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Matt Smith

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About Matt Smith

Matthew Smith is a freelance writer living in Portland Oregon. He also writes and edits for Digital Trends.

Latest Articles

8 Awesome Kerbal Space Program Mods

Have you ever wanted to design your own rockets, launch them into space, and send astronauts to the moon (or beyond)? Now you can with Kerbal Space Program, a unique game and digital toy that focuses on the space-faring adventures of little green dudes called Kerbals. The game, developed by a small studio called Squad, has been developed with the Minecraft approach.

Which Is Best, A MacBook Air Or MacBook Pro? Both Models Compared Side-By-Side

You might think Apple’s relatively small laptop selection would make choosing a model easy. For some people, that’s true, but for others the tight range of options and prices makes for a difficult choice. A consumer with $1,200 could end up looking at both versions of the Air and the 13-inch Pro. I think all of the MacBooks are a good choice, but the reasons why are various. I’ll help you sort through the clutter and decide which MacBook is for you.

Minecraft Home Security Tips – Build A Perimeter That No One Could Break Through

The world of Minecraft can be harsh. One moment you’re happily cooking a few pieces of bacon in your oven, then next; BAM! Where’d that creep come from? Now you’re back at the respawn point – you’d better know how to get back home from there! Building a door is a good way to keep this from happening, but that only works if you stay underground or in a very tightly constructed fort.

Star Conflict Free-To-Play: A Multiplayer Space Sim Game You Can Go To Combat With

Free-to-play games have served most genres well. Role-playing, strategy, and first-person shooters are represented by numerous offerings that don’t cost a dime. But what about space shooters? All of the genre’s best titles are paid. Most don’t even offer multiplayer or, if they do, the community has been dead for years. There is a new kid on the block, however. His name is Star Conflict

QuickOffice Pro HD: Create, Open And Edit Office Documents On Your iPad [iOS]

Apple doesn’t offer an all-in-one office suite, so users who want to handle these tasks on their tablet must turn to a third-party solution. One of the most popular is QuickOffice Pro HD, a $19.99 iOS productivity suite that is actually owned by Google. The app promises the creation and editing of Word, Excel and Powerpoint files and lets users save documents to .PDF. All of which sounds great – but does it actually work?

Find Your Next Solid State Drive With SSDBoss

We recently covered two sites, CPUBoss and GPUBoss, launched to provide a fast, easy way to determine what you next hardware upgrade should be. Shortly after our last review, the people behind the sites reached out to tell us another site was one its way, too, and it would cover solid state drives. Hard drives may not seem like an obvious extension of the Boss mission, but I think it makes sense.

The 5 Toughest iPhone Cases Money Can Buy

Apple’s latest iPhone is surprisingly robust given its light weight but it’s only designed to survive minor drops in a friendly environment. Serious falls, dirt and water aren’t a factor, and that’s a problem if you’d like to use your iPhone while camping, hiking or playing sports. Tough cases are harder to find than those built to provide aesthetic value with some minimal protection and so to save you time, we’ve rounded up five of the best.

Level Up - How To Improve Your Gaming Ability

For most gamers, sitting down with a controller means escapism and relaxation. There are others, however, who enjoy games for the competition they provide. A great game can offer an adrenaline rush unlike anything most people experience in day-to-day life. Of course, that rush can turn to despair when you’re repeatedly stomped. Losing a game time and time again isn't fun, and isn't instructive. The only way to solve the problem is to improve your skills.

5 Must-Have Strategy Games for iPad [iOS]

Touch controls are great for games that require thought rather than quick, twitch movement. You can plot moves, activate abilities and direct units all with the touch of…well, your touch. You’d expect that to mean excellent strategy games dominate the platform but, in fact, the most popular titles tend to be lighter fare or free-to-play games defeated with cash more quickly than skill. Here are a few titles that stand out for their quality rather than price.

5 Ways To Charge Your Phone In An Emergency

Smartphones can be important tools in an emergency. Besides providing the chance to call for help, a phone can act as a flashlight, compass and GPS. But all of a phone’s functions rely on the battery and the features most useful in a pinch are the ones that consume the most charge. Once the battery is flat, the phone becomes nothing more than a lump of plastic and metal.

CPU
Find Your Next Video Card With GPU Boss

Purchasing a video card is a rite of passage for PC gamers. Researching, buying, and installing a brand new card for an existing rig separates casual gamers, who simply buy a new PC every so often, from those who truly care about the capabilities and performance of their system. That’s why any gamer looking to break into the do-it-yourself territory should check out GPU Boss.

The 4 Best Android Phones Available Right Now

Buying an Android phone is more complicated than buying an iPhone. There are literally thousands of choices, most of which are terrible (but also inexpensive). Homing in on the best requires time, research, consideration and careful balancing of pros and cons listed on hundreds of lengthy reviews. Or you can read this article and find out everything you need to know in 10 minutes. Your choice!

The 3 Best Pinball Games You Can Play On Your Tablet [Android]

Pinball has always been difficult to re-create on a computer. Though there have been some good incarnations, the lack of direct interaction is a sore point for pinball on consoles and PCs. Playing with a keyboard just isn’t the same as the real thing. Tablets, however, can put you much closer to the traditional pinball experience.

How To Buy A Sweet Office Chair For Less

If you spend a lot of time on your computer you probably spend a lot of time sitting. Slowly, over the course of hours, you may experience pain. The pain goes away after a few minutes or hours – at first. Over time, however, minor pains can add up to serious health concerns. Ergonomic office chairs help, but are also expensive, which is why most people don’t buy them.

How Role Playing Games Can Teach You To Improve Your Finances

Games are often viewed as entertainment, yet the lessons learned in them can be useful in real-life situations. Learning to balance present needs against future plans in a strategy game can also help players decide the right course of action in the real world, and the twitch skills learned by gamers can help them quickly react to objects they see. Habits that work well in these games can be a boon to your wallet.

What You Need To Know About Buying Or Selling A Used iPad Or iPhone

The iPad and iPhone remain incredibly popular and continue to command a premium over some competing devices. Apple generally doesn't do sales so, if you want to buy either for less than retail, going used may be your only option. Here’s everything you need to know before buying or selling.

5 Essential Interface Mods For World Of Warcraft

World Of Warcraft is nearly nine years old, an age at which most good games border on "classic" status and have long since been forgotten by both players and developers. Yet the game remains the most popular MMO in both North America and Europe. Millions continue to enjoy it and, for some players, the experience is new. The game’s default interface is alright, newcomers may wonder why certain features aren't included.

Buyer Beware: How Not To Fall For Fake & Dangerous Apps [iOS & Android]

The popularity of Android and iOS has put a target on their virtual backs. These operating systems are a new frontier for those who use malware to achieve nefarious goals. Many users don’t take security seriously and will happily download apps they've never dream of downloading to their PC. App stores have hindered as much as they've helped. You have to watch out for yourself – so here are warning signs to look for when grabbing a new app.

5 Alternatives to the Apple iWatch That Are Already Available

Rumors that Apple is developing a smartwatch have caused a wave of new interest in this relatively small and obscure market. What is a smartwatch? Do they already exist? What can they do? These are questions that have been asked by others – and answered. A handful of companies (from small start-ups to the biggest electronics companies on the planet) have already crafted these devices and will sell you one right now.

Maximizing Storage On A Windows Tablet: What Are Your Options?

Windows tablets are now available from Microsoft and several other companies. The hardware inside them is generally the same as that found in an ultrabook, but there’s a notable exception - the hard drive. Most Windows tablets ship with only 64 or 128 gigabytes of space. Subtract the space required for the Windows install, which is usually around 30GB, and you can see the problem.

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