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Instagram comments and I have a love-hate relationship. On one hand, I love comments because they lead to some funny conversations and feedback regarding photos. On the other, I hate them because hardly anyone who uses Instagram realizes that in order to get alerted of a new comment on a photo other than your own, you have to be mentioned in the comment.

With a subtle tweak in the latest version of Instagram, on the iPhone at least, you can now quickly mention a username in a comment and ensure that they will see your comment or reply. (The Android … Read more

As regular Cheapskate readers know, flash-drive prices have plummeted in recent months. But hard-drive prices? They've been very slow to return to where they were a year ago.

Consequently, I'm liking this deal from Staples: the Seagate GoFlex Desk 1.5-terabyte USB hard drive for $79.99 shipped (plus sales tax in most states). Note that you may have to choose the drive from the drop-down menu on the right side of the product page.

Though it looks fairly sizable in the photos, the black, monolithic GoFlex stands a mere 6.2 inches tall and measures 1.7 … Read more

The first auto clicker appeared not long after the first mouse, and since then they've evolved alongside mice. Some auto clickers have stayed simple, though. Like primitive but successful organisms that have found their niche, the most basic form of auto clicker lives on, emulating mouse clicks on demand. Auto Clicker by Shocker is as good a specimen as any. This simple freeware can simulate single or double clicks by your left, middle, or right mouse buttons at intervals you select, including pauses, freezing the cursor, and stopping automatically after a predetermined number of clicks. You can also set … Read more

The latest evidence that Apple is ready to abandon its iconic dock connector in favor of a smaller solution comes in the form of a reference to a 9-pin connector in the code for iOS 6 beta.

The code string was uncovered by 9to5Mac and directly conflicts with several other reports of the possible size of a smaller dock connector. Reports of the number of pins in the new dock connector have ranged from as few as 8 to as many as 19 (or simply retaining the 30 it currently sports).

Important to keep in mind is the fact that … Read more

If Apple does, in fact, have a new plug in the bottom of its next iPhone, car kits, and other third-party accessories won't be left in the dust thanks to an adapter, according to a new report.

Citing the same sources that gave it the hint about a smaller, pill-shaped adapter earlier this year, iMore says Apple will have an adapter ready to go with the launch its next iPhone that lets the new plug work with the existing 30-pin accessories.

As iMore points out, Apple offered a similar adapter with the introduction of its newer MagSafe power technology … Read more

Comic-Con is filled with memorable moments, but nothing could prepare The 404 guys going face to face with The Hoff himself, legendary pop culture icon David Hasselhoff.

Hasselhoff was at Mattel's Comic-Con booth to help promote the Hot Wheels 30th Anniversary Limited Edition K.I.T.T. car, which was being sold exclusively at the show. After getting to sit in Michael Knight's magic ride ourselves, we asked The Hoff a few questions about the timeless "Knight Rider" franchise. Just as expected, we got some eye-opening answers.

But before we got to speak with David, we … Read more

The number of waterproof rugged cameras has exploded over the past few years. The segment was basically owned by Pentax and Olympus, but now all of the major compact camera manufacturers have a rugged model, if not two or three.

The upside to that is there is something for just about everyone at various price points, starting at just more than $100. The more money you spend, the tougher the camera, though, so make sure you get something that meets your needs.

And if you're more interested in shooting video than photos, check out the two minicamcorders that follow the camera list. … Read more

We never know what to expect when reviewing Internet TV programs. Sometimes they provide access to a stunning amount of programming from around the world, and other times they are cluttered with channels that never load and end up being a colossal waste of time. Unfortunately, ChrisTV Online Free Edition falls into the latter category. Although it presents a wide array of channels from many different countries, most of them didn't work for us.

The program's installation process asked us for some personal information, including who owns the computer, how many people live in the household, how many … Read more

As a freelance writer, I need all the help I can get to stay on target. I don't have a boss who might suddenly appear, looming over my shoulder, wondering why I'm on Facebook. I don't have co-workers who are depending on me to finish my part of a larger project. It's just me and the Internet, with deadlines to hit and monthly quotas to fill.

I began using the Pomodoro Technique, which has you working for 20- or 25-minute blocks and then taking a 5- or 10-minute break. It has helped me stay focused for … Read more