http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/1080629/sexy_secret_book.swf I am a single blogger. I have no girlfriend or even anyone I’m actively dating, so this Valentine’s Day I’m going to be drinking whiskey at a rock show here in Seattle with a couple cute girls I know as we commiserate about being in that unenviable position. But you, you’re a stud. You’ve got a wife or girlfriend, some of you both, and you need to impress her on the 14th. And as you’re a CrunchGear reader, she’s likely compatible with your geeky sensibilities. That’s why you need to find a gift to express your love and also your shared interest in classic dot matrix printers. Or something. → Read More
[photopress:appletv.jpg,full,center] At the Stevenote a couple weeks ago, Steve mentioned that within “a couple weeks” those of us with Apple TVs would have the ability to rent movies directly from iTunes on our set-top boxes. This uncertain day has surely passed, and last week Apple said we’d have to wait at least a couple more weeks, as things weren’t ready. That’s ok, though, because we have the Internet, and we’ve got other ways to watch vids on our nice flat panel TVs. Here’s a how-to on getting the latest shows onto your Apple TV. → Read More
Well that was quick! A few days after 1.1.3 hit the proverbial streets it’s been cracked wide open for general consumption. To that end, we’d like to discuss a few ways to crack open your 1.1.1 or later iPhone/Touch with a few simple tools. → Read More
[photopress:macworld.jpg,full,center]With The Keynote (that Keynote) at 9:00 tomorrow morning, we’re not sure who exactly would buy into a Macworld Keynote Drinking Game other than college students, but it’s an exercise in foolishness any way you look at it, so I had to indulge. Drinking games are meant to be carried out early on weekend evenings with groups of close friends, or, more likely, soon-to-be-close strangers. So you can use this with the archive of the Keynote which we’ll have up hopefully later tomorrow night. But enough about what it is, let’s get it going. You’re going to want to make sure you’ve got a good shooting booze. Some shoot beer, but what’s the point in that? The Keynote usually lasts about 2 hours, at the end of which you’ll want to have trouble standing, in true drinking game fashion, so find something a little harder. We recommend Jager or Maker’s. Round one reflects the start of the Keynote. We’ll have live audio, and we’ll be liveblogging, so you’ll be cued as to when you need to knock one back. → Read More
Many car stereo houses are pushing car decks this holiday season that have built-in iPod integration. There’s a dock connector, and most let you view and control the content on your deck’s face, a pretty cool feature. And, since iPods and other MP3 players are replacing CDs, this kind of integration only makes sense. But if you’ve got a good deck and don’t want to shell out money on a new one just to make it work with your DAP, we have an idea for you. And we’re not talking about crappy FM transmitters or cassette tape adapters, we’re talking real iPod integration, hardwiring your favorite device into the car itself, and it’s not as difficult as you think. → Read More
After much deliberation I have decided to just swap out the hard drive on the MacBook rather than letting the existing 60GB drive crap out. I also now don’t feel that my previous ranting on Leopard was fair considering the possibility that said hard drive was about to die a horrible death. Even though Leopard’s just as buggy as Vista, I´ll give it a go with a fresh hard drive. If I feel it necessary to bitch about Leopard again then I will, but I´ll wait until after I´ve reinstalled it on my brand spankin´ new 320GB Western Digital Scorpio 2.5-inch SATA drive. It´s a simple process, really, in terms of the hardware, but I ran into a hitch involving OS X along the way. It was more of a human error. Before we get started, make sure you have a #00 Phillips screwdriver and a T8 Torx screwdriver. Ok? Good. Also, be sure to transfer all your files to an external drive, which I did with my Passport. Or you can opt for the FireWire target disk mode if another Mac is accessible to you. → Read More
This last holiday weekend, I was at my mother’s house and, just as I do every Thanksgiving, I spent about an hour un-doing the damage they’d done on their PC. I can’t convince them to buy a Mac or to browse safely, so this is my fate. Sure, I could leave it, and wait till the thing started running slug-slow and then act all high-and-mighty, but I’m not like that. I must fix things before they get bad. I’m sure that unless they’re qualified geeks, your parents are in the same shape. Here is a five-point plan you can use to implement a parent-proof computer, so you can enjoy that shoofly pie. → Read More
The biggest problem I had with the iPhone, some readers will recall, was the actual phone portion. I thought it was a fantastic Web device and a super iPod, but the phone side didn’t tickle me at all. That’s why when the iPod Touch was announced, I was all over it. The hardware is fantastic, and while Steve and company have announced that early next year third party app support would be launched, I really don’t have that kind of time. So I wanted to Jailbreak my Touch. And here’s how it works. → Read More
Computers are evil, vile machines. They’re smarter than they let on, and they like to mess with us lesser humans. That’s why they pick the absolute worst times to crash, and the hard drive is where they like to do it, making you panic. But don’t be fooled: you own the computer, not the other way around. It’s a machine, a servant to humans, and though they throw tantrums from time to time, you can wrest control back from them and show them who’s really in charge. Old hands will find a lot of this redundant, but it’s not for them. This is for the non-nerds, people who haven’t lived in their mom’s basement for, well, ever. They never did. Read on, data warrior, and learn how to slay the data-thieving dragon within your computer. → Read More
We’re not sure why more cellphones don’t ship with USB cables, but it’s a fact that most don’t. We hate the idea that you’ve got all this data on your phone and no way to add more or back it up short of expensive over-the-air messaging. Some providers allow you to back-up your phonebook for free onto their website, but if you cancel your account, it’s gone forever. But you like to do things yourself, and that’s why we’re here. Not every phone can be backed up in this manual manner, which does suck. That being said, this guide will work with most CDMA or GSM phones that don’t have their own software. Smartphones like Treos or Motorola Qs generally come with their own cables and software, making this overkill. Most $29-with-contract phones, though, will benefit from this how-to. → Read More
One of the most popular smartphones on today’s market is the Treo by Palm (and formerly by Handspring). The original versions ran Palm OS, with Windows Mobile coming later. We cover WinMo quite a bit here at the Gear, as it’s on the majority of smartphones people buy right now. That being said, there’s a huge user base for Palm OS-based Treos. What’s sad is that many people don’t take advantage of the elegant but powerful (albeit old) operating system they way they could. If you’re a Treo user, read on. We’ll discuss add-on software and tweaks that will make your trusty handheld faster, easier to use, and far more productive. → Read More
If you love your GPS unit, you’ve got former president Ronald Reagan and some trigger happy Commies to thank for it. In 1983, a civilian airliner from the USA on its way to South Korea flew into Soviet airspace on accident. The USSR, in response, blew it out of the sky, killing hundreds. There was international outcry, of course, and calls were made to make sure it never happened again. To do that, it had to be known why the liner was over Russian airspace. Turns out the autopilot was drifting off course slightly, and the pilots didn’t really notice. The autopilots used at the time utilize a compass and radar to know where it’s at and where it’s going. If one of these two things is off, then the plane’s off course. In the aftermath, it was determined that there had to be a better solution, and there was one forthcoming. The US military had started work on a network of space satellites called NAVSTAR GPS that would allow American troops to know precisely where they are at any given moment. → Read More
This fall will see many conventions around the country as companies gear up for the holidays and other fun times. This means a lot of travel for a lot of people, and you could be one of them. And that sucks. Not that you have to take a trip — indeed, visiting new places should be a pleasant experience — but rather that air travel in America sucks. I was going to try to write this article without invoking the term “post-9/11″, but the sad fact is that since the “War on Terror” started, airports have sucked. But we’ve got a few tips to help you get through your day in style and comfort. → Read More
Digital cameras are a great invention. The ability to save precious moments without the cost associated with developing chemical film means that more of those moments are saved, and then in turn shared with others. They’ve also revolutionized the home-made pornography business, but that’s a different Help-Key for a different day. This guide is for those of us who are casual photographers. If you’re a pro, please don’t email me and tell me about insane RAW formats and negative power-couplings. That’s not what this is. This is for the majority of us who take our cameras for granted, as we’re used to the hassle-free days of Kodak point-and-shoots. For very simple digital cameras, the type that come in blister packs for less than $40 new, that’s fine: There’s nothing that can be done to enhance the crap-ass quality of the photographs, so you’re on your own. But chances are if you’re reading this blog, you spent more on your camera than you’d spend on a pair of sunglasses. Chances are, too, that that more-complex camera has settings that can be tweaked to make things look better. And here’s how to do it. → Read More
It may surprise some of you to read this, especially from me, but I must say it: Not everyone is going to need an iPhone. Sure, I’m stoked as anyone to get my hands on one, but I’m not sold that it’s the do-all some people are hyping it up to be (not Apple, btw). Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s an industry-changing device the likes of which we haven’t seen since the StarTAC, but is it right for everyone? And, more to the point, is it right for me? The jury’s still out. Until I’ve had the chance to play with one, to work it over, to caress it gently in my rough hands, I won’t know for sure. What I do know, though, is that despite the hype, the iPhone (no, I won’t be calling it “Jesus Phone”) isn’t the only game in town. And like it or not, you’re ready for a real smartphone. That’s the focus of today’s Help-Key: How to get your smartphone on, the non-Apple way. → Read More
Here we are, in the age of ubiquitous mobile devices, and while most of us read the instruction manuals, many don’t consider what’s not in the pages. Most of us have at least two devices on our person at all times, some even more. The upside is that these gadgets have made it easier for us to be entertained and revolutionized communications on a personal level. The bad news is most people don’t realize that this communication needs to remain personal. Herein lies a problem: as we get more and more gear, where are those who would tell us the appropriate and inappropriate times and ways to use it all? That’s why I’m here, friend. I’ve compiled a list of do’s and don’ts that will get you through your hi-tech day without pissing off your like-minded gearhead humans. But don’t get me wrong, this guide isn’t just for nerds. In fact, nerds tend to know better than others how to use their technology without effecting those around them. No, this guide is for anyone at all who suffers from poor gadget judgement, and you should feel free to send it along to anyone you think might need its instruction. → Read More
We learned a lot today about Apple’s up-and-coming OS, Leopard. That being said, nothing we learned was really Earth-shattering. All the rumors of built-in Windows integration, teleportation rays and disease curing were bunk. In fact, almost nothing that was rumored came to fruition, and that’s the rub: there just wasn’t much new stuff announced. That doesn’t mean, however, that it was a bust. As it’s a developer’s conference, the bulk of the speech was about Leopard, not various hardware. That was to be expected. And of Leopard we heard much, but more importantly, we saw much. While I wasn’t allowed video on the floor, I took a few key photos. And, luckily for you, the reader, I have a descriptive and detailed verbal pallet. → Read More
Back in the day, Craigslist dot org was just for us geeks, a marketplace where those in-the-know bought and sold gear with other tech elitists. Now my mother uses it to get pretty much any household or electronic doo-dads she needs. But as the popularity and exposure of the site grows, so do the dangers. Shysters are always looking for new paces and ways to steal your hard-earned dollars, and Craigslist is very tempting hunting ground. This guide will help you to keep it from also being fertile. We’d like to help make Craigslist trouble-free, but that’s not really realistic. Instead, this guide is to help you with your decision making process. Not only are we going to help you keep your guard up when faced with crooked buyers or sellers, we’re going to help you make the right buying choice to avoid buyer’s remorse. → Read More
Actual results may vary It seems like only yesterday that 802.11g was burning up the airwaves. Today, 802.11g is the de facto standard and n, which ideally offers 242 Mbps but really offers around 50 Mbps. 802.11n also boasts increased range and quality of service, something that home video and audio streamers will just love. But is it ready for prime time? → Read More
“Piracy” happens, piracy will never go away, and, as a service to you we’ve decided to explain some of its relevant points to the uninitiated. Whatever your stance on the topic, if you’re reading this, you don’t understand it and want to learn more and if you’re not reading it you already have terabytes of “H0T WAR3Z” on your hard drives anyway. Call it illegal, call it an act of rebellion, call it what you will. Our goal in “Help Key” is to help our audience understand complex topics and piracy, to say the least, is a complex topic. – John Biggs Piracy is an action sport. The ability to infringe copyright and steal valuable work induces a rush like no other. Whether you steal music, movies, books, applications, or whatever, it feels like breaking the law and it saves our wallets and purses from becoming empty. But not everyone is as fortunate as we are to know the ins and outs of the world of piracy. There’s so much to take in and only so much time for us to Google around for the answers to our questions. Luckily, you have a master pirate on deck to help you with understanding the basics that will get you downloading Spiderman 3 in no time. → Read More
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