How To

Three apps for tracking hurricanes on Android

Hurricane season is open, and that means keeping track of whether these storms will reach your hometown. Following the local news can be cumbersome if you're on the go, so why not use your Android device to help out? Here are three Android apps that can keep you informed on severe weather conditions.

Hurricane HoundHurricane Hound is an app designed specifically for tracking storms. Each storm is labeled by name with several icons denoting the path the hurricane is predicted to take. These icons are colored and labeled based on the category rating the storm will be at … Read more

Hurricane-tracking apps for iOS

With Hurricane Irene making landfall in North Carolina, you're going to want up-to-the-minute information on the storm, especially if you live in the area or have relatives and friends who might be affected. Fortunately you can get an app for your iOS device that will give you all the latest information.

Note: Android users can find hurricane-tracking apps here.

There are several apps for iOS that let you track hurricanes around the globe. But the best hurricane-tracking apps give you up-to-the minute storm information, include radar and satellite images, and offer detailed push alerts for warnings and storm intensity changes. We found some very feature-rich apps for both iPhone and iPad and narrowed it down to one great app for each device.… Read more

Post to your blog from mobile devices

Who wouldn't want to blog for a living? Low pay, even lower esteem among your publishing peers, and the scorn of anonymous readers who aren't shy about telling you and the rest of the world what an idiot you are.

Yes, blogging is a career of the future, right up there with correctional officer and bankruptcy attorney.

Cynical? Moi? Actually, I've been blogging now for almost four years and I love it. Maybe somebody not named Arianna Huffington or Perez Hilton is making beaucoup dolares from a blog, but I haven't met that person. Still, money … Read more

How to prevent your Android tablet or smartphone screen from dimming

There's nothing worse than watching a movie on your tablet, only to have the screen dim every half hour. And no, I'm not referring to sleep mode, which would actually be worse...I guess. And I'm also not referring to the function of the ambient light sensor, which dims the screen when the ambient luminosity is at a high level.

I'm actually referring to the low power state induced either when the battery gets to a certain low life percentage (usually 15 percent) or when the tablet is idle for too long. Again, this doesn't refer to screen timeout, although KeepScreen will disable that as well.

OK, so apparently there are worse things than screen dimming, but if screen dimming is annoying you, I've got the remedy to stop it in its tracks!

1. First Go to the Android Market and download the app called KeepScreen by AxDroid.

2. Once downloaded, launch the app and tap Applications.

3. KeepScreen allows you to choose which of your Android apps it will function under, preventing the screen from dimming or the tablet from going into sleep mode while that app is running. Choose the appropriate apps and press Back.… Read more

Track earthquakes with Android devices

Have you ever felt something and asked yourself, "Was that an earthquake?" If you live in an area with known fault lines, you're probably already aware of the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) earthquake Web site, earthquake.usgs.gov. If you have an Android device, you can track earthquakes easily with a couple of simple apps.

There are a few earthquake apps for Android devices, but we like Earthquake Alert and Earthquake. They are both easy to read and pull their data straight from the USGS. You can even create alerts so you'll know right … Read more

Gadgets and computer gear: How to clean them

We all love our gadgets and computer gear, but how often do we actually take the time to clean them? Probably not often enough.

The cleaning tips below will not only make them look good, but will make them more sanitary and run better.

Computers and peripherals

Keyboard and mouse Computer keyboards can get pretty filthy from just normal use, not to mention from eating at our desks or working while we're sick. Studies have shown that keyboards have more bacteria than toilet seats--ick! It's a good idea to regularly clean and disinfect your keyboard and mouse, especially … Read more

Seven useful Galaxy Tab 10.1 tips

Now that you've purchased a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, you're probably exploring all the cool features this beautiful tablet has to offer. Here's a collection of tips to get you started:

How to switch keyboards on Galaxy Tab 10.1 Adjust your preferred keyboard for use on you Galaxy Tab. Also, check out Ed Rhee's guide to installing the Swype keyboard.

Clear the browser history on Galaxy Tab 10.1Prepare your Galaxy Tab to be viewed by and shared with your family and friends by erasing all traces of your personal browser usage.

Read Google Books offline on Galaxy Tab 10.1… Read more

5 great uses for an HP TouchPad

If you're one of the thousands who snapped up the HP TouchPad during its brief $99 liquidation sale (or one of the unfortunate hundreds that paid full price), I've got some good news and some bad news.

First, the bad news. If the tablet market were a horse race, you just bet on a steed that's been carted off to the glue factory. Abandon any expectations of software updates, or of exciting games and apps filtering their way into the WebOS store. What you see now is what you're stuck with.

The good news is that … Read more

How to control computers remotely with Android tablets

Tablets, with their large, beautiful displays, can make certain tasks easier to perform than on smartphones. Controlling a PC remotely is one such task.   The larger display on a tablet allows you to work on the remote desktop without having to constantly zoom in and out.   Here's how connect to a remote PC using your Android tablet:

Computer-side setup

Step 1: On the PC you want to control, download TeamViewer QuickSupport from TeamViewer.  The downloaded file is named TeamViewerQS_en.exe.  The program is a self-executable so it doesn't need to be installed.

Step 2: … Read more