Malicious Download Warnings

Note: This will be my last blog entry until the first week of May. Am off on one of my road trips, mostly in Chicago for 10 days. Am excited about this trip as I have never been there. May try to do a blog or two while there, but no promises as I am not sure of my connections yet. But I will stay in touch, via Twitter and Facebook. – JRC

As attacks surface, Sun ships sudden Java patch

In a sudden about-face, Sun has rushed out a Java update to fix a drive-by download vulnerability that exposed Windows users to in-the-wild malware attacks. The patch comes less than a week after Sun told a Google researcher it did not consider the issue serious enough to warrant an out-of-cycle patch and less than a day after researchers spotted live exploits on a booby-trapped song lyrics Web site.

Researchers warn of malware hidden in .zip files

Security researchers have discovered flaws in common file formats, including .zip, which can be used to sneak malware onto computers by evading antivirus detection.

The end of USB? Intel demos new Light Peak cable that's twice as fast as USB 3.0

Light Peak has a lot to offer, including 10Gbps throughput, twice that of the latest flavor of USB, along with the ability to run multiple protocols at the same time. That means you connect all of your devices with just a single Light Peak cable.

Run your PC from afar — securely and easily

Your office PC is miles away, when suddenly you realize you forgot that all-important file — what to do? Luckily, there are free tools (including one possibly residing in Windows) that give you remote access — or even full-scale remote control — of your PC, as if you were sitting right in front of it.

Best Free File Encryption Utility

Encryption is the process of encoding information so that it cannot be accessed by others unless they have the encoding key. Encryption is normally used to protect highly sensitive documents, but it's a good way to stop people from looking at your personal stuff.

Why You Should Be Using Drive Imaging

Best Free Drive Imaging Program

Disk Imaging has rapidly become a must have tool for most users because of its convenience, speed, and altogether ease of use. With disk imaging software a user can safely recover their computer from a system crash or a bad virus infection without having to worry about reformatting and reinstalling the operating system. With drive imaging there is almost no reason at all to have to reinstall Windows because it offers you the ability to restore an image to your hard drive in a fraction of that time and accomplish the same thing while keeping all of your programs and important data. For many users this has made Windows backup and other file backup solutions redundant.

Philly newspaper gambles on online gambling

Though Google CEO Eric Schmidt and seemingly everyone else is telling publishers they should place some bets on potential new business models, The Philadelphia Inquirer's new venture may not be exactly what they had in mind. Philly.com, the online unit of the Inquirer and sister newspaper the Philadelphia Daily News, has launched a legal online betting service called Instant Fantasy Games.

Apple refreshes its MacBook Pro notebooks

Apple on Tuesday updated its MacBook Pro line of notebook computers with faster processors and new Nvidia graphics. The biggest news amid the new MacBook Pro changes is that the 15-inch and 17-inch models now use Intel's Core i5 and i7 processors. The 13-inch model will continue to use Intel's Core 2 Duo processor.

Twitter rolling out plan to make money with tweet ads

Twitter Inc. users on Tuesday will start seeing the first examples of the company's new business plan to generate income by adding sponsored keywords to tweets. The San Francisco microblogging service will launch a new "promoted tweets'' platform to about 2 percent to 10 percent of Twitter users. In a blog entry posted at midnight, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone said the "first phase" of the new platform will launch with advertisers that include Best Buy, Bravo, Red Bull, Sony Pictures, Starbucks and Virgin America.

Why Microsoft did the right thing in ditching XP for IE9

I recently expressed a lack of surprise that Internet Explorer 9 will almost certainly not be supported on Windows XP. In Redmond's words, a "modern browser" needs a "modern operating system," and Windows XP doesn't qualify. Much to my surprise (well, not really, I know that XP is still used and, apparently, loved by many), many doubted my characterization of XP as "obsolete," and they questioned my lack of surprise at this decision.

Big Day for Photographers and Artists

Adobe Unleashes Photoshop CS5

After building up anticipation by releasing sneak peeks at upcoming features such as Content-Aware Fill and Puppet Warp, Adobe has unveiled Photoshop CS5, the latest version of its popular image editing program.

Adobe Creative Suite 5 Unleashed Roundup

Creative Suite 5 (CS5), for both Mac and Windows, injects many of Adobe's existing killer apps—such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash—with some mind-boggling new capabilities, and introduces a new program or two you may not have known you needed.

Microsoft's Kin: What it is--and isn't

Today, Microsoft introduced its newest phone, the Kin. The short and squat Kin One and the wider-screened Kin Two are two shapes for the same idea--the mobile phone for those who want to broadcast their every thought, sight, and sound--"lifecasters," as Microsoft's Robbie Bach called them. Although many phones have Facebook or Twitter applications, social networking is at the heart of the Kin. Sharing has its own dedicated green button and is at the center of the Kin experience.

Adobe Flash evangelist: 'Go screw yourself Apple'

A blog post by Adobe Flash platform evangelist Lee Brimelow has brought more fire to what's become a very public fight between Apple and Adobe over the inclusion of Flash and other Adobe technologies in Apple's portable devices.

52 Useful Firefox Add-Ons for Photographers

Photography may have existed long before personal computers, but these days photographers spend a lot of time using computers for their work. You can make that work easier by taking advantage of these Firefox add-ons for photography.

Netflix, USB 3, and PDF – No Good News Here

Netflix will delay Fox and Universal releases for 28 days

If you subscribe to Netflix and watch a lot of new releases, you won't be too thrilled about this news: Netflix just announced agreements with Fox and Universal to delay those companies' new movies for 28 days. Netflix already had this kind of deal with Warner Bros., and it's basically an attempt by the movie industry to shore up slipping DVD sales.

Long delay expected for Intel support of USB 3.0

USB 3.0 will not see widespread adoption until at least late 2011 because of lack of direct support from Intel. As a result, the new standard may not become as prevalent this decade as USB 2.0 has been through most of the past decade.

Analyst's View: PDF—Pretty Dangerous Format?

In the early 90s Adobe created its Portable Document Format (PDF) for the specific purpose of ensuring that documents look exactly the same no matter what devices are used to view or print them. So why are there so many exploits using the PDF format to attack computer systems? Because Adobe lost track of its mission, that's why.

Survey: Cloud computing risks outweigh reward

IT Professionals are against using the Cloud to store data. What about you? Questioning more than 1,800 IT professionals in the U.S. who are members of the group, the ISACA found that only 10 percent of them plan to use cloud computing for mission-critical IT services, 15 percent will use it only for low-risk services, and 26 percent don't expect to tap into the cloud at all.

Get a Top Rated $60 Photo Editor for Whatever You Want to Pay

The freeware version of Sagelight Image Editor is currently our Top Pick for the "Best Free Digital Editor." During the month of April, in an exclusive offer through Gizmo's Freeware, you can get the $60 full-featured version of this amazingly powerful professional image editor and pay just what you want!

A New Reason to Hate AT&T

AT&T's latest iPhone Outrage

Can't get a decent connection in your home? AT&T has a fix, but it will cost you up to $150 to improve service you already paid for

iPhone 4.0: Multitasking Tops List of New Features

Apple today gave a sneak peek at a developer preview of iPhone OS 4.0, the next major version of its operating system for mobile devices. Apple CEO Steve Jobs boasted over 1500 new application programming interfaces (APIs) for developers in iPhone 4.0, letting them access features like the iPhone's calendar, photo library, video-camera data, and more.

Microsoft decision puts public libraries at risk

Millions of Americans depend on libraries, Internet cafés, and other public locations for their connection to the Internet, and keeping these points of access safe from hackers is especially difficult. Recently, however, Microsoft has made that challenge even more difficult for many public libraries. The company announced it would not upgrade the free application, SteadyState, to Windows 7 compatibility, angering many of the folks who manage public-access PCs. People who manage library PCs say they don't have money to pay for third-party products that protect public PCs from malware and malicious users.

Microsoft to fix 25 holes in Windows, Office, Exchange

Microsoft will issue 11 security bulletins in next week's Patch Tuesday to fix 25 vulnerabilities in Windows, Microsoft Office, and Exchange, including two holes for which exploit code is in the wild.

FotoMorph 10.1.1 (Windows) - Free

Amaze your friends and family with unbelievable transformations. Morphing is an animation technique in which one image is gradually turned into another. FotoMorph lets you make incredible morphs in minutes.

Some Great Security Tips

How to Block Bad Websites

There are many ways to block bad websites and unwanted content. I break this guide into three different ways to prevent your PC from being infected by accidentally visiting a malicious or compromised website: (1) programs and tips that help prevent your PC from being a target for malware. (2) Programs that alert you to potentially malicious websites when they appear -- the self-censorship or "just change the channel approach". (3) Programs that filter unwanted content/websites from appearing -- the censorship approach.

ShieldsUP Tests Your Firewall for Vulnerabilities

The best way to determine if your computer's (or router's) firewall is working and optimized is to effectively try to penetrate it. Browser-based utility ShieldsUP! tests your firewall for vulnerabilities and kinks in your computer's defense.

Internal HP document leaks: Slate tablet to cost $549, hope to combat iPad.

It’s similar in other respects to the iPad, including a multitouch screen (slightly smaller at 8.9 inches, with a 1,024×600 resolution), built-in Wi-Fi, and a 1.5-pound weight. Of course, it doesn’t have a proprietary processor running it; instead, it uses the Intel Atom Z530 CPU familiar from many, many netbooks.

iWork on the iPad is a great way to work: Review

As reported when the iPad was initially announced, Apple has created iPad versions of its popular iWork productivity suite, including Pages, Numbers, and Keynote apps--each of which is available for $9.99 at the iTunes App Store. We've had a chance to get a close look at each of the iWork apps and have found them to be extremely useful on the new platform.

Ultimate Windows Tweaker, a TweakUI for Windows 7 & Vista

Voted the best Windows 7 Tweaking software by Lifehacker readers. Ultimate Windows Tweaker is a freeware TweakUI Utility for tweaking and optimizing Windows 7 & Windows Vista, 32-bit & 64-bit. It can simply be downloaded and used as a portable application to customize your Windows to meet your requirements. With judicious tweaking, it can make your system faster, more stable, and more secure with just a few mouse clicks

Court Decision May Affect Your Browsing

Court: FCC has no power to regulate Net neutrality

A three-judge panel in Washington, D.C. unanimously tossed out the FCC's August 2008 cease and desist order against Comcast, which had taken measures to slow BitTorrent transfers before voluntarily ending them earlier that year.

Is your browser spying on you?

Microsoft claims Google's Chrome web browser is "stealing your privacy." Are they right?

Microsoft's big gamble with free Office

Microsoft has a new plan to make more money from Office: give it away. With Office 2010, one of the biggest changes is how many ways there are to get Microsoft's most profitable software program for free.

More Google Buzz Changes Try To Fix Privacy Fiasco

Google has made more changes to Google Buzz, hoping to repair the damage from its opening fiasco and satisfy privacy advocates. While Google is responding to an FTC complaint about Google Buzz, it may be too late, since usage of the Gmail social service appears low. While Google Buzz now uses suggestions, it wants to satisfy initial users.

Partition Wizard Manages and Fixes Your Hard Drive for Free

Windows: Partition Wizard does everything you'd probably need a partition tool to do, and does it on 32 and 64-bit systems.

It’s iPad Monday!

Editor’s Note: In spite of what you may think, I am not an iPad hater. In fact, it has some very interesting features I find attractive. And I think it will succeed in the marketplace. I just won’t buy one until the 2nd or 3rd generation when it contains some addition features that are critical for me. JRC 

Apple sells over 300,000 iPads on day of debut

Sales included pre-orders of the iPad, a new type of touch-screen device that blends features of the iPhone, electronic book readers and tablet computers. Prices start at $499 for iPads that connect to the Internet through Wi-Fi. Apple will sell costlier iPads with cellular data connections later this month.

InfoWorld review: Apple iPad surprises, disappoints

So you've probably heard about the iPad. Apple is once again making headlines with the release of a consumer-focused computing device, and the level of hysteria surrounding the iPad is fascinating from an anthropological point of view. But is the iPad really worthy of this craziness? Yes and no.

Why Apple's iBooks falls short of Kindle--for now

In case you haven't noticed, Amazon's changed gears a little bit when it comes to its Kindle platform. If you look at Amazon's homepage, you'll notice a different message. Now that the iPad is here, no longer is Amazon just advertising the Kindle e-reader front and center, it's all about the Kindle app, which is available for a variety of devices.

iPad reportedly overheating in the sun

You know the story from Greek mythology about Icarus, and how his father Daedalus told him not to fly too close to the sun with the wings he made for him out of feathers and wax. Icarus didn't listen and fell into the sea. Well, according to several reports, Daedalus might want to warn iPad owners not to play too close to the sun with their beloved new devices because they too may crash.

Apple iPhone 4.0 Event Announced: What to Expect

Apple announced Monday that on April 8 it will give the public a sneak peek at its iPhone 4.0 operating system. The news comes as Apple buzz is at a fevered pitch with the successful launch of its iPad tablet computer on Saturday.

Friday Potpourri of Opinions

The Enduring Value of Microsoft Office

I was intrigued to see an article in "The Wall Street Journal" on Monday describing the "challenge" that Microsoft Office faces from Google's free tools. The reason is simple: I don't believe that Google's free tools--Google Docs, part of Google Apps--represent a technical or financial challenge to Office at all. And I was curious to see whether I had missed something.

The Great Firewall of China Will Engulf the Gutless

I'm fully aware of the stakes involved for Western companies opening a window to business with Beijing, but the Great Firewall won't stop at Yahoo, Vietnam or Hong Kong. China has struggled to keep a vast country in line since the days of the Han Dynasty, and it is used to having its way -- and denying others their say.

Apple iPad Review with Video and Photos

(An in-depth review of the iPad from PC Magazine) Having used the iPad for some time, I can tell you that the device just makes sense. When you combine basic-but-essential work tools with iWork, an improved browser, e-mail, iPod, and photo applications, a well-executed e-Book platform with iBooks, and throw in thousands of downloadable apps and games, and package it all in a gorgeous, slim slate with a beautiful 9.7-inch touch screen, you have yourself a winner.

Mozilla fixes security hole with Firefox 3.6.3

Mozilla released Firefox 3.6.3 on Thursday to close a critical security hole. If that is your browser of choice. It may upgrade itself automatically. Just double-check to be sure.

First Legitimate iPad Reviews

8 Layers of Security Every Computer Should Have

Every time you connect to the Internet, you are putting your computer -- and the information stored there -- at risk. As Roger Thompson, chief security officer with AVG Technologies told me:

What's Google planning for Chrome 5?

After a year and a half, Chrome has come a long way toward matching the features of better-established browsers. Now, with version 5 coming together, a lot of Google's work focuses on advancing the state of the browser art. I find myself using Chrome more and more. If I could get all the add-ons that I use in Firefox, it would be hard to resist no changing.

First round of iPad reviews are in

You don’t have to wait until Saturday. The first round of iPad reviews are in.

Apple's iPad: The Mothership Prepares for Launch - TIME

One of my favorite people in the world, British actor, writer, comedian, director Stephen Fry has written an article in Time Magazine on the iPad and spent an hour with Steve Jobs. Highly entertaining, informative, and an example of great writing.

AquaSnap Brings Aero Snap and Transparency to Windows XP

If you're stuck with Windows XP either because you can't or don't want to upgrade from Windows XP, you may be interested in some of the features that Windows 7 offers from Aero Snap, or the ability to turn windows semi-transparent, shake them to minimize other windows, or "snap" them to certain places on the screen.

The Best of the Best Free Software

Emergency IE update patches 10 critical security holes

Microsoft today shipped a cumulative Internet Explorer update with patches for 10 security holes, including a drive-by download vulnerability that’s already being used in malware attacks.

Obama faces major online privacy test

When Barack Obama was campaigning for the presidency in 2008, he promised that as president, he would "strengthen privacy protections for the digital age." That pledge will be put to the test as the Obama administration considers whether to support a new privacy proposal released by a coalition including Google, eBay, Microsoft, AT&T, the ACLU, and Americans for Tax Reform.

Windows 7 holes eased by axing admin rights

Ninety percent of critical Microsoft Windows 7 vulnerabilities can be mitigated by configuring the operating system for standard user rather than administrator, according to a new report released on Monday. Removing administrator rights would also protect against exploitation of all of the Office holes reported last year, 94 percent of Internet Explorer flaws and 100 percent of IE 8 flaws reported last year, and 64 percent of all Microsoft vulnerabilities reported in that time period.

What Twitter's New Home Page Means For You

Twitter's ready to stop the quitters. The social media service rolled out a shiny new home page this week, and its goal is simple: to help new users understand what the site's all about and keep them coming back for more.

The Best Free Software of 2010

Get what you DON'T pay for: Here are 196 programs that cost nothing but will make your computing life richer—all while keeping your wallet fat.

This Week in Cybercrime

Another week of hacks, malware, and cyber crime

From the discovery of the first serious iPhone 3G exploit to the sighting of a new Captcha-conquering bot, the past week has proven interesting in the world of IT security, so much so that I've decide to take a look at several of stories that have cropped up, rather than doing my regular deep-dive into a specific topic.

AMD, Intel ready 'many core' processors

Advanced Micro Devices is the latest to up the processing core ante with a 12-core chip. Intel is expected to follow this with a chip that contains eight cores.

Google to build Flash into Chrome browser

Specifically, Google said it will distribute Flash with Chrome, update it automatically, and eventually put Flash in Chrome's sandbox where its risks can be contained better.

A Kindle World blog: AP compares Kindle and iPad advantages

The AP today compares E-book advantages on the Kindle and the iPad. They advise that, if choosing between a Kindle or an iPad for reading e-books, buyers keep in mind some advantages of both products.

Two free and easy ways to share and sync folders

Few people do all their work on a single computer. Fewer still don't occasionally need access to files on another PC, whether their own or someone else's. The free Gbridge program lets you access and synchronize files and folders on any Internet-connected PCs quickly and simply.

Today it’s China and Junk Mail

In post-Google China, censorship is unfazed

Chinese Internet users have one less Web search option this week, but otherwise it's business as usual as the People's Republic of China uses technology and intimidation to keep citizens away from objectionable content.

Report: Tens of millions still opening junk e-mail

In this day and age of technological advancement and digital lifestyles, it's incredible to me that nearly half of a recently surveyed audience opened junk e-mail (aka spam), intentionally.

More Than 1,000 Communities Apply for Google Fiber Test

Going gaga for Google: More than 1,100 communities and 194,000 individuals have applied to be part of Google's experimental fiber network, including some crazy stunts to garner Google's attention. Google will review the responses to decide who gets broadband speeds up to 100 times faster than current networks.

Windows 7 Feature Focus: Backup and Restore

With Windows 7, Microsoft expands on the pervasive and reliable backup and restore solutions for both data files and the entire computer that it introduced in Windows Vista. Key among this functionality is Backup and Restore, which can be ued to copy your important files and folders to a safe location or create a system image that can be used later to restore a broken PC. You may never need to turn to a third-party backup and restore utility again.

CheckPlaces - Add-on for Firefox

Checks your bookmarks are valid and the pages still exist, checks for duplicates and for empty folders and can restore missing favicons. Also checks and compacts (vacuums) your Places database.

More Friday Follies

Google-China Rift Takes More Ugly Turns

From YouTube outages to Google corporate pages displaying in Chinese, the fallout from Google's recent decision is getting ugly fast.

Microsoft hopes Bing users pick up the tab

Aiming to try to get more attention for its special pages, Microsoft is testing a new look that will add a series of tabs in the center of its Bing results pages, prominently identifying when there are additional types of content.

Many browsers patched prior to hacking event

One of the top draws at CanSecWest, the highly regarded Canadian security conference, is the break-the-browser contest known as Pwn2Own. So can it be coincidence that Apple, Google, and Mozilla updated their browsers just days before the contest?

Essential Add-Ons for Your Windows 7 PC

Microsoft's Windows 7 improved upon myriad problems with Windows Vista, but it's still not a perfect operating system. Helpful utilities, however, can shore up Windows 7's weaker spots. One tool makes it easier to organize your Windows 7 desktop, while another makes creating and resizing partitions a drag-and-drop affair.

10 Places to Scan Your PC Online for Free

Want to make sure your anti-virus program is working as well as it should? Check out these 10 on-line sites that will scan your computer for free. I recommend Eset NOD 32.

Ready for Your National ID Card?

Lawmakers Eyeing National ID Card

Lawmakers are proposing a national identification card — what they’re calling “high-tech, fraud-proof Social Security cards” — that would be required for all employees in the United States. The proposal by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York) and Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-South Carolina) comes as the states are grappling to produce another national identification card at the behest of the Department of Homeland Security.

Firefox 3.6.2 addresses critical vulnerability

Mozilla released Firefox 3.6.2 late Monday to fix a critical security hole involving Web-based font technology. Be sure to get it if you use Firefox.

Apple iPad vs. Amazon's Kindle: Consumers weigh the two devices

Apple’s iPad and Amazon’s Kindle are in a dead heat among consumers who are seriously considering a purchase of the devices in the next three months, according to comScore. But let’s put those statistics in context: Few have even held an iPad yet it has the recognition of the Kindle.

Videos - How to Stop Using Google

Good, short video on how to eliminate Google from your life...if you are concerned about privacy issues, or just want to be free of it.

WinDirStat - Windows Directory Statistics

WinDirStat is a free disk usage statistics viewer and cleanup tool for Microsoft Windows. Gives you a complete tree list of all your directories plus color bar charts to help you analyze where all your disk space went. Handy tool

IE9 and iPad Making News

IE 9 Platform Preview has speed, not much else

The Internet Explorer 9 Platform Preview exhibits to good effect two of what Microsoft says will be the new browser's selling points: speed and HTML 5 support. If the final version is as fast as or faster than the preview, IE will no longer be a laggard in the browser race and will most likely beat out Firefox. And while HTML5 is the future of Web browsing, be aware that IE9 will NOT run on Windows XP...ever.

iPad Pre-Orders Reported in 'Hundreds of Thousands'

Pre-orders for Apple's iPad have been reported in the "hundreds of thousands" and could challenge the iPhone's phenomenal debut record. Apple is also reportedly running into content resistance from print publishers for the iPad and has focused on other media. Analysts are bullish on the iPad's prospects as prices drop and apps are modified.

The National Broadband Plan needs to be fixed -- already

Special interests are already undermining the National Broadband Plan and the FCC's vagueness on implementation is playing into their hands -- Web users must act now

Is Google Wave getting Buzzed?

Arguably one of Google's biggest announcements of last year, Google Wave appears to be an afterthought among the tech trendsetters after the launch of Google Buzz in early February. Privacy concerns mostly laid to rest, Google Buzz is actually doing much of what Google Wave promised: collaborative discussion, media sharing, and social networking within an e-mail-like framework.

WeatherBar Integrates Weather Forecasts with the Windows 7 Superbar

Like to keep the eye on the weather but never been too keen on sidebar gadgets or system tray apps? WeatherBar is a simple app that puts the weather in your Windows 7 taskbar, offering quick access to the forecast.

FaceBook Scam Alert and Some Great Tips

Beware the new Facebook password reset scam

If you get an e-mail that appears to be from Facebook saying the company reset your password and urging you to open an attachment, it is a scam. Repeat, it is a scam.

New security tools help protect your PC

The latest routers, security suites, and software patches can help protect your PC against today's ever-more-sophisticated Internet attacks. These security tools are easy to install, easy to maintain, and provide the average PC user with basic protection against viruses, botnets, Trojans, rootkits, and other types of malware.

12 Tips for Printing Great Photos

With a bit of knowledge and practice, you should be able to print great-looking photos at home. Here are 12 techniques for improving the quality of your prints.

Twenty highest-radiation cell phones

The SAR level listed in our charts represents the highest SAR level measured with the phone next to the ear as tested by the FCC.

70 of the Best Free and Open Source Games for download

Here are several great games you can download for free. Note there are two more web pages filled with more games. Just click on the 2 links toward the bottom of the page.

Microsoft Dominates Today’s Blog

Study: Businesses start to embrace Windows 7

A new survey shows that businesses are increasingly planning their move to Windows 7, with more than half of those questioned planning to have some machines running the operating system in their corporations by the end of the year.

World Wide Web - Microsoft Encourages Developers To Test Drive IE9

Microsoft invited developers at MIX10 to test-drive Internet Explorer 9 with HTML5 features and developer tools by accessing a platform preview. IE manager Dean Hachamovitch said Microsoft wants feedback from developers, a major change from previous IE releases. IE9 has so far fallen short of web standards, including Canvas and Acid3.

Can Windows Phone 7 multitask (and other Microsoft mobile questions and answers)

Here are five new things I learned about the platform via these various channels. All of these are questions I keep hearing from potential developers and customers trying to decipher Microsoft’s evolving mobile story.

Roundup: E-Readers

The gadgets in this roundup have more modest ambitions than the iPad: Most of them are really only good for reading. But they're arguably much better for long bouts of reading, because their reflective, E Ink screens won't tire your eyes the way an LCD like the iPad's will. And, with one or two exceptions, these e-readers are all much less expensive than the iPad.

Vista Start Menu – Convenient alternative to Start menu

Vista Start Menu is the convenient alternative to the plain Start menu you find in Windows XP and Windows Vista. The program uses your cognitive abilities (visual memory, reflexes,etc.); however, while it is easily understandable for beginners, it is also highly efficient for experienced users.

Google About to Wave Bye Bye to China

Google pullout from China imminent

Although Google appeared to be going about business as usual in China (posting openings for engineers, managers, and sales staff in China), behind the scenes negotiations between Google and the Chinese government over protection of Google intellectual property and, more importantly, ongoing censorship have exposed irreconcilable differences.

Only a fool would pre-order an iPad

This morning, the fool's parade gets started. Apple is taking online "pre-orders" for its iPad tablet, which is supposed to begin shipping on April 3. Buying a new kind of product sight unseen is foolish. Especially given how mysterious Apple has been on what the iPad can do and what restrictions on capabilities and media access it will place on users and content providers.

What to expect from HTML5

Support for the next generation of HTML is already appearing in today’s browsers and Web pages. Are you ready to take advantage? 

How to save and share ridiculously large files

A few years ago it was a big deal to find a place that would let you share 1 gigabyte files. Things change, though. Bandwidth keeps growing, and the cost of Web storage keeps shrinking. That's good news for people looking to share increasingly large files, be it an HD video recording or an archive of several files that tops out at over a gig.

Disk Space Fan 1.4.2.796 (Windows)

Disk Space Fan is a nice disk space analysis tool for Windows. It helps you to free up disk space by quickly finding and deleting big, useless files. It displays disk space usage with a nice chart. You can navigate the folders easily with the chart. It is also integrated with Windows Explorer to open, delete and browse files or folders.

Update on National Broadband Plan

The FCC National Broadband Plan Faces Long Haul

The FCC is facing resistance and opposition as it readies its National Broadband Plan, and the implementation is likely to take many years to put in place. A controversial part of the FCC's plan involves asking broadcasters to free up unused airwaves on a "voluntary" basis. Parts of the FCC broadband plan have enjoyed widespread support.

Twitter aims to filter out malicious links

Twitter is launching a new service designed to stop users of the social-media site from getting duped by phishing links that steal their login credentials and other attacks.

HP Slate vs. iPad: Focus on Flash

With the iPad presale beginning in just a few days, and the clock ticking down to the much-anticipated Apple tablet finally hitting the streets, HP launched a renewed campaign for its Slate tablet PC debuted at the 2010 CES by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Each platform has pros and cons, but so far the debate seems to center entirely around support for Adobe Flash.

How To Skip Movie Trailers on Your DVD

Get sick of waiting for your movie to begin? Want to skip the FBI warning? Me too...I just want to go straight to my movie. Here is a quick little video tutorial that shows you how.

Photo Magician does simple, quality batch image resizing for free

One type of program I often forget to load on a fresh Windows install is a good photo resizing tool. Sometimes -- like when I want to create a screenshot tour of an app -- it would make things simpler to just dump a pile of full-size screenshots into a folder and let some little app churn out images resized to the dimensions I need.