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?

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?

Ask any Android enthusiast about why they love the operating system and they’re likely to reply “Widgets!” These homescreen mini-apps can display all sorts of information. They also allow users quick access to core system functions via toggles. Let’s look at some of the best toggles on Google Play right now.

If your phone doesn’t already have a Near-Field Communication chip in it, your next one probably will. High-end Android handsets are quickly adopting the tech and while Apple has so far shrugged it off, adoption of NFC by the iPhone would be easy to implement. Apple’s neglect from NFC seems to stem from its limited application in the real world thus far. The most appealing ideas are exactly that.

There is a new option for Windows 8 users who want a start menu replacement – StartMenu8. Newly released from IObit, the software gives users an easy way to abandon the new start screen and replace it with something more familiar.

This is an exciting time for the PC. Contrary to predictions of its death, the personal computer isn’t going away – but it is changing and, in some ways, becoming more personal. Touchscreens, convertible hinges and efficient processors are making a mark. Changes like this make buying a laptop at the beginning of 2013 a bit different from buying one at the same time in 2012.

Computer processors have a home. The socket. Most people ignore this piece of hardware because it has little obvious functional impact. Sockets don’t hinder or help performance they’re standardized in any given line of processors. Why should you care? If you ever intend on upgrading your processor, the socket on your motherboard will limit the upgrades you can choose from.

Computers have changed a lot over the last decade, but one thing remains the same – the need for cooling. Efficiency has pushed temperatures down but hasn’t eliminated heat as an issue. That’s particularly true for high-end workstations and gaming PCs. A new cooling fan is often the best way to decrease heat. It also can be a good way to reduce noise. Adding a fan is one of the easier upgrades a user can perform.

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?

NAS stands for Network Attached Storage. As Windows became easier to use with network attached devices, and hardware prices fell, this term started to be used in the consumer market. Today there’s a wide variety of off-the-shelf options that can provide storage for a home or small business network. The only problem is the price. A decent NAS can cost as much as a PC, which begs the question – why not build your own?

Oh, great. Another blue screen, boot issue or frozen screen in Windows. Now you have to restart and lose most or all of the work you’d been trying to accomplish. It’s frustrating both because of the interruption and because the cause often isn’t clear. Crashes aren’t just a part of using Windows. The operating system is stable for many people, so if your PC consistently crashes there is most likely a reason.

Playing games on a computer or console is great fun, but these systems set the rules in code and often are designed to be played with just one person in a room. This makes the social aspect of gaming less important and leaves players at the mercy of the game’s rules. Tabletop role-playing games get around these problems by putting players around the same table. They’re great fun.

People have been ripping DVDs for years, so most people assume it’s an entirely solved problem. That’s not the case. Searching Google for “rip dvd” will present a variety of options and articles. Some are valid. Some are for paid software, or software which either does not work, or tries to install adware. There are still only a few free DVD ripping utilities that are of high quality and consistently stable.

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?

Facebook, a website which is less than a decade old, now has over a billion users. Those users share a lot of information about their lives. Where they live, who they associate with, what they like – and more. That’s a lot of information in the hands of one company, and it has repeatedly earned the attention of the media for potential security issues. That hasn’t stopped anyone from using Facebook, however.