John R Quain Archive

Great news for those who hate to park

Published June 05, 2013

Driving can be fun, but parking is decidedly not. The hunt for a space, the frustration of squeezing into spot when you do find one, a new ding in your car when you return. Those aggravations could be a thing of the past -- if the latest connected car technologies work out.

4 must-have gadgets for summer travelers

Published May 29, 2013

Now that summer has (unofficially) started -- along with the concomitant traffic -- it's time to make sure you have the right gadgets to ease your sunny sojourns. Here's four of the better electronic gimcracks I've been testing over the past few months.

Can the new Xbox One save gaming?

Published May 21, 2013

For years -- and I mean years -- consumer electronics and computer companies have been struggling to replace the panoply of boxes hanging off American televisions. Game consoles, DVD players, cable boxes, DVRs -- it's a mess. Can the Xbox One fix all that?

A guide for journalists to avoid government snooping

Published May 20, 2013

Revelations that the Department of Justice has been secretly spying on reporters should ring alarm bells for anyone concerned about their own privacy and freedom. Here's how journalists (and anyone) can keep prying marketers, hackers and the Feds out of their business.

Can you train your brain?

Published May 15, 2013

Online cognitive exercises -- or brain training -- are finding a particularly receptive audience these days. I've tried two of them, and found both to be engaging.

In tweets we trust ... or not

Published May 08, 2013

Will technology save us and save the economy or is it just spinning its wheels and contributing to stagnant wages and intellectual torpor?

Going global with your phone

Published May 01, 2013

Mobile phones have become an indispensable part of our lives. Mobile, being the operative word. So it's natural to want to take your phone with you on vacation, just be aware that if you're going out of the country you need to plan ahead, or it will cost you--dearly.

Here's why it's a great time to buy a new TV

Published April 30, 2013

Obsolescence may be the biggest fear shoppers face when considering a high-tech purchase. Perhaps the most difficult choice of all tech decisions: Is it the right time to buy a new TV? The answer: yes.

Do-it-yourself home security

Published April 16, 2013

Now that your taxes are done (they are, aren't they), you can start thinking about that summer vacation. And then start worrying about who's going to watch your home while you're away.

A growing array of high-tech options lets you do it yourself. Log in online and you can get live video feeds from all over your home, text alerts when anything moves, and even adjust the thermostat that you forgot to program before you left.

The end of smartphone thefts

Published April 10, 2013

While there's still no foolproof way to protect your phone (or you) from a mugging, there is a growing trend toward better solutions that one day may mean the end of smartphone thefts.