deal are going to T-Mobile.

How To Customize Toolbars and Buttons in Firefox

One of the things I love about Firefox is its extensibility, not only with add-ons but toolbars and buttons. Customizing toolbars and buttons is a quick and easy way to add functions and features without installing any add-ons.

FCC Tightens Rules for Cable TV Providers

FCC Imposes Standstill Rule on Cable Providers

Cable-TV operators cannot suddenly remove videos from independent program vendors under a new Federal Communications Commission rule. The FCC will consider a temporary freeze of existing terms during contract disputes. With cable providers now creating content, Commissioner Michael Copps said they may favor their own shows.

Wave goodbye to free Internet TV

Fox Network, owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., announced the network would begin limiting Web access of its TV shows to viewers who subscribed to participating cable and satellite TV providers (Dish Network is the only one so far to have signed on) or subscribers to Hulu Plus, the portal's paid-subscription service. If you don't pay for any one of those three then you'll have to wait eight days to watch the latest episodes of such Fox shows as "Bones" and "Glee."

Car hacks loom as autos go wireless

Tomorrow's vehicles will communicate wirelessly to reduce accidents, and experts are working to ensure hackers can't abuse the technology

SSDs are fast, but do they last?

If you use a PC for professional purposes, you need a solid-state drive. Period. The difference in performance is profound, as just about any SSD owner will attest. The difference isn't just faster startup and shutdown times, either.
But SSDs are expensive, and they have a reputation for being finicky and failure prone. My survey, plus some new data published today, suggests that could be a bum rap.

Cloud Operations are becoming common, easy to use, and inexpensive

As Cloud services begin to catch on, more companies are offering some services for commercial or personal use. Here are some Cloud Operations that offer those services.

Browser Wars: Chrome vs. IE9 vs. Firefox

You're spoiled for choice these days when it comes to choosing a Web browser—all of the big names are viable choices, and, if you don't like the big three there's always Safari and Opera, too. Which one is right for you?

Just how stupid are Internet Explorer users?

It's a question I've often asked myself: Why would anyone in their right mind continue to use Internet Explorer when so many better and free options are available? Now we have an answer, of sorts.

Thinking About Email Consolidation Strategies

Like many of you, I have multiple email accounts. Like some of you, I have far too many email accounts. And in keeping with my desire to simplify wherever possible, I've been thinking a lot about the best way to consolidate these accounts into more manageable groups. And there are a couple of general approaches that may make sense.

Best Free Antivirus Software

Antivirus software provides an essential layer of protection from a multitude of virus, trojan, worm, spyware, adware, dialer, keylogger and rootkit infections. Traditionally antivirus programs just detected viruses and spyware removers just detected spyware but nowadays the boundary between antivirus and spyware removers is unclear. Most current antiviruses have at least reasonably good detection rates of all forms of malware.