iPad camera connection kit - Must-have iPad accessories (photos) Steve Jobs' legacy and the tech lessons of 2011. We learned a few things in 2011 about the industry Steve Jobs left behind.
We learned that tech is more resilient, more dynamic than the overall economy. OK, maybe we already knew that, but it's a lesson that was certainly reinforced. We learned that innovation has truly passed from the desktop to what fits in your hand. And we learned those folks at Sun Microsystems were right, if more than a few years too early: The network really is the computer; we just call it the cloud now. And your data, your music, and your life are moving there. Most importantly, we learned the high-tech world can take a step back and reflect when a true pioneer dies.
So what else did we learn this year? We learned that patents and the lawyers who understand them are more important than ever, especially if you have a few billion dollars, like Apple and its friends, to buy big stacks of patents from failing older companies. Still don't think 2012 should be the year of patent reform? Who's right? Sol Republic Tracks headphones review: Better deal than Beats?
We test a lot of headphones here at CNET, and the good ones tend to set you back more than $100.
But a new headphone company, Sol Republic, is hoping to change that with a line of headphones that deliver very good sound and durability for a more affordable price. In case you're wondering what "Sol" stands for, it has nothing to do with the sun but is an acronym for "soundtrack of life. " The company's founders have a good pedigree in the headphone business, and co-founder and CEO Kevin Lee is the son of Monster Cable founder Noel Lee, widely credited for driving the popular Beats by Dr. Dre line of headphones at Monster. The new line consists of two flavors of Amps in-ear headphones and two flavors of Tracks on-ear headphones that feature "swappable headbands, speakers, and cables in various colors and designs. " Both the Amps and the Tracks have a built-in microphone for cell phone calls. Read the full review . Data backup: Top portable drives for home users (roundup)
Having up-to-date backups of your data is like insurance, we all need it and at the same time never want to have to resort to it.
Though backing up data is not required by law, the consequences of not doing it are often so huge that it's fair to call those who don't frequently back up their important data, well, reckless, irresponsible, or just simply foolish. The truth is, when you realize that the originals of your important documents or photos are gone because of a hard-drive crash or losing your laptop, being called names is the least of your worries.
Now there's an easy fix. Here's a list of our top portable hard drives that make backing up data a no-brainer. Take a look and get yourself one if you don't already have a backup solution in place. WD My Passport Studio (Fall 2011) This is the latest in WD's My Passport Studio family; it replaces the version released in 2010. Back to School 2011 laptop roundup: Top picks for every budget. A laptop is practically required equipment for today's college or high school students (and even grade school kids are getting in on the act).
And with the back-to-school season currently in full swing, many laptop shoppers are hunting for a new computer, which may need to fill diverse roles, from research tool to dorm room entertainment system. Best 5 laptops. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V - Editors' top picks. Portable audio gifts - Holiday gift ideas and gift guide 2011. Holiday gift ideas and gift guide 2011. Holiday 2011 laptops for every budget. Looking over all the portable computing trends of the past few years--thinner systems, solid-state-drive hard drives, 16:9 displays--one overall theme is that high-quality laptops are less expensive than ever.
Some years ago, $1,000 was considered reasonable for a budget-minded laptop, while today, that same Grover Cleveland means you're shopping for a high-end laptop (and in that case, usually a MacBook). That means that in the run-up to the holiday shopping season--see more about that in our annual Holiday Gift Guide)--there are plenty of excellent laptop options for every budget, from $400 ultraportables to $1,700 multimedia powerhouses. We've collected a handful of suggestions in the budget, mainstream, and high-end categories, concentrating on recent laptops that should be easy to find online or on store shelves.
All of the laptops highlighted below are solid choices, and in particular Dan likes the HP Pavilion dm1z, a budget ultraportable that at $450 is almost a stocking stuffer. Roku LT - Best gifts for under $50.