Today, Microsoft released Windows 8.1 to the general public, and many early adopters are running to be the first to get the free update that adds new features, fixes usability issues, and generally makes Windows 8 more pleasurable to use. I’ve been running the preview for months, and the final release for the last week. […]
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Nest Protect Rethinks Smoke Detectors
Makers of the Nest Thermostat have announced a follow-up product in the Nest Protect, which combines the functionality of a traditional household smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector with internet connectivity and more intelligent alerts. When Nest Protect detects smoke or carbon monoxide, it lights up yellow and a recorded human voice announces the nature of […]
Your Data Doesn’t Vanish When You Chuck Your Device
I’m a scavenger. My normal reaction to a friend getting a new bit of tech is “What did you do with the old one?” I’m also not above dumpster diving if my eye is caught. In an attempt to use my powers for good, I used to refurbish trashed laptops for a charity. Recently, I […]
CyanogenMod Installer Is Almost Too Easy
CyanogenMod has been my preferred version of Android since shortly after I bought a Droid Incredible four years ago. The Incredible was a great little phone, but I was hungry for the latest version of Google’s mobile OS. I spent hours fiddling with drivers, command-line programs I didn’t really understand, and custom recoveries that didn’t […]
On The Cheap: Kindle Fire HD Now Best Deal In Tablet Town
Amazon’s Kindle line has long been a favorite of mine. Yesterday morning the e-commerce titan announced not one, but two new tablets, dubbed the Kindle Fire HDX. Both the 7.8″ and 8.9″ models continue the trend of being a brilliant choice for consumers. However, instead of focusing on the new OS, cool costumer service solution, […]
Everyone Else Is Doing It: BlackBerry Goes Up For Sale With Intention Of Going Private
Earlier in the month, Microsoft purchased Nokia. Not long after, computer giant Dell was sold back to the company’s founder. These were both expected, synergistic moves that made sense for all involved. Now, another long-rumored sale is coming to light as BlackBerry has entered an agreement to sell to Fairfax Financial. Fairfax is already the single […]
Does Android KitKat Show That The Dessert Name Needs To Be Given A Break?
Every version of Android has been named for a type of candy. That much is understand, and it’s a cute way to go about creating memorable version names. Each version has also been in alphabetical order: Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, and the current release, Jelly Bean. Version 4.4 was expected […]
On The Cheap: Walmart Rolls Back Prices On iPhone 5S And 5C
If you’re sick of hearing talk about the new iPhones, click away from here now. For those who are interested, Walmart will sell the Apple products at a discount from day one. The high-end 5s has a $10 savings at $189, and the 5c has a slightly more palatable $79 price tag. The retail giant […]
Michael Dell Buys His Own Company Back
It’s weird to think of now, but Dell Computer was crazy geeky once upon a time. Starting out in Michael Dell’s dorm room, his fledgling enterprise made him enough scratch that he could quit college and focus on computers full time. At one time seeing itself as the average consumer’s company of choice, Dell the […]
Goodbye, iPhone 5; Helloooooo, iPhone 5C And 5S
The rumored iPhone 5C and 5S are real, folks. The 6 was a total false flag. Slightly more unexpected was the keeping in place of the iPhone 4S as the free option while the 5 was retired outright. While the 5 was, according to Apple, the most rapidly adopted iPhone, it’s clearly too high-end of […]