RSSTechnology
GPS: Cool Devices That Know Where They Are
David LaGesse
Cellphones that can also track a caller's whereabouts once seemed at the leading edge of GPS. Now all sorts of devices can chart travels as chips that get location data continue to get smaller and cheaper. From still cameras to fitness watches, a new assortment of gadgets knows where they are, which can also translate into speed and distance readings. Here are our favorite GPS gadgets
How to Save With Cutting-Edge Tech
David LaGesse
An economy in the dumps has taught many consumers to live without the extras. And that would seem to include the latest in gadgets: New HDTVs, MP3 players, and game consoles can cost a bundle. But some of the best in fresh tech not only comes cheap; it can even save cash over time. Here's how savvy buyers can cut their budget and still brag that they're on the cutting edge
Ease the Paper Chase by Going Digital
David LaGesse
Most consumers have experienced at least a taste of going digital. Online banking, electronic statements, and online bill paying have eased the paper chase. And consumers use less dead-tree paper, while saving on postage, envelopes, and printing costs. Here is a quick guide for those who want to take the digital dive and save time and money in the process
Suddenly Instant Photos Are Everywhere
David LaGesse
It seemed that instant cameras were dying, yet another analog victim in a digital world. When Polaroid announced that it would quit making the film that fueled its instant cameras, it appeared to be the final nail in the coffin. Then -- in what seems an instant -- instant printing has roared back.
Technology Opens Doors for Investors
Rob Silverblatt
In an era in which the Internet is steadily uprooting traditional business models, David-versus-Goliath stories are becoming increasingly common. Meanwhile, the traditional investment and fund players have responded with advances of their own. Here's a look at some technologies that have emerged in this climate
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Skiff E-Reader
A Guide to All the New E-Readers
David LaGesse
Carrying a real book is at risk of looking old-fashioned, especially with the upcoming rush of digital E-readers. Several dozen models descended on the Consumer Electronics Show, where a large corner of one hall was dedicated to the electronic readers. To help find the proper fit, we've identified five E-readers that illustrate key distinctions
5 Ways New Media Are Changing Politics
Mary Kate Cary
The magnitude of technological change over the past 10 years has been astonishing; the next 10 will surely be more so. New social media are already changing the way organizations attract supporters. Plus, Most Americans have a cellphone and access to a computer these days, and many of us have moved to a much more digital existence.
Cities With the Fastest Internet Connections
Matthew Bandyk
What do South Koreans, Romanians, and the Swiss all have in common? On average, they enjoy faster Internet connection speeds than Americans, according to the quarterly "State of the Internet Report" issued by Akamai
Internet e-Mail Scams Target Job Seekers
Kathy Kristof
The e-mail said it came from CareerBuilder and offered a job opportunity as a 'trading assistant.' Just one hitch: It wasn't an e-mail from CareerBuilder.com and it was not a job. It was part of a cynical scam that's becoming widespread. This scam is just part of an evolving cacophony of employment frauds that prey on the millions of Americans who are out of work.
Employers Should Be Honest About Their Electronic Privacy Policies
Lewis Maltby
Quon v. Arch Wireless raises the question of whether public employers must be honest with employees about their monitoring practices. The case is not about whether employers should be allowed to monitor employee communications. Employers have legitimate reasons to do so. What Quon says is that an employer must be upfront and consistent in its monitoring policies
Employers Must Be Able to Monitor Electronic Devices They Pay For
Mitch Danzig
Employers provide workers with devices and give them access to E-mail, the Internet, and instant messaging to make them more efficient as employees. It defies logic to say that employees should be able to send personal messages on company time and property without being subject to employer review. The U.S. Supreme Court will address Quon v. Arch Wireless this term and should send a clear message
Apple's iPad
Apple's iPad: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Ben Baden
Apple has announced its latest -- and what some say -- greatest creation yet. The iPad is the biggest news since the launch of the iPhone. The iPad is going to be aggressively priced so Apple can get as many iPads into as many hands as quickly as possible. Most of the news reported was positive, but there are still some unanswered questions. Here's a look at what the iPad has to offer ...
Apple's iPad: 5 Reasons Why the Apple Tablet Will Flop
David LaGesse
Few revelations from Apple had generated more anticipation than Apple's recent iPad product announcement. Though nobody knew exactly what the iPad would be, reports widely agrees that the device was to be a new type of portable computer akin to a tablet.
Ultimate HDTV HD Television Buying Guide
David LaGesse
We studied the hundreds of HDTV flat-panel television sets that plastered walls at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and have distilled a quick guide to today's key options
What's New in Consumer Technology and Electronics
David LaGesse
The 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is smaller than in recent years, but it's still where the world takes stock of what's coming in consumer electornics and technology. And obscure acronyms -- the valued shorthand of geekdom -- seem especially prevalent as new tehcnologies roll out. Here are five new technologies and getting a big push this year ...
Rise of Miniature Medical Robots: Fantasy Fast Becoming Reality
Gaia Vince and Clare Wilson
The surgeons of tomorrow will include tiny robots that enter our bodies and do their work from the inside, with no need to open patients up or knock them out. While nanobots that swim through the blood are still in the realm of fantasy, several groups are developing devices a few millimeters in size.
Flying Under the Influence of the TSA
Christopher Elliott
I won't insult you by repeating the obvious advice being dispensed by the so-called experts, such as arriving at the airport early or packing light. Instead, I'd like to take a longer view on traveling while under the influence of the TSA. Assuming that only half of the awful things people are saying about the agency are true, how do you fly?
Staying Connected Gets Smarter, Faster and Cheaper
Rick Steves
Over the last few years, there's been a revolution in long-distance communication that makes it easier and cheaper than ever for travelers to stay in touch. Take your laptop or netbook to Europe, hook up to a fast Internet connection, and you can talk to people around the world -- for free.
The Biggest Technology Flops of the Decade
David LaGesse
The new millennium was born amid an Internet bubble that soon burst, not a good omen for the technology industry. The sector rallied, however, and continued to produce a remarkable run of new gadgets. But it had more than its share of flops, as well. Here are the 10 biggest debacles of the decade
Mobile Tech That Stole the Decade
David LaGesse
If the '90s were the Internet era, maybe the '00s were the mobile decade. Technology packed ever more power into ever smaller devices, putting portable electronics at the leading edge of innovation this decade. With freedom of movement in mind, here are the top tech innovations of 2000-2009 ...
Google Unleashes Diverse Army of Android Phones
David LaGesse
The Google phone is living up to its promise. Phones based on the Web giant's Android software appear ready to challenge the iPhone, BlackBerry, and Nokia brands as a leading contender in the smartphone wars.
The War on the Book
Paul Greenberg
In Ashburnham, Massachusetts, a prep school has just given up on books. The headmaster of Cushing Academy, one James Tracy, doesn't see any need for them. Not any more. Anybody who's anybody or wants to be now has an iPhone with apps, a Kindle or whatever the Next Big Thing turns out to transiently be. Who needs books?
iCandy: Tech Gifts Beautiful Inside and Out
David LaGesse
Despite tough times, electronics makers appear to be determined to deliver a touch of luxury this holiday season. They're bucking a history of dreary beige-and-black boxes with devices that look stylish -- even beautiful. Here are 10 of the best-looking devices for holiday gift-giving ...
Tips for Buying the Perfect Digital Camera
David LaGesse
Most of us already own at least one digital camera that takes pretty good pictures. So camera makers find themselves scrambling for new reasons to sell us cameras. All the choices make the process of shopping for a digital camera very difficult. Here's tips for buying a digital camera ...
Software Magic: New Software Tags & Organizes Your Digital Photos
David LaGesse
Without the cost of film and developing, digicams enable amateurs to shoot as many photos as they want. That's a huge benefit -- but also a huge burden as consumers get overwhelmed with thousands of snapshots buried on PCs. But, new software promises to automatically identify and tag photos with the names of people who appear in each shot
Myths About Windows 7: Fine new OS Arrives Amid Cloud of Confusion
David LaGesse
Yes, Windows 7 had not even hit the market yet. But that didn't stop a fog of myths from enveloping the newest version of the much loved -- and much hated -- PC operating system from Microsoft. With so much misinformation swirling, we've sorted through seven points that are confusing consumers
FCC 'Net Neutrality' Rules Would Keep the Web Free for Speech and Trade
Andrew Jay Schwartzman
If the federal government does nothing -- that is, if it does not adopt network neutrality rules -- it will be allowing telephone and cable companies to block, degrade, or slow down any content on the Internet for any reason. Without such rules, the Internet will not live up to its full potential for fueling economic growth and serving as a vehicle for artistic, political, and social expression
FCC Could Mess Up Internet With 'Net Neutrality' Rules No One Needs
Barbara S. Esbin
The FCC's proposed rules codify and expand its 2005 Internet policy principles -- intended to preserve 'openness' while giving ISPs flexibility. Despite its recognition that these principles have helped preserve Internet openness, the FCC is now poised to take far more intrusive action. Simply put, the case has not been made for regulating at this time. Here's why ...
Securing the Information Highway
Wesley K. Clark and Peter L. Levin
The Obama administration recognizes that the United States is utterly dependent on Internet-based systems and that its information assets are precariously exposed. Accordingly, it has made electronic network security a crucial defense priority. But that is only the tip of the iceberg.
Cyberspace Cadet
Dave Barry
It's time once again for Keyboard Korner, the computer-advice column that uses simple, 'jargon-free' terminology that even an idiot like you can grasp; the column that shows you how to 'take command' of your personal computer, if necessary by reducing it to tiny smoking shards with a hatchet.
10 Best Places for Tech Jobs
Liz Wolgemuth
These cities boast some of the best job opportunities for technology workers. It's a recession, so few things are booming and no city is exactly thriving. But within the tech industry, some cities clearly have more job opportunities than others.
Time to Switch to an Online Personal Health Record
Katherine Hobson
A host of Web-based personal health records, or PHRs, have been rolled out over the past few years, including offerings from Internet heavyweights Google and Microsoft. The pitch: a central repository for all your health information--from family history to lab results to cholesterol readings--gathered from all those disparate sources, and ways to share it with doctors or other people that you deem appropriate. Plus, cool tools that draw on your information to alert you
Is It Legal to Copy a DVD?
David LaGesse
Consumers are accustomed to copying music disks to their computers, making it easy to transfer them to portable MP3 players like the iPod. Many wonder why they can't do the same with movies on DVD. Two recent court rulings nixed novel approaches that sought to make it easy and legal for consumers to copy DVDs to computers and elsewhere. Here's a quick guide to what the courts have said, what it means to consumers
An Amazon Kindle for Every Student
Zach Miners
Forget better standards, merit pay for teachers, or rebuilding the crumbling infrastructure of America's aging schools. No, if we really want to fix the U.S. education system, we must start with Kindles. Thomas Z. Freedman, the primary author of the paper, writes that having a "Kindle in every backpack" (the title of the proposal) is not just an educational gimmick but could improve education quality and save money
Technology as Our Teacher
Mortimer B. Zuckerman
How can average teachers become better teachers? The secretary's special funding could make a crucial difference by financing a national program exploiting the electronic miracles of the Internet and video. We could escape geography by using the technology to have the best teachers appear in hundreds of thousands of disparate classrooms. This is a force multiplier.
Home Phone Gets Pumped Up
David LaGesse
Consumers have cut the traditional phone line, relying more on cellphones, and otherwise usurping the onetime king of communications. In fact, more U.S. homes today rely exclusively on cellphones than rely solely on landlines, federal researchers reported this spring. Now devices are emerging that seek to reinvent or boost the home phone. Here's how these innovative products all seek to change how we dial.
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(c) Dana Summers
Put the Brakes on Driving While Texting
Leonard Pitts Jr.
The amazing thing about the debate over the need for laws to ban texting while driving is that there is a debate over the need for laws to ban texting while driving. In the first place, you'd think you wouldn't need a law, that simple common sense would be enough to tell us it's unsafe to divert attention to a tiny keyboard and screen while simultaneously piloting two tons of metal, rubber, glass and, let us not forget, flesh, at freeway speeds -- or even street speeds.
The Call of the Highway (From a Cell Phone)
Garrison Keillor
In Minnesota it's illegal to text-message while driving -- trying to type on a tiny keypad at 70 mph is crazy -- but it's legal to make calls while driving, which in my case means removing my glasses so I can see to scroll down the directory while steering with my knees at 70 mph. I call up my mother while driving, which is exciting for her since she is 94 and remembers when phones were attached to the wall and you talked on them while standing still. 'Is that safe?' she says.
Five Reasons Why My iPod Is My Favorite Game System
Ryan Kuo, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews
The App Store provides a vibrant, inexpensive and ever-growing library of some of the most inspiring games I have played in years," Ryan Kuo writes. "Actually, I like gaming on my iPod better than my Nintendo DS, my PC and my Xbox 360.
How to Play PC Games On Your Mac
Evan Narcisse, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews
I use Macs. I've messed around with Windows, but I've never let it into my home. But, in the name of science, dear Crispy Readers, I'm sacrificing the virginity of my month-old 13-inch MacBook Pro to the Crispy How-To Lab. By following a few simple steps, it's possible to run PC games on a Macintosh. Here's what I did...
Planet of the Apps: Apple iPhone's Top 25 Free Games
Kyle Orland, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews
iPhone owners can download any one of thousands of free games the moment they find themselves with some free gaming time.
8 Picture-Perfect Websites for Sharing Photos & Videos Online
The Internet is bursting with options for safely sharing photos with friends and loved ones. Many consumers resort
to simple E-mail, a laborious process for the sender and receiver. Others rely on social networking sites like MySpace and
Secrets to Saving Your Laptop and Data
David LaGesse
Consumers now buy more laptops than desktop PCs, relishing the power they pack in a portable package. Thieves relish laptops for the same reason. The overwhelming majority of lost or stolen notebooks don't make it back to their owners, according to FBI and analyst reports. But a few laptop-luggers take steps to protect their investments, or the even-more precious data they contain.
10 Reasons Google Voice Will Rock the Phone World
David LaGesse
It isn't enough for Google to dominate the world of Web search while also grabbing a huge slice of E-mail and Internet video. The online giant now thinks it can slip past AT&T and Verizon to capture the center of voice communications.
Companies Give Some of Their Best Discounts On Twitter & Facebook
Kimberly Palmer
Companies have traditionally let their customers know about sales and special discounts through newspaper advertisements, radio spots, and in-store announcements. But now, they are increasingly turning to a more avant-garde form of communication: Twitter, Facebook & Social networking sites.
High-Tech Hospital of the Future: Technology Transforming Way Medical Systems Work
The investment hospitals are making in change has basically two goals: to improve clinical care and slash error rates, and to reduce patient stress, encouraging healing. Ironically, one of the most anticipated developments is that technology will allow hospitals to do a better job of keeping people out of them.
Cyberwar Is the New Atomic Age
Mike McConnell Interview
A level of vulnerability has been introduced into our way of life that is unprecedented. We now have a smaller connected globe where information can be moved in seconds, where information managed by computer networks -- which runs our utilities, our transportation, our banking and communications -- can be exploited or attacked in seconds from a remote location overseas
Fresh Coinages From the Furnace of E-Culture
For the second year, Cramer-Krasselt has published its Cultural Dictionary of the zeitgeist-iest words and phrases, pulling together the slang, puns, put-downs and freshly minted coinages from the white-hot furnace of electronic culture. It's pretty hilarious.
The iPhone and I
By Mark Bazer
Well, it was nice knowing my family, but now I've got an iPhone. For the uninitiated, the iPhone is the cell phone + iPod + organizer + portable game console + friend when you're at a party and no one is talking to you and you've already peeled off the label on your beer.
Innovative Financial Web Sites & Tools Well Worth a Look
Humberto Cruz
Technology has revolutionized the way many Americans manage their money. With a click of a mouse or even right from our smart phones, we can get a complete picture of our finances and get recommendations for our money. The sheer multitude of choices, however, can be overwhelming.