monitors

Even if you run reliable antivirus software -- and you do, don't you? -- it's never a bad idea to have a supplemental program that can pick up malware that your regular antivirus application might miss. HitmanPro 3 (32-bit) is an easy-to-use program that can quickly scan for and remove a variety of nasty things that might be lurking on your computer.

HitmanPro 3 has an intuitive interface that makes it easy to get started. If you're ready to plow ahead with the default scan, just click Next. If you'd like to do some customizing, the … Read more

I met Julie Glick a few months ago with some folks from Ultimate Ears at a Head-Fi meeting in NY. UE was promoting a new set of custom-molded in-ear headphones, the Personal Reference Monitors, which are just now entering full production. In her NYC office, Glick can fully demonstrate these unique headphones, which are not only custom-molded to your ears but fine-tuned, soundwise, to your liking. Ultimate Ears technicians use the frequency curve you create to build your Personal Reference Monitors. I crafted my EQ curve in Glick's office; it was a lot of fun to design my sound. … Read more

While most 27-inch monitors you'll find at your local Best Buy sport the perfectly capable resolution of 1,920x1,080 pixels, there's a growing contingent of monitor enthusiasts, like myself, who understand the real reason for the existence of 27-inch displays.

If you've never seen a 27-inch monitor running at 2,560x1,440-pixel resolution, then you've yet to be touched by a particularly affecting higher power.

Also referred to as "extreme definition" or "XD," this branch of higher-tier monitors will melt your face and not look back. However, as much as the impressive resolution benefits all aspects of computing, it is in games that it provides a particular advantage.… Read more

LG today unveiled two new IPS monitors.

The first, dubbed the EA93, is a 29-inch panel with 2,560x1,080 resolution and a 21:9 aspect ratio. In terms of connectivity, the EA93 holds up quite well, offering one DVI-D Dual port, as well as two HDMI ports. It also comes with USB 3.0.

Whereas the EA93 is being marketed as a product for entertainment-seekers looking for high-quality visuals and a movie-friendly experience, the EA83 is specifically designed for "graphics-intensive applications" required by filmmakers, photographers, and designers.

The EA83 has a 27-inch screen and a 16:9 … Read more

Earlier this week, I posted a TV deal that sold out very quickly. Let's hope this one lasts a little longer.

Today only, and while supplies last, Kmart has the Haier L24B1180 24-inch LCD HDTV for $109.99 shipped (plus sales tax where applicable). Note: That price appears after you add the product to your cart and then click through to checkout.

Update: Oh, for the love of... It's already sold out. Come ON, resellers! If you don't have enough inventory to last even the early hours of the morning, don't make this your "deal … Read more

Even if you happen to have a good backup solution, a hard-drive failure can be a major inconvenience. If you don't have a good backup solution, then a drive failure can be catastrophic. There are clues, however, that can help you predict problems with your hard drive.

DiskCheckup for Windows uses your drive's S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) info to monitor its health and help you notice problems before you experience a complete failure.

In order to use DiskCheckup, you have to have at least one drive that supports S.M.A.R.… Read more

Moo0's FileMonitor is a free tool that monitors and displays all the file activity on your PC. More than a mere process monitor or event viewer, it displays all running processes and activities, including those that run in the background. It can show you when a program opens a file or initiates a process, which can be useful information if it's something you haven't authorized, such as a virus. But it can also tell you what's going on in your system, such as when the disk is busy; FileMonitor can tell you what's writing to … Read more

- What artists and songs were found on John Lennon's long lost jukebox?

- Ultimate Ears' custom tuned in-ear monitors.

- Condav99's custom Nintendo Boomcase! More on Boomcases here.

- Can a tiny $39 amp make your headphones sound a lot better?

- The Audiophiliac picks 11 of the world's best headphones.

- The Philips Shoqbox is our favorite camp-friendly, rugged Bluetooth speaker.

- Self-portraits done to a different drug every day.

Follow Steve Sphere Guttenberg on Twitter.

Bathroom break video: Steve Coogan impersonates Steve Hawking.… Read more

Unlimited data plans are being killed off by mobile carriers, one by one. Even home Internet connections aren't truly unlimited. Monitoring apps, whether for your smartphone or for your computer, can help you find out how much bandwidth you're actually using.

NetSpeedMonitor (32-bit | 64-bit) is a small Windows program that runs in the taskbar and displays your data usage at a glance. It's particularly useful for tracking your data usage if you tether your PC to your smartphone. If you're a Verizon customer, you may want to check out CNET's FAQ on Verizon's tethering settlement with the FCC.… Read more