Amazon Opens Mac Download Store, Undercuts App Store Pricing [News]
Eager as always to compete in the realm of digital content, Amazon today opened a Mac Download Store that will compete with the Mac App Store. Like Apple’s solution, this new storefront streamlines the process of downloading and installing software so that users must take minimal action once they’ve purchased software.
Switchable Graphics 101: The Best Of Both Worlds [Technology Explained]
Over the past year, there’s been a proliferation of a technology called switchable graphics. This tech makes it possible to completely turn off a discrete GPU when it isn’t needed, leaving the PC to run on its far less power hungry IGP. Now this technology looks set to make the leap to desktops later in the year – but how does it work, and how does it benefit you?
Google Introduces Wallet & Offers, Puts Your Credit Card In Your Smartphone [News]
Google today announced two new services that seek to change the way consumers make purchases: Google Wallet and Google Offers. Wallet, which begins field tests today and should be available publicly this summer, gives Android phones the ability to store your credit card information. Once enabled, the service can be used to pay at participating retail stores.
The 5 Best Games On Steam For 5 Bucks Each
Gaming can be an expensive hobby. A new, high-profile PC game is $50 or $60, and although it might provide countless hours of enjoyment, there’s also the chance you’ll beat the single player in 6 hours and then never touch it again. For those on a budget, that isn’t a reasonable deal. Thankfully, Steam offers a huge library of games that are just 5 bucks and provide hours of entertainment.
How To Combat WiFi Security Risks When Connecting To A Public Network
As many people now know, connecting to a public, unsecured wireless network can have serious risks. It’s known that doing this can provide an opening for all manner of data theft, particularly passwords and private information. Let’s have a look at the exact risks of public networks, and the solutions available to counter those risks.
3 Cool Ways To Use SD Memory Cards
SD memory cards are one of the most common forms of mobile storage, but they also tend to be very specific in their purpose. On their own, these cards tend to be less useful than USB thumb drives and portable hard drives. That doesn’t have to be the case though. There are quite a few cool ways to re-purpose old SD cards and drag some extra life out of them.
Why Apple's New Thunderbolt Port Is Awesome [Technology Explained]
I/O ports aren’t a technology that folks spend a lot of time thinking about. Let’s face it – they’re not sexy. Still, ports are important. As the interface between your computer and everything else, your ports determine what you can do, and how quickly you can do it. Now Apple and Intel have released an entirely new port called Thunderbolt. What does it do, and what does it mean for modern and future computers?
4 Great Craigslist Search Engines to Make Your Searches on The Site Easier
In a web 2.0 era, Craigslist has refused to make major alterations to its site. This has advantages, but one disadvantage is the lack of a great search function. It can be hard to find specific information, particularly if you’d like to search multiple locations at once. Let’s take a look at some search engines that solve that problem.
3 Great Alternatives To Portal 2 When You've Finished Playing It
I love Valve, and I love Portal 2. It's easily among the best game I’ve ever played. But it’s also a short game. After eight hours, the game was done with me, but I wasn’t done with it. I still had the itch to play a unique puzzle game. If you’ve been similarly spurned by the fact that Portal 2 isn’t infinite, give these five games a try.
5 Cool Android Apps That Will Impress Your Friends
Smartphones are cool. That’s a given. Not all smartphones are equally cool, however – even when the hardware is the same. The apps that you install on your smartphone can turn it into a non-stop awesome train. This is particularly true for Android as you’ll find all manner of unusual apps for your Android phone.
The Rise Of Smartphone Snooping & How To Check For It
Snooping on computers has been a problem for decades. But snooping on a PC is an accepted risk, and one users often look out for. But what about your smartphone? Smartphones transmit location data and store lists of everyone you know. Obviously, this information shouldn't be in the wrong hands, but what can you do to prevent snooping?
Turn Your Android Phone Into A Windows 7 Phone With Launcher 7
Although not as popular, the smaller mobile OS options have their own unique traits. Windows Phone 7, for example, has a unique "Metro" interface that is excellent in most every way. It’s beautiful, it’s simple, and the large tiles that make up the interface are easy to navigate. Yet you don’t need to own a Windows phone to enjoy the Windows Phone 7 launcher, thanks to Launcher 7.
MyFitnessPal – A Cross-Platform Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker
One of the most effective ways to combat weight gain is to count the calories and keep track of your intake, as well as your exercise, in a diet diary. The only problem is that you can’t take a diary everywhere – and so you might forget a meal here, or a snack there. MyFitnessPal solves the problem by having a presence everywhere – on your phone, your tablet or your PC.
The 5 Best Gaming Podcasts You Should Be Listening To
There are few better ways to entertain or educate oneself while on the go than a podcast. All you need is an MP3 player or smartphone and a pair of earbuds. It’s no surprise that most podcasts cover topics of particular interest to tech-savvy listeners. The number of podcasts available about gaming is tremendous. Not all are worth your time however, so I’ve rounded up the five podcasts that I turn to.
What's The Fastest Android Browser? [Geeks Weigh In]
Performance is important when browsing the web on a computer, but your average PC has plenty of power to work with. Smartphones, however, are a different story. The hottest Android phones on the market right now are packing the nVidia Tegra 2 processor, which is substantially slower than any modern PC. That begs the question - which Android web browser is the quickest?
How To Put Amazon’s Cloud Drive On Your Desktop
Amazon’s recently released Cloud Drive service has been making waves, mostly due to the music streaming feature that lets users stream music files. Cloud Drive offers 5GB of free space by default, and that can be raised to 20GB (for one year) if you purchase an MP3 album from Amazon. The space can be accessed on any PC, but only via a web browser – that is, until now.
Five Important PC Gaming Terms Explained
If you play a game on a console, the technical details are handled for you. Some players prefer this, but PC gamers often enjoy the greater degree of control they have over a game’s eye candy. Of course, the customization offered by PC games is of no use if you don’t know what the settings mean.
Five Ways To Benchmark Your Web Browser's Performance
Web browsers have become arguably the most important application on a modern computer. Browser performance has a big impact on how you experience the web and modern media. A slow browser might skip or stutter while a fast one breezes through without batting an eye. If you’d like to learn how to judge browser performance for yourself on your own computer, read on.
A Universal Guide To PC Security
From trojans to worms to phishers to pharmers, the web is full of hazards. Keeping yourself safe requires not only the right software, but an understanding of what kind of threats to look out for.