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Review: Get your writing done with Yarny, a cloud-based, distraction-free writing environmentWriting a book, a research paper, or a script may seem intimidating when sitting in front of a blank word-processor window, trying to figure out where to start. Yarny is a cloud-based, distraction-free editor that can help writers stay organized and focused on their work.
Review: Foxit PhantomPDF 6 shines in the paperless officeFoxit Software's PhantomPDF (in both Standard and Business editions) make a good choice for basic office needs, but it suffers from an identity crisis once you get to the high-end features. Foxit's download page makes the bold claim that it is "Better than Adobe Reader and Acrobat," but a more accurate statement would be that it might be better, in very specific circumstances that may or may not apply to you.
Microsoft breeds more miceWindows 8 has changed the way we navigate the desktop, so it’s not surprising that Microsoft has a pair of new wireless mice designed specifically for Windows 8 (they’re also compatible with Windows 7 and the Mac OS X OS).
Review: Pilot a fighter spaceship and flying robot in Strike Suit Zero simFreeSpace 2 and other space combat classics kept the genre alive, albeit on the back burner, for years Then indie game studio Born Ready Games came along and decided to create a modern space combat simulator: Strike Suit Zero ($20).
Free Chrome extensions power up GmailGmail offers powerful customization options even if you don’t install a single browser extension. You can switch keyboard shortcuts on and off, modify individual shortcuts, enable experimental features, and more.
Review: FreeSpace 2 sim launches you into spaceEven great game franchises fall prey to mergers, acquisitions, and the vagaries of the game business. Such was the fate of FreeSpace 2, a space simulator originally released in 1999 to great critical acclaim, as part of the Descent and FreeSpace franchise. Due to business circumstances, it was the last in the series—but it can still be played today for the price of $10. and its source code, released in 2002, has been adopted by an active community of coders and modders.
Review: Microsoft Flight looks beautiful, might as well stay groundedMicrosoft Flight is the current incarnation of a long and illustrious franchise of games, dating back to 1977. Unlike SimCity, you can start playing Microsoft Flight for free: Simply download the game and embark on a series of missions planned to both teach you the basics of flight, and hook you into buying later missions and additional aircraft. Microsoft Flight is the last of its kind: Microsoft permanently stopped work on the game in July 2012, just a few short months after releasing it.
Review: Connectify Dispatch combines network adapters to increase speed and reliabilityBeyond the Hotspot software that comprises the bulk of their business, Connectify Inc. makes another utility for laptop enthusiasts: Dispatch.
Review: Mash your motor with Euro Truck Simulator 2I never thought a truck-driving simulator could be fun, but Euro Truck Simulator 2 proved me wrong. There is something soothing in watching the world go by from the high and mighty cockpit of a Volvo FH16 Globetrotter XL. If you are used to more traditional racing games, getting used to the way trucks handle in the game may take some time. They really do feel like trucks: Slow to accelerate, jarringly fast to brake thanks to air brakes, ungainly to maneuver, and immensely powerful.
Review: Read and write PDF files easily with Foxit Reader 6There's a lot to be said for software that just works. That isn't to say that Adobe Reader doesn't work, but it has a lot of baggage attached to it that Foxit Reader doesn't. As a result, Foxit is significantly smaller and faster.
Review: MarkdownPad makes composing Markdown even easier than usualHTML is the lingua franca of the Web. If you publish anything online, that's the format your text will end up in. But while easy for browsers to render, HTML isn't always easy (or fun) to compose. Some content management systems, like Wordpress, solve this problem by offering a WYSIWYG editor that lets you edit visually. For those who prefer the simplicity and ubiquity of plain text, Markdown is the way to go—and MarkdownPad Pro is a simple editor that lets you compose Markdown and view your results instantly.
Toshiba Kirabook review: The first Ultrabook with a higher-than-HD touchscreenToshiba's luxurious Kirabook is the first Windows laptop to feature a display rivaling Apple’s Retina technology. The Kirabook is also thinner and much lighter than Apple’s MacBook Pro, and it’s outfitted with a touchscreen. But although I wish I could report that Toshiba has crafted a masterpiece that fully justifies its $2000 price tag, this machine suffers from a couple of significant flaws.
Review: SafeWallet makes password storage pretty easyI love password managers. When they work well, they make browsing the Web easier, faster, and more secure. And SafeWallet does, indeed, work well. It's not perfect, but SafeWallet has become my new favorite password manager.
5 free remote desktop apps for Windows 8You're away from the office when you get that sinking feeling. Maybe that file you need is locked on your desk PC in London while you're visiting Shanghai. You don't need to sweat, thankfully. Remote desktop apps let you log on to your PC or tablet and access a faraway computer as if you were there in person. Here are 5 options for Windows 8 slates and PCs. Read on to find which app is the best fit for your business.
Review: Work with Gmail without even opening it with Checker PlusEmail notifications are like coffee: Some people can't stand them, while others are addicted (and, yes, even use them to wake up in the morning). If you're of the latter camp, you may like Checker Plus for Gmail. Like every other mail checker, it lets you know when new emails arrive... but that’s where other email checkers stop and Checker Plus is only just getting started.
Review: Disc Soft takes on virtual hard drives with Daemon Tools UltraDaemon Tools' disreputable younger days as a hacking tool seem a speck in the rearview mirror now. Arriving at what appears to be the new top of the pyramid for single users is the $45 Daemon Tools Ultra, but there's more, and less, here than meets the eye.
Review: Das Keyboard's Professional Model S Quiet is a mechancial keyboard that won't annoy your coworkersDas Keyboards promotes the sound of their peripheral more than anything—their tagline is "The Mechanical Keyboard That Clicks." Now they're going after the market that craves the sweet benefits of a mechanical keyboard but can't stand the constant commotion that comes with it. Meet the Professional Model S Quiet: The quietest mechanical keyboard around.
Review: Track and follow up emails with Right Inbox for GmailI have been using Gmail as my sole email client for years now, and I'm a big fan. But there's one key thing I need my email client to do that Gmail doesn't offer: Follow-ups. When I send an email, I often want to be reminded if the recipient hasn't replied within a few days, so I can resend my message or find out what happened. To me, this is absolutely crucial, which is why I was so happy to find Right Inbox for Gmail.
Review: Metro: Last Light is the most fun you'll have in post-apocalyptic RussiaFreeFormFollowing in the footsteps of 2010’s Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light improves upon the gameplay of its predecessor without destroying what made the series great in the first place: the setting. Last Light takes you back to the post-apocalyptic Russian wasteland, employing an excellent soundtrack and bleak, desolate imagery to deliver a first-person shooter with surprising pathos and one of the most genuine game narratives in recent memory.
Review: SynciOS takes over for iTunesI recently tried Wondershare's MobileGo for iOS, a handy tool for managing your iOS devices from your PC. MobileGo for iOS gives you a lot of freedom over your iOS device—something noticeably lacking when you use iTunes. I liked it a lot, but was admittedly turned off by its $40 price tag. That's why I'm so fond of SynciOS, an application that does a whole lot of what MobileGo can do, and does it for free.
Will Microsoft allow Xbox One game rentals? Even rental companies don't knowStill confused about Microsoft’s policy on Xbox One game rentals and used games? You’re not alone. Companies like Gamestop and Gamefly, whose businesses partially depend on used games, don’t have answers for you, either.
Buyers, sellers beware with internet classifiedsThe recent slaying of an Ontario man trying to sell a truck through an online ad is a tragic reminder that no situation is too commonplace to require common sense, experts said Tuesday.
BlackBerry Q10 to hit stores May 1BlackBerry says the keyboard version of its new smartphone will arrive in Canadian stores on May 1
