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How to bring the Mac’s virtual desktop “spaces” to a Windows PC

How to bring the Mac’s virtual desktop “spaces” to a Windows PC

by ben patterson | Jan 18, 2012 | desktops, how-tos, laptops

One of my favorite features on Apple’s Mac operating system is “Mission Control,” which lets you create and easily switch between multiple desktop “spaces”—perfect for anyone who, for example, wants one virtual desktop for work and...
“Try-before-you-buy” Ybuy service: Like Netflix, but for gadgets

“Try-before-you-buy” Ybuy service: Like Netflix, but for gadgets

by ben patterson | Jan 18, 2012 | news, online services, online shopping

Want to try a wireless body scale, a floor-sweeping Roomba, or even the iPad 2 at home without plunking down the full retail price? A new, online shopping site lets you do just that, provided you’re willing to fork over $25 a month. Billing itself as an online...
How to keep Facebook’s new “Open Graph” apps from over-sharing your activity

How to keep Facebook’s new “Open Graph” apps from over-sharing your activity

by ben patterson | Jan 17, 2012 | apps, how-tos, privacy, social networks

You know those updates in your Facebook news feed about which Washington Post stories your friends are reading, what songs they’re listening to on Spotify, and the shows they’re streaming on Hulu? Well, they’re courtesy of Facebook’s new...
9 nifty gadgets at CES; 10 Windows keyboard shortcuts; make you own iPhone vibrations (week in review)

9 nifty gadgets at CES; 10 Windows keyboard shortcuts; make you own iPhone vibrations (week in review)

by ben patterson | Jan 14, 2012 | week in review

A four millimeter-thick HDTV, a toddler-proof Android tablet, and a Facebook-friendly baby scale were among the gizmos that got the most attention at this year’s edition of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Read on for more eye-popping gadgets that...
Hands-on: OnLive Desktop brings Windows 7 to your iPad

Hands-on: OnLive Desktop brings Windows 7 to your iPad

by ben patterson | Jan 13, 2012 | desktops, reviews, tablets, the cloud

Does anyone really need a full-on, touch-friendly version of Windows running on their iPad? Good question, but a company that specializes in streaming high-end games to PCs, laptops, TVs, and tablets has pulled it off, and you can try it today for free. Available now...
CES 2012: 9 nifty new products to watch

CES 2012: 9 nifty new products to watch

by ben patterson | Jan 11, 2012 | accessories, laptops, music, news, phones, tablets

From a razor-thin 55-inch HDTV to a wireless, Twitter-savvy baby scale (no, really), check out nine new gadgets that are making waves this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Click a thumbnail to start your...
Bad iPhone battery life while shuffling music with iTunes Match? (reader mail)

Bad iPhone battery life while shuffling music with iTunes Match? (reader mail)

by ben patterson | Jan 10, 2012 | how-tos, music, phones

Karen writes: iTunes Match on the iPhone works great for me when I’m near my home Wi-Fi network, but I’m having big trouble the moment I go out into the world. My iPhone’s battery just goes kaput whem I’m on 3G, especially when I’m...
10 free, must-have Google Chrome apps and extensions

10 free, must-have Google Chrome apps and extensions

by ben patterson | Jan 5, 2012 | apps, desktops, laptops, the cloud, web browsers

If you haven’t tried Google’s impressive, app-friendly Chrome browser yet, you should—and when you do, make sure to try a few applications and feature-adding “extensions” from the Chrome Web Store. Read on for 10 of my favorites, from Angry...
How to bring Facebook chat (and the ticker) to your Windows desktop

How to bring Facebook chat (and the ticker) to your Windows desktop

by ben patterson | Jan 3, 2012 | desktops, how-tos, social networks

Thanks to the just-released Facebook Messenger for Windows, you can get alerts for incoming messages even when you don’t have Facebook open in your browser—and yes, you can even view the much-maligned Facebook “ticker” on your desktop, if you wish....
5 tech tips to kick off the New Year

5 tech tips to kick off the New Year

by ben patterson | Jan 3, 2012 | desktops, laptops, phones, privacy, security

A new year means a new start—for both you and your gadgets. Get off on the right foot in 2012 with these five essential tech tips, from backing up your hard drive (you are backing up your hard drive, aren’t you?) to taking charge of your pile of passwords. 1....
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