desktops

A $299 high-end USB digital converter from England

Regular readers of this blog know we're living in the golden age of desktop audio. The speakers just keep getting better and better, and digital converters from the likes of Schiit Audio, AudioQuest, Hifiman, FiiO, and HRT have all made computers sound better than ever.

Now along comes the Meridian Explorer, a sleek, extruded aluminum converter with line- and headphone-level 3.5mm output jacks and a USB input. The line-level output internally bypasses the headphone amp and volume control. Meridian is best known for its ultra-high-end digital converters that sell for thousands of dollars -- the Explorer is their … Read more

8 Google Reader alternatives for your PC

It's no surprise to Google obsessives that the company announced yesterday that it will draw the curtains on its popular RSS-managing Reader service. So what are you supposed to do with your 60 bazillion feeds?

First off, you can export them using Google Takeout. That's an important step to take so you don't lose track of any of the sites you're following. It lets you download your feeds output, called OPML, as a ZIP. Then you extract it all to a folder, and upload them to your prefered Reader replacement service. But which one do you … Read more

Why Apple's secrecy is frustrating Mac Pro customers

It's not exactly a revelation to say Apple executives are fond of secrets. While that sense of mystery may work marketing magic with consumers, many Mac Pro customers in the professional world would very much appreciate it if Apple would cut it out with the cloak-and-dagger stuff.

At a starting price of $2,499, the Mac Pro is one of Apple's most expensive products. It's still the go-to workhorse for creative types who work in film, photography, print, and architectural jobs. But many of them are losing patience with Apple following a series of erratic product updates … Read more

Enhance your Mac PPC desktop with PicCube for Mac

If you're not too fond of your iTunes Visualizer you can now choose to display the artwork of your songs or any other photos while listening to your music in a fancier way. PicCube for Mac displays a rotating cube in front of your opened windows or in the background.

Available as free to try, this app will display six specific photos on the sides of its cube, or you can set up a folder with as many photos as you want. PicCube for Mac will sequentially show, in order or randomly, all the photos from that folder. If … Read more

Four months in, Windows 8 needs help

After four months of tepid Windows 8 PC sales, maybe it's time for Microsoft to make a few changes.

During a conversation I had this week with IDC analyst Bob O'Donnell, he volunteered the following statement, which sounded strangely like my experience.

There were certain decisions that Microsoft made that were in retrospect flawed. Notably not allowing people to boot into desktop mode and taking away the start button. Those two things have come up consistently. We've done some research and people miss that.

And there are a lot of people that as soon as they boot … Read more

The Micromega MyDac is an instant audiophile classic

Desktop digital-to-analog converters keep getting better and better, and the Micromega MyDac is a fine example of the breed. The 24-bit/192-kHz MyDac has three digital inputs: coaxial, optical, and USB, all selectable via the thumb wheel control on the front panel. The stereo RCA analog outputs can feed either your powered speakers or power amp. I was pleased to see the MyDac has a built-in power supply, so it doesn't use a wall wart. Micromega will soon release a matching headphone amp, which I hope to review here with the MyDac. Available in black or white finishes, its … Read more

Apple debuts new $1,099 21.5-inch iMac for schools

Avoiding all fanfare, Apple appears to have quietly unveiled a new version of its low-end iMac. This machine is for educational institutions only, which can snap it up for $1,099 saving $200 over the regular model.

It's unclear when Apple debuted the new iMac on its education institution Apple store, but according to MacRumors it appears to have been very recently. The tech news site says that the $1,099 version has replaced the earlier $999 iMac for educational institutions -- which was launched more than a year and a half ago.

The new iMac is 21.5-inches … Read more

Staples: Snag $400 by swapping old gadget for Windows 8 device

Staples in dangling a $400 trade-in deal to steer customers toward Windows 8 devices.

How does it work? The retailer's "Trade up to touch" Web page explains the process.

You first have to buy a Windows 8 touch device from Staples. It can be an all-in-one PC, a notebook, or a tablet, but it must be one of the qualifying items on the retailer's list. The list includes all-in-ones from Hewlett-Packard and Dell, laptops from Lenovo and Asus, and the various flavors of Microsoft's Surface RT and Pro tablets.

You then identify the device that … Read more

iMac ship times drop to one to three days

Consumers who order an iMac in the U.S. should now see it at their doorstep in just one to three business days.

Shipment times for both sizes of Apple's all-in-one desktop eased up on Saturday following a previous lengthy delay. On Friday, Apple's online store had been showing ship times of three to four weeks for the 27-inch edition and two to three weeks for the 21.5-inch model.

The iMac had been hit by supply constraints and production problems, but those issues have apparently been addressed. However, not all buyers will receive their iMacs so quickly.… Read more