All posts by: Brad Chacos

Facedeals: Clever coupons or creepy face-scanning tool?

Computers & Internet
By Brad Chacos on October 29, 2012 in

Facedeal

If Facedeals has its way, Cheers won't be the only establishment where everyone knows your name. But rather than relying on smiling bartenders to deliver a personal touch, the Facedeals app leverages specially designed cameras working in conjunction with facial recognition tools to automatically identify you as you walk in the door -- regardless of whether or not you've ever set foot in the place before.

In a creepy-slash-ingenious move, the app taps into your Facebook profile, using your tagged pictures to map your face for its face-recognizing cameras and tapping into your Like history to offer specialized deals.

So what's the deal with Facedeals? Is Big Brother watching you or is this just the cloud-connected future of marketing? That depends on who you ask. Read more

WARNING: Windows 8 and Windows RT are not the same, and it matters

Computers & Internet
By Brad Chacos on October 25, 2012 in

Microsoft Surface with Windows RT

By now, a lot of people know that Microsoft's poised to launch its next-generation Windows 8 operating system this Friday. But did you also know that a second operating system called Windows RT is also kicking off on that day? Windows 8 and Windows RT may look the same on their colorful tiled "surface" (pun intended), but they're totally different beasts under the hood. Knowing the differences can save you a world of headache and an unsatisfying trip to the return line. Read more

Should you upgrade your computer to Windows 8?

Computers & Internet
By Brad Chacos on October 24, 2012 in

Windows 8

The Windows you know now is not the Windows of the future. Microsoft's taking a bold step in a new direction this Friday with the launch of Windows 8, an update that brings tablet-style apps in a newfangled Windows Store and replaces the traditional desktop with a grid-like "Modern" interface composed of Live Tiles for each installed program. There's no two ways around it: Windows 8 is a complete reimagining of the tried-and-true operating system. But should you upgrade to Windows 8? It depends. Read more

Apple's new maps: So bad you should skip the upgrade?

Electronics
By Brad Chacos on September 28, 2012 in

Apple Maps

The critics agree: the iPhone 5 is lighter, faster and prettier than ever before and hands-down one of the best smartphones you can buy today. Unfortunately, critics also agree that Apple's new Maps app -- which replaced the Google Maps app found in previous version of the iOS operating system -- is a big step down in terms of quality and all-around functionality, despite the newfound addition of turn-by-turn navigation.

How bad is Apple's Maps app? Should you avoid upgrading your older iPhone to iOS 6 because of it? Should you even -- gasp -- avoid getting an iPhone 5? Let's find out. Read more

Buying and selling used iPhones: How to get the biggest bang for your buck

Electronics
By Brad Chacos on September 12, 2012 in

iPhone 4s

The iPhone 5 is almost here and if scads of recent surveys are any indication, plenty of people plan on upgrading to Apple's latest and greatest in short order. But what if you already own an iPhone? Well, you could repurpose it for other uses, as I outlined in a previous post, but iPhones hold their value better than virtually any other phone, so trading in your slightly worn handset could take part of the financial burden of upgrading to the iPhone 5 off your shoulders. Read more

5 apps for finding outdoor fun

Computers & Internet
By Brad Chacos on September 4, 2012 in

5 apps for finding outdoor fun

Even though most of the U.S. has been broiling in record temperatures, the true dog days of summer are only just starting to bark. (Or is that wheeze?) Rather than huddling around the air conditioner and wasting what's left of the season, why not fire up one of these summer apps? Whether you want to locate your local outdoor fun or just figure out a way to beat the heat, these apps have it all. (And can probably get you through the fall, too.)

I can hear you already: What, no grilling apps?  Nope -- but only because we've already covered them in depth. (I prefer Weber's on the Grill and its timer, personally.) Now let's get the fun started! Read more

T-Mobile and Sprint: Competing unlimited data plans compared

Electronics
By Brad Chacos on August 29, 2012 in

unlimited data plans

"Why would anyone want to limit the iPhone?" That's the question Sprint poses in recent television ads, highlighting the value of its unlimited, unthrottled data plans in a world where Verizon and AT&T have ditched unlimited plans in favor of pricier tiered caps and shared data. Sprint's not the only one who can play that card any longer, however; T-Mobile may not sell the iPhone, but it recently announced a new Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan that's very competitive with Sprint's offerings.

Which is better for you? Let's see how the two carriers compare -- and highlight where one of them is playing with fine print to make your monthly bill seem lower than it actually is. Read more

How to turn your smartphone or tablet into a full-fledged home theater remote

Electronics
By Brad Chacos on August 22, 2012 in

Turn your smartphone into a home theater remote

Texting, talking and playing Angry Birds; that's as far as most people push their smartphones, but the potent dual- and quad-core processors powering today's PC-like handsets are capable of so much more. In our blog post, Cash, karma and cool ideas: What can you do with an old smartphone?, I suggested several ways you could put that technology to good use -- including transforming your phone into a fully functional remote control for your television. Today, I'll show you how to do just that with a handful of apps that will turn your tablet or smartphone into the hub of your home theater setup. Read more

Traveler's toolkit: the best road-friendly travel apps

Electronics
By Brad Chacos on August 17, 2012 in

Road-friendly travel apps

Whether you're getting your very first kicks on Route 66 or taking a tour of the Big Apple, keeping your smartphone stocked with travel-friendly apps is a great way to be prepared for unexpected events on the road WITHOUT needing to carry around a small library's worth of travel guides. Want to take an impromptu walk in an unfamiliar location -- or maybe just find a clean toilet? This list of the best travel apps has you covered.

Before you even step foot on the gas pedal, you might want to read some of our previous app roundups for an extra helping hand during your wandering. Got kids? Then you'll want to load up some of the best kid-friendly apps to keep them occupied during long trips. Speaking of long trips, we also have posts about apps and DIY techniques you can use to increase your smartphone's battery life and turn it into a true road warrior.

Got it? Good! Let's ship out. Take a look at our top picks in the photo gallery below. Which apps do you bring with you on the road? Read more

How to keep your personal data safe in the Cloud

Computers & Internet
By Brad Chacos on August 15, 2012 in

Cloud security

Between streaming music services, streaming video services, social media, online storage services and Amazon's Whispersync'ed Kindle e-books, more and more of our daily lives are being spent in the cloud.  The upcoming Windows 8 operating system has deep cloud hooks that will increase our reliance even more. While storing your digital files online is convenient and a good backup solution, what happens when the cloud gets turbulent? Technology journalist Mat Honan found that out the hard way when hackers gained control of his Amazon, Apple iCloud and Google accounts, then wiped his iPhone, iPad and Mac -- and erased over a year's worth of data in the process. All of the pictures of his newborn daughter, all of his work, all of his emails -- gone in an instant. (His Twitter account was also hacked.)

Security lapses by Apple and Amazon contributed to Honan's terrifying ordeal (and have since been plugged) but Honan made some mistakes of his own that you -- yes, you -- can learn from. Here are some basic steps you can take to protect your data in the cloud. Read more

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