Category: Editor's Picks

Share Look, we've said it before, but it can't hurt to be clear: We are all nerds. Everyone at Switched, our friends, our parents, and the musicians we love. Because, to us anyway, being a nerd means looking up and imagining something active and wonderful outside of our little cubicle-walled existences. Be it 'Star Wars' or Sun Ra, a healthy imagination, for the most part, is the realm of ...

It's a happy coincidence that Twitter's 140-character limit happens to be the perfect format for dishing one-liners, wry observations, and, of course, those always satisfying X-rated tirades. Thus, it's an ideal way for comedians to try out new material and broaden their fan bases, and a never-ending source of free content for comedy fans -- a win-win for everyone. To share the wealth with our ...

Share Facebook has become an indispensable part of daily life for many people. They use it to keep in touch with friends and family, to play games, and to track down old flames. So, it's only natural that folks would panic at the thought of having to pay for what has been a free service. And, of course, there are plenty of e-con men willing to exploit that fear for profit. The 'We Will Not ...

Share Buying a new computer is always a daunting task. There are tons of variables to consider, including whether or not you're ready to join (or ditch) the cult of Mac. Laptop or desktop? How much RAM? And what processor will you need to power your new rig? As usual, Switched is here to help you navigate the labyrinth of options, and lead you on your path to the best PC for your needs. ...

The Web is teeming with the unrealized ideas of both students and established designers who set out to produce astonishing renderings and prototypes for unusual products. Unfortunately, due to the lack of time, money, or technology, many of those products never progress from the planning stages to the mass market. But that doesn't mean we can't salivate over them, nevertheless. In honor of ...

Share A yearly expression of love. The Hallmark holiday. An easy excuse to munch chocolates and watch 'Mermaids.' Whatever Valentine's Day is for you, it certainly is coming up. We, for one, look at the day of hearts and cupids as another excuse to put together a world-famous gift guide for the geeky, a frugal but festive selection of booty that is guaranteed to get your some. From bling ...

A reader writes: I travel a lot for work and the wimpy iPod earphones just don't hack it against the whine of airplane engines and, worse, seatmates. I'm looking for a reliable, comfortable, easily portable pair of noise-canceling headphones that won't break the bank. I don't have time to research them all, so just tell me what to get! Dear Reader: Like DVRs, iPhones and Slingboxes, ...

digg_url ='http://www.switched.com/2010/02/01/how-many-facebook-friends-do-we-have-for-real/'; A few weeks ago, we reported on a study re-released by Robin Dunbar of Oxford University, wherein he retested his theory that the size of the human brain's neocortex can only comprehend social circles of 150 before cohesion gives out. In the 1990s, this number of '150' was known as 'Dunbar's number,' ...

Share Part of being a good user and consumer is understanding how technology works, why we use it the way we do, and what the barrage of acronyms and PR jargon means. We're here to help you make sense of it all and give you a better appreciation for how that pile of transistors, pixels, and antennas works together to deliver the conveniences of the modern world to your living room or office. ...

A reader writes: "Well, it has finally happened: My (un)trusty warhorse Linksys WRT54G finally gave up the ghost and I'm in the market for a new wireless router. The thing is, I use a ton of differing Wi-Fi devices – an old Win XP laptop with a B card, a desktop PC with G, a new Mac laptop with N, an Xbox 360, an iPhone, whatever it is the neighbors are using to leach off of me – ...

digg_url ='http://www.switched.com/2010/01/19/music-is-the-future-22-of-the-greatest-high-tech-vids/'; Musicians imagine themselves vanguards, leaders of the path forward. Their music can light the way into the future, bringing revelations that will allow humankind to be elevated to the next level of evolution. Either that, or they just like wearing spacesuits and silver eyeliner. ...

If you paid any attention to the news coming out of this year's CES, you heard about, and possibly already condemned, the multitude of 3-D televisions to be released in the coming year. Instead of playing blackjack or pigging out at the buffet, we spent our days in Vegas running from one end of the Convention Center to the other, only stopping to don funny glasses and dodge flying cartoons. ...

A reader writes: I drive a couple hours for my work commute and am looking for a way of hooking up my new iPod touch to my car stereo, which is an old tape deck but puts out great sound. I want something that can put out good audio quality, will keep my iPod charged, and hopefully not create too much clutter. A visit to Best Buy was an exercise in frustration, and if I have to hear another day ...

Since long before Switched was even a twinkle in the Internet's eye, we've been making the annual January pilgrimage to Sin City to pay homage to the tech gods. And every year -- sometimes days, sometimes weeks, or sometimes months after the fact -- we realize that we done got played. We inevitably find that, at some point, amid the hustle and bustle, the lights and music and product pitches, ...

English singer-songwriter David Gray sat down with us to talk tech. Though he's made the giant leap into modernity by using an iPhone, he's only recently started downloading music. Sometimes the uninitiated often have the clearest perspectives, and all the downloading led to an epiphany: "you can get any piece of music, any time, anywhere." He goes on to rail a bit on the music industry's failed ...