Sony's Vaio L21SFX brings with it all of Sony's classic all-in-one tricks, as well as a few new ones in an expensive package of which the value falls just short of its price tag.
05/03/2011
Frequently Asked Photo Questions for April
Dave answers questions about choosing a photo file format, picking scanner settings, understanding how megapixels relate to file size, and more.
Skeptical Shopper: Know Who Your Online Seller Is Before You Hit 'Buy'
Just because you're on the Amazon or Sears Website doesn't mean you are buying from Amazon or Sears. And the actual seller's return and refund policies may not suit you.
05/02/2011
Software bundles save Mac users 80 to 90 percent
Everything from troubleshooting applications to virus protection to utilities are being bundled for Mac users, saving them between 80 and 90 percent. These deals are the result of three different software bundles featuring some Mac user favorites such as Data Rescue, Contactizer Pro, MacTuneUp, and SuperCal.
The first bundle is brought to you by TheMacBundles and features a variety of troubleshooting, utility, and extension applications for your Mac. You'll get 10 programs for just $39.95, and you've only got 23 days left to cash in on the deal. The full list of applications:
- A-Dock X
- Automaton
- BookMacster
- Deliver Express
- Master Key
- Photo Recovery
- Print Magic
- SuperCal
- SwitchResX
- WebStart
Next up is MacBundlePro, offering nine applications that retail for $183 for just $19.90. The applications include maintenance programs, document management applications, and disk space management tools. For this deal, you've got just over 14 days to purchase. The full list of applications:
- Speedy Mac
- WhatSize
- AppDelete
- Raskin
- Breeze
- MacTuneUp
- Protect Files
- Quokka
- Share
Finally, the MacLegion Spring Bundle offers quite a few quality applications that range from Data Rescue's hard-disk recovery software to ScreenFlow's screencasting software. The total bundle would retail for $552 but is being sold for only $49.99. For this deal, you've got to act in the next 13 days. The full list of applications:
- Data Rescue
- ScreenFlow
- Contactizer Pro
- Virus Barrier
- Forklift
- LaunchBar
- Amadeus Pro
- Radio Gaga
- Printopia
- MacPilot
Will you plan on beefing up your software stable with any of these bundles? What would be your perfect bundle? Let me know in the comments!
Originally posted at MacFixIt
Android file syncer face-off: Dropbox vs. SugarSync
Among the growing list of services dedicated to syncing and storing your files in the cloud, there are two that consistently register as top dogs: Dropbox and SugarSync. Both offer comprehensive (and different) suites of syncing and sharing tools, both have their benefits and drawbacks, and both offer free Android apps. Let's take a look at what each of these apps offers in the way of mobile file-syncing.
When looking at a mobile application as an extension of a greater program or service, there are a few things it's important to keep in mind. First, how well does the app perform its core functions? Second, how does it take advantage of mobile-specific tools and contexts? And third, is it stable and secure in a mobile environment? Considering these criteria and others, let's see what each of our two subjects brings to the table.
(Credit: Dropbox) 
(Credit: Dropbox) For the well-connected among us, it's also great for sharing files (or links to files) through e-mail, text message, Twitter, Facebook, WordPress, or whatever else you've got installed. In this regard, Dropbox makes fantastic use of the applications available on your mobile device. And as a plus, there's a security password option in case your Dropbox folder contains sensitive information and your phone falls into the wrong hands.
Overall, Dropbox for Android performs its core functions perfectly and without any stability issues. It integrates well with your mobile device's hardware, plays extremely well with other installed applications, and offers some extra security.
(Credit: SugarSync) 
(Credit: SugarSync) Meanwhile, SugarSync for Android is slightly more involved, since the SugarSync service itself offers so many more syncing options than its rival. It doesn't revolve around a single carry-all folder the way Dropbox does. Rather, SugarSync allows you to pick and choose any folders on any of your devices to sync, which means tons of flexibility, especially with the built-in Android File Manager. As a whole, it may not be as simple as Dropbox's app, but it's certainly more feature-packed.
And then there's the AutoSync Photos option, which, if you're an avid phone photographer, is awesome, to say the least. Enable it, and every time you snap a photo it'll automatically get backed up in the cloud--all in the background, without any pop-up confirmations.
Overall, SugarSync is a powerful app with a built-in File Manager and a really nifty AutoSync tool. While we did experience a few stability problems when testing AutoSync, for the most part it performed solidly, and is a worthwhile download.
Now, remember--while both Dropbox and SugarSync offer powerful suites of services that likely satisfy different file-syncing needs in different ways, this comparison is about their respective Android applications. So what's the verdict? If you're looking for a way to automatically back up photos as you take them, SugarSync is a no-brainer choice. Otherwise, Dropbox appears to be the simpler and more stable and secure file-syncing option for Android users. But hey, if you still can't decide, why not just download them both?
Originally posted at Android Atlas
Altimeter for IPhone
Altimeter taps into the GPS capabilities of your iPhone to track your altitude. That's an ideal feature for hikers, mountain climbers, runners, or bikers who...
10 Tips to Turn Android Into a Business Phone
Android has shot past BlackBerry to become the third most popular smartphone operating system in the world behind Symbian and the iPhone.
I Emailed a Credit Card Number
Robert emailed credit card information to a business. Should he cancel the credit card?
05/01/2011
How to Respond (and Not) to a Public Relations Incident
Recent events with Apple, Sony, Verizon, the State of Texas, and others illustrate good ways and bad ways to handle an incident from a public relations perspective.
Fix Your Wi-Fi: Free Tweaks and Major Overhauls
Your old Wi-Fi network can't cut it anymore? Here are some fixes for everything from dropped signals to choppy music and video.
