Should You Buy A 4K / Ultra HD Television?
About a decade ago, manufacturers started to sell what's now widely known as an HDTV. But now HD is old news, so the industry has decided to push another new technology; Ultra HD, also known as 4K HD. This new format, which offers a resolution of 3840x2160 (yes, the term "4K HD" is technically an exaggeration), has so far been reserved to super-high-end TVs, but some companies are starting to offer the technology for less than $2,000. So is the improved resolution a noticeable improvement, or just a marketing trick?
FullRecall: A Cross-Platform Tool to Remember Everything
The human memory can store data for an amazingly long time, but unlike a computer, we have a hard time recalling information that’s not frequently used or obviously important. We can have hard time digging up important details from a book read just a few weeks ago. Repetition is a great way to work around this problem. This concept is core to FullRecall, a simple, free program that can be customized to help you remember anything you’d like. Let’s take a look at how this app can help you improve your memory.
5 Games You Can Play For Over 100 Hours – That’s Value!
One of the many traits unique to video games is the sheer volume of entertainment a game can provide. While a movie is over in two hours on average, and a TV show may offer ten to twenty hours in a season, an amazing game can be played for hundreds of hours. Because many games have no final end, there are many choices, but a few titles stand out for their incredible tendency to drag almost everyone who plays them deep into their world. These games are so enthralling they can ruin report cards, strain marriages and make you want to call in sick for work – consider yourself warned!
Batch Edit & Watermark Hundreds of Photos With PhotoMarks
Batch image editing is something most people don’t even think about until they find themselves staring at tens, hundreds or thousands of photos that require an identical edit. The task seems impossible, and you wonder; how the heck am I going to do all of this without perishing of boredom? Fortunately, many people have been in this spot before, and many developers have created solutions to quickly whip thousands of photos into shape. One such solution is PhotoMarks. Let’s see what this batch editor has to offer.
The Best iPhone 5 Battery Cases Compared
The small, thin iPhone 5 only has so much room, and a small battery almost always leads to modest talk time. Buying a battery case is the easy solution. But which should you buy? There are numerous options available for the iPhone 5, and all of them basically do the same thing: add battery life. Some manage to gain an edge over the competition through size, design or endurance. Here’s the best of the best.
7-inch vs. 8-inch Tablets: Do You Really Need The Extra Inch?
The tablet's rise has predictably led to a diversification of the devices available. Display sizes now ranges between seven to eighteen inches, and everything in between. Consumers are certainly spoiled for choice. Most people, however, end up looking at a device between seven and ten inches. Here, too, there's plenty of variety, including tablets that have just an inch of difference between them and are otherwise very similar. Does an inch really make a difference, or is it a trivial non-issue? Let's take a look.
What Is The Best Twitter Client For iPad? 5 Top Apps Compared
Unlike Facebook, Twitter has a reputation for providing expansive support for third-party portals into the service. Though that support has wavered at times, there’s still a number of Twitter apps (including an official one) available for the iPad, and they all have access to the same information. That may lead you to think there’s not a lot of difference between them, but you’d be wrong. Let’s take a closer look at five popular Twitter clients for the iPad and see what separates the best from the rest.
Kinect Is Not The Only Game In Town: 3 Awesome Gesture Recognition Projects
The potential for gesture recognition seems massive, but so far, it's also an unknown. How should developers create apps for it, what's the best hardware, and how should the feature be standardized? These important questions are up in the air, so several companies are trying to answer them. Let's take a look at the front-runners.
6 Accessories That Can Make You A Better Gamer
Most games are a test of skill. You either face the game itself, or other players, and in either case your ability to interact with and manipulate the game ultimately determines success or failure. Or that’s the idea, at least. Reality is a bit different. While skill is indeed the most important factor, it’s not the only one. The equipment a gamer has can make him more or less effective, and that might in turn make the difference between victory and defeat. Not all devices are equally advantageous, however; here are some of the most useful.
Kickstarter Spotlight: Pocket Spacecraft
You may have dreamed of launching your own spacecraft, but felt it was solidly a dream, not something you’d ever be able to do. Most of us aren't rocket scientists, or scientists of any stripe, so we can’t do much expect look at the stars and wonder. Rockets and satellites cost millions of dollars – far more than most individuals can afford. But is this how space exploration must work? One project on Kickstarter, Pocket Spacecraft, thinks the answer is a definitive “no.”
5 Awesome Must-Play Arcade Shooters For iOS
The arcade shooter is a style of game that I love, but which went out of fashion in the last decade as improved hardware led most developers to embrace the immersion of a first-person or third-person perspective. Fortunately, the constraints of mobile hardware have caused resurgence in the genre, and there’s a hoard of titles to choose from. Perhaps too many, as with tower defense, picking out the really great games from the schlock isn’t easy. That's why I’ve rounded up the five absolute must-play arcade shooters for iOS.
Disaster-Proof Your Data! 4 Offsite Backup Solutions
Laptops, desktops and tablets are ultimately trivial items that can be replaced and hold little value, but the same might not be true of the data they contain. Losing a project you’ve worked years on because of a fire or flood would just be salt in the wound and could even disrupt your livelihood. Fortunately, there are some ways to prepare for the unthinkable, be it a personal tragedy or a natural disaster.
10 Indie Games So Good, You’ll Forget They’re Indie At All
There may be times, however, where you want something different from the indie norm. A game that follows indie values, yet is made with the quality that top-shelf AAA games are known for. Titles like this are rare because games with stunning graphics, good sound design and solid content are expensive to make, but a small group of indie developers have managed to create top-notch titles on a shoestring budget.
Secure Your Online Transactions With BitDefender's Safepay
Anyone who's made a purchase online has had a nightmare about identity theft. Though uncommon, the problem can cause serious financial harm, and victims sometimes don't even know they've become a target. BitDefender Safepay, currently in beta, guards against these threats by providing a secure browsing environment safe from both malware and attacks on unsecured WiFi. Anyone can download the software for free and begin using it immediately, so let's take a closer look.
Is The Green Computer An Oxymoron? 4 Ways To Upgrade Responsibly
Computing and environmentalism are difficult to reconcile. While computers theoretically allow for a paperless society and reduced use of physical goods, these potential benefits have yet to be widely embraced. As a result, computers seem to be a negative impact; they require a lot of resources to create, some of them relatively rare, and they’re very difficult to recycle. There are some ways to be more responsible with your choices, however.
The Gadgets And Games Of Kickstarter: June 21st 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.
Building A Home Theater System? Do It Right! 10 Crucial Mistakes To Avoid
Do an image search for "home theater" and you’ll see photo after photo of huge, lavish theaters with seating for up to twenty (or more!) and giant screens. These ideals are every tech geek’s dream, but let’s face it; most of us don’t have the money or space. Instead, home theaters are usually placed in living rooms or, if you’re lucky, a small bedroom or office dedicated to entertainment.
8 iPad Cases That Will Make You Forget The Smart Case
Buying an iPad is a predictably expensive decision, and once you’ve paid for your tablet, you’ll realize you’re not done: what about a case? Your new tablet will need protection from the drops and bumps and scratches that can occur during day-to-day use. Apple sells the Smart Case, which fits perfectly and works with the iPad’s magnetic clip, turning the screen on and off when the cover is replaced or removed. This case costs $49 and offers only basic protection, and you might find you get much better value if you buy one of these eight alternatives.