Archive
May 28, 2008
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How plugged in are you?
I’m sure you’ve all heard about “vampire appliances.” These are appliances that are drawing electricity even when they are…
May 21, 2008
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Team Awesome
I have always dreamt of being in a rock band. I consider myself to be a pretty musical person (violinist since I was 9, sang with the Windham…
May 14, 2008
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Body scanning
Airports in New York and Los Angeles are the latest to use a new device which peers under clothing to check for concealed weapons. The machine…
May 7, 2008
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Safe or paranoid?
Am I paranoid or is everyone out to get me? This week I started writing an article full of password tips: How to make your passwords hard to…
April 30, 2008
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Tech for outdoors
Spring and all the glory it brings with it is upon us, and it’s finally time to leave the cubicle and the office behind and get outside!…
April 23, 2008
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Xbox hazards
Your Xbox is the center of a lot of things in your life. It gives you joy, social interaction and a reason to check your smoke alarms. A family…
April 16, 2008
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Wireless security – Part 2
In my last column I discussed the security breech at Hannaford that resulted in pretty much everyone I know having to go a week without their ATM…
April 9, 2008
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Who knew?
As we all know, it’s very easy to find illegal downloading utilities. Every one of us has tried at least one in the past, usually with horrific…
April 2, 2008
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Text vs. talk for parents
Text messaging has become a new language for teenagers and young adults. A whopping 4.6 billion texts were sent through the Vodaphone network in 2007…
March 26, 2008
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Wireless security - Part 1
Well, shopping just got a whole lot scarier. A lot of people assume that shopping online puts you at greater risk for identity theft or credit card…
March 19, 2008
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Get your Chumby
Alarm clocks are outdated. You’re either forced to wake up to what sounds like a bomb going off, or annoying music coming from a radio-based…
March 12, 2008
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War is over
So, the format war is over and I’m on the losing side. What can I say? Someone had to win, right? Blu-ray officially won the format war this…
March 5, 2008
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Be forward wary
Every once in a while a humorous email comes into my inbox which asks me to add some personal information to it and forward it along to everyone I…
February 27, 2008
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Mylo for cell-free
Do you consider yourself a city-dweller? Are you never more than a few short blocks away from a McDonalds? Perhaps you are dying for an iPhone, but…
February 20, 2008
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Decision 2008
Do you know who you’re going to vote for? If you’re still undecided, the internet is here to help. Technology is quickly becoming…
February 13, 2008
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Out with the old
It’s that time of the year. Many of us got new computers for Christmas and we’ve finally finished copying all of our files over from our…
February 7, 2008
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Tiny tech
Instant gratification. We have email and all of our music in our pockets. We can get in contact with anyone, at any time — causing many of us…
January 30, 2008
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High on definition
The end of the format war is near. Unfortunately for me, it seems as though Sony Blu-ray is the winner. HD DVD and Blu-ray have been battling…
January 23, 2008
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A new day
Four years ago this month the presidential buzz around the country was a relative unknown from Vermont named Howard Dean. Part of the reason for his…
January 16, 2008
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Brand new toys
Now that the New Year has come and gone, the next big thing for technology fans is the Consumer Electronics Show, held in Las Vegas. Considered…
January 10, 2008
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The best toy of the year?
It seemed that 2007 was a stellar year for geeked out inventions. Technology met toys to create fabulous fun, sometimes convenience and entertaining…
January 4, 2008
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Lit and improved
Just in time for it’s 100th anniversary, the New Year’s Eve ball got an upgrade. The 1,070-pound ball was new and improved this year…
December 26, 2007
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Read all about it
From what I’ve heard from some dedicated reading enthusiasts, the new wireless Kindle reader has changed their life. OK, that’s a pretty…
December 20, 2007
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Tech-Know - A Driver's Dream
OK, so we just had our second big snow storm of the season, and I’ve realized that maybe I’m not the best driver in the snow. I’m…
December 14, 2007
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Toys for grown-ups
Technology advancements continue to evolve at light speed — for better or for worse. Our world becomes faster, smaller, more convenient, and…
December 4, 2007
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The must-have
Last year it was nearly impossible to find a Wii before Christmas. The ground breaking console was described as “fun for ages 5 to 95”…
November 27, 2007
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Grab a gadget: NOV 29
If Fido has a tendency to wander away from home (or you have a tendency to let him run sans leash), you may want to check out the RoamEO GPS Pet…
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Web of the week: www.carepages.com
Facebook is great for gossip on former classmates and MySpace keeps us in tune with the latest music, but where do you turn when someone you love is…
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Changing the world
I was lucky enough to have an Apple II computer growing up. I could play Frogger to my heart’s content at a speed that matched my banana seat…
November 21, 2007
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Phone FYI: NOV 22
Sony Ericsson recently unveiled a new line of Walkman phones, the W890 and the W380 (shown here). These phones for music-philes offer features like…
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Web of the week: www.sidereel.com
Sure, it may be geeky, but sometimes we just can’t get enough of “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Office” or “Pushing…
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Great gifts
The holidays are upon us, folks. This Friday officially kicks off “Black Friday,” the start of the holiday shopping rush. Some people…
November 13, 2007
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Gamer guide: NOV 15
If you have a steady hand and a strong stomach, you’ll want to check out “Lifesigns: Surgical Unit.” This game of life and death…
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Web of the week: www.servicebeacon.com
Nothing is worse than getting pulled over for speeding, unless the officer informs you that your inspection expired — three months ago. But…
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A techie texting rant
It’s tough to compete with those reared in the 21st century. Nowadays, the proficient illustrate amazing dexterity — some are adept at…
November 6, 2007
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Web of the week: www.scanr.com
There’s nothing worse than being asked to transcribe a pile of flip charts or an enormous white board (covered in color-coded scribbles). Who…
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Xbox hell
About a month ago, I wrote a column about my poor Xbox360. My console is sick. It came down with a case of the “three red lights.” I…
October 30, 2007
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Phone FYI: NOV 1
Don’t go into Google withdrawal when you’re away from your PC. Instead, satisfy your searching needs via text message. You can send…
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Web of the Week: www.monstertrak.monster.com/greencareers
The corporate 9-to-5 got you down? Want to save the planet while you work? Then check out the new GreenCareers site from Monster. The site offers up…
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Cleaner, greener fuels
I know it’s nearly 2008, but if you ask me, 2020 seems like a frighteningly distant date. Yet, this is the year that a controversial energy…
October 23, 2007
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Gamer guide: Oct 25
Released last week, “Heroes of Might & Magic V: Tribes of the East,” is the final chapter in an epic struggle that started when Queen…
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Web of the week: www.beyondthepod.com
When you’re itching for a new iPod or Nintendo but your old one still works, it can be hard to justify tossing it out. But with…
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Old favorites
Technology has changed drastically over the last few years. Everything has become smarter and easier. Your car can tell you where to go, you can talk…
October 16, 2007
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Web of the Week: www.made-in-china.com
Whether you seek it out for savings or run away screaming when you see it, the words “Made in China” tend to get a reaction these days…
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Green’s getting easier
With 250 million cars on the road in the U.S., it’s obvious we’re an addicted lot, unwilling to forfeit the freedom that comes with…
October 9, 2007
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Get this gadget: Oct. 11
You might go hiking to enjoy the calls of the birds and revel in the peace and quiet of the natural surroundings ... but that probably bores your…
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Phone FYI: Oct. 11
Test your texting savvy with these acronyms: AYTMTB And you’re telling me this because? BTDT Been there, done that CRBT Crying really big…
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Web of the Week: http://www.wepushbuttons.com/awards
When it comes to homegrown music, Portland can hold its own. In addition to all the acoustic, rock, heavy metal and reggae you can handle, the city…
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Techno drive
I recently went to a dealership and bought myself a new car. It was a real process for me — I wanted to be sure I was getting my money’s…
October 2, 2007
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Gamer Guide
Set in the year 2552 and continuing the epic battle between humans and the alien Covenant, the much awaited Halo 3 hit store shelves last week. The…