Amazon Changes the Game for Tablets

As I mentioned last time, Wednesday was all about the new products from Amazon. And believe me, the products they introduced are game changers…especially their new “Fire” Tablet. Interestingly they brought their new tablet in at an even lower price than was predicted…$199. Now that is a game changer! As one writer predicted, there is the Apple iPad at $449 and the Amazon Fire at $199. All tablets priced in between are dead. Not sure I agree with that, but it could very possibly be the case.

But the Fire was not all they introduced. They showed three new Kindles, with prices now starting at $79. This is the first e-reader priced below the $100 mark. But not only that, they will be offering a touch screen Kindle for $99. As a long-time Kindle user, trust me when I say Kindles are the best e-readers on the market today…and now they better and more affordable. Bravo Amazon.

There are a ton of new features in both the Kindle and the Fire. And for that reason, our first story is actually a roundup of several stories and videos about the new Amazon products. Make sure you read about the new Web browser included with the Fire…it is a mind blower.

So without further ado, let’s get to it. – JRC

Kindle Fire leads Amazon onslaught (roundup)

Here is a roundup of several stories about what Amazon released on the world yesterday. It included the new Fire 7" tablet and three new Kindle e-readers, starting at $79.

BlackBerry PlayBooks get $200 price cut in wake of Kindle Fire

The BlackBerry PlayBook price cuts have arrived in the US, without any messing around with gift cards: the tablets now start at $299.99 for 16GB at Best Buy, a $200 discount. The question is whether anyone will care, with the imminent arrival of the new Kindle Fire.

Google Chrome Web Browser to get a makeover

Chrome 14 is great, but the forthcoming Chrome 15 looks like it will be even better. This release, which is now in beta, boasts three new tab pages. These will make it easier to get to your Chrome apps, most visited sites, and bookmarks.

Cable providers aim to offer channels ‘a la carte’

Finally: Cable providers have reversed their position on 'a la carte' channel offerings, and hope to eventually allow customers to pick and choose which channels they want to pay for, and which ones they don't.

Facebook Users Beware: Facebook's New Feature Could Embarrass You

If you didn't watch Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook announcements last week - and of course the vast majority of Facebook users did not - you may be in for a surprise. Aside from the dramatically redesigned Facebook Timeline profile pages, which roll out in the coming weeks (and which I've grown to love), Facebook's new system to auto-share what you do around the web may catch many Facebook addicts off guard. In fact, even those people who know exactly how this new feature works may need to be on guard against sharing some seriously embarrassing updates.

Using Windows 7′s XP Mode — step by step

Looking for a sure-fire way to keep your oldest Windows applications alive while living in a Windows 7 world? You’ll find it with Win7′s XP Mode, a free and fully functional version of XP Professional SP3 that runs entirely inside Windows 7. And even if you don’t have ancient apps to support, you gotta admit: keeping XP around for those times you want to indulge in a bit of nostalgia is pretty cool.

The 25 Best Android Apps

Smartphone owners running Google's OS need more than just a top ten list to stock their devices with the best programs for entertainment, productivity, reference, and more.

Email This!

Use this Firefox add-on to send Web links via email when you're viewing a Web page.

And the Hits Just Keep on Coming!

Grab your ankles boys and girls! There are lots of new things about to flood the market. Today, Firefox released Version 7…and it is built for speed! I have already upgraded and I believe it is faster.

Tomorrow, Amazon holds its big press conference…more than likely to announce its newest product, the Amazon Tablet. The word is that it will be called “Fire” and will retail for $250…far less than Apple’s iPad. I’ve included two stories here to bring you up to speed. On Thursday, I will bring you the official story.

And finally, next Tuesday, October 4, Apple will make another big announcement…almost certainly the newest iPhone. I’ve also included other interesting stories to keep you up to date, so have a good time. – JRC 

Red alert: HTTPS has been hacked

Only a handful of exploits per decade reveal a vulnerability that is truly significant. Thai Duong and Juliano Rizzo's BEAST (Browser Exploit Against SSL/TLS) attack will rank among them because it compromises the SSL and TLS browser connections hundreds of millions of people rely on every day.

Is Amazon Unveiling Kindle Tablet Wednesday?

Invitations to the event were sent out Friday, simply asking the recipient to "please join us for an Amazon.com press conference." Rumors of the tablet have been flying for several months, but the key competitive angle may be the pricing. The tablet is expected to retail for about $250, compared with a starting price of $499 for Apple's iPad

Kindle Tablet is coming, what it means to consumers

The tech world is understandably buzzing about how this tablet from Amazon will compete with the top selling iPad, but the reality is Amazon doesn’t care about competing with any tablet on the market.

Seven Good Reasons to Upgrade to Firefox 7

There are plenty of reasons to make the switch to this newest version, which is now available as a free download. Many of them, in fact, boil down to one key thing: faster speed.

Facebook Is Tracking Your Every Move on the Web; Here's How to Stop It

Two different bloggers discovered that Facebook can still track where you are, even if you log out. Facebook, for its part, has denied the claims. Regardless of who you believe, here's how to protect yourself, and keep your browsing history to yourself.

Google+ users up 30 percent since going public

After opening its doors to the public last Tuesday, Google+ may now have more than as 43 million users. So says Ancestry.com co-founder and Google+ unofficial statistician Paul Allen, who's been keeping a running tally of how big the social network is growing.

Ancient Dead Sea Scrolls Go Online

Google and Israel's national museum have put the Dead Sea Scrolls online, part of a broader attempt to make them available to anyone with a computer. The scrolls include the biblical Book of Isaiah, the manuscript known as the Temple Scroll, and three others. Surfers can search high-resolution images of the scrolls for specific passages.

Best Free Microsoft Downloads

When people set out to look for freeware, a lot of times they specifically look for free alternatives to Microsoft products – free office suites, free alternatives to built-in programs like Paint, Notepad, Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer... even free alternatives to Windows itself. 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, some of which are featured in other articles on this website.

New Innovations from Facebook

Looking to the Future, Facebook Digs Into Your Past

A day after shaking up the way its News Feed is presented, Facebook has introduced yet another new feature: Timeline. It collects posts, photos and information from the past to assemble a virtual timeline of a user's life. Perhaps anticipating another round of privacy shock, CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized that users "have complete control over everything" in their Timelines.

A closer look at the Facebook Timeline and the Open Graph

Facebook today announced a new Timeline feature and a new type of social app under its Open Graph. They’re not available yet, but almost all the details are finally official.

Parsing Netflix's 'Apology’

This columnist once called Netflix “a shining example of a dot-com that’s still in business because it’s an indisputable consumer win, not just a greed play.” O.K., I stand corrected. In July, Netflix enraged its 25 million customers by abruptly jacking up the price of its DVD plus streaming-movies plan by 60 percent — from $10 a month to $16. When I wrote about the turnabout, I noted that the most frustrating part was the incomprehensible explanation that Netflix provided.

iPhone, Android users worry about security, but don't know what to do

iOS and Android users don't seem to share the same views on much when it comes to the mobile space, but they both appear to have concerns about security threats to their devices. According to recent data from the NPD Group, users of both platforms are worried about having their credit card info stolen, device theft, hackers accessing personal information, harmful apps, and unwanted location tracking. Very few have chosen to do anything besides worry, however.

FTC Targets Mortgage and Debt Relief Websites

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has asked a court to shut down websites that falsely suggested they were federal consumer assistance agencies or affiliated with government agencies focused on mortgage or debt relief, the agency said Thursday.

Using Gmail, Calendar and Docs without an Internet connection

The great thing about web apps is that you can access all of your information on the go, and we’ve introduced ways to use Google Apps on a variety of devices like mobile phones and tablets. But it’s inevitable that you’ll occasionally find yourself in situations when you don’t have an Internet connection, like planes, trains and carpools.

Faceoff: Facebook vs. Twitter vs. Google+

In theory, all social networks—including Facebook, Twitter, and Google+—share a similar goal: To provide you with a platform to communicate online with your friends, followers, and encircled. In reality, each network has a considerably different culture, and as such, each is useful in very different ways. Here's a look at what each network does best.

Windows 8 Boot Screens Get a Classy New Look

One of the many notable new features in Windows 8 is how quickly it boots--it can start up in under 7 seconds, in fact. With such a short booting time, what will you get instead of a ton of speeding BIOS text?

Best Free Media Player

Editor George.J has been busy expanding the Best Free Media Player section with new products plus full stand-alone reviews of individual players. That's a really handy feature as users' needs in this category are so different that global recommendations don't work well. Much better that individuals choose products whose features best meets their personal requirements.

Has Netflix Gone Nuts?

Like many of you, I received what purported to be an apology letter from Netflix on Sunday night. It was an apology for the way the price increase was handled. But, then, in the letter, CEO Reed Hastings said most emphatically that the prices will not be changed. But, that is not the crazy part.

In the letter, he announced that streaming services and DVD services will be split between two separate companies…Netflix for streaming…and something called “Qwikster” for DVD’s. What? There will be separate billing for each AND, get this, separate Websites. So if you want both services, you will be billed separately and you will have to go to two completely different sites to make your selections. Want to know if a movie is available for streaming before you put it in your DVD queue for shipment? Then you will have to go to two separate sites. That is nuts.

For me, the really nutty part is taking a successful business model like the DVD service, and giving it a whole new name. Why would anyone in their right mind take a product out of the most well known name in home entertainment and give it a new one while still retaining the old name? There are two possible answers…Netflix management is trying to purposely destroy the DVD side of their business OR Reed Hastings has lost his marbles.

They have already lost over one million customers more than they originally projected with the price increase…and now their stock stock is taking a huge tumble. In July, Netflix shares sold for over $300…today it closed around $130, a $14 drop just today. Oh yes, I almost forgot…Reed Hastings recently sold off a huge block of his own shares. Hmmmm.

Lost in all the Netflix news is the fact that Google+, the new social media service, has left the beta tag behind and has gone public for everyone. No more invitations required. It will be interesting to see where it goes from here. You should try it out…I like it.

Bottom line for you…lots of really interesting stories and information. So enjoy yourself – JRC

Netflix CEO's apology brings new backlash

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings tried yesterday to assuage customer wrath about the company's price hike, but instead ended up triggering a new round with news that its streaming-video and DVD-by-mail services will be almost completely separated.

Netflix/Qwikster: I guess this is good-bye

We've had some good times together. I remember when your red envelopes first freed me from the authoritarian grasp of Blockbuster. You offered films we couldn’t rent anywhere else, and you provided an experience that was simple and cool. And then you had to go and ruin a beautiful thing.

Google+ Opens to All, Adds New Features

Google has begun its full-scale Relevant Products/Services battle against Facebook by opening its Google+ social network Relevant Products/Services to any user. At the same time, the software Relevant Products/Services giant announced nine new features in Google+, such as the ability to search for information in the network or around the web by topic, and to see users interested in that particular topic. The opening of Google+ to the public follows a field trial of slightly less than 90 days, during which time, the company said, nearly eight-dozen improvements were made.

10 ways to enhance Google+

Google made a big splash with its new social network site, and these 10 add-ons will make Google+ even more useful and user-friendly

AT&T moves on to last-ditch efforts to save T-Mobile deal

Bloomberg reports that AT&T is trying to sell off spectrum and subscribers to some smaller mobile providers, most notably MetroPCS and Leap Wireless.

Windows 8 Metro: The InfoWorld visual tour

A radical new look is in store for Windows. Get a first look at Windows 8's smartphone-inspired Metro interface

Chrome 14: The best Web browser keeps getting better

Google’s Chrome Web browser just keeps getting better with every new release. Chrome 14, in this writer’s opinion, is now clearly the best Web browser for any operating system available today. (Note: I don’t necessarily agree with this writer, but that doesn’t make me right – Ed.)

Clean up imported or pasted data in Excel

The data in your beautiful spreadsheet doesn't necessarily start out that way, especially if you've copied or imported it in from some other place. By using some Excel functions and formatting techniques, you can make your names, dates and numbers look just the way you want.

Has Netflix Got the Message Yet?

On September 1, Netflix’s new pricing scheme went into effect…for many people, it amounts to a 60% increase. For some customers, like myself, the pricing change does not go into effect until later in the month…when the billing cycle comes back around again. For me that is Sunday. On Saturday, I will wave bye-bye to the DVD rentals from Netflix and just watch the streaming movies and TV shows, mostly on my new Roku Box.

Too bad as I have been a staunch supporter of Netflix for many many years. And if they don’t improve the live streaming content, that may go bye bye also. And, according to our first story, I am not alone in my abandoning ship. Netflix, once the darling of the tech industry, may be about to start the long, slow slide into oblivion. We shall see.

Lots of other good stories populate these pages today so, be sure and have a go at the ones that interest you. Have a good weekend. - JRC

Netflix feels wrath of consumers, investors

Investors are fleeing Netflix's stock and many subscribers have turned their backs on the Web's No. 1 video-rental service. A combination of skimpy selection in Netflix's Internet-streaming library, problems acquiring content, and an unpopular price increase have led the company's leadership to what appears to be a crucial moment. Observers are beginning to wonder if Netflix's stunning growth of the past two years is coming to an end.

Microsoft joins the anti-Flash crowd with IE10

The first big blow to Flash was Apple's iOS. Now Adobe Systems' browser plug-in faces another major threat to its relevance: Microsoft has banned it and all other plug-ins from the "Metro" version of Internet Explorer 10.

Steve Ballmer Tells Windows 8 Conference That Microsoft Is "Reimagining" Itself

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made a surprise appearance at the end of Wednesday's BUILD keynote speech, telling the audience that Microsoft is in the process of reimagining itself. Addressing Microsoft's future, Ballmer said: "In a sense you could say that if Windows 8 is Windows reimagined, we're also in the process--and Windows 8's an important step of that--of reimagining Microsoft."

Google Launches Flight Search

Add air travel to the growing number of markets that Google now plays in. The search giant has launched its new Flight Search feature on its popular search engine. When a user enters a query into the search engine that relates to flight information, such as "flights from New York to Los Angeles," a Flights link appears on the left side of the screen. That leads to Flight Search, which also can be reached directly at google.com/flights.

Why Facebook is the New Yahoo (Opinion)

Sure, Facebook looks massively successful. With a mind-boggling 750 million users, the social site can do no wrong, right? Wrong. Look closer, and it looks like Facebook can do nothing right. The company has tried and failed to launch or integrate new services that might thrill users. But users aren't thrilled. And now its strategy appears to be: Just copy Google+. Don't look now, but Facebook is quickly becoming the new Yahoo.

Eleven awesome Gmail Labs features

Gmail isn't just cool because it's part of the Google family of services, it also has many extra features created by independent developers. These features are available to you at no additional cost by enabling them in the Labs area of the Mail settings menu. Here's a collection of 11 of the most awesome Gmail Labs features to get you started with a personalized Gmail experience.

Revamped Photo Sharing Site Offers 10 GB Of Free Storage

Not for the first time, photo sharing site "Minus" has had a major revamp. Gone (or at least sidelined) is the rather confusing URL of http://min.us, so now you can access the system via minus.com instead. Use of the system is still free, and sign-up is both quick and easy. Once you're registered, you get 10 GB of online storage, and the maximum image size has been increased from 50 MB to 2 GB.

How To Install Windows 8 Developer Preview

Now I haven’t installed it as my main OS , this wouldn’t be advisable since it’s still a developer preview and plenty needs to be fixed, so what I’ve done is install it in a virtual box on my Windows 7 machine.

Take Windows 8 Home With You Tonight

No, I am not kidding. You can download a copy of Microsoft’s upcoming newest Windows, AKA Windows 8. Today at a developer’s conference titled “BUILD,” held in Los Angeles, Microsoft was scheduled to show attendees a full fledged version of Windows 8. Everyone knew that was going to happen.

But Microsoft took us all by surprise by announcing the whole world could download a developer preview release, starting tonight. Wow, that was a surprise. So if you want to try it out, it’s yours for the taking.

I have also included an in-depth analysis of what is new…along with a few other non-Microsoft information that you may find of interest. So, without any further fanfare, let’s get started… JRC

Windows 8 Preview Release Downloadable Tonight

Want to give Windows 8's new look a try? Starting tonight, you'll be able to download a Windows 8 developer preview release straight from Microsoft. Windows 8 Preview Release Downloadable Tonight, the Windows 8 preview code will be available as an ISO file at 8 p.m. Pacific time from Microsoft's developer website. You'll have a choice of 32-bit or 64-bit x86 builds, with or without developer tools. Sample apps -- a Twitter client, a Facebook client, games and more -- are also included.

First Look at What's New in Windows 8

Microsoft showed us a more in-depth look at Windows 8 today, from the previously mentioned tablet interface to the traditional mouse-and-keyboard desktop. Here's what it looks like.

Amazon Considering a "Netflix for Books"

Would you pay a fee to access a library of written content? A Netflix for the book-reading world? Amazon is apparently banking you might, as it was reported tonight by the WSJ that the online retailer was considering that option.

Facebook unveils Smart Lists to categorize friends

Facebook is giving users a hands-off option for managing friends lists. Dubbed Smart Lists, the latest improvement to the social network automatically creates friend groups, so users don't need to manage their lists on their own. According to Facebook, for now, the feature will create lists around workplace, school, family, and city. For example, if a user lists their college on their profile, Smart Lists will automatically find all their friends that did the same, and group them together for easier sharing of content between them.

Elgan: How Google+ ends social networking fatigue - Computerworld

When Google+ came along, I had the same initial reaction as you probably did: "What, another one?" Then it hit me: Google+ isn't adding to the problem. Google+ can be the solution to social networking fatigue.

How many pages are on the Internet?

It seems like an answerable question, right? But no one really knows how many websites or individual Web pages make up this seemingly infinite digital universe that is the internet.

The Best Disk Cloning App for Windows

Windows has countless drive cloning programs available, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. It's almost impossible to pick the perfect one, but if you have a drive to clone, we recommend starting your search with DriveImage XML.

Free MP3 Cutter and Editor for Windows

This free mp3 cutter and editor is an extremely simple and handy tool for routine mp3 editing tasks. The program displays a waveform graph that lets you easily select a portion of the mp3 for editing.

Three Great Freebies and Some Good Info

No time to chat today. It’s time for football. But here is some good reading and some great software for you after the game. - JRC

A decade later, public safety still lacks national network

Ten years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. is still without a nationwide network that would let first responders from different agencies and jurisdictions communicate with each other over emergency radios. In late August, the National Security Preparedness Group pointed to the lack of the national interoperable radio network recommended by the 9/11 Commission. And the commission itself recently issued a report card that expressed concern over communications capabilities.

GoDaddy still violates ICANN policy--and still sleazy

It’s no secret that GoDaddy is a domain registrar and web hosting provider that uses sleazy marketing. It’s also no secret that they have come under attack for business practices that have angered many of their customers–myself included.

Certificate cleanup for most personal computers

A little Dutch company potentially lets a flood of problems into our Windows machines. The company manages digital certificates; after its recent break-in by hackers, security certificates for Mozilla, Yahoo, WordPress, and other sites are now suspect.

Yahoo's post Bartz ledger: What the new CEO will inherit

The negatives are well known. Yahoo’s board of directors is a joke – who can forget the idiotic move to turn down Microsoft’s bid? — email is on the decline, and the company’s search deal with Microsoft hasn’t quite delivered. Meanwhile, Yahoo’s ad sales are hurting amid turnover and falling rates as marketers use networks to aggregate audience. Here’s a look at the good, the bad and the wild-cards that face a new leader at Yahoo.

Purging Your Computer of Gunk (Part 1)

When you decide to take the plunge and set about turning your computer into a mean clean machine you need go further than Windows 7 itself. Here you will find two useful tools, Disk Cleanup and Defragmenter. Both reside in System Tools, a sub-folder of Accessories. These tools go a long way to cleaning up the mess on your computer.

Clean up your Windows hard drive with WinDirStat

Unfortunately, it's much easier to fill up your hard drive than it is to clean it. With so many folders and directories, how do you pinpoint what's taking up space? WinDirStat, a freeware program for Windows, helps you do just that. The program scans your hard drives and shows you a detailed summary of what's taking up space on your disk in the form of a colorful graphic.

21 Chrome Web apps for serious work

The Chrome browser is rapidly gaining fans and developers are responding by creating apps that will help keep you productive in Google's browser. Add these 21 apps to a Chromebook, and you'll have great tools for working anywhere.

Free - SRS Audio Essentials

If you've never heard SRS's sound enhancements, you're missing out. They add bass, depth, spaciousness, and clarity to just about any piece of music or video. Bass-enriching TruBass and space-enhancing Focus and Definition (as WOW) are actually included with Windows Media Player, but if you use another player, you need SRS Audio Essentials, a free version of which is available that adds WOW and TruBass to any player and works with virtually any audio or video player.

Both Netflix and Yahoo Say Bye Bye to Someone

There is more news hot off the presses again today, but there is also good info and helpful tips. So read on…  JRC

Netflix, Starz to break up: One crazy ride ahead to Feb. 28

Contract renewal talks between Netflix and Starz have broken down and the streaming movie and television company is facing a stunning amount of uncertainty in the next few months. How Netflix navigates the next five months will either rattle its standing as the Web’s darling streaming content service or cement it as an elite Hollywood player.

Yahoo, Bartz part ways (roundup)

Carol Bartz is out as CEO at Yahoo. Chief Financial Officer Tim Morse will take over as interim CEO while the company's board searches for a permanent replacement. The trouble was not Carol, but rather her board who have made mistake after mistake and taken a once hot property and driven it into the ground.

Amazon tablet coming in November for $250?

Much ink has been spilled in the rumor mill about a coming Amazonian tablet, and now those rumors look to be confirmed. TechCrunch has apparently gotten some time with Amazon's forthcoming slate, and reports that it has a 7-inch, backlit color capacitive screen and is bereft of physical buttons.

Amazon continues on its mission to disintermediate publishers

What if you could ask the author of a book a question while you were reading the book? That's the kind of world Amazon wants to offer with its new @author feature, which the online bookstore launched on Wednesday. Readers can ask questions directly from their Kindles while they are reading a book.

7 great Office 2010 add-ins

Office 2010 comes with a ton of great features, especially in its ability to connect with SharePoint 2010 and provide the collaboration capabilities that modern Office users need. However, that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. Here are seven great add-ins you should consider for Office.

Five ways to avoid being tracked on the Web

Web spies are getting stealthier and stealthier. Recently they've been caught peering into our browser histories to determine the sites we've visited, even in so-called privacy mode with cookies disabled. Many of the companies whose sites were discovered using the technique claimed to have had no idea and immediately decried the spying. If the owners of the spying sites aren't even aware of the activity, what are unsuspecting visitors to do?

NASA releases stunning new moon-landing snaps

NASA has released a series of photos of Apollo moon-landing sites that are dramatically improved over previous photos taken as recently as 2009. The photos were taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which was launched on June 18, 2009 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, along with the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite.

Best Free Rootkit Scanner/Remover

Windows rootkits are used to hide malware so that their execution goes unnoticed by your security applications. So imagine that a rootkit has been installed on your computer and that its purpose is to hide a virus, thus giving the malware time to complete its goal, steal your data, and damage your system all the while going undetected. Unfortunately, rootkits are extremely effective at this, which means that even though you may believe your PC to be totally clean, some of you could be infected right now.

AT&T and Apple Both Lose Something

So after a couple of days of peace and quiet, the Justice Department made big news…announcing they intend to block AT&T’s purchase of T-Mobile. Most so-called experts expected the merger to go through. So this action by the Justice Dept. caught many folks by surprise. But stayed tuned…the story is not over yet.

As for Apple, they seem to have a penchant for losing top secret iPhone prototypes in California bars. If you remember last year, a lost iPhone 4 showed up on the Internet news site raising all kinds of news and legal actions. Well it happened again this year, although the phone is still lost and has not arrived in a blogger’s desk…yet. Is this just carelessness by Apple employees who drink too much, or a public relations stunt by Apple to make news? Good Lord! Why would Apple allow an employee to take a top secret device out of the office…especially after last year?

So besides all that, this edition is chock full of good information and tech tips, so grab a cup of coffee and have a good read. - JRC

Feds aim to block AT&T's T-Mobile purchase: The fallout

The Justice Department filed to block AT&T’s planned acquisition of T-Mobile and the news is going to shake up the wireless industry. AT&T portrayed its acquisition of T-Mobile as a way to boost 4G services, build out its network, alleviate a wireless spectrum crunch and boost jobs.

Not Again! An iPhone Prototype Gets Lost in a Bar . . .

Apple's iPhone testers may be a forgetful lot. Last year, a tester lost an iPhone 4 prototype in a bar, and this year it looks like an iPhone 5 prototype has also been lost in another California bar. So either the Apple guys are careless with iPhone prototypes, or Apple has found a way to get even more publicity for its popular smartphone.

Can you tell a real Facebook e-mail from a phishing attempt?

Notification e-mails from social networking sites like Facebook can be dangerous; if you’re fooled by a phisher, you can click your way into big trouble. Here are four Facebook notifications that arrived in my e-mail inbox recently. Can you tell which are real and which are fake?

4 simple steps to bulletproof laptop security

Follow these tips, tools, and techniques to protect your Windows notebook against theft, intrusion, and data loss.

TrueCrypt Locks Down Data In a Rock-Solid Vault

TrueCrypt does what any file encryption application is supposed to: It locks down access to your data so no one without a password or keyfile can grab it. But the process TrueCrypt employs and its toolkit of features separates this file encryption product from other contenders.

How to Google Like Google Googles

We tapped the company for some inside tips and tricks that can make you a Google Search, Gmail, and Maps power user.

Google Launches Offline Versions of Gmail, Calendar & Docs

The problem is that when users need offline access to their email or calendar, they really need it. To that end, Google is launching a new Chrome app called Gmail Offline. Separate from Gmail itself, the new app is designed for accessing, managing and sending email while you’re disconnected from the web.

How to use the Windows 7 Magnifier to Make the Computer Screen Easier to See

Did you know that Windows has a utility that allows you to magnify what’s on the screen? Some form of this utility has been in Windows for years but it doesn’t seem to be all that well known. In Windows 7, it comes with a variety of keyboard shortcuts that make using it quite easy.