The Gadgets And Games Of Kickstarter: February 19th 2013 Edition
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.
Saving Mobile Data: 5 Clever Ways To Reduce Data Usage
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.
Game On: Useful Tips And Apps To Optimize Windows For Gaming
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.
Are Any Android Tablets as Good as the iPad?
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.
Switch On, Switch Off: Top Toggle Widgets For Android
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.
NFC! What Is It Good For? Here Are 5 Uses
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.
How To Buy A Laptop Or Notebook PC In 2013
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.
How To Install A New PC Cooling Fan
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.
Need Network Storage? Here’s How To Build Your Own NAS Box
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?
5 Tabletop RPGs You Can Download for Free
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.
Easily & Quickly Rip DVDs With These Windows Apps
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.
How Secure Is Facebook, Really? A Roundup Of Breaches & Flaws
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.
The Ultimate Guide: How To Protect Your Smartphone From Scratches
Modern smartphones and tablets have big, beautiful displays. They look great when they come out of the box but they leave a device more vulnerable to both major and minor damage. A drop can shatter the display, though that’s rare. Small scratches are a more common problem. So how do you protect your device from scratches? And do those dang screen protectors really work?
5 New Year Resolutions Every Geek Should Aspire To [Opinion]
What about resolutions that geeks in particular should consider? Tech enthusiasts tend to have different priorities than other people – watching less TV, for example, may not be applicable if you’ve already replaced it with YouTube and video games. Here are five resolution ideas that even the most hardcore geek should consider.
What’s The Best File Compression Method? MakeUseOf Tests Zip, RAR & More
File compression is an important and common task users frequently ask of their computers. Reducing a file’s size makes it easier to email or place on a flash drive. It also reduces bandwidth usage and the time required to move a file between PCs. There are several popular ways to compress a file, but which is the best?
3 Underrated Wii U Features [Opinion]
Nintendo’s new console is now available across the globe and gamers are weighing in. Most impressions are based of game selection, graphics and the new controller. Gamers, like everyone else, prefer to pay less and get more. It can be hard to justify the new console when approaching it from the perspective of graphics and games. Most Wii U games are a port, which means they can be played on hardware that’s less expensive.
Upgrading Your PC? Five Ways To Keep The Price Down
Making the move to upgrade your PC is exciting for any geek. There’s almost always something bigger or faster available – if only you spend another fifty bucks. This can lead to a slow budget creep that sneaks up to you and then, BAM! You’re spending a lot more than wanted. That doesn’t have to happen. Here are five ways to keep money in your wallet instead of your PC.
Bitdefender Security for Windows 8 Gives Security a New Look [MakeUseOf Rewards]
Microsoft’s new operating system has taken a radically new approach to the user interface. It’’s sleek, it’s simple - and it’s controversial. Some software developers are already learning from what Microsoft has done and packaging it into their own software. Bitdefender’s Windows 8 Security is an excellent example. It performs the same function as previous versions of software, and is just as effective. But it is also attractive, friendly and extremely easy to approach.
A Latecomer’s Introduction To Minecraft [MUO Gaming]
Minecraft, the block-based sensation that took gaming by storm, is now well over three years old. It’s almost hard to believe it’s been that long since the first alpha was posted – and it’s equally hard to believe how far the game has come. The small indie title has spawned a successful company has transformed from a simple block-based building tool into a game with multiple modes that works on multiple platforms.
How To Use Your PC Like A Game Console
I’m a PC gamer. That’s not to say I don’t own consoles, of course, but my favorite and preferred platform is the PC. Games almost always look better and/or run smoother on a computer than they do on their console counterparts. They’re also less expensive. That’s not to say PC gaming is without issues. Many players don’t like it because it forces the user to sit at a cramped desk rather than lounging on a couch.