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Fast Forward's Help File

Rob Pegoraro — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Q How can I keep track of the security fixes for all the software that Windows Update doesn't cover, like my Internet plug-ins and media players?

Is it Time for Sony to Drop the PS3's Price?

Matt Peckham — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:19:07 EDT

At up to $470 fully loaded, Sony's PS3 doesn't come cheap, so I'm going to have to agree with EEDAR analyst Jesse Divinich when he suggests the PS3 is getting clobbered by Microsoft's recent Xbox 360 price cuts . The PS3 costs around $400 in its base configuration, ascending to upwards of $470 if...

BlackBerry Storm: RIM's Un-iPhone

Yardena Arar, PC World — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:19:07 EDT

Research in Motion has finally announced details about its long-rumored iPhone competitor , an almost-all-touch-interface 3G handset with a twist: The screen itself is a big hardware button.

Casual Friday: High-Tech Travel Tips

Darren Gladstone, PC World — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:19:07 EDT

Plenty of stories provide advice for elite mobile professionals. But what about you, the unproductive traveler? Maybe you're on vacation. Maybe you're trying to chill out before a day's worth of travel and business meetings. Point is, you need to pack a little smarter to entertain yourself, and...

Security Fix Live

Brian Krebs — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Security Fix blogger Brian Krebs answers your questions about the latest computer security threats and offers ways to protect your personal information.

Review: Tiny flash drives improve their security

RON HARRIS — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:15:25 EDT

ATLANTA -- Flash memory drives, the size of your thumb, are dirt cheap and offer gigabytes of storage. It's tempting to fill one of them with important computer files, clip it to a key chain and hit the road.

'NHL 09' first star in hockey franchise

MICHAEL FELBERBAUM — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:19:21 EDT

-- In the world of sports video games, not much can really change year to year. The game at its core is the same, but it's what video-game developers add that makes it worth spending the cash.

Wario, Kirby, Sonic return in new adventures

LOU KESTEN — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:38:06 EDT

-- For a self-effacing, portly little plumber, Mario may be the most ambitious guy in video games. It's not enough that he has the most recognizable face in the industry; his parents at Nintendo have promoted him everywhere, from T-shirts and lunchboxes to cartoons and cell-phone ringtones. He's...

High Court Lets Dish Ruling Stand

Greg Stohr — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday rejected Dish Network's appeal of a patent-infringement ruling that may force the company to shut down its digital video recording service and pay TiVo hundreds of millions of dollars.

Consumers likely to shop cautiously for toys

MAE ANDERSON — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:48:47 EDT

NEW YORK -- Will financial-market turmoil be the Grinch this Christmas?

Bells and Whistles in Search of an Audience

Mike Musgrove — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Pop in a new Blu-ray version of the animated flick "Sleeping Beauty" this week, and you (or your kids) will be able to connect online while watching the movie to text-chat with friends or other Disney fans. Or you could pick your favorite scene and send it with a personalized video message to fam...

Help File

Rob Pegoraro — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Q We have upgraded to a digital TV, but we get only the local stations' analog signals, not their digital broadcasts. In the ads, they make it sound so simple. Am I the only one having this problem ?

8 Best Buys for Essential Gear

Melissa J. Perenson and PC World Staff — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:19:07 EDT

Pop quiz: Which would you rather have on a business trip, clean socks or your laptop? These days, clean socks are nice, but the laptop is indispensable, just as a desktop is at home, a camera is on vacation, and a cell phone is pretty much everywhere.

Personal Tech

Rob Pegoraro — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EDT

The Washington Post's Rob Pegoraro will be online to discuss recent reviews and answer your personal tech questions.

Casual Friday: The Nerd Quiz

Darren Gladstone, PC World — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:19:04 EDT

Being bedridden for a couple days gives you a new appreciation for old fixations--in my case, game shows. Somewhere between shouting answers at the boneheaded contestants and heckling the smarmy know-it-all hosts, I realized I needed a bigger piece of the action. I needed to play--heck, why not be...

Sling Media Slingbox Pro-HD Video Player

Yardena Arar, PC World — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:19:04 EDT

With the Slingbox Pro-HD, Sling Media has created a version of its pioneering "place-shifting" device that lets you view high-definition video in high definition, remotely. Like previous Slingbox devices, such as the Slingbox Solo and the Slingbox Pro , it works by streaming video from a cable TV...

Tech Tactics for Hard Times

Rob Pegoraro — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

News flash: The economy stinks. It's not a good time to be throwing money at things that don't rate as necessities -- a description that applies to many of the goods and services reviewed in this space.

'Brothers,' 'Mercs 2' bring fresh attitude to war

LOU KESTEN — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:04:34 EDT

-- Is it possible for a video game to express an anti-war viewpoint? After all, most war games revel in jaw-dropping violence, from smoothly executed head shots to massive explosions. When you're mowing down hordes of aliens in "Halo" or "Gears of War," there isn't much time to reflect on the...

T-Mobile's G1 vs. The iPhone: Game On!

Tom Spring, PC World — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:19:04 EDT

Since the iPhone was launched 15 months ago it has defined, for many, what a smartphone experience should be. But today T-Mobile gives the iPhone a run for its money with the launch of the G1 smartphone. From the details that have emerged today regarding the G1, Apple now has a reason to be looking...

FAQ: What T-Mobile's New G1 Phone Will Do For You

JR Raphael, PC World — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:19:06 EDT

After months of hype , the first Android phone is finally here. T-Mobile unveiled its Google-powered G1 phone Tuesday morning, putting an end to all the speculation.

Help File

Rob Pegoraro — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Q How can I stop the touchpad on my laptop from treating random taps as mouse clicks?

Security Fix Live

Brian Krebs — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Security Fix blogger Brian Krebs answers your questions about the latest computer security threats and offers ways to protect your personal information.

A Lot for Sports Fans to Like, but the New Slingbox Still Isn't a Slam Dunk

Rob Pegoraro — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Watching television on a computer screen is no special achievement these days. Between the free streaming video on the Web and TV downloads at iTunes and elsewhere, you don't need to work too hard to turn your computer into a replacement for the tube.

Google's Answer to the iPhone

Mike Musgrove — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The world got its first official glimpse yesterday at a smartphone that runs on new software designed by Google. And while no mention was made of any other smartphones during the unveiling of the T-Mobile G1, it was clear that the device has a lot in common with Apple's popular iPhone.

Mobile Apps for Travelers

Matt Villano — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:37:14 EDT

New mobile applications can help business travelers with everything from tipping to traffic.

PlanOn PrintStik Portable Printer

Paul Jasper, PC World — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:19:04 EDT

The PlanOn PrintStik PS910 portable printer is remarkably small, considering that it can print full letter-size pages. It measures just 1 inch thick by 2 inches tall by and carries 11 inches long (the same length as a sheet of letter paper). PlanOn designed this 1.5-pound unit for printing on the...

Expanded Powers to Search Travelers at Border Detailed

Ellen Nakashima — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The U.S. government has quietly recast policies that affect the way information is gathered from U.S. citizens and others crossing the border and what is done with it, including relaxing a two-decade-old policy that placed a high bar on federal agents copying travelers' personal material, according...

A Game's Quest for Online Success

Mike Musgrove — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

"I don't think there's any other field where you can find a failure rate this high and still find people willing to invest," said Mark Jacobs, general manager of the Fairfax game studio EA Mythic. "The failure rate is unbelievable."

Help File

Rob Pegoraro — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Q Because this has been in the news lately: How can I keep my Web mail password secure from hackers trying to guess it?

Cellphone Use Is Banned for Train Workers

Ashley Surdin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18 -- California's rail safety regulators Thursday temporarily banned train operators from using cellphones on duty, one day after investigators confirmed that the engineer of a commuter train involved in last week's deadly collision had sent and received text messages while...

Personal Tech

Rob Pegoraro — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EDT

The Washington Post's Rob Pegoraro will be online to discuss recent reviews and answer your personal tech questions.

Apple iPod Nano

Nick Mediati, PC World — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:19:08 EDT

The latest iPod Nano combines the larger screen of the third-generation Nano with the slender design and vibrant colors of the second-generation models. Taken as a whole, the fourth-generation iPod Nano marks the further evolution of an already-strong media player, but it will disappoint anyone who...

ATF Lost Guns, Computers

Holly Watt — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Over a five-year period, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives lost dozens of weapons and hundreds of laptops that contained sensitive information, according to a scathing report issued yesterday by the Justice Department.

How Apple Hits Replay Again

Rob Pegoraro — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Want to discourage somebody from buying an iPod? Don't talk up other companies' media players -- just suggest that Apple will ship a new iPod soon.

After Merger, Sirius XM Shares Falling Sharply

Cecilia Kang — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

After winning a long and tough battle for regulatory approval for its formation, Sirius XM Radio has been more recently faced with another fight: to keep its sinking stock from collapse.

Nifty New Capabilities for iPod Touch and iPod Nano

Melissa J. Perenson, PC World — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:19:06 EDT

Amid much fanfare in San Francisco, Apple introduced its latest music products, including new features in iTunes and a refresh of the iPod line.

4 Captivating Companies and What They Share

James Ledbetter and Jacob Weisberg — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Ask yourself this question: Aside from the company where you or members of your family work, how many companies do you actually care about? We think that for a lot of us, there are only four: Starbucks, Apple, Google and Amazon -- call them the SAGA companies. Of course, reducing what's exciting ...

Fast Forward's Help File

Rob Pegoraro — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Q We recently upgraded to a digital TV, which leaves us with an old analog set nobody wants to buy. And we're told we can't throw it out -- what do we do?

Game Changers

Mike Musgrove — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

It used to be that this all-woman crew wouldn't fit the standard image of the video game consumer. But the perception of gamers as being mostly young guys isn't so true anymore. Women and girls make up 40 percent of the gamer population, according to the Entertainment Software Association, the video game industry's trade group. And with game software sales at $9.5 billion last year, companies are paying closer attention to the titles women seek out.

A Plan to Make Fit the New Fun

Jennifer Buske — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Growing up, Fairfax County resident Brittney Taylor said, jungle gyms and games such as flashlight tag and flag football kept her circle of friends busy after school.

New Apple Nano, Touch and Upgrades to iTunes

Macworld.com — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:19:05 EDT

Here is the transcript of Macworld's coverage this morning of the Apple event and announcements.

Powerless CyberPower Power Supply

Amber Bouman — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:19:06 EDT

Six months into a three-year warranty, the power supply on the monitor that I bought with my CyberPower computer failed, so I called tech support. A rep initially told me that the company would replace the power supply, but later he said that since CyberPower hadn't made the monitor, he couldn't...

Personal Tech

Rob Pegoraro — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EDT

The Washington Post's Rob Pegoraro will be online to discuss recent reviews and answer your personal tech questions.

Microsoft and Google Give The Browser a Rewrite

Rob Pegoraro — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Your Web browser is probably the most important program on your computer, and it's now getting the competition it deserves.

Sirius XM Having Trouble Paying Off Debt

Cecilia Kang — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Newly merged Sirius XM Radio said yesterday that it doesn't have enough cash to pay back the $300 million in debt due early next year but that it has not looked into selling its Northeast Washington building to raise money.

Video Card Failure Alienates Buyer

Amber Bouman — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:19:06 EDT

When my Alienware laptop computer failed after just three years of scant use, I took it in to Best Buyâ??s Geek Squad. They diagnosed a video card failure but said they lacked the part to make the repair. However, when I asked Alienware for a replacement board, reps told me, â??Alienware no longer...

N.C. City Switches to Digital TV

Kim Hart — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

WILMINGTON, N.C., Sept. 8 -- Residents here became the first in the nation to experience the transition to digital television Monday as the largest TV stations in town shut off their analog signals.

5 Cool Hacks for Your Entertainment Gadgets

Zack Stern, PC World — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:19:06 EDT

When you're serious about entertainment, you don't want to settle for the standard features. You want more storage, more options, and more convenience. But most consumer electronics come with built-in limitations that can prevent you from getting maximum use out of them.

Quiet, McEnroe. The Robot Called It.

Farhad Manjoo — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Disputes over line calls used to be one of the main joys of tennis -- this, after all, is John McEnroe's game. But fans rarely see players explode in rage anymore. In high-profile matches, human umpires have largely been replaced by a machine called Hawk-Eye, a kind of computerized ump that stitches...

Help File

Rob Pegoraro — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Q I saw the item about Gmail security. If I don't turn on this encryption in my desktop e-mail program, can I expose my password at wireless hot spots?

Just as Storms Loom, N.C. Town To Switch Away From Analog TV

Kim Hart — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

WILMINGTON, N.C., Sept. 5 -- Residents here have spent nearly six months preparing for the biggest shift in television technology since color TV. At the request of the Federal Communications Commission, this coastal town will be the first market in the nation to shut off traditional analog signals...

How I upgraded My Laptop's Hard Drive and Almost Lost My Mind

Lincoln Spector, PC World — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:19:07 EDT

No reader questions this time. I just want to share a personal experience.

Dell Finally Thinks Small and Chic

Rob Pegoraro — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

One of Dell's latest desktop PCs deserves an adjective that has rarely applied to its products: stylish.

With Web Browser, Google Launches Volley at Microsoft

Mike Musgrove — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

For Web users, it's now possible to have all Google, all the time.

Six Hacks For Your Mobile Gear

Zack Stern, PC World — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:19:07 EDT

We'd be lost if we ever left the house without our arsenal of mobile tech gear, but we're also sick of being hamstrung by gadget makers who leave out important features or micromanage what we can--and can't--do with the products we buy from them. Fortunately, you don't necessarily have to settle for...

Help File

Rob Pegoraro — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Q The software for my camera, a Canon PowerShot SD750, seems incompatible with Windows Vista. When I plug the camera into the computer, nothing happens.

12 Sly Web Tricks That Put You in Control

Adam Pash, PC World — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:19:09 EDT

So it's Friday afternoon, the weekend is just around the corner, and you're up to no good. Rather than waste your time turning monitors upside down around the office, why not update your tech arsenal? If you have a computer or cell phone on hand, you're more than ready to beef up your weapons and...

Finding Use for the Airwaves' 'White Spaces'

Kim Hart — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Federal Communications Commission has spent nearly a year testing devices designed to use empty television channels, known as white spaces, for high-speed Internet service. As those tests near conclusion, the agency is evaluating yet another proposal about the best use of the airwaves.

CrunchGear Featured Review: Palm Treo Pro

John Biggs — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:45:49 EDT

So we return to the Palm Treo Pro, a $549 unlocked Windows Mobile Treo aimed squarely at the business set. It's been about a week and I've used this guy off and on. It kept a nice charge - two days, for the most part, without much data use - and fit nicely in the pocket. But is it the Treo of which...

The Specs That Matter [and the Specs That Don't]

Darren Gladstone — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:19:09 EDT

It usually goes like this: An ad in the paper (or online) catches your eye. It lists a few product specs and claims some special features, but that's about it. Still, the price seems okay. May as well pull out the wallet now, right? Wrong!

MSI Wind NB U100 Mini-notebook

Darren Gladstone, PC World — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:19:07 EDT

MSI's Wind NB U100 is one of the first Intel Atom-based mini-notebooks to appear. And like the Acer's Aspire One , it gives a clear idea of what the bargain-priced CPU can handle. Other components include 1GB of RAM, an 80GB 2.5-inch hard drive, and Windows XP--not too shabby for $550. The Wind is...

A New Breed Of Hackers Tracks Online Acts of War

Kim Hart — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

TORONTO -- Here in the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, a new breed of hackers is conducting digital espionage.

Five Insane Upgrades That You Should Never Do (and How to Do Them!)

Paul Lilly, Mathew Miranda, and Christopher Null, PC World — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:19:09 EDT

Just because you can do something, that doesn't mean you should. That old truism goes double for computers. But some PC geeks are so fanatical about performance, so doggedly determined to push their hardware to extremes, that they'll go to ridiculous lengths to wring a few more clock cycles out of...

Eight Crazy E-Mail Hoaxes Millions Have Fallen For

Nick Mediati and Anne B. McDonald, PC World — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:19:09 EDT

Congratulations, you won the lottery in a country whose name you can't even pronounce! A wealthy oil executive in a far-off land wants to give you millions of dollars, right now! Sexy girls want to meet you!

Polywell Poly X4800-Extreme Power Desktop PC

Jon L. Jacobi, PC World — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:19:08 EDT

Polywell certainly named this power desktop computer correctly. Its 3.2-GHz Core 2 X9770 CPU is Intel's current state-of-the-art Extreme (overclockable) chip, which means that this is an extremely fast desktop. At $4799 (as of August 8, 2008), it's also extremely expensive. Then again, no one ever...

Micro Express MicroFlex 450B Power Desktop PC

Jon L. Jacobi, PC World — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:19:08 EDT

Built around the same Gigabyte X48-DS4 motherboard as the top-performing Polywell Poly X4800-Extreme , the MicroFlex 450B steps down a notch or two on other primary components. A 2.83-GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 processor, a single 500GB Seagate ST3500320NS hard drive, and a 512MB ATI 4870 graphics...

Checkpoint-Friendly Laptop Bags

James A. Martin — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:19:06 EDT

Some words seem destined to go together, like "Marco" and "Polo," "Uma" and "Oprah," "rock" and "lobster." Until recently, however, I would never have thought to conjoin the words "checkpoint" and "friendly." But these days, the two seemingly disparate words are locked in a brazen embrace, showing...

Help File

Rob Pegoraro — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Q You've mentioned setting Web browsers to refuse the cookies set by advertising networks. How do I do that, exactly?

Security Fix Live

Brian Krebs — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Security Fix blogger Brian Krebs answers your questions about the latest computer security threats and offers ways to protect your personal information.

Personal Tech

Rob Pegoraro — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EDT

The Washington Post's Rob Pegoraro will be online to discuss recent reviews and answer your personal tech questions.

Creative Zen X-Fi MP3 Player

Tim Moynihan, PC World — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:19:08 EDT

The Creative Zen X-Fi is beyond question a better all-around digital music player than any of Apple's current iPods. The X-Fi has better sound, superb headphones, an amazing feature set, expandable storage via an SD card slot, an easy-to-use interface that will please users who don't want to work...