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Google announces ‘Google Shopping Express’, provides “low cost” same-day shipping of goods bought online

Ashraf March 29, 2013 4

google_shopping_express

There are three big reasons physical stores are still in business despite the onslaught of online shopping websites: some things you just can’t buy online, some people like to “touch” products before buying them, and shipping of goods bought online typically takes three or more days unless you pay for [...]

Mozilla wants to bring console games to the web, ports Unreal 3 engine to web browsers

Ashraf March 29, 2013 0

2013-03-29_212856

We all know Mozilla loves the Internet. Not only do they develop a web browser, Firefox, but they have been working on an HTML5-only mobile operating system, Firefox OS. So you shouldn’t be surprised when I tell you Mozilla isn’t stopping now. In fact, their latest endeavor may be more [...]

Windows RT is being killed by Microsoft, will be merged into Windows Blue [Rumor]

Ashraf March 29, 2013 6

windows_logo_2

Hot on the heels of a recent Windows Blue rumor comes another rumor: the impending death of Windows RT.

As I’m sure most of you know by now, Windows RT is the tablet-specific version of Windows 8 that runs on ARM processors and can only run Windows RT-specific apps from [...]

How to forward emails and reply-all in Outlook.com (the new Hotmail) [Guide]

Ashraf March 29, 2013 19

We have a very popular post on Outlook.com in which dotTechies have been expressing their rage about Microsoft forcing users to move from Hotmail to Outlook.com. While reading the comments, I learned some people are confused about how to forward an email in Outlook.com and how to reply-all in Outlook.com. [...]

150-foot deep ice canyon in Greenland [Amazing Photo of the Day]

Ashraf March 29, 2013 4

Did you know Greenland is more ice than Iceland and Iceland is more green than Greenland?

International Space Station [Wallpaper]

Ashraf March 29, 2013 1

Artistic rendition of the International Space Station

The pros and cons of the Internet [Comic]

Ashraf March 28, 2013 2

Not particularly funny, but is a fairly accurate comic.

How Gmail works [Video]

Ashraf March 28, 2013 3

Short video by Google and accompanying website explain how Gmail works.

This is a hilarious targeted advertisement [Image]

Ashraf March 28, 2013 4

Targeted ads are typically considered undesirable. But sometimes they can provide a good laugh.

Microsoft admits they are working on Windows Blue, new rumor says Windows Blue will be made public in June

Ashraf March 28, 2013 8

windows_logo

Rumor after rumor after rumor after rumor have been circulating the ‘net, speculating about the next version of Windows which has come to be known as ‘Windows Blue’. Now it looks like at least some of the rumors were accurate because Microsoft has publicly acknowledged the codename.

In an official [...]

Google announces ‘Open Patent Non-Assertion Pledge’, promises not to sue users and developers of open-source software unless sued first

Ashraf March 28, 2013 1

user_interface

In the midst of ongoing legal battles in the tech industry, there has arisen what some may consider to be a beacon of hope: ‘Open Patent Non-Assertion Pledge’. Open Patent Non-Assertion Pledge (OPN) is an initiative recently announced by Google that has Google promising “we pledge not to sue any [...]

Why I switched from Avast to Avira: better computer performance and speed [Opinion]

Ashraf March 28, 2013 99

speed

The first ever anti-virus/anti-malware program I used was Kaspersky, a 1-year 3-user license I purchased from Wal-Mart for $60. Soon after, I discovered something I never could fathom before: free anti-virus/anti-malware programs, specifically Avira, Avast, and AVG. So I ditched paid anti-virus for free ones. I originally started with Avira, [...]

Sky on fire [Wallpaper]

Ashraf March 27, 2013 5

I wish I was this good at photography.

Stunning photo of Aurora Australis on Earth, as seen from space [Amazing Photo of the Day]

Ashraf March 27, 2013 3

Nature never ceases to amaze me.

Getting motivated by the Internet [Comic]

Ashraf March 27, 2013 3

How many times have you read something motivational on the Internet only to forget it soon after?

Does this mean I’m a procrastinator? [Image]

Ashraf March 27, 2013 2

The signs speak for themselves.

Google vs Bing for “how to commit suicide” search queries [Image]

Ashraf March 27, 2013 2

If you are depressed, do not go to Bing.

Congress has restricted US government from purchasing Chinese tech, due to “cyber-espionage or sabotage risks”

Ashraf March 27, 2013 5

chinese_flag

For better or for worse, Chinese technology companies have been having a hard time making inroads in North America. While lack of innovation can be cited for their failure in the consumer market, fear of Chinese cyber-espionage can be blamed for their inability to enter the commercial and governmental markets. [...]

Is that water on fire?! [Amazing Photo of the Day]

Ashraf March 27, 2013 2

Stunning photo you don’t want to miss.

Should you really watch that TV show your friend recommended? [Infographic]

Ashraf March 27, 2013 0

Friends always recommend shows to watch. But do you really want to watch it? This infographic helps you decide.

Samsung copies Apple iWatch [Comic]

Ashraf March 27, 2013 0

Apple iWatch inspires Samsung SWatch Note

iPhone has more vulnerabilities than Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry smartphones [Study]

Ashraf March 27, 2013 5

vulnerability_graph

In their ’25 Years of Vulnerabilities’ study, SourceFire — a firm that focuses on providing network security solutions to companies — has revealed iPhone has 81% of all smartphone operating system vulnerabilities, followed by Android (9%), Windows Mobile/Phone (5%), and BlackBerry (4%). SourceFire based its conclusions upon data gathered by [...]

Google forces Sweden to remove ‘ungoogleable’ from list of new Swedish words

Ashraf March 27, 2013 7

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Every year the Language Council of Sweden publishes a list of top ten new words popularly used in Sweden. The latest list, published December 2012, included the word ‘ungoogleable’ (‘ogooglebar’ in Swedish), meaning something that cannot be found via a search engine. Google, apparently, doesn’t like the word and has [...]

What would you do if someone smashed your new smartphone? [Video]

Ashraf March 26, 2013 2

New iPhone = smashed iPhone = angry ex-iPhone owner

[Windows] Find and delete dead or duplicate bookmarks/favorites with AM-DeadLink

Ashraf March 26, 2013 22

2013-03-25_190442 Bookmarks (or favorites, as they are known in Internet Explorer) are very useful in helping keep track of websites we want to revisit in the future, for one reason or another. The issue with bookmarks is often people have so many bookmarks, it is hard to manage them all. So [...]

Tree loggers somehow managed to cut trees in the shape of a tree [Amazing Photo of the Day]

Ashraf March 25, 2013 3

Anyone else see the irony here?

Watch this guy solve three Rubik’s Cubes… while juggling [Video]

Ashraf March 25, 2013 3

Do you think you are talented, eh? This guy may make you think again.

Six classic nightmares, tech style [Comic]

Ashraf March 25, 2013 3

Tech versions of common nightmares people have.

Life before computers and the Internet [Image]

Ashraf March 25, 2013 3

Before computers came around, life was different.

Amazon is selling used… toilet paper [Image]

Ashraf March 25, 2013 7

Erm. Are there any words to describe this situation?

Airplane restaurant [Amazing Photo of the Day]

Ashraf March 25, 2013 3

A restaurant on an airplane. Sort of.

[Windows] How to uninstall, remove, or delete VirtualBox drivers (Bridged Networking driver, Host-Only Network Adapter driver, etc.)

Ashraf March 24, 2013 7

virtualbox_logo VirtualBox is an awesome virtual machine you can use to virtually install different operating system. However, the drivers associated with VirtualBox can be a pain in the @$$. Sometimes they don’t work properly and need to be reinstalled; sometimes you want to remove them but they don’t uninstall properly; whatever. [...]

AVG Secure Search Security Toolbar is malware, avoid it more than the plague

Ashraf March 24, 2013 85

I’ve been reviewing software since dotTech was born back in October 2008. By now, over four years on, I have become very good at avoiding crapware that comes bundled with many programs, notably toolbars; I can only remember one time in the past few years when I have accidentally installed [...]