13

We'd bet you know exactly how many doors and windows there are in your home, and whether each is properly secured. How about your Windows PC? It has doors and (small-w) windows too: they're called ports, and they're how the world gains access to your computer, your data, and your privacy. So, do you know how many ports your computer has, and where they are, and their status? Famatech's Advanced Port Scanner is a free tool that can help you answer those critical questions. It can scan all your ports or just those in ranges you … Read more

I've been listening to Jerry Harvey's custom-molded in-ear headphones for years. The very first one, the UE10, was a game changer; in 2006 it was the best sounding in-ear headphone I'd heard. Now with his new Freqphase JH13 and JH16 in-ears, Harvey's done it again. The performance gains in clarity, detail, resolution, and stereo imaging are huge -- the adrenaline-pumping sound of the music you love over a set of Harvey's headphones can't be matched by any other in-ear 'phones.

Years before he made headphones, Harvey mixed stage monitor sound for Kiss, Van Halen, … Read more

Snapseed is a powerful photo-editing app for iOS that you can take with you wherever you go. Simply snap a picture using your iPhone's camera, or use one from your camera roll, and turn it into a high-quality print using the numerous editing and effects tools.

Getting started with Snapseed is easy: simply tap the Camera icon and either take a new picture, choose one from your photo library, or paste one that you have copied. The app has a ton of tools for editing the image, including Automatic and Selective Adjust, Tune Image, Straighten, Crop, Details, Black & … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Sensing a trend at this year’s CES? While touchscreens may have been an option for rarified Windows 8 products back in October, it looks like there will hardly be a Windows PC product around in mid-2012 without touch in some configuration or another.

The Dell Inspiron laptops of 2012 were largely forgettable: big, ridiculously thick and pre-Windows 8, they felt like a downturn from the previous year. The 2013 Inspiron and Inspiron Rs, codenamed “Oak,” seem like a return to form: slimmed-down bodies, improved specs all around, and--of course--optional touch.

The new 14, 15 and 17-inch Inspiron and … Read more

Every now and then, we come across an iPad app that will appeal to the whole family. Fumble is just such a game. Its simple gameplay will appeal to very young kids, as well as their parents and grandparents.

The point of Fumble is to quickly tap and hold blocks that contain symbols that match the ones displayed at the top of the screen. A bomb tile moves around on the board replacing tiles, so you have to be careful not to touch it as you hold down the tiles. The tile symbols are bright, colorful, and eye-catching. From the … Read more

This flipping, folding combination of laptop and tablet was one of the very first glimpses anyone got of the possibilities of Windows 8. Starting with a sneak peek way back at CES 2012, the Yoga was seen as a great advertisement for the ability of Windows 8 to serve both the traditional PC and touch-screen tablet equally well, jumping between the two (nearly) seamlessly.

Almost a year after that, both Windows 8 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga are finally available. It's still the example of a convertible laptop/tablet most point to, and with good reason. Unlike many of … Read more

Demand for Windows 8 touch-screen PCs is strong, according to two analysts who spoke with CNET.

"Touch machines are actually selling above expectations," said Bob O'Donnell, a program vice president at IDC.

And that means supply shortages. "Some vendors are actually facing shortages because touch panels are in limited supply. Vendors are saying they can't get as many touch-based machines as they would like to meet the demand that they're seeing."

Rhoda Alexander, an analyst at IHS iSuppli, echoed O'Donnell's comments. "We've talked to a number of PC makers … Read more

As is the case with any machine, computers require regular maintenance to keep them running their best. Tuneup Utilities 2013 is a suite of tools for fixing, tidying, and optimizing your computer. With a straightforward interface and plenty of options, it's worth checking out if you're not sure how to keep your machine in top condition.

Tuneup Utilities 2013 has a 1-Click Maintenance tool for users who want to get everything taken care of at once, as well as several other options that give you more control over what the program does. Tuneup Utilities started by performing an … Read more

Pandora Radio is an app that provides a free audio feed that is customizable to your musical tastes. The free app provides the basic service, or you can upgrade (for $3.99 a month) to a higher-quality feed that removes all ads and has fewer interruptions. The app installs easily from iTunes.

When you start Pandora Radio for the first time, you select a favorite artist, song, or album, and Pandora Radio will start to create customized playlists with similar music. As the playlists go on, you can fine-tune the types of music you like or dislike and the feed … Read more