Category: Advice

Hype Check: Zune HD What it is: You've no doubt heard of Zune -- Microsoft's much-hyped personal media player (PMP) -- but you may not have seen much of it. Unfortunately for Microsoft, the device hasn't exactly caught on with the mainstream, with Apple's iPod (not to mention iPhone) still dominating the space. Zune HD is the Zune's third iteration and it comes in 16 -gigabyte (GB) and 32GB ...

Share Now is a good time to ponder the apocalypse. Iran and North Korea are going nuclear, the wonky weather is a harbinger of catastrophic climate change, and end-of-the-world blockbusters abound. (Tim Burton's '9' came out last week and '2012,' 'The Road,' and 'Zombieland' are all coming up later this fall.) In that dismal spirit, the Switched team has gathered its first choices for ...

Just as bearded hipsters migrate from bar to bar in pursuit of young ladies to ogle, so too have scammers and hackers followed their prey from MySpace to Facebook. As a result, the social network once deemed the "safe" option is now plagued by legions of 419 scammers, phishers, and peddlers of malware. Fortunately, there are a few simple rules Facebookers can follow to stay safe: Never click ...

Question: I use my computer for most of my TV and movie watching and music listening, but my machine's built-in speakers sound bloody awful. I want a set of computer speakers that sounds good whether cranked up loud or turned down soft. And I don't want to spend a fortune. Advice: The underpowered speakers built into laptops and desktops can suck the life out of any video or song. They're too ...

Going back to school may not be fun, but it's a great excuse to buy new gear. Whether it's college or high school that calls you back, rest assured that the dozen gizmos the Switched.com crew has found will make your weekdays less painful. ...

Share Foreclosures. Bailouts. Unemployment. Cats and dogs living together. Yes, these are stressful times. But don't panic: There are a lot of ways to stay afloat during this economic downturn. While we can't advise you on stocks or mortgages, we do know a thing or two about technology. So we present this list of gadgets, Web sites, and tips that will keep at least a few bucks in your bank ...

Question: I need a new digital camera. But since money is tight these days, I can't spend much over $100. Is there a camera around that price that's worth any money at all? Our Advice: Yes. These days, most camera makers sell surprisingly capable point-and-shoots for just over $100. At that price, you won't get the latest and greatest photo technology. But you will get an inexpensive ...

A reader asks: I travel and commute a lot, and I need a set of headphones for my iPod and laptop. Those white earbuds just don't cut it on a plane or subway – especially for blocking out noise. I like to watch action movies, so they need to have good bass for those Hollywood explosions. But I'm also a jazz fan. Hey Reader: We're not crazy about stock earbuds, either, and we've tried ...

TweetDeck What it does: TweetDeck is a client for the burgeoning micro-blogging / social networking service, Twitter. In addition to basic functions like updating your status and delivering your friends' Tweets, the app offers a host of advanced features that make it the client of choice among the seriously Twitter addicted. What we like about it: For one, TweetDeck works on almost any ...

A reader writes: I want a decent-sounding audiophile table radio that can not only handle my iPod, but also wake me up in the morning! The Bose Wave radio II looks nice, but I'm not sure I want to spend more than $300 on this. Just tell me what to get! Sure, Bose's Wave radio II sounds great, but do you really want to shell out $350 for a high-end clock radio that doesn't interface directly ...

Most people use Twitter, the top micro-blogging service, the same way they use Facebook status updates -- as a narcissistic mini-diary of their lives' mundane events. But Twitter can be more than a distraction and time killer. In fact, it can follow breaking news, set alarms and reminders, track packages, and stay organized. Here are five ways to get more out of Twitter than just updates on ...

The whole Internet, it seems, is currently fawning over the new iPhone 3GS. That's partially because the device seems to be a worthy upgrade to the iPhone 3G. (We're not sure we'd call it a successor, since it will be sold alongside the existing handset; it's more like choosing between the basic MacBook and the souped-up MacBook Pro.) We also lay responsibility for the hype, though, on the ...

What it is: Hulu Desktop is a free, Flash-based application for Mac and Windows that plays video from the Hulu Web site, including full episodes and clips from ABC, Fox, and NBC television shows, plus a smattering of movies. What we like about it: Hulu desktop brings a high level of polish to what was already a fantastic video site. Once you get the hang of the left-to-right organization, ...

With phishing scams sweeping across the Net, including recent Facebook and Twitter attacks, it's important to take extra measures in protecting personal information from identity thieves. One method of avoiding phishing traps and hackers is to ensure that your passwords are virtually undetectable. Riva Richmond, in the New York Times, outlines some easy and effective ways to secure passwords ...

Even in our ever-accelerating, technologically turbulent world, we can count on some things to remain the same. Baby boomers, the generation that virtually invented short-lived trends, experienced another one with Facebook. After joining in droves last year, they started dropping from it like flies this spring. At the other end of the generational spectrum, teenagers continue to do really dumb ...