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The Power Of Branding Tuesday, July 19, 2011 @ 4:03PMIts the ultimate economic moat, and we look at the approaches and effects of good and bad branding.
Turn an Old Computer into a Networked Backup, Streaming, or Torrenting Machine with FreeNAS [Video] Tuesday, July 19, 2011 @ 3:32PM# howto At its most basic, Network attached storage, or NAS, is a great way to share files on your local network. But it's also a perfect solution for backing up your computers, streaming media across your home network, or even torrenting files to a central server. If you have an aging computer lying around, you can turn it into a NAS for for free with the open-source FreeNAS operating system ...
Adobe Gets Bonus with EchoSign--a Patent Lawsuit Tuesday, July 19, 2011 @ 2:21PMRPost has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Adobe and EchoSign, as well as rival DocuSign, alleging that the digital signature technologies used violate patents it holds.
Being Cheap Can Be Costly for Data Backups Tuesday, July 19, 2011 @ 1:23PMDo you back up your data? Nearly half of small businesses have learned the hard way why regular data backups are crucial, yet many still fail to backup critical data, or they cut corners to save a buck and find out it can be much more expensive to be cheap.
Are Kindle textbook rentals a real deal? Tuesday, July 19, 2011 @ 1:13PMPending college students everywhere smiled (and former students grumbled) at the news that Amazon will offer electronic textbook rentals at significant discounts. But are Amazon e-textbooks really that much of a deal?
EcoModo - The Best of Treehugger [Green] Tuesday, July 19, 2011 @ 12:47PM# green This week on TreeHugger, a badass PC made from Legos, a flatpack house built for $720, furniture for the minimalist geek, solar cells that can be printed on paper or fabric, and more! More »
Amazon Announces "Kindle Textbook Rental" Tuesday, July 19, 2011 @ 9:35AMAmazon is looking to give students' wallets a bit of relief by introducing Kindle Textbook Rental, which offers tens of thousands of textbooks from well-known textbook publishers like Elsevier, Taylor & Francis and John Wiley & Sons
What high-tech stuff do students need? Tuesday, July 19, 2011 @ 9:24AMNEW YORK #8212; Electronics have become necessities for students heading to college, but it's easy to spend too much or buy overly elaborate or redundant gadgets. And some that used to be essential aren't needed anymore. Here's what to shell out for and how to save on electronics for your student:
LulzSec livetweets attack on Rupert Murdoch's news empire Monday, July 18, 2011 @ 6:09PMMischievous hacker group LulzSec on Monday repeatedly attacked websites belonging to international media conglomerate News Corporation, calling it "Murdoch Meltdown Monday."
Plane-share program lifts off at airport Sunday, July 17, 2011 @ 2:07PMA Canada-based fractional-aircraft-ownership company has opened its fist U.S. operation in Scottsdale.
Callous gang guns down flock for black-market meat as high food prices bring crime to rural England Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 8:17PMThe men used .24 calibre hunting rifles to kill the animals on a Northamptonshire farm. The gang then bundled 26 carcasses into a van.
Amazon Tablet May Cost Less Than $300 Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 12:52PMThe upcoming Android tablet from Amazon is probably the tech world's least well-kept secret, right up with the "rumored Apple tablet" of early 2010. But the Apple rumors resolved into the iPad, easily the most popular electronic gadget ever. Will Amazon's upcoming tablets follow?
Smart Spending: Back-to-school electronics buyers face choices Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 7:06PMDoes your college student really need an iPad? Is it better to skimp and go for a netbook? Or should you invest in a top-flight laptop? Electronics have become necessities for students heading to college, but it's easy to spend too much or buy overly elab
How China stopped spam and malware distribution on its domains Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 5:24PMI stopped following the spam problem in detail a while ago, but assumed that China was a major source of the stuff. It just sort of seems like it would be, but it turns out this is no longer the case.
How to Ditch Netflix and Still Watch (Almost) Everything You Want [NetFlix] Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 4:32PM# netflix You're outraged ( OUTRAGED !) that Netflix's price hike has stolen your cheap movie rentals. In fact, you're going to delete your subscription. Forever . Now what? Here's how to replace Netflix in your life, from streaming to shiny plastic discs. More »
Microsoft needs to stop giving people reasons NOT to upgrade Windows! Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 3:01PMMicrosoft might want to exorcise Windows XP and Vista from the world's PCs (because if you're running old software, you've not given Microsoft any cash in a while), but the company's own attitudes...
HBO Go for Android OS Review Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 10:31AMAdama D. Brown, a self-confessed HBO addict, took a close look at a free Android OS app known as HBO Go. Although he rediscovered a sumptuous banguet of TV and film fare, he also uncovered the fact that the reality of HBO Go doesn't quite live up to the promise. To learn all of the details, read the full review.
Microsoft Social Network "Tulalip" Leaked? Eversave Sold For $30M, SpaceX's Big Rocket Plans, Groupon Coupons Questioned Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 5:35AMThere's a sketchy leak about a Microsoft social network. Daily deals site Eversave sold for $30M, Sony Ericsson hit by earthquake woes, SpaceX's big rocket future gets going. This and more important news from your Fast Company editors, with updates all day. FaceBalmer . Microsoft may be rolling out a social networking platform, called Tulalip, according to a website claiming to have discovered ...
10 Most Useful Sub-$10 Buys From IKEA Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 12:51AMWe’re very fond of hacking IKEA gear around here , but some of the items the Swedish furniture giant sells are far more versatile than others. Here are the 10 handiest items you can pick up for repurposing the next time you make an IKEA pilgrimage — and every single one is priced under $10. (more…)
Spotify: What it is, How it Works, and Why You Should Care Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 10:40PMThough users in Europe have been reaping the benefits of Spotify since 2008, music lovers in the United States got their first taste for the first time today, when it officially became available in North America. At first glance, Spotify must appear like yet another overhyped streaming music service, but upon further inspection users will find that it could very well be the future of the music ...
Smart Spending: Back-to-school electronics Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 8:40PMNEW YORK — Does your college student really need an iPad? Is it better to skimp and go for a netbook? Or should you invest in a top-flight laptop? Electronics have become necessities for students ...
Spotify launches in US: Stream any music for free – or not Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 7:09PMSpotify, the streaming music service that’s been all the rage in Europe, has finally launched here in the United States. So, being a tech reporter and all that jazz, I thought I’d give it a try. Since most people will probably opt for the free version, and because I’m cheap, I signed up for the [...]
Messy needs of people defy technological convergence Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 6:37PMWIRED:The utopian world in which single solutions perform myriad roles has remained elusive
Nearly 60% of Netflix customers plan to close their accounts [poll results] Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 5:39PMWell, so much for the 23 million subscribers Netflix worked so hard to get. Based on Betanews poll results, currently with more than 1,600 responses -- 59.52 percent of Netflix users will "cancel account".
Sony updating its readers for a new push against Kindle Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 3:42PMSony’s set to re-enter the reader market as soon as one month from now, supposedly releasing revamped and updated versions of its devices even before the new S1 and S2 tablets. Sony’s had readers on the market for years now, but consumers have largely forgotten about their existence–despite the sleek look and reasonable pricing of [...]
Rain creates an unwanted waterfront - LETTER Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 3:16PMThere's nothing quite like wondering how much water will be in my basement this time, and if maybe I should leave work early and put sandbags out on the sidewalk. This isn't because my house is not properly built.[...]
Analysts: Android tablets, more to catch up to iPad by 2014 Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 1:41PMAn unusually dissenting report from Nomura analysts Thursday estimated that the iPad would be eclipsed by its tablet rivals in three years. Working on the basis that Apple will ship 35 million iPads this year versus everyone else's 20 million, the researchers saw the lead narrowing substantially in 2012 and 2013, with the iPad finally losing an absolute majority in 2014 as 83 million non-Apple ...
Beyond Netflix: where else to get your flick fix Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 12:55PMNew York — Even with a fee hike, millions of Netflix subscribers will be spending less each month than what it costs two adults to watch a single movie in a theater.
Hate Mail: Ignorance isn't bliss ... it's ignorant Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 11:33AMCBS Sports national columnist Gregg Doyel responds to readers about homophobic slurs, Roger Clemens and Jose Bautista's improbable numbers in this week's edition of Hate Mail.
Indie RPGs Conquer Steam Sales Figures Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 11:09AMLaunching shortly after a Steam sale might not seem like the best idea, but three indie RPGs have done very well for themselves over the last couple of days.
Besides Netflix, where to get your flick fix Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 10:36AMNEW YORK — Even with a fee hike, millions of Netflix subscribers will be spending less each month than what it costs two adults to watch a single movie in a theater. Yet the company, which is usually well-liked, managed to irk many of its 23 million U.S. customers by raising what it charges for streaming movies and TV shows over the Internet and sending DVDs by mail. The increase is as high as ...
The classic game appreciation section: F.E.A.R. Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 9:21AMIt's not a crusty old Sega game this week! Yay!
Sony VAIO Z reviews from around the web Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 9:15AMDoes it live up to the hype?
How To Diagnose a PC That Won't Turn On Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 9:08AMDetermine why your PC won't boot in about 5 minutes.
Letters to the Editor Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 7:32AMHAUPPAUGE Steve Levy responds You claim in your editorial “the first thing an editor might ask a reporter returning from an event might be ‘what’s the lead,’ in other words what’s the news hook?” Had you sent a reporter to the event, instead of commenting on something you did not report on, perhaps you would [...]
What is the best gadget for Internet browsing abroad? Saturday, July 9, 2011 @ 1:33AMRick Maybury outlines all the options available so you can stay connected when you're abroad.
The Chromebook: Yes, Investors, It Matters Friday, July 8, 2011 @ 7:53PMTiny laptops are a serviceable option for mobile workforces.
Walmart has most to fear from Target entry, survey finds Friday, July 8, 2011 @ 2:04PMWalmart, the world's biggest retailer, may have more to fear from rival Target's arrival into Canada than some of the country's homegrown chains, according to a new study. Most retailers are likely to lose some customers from the arrival of the U.S.[...]
HP says Oracle is taking cheap shots Friday, July 8, 2011 @ 6:07AMThe maker of jolly expensive printer ink HP has hit back at Oracle's claim last month that it is trying to conceal information that would weaken its position in the case.
Will Earnings Season Lift Stocks? Thursday, July 7, 2011 @ 10:34PMMany investors hope second-quarter earnings will drive stocks higher. They may be disappointed.
Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition Review Thursday, July 7, 2011 @ 10:30PMThose who play video games exclusively on PC may miss out on new fighting titles like Mortal Kombat and Marvel vs. Capcom 3, but at least Capcom still cares enough to give its flagship fighting series to the mouse and keyboard crowd. The base version of Street Fighter IV showed up on PC in July of 2...
Windows links to iPod grow Thursday, July 7, 2011 @ 8:18PMDevelopers have been rushing to create Windows-to-iPod software, filling in a void Apple left when it launched the digital music player. But the Mac maker could soon catch them up.
OUR TWEETS Thursday, July 7, 2011 @ 5:20AMCurb your enthusiasm – you can count this week’s new releases using both of your thumbs. Air Conflicts – Secret Wars (out on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC) is compatible with 3D TVs and has online play for up to eight other aviators.
Some valuable lessons Thursday, July 7, 2011 @ 12:04AMI would like to welcome Thailand back to democracy after 5 years in the wilderness.
10 essential DSiWare games for 3DS owners Wednesday, July 6, 2011 @ 4:06PMWith the launch of the eShop, Nintendo 3DS owners now have access to a wide array of DSiWare releases – bite-sized downloadable games originally designed for the Nintendo DSi that also run on the fancy-schmancy new handheld.
Change the Way Windows 7 Displays Taskbar Icons Wednesday, July 6, 2011 @ 11:08AMWindows 7's taskbar icons can be confusing to anyone accustomed to XP or Vista. Here's how to make them a little friendlier.
JVC Victor unveils new dual iPhone and iPad docking station audio system Wednesday, July 6, 2011 @ 6:05AMJVC has pulled the wraps off a cool new docking station audio system for the Apple iPhone and iPad. This sort of docking station isn’t something new by any means, but this is the first system I have seen that will dock an iPhone and an iPad at the same time. That means you can [...]
Opinion: The iPad is an epic success for users Wednesday, July 6, 2011 @ 3:56AMWinn's contention was that "in so many ways, the IT community can be legitimately accused of Epic Fail. We have overestimated users beyond comprehension and that is our fault. There are three million of us geeks and three billion of them.
Fujitsu reignites local notebook division Wednesday, July 6, 2011 @ 1:27AMFUJITSU Australia has switched on, again, its discontinuous local notebook PC business with an array of models and a new country manager.
The iPad: Epic success for users Tuesday, July 5, 2011 @ 5:54PMYou read last week's Backspin (you did, didn't you?) so you'll know it included a riposte from my old friend and verbal sparring partner, Winn Schwartau, to my April column "Curse you, users."