Seamlessly sync your data across devices

<div class="department" style="margin:0px 0px 10px;overflow:hidden;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;line-height:21px"><a class="presentedBy" href="http://adfarm.mediaplex.com/ad/ck/12309-189045-1105-2?mpt=%%CACHEBUSTER%%" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);float:none;font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;font-size:10px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;background-image:url(http://csmb.staticworld.net/images/ads/DellLogo-Blu-54px.png);display:block;width:300px;height:30px;text-align:right;padding-right:30px;vertical-align:middle;line-height:30px;background-repeat:no-repeat no-repeat"><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px">Work isn't anchored to one device or one location. In a typical day, you can go from working on a</span><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px"> </span><a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2044039/desktop-land-grab-essential-tips-for-multimonitor-productivity.html" style="line-height:1.7em;font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px;color:rgb(37,167,215)">multimonitor desktop rig</a><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px"> </span><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px">in the office to a laptop at a client site to a desktop at home, working in sips on a tablet or smartphone in between.</span><br> </a></div><span itemprop="articleBody description text" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;line-height:21px"><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">This unfettered mobility means its more critical than ever that you're able to access important files across devices, platforms and apps. Follow these tips for keeping all your data in sync, so you can keep doing business wherever your business takes you.</p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Bookmarks and browser settings</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">One of the more frustrating experiences of switching between multiple devices is the interruption to your Web browsing experience. Fortunately, popular browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox offer built-in support for automatically syncing bookmarks, history, open tabs and even passwords.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">When you sign in to Chrome, your browser settings are saved to your Google account to be used by the Chrome browser on any other computer or device. To choose what settings get synced, sign in to Chrome—you will be prompted for your verification code if you have 2-factor authentication enabled—and follow the prompts to to either "sync everything" or select individual items.</p> <strong style><a class="zoom cboxElement" href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/02b_chrome-advanced-sync-screenshot-100048411-orig.jpg" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)"><img alt="Chrome advanced settings" border="0" height="426" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/02b_chrome-advanced-sync-screenshot-100048411-large.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto; height: auto; max-width: 100%; float: left;" width="580"></a>Signing in to Chrome allows you to save your browser settings to your Google account.</strong><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Syncing Firefox settings requires a bit more work. Because all data is encrypted prior to being uploaded to Mozilla's servers, a pairing process is required to synchronize the encryption key with each device you want to sync.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">In the Firefox menu bar on your main computer, click Tools and select Set Up Sync. The first time you do this, you'll need to create an account with the Firefox sync server. Once you complete this setup, go to the Sync tab of the Options dialog box. Click on "pair a device," which will brings up a dialog box with three empty text fields. Do the same on your other device, but select "I have an account" when prompted instead. This will display an "easy setup" key that you need to put into the empty text boxes to get the second device verified and linked up. The process is the same for Firefox for Android. You can read more about the process on the <a href="https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-set-up-firefox-sync" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">Firefox support page</a>.</p> <strong style><a class="zoom cboxElement" href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/02a_firefox-settings-sync-screenshot-100048413-orig.jpg" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)"><img alt="Firefox sync setup" border="0" height="568" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/02a_firefox-settings-sync-screenshot-100048413-large.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto; height: auto; max-width: 100%; float: left;" width="580"></a>Firefox requires you to pair each of your devices to a Firefox Sync account using an "easy setup" key.</strong><h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em"> Documents and files</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Not so long ago, it was necessary to shuttle documents between computers on thumb drives or other external storage. Fortunately, we now have cloud services such as Dropbox, SugarSync, Mozy and Box to store our files for easy access from any Web-connected device.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">A frequent mistake when using cloud storage is neglecting to save newly created files in synchronized folders. Depending on your cloud service, it may be possible to synchronize the entire desktop or default document folders to prevent this. An alternative is to discipline yourself to create all new documents in a synchronized "catchall" folder – you can always file them into a more appropriate subfolder at a later stage.</p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Email, contacts and calendar</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Chances are your email is either already accessible from multiple devices through the default system on your platform or from a Web interface. But if your email system uses only POP (Post Office Protocol), in which emails are downloaded and erased from the server, it's time to switch to a modern cloud-enabled system or one with IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol).</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">These two options work similarly in that they allow you to see the same messages and folders from multiple devices. IMAP does not keep contacts or calendars synchronized. Cloud-based systems such as Exchange Online in Office 365 offers Contacts and Calendar sync via the Exchange Active Sync (EAS) standard; Google Mail and Yahoo Mail do so with their support of the open CalDAV and CardDAV specifications respectively.</p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Instant messaging</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Most Instant Messaging (IM) services have clients available for all the major platforms. Things get trickier, though, if you juggle between two or more IM applications. There are a number of third-party chat clients that offer support for multiple IM services, with<a href="http://www.digsby.com/" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">Digsby</a>, <a href="https://www.trillian.im/" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">Trillian</a> and <a href="http://pidgin.im/" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">Pidgin</a> being some popular options. Trillian offers a "continuous chat" feature that syncs conversations across all your devices. This makes it possible to switch from a desktop to a smartphone without missing a word.</p> <a class="zoom cboxElement" href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/switchdevice_03_trillian-100048412-orig.jpg" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)"><img alt="Trillian accounts" border="0" height="427" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/switchdevice_03_trillian-100048412-large.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto; height: auto; max-width: 100%; float: left;" width="580"></a>Trillian syncs chats across all your devices so you can pick up conversations right where you left off.<h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em"> Notes</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Finally, you'll want to make sure that your notes, ideas and other scraps of digital info are properly synchronized. There are several solutions available, ranging from text-only solutions such as <a href="http://simplenote.com/" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">SimpleNote</a> to more comprehensive options such as <a href="https://evernote.com/" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">Evernote</a> and Microsoft's <a href="http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/onenote/" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">OneNote</a>. Not all platforms are supported by each of these—SimpleNote, for example, is not available on the BlackBerry 10—so do your research before you commit to a service.</p> </span>

Seamlessly sync your data across devices

Work isn't anchored to one device or one location. In a typical day, you can go from working on a   multimonitor desktop rig   in the of...

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The power user’s guide to picking the perfect keyboard

<h1 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 12px;line-height:1.13;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:25px;font-weight:500"><span style="line-height:1.7em;font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px">Look down at your fingers for a second, then look back up here. Chances are you're still using the same cheap plastic keyboard that came with your PC, and that's a pity.</span><br> </h1><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;line-height:21px"> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">The keyboard is your primary tool, the unsung workhorse of your day. Without it, you couldn't get anything done—but I'll bet you haven't spent 5 minutes thinking about how you could improve your typing experience. If you're willing to pay for premium PC hardware, finding the perfect keyboard can be worth the investment in time and cash.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Keyboard manufacturers have been refining their craft since IBM made the first Model M, and today the market is chock-full of premium hardware. The only trick is figuring out which model is just right for your particular needs.</p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Cutting the cord</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">The first decision you have to make is whether to stick with a wired keyboard. Choosing a wireless keyboard is an easy way to start clearing a cluttered desk, but it has plenty of downsides, too.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Lacking a wire to transfer power, wireless keyboards require regular recharging. If you're the type of person who forgets to charge your phone every night, a wireless keyboard probably isn't a good match for you.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/logitech-dinovo-edge-100047731-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="328" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/logitech-dinovo-edge-100047731-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a>The Logitech diNovo Edge is a Bluetooth keyboard with scissor switches.<p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Another issue with wireless keyboards is the choice between radio-frequency (RF) and Bluetooth connectivity. Bluetooth keyboards—like Logitech's<a href="http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/dinovo-edge-business" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">diNovo Edge</a>—usually require more power than their RF counterparts, but they don't require a dedicated USB dongle slotted into your PC. Unfortunately, some cheaper Bluetooth keyboards can have trouble waking up from sleep or remaining paired with your computer.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">If you prefer to stick with the more reliable radio-frequency option, be aware that most RF wireless keyboards operate on the 2.4GHz frequency, which makes them susceptible to interference from nearby devices (such as cordless phones and microwave ovens) that use the same frequency.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">All wireless keyboards—whether Bluetooth or RF—are subject to interference. Random key presses and occasional disconnects can happen. If you're looking for a completely reliable plug-and-play experience, stick with a wired keyboard.</p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Pick the right switch</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">The switches in your keyboard—the little mechanisms in each key that tell the keyboard when you've pressed them—have a huge effect on your typing experience. Chances are, the keyboard you're using right now sports rubber-dome switches, which work by pushing a rubber dome onto your keyboard's printed circuit board to activate the associated key. Most manufacturers use rubber-dome switches because they're cheap.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Unfortunately, rubber-dome keyboards don't offer any tactile feedback until a keystroke bottoms out by striking the plastic housing of the key against bottom of the keyboard. This action is neither ergonomic nor enjoyable.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Scissor switches resemble rubber-dome switches, but with a slimmer profile, which explains their popularity with manufacturers of laptop keyboards and slim keyboards like Apple's aluminum keyboard. Scissor switches feel remarkably similar to rubber-dome switches, except that their shorter key travel—the distance from resting to bottoming out on the board—makes them even less comfortable to type on for prolonged periods.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/coolermaster-quickfire-rapid-100047728-orig.jpg" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="435" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/coolermaster-quickfire-rapid-100047728-large.jpg" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a>Cooler Master's CM Storm QuickFire line of mechanical keyboards includes the Rapid, available with Black, Red, Brown, or Blue switches.<p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Cherry MX <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/242037/mechanical_keyboard_faq_pick_the_right_switch.html" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">mechanical switches</a>, the most popular alternative to rubber-dome and scissor keyboards, are built into 95 percent of the mechanical keyboards on the market. Though Cherry MX mechanical switches have longer key travel than rubber-dome or scissor switches, their actuation—when the computer registers your key press—happens before you press the key all the way down. This faster feedback helps avoid the common behavior of bottoming out with every keystroke, thereby saving unnecessary time and effort.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">The different color-coded models of Cherry MX mechanical switches offer different levels of tactile feedback and resistance. The types you need to know about are the four most popular ones: Brown, Blue, Black, and Red.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">The tactile feedback that Blue and Brown switches offer is essential for swift, pain-free typing. Brown switches are the most popular because they're fairly easy to press and have a slight tactile bump at the actuation point. If you're paying attention, you can feel when the key is activated, but that mechanical action won't impede your typing. Another benefit: A mechanical keyboard equipped with Brown switches doesn't make much more noise than a standard membrane keyboard.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Blue switches make an audible—and tactile—click when the switch actuates. Since they offer a little more resistance than Brown switches, Blue switches are ideal for mechanical keyboard newbies. The loud click helps train the user to to press each key with <em>just enough </em>force to actuate the switch without bashing it into the bottom of the keyboard.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Red and Black switches are outliers that don't provide any tactile feedback when the switch actuates. Instead, they're built to offer linear resistance that increases as you press the key. Red switches offer slightly less resistance than their Black counterparts. Keyboards with these switches are designed for gamers who regularly hold down multiple keys and like to bottom out with each key press to ensure that they don't accidentally mistype a command.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">For a work keyboard, you'll probably want to stay away from anything with loud Cherry MX Blue switches. And if you prefer a keyboard that feels crisp and responsive when you type, avoid Cherry MX Red and Black switches.</p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Things you don't think about—but really should</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Keyboards don't have to come in a QWERTY layout, with a numeric keypad on the side. Numpad-free keyboards are available, and some boards even let you switch from QWERTY layout to<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvorak_Simplified_Keyboard" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Dvorak</a> or <a href="http://colemak.com/" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Colemak</a>, and back again.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">The most common keyboard configuration consists of a 104-key layout with a full set of QWERTY keys and a ten-key numeric keypad. They're extremely common in North America, and you can often find them in hotels and public areas around the world—even in regions that generally don't use the QWERTY layout (like France) or the English alphabet (like Japan). Many versions come with added media keys and other extra features.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Keyboards without the ten-key numeric keypad (compactly known as<em>tenkeyless keyboards</em>) are becoming more and more popular because they tend to be smaller, lighter, and a bit cheaper than standard 104-key keyboards. The absence of a numeric keypad—as on Truly Ergonomic's <a href="http://www.trulyergonomic.com/" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Truly Ergonomic Keyboard</a> and Cooler Master's <a href="http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?product_id=3060" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">CM Storm QuickFire Rapid</a>—also leaves more room next to the keyboard for the mouse—a huge bonus for gamers.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/truly_ergonomic_mechanical_keyboard-207-100047730-orig.jpg" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="464" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/truly_ergonomic_mechanical_keyboard-207-100047730-large.jpg" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a>The Truly Ergonomic Keyboard has a split design with Cherry MX brown switches. <br> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Spending any amount of time on your computer can tax your body to a surprising extent, so the perfect keyboard should make typing as painless as possible. Even if you're committed to using mechanical switches, take the time to find a mechanical keyboard whose ergonomic layout feels good beneath your wrists. Testing these keyboards can be tough—you probably won't find the<a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2038222/review-das-keyboards-professional-model-s-quiet-is-a-mechancial-keyboard-that-wont-annoy-your-cowor.html" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"> Das Keyboard Professional Model S</a> on display in your local Best Buy—but with luck, you may find some friends or coworkers who will let you bang out a few sentences on their keyboards to see how they feel beneath your fingertips. If no such opportunities present themselves, take time to read keyboard reviews—and keep an eye peeled for comments about wrist strain or finger fatigue.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Most ergonomic keyboards feature a split layout that physically separates the keys you press with one hand from those you press with the other. Keyboards like the <a href="http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/freestyle2_pc.htm" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Kinesis Freestyle 2</a>consist of two distinct pieces that you can arrange for maximum comfort. Others, like the <a href="http://www.goldtouch.com/p-2-goldtouch-v2-adjustable-comfort-keyboard-pc-mac-compatible-usb.aspx" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Goldtouch V2 Adjustable Comfort Keyboard</a>, are hinged and have built-in support for vertical tenting (raising the center of the keyboard).</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/kinesis_advantage-100048068-orig.jpg" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="580" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/kinesis_advantage-100048068-large.jpg" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a>The Kinesis Advantage USB may look odd, but your hands and wrists may benefit from its ergonomic layout during marathon typing sessions.<p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> A few ergonomic keyboards—the<a href="http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/advantage.htm" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Kinesis Advantage USB</a> among them—go further and alter aspects of the standard keyboard layout. Though the QWERTY layout of the alphabetic keys remains intact, the keys are spaced at different elevations in rows that aren't perfectly aligned. The lack of straight lines looks a little weird at first, but your hands aren't built to be perfectly straight, either.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Almost all ergonomic keyboards require some sort of a learning curve before you can get up to your normal typing speed. They're not for everyone, but if you've suffered any sort of wrist or finger pain from working on a standard keyboard, they're worth considering seriously.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/epic-projection-keyboard-100047729-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="519" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/epic-projection-keyboard-100047729-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a>Celluon's Epic is one of the few projection keyboards available. Though they're not ideal for everyday use, having a pocket-friendly keyboard is undeniably attractive.<p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Projection keyboards haven't garnered much mainstream appeal, but they're a viable option to traditional keyboards. Products like the <a href="http://www.celluon.com/shop_epic.php" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Celluon Epic</a> (which can easily fit in a pocket) are for people who seek portability above all else. When activated, the Epic projects a full-size, infrared keyboard onto any flat surface. Typing on an infrared keyboard feels about as comfortable as typing on a hard, flat surface—no surprise there—and it doesn't hold a candle to the experience of typing on an actual keyboard, but it can help you get up and typing in a pinch.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">No matter which keyboard you decide to buy at the end of your research, using it will almost certainly be a better experience than continuing to mash away on the keys of whatever cheap plastic slab came with your computer.</p> </span>

The power user’s guide to picking the perfect keyboard

Look down at your fingers for a second, then look back up here. Chances are you're still using the same cheap plastic keyboard that came...

Read more »

The power user’s guide to picking the perfect keyboard

<h1 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 12px;line-height:1.13;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:25px;font-weight:500"><span style="line-height:1.7em;font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px">Look down at your fingers for a second, then look back up here. Chances are you're still using the same cheap plastic keyboard that came with your PC, and that's a pity.</span><br> </h1><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;line-height:21px"> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">The keyboard is your primary tool, the unsung workhorse of your day. Without it, you couldn't get anything done—but I'll bet you haven't spent 5 minutes thinking about how you could improve your typing experience. If you're willing to pay for premium PC hardware, finding the perfect keyboard can be worth the investment in time and cash.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Keyboard manufacturers have been refining their craft since IBM made the first Model M, and today the market is chock-full of premium hardware. The only trick is figuring out which model is just right for your particular needs.</p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Cutting the cord</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">The first decision you have to make is whether to stick with a wired keyboard. Choosing a wireless keyboard is an easy way to start clearing a cluttered desk, but it has plenty of downsides, too.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Lacking a wire to transfer power, wireless keyboards require regular recharging. If you're the type of person who forgets to charge your phone every night, a wireless keyboard probably isn't a good match for you.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/logitech-dinovo-edge-100047731-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="328" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/logitech-dinovo-edge-100047731-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a>The Logitech diNovo Edge is a Bluetooth keyboard with scissor switches.<p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Another issue with wireless keyboards is the choice between radio-frequency (RF) and Bluetooth connectivity. Bluetooth keyboards—like Logitech's<a href="http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/dinovo-edge-business" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">diNovo Edge</a>—usually require more power than their RF counterparts, but they don't require a dedicated USB dongle slotted into your PC. Unfortunately, some cheaper Bluetooth keyboards can have trouble waking up from sleep or remaining paired with your computer.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">If you prefer to stick with the more reliable radio-frequency option, be aware that most RF wireless keyboards operate on the 2.4GHz frequency, which makes them susceptible to interference from nearby devices (such as cordless phones and microwave ovens) that use the same frequency.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">All wireless keyboards—whether Bluetooth or RF—are subject to interference. Random key presses and occasional disconnects can happen. If you're looking for a completely reliable plug-and-play experience, stick with a wired keyboard.</p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Pick the right switch</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">The switches in your keyboard—the little mechanisms in each key that tell the keyboard when you've pressed them—have a huge effect on your typing experience. Chances are, the keyboard you're using right now sports rubber-dome switches, which work by pushing a rubber dome onto your keyboard's printed circuit board to activate the associated key. Most manufacturers use rubber-dome switches because they're cheap.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Unfortunately, rubber-dome keyboards don't offer any tactile feedback until a keystroke bottoms out by striking the plastic housing of the key against bottom of the keyboard. This action is neither ergonomic nor enjoyable.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Scissor switches resemble rubber-dome switches, but with a slimmer profile, which explains their popularity with manufacturers of laptop keyboards and slim keyboards like Apple's aluminum keyboard. Scissor switches feel remarkably similar to rubber-dome switches, except that their shorter key travel—the distance from resting to bottoming out on the board—makes them even less comfortable to type on for prolonged periods.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/coolermaster-quickfire-rapid-100047728-orig.jpg" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="435" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/coolermaster-quickfire-rapid-100047728-large.jpg" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a>Cooler Master's CM Storm QuickFire line of mechanical keyboards includes the Rapid, available with Black, Red, Brown, or Blue switches.<p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Cherry MX <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/242037/mechanical_keyboard_faq_pick_the_right_switch.html" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">mechanical switches</a>, the most popular alternative to rubber-dome and scissor keyboards, are built into 95 percent of the mechanical keyboards on the market. Though Cherry MX mechanical switches have longer key travel than rubber-dome or scissor switches, their actuation—when the computer registers your key press—happens before you press the key all the way down. This faster feedback helps avoid the common behavior of bottoming out with every keystroke, thereby saving unnecessary time and effort.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">The different color-coded models of Cherry MX mechanical switches offer different levels of tactile feedback and resistance. The types you need to know about are the four most popular ones: Brown, Blue, Black, and Red.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">The tactile feedback that Blue and Brown switches offer is essential for swift, pain-free typing. Brown switches are the most popular because they're fairly easy to press and have a slight tactile bump at the actuation point. If you're paying attention, you can feel when the key is activated, but that mechanical action won't impede your typing. Another benefit: A mechanical keyboard equipped with Brown switches doesn't make much more noise than a standard membrane keyboard.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Blue switches make an audible—and tactile—click when the switch actuates. Since they offer a little more resistance than Brown switches, Blue switches are ideal for mechanical keyboard newbies. The loud click helps train the user to to press each key with <em>just enough </em>force to actuate the switch without bashing it into the bottom of the keyboard.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Red and Black switches are outliers that don't provide any tactile feedback when the switch actuates. Instead, they're built to offer linear resistance that increases as you press the key. Red switches offer slightly less resistance than their Black counterparts. Keyboards with these switches are designed for gamers who regularly hold down multiple keys and like to bottom out with each key press to ensure that they don't accidentally mistype a command.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">For a work keyboard, you'll probably want to stay away from anything with loud Cherry MX Blue switches. And if you prefer a keyboard that feels crisp and responsive when you type, avoid Cherry MX Red and Black switches.</p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Things you don't think about—but really should</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Keyboards don't have to come in a QWERTY layout, with a numeric keypad on the side. Numpad-free keyboards are available, and some boards even let you switch from QWERTY layout to<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvorak_Simplified_Keyboard" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Dvorak</a> or <a href="http://colemak.com/" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Colemak</a>, and back again.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">The most common keyboard configuration consists of a 104-key layout with a full set of QWERTY keys and a ten-key numeric keypad. They're extremely common in North America, and you can often find them in hotels and public areas around the world—even in regions that generally don't use the QWERTY layout (like France) or the English alphabet (like Japan). Many versions come with added media keys and other extra features.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Keyboards without the ten-key numeric keypad (compactly known as<em>tenkeyless keyboards</em>) are becoming more and more popular because they tend to be smaller, lighter, and a bit cheaper than standard 104-key keyboards. The absence of a numeric keypad—as on Truly Ergonomic's <a href="http://www.trulyergonomic.com/" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Truly Ergonomic Keyboard</a> and Cooler Master's <a href="http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?product_id=3060" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">CM Storm QuickFire Rapid</a>—also leaves more room next to the keyboard for the mouse—a huge bonus for gamers.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/truly_ergonomic_mechanical_keyboard-207-100047730-orig.jpg" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="464" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/truly_ergonomic_mechanical_keyboard-207-100047730-large.jpg" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a>The Truly Ergonomic Keyboard has a split design with Cherry MX brown switches. <br> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Spending any amount of time on your computer can tax your body to a surprising extent, so the perfect keyboard should make typing as painless as possible. Even if you're committed to using mechanical switches, take the time to find a mechanical keyboard whose ergonomic layout feels good beneath your wrists. Testing these keyboards can be tough—you probably won't find the<a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2038222/review-das-keyboards-professional-model-s-quiet-is-a-mechancial-keyboard-that-wont-annoy-your-cowor.html" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"> Das Keyboard Professional Model S</a> on display in your local Best Buy—but with luck, you may find some friends or coworkers who will let you bang out a few sentences on their keyboards to see how they feel beneath your fingertips. If no such opportunities present themselves, take time to read keyboard reviews—and keep an eye peeled for comments about wrist strain or finger fatigue.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Most ergonomic keyboards feature a split layout that physically separates the keys you press with one hand from those you press with the other. Keyboards like the <a href="http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/freestyle2_pc.htm" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Kinesis Freestyle 2</a>consist of two distinct pieces that you can arrange for maximum comfort. Others, like the <a href="http://www.goldtouch.com/p-2-goldtouch-v2-adjustable-comfort-keyboard-pc-mac-compatible-usb.aspx" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Goldtouch V2 Adjustable Comfort Keyboard</a>, are hinged and have built-in support for vertical tenting (raising the center of the keyboard).</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/kinesis_advantage-100048068-orig.jpg" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="580" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/kinesis_advantage-100048068-large.jpg" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a>The Kinesis Advantage USB may look odd, but your hands and wrists may benefit from its ergonomic layout during marathon typing sessions.<p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> A few ergonomic keyboards—the<a href="http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/advantage.htm" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Kinesis Advantage USB</a> among them—go further and alter aspects of the standard keyboard layout. Though the QWERTY layout of the alphabetic keys remains intact, the keys are spaced at different elevations in rows that aren't perfectly aligned. The lack of straight lines looks a little weird at first, but your hands aren't built to be perfectly straight, either.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Almost all ergonomic keyboards require some sort of a learning curve before you can get up to your normal typing speed. They're not for everyone, but if you've suffered any sort of wrist or finger pain from working on a standard keyboard, they're worth considering seriously.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/epic-projection-keyboard-100047729-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="519" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/epic-projection-keyboard-100047729-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a>Celluon's Epic is one of the few projection keyboards available. Though they're not ideal for everyday use, having a pocket-friendly keyboard is undeniably attractive.<p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Projection keyboards haven't garnered much mainstream appeal, but they're a viable option to traditional keyboards. Products like the <a href="http://www.celluon.com/shop_epic.php" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Celluon Epic</a> (which can easily fit in a pocket) are for people who seek portability above all else. When activated, the Epic projects a full-size, infrared keyboard onto any flat surface. Typing on an infrared keyboard feels about as comfortable as typing on a hard, flat surface—no surprise there—and it doesn't hold a candle to the experience of typing on an actual keyboard, but it can help you get up and typing in a pinch.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">No matter which keyboard you decide to buy at the end of your research, using it will almost certainly be a better experience than continuing to mash away on the keys of whatever cheap plastic slab came with your computer.</p> </span>

The power user’s guide to picking the perfect keyboard

Look down at your fingers for a second, then look back up here. Chances are you're still using the same cheap plastic keyboard that came...

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The 'Awww' factor: Turning old photos into new calendars

<h1 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 12px;line-height:1.13;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:25px;font-weight:500"><span style="line-height:1.7em;font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px">A calendar made from old family photos is a great gift for parents, grandparents, and similarly sentimental family members. And by old photos, we mean those printed from film and trapped in an album, envelope, or shoe box. It's easy to upload newer, digital images to an online service to make all sorts of personalized gifts. But to do the same with truly old-fashioned photos, you'll need to scan them.</span><br> </h1><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;line-height:21px"> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-3.01.11-pm-100160842-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="screen shot 2013 12 17 at 3.01.11 pm" height="354" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-3.01.11-pm-100160842-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Epson Perfection V550 scanner</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Flatbed photo scanners (as opposed to sheetfed document scanners) are incredibly sophisticated these days. Not only do they digitize photos, but they also come with software that often can assist with editing tasks such as sharpening, lighting, and cropping. What's more, a moderately priced scanner such as the <a href="http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&sku=B11B210201#3" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Epson Perfection V550</a> ($149), which we used for this how-to, can scan transparencies such as negatives or slides with included special attachments. For scanning prints, a general-purpose scanner, such as one you might find on a multifunction printer, will suffice.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">A good rule of thumb as you embark upon this project is to stay calm. Memories are powerful, and even families who don't consider themselves photo nuts likely have tons of old prints lying around. Focus on a select few albums and boxes, and limit the number of pictures for your calendar to 30 to 50 photos. From that group, pick the best of the lot: The brightest, clearest, sharpest, most colorful, and best-composed shots will make the most successful journey from paper to electronic file and back. </p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Scanner and image setup</h2><a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/pec-pad-100160648-orig.jpg" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="pec pad" height="225" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/pec-pad-100160648-medium.jpg" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="300"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Make sure to clean your photos, your negatives, and your scanner bed for a dust- and lint-free scan.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">It's pretty simple to get your scanner in gear. <span style="line-height:1.75em">If your hardware has been sitting around awhile, clean the glass bed to get rid of streaks and dust that will ruin your images. Glass <span style="line-height:1.75em">cleaner</span> or a specialty cleaner sprayed onto a soft cloth—not directly on the glass—works well.</span></p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Similarly, prep your photos and negatives. Clean everything with a lint-free photo cloth such as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bundle-2-Items-Photographic-Emulison-Cleaner/dp/B004J0NR8E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1387322857&sr=8-3&keywords=pec-12+cleaner" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">PEC-12</a> ($22) to remove dust, even from prints and negatives that have been resting safely in an album or in negative/slide sleeves. Or use a soft brush. Now you're ready to scan.</p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Scanner software</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">The most popular consumer scanning software comes from photo-oriented printer companies such as Canon, Epson, and HP. You'd be surprised at how much they can do; we'll review the Epson Scan software as an example.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-11-at-1.46.44-am-100159665-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="screen shot 2013 12 11 at 1.46.44 am" height="588" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-11-at-1.46.44-am-100159665-medium.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="300"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Epson's scanner-utility interface in Windows 8 </p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong>Epson Scan:</strong> Scanner companies typically release analogous PC and Mac versions of their scanner software. Epson's scanning package gives you a choice of four modes: Full Auto, Home, Office, and Professional. </p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Full Auto Mode literally gives you a one-click scan, but it also lets you specify the resolution, file name, format, compression, color settings, and more. Home Mode lets you choose among a number of image types, resolutions, and edits such as color restoration, dust removal, and brightness. Office Mode includes more options for specifying the size and orientation, adding adjustments such as sharpening, and performing text and color enhancement.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Professional Mode edges into image-editing territory, allowing you to make major adjustments to your image as you scan. The terminology is more advanced, because the software assumes you understand controls such as histogram adjustment, tone correction, brightness, contrast, saturation, and color balance. If you're using Epson software, consider its <a href="http://files.support.epson.com/htmldocs/prv5ph/prv5phug/featr_3.htm" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Digital ICE</a> mode to clean up dust and scratches. </p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/epson-film-slider-100160612-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="epson film slider" height="412" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/epson-film-slider-100160612-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Load negatives into the tray, and the Epson software automatically recognizes that they are color transparencies. You can use Professional Mode to tweak the photo before scanning, but you can also use an image editor to fix the photos later.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong>VueScan:</strong> If you have an older scanner, its vendor may have long ago ceased to update its drivers, possibly compromising functionality. That's where a program such as Hambrick's <a href="http://www.hamrick.com/" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">VueScan</a> ($40, standard; $80, professional) can step in. VueScan offers updated drivers for a wide selection of scanners and brands. </p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/vuescan-2-100160649-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="vuescan 2" height="331" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/vuescan-2-100160649-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Use VueScan for Windows or Mac with older scanners whose companies no longer update the drivers for specific models.</p><h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Scanning tips</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> 1. If your photo is black-and-white or sepia-toned, use the grayscale or color setting for your scan for more flexibility.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">2. Scan at a resolution of at least 300 dpi, higher than what you'd use for email or Facebook. If you have a good shot, and you're reproducing it larger than the original, you may want to go as high as 600 dpi. Remember that file size is commensurate with resolution, so be judicious about super-high-resolution scans.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">3. Check the preview before clicking the Scan button. A preview will reveal flaws in positioning that you can quickly correct.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> 4. Scan in batches. Load as many images as will fit on the scanner bed. The software will break out each image into a separate file.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">5. Some scanning software will enhance your photos automatically as you scan, unless you choose otherwise. If you're planning to enhance photos in your own image editor, make sure that the scanning software is not duplicating the job.</p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Making the calendar</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">This is the fun part.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Now you're ready to organize your scanned images into a calendar. For this task, you can employ any of the popular online photo-sharing apps from <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Shutterfly</a> or other services such as <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/+calendars" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">CafePress</a>, <a href="http://www.mixbook.com/photo-calendars" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">MixBook</a>, or <a href="http://www.snapfish.com/snapfish/photo-gifts/photo-calendars" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Snapfish</a>. We use Shutterfly as our example below.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong>Shutterfly calendar:</strong> The best way to get started is to create a free account, where you can upload and store the images you want for your calendar.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">1. In the tab menu at the top of the homepage, you can choose from three calendar types: wall, desk, and poster. I chose the wall calendar; with that format, you can pick either a 12-by-12-inch calendar or an 8-by-11-inch calendar. You then set the number of months (12 or 18), the starting month, and the year.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Printed on heavy card stock, Shutterfly calendars let you personalize special dates during the year with a photo and text, and they can include up to 16 photos on the main calendar page. Styles range from cutesy to hip to minimalist, so you're certain to find something to suit your taste.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-12.07.19-pm-100160780-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="screen shot 2013 12 17 at 12.07.19 pm" height="525" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-12.07.19-pm-100160780-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Shutterfly lets you experiment with your page backgrounds and themes until you're happy with the result. It's hard to judge beforehand what's going to look best.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">1. Click the <em>Make a Calendar</em> button to get started.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">2. Choose the calendar style. I chose the 12-by-12-inch wall calendar, for which I had 14 style choices. Textured patterns seemed like a nice backdrop for my previously scanned family photos.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">3. The <em>Next</em> button takes you to the Edit screen, where you add images and customize the background and layout. The first page is actually the calendar's cover, but you can go in any order you want. Alternatively, you can upload all the photos you want to use and let the service auto-fill the pages—with quick and pleasing results.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">3. In the left sidebar, use the two tabs to choose the page background and the number of photos on the page. Each choice gives you several design patterns. This pane also lets you set and preview your text. With text, always go as big as you can, because this thing will be hanging on a wall.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-12.43.04-pm-100160784-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="screen shot 2013 12 17 at 12.43.04 pm" height="637" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-12.43.04-pm-100160784-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> The Shutterfly storyboard tool lets you visualize where your images will go and how many will be on the page in each month.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">4. Shutterfly allows you to add photos as you go, after you create your free account and sign in. Just click the <em>Get Pictures</em> button, navigate to the photos you scanned on your hard drive, and upload the images you want. Use the upload button on the Albums page if you want to get started quickly; as soon as you choose them, you'll be prompted to create an album or to add to an existing album. Either method works.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">5. As you place images, you can edit them by rotating them, cropping them, and adding effects such as color tone. You can make changes to your pages at any time, such as altering the number and layout of images on the page, or swapping out the background. Note that Shutterfly enhances your images automatically, so if you've already done corrections in another program such as iPhoto, you may want to check the box that tells Shutterfly not to enhance your photos. </p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">6. Place your order and go to the shopping cart.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong>iPhoto calendar:</strong> If you're prepping your calendar on a Mac, you almost certainly have a copy of iPhoto. With that software, you can make a beautiful calendar right from your desktop.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-5.13.11-pm-100160880-orig-100160935-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="screen shot 2013 12 17 at 5.13.11 pm 100160880 orig" height="371" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-5.13.11-pm-100160880-orig-100160935-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Create an iPhoto calendar on your desktop with uncompressed TIFF files.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">1. Launch iPhoto, and assemble the photos you scanned into an album.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> 2. Under the Share menu, choose<em>Calendar</em>. You'll see a tabletop motif with a carousel of calendar styles to choose from: Picture Calendar, Big Date, Colored Paper, Modern Lines, Classic, Travel, Vintage, Formal, Kids, and Seasons. Within each choice, you get a default preview of the pages. If you decide against the theme you selected, you can use the button at the upper left to go back. Navigate through the months with the arrow keys. Use the Navigator at the bottom left to adjust the size of the template in the canvas so that you can see exactly what you want to work on. </p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-10-at-11.55.40-am-100156252-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="screen shot 2013 12 10 at 11.55.40 am" height="482" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-10-at-11.55.40-am-100156252-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> iPhoto lets you fix your photos, craft your holiday calendar, and then order it from Apple for delivery within 36 hours.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">3. Once you've settled on a theme, use the Layout, Options, and Photos tabs to make adjustments to each page. For example, you can scale the size of a photo within a frame, change the background color or pattern, write a caption, change the number of images on a page, apply special effects to one or more photos, and view photos that you did not place in the layout. Just drag and drop any unused photos into the slot you want, and remove photos you've changed your mind about. </p> </span>

The 'Awww' factor: Turning old photos into new calendars

A calendar made from old family photos is a great gift for parents, grandparents, and similarly sentimental family members. And by old photo...

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The 'Awww' factor: Turning old photos into new calendars

<h1 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 12px;line-height:1.13;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:25px;font-weight:500"><span style="line-height:1.7em;font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px">A calendar made from old family photos is a great gift for parents, grandparents, and similarly sentimental family members. And by old photos, we mean those printed from film and trapped in an album, envelope, or shoe box. It's easy to upload newer, digital images to an online service to make all sorts of personalized gifts. But to do the same with truly old-fashioned photos, you'll need to scan them.</span><br> </h1><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;line-height:21px"> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-3.01.11-pm-100160842-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="screen shot 2013 12 17 at 3.01.11 pm" height="354" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-3.01.11-pm-100160842-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Epson Perfection V550 scanner</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Flatbed photo scanners (as opposed to sheetfed document scanners) are incredibly sophisticated these days. Not only do they digitize photos, but they also come with software that often can assist with editing tasks such as sharpening, lighting, and cropping. What's more, a moderately priced scanner such as the <a href="http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&sku=B11B210201#3" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Epson Perfection V550</a> ($149), which we used for this how-to, can scan transparencies such as negatives or slides with included special attachments. For scanning prints, a general-purpose scanner, such as one you might find on a multifunction printer, will suffice.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">A good rule of thumb as you embark upon this project is to stay calm. Memories are powerful, and even families who don't consider themselves photo nuts likely have tons of old prints lying around. Focus on a select few albums and boxes, and limit the number of pictures for your calendar to 30 to 50 photos. From that group, pick the best of the lot: The brightest, clearest, sharpest, most colorful, and best-composed shots will make the most successful journey from paper to electronic file and back. </p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Scanner and image setup</h2><a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/pec-pad-100160648-orig.jpg" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="pec pad" height="225" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/pec-pad-100160648-medium.jpg" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="300"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Make sure to clean your photos, your negatives, and your scanner bed for a dust- and lint-free scan.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">It's pretty simple to get your scanner in gear. <span style="line-height:1.75em">If your hardware has been sitting around awhile, clean the glass bed to get rid of streaks and dust that will ruin your images. Glass <span style="line-height:1.75em">cleaner</span> or a specialty cleaner sprayed onto a soft cloth—not directly on the glass—works well.</span></p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Similarly, prep your photos and negatives. Clean everything with a lint-free photo cloth such as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bundle-2-Items-Photographic-Emulison-Cleaner/dp/B004J0NR8E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1387322857&sr=8-3&keywords=pec-12+cleaner" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">PEC-12</a> ($22) to remove dust, even from prints and negatives that have been resting safely in an album or in negative/slide sleeves. Or use a soft brush. Now you're ready to scan.</p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Scanner software</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">The most popular consumer scanning software comes from photo-oriented printer companies such as Canon, Epson, and HP. You'd be surprised at how much they can do; we'll review the Epson Scan software as an example.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-11-at-1.46.44-am-100159665-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="screen shot 2013 12 11 at 1.46.44 am" height="588" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-11-at-1.46.44-am-100159665-medium.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="300"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Epson's scanner-utility interface in Windows 8 </p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong>Epson Scan:</strong> Scanner companies typically release analogous PC and Mac versions of their scanner software. Epson's scanning package gives you a choice of four modes: Full Auto, Home, Office, and Professional. </p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Full Auto Mode literally gives you a one-click scan, but it also lets you specify the resolution, file name, format, compression, color settings, and more. Home Mode lets you choose among a number of image types, resolutions, and edits such as color restoration, dust removal, and brightness. Office Mode includes more options for specifying the size and orientation, adding adjustments such as sharpening, and performing text and color enhancement.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Professional Mode edges into image-editing territory, allowing you to make major adjustments to your image as you scan. The terminology is more advanced, because the software assumes you understand controls such as histogram adjustment, tone correction, brightness, contrast, saturation, and color balance. If you're using Epson software, consider its <a href="http://files.support.epson.com/htmldocs/prv5ph/prv5phug/featr_3.htm" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Digital ICE</a> mode to clean up dust and scratches. </p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/epson-film-slider-100160612-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="epson film slider" height="412" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/epson-film-slider-100160612-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Load negatives into the tray, and the Epson software automatically recognizes that they are color transparencies. You can use Professional Mode to tweak the photo before scanning, but you can also use an image editor to fix the photos later.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong>VueScan:</strong> If you have an older scanner, its vendor may have long ago ceased to update its drivers, possibly compromising functionality. That's where a program such as Hambrick's <a href="http://www.hamrick.com/" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">VueScan</a> ($40, standard; $80, professional) can step in. VueScan offers updated drivers for a wide selection of scanners and brands. </p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/vuescan-2-100160649-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="vuescan 2" height="331" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/vuescan-2-100160649-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Use VueScan for Windows or Mac with older scanners whose companies no longer update the drivers for specific models.</p><h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Scanning tips</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> 1. If your photo is black-and-white or sepia-toned, use the grayscale or color setting for your scan for more flexibility.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">2. Scan at a resolution of at least 300 dpi, higher than what you'd use for email or Facebook. If you have a good shot, and you're reproducing it larger than the original, you may want to go as high as 600 dpi. Remember that file size is commensurate with resolution, so be judicious about super-high-resolution scans.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">3. Check the preview before clicking the Scan button. A preview will reveal flaws in positioning that you can quickly correct.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> 4. Scan in batches. Load as many images as will fit on the scanner bed. The software will break out each image into a separate file.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">5. Some scanning software will enhance your photos automatically as you scan, unless you choose otherwise. If you're planning to enhance photos in your own image editor, make sure that the scanning software is not duplicating the job.</p> <h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em">Making the calendar</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">This is the fun part.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Now you're ready to organize your scanned images into a calendar. For this task, you can employ any of the popular online photo-sharing apps from <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Shutterfly</a> or other services such as <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/+calendars" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">CafePress</a>, <a href="http://www.mixbook.com/photo-calendars" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">MixBook</a>, or <a href="http://www.snapfish.com/snapfish/photo-gifts/photo-calendars" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Snapfish</a>. We use Shutterfly as our example below.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong>Shutterfly calendar:</strong> The best way to get started is to create a free account, where you can upload and store the images you want for your calendar.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">1. In the tab menu at the top of the homepage, you can choose from three calendar types: wall, desk, and poster. I chose the wall calendar; with that format, you can pick either a 12-by-12-inch calendar or an 8-by-11-inch calendar. You then set the number of months (12 or 18), the starting month, and the year.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Printed on heavy card stock, Shutterfly calendars let you personalize special dates during the year with a photo and text, and they can include up to 16 photos on the main calendar page. Styles range from cutesy to hip to minimalist, so you're certain to find something to suit your taste.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-12.07.19-pm-100160780-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="screen shot 2013 12 17 at 12.07.19 pm" height="525" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-12.07.19-pm-100160780-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Shutterfly lets you experiment with your page backgrounds and themes until you're happy with the result. It's hard to judge beforehand what's going to look best.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">1. Click the <em>Make a Calendar</em> button to get started.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">2. Choose the calendar style. I chose the 12-by-12-inch wall calendar, for which I had 14 style choices. Textured patterns seemed like a nice backdrop for my previously scanned family photos.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">3. The <em>Next</em> button takes you to the Edit screen, where you add images and customize the background and layout. The first page is actually the calendar's cover, but you can go in any order you want. Alternatively, you can upload all the photos you want to use and let the service auto-fill the pages—with quick and pleasing results.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">3. In the left sidebar, use the two tabs to choose the page background and the number of photos on the page. Each choice gives you several design patterns. This pane also lets you set and preview your text. With text, always go as big as you can, because this thing will be hanging on a wall.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-12.43.04-pm-100160784-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="screen shot 2013 12 17 at 12.43.04 pm" height="637" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-12.43.04-pm-100160784-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> The Shutterfly storyboard tool lets you visualize where your images will go and how many will be on the page in each month.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">4. Shutterfly allows you to add photos as you go, after you create your free account and sign in. Just click the <em>Get Pictures</em> button, navigate to the photos you scanned on your hard drive, and upload the images you want. Use the upload button on the Albums page if you want to get started quickly; as soon as you choose them, you'll be prompted to create an album or to add to an existing album. Either method works.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">5. As you place images, you can edit them by rotating them, cropping them, and adding effects such as color tone. You can make changes to your pages at any time, such as altering the number and layout of images on the page, or swapping out the background. Note that Shutterfly enhances your images automatically, so if you've already done corrections in another program such as iPhoto, you may want to check the box that tells Shutterfly not to enhance your photos. </p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">6. Place your order and go to the shopping cart.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong>iPhoto calendar:</strong> If you're prepping your calendar on a Mac, you almost certainly have a copy of iPhoto. With that software, you can make a beautiful calendar right from your desktop.</p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-5.13.11-pm-100160880-orig-100160935-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="screen shot 2013 12 17 at 5.13.11 pm 100160880 orig" height="371" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-17-at-5.13.11-pm-100160880-orig-100160935-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Create an iPhoto calendar on your desktop with uncompressed TIFF files.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">1. Launch iPhoto, and assemble the photos you scanned into an album.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> 2. Under the Share menu, choose<em>Calendar</em>. You'll see a tabletop motif with a carousel of calendar styles to choose from: Picture Calendar, Big Date, Colored Paper, Modern Lines, Classic, Travel, Vintage, Formal, Kids, and Seasons. Within each choice, you get a default preview of the pages. If you decide against the theme you selected, you can use the button at the upper left to go back. Navigate through the months with the arrow keys. Use the Navigator at the bottom left to adjust the size of the template in the canvas so that you can see exactly what you want to work on. </p> <a href="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-10-at-11.55.40-am-100156252-orig.png" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank"><img alt="screen shot 2013 12 10 at 11.55.40 am" height="482" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/screen-shot-2013-12-10-at-11.55.40-am-100156252-large.png" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="580"></a><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> iPhoto lets you fix your photos, craft your holiday calendar, and then order it from Apple for delivery within 36 hours.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">3. Once you've settled on a theme, use the Layout, Options, and Photos tabs to make adjustments to each page. For example, you can scale the size of a photo within a frame, change the background color or pattern, write a caption, change the number of images on a page, apply special effects to one or more photos, and view photos that you did not place in the layout. Just drag and drop any unused photos into the slot you want, and remove photos you've changed your mind about. </p> </span>

The 'Awww' factor: Turning old photos into new calendars

A calendar made from old family photos is a great gift for parents, grandparents, and similarly sentimental family members. And by old photo...

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Google cheers contestants at Robotics Challenge

<div><div class="imageContainer580xX" style="width:320px;height:auto;clear:both;margin:auto;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:19px"><img alt="darpa robotics challenge" class="largeImage imgId100160460 " itemprop="image" src="http://zapt1.staticworld.net/images/article/2013/12/darpa_robotics_challenge-100160460-large.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 320px; max-width: 100%;"></div> <div class="department" style="margin:0px 0px 10px;overflow:hidden"><a class="topCatLink" href="http://www.techhive.com/category/robots" style="color:rgb(215,114,39);float:left;font-family:ff-enzo-web,sans-serif;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;margin-right:5px"><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">The first sign that</span><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif"> </span><a href="http://www.techhive.com/article/2080580/google-buys-maker-of-fascinating-creepy-robots.html?tk=rel_news" style="line-height:1.7em;font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,167,215)">Google now owns</a><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">robotics heavyweight Boston Dynamics was when the Google bus rolled into the</span><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif"> </span><a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9244913/Tech_pit_crews_prep_for_robot_speedway_showdown" style="line-height:1.7em;font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,167,215)">DARPA Robotics Challenge</a><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif"> </span><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">to offer engineers a place to kick back and take a nap.</span><br> </a></div><span itemprop="articleBody description text" style><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Officials at <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136345/Google_Update" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">Google</a>, a company known for offering extravagant perks like meditation pods and beach volleyball courts to its employees, showed up at the Homestead Miami Speedway in southern Florida on the first day of <a href="http://www.techhive.com/article/2070663/robots-compete-to-mimic-common-human-tasks.html?tk=rel_news" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">the event</a> to show support for its new team and to get a look at the Atlas robot, built by Boston Dynamics, and one of the stars of the challenge.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Last week, Google confirmed reports that it had <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9244812/Google_dives_headfirst_into_robotics_with_Boston_Dynamics_buy" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">acquired Boston Dynamics</a>, a company known for creating impressive robots like the four-legged BigDog robot, as well as Atlas, a six-foot-tall, 330-pound two-legged robot designed to function much like a human</p> </span></div><div><img alt="atlas robot" height="565" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/atlas_robot-100160463-medium.jpg" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="300"><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Atlas robot by Boston Dynamics.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">Google, which is known for its search engine and popular <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9178688/Android_news_reviews_more" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Android</a> mobile platform, had bought seven other robotics companies in the last several months, before snatching up Boston Dynamics.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">Industry analysts had speculated that the company is interested in beefing up the software for its autonomous cars with the robotics acquisitions, but many were surprised that Google would go for a robotics player as prominent as Boston Dynamics.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">Joe Bondaryk, project manager with Boston Dynamics, said Google is eager to get into humanoid robotics, and the company has the energy and the cash to advance the technology.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">"My understanding is they're very interested in the humanoid robots and what they could be made to do, and finding a commercial use and business purpose for them," said Bondaryk. "DARPA is all blue sky thinking, but Google is even more blue sky and it has deeper pockets."</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">He also noted that Boston Dynamics will honor its government and military contracts but probably won't take on any new ones.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">It's business as usual at the robotics company, Bondaryk said, the company also planning to make new hires now that Google has the reins.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">"I don't think there's an organization structure yet," he said. "We're waiting for a grand vision and to hear about the synergy between the eight new robotics companies that Google [now] has... Andy [Rubin] says he'll listen to us all and take our advice."</p> <h2 style="font-family:ff-enzo-web,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em;color:rgb(34,34,34)">Checking out the competition</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif"> The DARPA challenges is a great place for <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9237579/Google_s_Andy_Rubin_steps_aside_as_Android_gets_new_leader" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Andy Rubin</a>, Google's robotics projects lead and the former head of Android, to <a href="http://www.techhive.com/article/2069020/from-android-to-automations-rubins-robots-are-googles-next-moonshot.html?tk=rel_news" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">get a good look</a>at the third-generation Atlas.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">This weekend 16 teams, including participants from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Virginia Tech, and NASA's <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9244922/NASA_s_robot_competitor_is_cousin_to_Mars_Curiosity_rove" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> are vying to create the best software to enable their robot to turn valves, use human tools, climb a ladder, and even drive a car.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">Many of the teams have built software for their own Atlas robots, though some have built both the hardware and software.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">"Our team is just thrilled to be supplying half the robots for the competition," Bondaryk said. "We've never had them all up and operating at once. It's a great feeling of accomplishment."</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">He also said the challenge is bringing much needed funding and attention to the advancement of humanoid robots.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">"This is huge for robotics," Bondaryk said. "Before this there really wasn't any organized push in humanoid robotics."</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">He added that Boston Dynamics is working on a battery pack, so that at next year's final test in the three-part Robotics Challenge, none of the Atlas robots will need a power cord. The challenge in building the battery is making it powerful enough to fuel the robot but also light enough to be carried around with the machine</p> </div>

Google cheers contestants at Robotics Challenge

The first sign that   Google now owns robotics heavyweight Boston Dynamics was when the Google bus rolled into the   DARPA Robotics Challe...

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Google cheers contestants at Robotics Challenge

<div><div class="imageContainer580xX" style="width:320px;height:auto;clear:both;margin:auto;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:19px"><img alt="darpa robotics challenge" class="largeImage imgId100160460 " itemprop="image" src="http://zapt1.staticworld.net/images/article/2013/12/darpa_robotics_challenge-100160460-large.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 320px; max-width: 100%;"></div> <div class="department" style="margin:0px 0px 10px;overflow:hidden"><a class="topCatLink" href="http://www.techhive.com/category/robots" style="color:rgb(215,114,39);float:left;font-family:ff-enzo-web,sans-serif;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;margin-right:5px"><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">The first sign that</span><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif"> </span><a href="http://www.techhive.com/article/2080580/google-buys-maker-of-fascinating-creepy-robots.html?tk=rel_news" style="line-height:1.7em;font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,167,215)">Google now owns</a><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">robotics heavyweight Boston Dynamics was when the Google bus rolled into the</span><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif"> </span><a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9244913/Tech_pit_crews_prep_for_robot_speedway_showdown" style="line-height:1.7em;font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(37,167,215)">DARPA Robotics Challenge</a><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif"> </span><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">to offer engineers a place to kick back and take a nap.</span><br> </a></div><span itemprop="articleBody description text" style><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Officials at <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136345/Google_Update" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">Google</a>, a company known for offering extravagant perks like meditation pods and beach volleyball courts to its employees, showed up at the Homestead Miami Speedway in southern Florida on the first day of <a href="http://www.techhive.com/article/2070663/robots-compete-to-mimic-common-human-tasks.html?tk=rel_news" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">the event</a> to show support for its new team and to get a look at the Atlas robot, built by Boston Dynamics, and one of the stars of the challenge.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Last week, Google confirmed reports that it had <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9244812/Google_dives_headfirst_into_robotics_with_Boston_Dynamics_buy" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">acquired Boston Dynamics</a>, a company known for creating impressive robots like the four-legged BigDog robot, as well as Atlas, a six-foot-tall, 330-pound two-legged robot designed to function much like a human</p> </span></div><div><img alt="atlas robot" height="565" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/atlas_robot-100160463-medium.jpg" style="border-width:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:auto;min-height:auto;max-width:100%;float:left" width="300"><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Atlas robot by Boston Dynamics.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">Google, which is known for its search engine and popular <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9178688/Android_news_reviews_more" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Android</a> mobile platform, had bought seven other robotics companies in the last several months, before snatching up Boston Dynamics.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">Industry analysts had speculated that the company is interested in beefing up the software for its autonomous cars with the robotics acquisitions, but many were surprised that Google would go for a robotics player as prominent as Boston Dynamics.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">Joe Bondaryk, project manager with Boston Dynamics, said Google is eager to get into humanoid robotics, and the company has the energy and the cash to advance the technology.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">"My understanding is they're very interested in the humanoid robots and what they could be made to do, and finding a commercial use and business purpose for them," said Bondaryk. "DARPA is all blue sky thinking, but Google is even more blue sky and it has deeper pockets."</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">He also noted that Boston Dynamics will honor its government and military contracts but probably won't take on any new ones.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">It's business as usual at the robotics company, Bondaryk said, the company also planning to make new hires now that Google has the reins.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">"I don't think there's an organization structure yet," he said. "We're waiting for a grand vision and to hear about the synergy between the eight new robotics companies that Google [now] has... Andy [Rubin] says he'll listen to us all and take our advice."</p> <h2 style="font-family:ff-enzo-web,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em;color:rgb(34,34,34)">Checking out the competition</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif"> The DARPA challenges is a great place for <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9237579/Google_s_Andy_Rubin_steps_aside_as_Android_gets_new_leader" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Andy Rubin</a>, Google's robotics projects lead and the former head of Android, to <a href="http://www.techhive.com/article/2069020/from-android-to-automations-rubins-robots-are-googles-next-moonshot.html?tk=rel_news" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">get a good look</a>at the third-generation Atlas.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">This weekend 16 teams, including participants from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Virginia Tech, and NASA's <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9244922/NASA_s_robot_competitor_is_cousin_to_Mars_Curiosity_rove" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> are vying to create the best software to enable their robot to turn valves, use human tools, climb a ladder, and even drive a car.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">Many of the teams have built software for their own Atlas robots, though some have built both the hardware and software.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">"Our team is just thrilled to be supplying half the robots for the competition," Bondaryk said. "We've never had them all up and operating at once. It's a great feeling of accomplishment."</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">He also said the challenge is bringing much needed funding and attention to the advancement of humanoid robots.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">"This is huge for robotics," Bondaryk said. "Before this there really wasn't any organized push in humanoid robotics."</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">He added that Boston Dynamics is working on a battery pack, so that at next year's final test in the three-part Robotics Challenge, none of the Atlas robots will need a power cord. The challenge in building the battery is making it powerful enough to fuel the robot but also light enough to be carried around with the machine</p> </div>

Google cheers contestants at Robotics Challenge

The first sign that   Google now owns robotics heavyweight Boston Dynamics was when the Google bus rolled into the   DARPA Robotics Challe...

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Beware ransomware, mobile malware in 2014, McAfee says

<div class="imageContainer580xX" style="width:320px;height:auto;clear:both;margin:auto;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:19px"><img alt="malware" class="galleryImage imgId100032981 " itemprop="image" src="http://zapt4.staticworld.net/images/article/2013/04/malware-100032981-gallery.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 320px; max-width: 100%;"></div> <div class="department" style="margin:0px 0px 10px;overflow:hidden"><a class="topCatLink" href="http://www.pcworld.com/category/security" style="color:rgb(172,31,43);float:left;font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;margin-right:5px"><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px">Cybercriminals will increasingly use ransomware, malware, and hacktivism over the next year to move further into the lucrative business market.</span><br> </a></div><span itemprop="articleBody description text" style><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">McAfee has released its 2014 threat predictions, which highlight the trend<a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/258795/ransomware_threatens_victims_with_police_reports_for_child_pornography.html?tk=rel_news" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">toward ransomware</a> and targeted attacks over the next 12 months.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">In 2014, the security firm also expects to see an increase in the new complex types of attacks on business PCs and<a href="http://www.techhive.com/article/2039530/growing-mobile-malware-threat-swirls-mostly-around-android.html?tk=rel_news" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">mobile devices,</a> but it is clear that traditional tactics which have been around for years will also continue to impact businesses.</p> <img alt="smartphone malware" height="201" src="http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/07/smartphone-malware-100045232-medium.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto; height: auto; max-width: 100%; float: left;" width="300"><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> A key trend is that ransomware attacks, which usually target consumers, such as CryptoLocker, will move further into the business space where they have the potential to severely affects operations and cost companies a lot of money, said Michael Sentonas, McAfee's Global CTO for Security Connected.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">"We also expect to see an increase in mobile malware, which effectively locks the user out of his or her device or machine so the cyber criminals can access data, to have an impact on businesses via their increasingly mobile workforces," he said. "Hacktivism attacks which usually target governments are anticipated to spill over into business and enterprise markets."</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Understanding cyber threats and areas of vulnerability in the year ahead is vitally important as more businesses move operations into the cloud and embrace mobile technologies, providing cyber criminals with more entry points into company networks and data.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">But Sentonas said, unfortunately, the poor cyber security foundations of many companies will continue to create an environment of high motivation, high opportunity for the attacker in 2014.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">"In 2013, I saw a number of successful high profile attacks that occurred due to poor patching, misconfigurations, out of date security, and a lack of enterprise wide security visibility.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">"Businesses need to understand that lax cyber security could have significant implications on their company data, operations and financial viability."</p><h2 style="font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0.25em"> Top ten threats for 2014:</h2><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong style>1. Ransomware—</strong>Expect ransomware samples to increase given the financial success the cyber criminals have had with this type of malicious software. Ransomware such as CryptoLocker has typically targeted consumers, but now also targets enterprises.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong style>2. Mobile Malware—</strong>The increasing volume and complexity of malware designed to capture identity and financial information will continue to crossover from desktops to mobile devices; a significant issue for an increasingly mobile workforce.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong style>3. Destructive Malware—</strong>Cyber attackers are leveraging more destructive functions within their attack code. Cyber criminals will continue to drive the unprecedented rise in destructive malware, some of which are designed to damage the victim's master boot record resulting in complete computer systems being rendered inoperable.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong style>4. Hacktivism—</strong>Hacktivist groups based in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia will continue to target governments in 2014 and are expected to also spill over and target private enterprise.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong style>5. "Next Generation" security tools will come under attack—</strong>Attackers will continue to develop exploits that will be 'sandbox aware' aiming to bypass security systems, demonstrating that sandboxing is a feature and not a complete security solution.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong style>6. The Internet of Things comes alive—</strong>All devices that connect to the corporate network and the internet should be considered endpoints that come with a level of risk as they typically have less security, both by design and through poor security practices, and will be a target for attackers.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong style>7. Bypassing Digital Signatures—</strong>More than 1.5 million samples of malware signed with digital signatures already exist and attackers will continue to circumvent the trust mechanisms upon which our digital ecosystems rely.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong style>8. Security vs Privacy debate will continue—</strong>In 2014,expect to see some government and corporate organizations go dark in response to privacy issues. Consumer privacy demands will impact security architectures, the cloud, and information-sharing.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong style>9. Threat cycles will be recycled—</strong>A significant percentage of successful cyber intrusions do not rely on sophisticated techniques, rather the attackers aim to exploit lax security architecture, policy and skills shortages using tried and true methods.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"><strong style>10. Targeted Attacks to continue—</strong>An increase in targeted attacks on government, large enterprise organizations and small businesses is expected as cyber criminals focus their attempts to financially exploit targets. This does not necessarily mean a correlating increase in advanced malware and advanced persistent threat samples, as attackers may use sophisticated or traditional techniques to achieve their ends</p> </span>

Beware ransomware, mobile malware in 2014, McAfee says

Cybercriminals will increasingly use ransomware, malware, and hacktivism over the next year to move further into the lucrative business ma...

Read more »