Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category

Amazon’s wonderful terrible amazing awful Kindle

Sunday, June 15th, 2008

I finally got my hands on a Kindle. Here's what I like about it -- and what needs to be fixed. The Kindle is amazing and awful, grand and terrible. It's a groundbreaking device that's in need of an overhaul. I like it and it annoys me all at the same ...

Gadgets With the Write Stuff

Thursday, June 12th, 2008

A handful of tools attempt to turn the humble ink pen into a digital recording device--with varying degrees of success. (This post originally appeared in PC World magazine.) As I've gotten older, I've developed a terrible case of CRS (can't remember stuff). I can't tell you how many times my lovely but ...

ID Theft Protection: Who Can You Trust?

Friday, May 2nd, 2008

New online services offer to protect you from identity theft, and some claim to help you undo damage after it happens. But when we tested the services, we found that many fall short. (This story originally appeared in the June 2008 issue of PC World magazine.) by Dan Tynan You can't open a ...

Review: Chumby — The Internet’s in the Bag

Thursday, March 6th, 2008

(My review of the Chumby finally posted on PCworld.com. And here it is again.) by Dan Tynan Until now, most Internet appliances have been too hobbled (3Com's Audrey), too limited (the Ambient Weather Beacon), or just too weird (the Nabaztag rabbit). But the clock-radio-size Chumby might actually find a home on your ...

Review: ECirkit.com — a Dog in Wolf’s Clothing

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

This social network sees itself as a home for bikers, babes, and body art, but it's strictly for dorks and dilettantes. (An edited version of this entry originally appeared on PCworld.com) by Dan Tynan eCirkit bills itself as a social network for “artists, speed- and thrill-seekers, non-conformists, [and] extremophiles [sic] of every variety.” ...

Review: Acoustic Research ARRU449 Universal Wi-Fi Remote

Tuesday, February 19th, 2008

This pricey remote is innovative, but it's not without flaws. (This story originally appeared on PCworld.com) by Dan Tynan Forget world peace or love sweet love. What the world really needs now is a simple, easy-to-program universal remote. Acoustics Research's ARRU449 Universal Wi-Fi Remote comes closer than most. What's different about this $399 handheld ...

Review: iRobot Roomba 560

Saturday, February 16th, 2008

VACUUM PACKED The latest in digital devices is part room cleaner, part robotic buddy. (This article originally appeared in the December 2007 issue of US Airways Magazine.) by Dan Tynan iRobot’s Roomba is more than a vacuum cleaner: It’s a cultural phenomenon. More than two million have been sold since it was introduced ...