Rooting your Android phone is a rite of passage. It unlocks the functionality that separates Android from iOS and opens a realm of almost infinite customization. Replacing the entire operating system is possible on a rooted device. So, given the benefits, why aren’t Android phones rooted from the factory? Even those sold by Google, like the Nexus 4 and 7, require root after purchase. Why is that the case?

Myths are more common than most people will admit. They perpetuate because they sound like they could be true – and nobody has time to fact-check every last detail. Eventually, as the myths are repeated time and time again, they sound more factual than the truth. Technology is as susceptible to myths as any other niche. Let’s set the record straight.

Perhaps you haven’t heard, but there is this nifty website called Kickstarter where people can pledge to support projects that they’re interested in. Little things – like Android game consoles, eInk watches, and high-budget video games. Each Kickstarter is its own drama representing the hopes and dreams of at least one person. Will it succeed? Will it fail? Will it become a media sensation?

Rumors that Apple is developing a smartwatch have caused a wave of new interest in this relatively small and obscure market. What is a smartwatch? Do they already exist? What can they do? These are questions that have been asked by others – and answered. A handful of companies (from small start-ups to the biggest electronics companies on the planet) have already crafted these devices and will sell you one right now.

Windows tablets are now available from Microsoft and several other companies. The hardware inside them is generally the same as that found in an ultrabook, but there’s a notable exception – the hard drive. Most Windows tablets ship with only 64 or 128 gigabytes of space. Subtract the space required for the Windows install, which is usually around 30GB, and you can see the problem.

The sensation began just a few weeks ago. In that short time YouTube users have posted thousands of remakes which, in total, have attracted over 175 million views. People are doing the Harlem Shake in dorm rooms, offices, pools and even army bases. Just one problem – everyone is doing it wrong.

The iPhone’s lack of expandable storage has always been a sore point. The memory in the device when it’s purchased is all it will ever have. Need more? Buy a new iPhone. Apple has increased the storage available throughout the years, but that’s a losing battle. High-speed mobile Internet connections, combined with 3D games and HD video, make even the 64GB model easy to fill.

Miniaturization has been a computing trend for decades, but it seems to have accelerated over the past five years. Even Intel’s NUC (Next Unit of Computing), a hockey-puck sized PC, looks large compared to ARM powered “stick computers” that are literally the size of a USB flash drive. A computer this small is not just portable. It’s pocketable

Video remains the dominant form of media on computers, tablets and smartphones and is becoming more popular with every passing day. Yet video also remains problematic. Different devices work best with different formats and resolutions, making conversions a necessity. SuperEasy Video Converter 2 is one of many solutions developed to tackle conversions head-on.

Each Kickstarter is its own drama representing the hopes and dreams of at least one person. Will it succeed? Will it fail? Will it become a media sensation? It’s impossible to know before the money starts flooding in – or doesn’t. So pop some popcorn and grab your mouse. We’ve got some Kickstarters to watch.

From all the doom and gloom surrounding Apple as of late you’d never know that people are still buying iPhones and iPads in droves. A few weeks ago, after two years of Android ownership, I decided to become part of that hoard. The transition was less painful than I feared it would be, but there were still changes I had no choice but to adjust to.

If you’re on a limited mobile data plan, you may find opening your bill to be harrowing experience. Is there an overage charge? How much? And why was there so much data used? While the charges are concrete, the reasons are often harder to understand. You’re not powerless, however. With the right apps, and a change of habits, you can make overage charges a thing of the past.

Gaming is among the most demanding tasks a consumer PC will ever be asked to handle. Updating hardware is expensive, so many users look for optimizations that can improve performance for free. The truth is that many of these tweaks are barely more than snake oil. They rarely (if ever) work and provide little benefit when they do. There are just a handful of tactics that make a real difference.

The latest web traffic statistics show that 78% of all web surfers using a tablet after the holiday season were on an iPad. Though its dominance is slowly dwindling, Apple’s device remains on the throne. You may wonder – why? Is the iPad all that, or have better Android devices been ignored because of Apple’s famously effective marketing? That’s a difficult and controversial question, but not impossible to answer.

Most websites that offer formerly paid software for free do so with little to no illusion of legality. However you feel about torrents of paid software and media, it’s unarguable that they are illegal in most countries. Which is why torrent sites are often harassed by law enforcement. There is one type of site that’s managed to avoid most scorn, however – abandonware. Does this mean abandonware is legal?