Category: Advice

Bookmarklets are an interesting and lightweight alternative to full-fledged browser extensions. Unlike regular bookmarks, bookmarklets don't take you to a website, but perform an action on the page you're currently viewing. They use bits of code, usually Javascript, to do things like send links, translate a page or mark a site for future reference. While they can't offer the deep functionality ...

A reader asks: My father is a businessman who travels a lot internationally, and asked me to find him a bare bones, simple cell phone that works well but also looks good. For the life of me I can't settle on a device. Instead, the market is flooded with smartphones or regular ones with tons of confusing crap stuffed inside. He doesn't text much but needs the capability, and his vision and ...

Shooting video with digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras like the Canon 5D Mark II, 7D and T2i can produce some pretty fantastic results -- as a quick tour around Vimeo, or a viewing of films by Vincent Laforet or Philip Bloom will illustrate. But high-quality video doesn't shoot itself, and achieving superb results with a DSLR isn't as simple as pressing "record." Not only do you need to ...

Share Back in February, CEO Mark Zuckerberg celebrated Facebook's 6th birthday and 400 millionth member by penning an open letter to his users to thank them for making both milestones possible. "Whether in times of tragedy or joy, people want to share and help one another," Zuckerberg wrote. "This human need is what inspires us to continue to innovate and build things that allow people to ...

Share Since 2005, there have been at least 358.4 million personal records lost to security breaches, according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. This includes everything from home addresses to credit card numbers and Social Security information. But, as frightening as the prospect of your sensitive data being compromised is, simply removing all traces of yourself from the Web is not a ...

Share A reader asks: I just moved into a new house, have an empty living room, and want the best possible TV I can get to fill the gaping hole -- for under 500 bucks, that is. I know it's a tall order, but I'm broke and need to be sure whatever TV I get is going to impress my suspicious wife and last for the next, oh, 30 years -- until I've finally paid off my mortgage. So please, just tell me ...

A reader asks: One of my college housemates just moved out, which is a good thing, but he took his TV with him. This is a bad thing. So I'm looking for a PC monitor that can do double duty as a TV, too -- something reasonably big, as good quality as possible, fast enough for console games and is around $350 or so. I'm stuck with a laptop 12-inch screen until you reply, so hurry up and just tell ...

Share A reader asks: The original Apple iPod ear buds I've been using for years have finally crapped out, and I'm looking for a replacement and hopefully an upgrade. My budget is $100 max, and I want the best possible combination of good sound and comfort. I'm not a huge fan of the types you shove in your ear canal. Since you can't try out earphones at any stores I've visited, I have no ...

Share A reader asks: I'm interested in a waterproof camera for an upcoming trip but can't decide between the various point-and-shoot models. I've read that some leak, or simply don't take great pictures. I know you can buy waterproof camera housings but wonder if I can get away with one camera that just does it all. So, just tell me what to get! Dear Reader: We totally agree. In our ...

Share A reader writes: My wife treats digital cameras like they're disposables, so once again I'm in charge of finding her next victim. Since I know I'll be in this position again by the end of summer, what's my best option for a camera that takes great pictures, is simple as pie to use, and is cheap enough that it won't make me cry when she inevitably busts it -- say under $150 or so? I've ...

Share digg_url ='http://www.switched.com/2010/02/22/how-to-get-a-job-as-a-game-tester/'; It sounds like the ultimate gig: making a living by playing video games all day. And if you're a true game fanatic -- and we mean a real fanatic -- it can be exactly that. But being a quality assurance tester for a video game company isn't always the nerd-vana it sounds like. Sony's offering a select ...

Share Buying a new computer is always a daunting task. There are tons of variables to consider, including whether or not you're ready to join (or ditch) the cult of Mac. Laptop or desktop? How much RAM? And what processor will you need to power your new rig? As usual, Switched is here to help you navigate the labyrinth of options, and lead you on your path to the best PC for your needs. ...

A reader writes: I travel a lot for work and the wimpy iPod earphones just don't hack it against the whine of airplane engines and, worse, seatmates. I'm looking for a reliable, comfortable, easily portable pair of noise-canceling headphones that won't break the bank. I don't have time to research them all, so just tell me what to get! Dear Reader: Like DVRs, iPhones and Slingboxes, ...

A reader writes: "Well, it has finally happened: My (un)trusty warhorse Linksys WRT54G finally gave up the ghost and I'm in the market for a new wireless router. The thing is, I use a ton of differing Wi-Fi devices – an old Win XP laptop with a B card, a desktop PC with G, a new Mac laptop with N, an Xbox 360, an iPhone, whatever it is the neighbors are using to leach off of me – ...

A reader writes: I drive a couple hours for my work commute and am looking for a way of hooking up my new iPod touch to my car stereo, which is an old tape deck but puts out great sound. I want something that can put out good audio quality, will keep my iPod charged, and hopefully not create too much clutter. A visit to Best Buy was an exercise in frustration, and if I have to hear another day ...