February 25, 2011
Apple’s Mac App Store is out. It offers a lot of very cool and interesting applications for productivity, connectivity, and other serious topics. But that’s not what I want to talk about today. Instead, let’s talk about the real reason the App Store is cool – the free Mac games! The selection available on the [...]
February 24, 2011
You spotted your target as he crossed a small open passage, making a beeline for the rocket launcher. It’s the perfect setup; he’s looking for the weapon he wants to acquire and you’re behind him, ready to strike. You leap down, aim your weapon at your foe, and pull the trigger. Suddenly, your enemy warps [...]
February 22, 2011
When you hear the word “inbox” you most likely think of email or perhaps, if you’re old-school, a more old-fashioned mailbox. The word has always been connected to mail of different types, but when you think about it, the word also implies more general subjects. Organizing, prioritizing, discarding and saving are all actions taken when [...]
February 18, 2011
The CPU has been the heart of every PC since Intel’s x86 processors became popular over two decades ago. Yet the CPU does have weaknesses,the greatest of which is their relatively linear data execution. Graphics processors, by comparison, consist of many small cores that execute data simultaneously. This makes it easier for them to perform [...]
February 17, 2011
Being a DJ is usually not for the faint of heart or the light of wallet. It’s hard to DJ; if you’re a normal person like me, the art of mixing music tracks on the fly to change how they sound and blend them seamlessly appears arcane. Then there is the equipment involved. Fortunately, the [...]
February 15, 2011
With piracy a constant concern for computer software companies, methods of registering and validating software are now the norm. Operating systems are no different. Microsoft Windows has long used a product key that validates the operating system. The complexity of the validation used, however, has increased over time. Today, Microsoft has online activation servers that must validate [...]
February 11, 2011
Connectivity is a bit of a boring subject. It’s an important one however, because your PC doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s really just the centerpiece of a constellation of consumer electronics including digital cameras, external hard drives, thumb drives, smartphones and more. Every device meant to communicate with a PC needs a method of [...]
February 10, 2011
Web games are often disparaged by mainstream gamers, but they’re actually a testament to the value of good gameplay. The fact that these tiny games, often made with little to no budget by a single person, can hook players for hours is impressive. The only real issue with web games is the sheer number of [...]
February 8, 2011
Computer processors are entering a new phase of life. Both Intel and AMD now have processors available that incorporate an integrated graphics processor directly into the architecture. This provides many advantages in terms of cost and power efficiency, but performance is also improved. One of the ways this is manifesting is the Quick Sync video [...]
February 4, 2011
Diagrams are a very useful way of explaining certain concepts surrounding computer hardware, such as how networks work. Actually creating a new diagram, however, can be a real pain in the butt. Image editing programs are okay for it, but often they feel rather clunky, and it’s hard to make the results look professional. Fortunately, [...]
February 3, 2011
Netbooks, and other small ultra-portable computers including Windows tablets, are well loved because of their small footprint and light weight. However, netbooks are far less powerful than the typical notebook PC, which means they can have trouble running applications that other PCs have no problem with. This means that anyone who wants a snappy netbook [...]
February 1, 2011
Wireless networks are, by their nature, less secure than wired ones. While many users overestimate the potential security problems that can stem from a wireless network, there are still some risks that don’t exist with wired options, however minor they may be. Some users try to hide their WiFi network as part of their wireless [...]
January 28, 2011
Google is one of the giants of the tech world. Even the largest and most experienced technology companies can make mistakes however, or try to jump onto a ship after it has already set sail. Google’s forays into social networking are the most recent example, but several years ago Google struggled with another emerging business [...]
January 27, 2011
Cameras are everywhere. It’s likely that you have a few of them in your home and connected to your computer. For the most part, PC webcams are used to chat with friends over Skype or record YouTube drama-bombs, but they’re not necessarily restricted to this. If you’ve ever lived in an environment where you weren’t completely sure who has [...]
January 25, 2011
Hard drive space isn’t infinite. Today’s massive drives, with capacities exceeding 1TB, can create that illusion. But as drive sizes increase, ways to consume drive capacity also expand. HD video, for example, can eat gigabytes for breakfast. That’s the bad news. The good news is that learning how to install a new hard drive isn’t [...]
