The Next Step in Immersion Virtual Reality - Razer Hydra & The Omni
Now that the Oculus Rift is in the hands of developers and enthusiasts (read my extensive review of the Oculus Rift), work on the consumer version is well underway. New games are being developed, existing games are being ported, and every day more people get to experience just how incredible the world of immersive VR can be when done right. So we have the visual element of virtual reality gaming basically sorted, but what about controllers?
Top Down and Turn Based: Questing for Glory on the iPad [iOS]
Epic adventures. Loot. Hordes of kobolds and even the occasional owlbear. If those mean something to you, then we're kindred spirits. I understand what it is you seek friend, and I offer thee temporary shelter in the MakeUseOf Inn. Tell tales of fair-haired maidens as you order your poison of choice, and let me admire your war-battered full plate armour +1. Remind me about the time you took an arrow to the knee as we check out these three iPad adventure board games.
Top Lost Hardware Services to Trace Your Stolen iPhone or Android
Bad things happen. Devices got stolen. Maybe you leave your phone on the table in the pub after you've had a few. Maybe a sneaky trickster like the one on the right there manages to delicately extract it from your purse. Maybe a stray horse eats it. These things happen. But it's up to you to prepare for them. You can't trace your stolen phone after the fact, not easily.
Synology DiskStation DS413j NAS Review and Giveaway
To call the Synology DiskStation DS413j a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device is a degrading understatement - but yes, it serves files over the network. To say it has RAID functionality is also somewhat unfair - the Synology hybrid-RAID is superior technology. To say it comes with a few additional features is just plain wrong - this thing is packed full of features and even has an app store. Today, we'll be taking a look at Synology's DiskStation DS413j and tell you what it's all about. Then we'll give one away (diskless).
How To Control Your Custom RGB Lighting From a Harmony Remote
If you own a Harmony Remote, you're probably aware that they can now control the Phillips Hue "connected bulb" - a wifi enabled but extortionately priced $200 LED lightbulb set. But did you know your Harmony Remote can also power the far more reasonably priced RGB LED striplights? Indeed they can - so there's no need to break the bank just for a nicely integrated lighting system in your ultimate home entertainment system.
Everything You Wanted to Know About The Xbox One
One box to rule them all - the ultimate entertainment system. A single device to control all your living room entertainments needs - instant on, voice and gesture control, and no more remote controls. That's the premise of the Xbox One. Read on to find out everything we know so far.
5 Ways to Quickly Improve Your Technical Skills Without Spending a Dime
People argue that training costs money - but for technical skills that just isn't true. You can improve your technical skills without paying - assuming you already have internet access that is, which is a pretty safe assumption to make if you're reading this. So read on: here are 5 ways you can improve your technical skills today.
How To Use Your iPad (or iPhone!) As A Second Monitor [iOS]
Productivity pros swear by multiple monitors, but we don't all have the luxury of carrying around huge screens and endless wallets. On the other hand, the iPad has become pretty ubiquitous, and it can really help you be more productive. What if I told you there was a way you could use your iPad as a second monitor, extending your desktop with precious extra inches? That would be pretty amazing right? Well here are three apps that let you do just that.
How To Protect WordPress from Intrusion: Your Must-Read Checklist
Botnets around the world have turned their attention from sending out spam emails to systematically hacking into Wordpress installs; it's a lucrative business given that Wordpress powers 40% of all blogs. Especially considering that even we fell victim to this, it's about time we did a comprehensive post on exactly how to protect your self-hosted Wordpress install.
Oculus Rift Development Kit Review and Giveaway
The Oculus Rift has finally arrived, and is making heads turn (literally) all over the gaming community. No longer are we confined to to peering through a flat window into the gaming worlds we love so much; with the Rift, we can teleport right into it. While it may not be the holy grail of virtual reality yet, it's off to a bloody incredible start. Read on to find out what the Oculus Rift is exactly, and to win yourself a free Development Kit.
Those Crazy Web Words And Phrases Explained
There have been more new words invented in the last decade than ever all thanks to this new fangled "internet" thing. It's easy to see how us old folks - and by old I mean anyone over the age of 25 - might get easily lost. Whether it's on your child's chat messages or some inexplicably popular item on Reddit, this new language increasingly pervades the meat space of real life. Let me put you a little at ease ease though, as I explain some key terms.
5 Awesome DIY Tablet Mounts For Bed: Vote For The Best And We'll Build It
I love my iPad so much, I take it to bed with me - and I don't think I'm alone (69% of British iPad owners also do, it seems). But resting it on my chest is far from ideal - I get neck cramps trying to look at the peculiarly angled screen, I certainly can't type, and any attempt to move knocks the thing right over. Since my significant other usually doesn't care for being face-palmed by an iPad while half asleep, it's about time I did something about it.
Document Your Life With Moving Images: How to Make a Video Diary [iOS]
Most home movies are boring, tedious lengths of footage with little to no editing. But impose some strict rules, cut it down to the good bits, and you might just end up with something pretty cool. Take just a second of interesting video a day, and in a single year you'll have 6 minutes of highlights. That's the premise behind todays article, and I look at 3 different ways of documenting your life with short video clips using an iPhone.
Getting Rich Snippet Video Previews Into Your Search Results
Producing your own video content is great. Search engines and users alike love video content. It increases user engagement - keeping visitors on your page - but moreover it's just makes your content more interesting, adding value. You're already doing this? Awesome - but do you upload them all to YouTube and just embed them on your site? Yes? Then you're doing it wrong.
3 Plugins for Easily Migrating a WordPress Site, Tried & Tested
These Wordpress plugins can semi-automate the entire process of migrating a WordPress site for you.
Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale Review and Giveaway
Whether your goal is to maintain a healthy weight or lose those extra pounds, keeping track of your weight changes is an essential part of the process. Any obstacle to doing so will eventually halt your efforts. With the Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale, you needn't waste those extra moments - it'll sync your stats and store them for you. Now all you need to do is concentrate on actually exercising. We're giving away a Fitbit Aria, so read on to find out more about it, then join the contest!
10 Things You Should Do When Starting An Online Store
Setting up a store on the Internet is ridiculously easy. Seriously, if somebody tries to charge you thousands for installing an eCommerce solution, just smack them. The hard part is getting search engines to care (ranking), getting customers to actually buy things (conversion), and keeping them coming back again (retention). Here are 10 things you should do or consider when starting your own online store.
How Can Hackers Hijack My PC? [MakeUseOf Explains]
Malware is usually very specific in what it does to your PC, whether that's displaying ads, taking over your browser homepage and search bar, or nagging you to pay for some fake anti-virus. Hijacking however is potentially far more devastating, giving the hacker backdoor remote access to your entire PC. This is the holy grail for most hackers, so it's important to understand how it can occur and what you can do to protect yourself.
9 Awesome Alfred Workflows I'm Loving [Mac OSX]
Alfred is a task launcher for Mac OSX - hit a shortcut, start typing the name of a file, folder, contact, application or search term, and bam - there it is. Since version 2, the concept of workflows was introduced - essentially, user-created plugins that can extend the functionality. My mind was blown - this in an incredibly powerful app, possibly the most useful I've come across yet. To use workflows, you must have the PowerPack purchased for $25.