It’s a new month – and that means a new reward’s partner. Our latest addition to the reward’s page is @Max’s SyncUp, an incredibly useful synchronization utility. It can be used to back up by date, sync files over a local server, send updates to an FTP server, sync with Google Drive and much more.

Windows 8 brought down the axe on the Start Menu. This is a feature that no one paid special attention to for years but its untimely demise has caused all sorts of despair. Not only because it’s gone but also because its replacement is the Windows 8 Start Screen. I have good news. The official Start Menu is dead, but there’s a number of ways to re-create it.

Giving the gift of tech is a great idea this holiday season, but it can be tricky. Most people aren’t geeks, unfortunately, and they may not appreciate the latest computer hardware, high-tech phones or cutting-edge software. It’s best to stick with something that’s impressive, yet also intuitive. That limits your options, but it doesn’t mean there are none. There’s a number of nifty tech gifts that are suitable for almost anyone.

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?

A solid state hard drive is one of the best upgrades available for a modern computer. It increases the load times of programs dramatically, which in turn makes a PC feel snappier. Results can be dramatic. Some games, for example, loaded several times more quickly from an SSD after I replaced my own mechanical drive. The benefits of SSDs are not in question. But how do you install one?

Online shopping has a reputation for amazing deals. We’ve all heard stories of how someone’s friend or relative managed to buy this or that for a fraction of its normal retail price. Such things do happen – but, in truth, most online deals are only marginally better than those in retail shops. And some aren’t great at all. The real benefit of online shopping is information.

Gaming computers are some of the most powerful consumer PCs on the market. Though beefy dual-processor workstations exist, they’re for work rather than play. People who buy a powerful computer for personal use usually do it so they can play the latest games. These computers are impressive, but they also draw a lot of power. This can slightly increase your power bills.

IObit has recently announced the latest version of Advanced SystemCare. Known as Ultimate, this version is built to be a one-stop solution for all of a user’s system management and security needs. It accomplishes this by incorporating anti-virus technology provided by well-known security company BitDefender.

Do you want to try out the latest version of Office – or do you just want to use the full suite for free? If so, you’re in luck. Microsoft has officially unveiled the evaluation copy on its TechNet site. And it’s not stripped down version, either. It’s the full version of Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2013.

This ads will tell you that 4G is awesome. Fast as lightening, or a motorbike, or a race car. But what does that mean in the real world? Is a 4G phone really going to blow away a 3G one, or is the difference subtle. And are all 4G networks built the same? Let’s take a closer look.

About 10% of an average home’s power use is dedicated to computers. That is the average for the United States, however, and is only an average. Users who are computer enthusiasts may find that their computer accounts for a much larger portion of their power bill. It’s simple logic. The more the computer is used, the more power it draws.Yet not all computers are the same, and they are not all used the same way.

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?

PC gaming is my preferred form of downtime, but I understand that’s a luxury. I find that habit affordable only because I upgrade my own system. If I didn’t have the time or knowledge to do that it’s doubtful I’d be able to keep up with today’s graphically demanding games. And then there are the Mac and Linux gamers who, in most cases, are simply unable to play the newest titles. That’s why a game like FTL is refreshing.

Crowd-funding has finally transformed from niche idea to mainstream concept. Credit for this surge in popularity can be thrown at the feet of Kickstarter and its contemporaries. Some highly publicized projects have raised millions of dollars within a few weeks, transforming idea into reality at lightning speed. These success stories make it easy to forget that projects don’t always go as planned. Many flop badly. But how, and why? Kickstarter intentionally makes failure a hard thought to stumble on, so we’ve set out to find some failed projects on our own.

Computers age rapidly. In one year they mature, in three years they become elderly and after five they are ready for retirement. Both geeks and casual users have become accustomed to – or annoyed by – the quick replacement cycle. Part of the annoyance is the uncertainty of replacement. When do you upgrade or repair a computer, and when do you just give up and build or buy a new one?