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"Call to Action” Buttons: Guidelines and Best Practices March 12, 2010
Call to action buttons on websites are often neglected. Designers sometimes don’t understand exactly what makes a good call to action button beyond being attractive and fitting into the overall design. But call to action buttons are too important to be designed without some kind of understanding of what makes them effective

The Three-Story Washing Machine March 12, 2010
So this was obvious: Place a few dividers into an otherwise normal front-loading washing machine, and separate your reds from your whites without washing a whole separate load.

How soon is now? Pre-order timing for iPad confirmed, 5:30am March 12, 2010
We asked Apple PR to help you plan your day tomorrow, and they responded:"Customers can pre-order online at apple.com at 5:30am Pacific time on Friday, March 12."There you have it. 5:30 am PT, 8:30 am ET, and for those of you who happen to have US credit cards & shipping addresses but are currently elsewhere here's the global clock!

How SeaWorld used social media to defuse a major crisis March 12, 2010
The recent killer whale attack at SeaWorld could have been the end of the theme park. It was that bad. But it appears by all accounts that SeaWorld will continue operating with relative normalcy. That is in large part due to its social media efforts.

Top 9 Classic Games on the iPhone March 12, 2010
Note: To keep things fair, the original versions of these games had to be at least five years old to be included.

DING! Round 2: Foursquare & Gowalla both update iPhone Apps March 12, 2010
In this corner, with a big head start, a huge user base, and tons of features, it's ... Foursquare! In this corner, with millions of dollars in funding and a great-looking new design ... Gowalla! The two have been going blow-for-blow in the location-based social gaming fight. Who Wins?

The Internet up for Nobel Peace Prize March 11, 2010
Thats right, The internet is among 237 individuals and organisations nominated for the prize, advocated by the Italian version of Wired magazine for advancing "dialogue, debate and consensus"

FCC Commissioner rips ISPs on broadband prices, competition March 11, 2010
The FCC's newest Democrat read the big ISPs the riot act on rising broadband prices and shrinking competition. Mignon Clyburn called the latest round of rate hikes a "red flag" for the Commission.

Top 26 richest internet entrepreneurs March 11, 2010
BBC lists the top 26 richest internet entrepreneurs according to the latest Forbes ranking, released this week.

2010 tech industry graveyard off to fast start March 11, 2010
Ongoing list of IT companies, technologies and ideas killed off or headed for the end of life (with maybe an occasional one that comes back to life). Microsoft, Google, Red Hat and others already contributing

The web is an endless stream of information - but finding the information you're interested in can be an exercise in frustration. You know it's out there, but where? The following guide is designed to help you dig that needle from beneath the haystack -- and help you find your way back to those sites you forgot to bookmark.


LCD technology has long evolved since its early days. I still remember like it was yesterday when we were ordering Sony G400 19" displays for the office, thus being top of the line CRT monitors from Sony electronics capable of a 1600x1200 resolution at 60 Hz. Sure, they were bulky, heavy but the picture quality was simply great. LCD monitors were starting to be more and more affordable around that time but paying 650$ for a 15" LCD screen was still not an option.


Remember the TV ad that went something like, "The worst thing you can do is start your car"? Every time you push your computer’s power button, something akin to starting your car takes place. In the case of the combustion engine, cold, thick oil sitting at the bottom of the drain pan can’t suddenly shoot into the engine block and properly lubricate all internal parts. The time lag when waiting for the pressure to build does increase wear in the cylinder walls.

The HyperX is Kingston’s top of the line high speed USB flash drive solution targeted towards the computer enthusiasts in order to give them the maximum muscle out of their flash storage. With read speeds of 30MB/sec and write speeds of up to 20MB/sec the HyperX will definitely make some noise around the high end users seeking for optimal transfers. The drive measures a mere 2.76 x 0.88 x 0.44 (70.0mm x 22.4mm x 11.3mm) and spots an attractive black rubber grip texture along a blue metallic finish.

An interesting trait on the 6000T is the ability to get real time traffic data. Magellan includes a FM TMC traffic receiver on this model along with a 3 months trial period. This option provides full traffic statistics along with construction and weather issues present on your destination route. If an incident is present on the direction, the system will automatically notify you and suggest an alternative solution.


Whether you currently own a D-Link or a different brand router, you would automatically notice D-Link’s fresh new look. It stands out from its competition and even from D-Link’s current line. It’s based on a white glossy finish surrounded by a black trim that wraps around the casing; giving you that unique and clean Apple touch.


You haven't fully experienced your driving and racing games until you've played them with Mad Catz new MC2 Racing Wheel. What's great and unique about this wheel is that you can now set your own level of sensitivity because we all know how every game varies. The first thing you'll come to love are the integrated LED lights on the dash which indicate just how fast you're going. You can cradle the wheel either on your lap or suck it down onto a flat surface. The pedal system is more advanced than other wheels.

Another key feature of the Brother HL-2070N model in comparison to the others in this quality range is built-in network print server.  By attaching this unit directly to the network hub or wireless network router, you can share access to the printer with everyone attached to your network.  This is especially convenient when you have many wireless network users enter your WIFI zone and need to print or simply looking for a way to save one more of your very valuable USB ports on your PC.

The Epson Stylus R320 boasts a remarkable 5760 dpi x 1440 dpi resolution in both color and black and white.  Based on the ink jet technology, this device will accept several media types with a maximum print size of 8.5 inches wide.  Notably, this device also allows for direct impressions onto printable CDs and DVDs.  It gives even the most basic graphic designer the ability to produce professional CD labels from the convenience of his or her desktop.

Ever wanted to know all about audio reproduction, but were afraid to ask? Do Watts and SPL sound like terms normal people would never use in public? You're in luck! The head audio geek at TargetPC, or Bill as I'm known to some, has decided to put fingers to the keyboard to demystify the wonderfully confusing world of sound. Why not follow along as I tackle a few difficult concepts and simplify manufacturer specifications that leave most of the world reaching for an air sickness bag.

Super Mario 64 DS has finally arrived. It always excites me to see what Nintendo has brewing for our legendary plumbers. This time around, Mario and his friends must venture out on a quest recover 150 Power Stars scattered across an ever-changing, beautifully landscaped environment filled with interactivity and tons of action.

I was starting to believe that the world of goofy games was over, but here comes Artoon with Blinx 2 Masters of Time & Space, with the Time Factory Team and the Tom Tom Gang to the rescue! Where else could you get seriously cool cats and clumsy pigs to get you pumped for a non-stop action type game that keeps you on your feet!

Gameloft has suddenly entered the mobile game market and is taking it by storm. Forget everything you know about mobile gaming and go download Might and Magic on your mobile. The graphics barrier has been torn down, the sound ceilings have been elevated and the game play limitations have disappeared. Might and Magic will set the bar for the future of mobile gaming and the people over at Gameloft have really put together something great.


It is rare that a game impresses me as much as this one did.  I was afraid that the fine people at Gameloft would not be able to compact such a highly addictive and comprehensive game into a mobile console.  I stand corrected.  Prince of Persia 2 – Warrior Within maintains its high standard of gaming entertainment despite having to sacrifice the detailed landscapes and impressive game play we've come to expect from the Prince of Persia series.

Say hello to the new WarioWare addition…Touched! And if ever a game's title was an indication of its overall game play, this would be it. Wario's back to make a ton of money by exploiting the poor citizens around him. He has come across a Nintendo DS and it profiting from the games his victims are making for it.


This time around, you'll be able to race as many new characters including Captain Falcon, the Black Shadow and of course Rick Wheeler, but you now have control over some nifty vehicle adjustments like calibration your top speed in conjunction with your acceleration. Tweak your vehicle to shave those extra seconds off your lap and you just might be the next champion of the known (and unknown) universe.


Mario Party 7 features an abundance of mini-games as well as intricate maps to follow. Each map contains an overall theme or goal that you must accomplish in order to visit another island along the way. In one instance, you will have to collect 100 coins before your opponents do. In another level, you will have to collect a total of 3 power stars before anyone else does.

I can't remember the last time I played such a unique game. Just when I thought I could not experience a new type of stylus mini-game, Feel the Magic proved me wrong. Have you ever pumped goldfish out of a human stomach before? Neither had I before this game came along. Feel the Magic takes the mini-game and throws it into a whole new level of interactivity. Firstly, they take advantage of both screens AND the microphone! Secondly, you can actually record your voice and integrate it into the background music! This game is quite innovative, but it has come to be expected from such a fine company like Sega. Once you finished the game, you unlock Hard Mode which allows you to play everything again at a more challenging pace.


Tron 2.0, although challenging to play, is quite representative of the 1982 sci-fi film. You play Jet Bradley, 20 years after the movie ended. You work in the same company as your father Alan. The story begins with Alan's mysterious disappearance so of course, you must be digitized and warped into the company's mainframe with two objectives: to investigate what has happened to Alan and yes, you guessed it, try to destroy a deadly virus being spread by fCon, a competing company.

DTS 5.1 Music discs are another interesting offering from DTS Entertainment, this time on standard compact discs. DTS 5.1 CDs are re-mixed into a 5.1 channel surround from the original masters to provide a more realistic music experience. Instead of the traditional 2 Channel Stereo mode provided from standard audio discs, DTS 5.1 discs enhances the audio and mixes it in the 5 main speakers and subwoofer resulting in a richer and more realistic sound experience.

A great improvement over the original RAZR is the KRZR’s built in 2 mega pixel camera and its 8x zoom. The quality of the camera is of course by far superior to the VGA solution on the original RAZR, however don’t expect to replace your digital camera any time soon. The lack of a flash on this product won’t let you create miracles. An interesting feature along the camera is the built in picture editor that let’s you play around the pictures. The camera supports as well up to 25 minutes per clip video recording at maximum CIF resolution.

A lot has happened since Macromedia released their famous Macromedia Studio MX 2004. Not only with their next-generation software but with certainly the biggest change of all was the acquisition of Macromedia by Adobe. I can't begin to imagine what these two powerhouse software developers are going to create next! I guess we'll have to wait a couple a months to see what new revolutionary applications they'll come up with.
For now, we'll take a look at the latest Studio release of Macromedia: Macromedia Studio 8.

It’s that time of the year again; the cold month of January, when we are all impatiently looking to escape our Montreal offices to fly down to the Sin City in order to get up to date with the latest technological innovations.

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