CleanMyDrive lets you monitor and clean removable drives

CleanMyDrive lets you monitor and clean removable drives - CleanMyDrive lets you monitor connected drives and mounted volumes, but it can also automatically clean thumb drives and other removable drives to keep them free of cruft.

(Via Macworld.)

Manually configuring an iCloud email account

Manually configuring an iCloud email account - If Mail and your iCloud account don't see eye-to-eye, you may need to reconfigure it. That can be difficult unless you know the secret. Chris Breen reveals that secret.

(Via Macworld.)

Emergency workers scan QR codes to access health information

Emergency workers scan QR codes to access health information - QR codes are being used for more than just advertisements in Marin County, California. There, paramedics hope the stickers could help save lives in an emergency.

(Via Macworld.)

Watch Live: SpaceX's Dragon Undocks, Deorbits and Returns to Earth

Watch Live: SpaceX's Dragon Undocks, Deorbits and Returns to Earth - Don?t miss the thrilling conclusion of SpaceX?s first mission to the International Space Station. Tune in May 31 starting at 12:30 a.m. PDT to see live feed coverage of the Dragon spacecraft unberthing from the ISS, deorbiting, and splashing down on Earth.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Logitech announces Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 for Mac and iOS

Logitech announces Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 for Mac and iOS - Logitech on Wednesday announced the Wireless Solar Keyboard K760, a solar-powered desktop keyboard that can be paired with up to three devices (for example, a Mac, an iPad, and an iPhone) at the same time.

(Via Macworld.)

The tablet jinx took down Palm and RIM. Who's next?

The tablet jinx took down Palm and RIM. Who's next? - Both RIM and HP Palm got sidetracked trying build a tablet and it cost them dearly. Other tech giants could face similar regrets, says TechRepublic's Jason Hiner.

(Via CNET News.com.)

How to send large batches of photos from your iOS device

How to send large batches of photos from your iOS device - Free app Kicksend overcomes the five-photo limit, letting you send up to 30 at a time. (It works with documents and video, too.) It's part Instagram, part Dropbox.

(Via CNET News.com.)

The paradox of Microsoft's Skype acquisition integration

The paradox of Microsoft's Skype acquisition integration - A brief survey of acquisitions indicates that integration appears to be the way to go. What does that mean about the line Microsoft is walking with the Skype acquisition?

(Via CNET News.com.)

Quickly share iOS photos with your Mac

Quickly share iOS photos with your Mac - There are plenty of ways to share photos you take with your iPhone with your Mac, but none of them are especially quick or convenient. But here's a clever way to do it.

(Via Macworld.)

What's the best under $100 in-ear headphone?

What's the best under $100 in-ear headphone? - The Velodyne vPulse is pretty special, that's for sure. [Read more]

(Via CNET News.com.)

How to Backup Your Mac with CrashPlan

How to Backup Your Mac with CrashPlan -

Time Machine is great for keeping a local backup of your system, but if you're rather not worry about having a physical drive plugged in all the time you might want to consider an online solution instead.  There are plenty of over-the-air (OTA) backup solutions, though not all are very affordable for a small smattering of system files. Fortunately, there are services like CrashPlan, which offers free back up to multiple place. Read on, and we'll show you how to set it all up.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

The Best Internet Set Up for Streaming Video

The Best Internet Set Up for Streaming Video -

Streaming entertainment is more convenient than juggling Blu-ray and DVD discs, but it demands a fast pipe to your internet service provider, or ISP. For instance, Netflix recommends download speeds of at least 3Mbps for the best video quality, while Apple suggests 8Mbps for streaming 1080p content from iTunes. In most of the country, getting these broadband speeds means signing up for one of two kinds of internet connection: DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or cable.

\

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Justnotes is an elegant notes app that syncs across devices

Justnotes is an elegant notes app that syncs across devices - Justnotes is an elegant plain-text-notes app that syncs across devices using Simplenote and Dropbox.

(Via Macworld.)

Five hidden Gmail tricks for power users

Five hidden Gmail tricks for power users - Whether you use Google's Gmail service at work or for personal purposes, you probably have a good handle on the basics: organizing your contacts, sending emails ...

(Via Macworld.)

How to Use Blinq To Remotely Access Your Photo Library

How to Use Blinq To Remotely Access Your Photo Library -

iOS devices are great for showing off your photos to family members because of it’s ease of use and fluidity when perusing your photos. However, most of us don’t carry around our entire iPhoto library on our iPhone or iPad because of space limitations and Photo Stream's limited quanity. Fortunately, with the help of an application like Blinq, you can remotely access your entire iPhoto or Aperture library from home via your iOS device.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Amazon Prime acquires access to Paramount films

Amazon Prime acquires access to Paramount films - When it comes to offering popular movies over the Internet, Amazon continues to close the gap with Netflix. [Read more]

(Via CNET News.com.)

Why Apple needs to settle its e-book suits

Why Apple needs to settle its e-book suits - More and more, it appears that Apple's e-book agreement with publishers was anticompetitive -- or, at the very least, anticonsumer. [Read more]

(Via CNET News.com.)

9-year-old's blog shames school into changing food

9-year-old's blog shames school into changing food - Martha Payne is disappointed by the food her school serves her. So she begins to write about it. Her blog gains the attention of TV chef Jamie Oliver. Just a few posts cause national uproar. [Read more]

(Via CNET News.com.)

Top weather apps for iOS

Top weather apps for iOS - The recent release of an updated version of the Weather Channel app has skyrocketed it almost to the top of its category, but does it have everything you need?

(Via CNET News.com.)

How Amazon is changing the rules for books and movies

How Amazon is changing the rules for books and movies - The online retail giant is tapping its huge customer base and vast technical underpinnings to reshape the way books, movies, and television programs are made. [Read more]

(Via CNET News.com.)

The Rocket Factory: SpaceX Builds Them From Top to Bottom

The Rocket Factory: SpaceX Builds Them From Top to Bottom - The commercial space race is about to begin. Early Saturday morning at 4:55 a.m. EDT, the first privately designed and built spacecraft destined for the International Space Station is expected to lift off from the historic Cape Canaveral Air Force Station not far from the Atlantic Ocean on Florida's east coast. The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule are designed and built by Space Exploration Technologies - the company better known as SpaceX - at the company's factory not far from the Pacific Ocean in Hawthorne, California.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

To Warrant or Not to Warrant? ACLU, Police Clash Over Cellphone Location Data

To Warrant or Not to Warrant? ACLU, Police Clash Over Cellphone Location Data - A bill that would require law enforcement agents to obtain a probable-cause warrant to collect geolocation data on an individual would be burdensome to criminal investigators and prevent them from gathering the evidence they need to make a case, according to law enforcement witnesses at a hearing on Thursday.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

A $5 app turns Android tablets into a second monitor for Mac or PC

A $5 app turns Android tablets into a second monitor for Mac or PC -

Updated. Apple iPad owners have the $10 AirDisplay app to use their tablet as a second monitor for their Mac, but Android owners aren’t left out in the cold. Mobile app developer Shape offers a similar program for $5 that turns allows Android devices to be a second monitor for Macs or Windows PCs. The software is called iDisplay and it recently gained some updates in version 2.1. I’ve been using it on a 10-inch Android tablet with my iMac and it works as advertised although it’s not quite as responsive as AirDisplay for iOS.

(Via TheAppleBlog.)

AT&T, Verizon LTE hotspots fight to a draw

AT&T, Verizon LTE hotspots fight to a draw - The AT&T Elevate 4G and the Verizon MiFi 4620 Jetpack are easy to set up and use, and both offer fast speeds--but both suffer from limited battery life, too.

(Via Macworld.)

Kindle Fire welcome screen ads said to be $600K a pop

Kindle Fire welcome screen ads said to be $600K a pop - Rumor has it that Amazon is toying with the idea of letting advertisers buy space on the welcome screen of its most popular tablet, but it comes with a high price tag.

(Via CNET News.com.)

How to fix battery issues after upgrading to iOS 5.1.1

How to fix battery issues after upgrading to iOS 5.1.1 - Users have been reporting battery issues with their iPhones and iPads after upgrading to Apple's latest iOS update, version 5.1.1. A few simple procedures should get you back on your way.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Simon & Schuster settles antitrust-ebook suit with state AGs

Simon & Schuster settles antitrust-ebook suit with state AGs - Simon & Schuster is the first of the five publishers accused of illegally fixing e-book prices with Apple's help to settle an antitrust suit brought by 29 states.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Fund Your Dream With the Perfect Kickstarter Pitch

Fund Your Dream With the Perfect Kickstarter Pitch - Producing a quality Kickstarter project requires little more than computer access, a functioning camera, and some old-fashioned wit. Here are our tips on how to pull it all together to get funded.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Organize your Finder with Smart Folders

Organize your Finder with Smart Folders -

Smart Folders are virtual folders that, unlike regular folders on your Mac, can be organized based on criteria set specifically to the folder. The process of creating a Smart Folder is similar to creating rules in Mail or iTunes Smart Playlists. The possibilities for Smart Folders are unlimited, allowing you to organize files by type, size, and Mac App Store category.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

5 Best Ways To Share Files With Friends (For Free!)

5 Best Ways To Share Files With Friends (For Free!) -

Cloud sharing services are all the rage these days, and there's certainly no shortage of them. But, the best ones are super easy to use and get the job done. We've done the work for you and rounded up the 5 best ways to share files for free. Every service offers something a little different, and we're sure there's one that will work best for your needs.

What service are you using these days to share files? Let us know in the comments!

(Via Mac|Life all.)

How to Make Animated Transitions in Keynote

How to Make Animated Transitions in Keynote -

Make Keynote presentations more interesting with text transformation effects

Keynote makes creating presentations fun and the presentations themselves more interesting and engaging. Sometimes, however, the content of your slideshow tests even Apple’s powerful presentation tool when it comes to an aesthetically pleasing product. For example, if your slideshow doesn’t include many images (or none at all) and needs to display a lot of facts and figures, the Keynote templates, attractive as they are, will be hard pressed to keep your slides monotony-free.

Fortunately, there is a way to make even text more interesting in a Keynote slideshow. Like Magic Move for images, the Text Effects transitions in Keynote make it possible to dynamically shift between text-heavy slides in a visually engaging way.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

How to Fix Wi-Fi Interference

How to Fix Wi-Fi Interference -

When it comes to home networking, wireless seems to be the trend. But while one Wi-Fi networking on its own works wonders, you may soon discover that as your neighbors add on their own wireless networks your own Wi-Fi speeds will diminish.  This kind of interference can make it difficult to stream video through YouTube and Netflix, or play video games over the internet. Fortunately, there are a few precautionary meaures you can take to avoid this kind of interference. Read on to find out how!

(Via Mac|Life all.)

8 iOS Apps for Budding Green Thumbs

8 iOS Apps for Budding Green Thumbs -

Smell that fresh, pungent aroma in the air? That's the smell of gardening season rapidly approaching. Well, that and pollen allergies. Depending on your location, it might not quite be time to roll up your sleeves and dig your hands in the earth just yet. But if you've got tilling soil, planting seeds, and plotting out your veggie garden masterpiece on your mind, then the App Store has some cool picks to get those green thumbs twitching. It's a great time to start planning before you go planting, and we've rounded a selection of useful apps for enthusiastic newcomers and experienced growers alike.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Verizon to kill unlimited data plans for existing subscribers

Verizon to kill unlimited data plans for existing subscribers - At an investor conference, an exec says the carrier is killing the plan for "grandfathered" customers and will force existing and new customers to sign up for a tiered "data share" plan on its 4G LTE network.

(Via CNET News.com.)

How to Sync your iPhoto Library with Dropbox and Google Drive

How to Sync your iPhoto Library with Dropbox and Google Drive -

With iOS 5, Apple launched the ubiquitous Photo Stream and made photo sharing and syncing a cinch between Macs and iOS devices. However, the 1,000 photo limit may not be enough for your photography needs. Fortunately, iPhoto has included to option to share with external cloud services like Dropbox or Google Drive. Read on to find out how. 

(Via Mac|Life all.)

So, Kodak -- about that nuclear reactor in your basement

So, Kodak -- about that nuclear reactor in your basement - It seems that, until 2006, Kodak had a basement that housed a nuclear reactor, complete with a cache of weapons-grade uranium. How did the company get away with that?

(Via CNET News.com.)

Audiophiliac readers' favorite headphones, speakers, and receivers

Audiophiliac readers' favorite headphones, speakers, and receivers - The readers' selection lists for the best-of-the-best gear were full of surprises, with winners and losers in each category.

(Via CNET News.com.)

USPS lithium battery overseas mailing ban begins May 16

USPS lithium battery overseas mailing ban begins May 16 - Effective May 16, the United States Postal Service (USPS) regulation prohibits shipping any electronic device with a lithium battery from being mailed to a destination outside the United States. The ban does not apply to private carriers such as DHL, FedEx, and UPS. The ban is in response to improperly packed lithium batteries being involved in two plane crashes since 2006, including a UPS jet in Dubai that caught fire and crashed moments after takeoff ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Amazon likely to ship color Kindles this year, report says

Amazon likely to ship color Kindles this year, report says - Digitimes claims Amazon will probably ship color-screen e-readers in the second half of this year. Make of that what you will.

(Via CNET News.com.)

AT&T sees an end to Wi-Fi-only tablets

AT&T sees an end to Wi-Fi-only tablets - Tablet makers are moving toward selling only models equipped with cellular radios and away from having separate Wi-Fi-only units, according to an AT&T executive.

(Via Macworld.)

Preparing a wireless network for the worst

Preparing a wireless network for the worst - When disaster strikes, Verizon Wireless can deploy a mobile cell site to boost network coverage in the affected area.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Apple issues minor Remote Desktop, Snow Leopard security updates

Apple issues minor Remote Desktop, Snow Leopard security updates - Rounding out Wednesday's collection of software updates, Apple rolled out new Apple Remote Desktop 3.5.3 (Client), Client and Server Security Update 2012-002 for Snow Leopard and Server Admin Tools 10.7.4

(Via AppleInsider.)

How to Use OS X Boot Options to Troubleshoot Your Mac

How to Use OS X Boot Options to Troubleshoot Your Mac -

There are times when your Mac may misbehave and refuse to boot into OS X. You may get a sad Mac face, an audible beep, or another ailment keeping your Mac from properly booting. When this happens, you can troubleshoot your Mac by using boot options to run an Apple Hardware Test, or booting with extensions disabled. Sometimes, launching your Mac this way can help save you a trip to the Apple Store.

Don’t panic when this happens to your Mac. Instead, turn to this guide in which we explain all of the various boot options in OS X that may help return your Mac to normal.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Q&A: NASA Engineer on Historic SpaceX Launch

Q&A: NASA Engineer on Historic SpaceX Launch - A NASA engineer talks to Wired about SpaceX's upcoming launch to the International Space Station.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Kickstarter for iOS: Seven great product ideas

Kickstarter for iOS: Seven great product ideas -

Part of an online phenomenon known as “crowd funding,” Kickstarter is the most successful example of this breed of social funding services that bring together great ideas with consumers hungry for something new. Kickstarter has become a place where individuals with such ideas have come to show off their particular skills.

The way Kickstarter works is simple. Enterprising individuals come up with a project idea and identify a target funding amount that is required to take their idea to market.  There are certain guidelines that a project must meet.  Once accepted, the project is run as an all or nothing proposition: Either the project raises all of the funding necessary to make the product, or it gets nothing.

(Via TheAppleBlog.)

Pocket (Formerly Read it Later) Review

Pocket (Formerly Read it Later) Review -

After quietly lurking in the App Store, “read later” services have recently exploded in popularity. Apple even has a horse in the race with Safari’s Reading List, but one of the pioneers of the genre is Pocket (Formerly Read it Later), which recently bulked up its content-saving superpowers alongside the rebranding.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Apple Releases iOS 5.1.1 Update

Apple Releases iOS 5.1.1 Update -

You won’t find a ton of new features waiting for you, but iOS devices have a new software update waiting for them on this sleepy mid-Monday that brings the version number up to 5.1.1 and squashes a few minor bugs.

Apple has released iOS 5.1.1, a modest update to iOS 5.1, which was released back in March just ahead of the new iPad. The update mostly offers some bug fixes and reliability improvements, but the changes sound promising enough to install -- assuming you haven’t jailbroken your device, that is.

iOS 5.1.1 includes the following changes:

• Improves reliability of using HDR option for photos taken using the Lock Screen shortcut

• Addresses bugs that could prevent the new iPad from switching between 2G and 3G networks

• Fixes bugs that affected AirPlay video playback in some circumstances

• Improved reliability for syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List

• Fixes an issue where ‘Unable to purchase’ alert could be displayed after successful purchase

Users can install iOS 5.1.1 using the over-the-air Software Update from your device Settings, or by plugging into iTunes and downloading it from there. As always, recommends devices are plugged into a power source while installing.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Five essential iPhone apps for photographers

Five essential iPhone apps for photographers - The latest crop of photo and camera apps for the iPhone are awesome.

(Via Macworld.)

How to beam photos in iPhoto for iOS

How to beam photos in iPhoto for iOS - How to use iPhoto's Beaming feature to wirelessly share photos across devices.

(Via Macworld.)

Evernote buys out handwriting app Penultimate

Evernote buys out handwriting app Penultimate - Cloud-syncing note service Evernote has purchased handwriting-recognition app Penultimate, SlashGear reported. Penultimate will continue on as a standalone app, at least for the time being, and its creator, Ben Zotto, will join Evernote to work on integration of the two services. A future Evernote update will bring handwriting recognition to it, and Penultimate will expand to support other mobile operating systems, as it's only available for iOS thus far ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Apple extends MobileMe 20GB storage through September 30

Apple extends MobileMe 20GB storage through September 30 - Apple's effort to complete its sunsetting of MobileMe continued today, with the company quietly announcing an extension of its offer to MobileMe users of 20GB of free storage on iCloud. MobileMe subscribers switching to iCloud will receive 20GB of free storage until September 30, 2012 ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Apple reveals security specifics of iOS 5.1.1 update

Apple reveals security specifics of iOS 5.1.1 update - Following the release of Apple's iOS 5.1.1 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, the company refreshed its support webpage regarding the new software's security tweaks which include one Safari browser and two WebKit fixes.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Apple releases iOS 5.1.1 with fixes for HDR photos, AirPlay video

Apple releases iOS 5.1.1 with fixes for HDR photos, AirPlay video - Apple on Monday released iOS 5.1.1 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, packing a number of fixes for various bugs, including issues that affected AirPlay video playback.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Apple extends MobileMe subscribers' free 20GB of iCloud storage until September

Apple extends MobileMe subscribers' free 20GB of iCloud storage until September - As Apple gears up to shutter its MobileMe service next month, the company has extended its offer of an additional 20GB of free storage in iCloud until September 30, 2012.

(Via AppleInsider.)

How to publish your MobileMe iWeb site on Dropbox

How to publish your MobileMe iWeb site on Dropbox - As you decide what to do about your iWeb site, you can always park it in Dropbox for safekeeping and continued public access.

(Via Macworld.)

Evernote, like Twitter, in no rush to go public

Evernote, like Twitter, in no rush to go public - Evernote CEO wants company ready for IPO in 2013, but says he will delay actual filing for years after that.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Headphones/EarPhones from the Moderate to Expensive

Headphones/EarPhones from the Moderate to Expensive - Over the last two months, with the help of three of my children, I've been testing out three additional types of listening headgear. In ascending order of price, they are the Urbanears Plattan, at $60, the V-Moda Crossfade LP2 at $199, and the Scosche IEM 856M in-ear buds at $249.99.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Hands on with Amazon Cloud Drive for Mac

Hands on with Amazon Cloud Drive for Mac - Amazon on Wednesday launched Cloud Drive for Mac, a means by which you can access your Amazon-hosted cloud storage from your desktop--sort of. Staff writer Lex Friedman goes hands on.

(Via Macworld.)

Delete Dropbox cache to recover drive space

Delete Dropbox cache to recover drive space - If you use Dropbox to share files with co-workers and clients, you might be surprised to find yourself running out of room on your hard drive. Here's how to find and delete the offending files.

(Via Macworld.)

How to transition your website away from MobileMe and iWeb

How to transition your website away from MobileMe and iWeb - If you're thinking about alternatives to iWeb with the demise of MobileMe, here are some strategies to consider for updating your Website.

(Via Macworld.)

Turn an old MagicJack into a Google Voice accessory

Turn an old MagicJack into a Google Voice accessory - Thanks to a clever Windows utility called GVJack App, you can make unlimited free calls (for now, anyway).

(Via CNET News.com.)

Tiny mic could improve cochlear implants

Tiny mic could improve cochlear implants - Electrical engineers unveil a prototype the size of a pencil eraser that would reside in the middle ear instead of worn externally behind the ear.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Target to stop selling Amazon Kindle products in favor of iPad, Nook

Target to stop selling Amazon Kindle products in favor of iPad, Nook - Target said it will stop carrying Amazon's Kindle product line, including the Kindle Fire, which is estimated to make up more than half of all US tablets using Android.

(Via AppleInsider.)