When it comes to TLDs (top level domains, i.e. COM, NET, ORG, etc.) on the internet, several attempts have been made to generate the popularity of COM. All have failed, but that doesn’t mean the people who give us alternatives to COM stop trying. One of the weirder TLDs out there is TEL. This is billed as a mobile calling card of sorts.. I think. Right off...

In the United States, unfortunately it is the case where most people are only aware of three wireless carriers, that being Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. Why? Advertising, of course. The big wireless companies obviously have deep pockets for gobs and gobs of advertising everywhere. Television, magazines, billboards, etc. Regional wireless carriers are a sound...

Unless you’re a phone tech (and I know there are more than a few of those who read PCMech), you know what touch-tone dialing is, but don’t know what DTMF is. DTMF is dual-tone multi-frequency. It is what replaced pulse dialing as the standard for how telephone calls are placed, and is what allows touch-tone dialing to work. Each time you press a key...

This is a response to this article. Watch this video first.Velcro’ing anything in your car that blocks an airbag means if it deploys, the iPad will be flung at a speed so fast it could literally lodge itself into the skull of the passenger, killing the person instantly. If you’re driving solo and the bag deploys, it could deflect off the seat and...

The Ipad shortages continue. I called up the two retail stores in our area (Tampa Bay) and even the people who work there have no earthly idea what’s going on with the Ipad. I have yet to see any mention from Apple itself on why this shortage is taking place and when to expect some supply. All the while, Apple.com continues to feature the device, saying it...

The Ipad 3G launched on April 30th. On May 1st, I decided I wanted to get one. Went by the Apple Store in Tampa only be told they were completely sold out. That was almost a week ago. Nothing has changed. There is simply no inventory anywhere to be had of the Ipad 3G. In most stores, that includes even the wifi model. Apparently, some stories have been hitting...

PND means Portable Navigation Device, and in general use refers to any portable automotive GPS device. For several years now there have been those that claim PNDs are a dying market and that they will die a quick death. The exact opposite of that has been true. PNDs still continue to sell by the truckload and in addition have become quite advanced in overall...

I know this has been tossed around quite a bit already but I couldn’t resist showing this here. For as long as mobile devices have been around that are powerful enough to do it, somebody will have the thought of, “Hey, let’s see if Windows 95 runs on this thing!” Why? I have no idea. Linux is obviously the better choice, but...

For those of us who use a laptop, there is no doubt that one of the most important components is the battery. If the battery completely dies you can always plug the system into the wall to use it, but that defeats the purpose of a laptop. Therefore, it is essential to take good care of your battery and a program which can help is the appropriately named utility:...

For a while now it’s been true that laptops are outselling desktop computers. Netbooks are largely responsible for the increase in sales, and as such have driven the price of standard-sized laptops down. What’s the cheapest you can get? Around $400 to to $499 new. The $500 price barrier was broken a while ago and we can now buy laptops at unheard of...