Sunday, August 18, 2013
AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
Microsoft Wednesday added Android to the list of mobile operating systems now supported by Office Mobile. But Office Mobile for Android only covers phones, not tablets, limiting its utility.
The Android version, Office Mobile for Android, is also arguably the weakest of the bunch, in terms of compatibility with Microsoft Office. Microsoft is still tacitly encouraging users to buy Windows Phones, which come preloaded and activated with Windows Mobile and don’t require an Office 365 subscription to use. The problem is, within the Android world, there are a number of other office solutions that provide very good direct competition to Microsoft’s offering.
MicrosoftHolding your phone vertically allows you to edit your PowerPoint slides. Nevertheless, Office Mobile for Android is free and downloadable from the Google Play Store. The only requirement is that your phone must contain Android 4.0 or higher, and you must already have purchased Office 365.
In a break with Office Mobile for iPhone, Microsoft doesn’t even offer the option to purchase Office 365 from within the app; instead, users must sign up outside the application itself. And without Office 365, Office Mobile for Android is virtually useless.
“The release of this app shows that we’re committed to keep providing additional value for Office 365 subscribers,” said Guy Gilbert, a senior product manager of the Office apps for Microsoft, in a blog post.
Qualifying Office 365 plans include Office 365 Home Premium, Office 365 Small Business Premium, Office 365 Midsize Business, Office 365 Enterprise E3 and E4, Office 365 Education A3 and A4, Office 365 ProPlus, and Office 365 University.
There are also Office 365 government plans that include Office Mobile. Users can also visit Office.com and sign up for a free 30-day trial, Microsoft said.
While Microsoft eventually intends to make Office Mobile for Android available across 33 languages and in 117 markets, it’s only currently available for the United States. That will change over the next few weeks, Microsoft said.
Like Office Mobile for iPhone, the Android version comes with mobile versions of Excel, PowerPoint, and Word; Office Mobile for Windows Phone adds OneNote as well. So far, Android users don’t have access to the Outlook Web App app that Microsoft recently released for the iPhone, either.
MicrosoftOffice for Android users can create documents in Word or Excel. Users can create new documents, edit those that they’ve already created, and save, load, or edit files saved to Microsoft’s SkyDrive or SkyDrive Pro—which on Tuesday received a few upgrades, as well.
But the ability to create files only applies to Word and Excel; for now, you can review your PowerPoint slides and edit them, but not create a presentation from scratch.
Users can also open a document via email. Office Mobile includes a couple of handy features designed for the phone;
The software knows what documents you’ve recently accessed on your PC, and those are the first options presented when you choose to open a saved file.
A feature that Microsoft calls Rapid Resume also works like Amazon’s Kindle, ‘fast-forwarding” you to the portion of the document last viewed on your PC.
An “outline view” in Excel and Word allow you to quickly navigate through the document, and both apps allow annotations as well.
Within the three supported apps, Microsoft has made efforts to make editing a snap; in Word (shown at top of story), for example, tapping the pencil brings up the most common editing functions. Excel allows you to filter and sort data and create charts, using the local processor to calculate data.
Within PowerPoint, users can review slides and edit speaker notes, move and hide slides, and make text edits directly from the phone. Holding the phone in a portrait orientation allows edits to be made and includes a quick navigation bar; a landscape orientation serves as presentation mode.
MicrosoftOffice Mobile for Android, displaying an Excel worksheet. In general, Office Mobile for Android and Office Mobile for iPhone should function quite similarly, with two exceptions: Android users can not sign up for Office 365 within the app itself, and Android users may need to fully qualify documents that are accessed via an on-premise SharePoint server.
To date, however, Microsoft has been keenly cognizant that productivity apps are the foundation of the Windows platform, and users who purchase a Windows Phone will have these benefits:
Office Mobile will be preinstalled and activated;users will be able to save documents to the phone itself, as well as SkyDrive or email;WP users will be able to filter and search for documents;Users can also easily open documents with permissions attached to them.Office 365 includes a license of up to five mobile devices—but Windows Phones don’t count against that limit.
The biggest annoyance, however, is that—like the iPad—tablets aren’t supported in either Office Mobile for the iPhone or the Android version, either. Those trying to hunt and peck at keys in the back of a jouncing taxi are likely to grit their teeth and muddle through; by doing so, however, Microsoft is tacitly encouraging customers in the direction of a Surface tablet—now at a new low, low, price—or even a full-fledged Windows 8 PC. (“Phablets” like the Samsung Galaxy Note II should still be supported, however.)
“If you have an iPad or Android tablet, we recommend using the Office Web Apps, which provide the best Office experience on a tablet,” a spokeswoman for Microsoft said via email. “We have made lots of enhancements to Office Web Apps including a touch experience for tablet users.”
QuickOffice Pro provides one tablet-friendly alternative to Office Mobile for Android. Microsoft also has native apps for OneNote, Lync, and SharePoint, in addition to supporting Exchange Active Sync for email, calendar and contacts, she said.
”I’m not sure how many people are going to want to do a lot of Office work on a phone,” Michael Silver, an analyst at Gartner, said recently. “A tablet’s going to be a lot more important.”
Of course, there’s no reason that users have to live in the world that Microsoft has created. Plenty of Android office apps allow document creation or editing, both on a phone or tablet: Google Drive, of course, allows for Google’s own documents to be created; and Google’s own QuickOffice, Documents to Go, and OfficeSuite Pro 7 are all arguably as good or better choices than Microsoft’s offerings.
In one way, editing or creating an Office document on a mobile phone is counter-intuitive; too many people still append some sort of signature file on a mobile phone to explain away any typos or shorthand.
Within a business document, however, typos simply shouldn’t appear. Office Mobile can certainly stand in to enable last-minute changes while on the go, but they shouldn’t be considered as serious tools for document creation. And that’s exactly how Microsoft appears to want it.
Sunday, August 18, 2013 0
AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
Tethering: It's one of the most convenient features your smartphone has, yet carriers insist on restricting it.
Tethering most often refers to using your smartphone as a mobile hotspot. In other words, it lets you connect to the Internet on your laptop, tablet, or Wi-Fi enabled device, using your phone's data connection. Tethering is very useful if you happen to be in an area that has no free Wi-Fi and you need to do your computing on a device other than your phone.
[Related: How to tether your iPhone]
Carriers don't really want you to use this oh-so-convenient option, because users who tether are more likely to use a lot of data. After all, it's much easier to use data when you're browsing on a laptop or a tablet, than when you're limited to your smartphone's tiny screen. You might argue that, since most mobile plans feature limited data anyway, it shouldn't matter how you happen to use that data. But some carriers disagree, and will typically charge an extra $20 to $50 per month for tethering plans.
Verizon
You may or may not have heard the news: Verizon recently announced that, thanks to an FCC investigation, it will stop blocking its Android users from downloading and using third-party tethering apps. This means that Verizon's Android users on usage-based plans can avoid the $20 tethering fee by using a third-party app instead of their phone's built-in tethering option (called Mobile Broadband Connect).
This doesn't mean that all tethering on Verizon is free, though?it's not. Here's the breakdown:
If you have a new Verizon "Share Everything" plan, you can use your phone's built-in mobile hotspot feature or a third-party tethering app free of charge? but you're limited to the data in your Share Everything data pool. Overage rates for shared data plans are $15 per gigabyte.If you have an old usage-based data plan, you can now use a third-party tethering app free of charge. You can also use your phone's mobile hotspot feature for an additional $20 per month (per device), which also gets you an additional 2GB of data.If you have an old unlimited plan, you are technically required to pay $20 per month for tethering? whether you're using a third-party app or your phone's mobile hotspot feature. However, Verizon has no way of knowing if you're using a third-party app to tether.AT&T
AT&T was not part of the FCC investigation that forced Verizon to allow third-party tethering apps on Android phones, so AT&T still charges for all tethering. Unlike Verizon, AT&T never blocked third-party tethering apps from its phones?rather, it monitors its users' data habits, and sends them text messages and emails telling them that if they do not stop tethering for free they will be automatically signed up for an AT&T tethering plan.
Here's how much it costs to tether on AT&T:
If you have a new AT&T Mobile Share plan, you can use your phone's built-in tethering app, as well as a third-party tethering app, for free?but it will sap data from your shared data pool. Overage rates for shared data plans are $15 for each gigabyte of data you go over.If you have an older, usage-based data plan, you can use your phone's built-in tethering app, as well as third-party tethering apps, for an additional $20 a month per line, which will also give you an extra 2GB of data.If you have a grandfathered-in unlimited data plan, tethering is not an option?you'll have to upgrade to a (limited) tethered plan, or AT&T will upgrade you automatically if it suspects you're tethering.
Sprint
Sprint is the only carrier that still has unlimited phone data plans. However, Sprint does not allow you to tether on your unlimited data plan. Instead, you're required to purchase a tethering option, which gives you a couple of gigabytes for tethering (though your phone will still have unlimited data).
Here are your options (or lack thereof) on Sprint:
If you have an unlimited data plan (and you do, because Sprint requires all smartphones to be on an unlimited data plan), tethering will cost you $19.99 a month for 2GB of data and $49.99 a month for 6GB of data. This means you'll be able to use 2GB or 6GB of tethering data, but you'll still have unlimited data as long as you're just using your phone.If you have a usage-based data plan on your Sprint tablet, you can purchase the same options (2GB for $19.99 per month or 6GB for $49.99 per month) for tethering. In this case, tethering data is also separate?it does not come out of your bucket of usage-based data.If you go over your 2GB or 6GB limit, you'll be charged an additional $0.05 per MB?which equals a whopping $51.20 per additional GB.Some people may have the old tethering option of 5GB for $29.99 per month, and they will be allowed to keep this until they change plansT-Mobile
T-Mobile will be introducing a new unlimited data plan in September. However, this unlimited plan will not support tethering. Instead, customers who want to tether their phones will have to use one of T-Mobile's existing value or classic plans.
Here's the breakdown of T-Mobile's tethering costs:
If you have a usage-based 2GB data plan, you can add tethering to your plan for $14.99 a month. This gets you an additional 2GB of data.If you have a usage-based 5GB or 10GB plan, tethering is available at no additional cost. Tethering takes data from your existing data pool of 5GB or 10GB.If you have an unlimited data plan, you're not allowed to tether. T-Mobile does not allow the use of third-party tethering apps on its network.There are two ways to tether on your Android phone?you can use your phone's built-in hotspot feature, which may or may not incur charges from your carrier. Or you can use a third-party tethering app.
While most carriers (AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile) do not technically allow the use of third-party tethering apps, many third-party tethering apps are still available and will work on phones on those networks. Whether you use a third-party app for tethering is at your discretion, since networks will often charge you if they discover you're using tethering data and not paying for it.
Remember, if you do choose to use a third-party app for tethering, it's a good idea to be conservative about how much data you use. If you only tether your laptop to your phone's data connection to check email on the fly, your carrier probably won't notice. But if you're constantly streaming Netflix videos on your tablet using your phone's data connection, your carrier will probably get suspicious?especially if you have an unlimited data plan.
Numerous third-party tethering apps are available today, including apps for rooted and nonrooted phones. Here are a few of the better options:
Tethering apps for nonrooted phones
PdaNet: PdaNet is a free download on Google Play, but this only gets you a 14-day trial. After 14 days, the app will block access to secure websites (websites that require a login) unless you purchase the full edition for $15.95. PdaNet allows you to tether your phone's data connection to your laptop using a USB cable or Bluetooth dial-up networking, or to turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot (though the Wi-Fi hotspot mode does not work on all phones).
EasyTether: EasyTether is a USB tethering app, which means it lets you share your phone's data connection with your laptop via a USB cable. It also lets you tether your game console (PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, or Xbox) using PC Internet Connection Sharing (you need to go through a computer first to tether your console). EasyTether has two versions: a free Lite version and a paid $9.99 version. The Lite version blocks secure websites, instant messengers, and game console tethering. The app supports Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. As of this article's writing, EasyTether was still blocked on Verizon devices.
Wifi Hotspot & USB Tether Pro: Wifi Hotspot & USB Tether is primarily for turning your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot (complete with password), but it also allows you to tether your phone's data connection to your computer via USB. This is yet another app with a free version (so you can see if it works on your phone) and a paid version that costs $14.99. The Lite version gives you a two-day, five-minutes-per-day trial.
Reverse tethering lets you tether your computer's Internet connection to your phone so that your phone connects to the Web using your laptop?s connection. This is a much less common scenario, since it's rare that you'll find yourself in a place where your computer has an Internet connection but your phone does not. If you do find yourself in this situation, however, you can use the Reverse Tether app to share your computer's Internet connection with your phone.
Reverse Tether is a $4.99 download in the Android Market, and requires a rooted Android device. To tether your computer's Internet connection to your phone, all you need to do is download the app, make sure your device's drivers are installed on your computer, and connect your computer to your phone using a USB cable.
Since Reverse Tether does not work with all Android devices, you can also download a trial version
for free to see if it works. The trial version lets you connect only during certain times, but it never expires.
Tethering doesn't apply only to your phone's (or computer's) data connection. The AirDroid app lets you wirelessly manage your phone from a browser window on your laptop. This can be useful if you're at your computer anyway, but you want to be able to do things like listen to music that's stored at your computer, write text messages, and organize your phone's contacts.
AirDroid is free on Google Play. To use the app, you need to download and install it on your phone, and then open up a browser window on your computer and navigate to http://web.airdroid.com. You can then scan a QR code on the website or enter a passcode from your device, and you're logged in.
From the AirDroid main screen, you can manage files, organize call logs, check and write text messages, look at photos, watch videos, play music, organize contacts, and install apps. Your device does not need to be rooted for AirDrive to run, but if it is rooted you'll have access to a couple more features, such as seeing your device's screen in real-time and taking screenshots.
AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
You already know you need a smartphone, but finding the right one to fit your needs won't be easy. What operating system best suits your work and play habits? Is a large screen more important to you than the ability to slip the phone into a tight pocket? And will the model you want even work with your carrier?
A smartphone puts a browser, camera, audio recorder, music player, calendar, and even a plain old phone into your hand. You're going to use this gadget to research homework, record lectures, schedule social activities, and ask your parents for more money. You need to get the right one.
In the United States, when selecting a smartphone, you're limited to models available through your service provider. For instance, only Verizon customers can use the HTC Droid DNA, and the Samsung Galaxy S4 was only available to AT&T subscribers until Verizon began to support it recently. Luckily, many popular models, including the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy Note II, are available from multiple venders.
Buying through the service provider saves you money. You'll pay $100-$200 for a phone that would otherwise cost more than $600. The downside: You'll have to commit to a two-year contract.
But there's another option: No-contract, month-to-month services can save you considerable money if you use your phone sparingly. But check a service's limitations before you go with it. For instance, Walmart and T-Mobile offer a $30 monthly plan with 5GB of 4G data and 100 minutes of phone use. But Sprint's $35 Virgin Mobile service, while offering only 2.5GB of 3G data, gives you 300 minutes for talking.
Your phone's operating system determines the user experience, what apps you can use, and possibly your phone's security.
Google's Android, the most popular phone OS, is available on a wide variety of models, including the Motorola's Droid Razr Maxx HD, Sony's Xperia Z, and Samsung's many Galaxy models. It continues to give you choices after you've picked a phone. For instance, you can place an app on your home screen as either an unchanging icon or as a live widget that displays information like weather or upcoming appointments.
Apple's iOS only runs on iPhones, severely limiting model choice. Although not as versatile as Android, iOS is simpler to use. For instance, connecting an Android phone to a PC can turn into a complicated project; with iOS, you simply use iTunes. This closed system policy also protects you; Android phones have serious malware problems; iOS has virtually none.
If you use Windows 8 and are comfortable with its Modern Interface, consider try a Windows phone. The screen will look reassuringly familiar. Not as popular as Android or iOS, the Windows Phone operating system is gaining marketshare. Currently, Nokia's Lumia series dominates the Windows Phone market.
Phones--especially Android phones--come in many sizes. The Samsung Galaxy Note II is nearly six inches high and more than three inches wide--large enough to be called a phablet, as in a phone you can use as a tablet. This makes it easy to read and type into, but difficult to slip into your pocket. On the other hand, the LG Lucid measures only 4.69 by 2.45 inches wide, and will be much easier to carry.
You'll probably want to visit a brick-and-mortar store to determine if a phone's physical size is right for you. But size is only one factor to consider.
Check out this chart to see a list of the hottest smartphones on the market.
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Around this time each year, the editors at PCWorld and TechHive gather to recognize the best new tech products—the hardware, software, gadgets, and devices that had the biggest impact on the world. The process starts out casually enough, because editors get to name their favorites from their respective beats, and everything is included in the first pass.
But passions rise when the time comes to winnow what inevitably becomes a very long list to just 100 new products. There’s a fervent back and forth as the editors make their cases as to why their product should remain on the list—and someone else’s should be whacked. Staff alliances form and dissolve as editors strategize how they’ll win the day for their picks.
A list with 100 computers, smartphones, printers, cloud services, and other great products inexorably emerges over the course of a few weeks. But that’s only half the battle, because the editors must now decide the order of importance that each product holds. That came together surprisingly quickly this year—at least for the top 10 products. As for the other 90; well, let’s just say the list was settled only after great deliberation.
And here, without further ado, are our picks for the 100 best products of 2012:
1. Windows 8 Professional (operating system)
With its biggest OS rollout since Windows 95, Microsoft seeks to embrace all things computing with a one-size-fits-all operating system. Love or hate the new Start screen and app storefront, look beyond those polarizing elements, and you’ll find substantial performance improvements, numerous updates to critical features, and a largely successful effort to retain compatibility with desktop applications while also fulfilling the needs of mobile apps. Windows 8 has already spawned new designs and all sorts of hardware experiments. This bold step forward won’t appeal to old-schoolers, but its sleek, modern look just might win over a new generation of users that Microsoft must attract to remain relevant.
2. Apple iPad, 3rd Generation (tablet)
We've listed the third-gen iPad here because it had the biggest impact on the tablet market—it was the first to feature Apple's high-resolution Retina display. But if you want to buy a full-size iPad now, get the fourth-gen model: It has a faster processor, better Wi-Fi capabilities, and improved LTE circuitry.
3. Maingear Alpha (all-in-one PC)
The Alpha might be a butt-ugly beast, but its massive chassis accommodates a GeForce GTX 680 video card, a Core i7-3770K CPU, and up to 32GB of memory. You can play today's triple-A game titles, and upgrade every major component to play tomorrow's attractions, too. Simply put, the Alpha offers unprecedented performance and upgrade flexibility for an all-in-one PC.
4. Vizio CT14-A2 (laptop)
Vizio's rookie laptop effort has a sleek, minimalist design, with big keys that deliver great tactile feedback, and a fabulous 14-inch, 1600-by-900-pixel LCD in a package that weighs just 3.4 pounds. If you're looking for a capable Ultrabook, you can't go wrong with this little gem.
5. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (e-reader)
The Paperwhite's best feature is the integrated light that brightly and evenly illuminates the page, even in daylight. But Amazon has made other improvements to its e-reader: The E Ink display boasts higher resolution, the fonts are better, and the underlying software has been significantly overhauled.
6. Samsung Galaxy S III (Android smartphone)
You don't get to be the best-selling Android phone by being average, and the Galaxy S III definitely has what it takes to move ahead of the Android pack. With a speedy processor, an eye-catching display, and loads of attractive features, it's our favorite smartphone of 2012.
7. Intel Ivy Bridge CPUs
Intel brings its 22nm fabrication process to the mass market. Though these CPUs sip power, they pack a big performance punch. Desktop systems idling at under 70 watts and laptops delivering 8-hour battery life are practically commonplace now. Ivy Bridge sets a new standard for performance per watt.
8. Panasonic Smart Viera VT50 HDTVs
When it comes to big-screen HDTVs, plasma technology still delivers the best price/performance ratio. Panasonic has practically defined the state of the art in plasma, and the VT50 series is the company’s best, delivering top-notch image quality, THX certification, comprehensive calibration controls, and a bevy of online services.
9. Asus RT-AC66U (router)
Ready to make the leap to the fledgling 802.11ac standard? Asus has the fastest router with the most features, including a cloud-storage service that allows you to sync files on any device, and provides remote access to any PC on your network.
10. Lenovo IdeaPad Y580 (laptop)
This laptop does it all, without breaking your budget or your back. Packing a quad-core processor, a Geforce GTX 660M GPU, and a 15.6-inch, 1080p LCD into a 6.2-pound chassis, this well-balanced system can handle digital media editing—and PC gaming, too.
11. Microsoft Surface RT (tablet)
As Maxwell Smart might have said, the Surface RT misses our top-10 by that much. That’s no surprise, considering that this is Microsoft’s rookie effort at building a retail computer; it's number 11 because the Surface has successfully redefined what a tablet can be.
12. Audioengine 5+ (speaker system)
The original 5 system was one of the best near-field, powered studio monitors we’d ever heard. The new 5+ is every bit as splendid, thanks to the dual 50-watt Class AB monolithic amplifiers driving the 5-inch Kevlar woofers and 0.79-inch silk-dome tweeters. Absolutely superb.
13. Amazon Kindle Fire HD (tablet)
Amazon vastly improved its tablet user experience, rendering this 16GB model even more suitable for consuming content from Amazon’s vast digital storefront. More important, the company is selling the Kindle Fire HD at an incredibly low price for a tablet with an expensive optically bonded display.
14. Google Nexus 7 (Android tablet)
We saw plenty of cheap Android tablets in 2012, but not one that was a worthy contender for this list. Then along came Google’s Nexus 7, which brought top-flight performance, features, and great design to an inexpensive tablet—along with a lovely, optically bonded display, too.
15. Falcon Northwest Tiki (mini-gaming PC)
It's small, quiet and extremely fast—especially with games. This is no budget box; rather, it’s a polished, purpose-built tiny gaming system. The heavily overclocked Ivy Bridge processor, a fast SSD and a GeForce GTX 680 videocard combine to make this the fastest system of its size.
16. Adobe Creative Suite 6 (artistic software)
This suite is full of technological triumphs, from its support for GPU acceleration in Photoshop CS6 and Premiere Pro CS6, to Dreamweaver CS6’s ability to output smartphone apps for almost any mobile operating system by transferring their production to the cloud.
17. Sony Tap 20 (tablet/laptop hybrid)
A luggable all-in-one with a 20-inch, 10-point multitouch display that runs on either AC or battery power, this could be the perfect family PC. Or is it a humongous family tablet? Either way, it shows that Windows 8 is inspiring PC manufacturers to innovate.
18. Raspberry Pi (basic Linux PC)
Conceived as a tool that would encourage students to learn how to program long before they entered college, the low, low price tag on this Linux-powered computer also makes it the perfect platform for hobbyists interested in building experimental projects. Raspberry Pi is like a digital blank slate.
19. Dell UltraSharp U2713HM (display)
This big little monitor delivers the same number of pixels as a 30-inch model in a more affordable 27-inch package. An LED-backlit IPS panel boasting accurate color, excellent uniformity, and wide viewing angles, it’s an excellent choice for both PC and Mac users, even without a Thunderbolt connector.
20. Jawbone Big Jambox (speaker)
Your mobile device might be the center of your entertainment universe, but we've yet to see a phone or tablet equipped with phenomenal speakers. The Big Jambox pairs wirelessly with Bluetooth-enabled iOS and Android devices, pumps out impressive bass, and has the battery life to withstand long jam sessions.
21. Olympus OM-D E-M5 (digital camera)
Most mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras are designed as "step-up" cameras for the point-and-shoot crowd, but the Olympus OM-D E-M5 has the mettle to compete with full-fledged Digital SLRs. We appreciate its fast focusing speed, terrific image quality, and appealingly retro aesthetic.
22. Apple iPhone 5 (smartphone)
It’s the best iPhone yet, improving on its predecessors with features such as LTE connectivity, an improved camera, and a larger screen. It might not have the best map program, as you may have heard, but we have no doubt that the iPhone 5 is still one of the best smartphones of 2012.
23. Stardock Start8 (Windows 8 add-on)
Many early Windows 8 adopters complain about the lack of a Start Menu. Stardock, known for desktop customization software Fences and ObjectDock, responded with Start8, an inexpensive utility that adds a StartMenu to the new OS and allows you to disable the new hot corners to make your transition less jarring.
24. Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display (laptop)
Apple’s flagship laptop delivers stunning performance and effortless portability. This was not only the fastest overall Mac we've ever tested, but its spectacular IPS screen with 2880 by 1800 pixel resolution reveals so much detail that even desktop icons become something to marvel over.
25. Kickstarter (website)
We’re recognizing this three-year-old crowd-funding site because it opened the crowd-funding floodgates in 2012. Marquee products such as the Pebble E-Paper Watch and the Ouya game console raised millions, demonstrating that Kickstarter isn't just for amateurs and side projects; it’s changing the way new products get funded.
26. B&N Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight (e-reader)
Thoughtful design and an ethereal yet effective built-in reading light make this e-reader one of the best you can buy. It’s also the most flexible, with a MicroSD card slot on board. And unlike Amazon, B&N doesn’t charge extra for an AC adapter.
27. Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Gaming Keyboard
This is easily the best mechanical gaming keyboard we’ve tested this year. It’s durable, useful, and just plain satisfying to use, whether you’re playing games or powering through email. If you haven’t upgraded to a fully mechanical keyboard yet, this is the one to buy.
28. Western Digital MyBook Thunderbolt Duo (storage device)
If you need a lot of storage right at your desktop, and your computer is equipped with a Thunderbolt port, take a long look at WD’s Thunderbolt MyBook Duo. This dual-drive device is available in 4-, 6-, and 8TB configurations with a blistering-fast Thunderbolt interface.
29. Linksys WUMC710 Media Connector (wireless bridge)
Most 802.11ac router manufacturers expect consumers to buy two of their routers and configure one as a bridge. That’s an expensive and unnecessarily complicated solution. Linksys was a little late to the 802.11ac party, but it arrived with the absolute best product for the client side.
30. Lenovo IdeaCentre A720 (all-in-one PC)
Squeezing the A720’s guts into a base the size of a small pizza box allowed Lenovo to flatten the 27-inch, 10-point multitouch display to less than one-inch thick. What’s more, you can lay the articulated display completely flat and use the computer like a giant stationary tablet.
31. Sonos Sub (wireless subwoofer)
Craving a milkshake? Eat some ice cream, drink some milk, play your favorite funk on a Sonos multi-room audio system, and stand next to the Sub. The dual Class D amps and two force-canceling speakers in this 36-pound networked subwoofer will do the rest. Yeah, we dig it.
32. MicroExpress MicroFlex 37B (desktop PC)
It’s not pretty, but this model's utilitarian looks disguise a balanced, high-performance PC that’s both a speedy general-purpose system and a decent gaming rig. Credit the fast Ivy Bridge CPU, Radeon HD 7850 GPU, SSD, Blu-ray drive, and 16GB of RAM, all in a package that costs less than $1300.
33. Mass Effect 3 (video game)
This conclusion to one of the most ambitious gaming trilogies ever created isn’t perfect. Indeed, the abbreviated, nonsensical ending ignited a firestorm of criticism from series fans. Nevertheless, the strong voice acting and action sequences propel the game forward at a satisfyingly breakneck pace.
34. D-Link DCS-5222L (IP security camera)
IP cameras are great for monitoring your home, but configuring one for remote access is a pain in the neck. D-Link’s Cloud Camera line makes it easy. The DCS-5222L is a pan/tilt model with LED lighting for night viewing, a MicroSD card slot, and two-way audio.
35. HP ZR2440w (display)
This 24-inch desktop monitor has it all: A 1920-by-1200-pixel IPS panel that produces brilliant images with wide viewing angles, an easy-to-adjust stand that can pivot to portrait mode, a four-port USB hub, and an energy-saving LED backlight. It can connect to your computer via DVI, DisplayPort, DVI, or HDMI.
36. Sony Bloggie Live MHS-TS55 (camcorder)
Burning up your smartphone’s battery shooting impromptu videos? Maybe it’s time to move up to a dedicated device. The Bloggie Live is the most versatile pocket camcorder around, delivering wireless streaming, peer-to-peer sharing, and image resolution on a par with today’s top phone cameras.
37. Nvidia GeForce GTX 680 (GPU)
If you find the size and power consumption of AMD’s Radeon HD 7970 objectionable, this Nvidia GPU blends the high performance of the company’s Kepler architecture with the terrific efficiency of its earlier Fermi design to deliver a well-balanced powerhouse that’s suited to both gaming and GPU-compute applications.
38. Angry Birds Space (video game)
Quick review for the 0.00002 percent of the population that hasn’t played Rovio's Angry Birds: You shoot birds at pigs. In-game physics are one of the game’s best attributes, so it was a brilliant idea to move the game’s environment into space and add gravity puzzles.
39. Instagram (digital photo app)
Love it or loathe it, Instagram has driven plenty of interest in phone photography. This free app for iOS and Android devices makes it incredibly easy to apply creative filters and borders to your photos and then share them with friends and family via social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.
40. Arcam rPAC (DAC and headphone amp)
This device connects to your computer via USB, sounds spectacular (for its price), is built like a tank, supports high-resolution files, and incorporates a high-quality headphone amplifier to make even power-hungry headphones sing.
41. AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition (GPU)
AMD made a few tweaks to the reference design it originally released in December 2011. This single-GPU card now overpowers Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 680 in most of our benchmarks. It’s still too big and consumes too much juice, but we’ll accept the trade-off.
42. Adobe Lightroom 4.2 (photo-editing software)
Few developers add new features to a top-shelf product and then slice the product’s price tag in half, but that’s what Adobe did with Lightroom. Notable new tools include photo categorization by geolocation, the ability to output photos using self-publishing books, and easier-to-use filters. Lightroom 4.2 is no small upgrade.
43. Asus RT-N66U (wireless router)
Hey, we get it. Not everyone is ready to embrace a draft networking standard. If you need a new router, but want to stick with the tried-and-true 802.11n, there’s no better model than the dual-band Asus RT-N66U. When it comes to performance and features, nothing else comes close.
44. Velodyne vPulse (earbuds)
Loudspeaker aficionados will be familiar with Velodyne’s high-end subwoofers—speakers designed solely to reproduce very low frequencies. So it should come as no surprise that the vPulse delivers plenty of low-end oomph. But these buds are more than bass monsters—they deliver a detailed midrange performance and crisp highs, too.
45. Vizio CA27-A1 (all-in-one PC)
Vizio entered the desktop PC market with this stylish all-in-one that delivered a Worldbench 7 score of 122 (that is, 22 percent faster than our baseline system), thanks to a Core i5 CPU, a discrete Nvidia GPU, and a 32GB SSD cache. Extras include a multitouchpad instead of a mouse.
46. Apple iPod touch—5th generation (digital media player)
No other digital media player has managed to knock the iPod off its perch. Now, it's more than a media player: It’s also a very good digital camera, camcorder, handheld gaming device, and, when connected to a Wi-Fi network, a personal digital assistant (Siri).
47. Astro A50 Wireless Headset (gaming headset)
This is the best wireless gaming headset we’ve heard this year, thanks to impeccable design and Astro’s decision to use KleerNet wireless technology. The A50 works with both PCs and gaming consoles, it sounds great, and it’s comfortable enough to wear during marathon entertainment sessions.
48. Apple iPad Mini (tablet)
While it lacks a Retina display, Apple's smallish tablet is a joy to use, delivering a higher resolution than the first two generations of iPads. It would rank much higher on our list if its price were closer to that of the Nexus 7.
49. Google Hangouts (video-chat service)
Yes, this free video-chat service debuted in late last year, but it really took off in 2012. It supports up to 10 callers equipped with browsers, webcams, and Google+ accounts. It’s a fun way to connect with friends, and it’s a fabulous workplace collaboration tool. Participants can share a screen and view joint presentations.
50. Alienware M17x-R4 (gaming laptop)
This luggable laptop is just the ticket for LAN parties and dorm rooms. It’s no Ultrabook, tipping the scales at 11-plus pounds, but it packs the fastest mobile GPU available; a gorgeous 17-inch, 1080p display; and a great keyboard. It runs current-generation PC games with nary a hiccup.
51. Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover (iPad keyboard)
If you have an iPad, you need a cover. And if you intend to do serious work on that iPad, you need a real keyboard. Logitech fills both needs with one slick device that adds just 12 ounces to the weight of a bare iPad.
52. The Walking Dead (video game)
This adventure game—set in a zombie apocalypse where players must make difficult choices—is easily one of the best games of 2012. Based on Robert Kirkman’s graphic novels, the first season of this game consists of five downloadable episodes that can be completed in 2 to 3 hours each.
53. Vivint Home Automation (home control/security system)
The era of the smart home is dawning, and Vivint is one reason why: Sign a $69-per-month contract and you get a sophisticated home security and automation system (alarm, electronic door lock, door/window sensors, lighting controls, an IP camera, and a programmable thermostat) installed for just $199.
54. Sensible Vision Fast Access (facial-recognition software)
Stop memorizing passwords. Show your mug to your smartphone, tablet, or PC, instead. This facial-recognition software will then require you to identify a secret symbol to gain access to secure apps and websites. That two-factor authentication will foil efforts to fool the software with a photograph or video.
55. Libratone Zipp (wireless speaker)
Boasting an attractive industrial design, a simple setup process, and clever AirPlay and PlayDirect implementations (it can create its own Wi-Fi network), the battery-powered Libratone Zipp is easy to recommend as a multiroom speaker system. If you want a portable AirPlay speaker, this is an excellent choice.
56. Vizio M3D470KD (HDTV)
You'll be hard-pressed to find a better HDTV of this size for less than $1000. This 47-inch, LED edge-lit, passive 3D model offers very good image quality, a built-in Wi-Fi network adapter, a keyboard-equipped remote, and a comprehensive collection of Internet apps and service. Plus, you get four pairs of 3D glasses included.
57. AT&T U-verse (broadband Internet service)
Major infrastructure improvements typically occur in the denser populations of cities. So we’re tipping our hat to AT&T for deploying fiber-to-the-node in at least some rural areas to deliver its U-verse broadband Internet service. It’s not as fast as cable, but it’s almost twice as fast as conventional DSL service.
58. Turntable.FM (online music service)
This online service graced our Top 100 last year. When we heard the company had a mobile app, we fell in love all over again. The social music service works perfectly on the go, and it's fun to DJ while riding the bus. Play on, party people!
59. Netgear NeoTV Max (media streamer)
The year 2012 wasn’t a big one for new media streamers, but the NeoTV Max is a honey. It can stream nearly anything over your network (with the exception of DVD and Blu-ray ISO images); plus, you can send audio and video to your TV from any laptop outfitted with Intel’s WiDi technology.
60. Scrivener for Windows (word processor/project organizer)
Few writers can brain-dump an entire novel or research proposal straight into a word processor. Scrivener for Windows, a PC version of the popular Mac program, helps you organize your ideas and notes. You can switch between corkboard, outline, and continuous-flow "scrivening" views to see how your opus is shaping up.
61. ADT Pulse Premier (home control/security system)
ADT’s home security and automation system is almost as good as Vivint’s; plus, ADT will install in-wall lighting controls if you prefer. The company added electronic door locks, a new touch-screen control panel, and more advanced cameras, too. ADT’s up-front costs are higher, but its contracts are shorter.
62. Intuit QuickBooks Pro (accounting software)
Woe to the small-business owner who doesn’t balance the ledger. QuickBooks isn’t the most powerful software for the task, but it’s very easy for novices to set up and use. If it doesn’t handle a function you need, a third-party add-on probably does.
63. Epson WorkForce WP-4540 (multifunction printer)
This fast, capable, business-minded inkjet multifunction is a leader among the new generation of no-regrets inkjets for the office. The best-balanced among many strong contenders, it brings swift performance, spiffy output quality, and a whopping 580 sheets of standard input. Ink is cheap, too. Low-end color lasers should be worried.
64. Lytro Light-Field Camera (digital camera)
Despite a few usability hiccups in its first-generation camera, Lytro's core technology is truly groundbreaking. This tube-like camera lets you shoot photos quickly and decide where to focus (and refocus) later. Lytro’s manual shutter control, added via a free firmware update, delivers even more fun tricks.
65. Microsoft Type Cover (tablet keyboard)
If you decide to take the plunge into Microsoft’s Surface (pun intended), spend the extra ten bucks to buy the Type Cover. It’s a tad thicker than the less-expensive Touch Cover, but this keyboard has authentic keys that deliver genuine tactile feedback. Your fingertips will thank you.
66. Western Digital My Passport 2TB (portable hard drive)
Cloud storage is great—until you can’t access the cloud. When you need to take a lot of data on the go, Western Digital’s biggest My Passport drive packs two terabytes into a 2.5-inch chassis, and it draws all its power over a USB connection.
67. Pinterest (online social sharing service)
"Pinning" entered the lexicon in 2012 as Pinterest users built online pinboards to collect, organize, and share everything interesting they found on the Web. The versatility of this service—you can also use it for event planning and building shopping lists—rendered Pinterest the fastest-growing website to date.
68. Maingear Shift Super Stock (desktop PC)
Maingear pulled out all the stops to build this super-powered PC, which tore through our benchmarks to generate a Worldbench 7 score of 205—105 percent faster than our baseline. The top-shelf components in this rig should keep any gamer satisfied for a least a couple of years.
69. Panasonic HC-V700M (camcorder)
Here’s an easy-to-use compact camcorder that shoots great video. The built-in video light and flash work exceptionally well, capturing clean, crisp video and still shots from as far as 10 feet. Colors appear realistic with little or no oversaturation, and with hardly any blurring during fast pans.
70. Sony XQD S Series (memory card)
Speed is key for some photographers, and the Sony XQD S Series delivers that in spades, with read and write transfer speeds of up to 168 MBps. That’s faster than any high-end CompactFlash card. Nikon is an early adopter, supporting XQD in its Nikon D4.
71. XCOM: Enemy Unknown (video game)
If you think turn-based strategy is too old-school, you’re missing a nail-biter of a gaming experience. Firaxis makes the classic genre feel brand new: The game rewards patience and strategic thinking while you build up your forces to repel an alien invasion.
72. V-Moda VAMP (DAC and headphone amp)
Don’t buy the iPhone 5! This audiophile DAC, headphone amp, supplemental battery, and case is compatible only with the iPhone 4/4S. It connects to the iPhone’s docking port, taps its digital audio output, and upsamples that signal before converting it to analog and amplifying it. Expensive? Oh yeah. Worth it? Hell yeah!
73. Synology DiskStation 712+ (network-attached storage)
This NAS box lets you start small and scale up. It has only two drive bays, but you can add two or five more by connecting it to Synology’s DX213 or DX513, respectively. A great NAS for both home and business.
74. Microsoft Sculpt Touch Mouse (computer mouse)
Windows 8’s emphasis on touch controls will change how you use your computer. If you’re not ready to invest in a touchscreen display, Microsoft’s Sculpt Mouse has a touch-sensitive strip in its middle mouse button that can move the cursor up and down and left to right.
75. Lowes Iris (home control/security system)
If you’re interested in home security automation without paying for central-office monitoring, take a look at Lowes’ Iris system. This DIY package is reasonably priced, exceptionally well thought out, and very easy to install. The best kit comes with a local alarm; door, window, and motion sensors; a thermostat; and basic lighting controls.
76. Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 (webcam)
Webcams that deliver video at 1080p resolution are a dime a dozen. What separates Logitech’s C920 from the crowd is its ability to support Skype HD video calls at 1080p, too. This well-designed, well-engineered webcam also has a versatile mounting clip that keeps it securely fastened to your display.
77. Asus Xonar Essence One (DAC and headphone amp)
Asus bills this device as a USB DAC and headphone amp, but it’s much more than that. Yes, it will drive even 600-ohm headphones, but it also boasts balanced XLR outputs so you can connect it to the finest analog amplifiers. It is an exquisite piece of gear.
78. HP Officejet 150 Mobile All-in-One Printer (printer)
This is the first truly portable inkjet multifunction, squeezing a sheet-fed scanner into its compact form and including a full battery for on-the-go usage. It’s neither fast nor cheap, but its printing and scanning are top-notch. Bluetooth connectivity lets you print from mobile phones and tablets.
79. Razer Naga Expert MMO Gaming Mouse (computer mouse)
Playing World of Warcraft with an ordinary mouse after playing with the Razer Naga will feel like bringing a banana to a knife fight. The 17 programmable buttons under one hand leaves the other hand free to concentrate on using your QWERTY keyboard's WASD keys to move within the game world.
80. Hero Academy (video game)
Robot Entertainment's turn-based, board-like game of swords and magic requires at least two players; but if you tire of waiting for your opponent(s) to move, you can start independent games with other partners and play them all simultaneously. Outwit your opponents through brute force or calculated strikes.
81. Sony Handycam HDR-PJ760V (camcorder)
Falling squarely between the consumer and prosumer worlds, this camcorder performs like a champ. It boasts extraordinary ability to produce crisp videos in challenging shooting situations, and the optical image stabilization works phenomenally well. Auto-focus struggles occasionally, but color accuracy stays spot-on.
82. Damn Small Linux (operating system)
We saw a flurry of new Linux distros in 2012, but DSL is particularly notable because of its size. This operating system will run on older computers that would collapse under the weight of Windows or any other mainstream OS. As such, it can breathe new life into old hardware.
83. Axis P1344 (IP video camera)
Small-business owners looking for professional-quality video surveillance will appreciate the features Axis delivers with its model P1344 IP camera: This model delivers precision optics, true HDTV resolution, and h.264 video encoding. And with power-over-ethernet support, you’ll need just one low-voltage cable to set it up.
84. Stardock Multiplicity 2.0 (multisystem-control software)
Software doing the work of hardware almost never satisfies, but here's an exception: The free version of Multiplicity 2.0 lets you control two computers using a single mouse and keyboard every bit as effectively as an expensive USB keyboard/mouse switch. Spring for the paid version ($40), and you can control up to nine computers.
85. Apple TV (media streamer)
This third-gen Apple TV sports a new processor capable of playing video at 1080p, but the real star of the show is the new software update that will run on the older 720p Apple TV, too. If you like AirPlay and the iTunes store, this is the video streamer to buy.
86. Dishonored (video game)
An epic departure from the typical computer game, Dishonored is set in a steampunk universe where technology and supernatural powers coexist. You play the part of a bodyguard-turned-assassin who must overcome being framed for the murder of the empress you were guarding.
87. Lexar 128GB Professional 1000x CompactFlash (memory card)
It’s not every year that you get both a noteworthy bump in performance and a doubling of maximum capacity. Lexar’s Professional 1000x line pulled it off. The card—which is also available in 16-, 32-, and 64GB capacities—writes at 150 MBps.
88. Sanebox (email filtering service)
Most programs don't prioritize email; it just shows up, with equal weight given to emergencies and uninteresting retail pitches. Sanebox shows only your most important email, shunting lower-priority missives to folders such as "SaneArchive" and "SaneLater." This cloud-based service works with any IMAP email, and it's surprisingly good at guessing what you want to see.
89. Rikomagic MK802 (micro PC)
It costs three times as much as the Raspberry Pi, but the MK802 is more of a complete PC (including an enclosure), in contrast with the Raspberry Pi’s bare circuit board. While it carries Android branding, it’s capable of running any Linux distro, and it can output 1080p video via HDMI.
90. Telenav Scout (navigation app)
Anyone in the market for a better alternative to the navigation software that came with their phone—and we know who you are—should give this app a try. It provides excellent turn-by-turn navigation that takes real-time traffic conditions into account. Scout runs on Android, as well as iOS.
91. Apple Earpods (earbuds)
Products bearing the Apple logo typically bear a hefty price premium, so we’re delighted that these high-quality earbuds cost just $29. They deliver very good acoustic performance for the money, they’re very comfortable to wear, and they have an inline mic and remote control compatible with Apple’s hardware.
92. Cinemagram (app)
A body at rest will remain at rest unless an outside force acts on it. This free app is such a force—at least when it comes to digital photos. Select any area of a still image and the Cinemagram app will animate it with always interesting, sometimes mind-boggling, and occasionally creepy results.
93. Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid (750GB internal hard drive)
By marrying an 8GB SSD with a midsize hard drive, the Momentus XT delivers some of the speed of an SSD with the superior capacity of a mechanical drive. This is a highly recommended laptop upgrade; for desktops, we recommend using a discrete SSD with a second mechanical drive.
94. Sony Cyber-shot RX100 (digital camera)
With a sensor nearly three times larger than most of its competition, a lens with a maximum aperture of F1.8, and manual controls for both stills and 1080p/60fps video, the RX100 is the king of the compact-camera crop (unless you count Sony’s full-frame-sensor RX1, priced at a wallet-busting $2800).
95. Brother MFC-J4510DW (printer)
This printer’s innovative design finally gives Brother a reason to say “follow me,” instead of “me, too.” A wider print head prints more of the page at one time, accelerating performance, while a wider paper path allows paper sizes up to 11 by 17 inches. Best of all, this printer uses low-price inks.
96. rtpMIDI (music software)
Yes, this choice is a little esoteric, as it's designed for musicians. If you fall into that category, this software is worthy of your attention. Updated in September, rtpMIDI lets you control MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) devices (including other computers running MIDI software) with a networked PC or even an iPad.
97. Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB (TV tuner/adapter)
Anything a DVR can do, a PC can do better. If you’re a cable subscriber, connect this box to your service and to your PC and you can program it to record up to four TV programs simultaneously, including premium channels such as HBO and Showtime.
98. V-moda Crossfade M-80 (r2) (headphones)
Few headphones can match the Crossfade M-80 for its deft combination of great sound quality, rock-solid construction, extended-listening comfort, and stunning looks—especially the White Pearl version. It even offers surprisingly good noise isolation for an on-ear headphone, and the interchangeable cables keep the in-line microphone near your mouth, with the in-line remote lower for easy access.
99. Sony PS3 Pulse Wireless Headset (gaming headset)
Not prepared to drop $300 for the Astro A50? Check out this alternative. Compatible with both the PC and Sony’s PS3 game console, the Pulse sounds terrific and remains comfortable during long gaming sessions. When used with the PS3, BassImpact technology vibrates the headset to provide tactile feedback.
100. Pinball Arcade (video game)
Whether you’re a pinball wizard or you’ve never heard of these classic amusements, you owe it to yourself to check out these faithful reproductions on your smartphone or, better yet, your tablet. The physics alone are absolutely mind-blowing. The ad-supported games are free; most ad-free versions can be purchased for just $3.
