Open vs. closed software platforms

Windows is a rare breed: an open software platform that has seen a great deal of success. Open platforms are what people tend to think of when they think of software platforms in general because they are more accessible. If I’m thinking about a software platform not as a consumer but as a development platform, I’m probably going to think of something I myself would have easy access to develop on....

Firefox extensions for heavy surfers

This could easily be mistaken for hyperbole, but that would in fact be a mistake: Firefox completely changed the experience I have on the world wide web. It is easily extensible and allows a level of customization that few other applications in general (let alone web browsers) can touch. This enables users to craft a web experience that is highly customized to the interests and habits of that user. The browser can,...

Recession relief: Getting geek on the cheap

As an Internet user, you should know you never have to pay retail for almost any gadget you might want. Internet retailers can sell much cheaper and they discount much more aggressively than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. Here are some of my favorite sites for getting great deals on geek sustenance—games and gadgets. Games Cheapassgamer.com- Maybe you want to save $5 or $10 on a game that’s launching...

Video: Easy Digital Music Recording

  Colin Campbell is my brother, and, more importantly for the purposes of this video, he is a singer/songwriter who records music digitally and distributes it online. He uses a very cheap and simple method. If you want studio-quality recording, this isn’t for you. If you want to continue to gain exposure while you finance your studio gear, or if you simply want to be heard regardless of how it sounds,...

Does Netflix need a desktop client?

ReadWriteWeb has unearthed an interesting AIR app. Queued is a multi-platform application that manages your Netflix queue. I have played with the app a bit to do some queue changes. It’s actually a great app. The interface is undeniably beautiful. In addition to providing queue management functionality, the app also has a few tricks up its sleeve that allow you to find new movies with lists of the top rentals,...