Linux News: Reviews

Windows 7 Gets Rid of the Gimmicks
October 26, 2009

Is it damning with faint praise to say that Windows 7 is definitely not Windows Vista? Probably. After the misfire that was Microsoft's previous operating system, those words alone may be enough to push consumers off the computer-buying fence -- when you couple them with the bargain-basement deals that await PC shoppers over the next few weeks.

Priceline Is Weak Sauce for Shatner's Hype
October 23, 2009

As I got ready to jump off at the next stop on my whirlwind tour of travel-planning Web sites, I found myself in the grip of something close to excitement. Trying out Priceline.com was going to be a new experience for me as well -- but it already felt familiar, thanks to my beloved William Shatner (hello, fellow Trekkies) and his branding of the site.

Google Wave Beta: Some Undertow, but Lots of Potential
October 22, 2009

Five months of hype have roiled the waters for Google Wave. Is it an Outlook killer? The search giant's idea of a social network? One unified communications tool to rule us all? The buzz began at May's Google I/O Developer conference. Now, after much talk in the tech blogosphere and among analysts, Wave is finally in preview mode.

'Rock Band' for iPhone Knows the Words, but the Tone Is Flat
October 22, 2009

When it comes to games, Apple's App Store isn't just a flea market where independent and small-scale developers can earn a few bucks peddling momentary amusements for 99 cents a pop. Giant game makers like EA, Capcom and Ubisoft sometimes set up shop, and when they do, they're not afraid to charge top dollar, as App Store games go.

Windows 7 - Slick OS, but Not Worth an Upgrade
October 18, 2009

Next week, Microsoft is releasing Windows 7, a slick, much improved operating system that should go a long way toward erasing the bad impression left by its previous effort, Vista. If you've been holding off on buying a new computer, Windows 7 will be a good excuse to get back into the game. If you've been weighing a Mac versus a Windows PC, then you should know that "7" makes Windows more attractive.

Hotwire Helps You Score a Cool Deal
October 16, 2009

Hotwire is a discount site that sells off unsold inventory by masking the identity of the hotel or rental car service or airline until the purchase is complete. I have to confess the concept never appealed to me that much -- it conjured up visions of middle-row airline seats and secluded hotels that could serve as sets for the movie "Psycho" -- and thus, I dismissed it. I was wrong.

Photoshop for iPhone: Premium Version, Please
October 15, 2009

It's slowly becoming apparent that cellphone photos need not look awful. Some phone are hitting the market with 8 or more megapixels, approaching the sort of resolution you'd get on a low-cost pocket cam. That's still not nearly professional hardware, but it sure will come out better than the muddy, washed-out tile mosaics you used to get from camera phones.

Charging Station Smackdown: Powermat vs. Duracell
October 08, 2009

It's a pain to keep track of the chargers that go with cellphones, media players and other small electronics. It's even more annoying to stuff multiple power cords and adapters in your bag when you go out of town. What if you could charge things without plugging them in? I've started doing just that.

Trope: A Softer Shade of Bloom
October 08, 2009

Two weeks ago, when I reviewed an application called "Air," I referred to it as the follow-up to a similar app called "Bloom." One of the developers, Peter Chilvers, wrote in with a point of clarification: Air was not actually intended as the official follow-up to Bloom, an app that Chilvers wrote in collaboration with Brian Eno. The real follow-up, also created by Chilvers and Eno, is called "Trope."

Microsoft's Eagle-Eyed LifeCam a Sharp Mix of Features, Price
October 05, 2009

With high-definition video popping up everywhere, it's a wonder it has taken this long for the first 720p HD webcam to hit the market. It's Microsoft's LifeCam Cinema webcam, and not only is it a honey of a webcam, but at $79.95, it's nicely priced to boot. Installation of the camera requires three steps.

Bing Travel Gets You Where You're Going, but No Peanuts
October 02, 2009

I remember when Kayak accused Bing of "borrowing" some of its design features last year. At the time, I wondered if indeed Kayak had a legitimate complaint -- the sites' designs are similar. However, after reviewing four separate travel-planning Web sites, I have concluded that Bing and Kayak could not have sprung from the same ideological source.

CNN Mobile: One Small Step for a News App
October 01, 2009

When CNN released its new iPhone application this week, the big news wasn't so much that the app was out there, but that CNN had the audacity to charge money for it. Nearly two whole dollars for news? In this online land of plenty? Bah! The Associated Press has a free news app -- as it didn't fail to point out when it covered the release of the CNN application.

Kayak: A Boatload of Delicious Simplicity
September 25, 2009

Continuing the E-Commerce Times' exploration of travel-planning Web sites, I paddled over to Kayak this week, and after a few minutes of playing around with the site, I was inexplicably struck with the desire for ice cream. Specifically, Haagen Dazs' five simple ingredients ice cream.

Air: Breezy Autopilot, Light on Interaction
September 24, 2009

The iPhone has an odd sort of potential as a musical instrument. From the moment the App Store opened, there have been applications that attempt to approximate real instruments, even giving you the ability to make multitrack recordings. I've yet to hear a real magnum opus composed on one, though I'm sure someone somewhere has tried.

Job Hunt Express: A Helpful App for Catching the Employment Train
September 22, 2009

Even in the best of times, job hunting is a taxing task, but in these economic conditions, it can be a crushing experience. Fruitless replies to job notices, dead-end interviews and inhuman human resource departments can grind a job seekers' resolve to dust. One way to beat the no-job blues is to purge the word "unemployed" from your vocabulary.

New Nano Rocks, Zune Learns a Few Good Steps
September 20, 2009

Back in 2004, when I got my first MP3 player, I never cared that it lacked a camera, Web browser and crystal-clear video playback -- features that are now common on digital media devices. Apple's latest iPod nano and Microsoft's freshest Zune, both released within the past week, offer these kinds of perks and plenty more.