TechLore - Gadgets, Toys and Clothing

Tips for Getting Started with Your New Netbook Computer

Peter Redmer — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:21:02 GMT

Ok, so you just got a new netbook either as a gift from someone or from you to yourself - now what do you do with it? Here are some helpful tips to get started with your new netbook, optimize performance, and even some ideas on alternative OS's you can use.

Review of the Mintpass Mintpad MID / PDA / MP3 Player

Peter Redmer — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:50:12 GMT

Ah, the Post-It note... a mainstay of organizers everywhere. Sitting atop your desk merely waiting to be peeled and stuck, the iconic yellow squares (or tabs, or rectangles) have been around seemingly forever, and to date, haven't met with an adequate electronic replacement. Computer desktop "stickies" don't really seem to emulate the feeling of jotting down a quick note. It's for this reason that the beguiling Mintpass Mintpad called my name, begging my compulsively organized self to give it a try. What is the Mintpad? With its cute name and arguably cuter exterior, the Mintpad is certainly a chic little device. About the size of, you guessed it, a Post-It, the Mintpad is simple and elegant. It feels solidly built and it's apparent that it is a quality device even before you turn it on. Indeed, the masterminds behind the Mintpad are former iRiver employees (reportedly) so this isn't surprising. At its core, the Mintpad is a "MID," or Mobile Internet Device. It's not really big enough to technically be an MID, but it's a lot more than an MP3 player and has a wireless connection and browser, so most people choose to refer to it as one. You could...

How Do I Make Any Song Into an iPhone Ringtone?

Peter Redmer — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:00:27 GMT

Question: I'm searching in vain through my iTunes to find a way to make my favorite songs into ringtones for my iPhone. I can't seem to find it. How do I do this? Answer: Well, unfortunately for hundreds of thousands of iPhone owners who want custom ringtones, Apple doesn't make this easy for you. Of course, you could always buy ringtones from the iTunes Music Store, but what if they don't have your favorite song available? What if you want to use something completely different, like a video game sound effect or a recording of your kid playing the drums or something? There are a few ways to do this - a sneaky (and lengthy) "manual" way, or you can use a third party program to make it easy. The Manual Way 1. Go to your Preferences Menu in iTunes and select the "General" tab. See the "Import Settings" button in the picture above? Click that and select "AAC Encoder" as your default method and confirm. You can change it back later if you like. 2. Locate the song you want to convert into your fabulous new ringtone. You'll need to listen to it and figure out which section of...

Jolicloud Review and First Impressions

Peter Redmer — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:09:20 GMT

Is Jolicloud the new netbook OS of choice?

Mintpass Mintpad: Internet Tablet Done Right?

Peter Redmer — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:06:26 GMT

Back in the day, a mobile device that could browse the Internet was incredible, expensive, hard to find, and often cumbersome. I remember how absolutely cool it was to browse the mobile web from my Sprint PCS Vision phone, although it was only black-and-white text, of course. Before the advent of the iPhone, the Palm Pre, the BlackBerry Storm, HTC Mogul, T-Mobile G1, and other phones fully capable of browsing the Internet gracefully - the Internet tablet attempted to bridge the gap. I always wanted an Internet tablet, but they were far too expensive and limited to make it worth it, and besides, only a few years later I was able to browse the web reasonably well on my PocketPC with a tethered Bluetooth connection. My phone didn't have a decent browser or PDA capabilities, but my PDA did. Now, though, I've caught wind of a brand new device that is now available in Korea - the Mintpass Mintpad, and I really want one. I don't need one, I want one. Why? Because it's relatively inexpensive and it looks like a LOT of fun to use. This nifty little gadget is compact and features a bright 2.8" touchscreen. They seem...

Apple Announcements Galore - iMac, Minis, and More Get A Facelift

Peter Redmer — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:54:26 GMT

This recent round of facelifts to the fruit-puters is quite welcome, and introduces some great upgrades to Apple's product lines. Learn what's new...

Review of the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 - Netbook Heaven

Peter Redmer — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:37:47 GMT

What is the deal with tiny computers? Here's why the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 is so popular... and fun to use, too.

From Acer's Aspire One to the MSI Wind... A Netbook Buyer's Guide

Peter Redmer — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:47:40 GMT

Packed with power and light on the wallet, netbooks are a hot gift this year - see the specs of some of the most popular models.