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… → 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… → 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… → 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… → 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… → 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… → 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… → 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… → 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… → 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… → Read More
As I was thinking about this week’s Help Key topic, I tried to remember a few things that really made me angry when I first started using computers and when I first started using a Mac. My biggest pet peeve? Dead DVDs and CDs that littered my home office like so many belly-up roaches. Optical disks are, at this point in the game, mostly being used to store media and, in a pinch, back-up… → Read More
One weekly feature we have here on CrunchGear is our Help-Keys. Every Monday, we show you, the reader, how to do something you might not have known that you could do. It’s a free service, because we like you. Not long ago, I wrote a Help-Key on how to fix an iPod that won’t boot. There are dozens and dozens of comments on the post from people who’ve tried my fix and found it… → Read More
A good gaming PC and monitor are ready to go. Computer gaming doesn’t have to be a solitary experience. Today most shooters and strategy games feature multiple modes as robust as the single player campaigns. And you also don’t need to limit your multi-player sessions to playing online where you don’t actually see or talk to the other participates directly. Getting together with a few friends… → Read More
So you’ve got an Apple TV yet, for some strange reason, you’re not satisfied with $9.99 downloads of Disney classics. What is a fan of HDMI-enabled video playback devices to do? Here’s a quick tutorial on getting video from almost any source onto your Apple TV. → Read More
I live in a neighborhood of burgeoning artists and musicians, and an endless stream of people ask me, “How do I set up a cheap, quick, and easy home recording studio?” I’ve actually got it down to a science at this point, so here it is. Keep in mind that your favorite indie rock band has probably used a less sophisticated setup. I recently spoke with Sam Endicott of The Bravery… → Read More
This is something that may be near and dear to your hearts: Mom and Dad are calling to ask about this porn pop-up phishing thing they just typed all their credit card info into. Or maybe Grandma wants to make a MySpace page. Regardless of the situation, you have some older folks in your life who probably have a computer. If you’re reading this, you’re good at computers. Therefore… → Read More
Making high-quality music recordings can seem like a daunting task to a beginner, but if you have a little bit of talent and some cash on-hand, it doesn’t take as much as you might think. For years, I was stuck with old mono microphones that I had to plug into either a tape deck or my computer if I wanted to get any song ideas down before they vanished from my memory banks. The resulting quality… → Read More
Anyone can put a boom box on the shelf and turn it on; but setting up a set of surround sound speakers, and getting the optimal audio fidelity takes a little more effort. Speakers are often considered the soul of your system, and generally 50% of your total budget should be spent on the speakers. The first thing to consider is the size of the room, followed by what you listen to the most. Are you… → Read More
Austin, TX
Seattle, WA
San Diego, CA
Menlo Park, CA
San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
