The Road Leading to Self Driving Cars

The worst part about driving to work is the commute, and the worst part of the commute is the traffic. Sitting there, stop and go, stop and go, hoping not to get rear ended or cut off. It’s wasted time. We try to multi-task—talk on the phone (hands-free, of course), listen to music or books on tape. We all can’t afford to have a driver…or maybe someday we could! Our cars could soon drive us to and fro, and we could do whatever we wanted---even sleep on the way to work. You’re practically dozing off anyway as it is!

A recent article and infographic from Mashable predicts self-driving cars in showrooms by 2017. Some vehicles can already park themselves, or stop themselves in the event of an emergency, so the rest can’t be that far off, right? Mashable does ask, however, “will drivers be willing to trust it enough to sit and read their iPads or put on makeup on their way to work instead of driving? (Wait, aren't they doing that now?).”

Widespread acceptance is going to depend on how good and accessible the technology is. Once we see more and more self-driving cars on the road, the acceptance will increase, but it’s going to be an uphill battle. What’s it going to take to get drivers to get their hands of the wheel?

Eventually these cars will interact with the roads and highways, and even police and emergency vehicles, but most importantly with each other. For instance, some higher end brands like Audi, BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes Benz already have cars with an adaptive cruise control feature. Lasers or radar are used to maintain safe distances from other vehicles.

By 2014 some of the bigger automakers will be offering embedded 4G internet access in-vehicle. General Motors has already partnered with AT&T, and Apple is working on an OS for cars that will integrate with iOS7 in-dash.

Japanese automakers are banking on hydrogen power to run our cars of the future. Hydrogen powered cars built by the biggest Japanese automakers are expected to be on Japanese roads by 2015, backed up with the insurance that there will be plenty of hydrogen filling stations near all of Japan’s largest cities and surrounding areas. By 2016, the U.S. is expected to comprise 90% of the hybrid vehicle market, with a sharp rise in smart car batteries that run electric vehicles and other hybrids.

- See more at: http://www.geeks.com/techtips/community/the-road-leading-to-self-driving-cars.html#sthash.2vngj3Q4.dpuf

Anti-Virus Options for your Smartphone

At this point most of us have smartphones attached to our hips or at least our hands. They’re our go to devices for just about everything, and have changed the way we communicate, compute, socialize, and use and share data. I always go to my smartphone instead of my desktop, laptop or tablet, as it’s the fastest device in the house! But as with our computers, we’ve got to protect our smartphones from viruses and other issues. Let’s take a look at some of the options…

Image courtesy of McAfee

Hopefully, most of us have some sort of anti-virus protection on our desktop or laptop computers, and we’re used to planning on virus protection. We’ve had personal computers for years. Smartphones are still a relatively new phenomenon. We run multiple apps that are constantly connected, potentially putting personal information at risk. We’re still adapting to the use and protection of these devices, and those that want our information are adapting their strategies for how to get to the information on our phones.

Are the threats to Android phones and the iPhone similar? Between the two, the biggest risk is losing your information, or getting your accounts compromised, including your bank account, app store account, or credit card information. Apple has always had stricter requirements in the app store, and isn’t as open an environment as the Google/Android app market. As the Android market is getting better at tightening up app requirements, we're seeing more and more app viruses in the Apple app store.

- See more at: http://www.geeks.com/techtips/community/anti-virus-options-for-your-smartphone.html#sthash.2uzvS6Mu.dpuf

The Future of Robotics

When we think of robots, a lot of us geeks first think of C-3PO and R2-D2 from “Star Wars.” Technically robots and robotics have been in use since the Industrial Revolution. They're what made it industrial, and a...revolution. Robotics and related tech are getting more and more commonplace, and changing and improving our lives, in many different facets ranging from medicine to warfare.
In the medical field, robotics have led to stunning enhancements in the field of prosthetics. Due to recent conflicts in the Middle East, there have been a larger number of amputees coming back from war than ever before. Technology has needed to keep in stride with the demand for better and better artificial limb options.

Bluetooth technology has been included in opposing limbs for multiple amputees. For instance, an Iraq war vet was fitted with two artificial legs after losing his own legs in combat. Bluetooth devices were built into each leg, effectively allowing the legs to “communicate” to coordinate stride, pressure, and speed between the two prosthetic limbs.

Robot prosthetics, image courtesy of News.Discovery.com

- See more at: http://www.geeks.com/techtips/community/the-future-of-robotics.html#sthash.D6MKS0ZK.dpuf

When we think of robots, a lot of us geeks first think of C-3PO and R2-D2 from “Star Wars.” Technically robots and robotics have been in use since the Indu

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Big Brother is Definitely Watching

The more connected and interconnected we are with our tech, our mobile devices, computers, Web usage and email, the more the government apparently wants to know about what we’re doing and saying with all this connectivity, who we’re talking to, when we’re talking and what we’re talking about..  It sounds like a scary conspiracy theory, but unfortunately more and more evidence is piling up detailing the far reaching eye of the government.

We’ve recently seen stories on CISPA and big data, and the government watching our Web browsing, as well as the state of internet surveillance overall.  But no recent “Big Brother” stories are as big as the stories that truly belong in the movies. Companies like Verizon have been forced to hand over phone records to the U.S. government under a top secret court order. We’ve also learned that the National Security Agency (NSA) and FBI have been pulling data on Americans from companies like Google and Facebook.

Image courtesy of Morguefile.com

- See more at: http://www.geeks.com/techtips/community/big-brother-is-definitely-watching.html#sthash.V720rLYJ.dpuf

Zotac GeForce GTX560TI 1GB Video Card

By Doug Smith

Here’s a nice little video card for you PC gamers—the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1GB video card. We’ve currently got it at a great price, and have plenty in stock. ZOTAC is one of the largest producers of NVIDIA VGA and motherboard solutions worldwide. The ZOTAC GeForce 560 Ti is designed to deliver high performance at an affordable price.

Powered by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti GPU, the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1 GB GDDR5 PCI Express video is a high-end video card featuring 384 unified shaders.1 GB of GDDR5 memory is included with clock rate of 4000 MHz for those high-resolution displays. The card also features a PCI Express x16 2.0 interface with a high-bandwidth interface for your GPU and CPU interaction.

This ZOTAC GeForce GTX 560 Ti features exclusive NVIDIA technologies like PhysX, CUDA, and PureVideo HD for realistic physics effects, parallel computing support, and high definition video optimization.

- See more at: http://www.geeks.com/techtips/community/zotac-geforce-gtx-560-ti-1gb-video-card.html#sthash.m0CsaXXd.dpuf

Tech Design of the Future

We’ve talked a lot lately about the tech of the future and integration—wearable and micro technology, 3D printing, smart TVs and integrated homes.  The future continues to arrive, but what’s still to come? What’s the tech and what are the designs that will change the future?

Under Armour is designing a touchscreen t-shirt which measures your athletic performance

CNN recently ran a piece on designs that will define the future, attempting to predict the shape of things to come.  The predictions run the gamut from manufacturing and wearable tech, to digital displays, to minimalist designs that stress function over form, to digital tattoos, and headphones that read minds. Key advances will be in wearable tech and 3D printing, with innovative designs blending technology, science and manufacturing.

- See more at: http://www.geeks.com/techtips/community/tech-design-of-the-future.html#sthash.In6TCohb.dpuf

Get the Power of Intel Innovation

Intel Core is Intel’s line of microprocessors for business and consumer computers. Geeks.com carries a full range of Intel Core processors and we wanted to take some time to look at some of the quality Intel Core processors we carry.

The i3 Processor is great for common tasks like listening to music. This processor comes equipped with Intel HD graphics, an advanced video engine that delivers smooth, high-quality HD video playback, and advanced 3D capabilities, providing an ideal graphics solution for everyday computing. The i3 is the first level of the Core processor family, and an affordable option for your everyday computing tasks. With Intel’s Hyper-Threading technology, you’ll see effortless multitasking.

i3 Processor image courtesy of Intel

- See more at: http://www.geeks.com/techtips/community/get-the-power-of-intel-innovation.html#sthash.HrxpHDrv.dpuf

Classrooms of the Future will Teach Individuals

If you’ve got kids in the public school system, it’s likely that they are in overcrowded classes, with overworked and burned out teachers. Budgets are tight. Teachers are teaching the same way they’ve taught for years—new kids, same material. Standardized teaching and standardized testing--teaching all of the kids the same material the same way.

The challenge is that we all learn differently, and so do kids.  Some of us are better at math, some of us are better at English, some of us are better at science. We learn different things at different paces. Many parents are choosing to pull their kids from the struggling archaic public school system and put them into charter schools and even home schooling programs. Home schooled and charter school students get more individual attention and more individualized learning. Leaders in technology like Bill Gates are saying that individualized learning, and technology, will build the classrooms of the future.

inBloom offers help to teachers looking to tailor lessons to students

- See more at: http://www.geeks.com/techtips/community/classrooms-of-the-future-will-teach-individuals.html#sthash.Mt3M9tkX.dpuf

Geeks.com Serves Up Deals on Servers

Need a server? Geeks.com is serving up great deals on rack and tower servers!

Geeks.com rack and tower server savings!

For those of you new to servers, let’s do a brief server overview.  A server is basically a system comprised of software and computer hardware that responds to requests across computer networks, and provides network services. Servers can be on a dedicated computer, which would be referred to as "a server." A number of network computers can also act as a server. Servers operate within a server-client infrastructure.  Servers process requests from and deliver data to other computers, or the "clients."


- See more at: http://www.geeks.com/techtips/community/geeks-com-serves-up-deals-on-servers.html#sthash.GniOgUW5.dpuf

Get Some Education Online

The future is mobile, and mobile tech is the future. Education, however, has been mobile for years. Online education has been changing the way we learn since the late 80s and its launch at the University of Phoenix, and has progressed slowly but surely from there.

The University of Phoenix is the largest university in the U.S., with more than 500,000 students. Image courtesy of phoenix.edu

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- See more at: http://www.geeks.com/techtips/community/home.html#sthash.ci6EjhZi.dpuf

Emergence of Digital Film Projection

Some of us had that friend, or knew someone that had that friend that worked at the movie theater. That usually meant you could get in for free. If you were really lucky your friend was the projectionist, and maybe you’d get to sit up in the projection booth. At certain points, depending on how long the movie was, the projectionist would jump up to change the reels ad try to time the reel change just right.

Image courtesy of Morguefile.com

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- See more at: http://www.geeks.com/techtips/community/home.html#sthash.ci6EjhZi.dpuf

Choosing the Right Video Game Console

I don’t play as many video games as I used to when I was a bachelor, but I think console gaming is ingrained in me. I was a little kid when my dad brought home a console system with pong, and pong variations. From there we upgraded to an Atari 2600. Hours spent playing “Space Invaders,” “Pitfall,” and so many others. Years later I got back into gaming and picked up a Nintendo Entertainment System. I was blown away at the improvement in graphics. More hours on games like “Mario Brothers,” “Metroid,” “Contra,” and so many other Nintendo greats. Eventually I moved on to the Playstation and Playstation 2, and pretty much just played “Madden.”

A lot of gamers prefer console gaming to PC gaming for affordability, convenience, portability, and ease of control.  Sure you’re sacrificing great graphics, upgradeability, mods, choice of games, and Cloud gaming with services like Steam, but if you choose to go the console route, how do you pick the right console to game on?

Xbox One image, courtesy of xboxlive.com

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Acer Monitors from Geeks.com

Acer is a well known name in the computer monitor market, known for making quality and affordable monitors. Acer monitors are popular sellers for Geeks.com, and if you’re in the market for a new, extra, or back-up monitor, take a look at the Acer selection of monitors offered by Geeks.com.

The Acer S230HL Abd widescreen monitor features a fast 5 ms response time for crystal-clear, blur-free video, text and graphics. The Acer S230HL also features a 23-inch LED-Backlit display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 250 cd/m² brightness and a high 100,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. The fast 5 ms response time ensures crystal-clear, blur-free video, text and graphics. Included is a 90 day warranty from Geeks.com.

Acer S230HL Abd widescreen monitor from Geeks.com

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How to Protect Your Privacy Online

There’s been so much talk lately about what the government can and can’t see and hear about our phone records, email, web browsing and online activities. But what can you do to protect your online privacy? What can anybody out there see? How do you protect yourself and your information?

Let’s take a look at how you can protect yourself online, and not just from the government.

Image courtesy of Morguefile.com

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No Single Streaming Option is Perfect… Yet!

Streaming content is everywhere now. Netflix and Redbox have their own streaming services, as do Amazon, and Hulu. If you’ve got cable, you’ve got streaming options and streaming options within streaming options with network streaming, and premium channel and event streaming. You can buy smart TVs wired for all the services, streaming boxes, streaming stix and streaming DVD players.
Whether you’re looking to cut the cable cord and save money, or increase your entertainment options, which is the best option for you? You’ll find most people choose a combination of different options, as no single streaming option seems to be perfect for everyone…for now. Each unique service seems to have its limitations and challenges, making it difficult to choose just one option.

Image courtesy of Netflix.com

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Webcams from Geeks.com

Some of us remember first seeing the video phones on TV shows like “The Jetsons” or even viewscreen communication on sci-fi shows like “Star Trek.” Well, the future arrived long ago, and things like video chat via Skype and Facetime are commonplace.

Webcams have been facilitating video communication across the internet for years, and are nowhere near obsolete. We’ve all seen or used webcams for security and surveillance, to communicate with friends, to check in on the dog or the kids in kid or doggie daycare, or look at snuggly animals at the zoo live. Webcams are still popular sellers at Geeks.com, and we offer a wide range of choices.

A webcam is a camera that connects to your computer and allows communication via video across the internet. The first use of a webcam dates back to Cambridge University, in 1991. Science researchers in the labs didn’t necessarily want to communicate face to face and lab to lab. They literally wanted to watch a coffee pot boil. The researchers set up a camera spying on the coffee pot in the break room. To save themselves from walking to the break room before coffee was ready, they wired the camera to their computers so they could check the coffee status from their desks. Eventually the researchers uploaded their coffee pot feed to the Internet, and the first webcam was…brewed.

Mmm…coffee image courtesy of morguefile.com

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The Future of Robotics

When we think of robots, a lot of us geeks first think of C-3PO and R2-D2 from “Star Wars.” Technically robots and robotics have been in use since the Industrial Revolution. They're what made it industrial, and a...revolution. Robotics and related tech are getting more and more commonplace, and changing and improving our lives, in many different facets ranging from medicine to warfare.
In the medical field, robotics have led to stunning enhancements in the field of prosthetics. Due to recent conflicts in the Middle East, there have been a larger number of amputees coming back from war than ever before. Technology has needed to keep in stride with the demand for better and better artificial limb options.

Bluetooth technology has been included in opposing limbs for multiple amputees. For instance, an Iraq war vet was fitted with two artificial legs after losing his own legs in combat. Bluetooth devices were built into each leg, effectively allowing the legs to “communicate” to coordinate stride, pressure, and speed between the two prosthetic limbs.

Robot prosthetics, image courtesy of News.Discovery.com

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Look No Further than Geeks.com for Your Gaming Gear

Looking for some new gaming gear? As always look no further than Geeks.com!

The CM Storm Inferno Gaming Mouse features a 4000 DPI twin laser sensor, 128kb of onboard Sentinel-X memory and the Storm Tactics Multiplayer key.

The CM Storm Inferno Gaming Mouse

What else makes this mouse a standout for gamers?

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Big Brother is Definitely Watching

The more connected and interconnected we are with our tech, our mobile devices, computers, Web usage and email, the more the government apparently wants to know about what we’re doing and saying with all this connectivity, who we’re talking to, when we’re talking and what we’re talking about..  It sounds like a scary conspiracy theory, but unfortunately more and more evidence is piling up detailing the far reaching eye of the government.

We’ve recently seen stories on CISPA and big data, and the government watching our Web browsing, as well as the state of internet surveillance overall.  But no recent “Big Brother” stories are as big as the stories that truly belong in the movies. Companies like Verizon have been forced to hand over phone records to the U.S. government under a top secret court order. We’ve also learned that the National Security Agency (NSA) and FBI have been pulling data on Americans from companies like Google and Facebook.

Image courtesy of Morguefile.com

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Geeks.com E3 2013 Wrap Up

Well, another E3 convention has come and gone. The Los Angeles Convention Center may not be as stinky as your friend's garage after an all weekend LAN party but we certainly saw some big time gaming going on, and there was some big time gaming news from this year's event.

You probably saw our preview earlier this week, mostly focusing on the big news coming out of Sony and Microsoft. Sony Previewed the PS4, and Microsoft previewed the Xbox One, and a redesigned Xbox 360. Both will be available in time for the holidays, don't worry!

Multi-monitor set up demoing "Battlefield 4".

Sony seems to be coming out the winner in the battle, with gamers appreciating the lower price, and fewer restrictions from Sony compared to Xbox. The PS4 won't require online check-ins, and will have no used game restrictions. Sony also showed up with its upgraded DualShock 4 controller, with a touchpad, light bar, and share button!

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It's E3 Time Again! An E3 Preview from Geeks.com

It’s that time of the year again where computer geeks and gamers alike rejoice at the wonders of E3! E3 is the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the yearly tradeshow where the computer and video game industries get together and showcase their upcoming games and game related merchandise. 
E3 is put on by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), and is an industry-only event. To attend, you need to have a professional connection to the computer or gaming industry. By the way, yes, Geeks.com will be attending. For now we’re taking a look at the E3 anticipation, what we’re expecting to see, and what you might expect to hear from E3 this year.
There have already been some happenings at E3. Some of the first big news bytes (get it?) have to do with the PS4 and the Xbox One. Both have high price tags, with the PS4 at $399 and the Xbox One at $499. The PS4 will feature Music Unlimited, Redbox Instant, and Flixter as bonuses in addition to the gaming mayhem. The Xbox One’s price does include a Kinect and Gamepad if that eases the pain on the wallet a bit.

The PS4, image courtesy of playstation.com

MicroSoft has also previewed a redesigned Xbox 360 with an estimated retail price of $199.99 for 4GB, $299.99 for 250GB and $299.99 for the 4GB Kinect bundle. Xbox Live Gold subscribers will soon be able to download two full games for free, including choices like Assassin's Creed 2 and Halo 3. Also announced were some new upcoming Xbox 360 games, including Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Batman: Arkham Origins, Grand Theft Auto V, and Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII.

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State of Internet Surveillance

As a modern society, we love convenience. We’re so integrated at this point, with data sharing, the Cloud, Google, Facebook, work networks, GPS and the like. But this integration and convenience come with a price. With all that we’re doing on the Internet, we’re leaving tracks.

Our service providers track what we’re doing, our social media tracks what we’re doing, our web browser tracks what we’re doing, our employer tracks what we’re doing, and the government tracks what we’re doing. Despite the fact that we are nearly 30 years passed the actual 1984, we’re perhaps light years passed what George Orwell really imagined in his novel “1984,” where he depicted a totalitarian utopian society that ruled everything and was run by “Big Brother.”

Nearly everything we do requires the use of computers, the Internet, or our smart devices. That usage produces data, the Gold that companies want. At a consumer oriented level, we can be sent email or served ads on items we’re likely to buy based on our past histories. At a more secretive level, the government can track what we do, what we watch, who we talk to and what we talk about.
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Is Your Computer Sick?

I don’t get sick too often, but when I do, my wife claims I act like it’s the end of the world. Our computers can get sick too, with viruses that replicate. Thus the clever name: virus! A computer virus is a program that executes and replicates itself on your computer. Some viruses aren’t that bad, others are very destructive, destroying files and data, or even stealing your data. Pesky viruses!

There are three main types of viruses. Boot sector viruses infect sections of your computer drive that are reading when your computer boots, or starts. File infectors attach themselves to executable (.exe) files and infect the files and your computer when the .exe file is opened. Macro viruses contain macros, or sets of instructions to do things like replace or delete files.

I know you’re thinking “what about worms and Trojan Horses?” Worms don’t attach to hosts, but are spread over computer networks. They are often spread as attachments to emails. Trojan Horses, on the other hoof, are programs with a hidden function you don’t know about, like executing a virus or viruses.
So how do we protect our computers? With anti-virus software, of course, and smart and careful computing! Hackers and virus writers are always creating new viruses, so ant-virus companies have to keep up on the threats, and keep their tools updated. At the most basic level, anti-virus programs detect issues and try to repair, delete, or quarantine them.

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Our Personal Tech is Getting Smaller

Our personal tech is getting smaller…and changing the way we live. Sensors, computing power and connectivity have become smaller and more affordable, helping to usher in this new era of wearable tech, much beyond our grandparent’s wearable tech—wrist watches. Clocks were the first tech to really get smaller, mobile, and wearable. Of course we have smart watches now too!

Pebble Smart Watches

We’re on the cusp of the wearable tech revolution for good or bad. A big player hitting a home run out of the park like Google or Microsoft will open the door for so many smaller companies on the horizon with their wearable tech gadgets.

Saturday Night Live just did a skit on Google Glass, emphasizing the inherent awkwardness in wearing a pair of glasses that brings smart phone capabilities into your field of vision. But, don’t we all get annoyed when we’re talking to someone who constantly is looking at their Smartphone? I know my wife does.

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ASUS Wants You to Switch to Windows 8

We’ve talked about Windows 7 versus Windows 8. Microsoft certainly wants you to switch over, but long time Geeks.com brand ASUS wants you to switch over too. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, ASUS CEO Jerry Shen said he and his company were "very optimistic about sales for Windows 8 tablets this year.” Shen went on to say that he expects to see prices on Windows 8 tablets to drop below $300 this year. This would make Windows 8 tablets competitive with the Kindle Fire, the powerhouse tablet with the pretty price tag.

Current Windows 8 tablets measure 10 inches or more in size. Microsoft is working to launch 7 inch tablets this year that run on Windows 8. This allows tablet makers like ASUS to be more competitive in pricing, and get those Windows 8 tablets down in a more affordable price range.

ASUS offers notebooks, tablets, desktops and much more

ASUS pushing Windows 8 tablets could help boost the popularity of the Windows 8 tablet, especially in that smaller factor and smaller price. Pricing is a considerable factor in the tablet wars, and up to now, Windows 8 tablets have failed to overtake more popular Google Android and Apple iOS tablets in the market. “The Wall Street Journal” cites stats from market-research firm IDC saying that Windows 8 tablets hold less than 4% of the tablet market in the first quarter of 2013, mostly due to pricing.

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Does the Government Want in on Your Web Browsing?

There’s been a lot of talk over the past few months about the government and your internet usage. CISPA, internet taxing, government monitoring, cyber security, privacy, piracy? What is it all? What’s been done? What could and should be done?

The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) was a proposed law in the United States which would have allowed for the sharing of Internet traffic information between the government and technology and manufacturing companies. The idea was to help the U.S government investigate cyber threats and ensure the security of networks against cyber attacks.

The bill passed the House of Representatives, though currently seems stalled in the Senate largely due to public outcry from civil liberty and privacy groups, and the threat of a veto from President Obama. Nonetheless, large technology, finance and telecommunications companies have thrown a lot of lobbying weight and money behind the bill.

Image courtesy of Morguefile.com

Experts say that the idea of CISPA is a good one. Protect us from cyber threats. But it’s the broad nature of CISPA that the same experts have issues with. The concern is that giving the government and big companies too much leeway will result in privacy issues.

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Gifts for Dads and Grads Class of 2013

Well, it’s that time of year again--summer is upon us. Father’s Day and graduations of all types are on the horizon, and it’s a big gift buying time. So what do Dads and grads need this summer? Look no further than Geeks.com!

Tablets are always a hot item, and a great gift. Bigger than a phone, more convenient than a laptop or desktop computer.  One of our current top sellers is the Apple iPad 64 GB WiFi + 3G Touchscreen Tablet. Yes, it’s first generation, but you’ll save some cash and get an iPad at a decent price.

Apple iPad 64 GB WiFi + 3G Touchscreen Tablet

Looking for an Android tablet? Check out our featured and affordable MID AW755 1.2GHz 4GB 7-inch Capacitive Touchscreen Tablet, with Google Android OS 4.0 preloaded. This tablet features an AllWinner A13 Cortex-A8 1.2 GHz processor and 1 GB RAM along with 4 GB of built-in storage.

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Tech Design of the Future

We’ve talked a lot lately about the tech of the future and integration—wearable and micro technology, 3D printing, smart TVs and integrated homes.  The future continues to arrive, but what’s still to come? What’s the tech and what are the designs that will change the future?

Under Armour is designing a touchscreen t-shirt which measures your athletic performance

CNN recently ran a piece on designs that will define the future, attempting to predict the shape of things to come.  The predictions run the gamut from manufacturing and wearable tech, to digital displays, to minimalist designs that stress function over form, to digital tattoos, and headphones that read minds. Key advances will be in wearable tech and 3D printing, with innovative designs blending technology, science and manufacturing.

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Check Out Geeks.com Top Rated Products

Looking for something good? Check out Geeks.com’s top rated products! The best products, reviewed by Geeks.com customers. You might find something useful, and a good deal too.
Let’s take a look at what’s hot! Trust customers like yourself who’ve come in and taken the time to comment on some of their favorite buys!
Looking to save some money and stop renting from the cable company? Check out the Motorola SB6121 SURFboard eXtreme DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem. Get speeds up to speeds up to 160 Mbps. In his review, Sam said “Got this to replace an aging ISP modem with connection issues. It was recommended by my ISP so I went with their advice and have to say this modem has been flawless since install, which was amazingly easy. Buy it and you can stop paying your ISP to rent their unit.” Easy to setup, fast, and reliable!

Motorola SB6121 SURFboard eXtreme DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem

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Big Data and the Cloud

We’ve talked about data storage before. My first computer had two 1 GB hard drives. At the time I thought it was more than I’d ever need. Of course, I filled up those hard drives. I was amazed when I got my first 1 GB thumb drive. Now I have several thumb drives, and a couple of them hold 8 GB.

Remember the days when data storage and transfer was an issue? When it used to be a hassle to move and store data? Now we’ve got the Cloud--the virtual storage of data, accessible, anywhere, any time. Tools like Dropbox help us integrate our data and storage solutions across multiple platforms like our PCs, laptops, tablets and even phones. Evernote and Google Docs allow us to access our notes and documents anywhere. I use multiple laptops for work and my PC and I’m constantly moving data back and forth using different tools like Dropbox and my thumb drives.

Courtesy of Dropbox.com

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Hey Kids! Learn to Write Code, It's the Future!

My first attempts at coding were with a tiny Radio Shack computer that hooked up to a cassette player and the TV. I think it took me hours to write the Basic program to get “Hello world!” to display on the screen. Years later I’d work in the world of web marketing and design and work with HTML, JavaScript and CGI every day. Well that’s nothing compared to what’s coming! Top leaders in the tech world are encouraging kids to start learning how to code now, for the future.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey all recently threw their considerable tech weigh and credibility into Code.org’s video “What Most Schools Don’t Teach.”  The clip stresses a growing worldwide shortage of coders, and that only 10% of American schools teach any kind of programming. Since Computer Science is the best paying college degree in the U.S., learning a little coding makes financial sense. But what’s it gonna cost YOU up front? In many cases, only time and effort!

Code.org is a “non-profit whose goal is to expose all students to computer programming. We believe that computer programming is a liberal art; it's something EVERY student in the world should be exposed to at some point in their childhood.”

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Windows 7 Versus Windows 8

What’s that old joke? Why does your PC crash? Because it has Windows? Kidding, kidding…KIND OF, but I do have to add that MS Word JUST locked up while starting this post. Hmm…well, despite the instability that your Mac and Linux friends would have you think is inherent to Windows, there have been some popular, and unpopular Windows versions. I mean, I’m still on XP on my PC! My Mom had to get a new computer and lamented the change to Windows 7!

But I don’t think any Windows version has gotten the bad rap that came along with Windows 8…OK, maybe Windows Vista, but that was a learning curve issue. Too much change, man! I’ve always thought Windows 8 was Microsoft’s attempt to start to start easing us into a touch world beyond our phones and tablets, in prep for the Microsoft touch home where everything in our home will be touchy, integrated, and Microsoft.

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State of Streaming Music

Record Store Day has recently come and passed—a day to designed to remind us to get out into local record stores and buy music. Every year I’m reminded of stores I loved and the records I bought, starting back in the early 80s. Those days are long gone, largely thanks to digital music, and especially thanks to the emergence and convenience of streaming music.

Lou’s Records, Encinitas, California

There are streaming music services of all types, each with their advantages and limitations. At their best, these sites give us access to huge libraries of music, and allow us to listen online, on our smart phones, on our tablets and even in our cars. More convenience and portability of music than ever before, and it’s only just begun. The world of streaming music is still relatively new, but there are a myriad of choices out there.
Online streaming is the fastest growing form of music listening, according to CNN, and other industry experts. The Recording Industry Association of America, has said that overall music sales continued to decline in 2012, but digital-music sales were up 14%, topping $4 billion.
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Amp Up Your Audio with Geeks.com

If you’re looking to upgrade your audio experience, look no further than Geeks.com and AMP (Antec) audio for stylish quality speakers, headphones, and Bluetooth wireless audio and accessories.

AMP, aka Antec, is a California based company with audio products sold in over 30 countries throughout the world. Antec is committed to providing “innovative and visually appealing quality PC components that give computer users higher performance and more flexibility.”

Let’s take a quick look at how Bluetooth audio works. Bluetooth is a technology that allows devices to communicate wirelessly over short distances. We’ve all seen or heard of it with our cell phone headsets, those delightful little devices people wear in their ears so they can talk all the time. Their phones are in close proximity and communicate with the earpiece via a Bluetooth connection.

AMP offers some great Bluetooth audio options with its Bluetooth speaker line. The AMP SP1 - GRN Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker & Speaker Phone is intended for music listening, movie watching, game playing, and of course, high quality phone audio. Speakers are available in green, white/pink, and black/red.

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Touching on Touch Screen Tech

Reach out and touch…screens! Touchscreen tech is so commonplace now, we take it for granted. Not that long ago we still had to pound, press and mouse away on our tech.

 Touchscreens are so common now, if I walk up to a screen somewhere and it’s NOT touch reactive, I’m disappointed. I have to press BUTTONS!?  Touchscreens are going to get even more and more prevalent in our lives, homes, and workplaces.

According to PC Magazine a touchscreen is, "a display screen that is sensitive to the touch of a finger or stylus. Widely used on ATM machines, retail point-of-sale terminals, car navigation systems, medical monitors and industrial control panels, the touchscreen became wildly popular on handhelds after Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007."

The Apple iPad, a touchscreen classic

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You Can Still DIY with Geeks.com!

Back in the early days of Geeks.com, our bread and butter was the do it yourself (DIY) geeks at home buying components and building their own systems. Times have changed—we now sell computers, laptops, tablets, hard drives, and much more.

But you can still DIY with Geeks.com. So if you’re the adventurous type, and want to DIY with Geeks.com, what are you going to need? One of the main reasons DIY geeks like to deal with and install their own components has always been to save money. Sure it’s a little more hassle and effort to swap out your own parts, and you do need some basic computer knowledge, but it’s affordable to put your own computer together. It’s also probably not as hard as you think it is.

Every monster needs a brain, right? “Young Frankenstein’s” brain was “Abby Normal.” Your computer’s brain is the processor. When looking at processors, look at clock speed and cores. Basically, the higher clock speed system can do things fast, and more cores means it can do more things at one time. For example, the Intel Core i5-3330 Socket 1155 quad-core processor features a 3.0 GHz clock speed and can accelerate up to 3.2 GHz under turbo mode.

Intel Core i5-3330 Socket 1155
quad-core processor

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Is it Time for Smart Watches?

Smart phones, smart cars, smart appliances…we’re surrounded by smart stuff. Several companies are taking the IQ boost to your wrist, and there are rumors that Samsung and Apple also want to make your watch smarter.
The Pebble smart watch features a cool look enhanced by and E-Paper display, helping to make it readable even in direct sunlight. The Pebble can integrate with Android and iOS, and displays email, texts, and call notifications. Customizable watch faces also make this one for those looking for a cool looking, and functional smart watch.

Pebble smart watch

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Go SSD with Geeks.com!

Remember that old computer you drove into the ground? Remember that grinding sound right before it died? Chances are that was the hard disc drive (HDD) taking a dive. That can be a nightmare of lost data, and a costly replacement. Generally that sound meant at least a new drive, or even a new computer or laptop.
My first desktop PC was a used one I bought from a friend. He told me it had two hard drives, both .5 GB, much more than I’d EVER need. Now I've got THUMB drives that can hold 8 GB!
There are two main types of drives in use now. HDDs, and Solid State Drives (SSD).

OCZ Technology Vector Series 256GB SATA/600 2.5-inch MLC Solid State Drive (SSD)

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Home Networking with Geeks.com

This time, we’re bringing you a home networking overview, with a little help from our friends at TRENDnet. So what really IS a home network? Let’s get a working vocabulary before we get into some of the fun you can have with your network.
You can have a wired network, or a wireless network. Most home networks are a combination of both.
A wired network is basically a network of devices, connected by…wires. The wires are usually connected via a router, basically a hub that directs the connections of your network. A network cable runs a signal to the router, and the router runs the signal via wire or wireless out to other devices on the network.

Most home networks are a combination

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3D Printing, The Printing of the Future

News stories on 3D printing are literally popping out at us everywhere.  “Printing” is perhaps not even the right label for 3D printing. We think of printing, and we think of ink on paper, and maybe how cool it is that we can now print via the Cloud from our smartphones. 3D printing is more like 3D creating. It’s a whole new ballgame. It’s more about creating an actual object from scratch and giving it reality. Perhaps something like a human bone, a prosthetic ear, an automobile design, or a form fitting dress on burlesque model Dita Von Teese.

Image credit OsteoFab, from 3D-Printed Skull Implant Ready for Operation

 
 
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A Futuristic Home is a Connected Home

Every year we see more and more tech that makes us more connected and mobile. We remember the days before smartphones, but could we live without them now? Could we live without our mobile tablets, our cloud connected devices, and all of our tech integration? What’s next? Well, the next big thing is the smart home.

Major brands are pushing major appliances with major advances. It’s already been over a year since Corning’s “Day made of glass” video promised an integrated smart home with interactive touch screen glass, and Google teased us with Google glass, the eyeglasses of the future everyone will want to wear. Apparently there are already fridges that tell you what groceries you need, and chat with the oven about what’s on the menu.

What Google glass feels like

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Building a Home Office with Geeks.com

Despite what Melissa Mayer, Yahoo CEO, seems to think of late, many modern companies allow employees to work from home at least part of the time. Some companies are even flexible enough to allow employees to work full time from home.

Working from home is not for everyone. It takes discipline and organization. You need to be able to stay focused with more distractions and temptations than you’ll find in a traditional workplace. But for the right job, and the right person, working from home can be the right choice. It can be a winning situation for the company as well. Teleworkers are often more productive, happier with their jobs, and have a better work life balance than full time in office workers.

I’ve had the dreaded long commute, sitting in traffic for more than an hour each way, wasting time, going into the office every day. There are constant office distractions too—meetings, interruptions by annoying co-workers, idle water cooler chit chat. But all in all, I’ve been very lucky to work mostly from home about the past 7 years, full-time and part-time.

Nothing says your office has to be tidy...or well lit!

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Build a Gaming Rig with Geeks.com

Whether you’re a seasoned gamer looking to upgrade your rig, or a newbie look to build something from scratch, Geeks.com has what you’ll need to build a nice gaming rig.

Why go with a PC rig over a console? Well, that depends on what you’re looking to do and how you game. Sure, consoles and games are more affordable than PC gaming rigs and many PC games, and it’s quicker and easier to get playing.

As with most conveniences, there are sacrifices…

Games look better on PCs and graphics can be stunning. You can upgrade a PC as you need to. There’s a wide range of PC games on the market, without console title limitations. PC games can be modded (modified to add cool features). PC games can now be downloaded and stored via the Cloud with service like Steam, saving space and money.

Plus there are plenty of free PC games out there for the playing.

If you don’t want to build your own gaming rig from components, but still want a great PC gaming experience, take a look at Cyberpower and get some all-in-one bang for your buck. Check out this Cyberpower Cadillac: the FTW 3011LQ - Core i5 3570K Quad-Core 3.4GHz Gaming PC. “FTW” means “for the win,” BTW, and this one is certainly a winner. On the lower end of the Cyberpower spectrum is the Gamer Ultra 3301 FX-8120 Octo-Core 3.1GHz Windows 8 Gaming PC, still an epic rig.

The FTW 3011LQ

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How Tech will Drive the Auto Industry

A little over a year ago, I bought a new car. It was the first new car I’d bought in about 11 years. I was thrilled to get a connector for my iPod, satellite radio, and the option to upgrade to a built-in Bluetooth speaker. Other cars I looked at had built in GPS, back up cameras and other goodies. I knew of these advances in auto tech, some of which are now standard, but they’re nothing compared to what’s coming down the road in auto technology.

Autos will have infotainment at their forefront. As with everything, our autos are going to become more connected with devices like our smart phones, and more app based. You’ll see improvements in touch screens, and cloud connected and Bluetooth enabled interfaces that will integrate with tools like Google Maps, Android apps, and stream music from subscription sites like Deezer,Tunein, and Spotify.

Companies like Mirrorlink and JVC have previewed headsets that work with certain smart phones like the iPhone, and Samsung Galaxy S III. You’ll be able to access music, navigation and phone functionality seamlessly.

Mirrorlink and JVC have previewed headsets that work with certain smart phones

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Do You Need a Pricey Tablet in an Affordable Tablet World?

Everyone's got tablets nowadays. I use social media, read books, and watch Netflix on my tablet. My kids play games and watch videos. Tablets changed our lives. Tablets made fun more portable, work more portable, connectivity more portable and life more portable. Smart phones got so pervasive in our lives, we decided we needed something just as portable and powerful, but a little bigger. Thanks to the iPad, the tablet was born! Then came the copycats!

Apple iPad 1st Generation from Geeks.com

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Samsung vs. Apple… Who is Winning the Mobile Wars?

Ahh...the classic battles...King Kong and Godzilla, Ali and Frazier, Samsung and Apple...what's it all mean? Who is winning?

Few would dispute that Apple changed the way we think of mobile with innovations like the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad. Sleek cool design, a fantastic mobile operating system. Even a cult of personality in Steve Jobs.

Image courtesy of Apple.com

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Job Hunting with Social Media - The New Way to Find a Job

About a year ago I was out of work, and looking for a job. Times were tough, and still are. Jobs were scarce. My Mom’s advice was to get the newspaper and start sending resumes out, and when I got an interview, make eye contact and give a firm handshake. Well, the eye contact and firm handshake may have helped, but in the end it wasn’t the newspaper that helped me get a job. I had a solid plan using social media that paid off, including a LinkedIn strategy, job search engines, an online portfolio and blog, and Facebook and Twitter.

LinkedIn is the hub of your job hunting social media presence.

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Office 2013, 365 or Open Source?

So the bad news is, you’ve gotta update that Office 2000. You’ve slid by for 13 years now. The good news is, you’ve got options! For the first time, Microsoft is allowing you to rent Office with its Office 365 option. You basically pay a monthly subscription fee to use something nice you might not be able to afford. Kind of like I do with my house.

Image courtesy of PC World.

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Crysis 3 on PC Shouldn't be a Crisis… But it Might Melt Some Wimpy PCs

Crysis 3 passed the 5 year old test. I showed my son the game trailers for Crysis 3, and soon after, took him to the park. When we got there he was blowing things up, shooting down helicopters, throwing bombs, and shooting explosive arrows. He wants the game. Mom will probably nix that though, as Moms have been cramping violent gaming for YEARS now. At least we’ve got the playground. For now. Apparently he needs to be 17 to play, as it’s rated “Mature.” They don’t know my kid. Crysis 3 was released on Feb 19th, on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC.

Crysis 3 from http://www.crysis.com/us/crysis-3/.

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Blackberry 10 - The Return of Blackberry?

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Remember back in the days before we all had smart phones? We used to hear about BlackBerries (or CrackBerries) when Paris Hilton’s would get hacked, or Lindsey Lohan would leave hers in some hotel bar while on a bender.

BlackBerry was hot and cool for a time…but did it really go away?

The new BlackBerry homepage.

If you walk around any large office, you’ll see iPhones and Android phones sitting on desks. I’d be willing to bet the majority of those are the personal phones of your co-workers. Surprisingly, you’ll still see a lot of Blackberries sitting around on office desks, for business use. I know some businessmen who have had the same Blackberry for years. Creatures of habit.

Rim, the creators of Blackberry, have been going through a bit of a transformation after losing market share for years to iPhone and Android. Oddly enough, after all these years, RIM has finally decided to call itself…Blackberry. A big part of Marketing 101 is brand recognition, right?

On top of the name change RIM, I mean Blackberry, is pushing a new operating system--Blackberry 10, and two new smartphones to compete with the iPhone and Android markets: the BlackBerry Z10 and Q10. The Z10 features a 4.2 inch touch screen Lindsey would love, and the Q10 features a traditional BlackBerry physical QWERTY keyboard even Paris could use. Each phone should be on the market by mid-March, on most major carriers, for around $200 with 2 year contracts.

The BlackBerry 10 OS is designed for the multi-taskers. The BlackBerry Hub is an interesting single screen feature that shows all of your notifications including email, all in one place. From the Hub you can use BlackBerry Messenger, tweet, and use Facebook and LinkedIn, without going to the respective apps. Other features include Flow, or swiping between multiple apps, and Peek, which lets you peek at your hub without leaving the current screen.

Blackberry OS 10 highlights.

BlackBerry Messenger can now do video calls, and if another user is on BlackBerry Messenger, you can share screens so you can view the other user’s screen. Another interesting feature surely to appeal to business users is BlackBerry Balance which allows you to create personal and business profiles, with different modes, and different sets of apps.

The BlackBerry World app store promises the availability of more than 70,000 apps. Facebook, Twitter and Angry Birds are included, so we should all be pretty well covered. But seriously, most major apps are available.

So, RIM, I mean BlackBerry…why did it take so long? Did you not see your market share slipping to Iphone and Android, like the rest of us did? Tech pundits like PC World are saying that the lag in actual availability of the new BlackBerry phones could end up killing BlackBerry 10, before it even gets out of the gate.

PC World also points out that the Mobile World Congress is in late February—the most important tradeshow for mobile announcements. These new BlackBerrys won’t be on the market before big guns like Samsung drop their own mobile announcement bombs. RIM, I mean Blackberry, may have opened the kimono a bit early to competitors who might try to steal BlackBerry’s thunder before it even strikes.

So, what do you think? Still a BlackBerry user, and stuck with ‘em? Will they be able to win you back, or is it just too little too late? I would imagine Lindsey and Paris are creatures of…habit…so maybe they’ll be back on the BlackBerry bus!

Is 2013 the Year for Samsung?

Read on Geeks.com

Bill Clinton! TVs! Flexible phones! Bright lights! Touch screens! Pretty pictures!

There were a lot of standout booths and announcements at CES 2013, but Samsung truly stood out, not only with the booths that ruled them all, but with an array of interesting products and announcements that ran the tech gamut as well. Samsung promised a “goal of creating new experiences for all, through its deep understanding of consumers’ lives and its relentless pursuit of discovery,” and to basically create new “more human” ways for people and devices to interact.

Samsung’s new products have a focus in the television, smart appliance, connected cameras, and mobile arenas.

Samsung Electronics booth.

Samsung Electronics booth

Samsung previewed a prototype phone with a flexible display. The flexible phone is made with super-thin plastic, and now glass, making it bendable. Samsung also previewed a curved phone. The only possible drawback was that, at least in the prototype, the processor was contained in a separate unit…still working out the details perhaps. The prototypes also ran on Windows 8, and not Android.

In the TV realm, Samsung offers a full line up of larger screen Ultra High Definition TV (UHD TV) TVs. Samsung introduced the F8000 LED TV, featuring a quad-core processor. With an ultra-thin profile, a quarter inch thick bezel and a half moon shaped Arc stand, the F8000 comes in sizes up to 75 inches. Samsung is the first TV brand to offer support for the new high compression video codec, HEVC. HEVC delivers double the video quality over the same bandwidth.

UHD TV

UHD TV

Samsung is making smarter TVs as well. Using their S-Recommendation with Voice Interaction technology, you can get more control over your TV viewing, and discover the content you’re interested in watching, or new content you might like. S-Recommendation can analyze a viewing history and the program schedule and create a personalized menu of content, for each viewer in your home. Coupled with the Voice Interaction features, you’ll be able to speak to your TV and ask for program suggestions or intelligently search for dialed in content.

Of course all this TV interactivity can sync to your Samsung phones and tablets! You’ll be able to organize is all with Samsung’s Smart Hub.

Smart Hub

Smart Hub

Samsung wants to not only connect your TV, but make your home more convenient and efficient as well. Samsung previewed Android connected and customizable refrigerators, larger capacity washing machines, and ranges and ovens with more features than ever, with other common household appliances integrated.

The Samsung T9000 refrigerator

Samsung allshare

Samsung has the photo buffs covered as well, improving their Smart Camera offerings. The NX300 offers exceptional image quality, speed, and control, and works with Samsung’s 2D/3D lens, the first such offering for a consumer camera. A Hybrid Auto Focus (AF) system offers improved image focus, even with continued shooting. The NX300 also features a tilt display, allowing images to be easily taken from any angle.

Samsung previewed new PCs at CES as well. The Series 7 Chronos promises a thinner and lighter form factor, accelerated performance, and a Full HD touch-point display, all in a sleek cool design. The Samsung Series 7 Ultra Notebook is ultra slim and light, with a full aluminum body, eight hour battery life, Full HD and touch screen, and runs on Windows 8.

Samsung also wants to help improve your personal and work device integration. Samsung launched its Samsung For Enterprise (SaFE) program, which will establish standards to help IT departments decide which mobile devices are safe to integrate at work. Of course, Samsung devices will weigh heavily on the list, starting with the SAFE branded Galaxy S III.

Samsung showcased its AllShare technology as well, allowing you to share across all of your devices, offering seamless connectivity amongst your Samsung devices.

Allshare

Samsung’s been working on a lot of this technology for years. In size, scope, and offerings, Samsung truly stood out at CES 2013? The future looks interesting at least for Samsung, even if they are still working the bugs out on some of the upcoming products!

What do you think? Ready for smarter appliances? MORE integration? What’s next?

Images courtesy of Samsung.com.