helping

CNET to the Rescue: Flip that phone

Josh is going to tell us how to get out of a mobile phone contract, what to do with an old phone, and how to connect an XBox to a PC with a crossover cable. Plus, road tests (iOS, a new iPad case, and yellow, sticky, gross keyboard cleaning goo) and your questions answered!

CNET to the Rescue: Reminders and to-do lists

This time, Rafe and Josh's favorite apps for keeping track of stuff. Also, we answer questions on Synergy, domain names, waking up snoozing Macs, calendar apps for Thunderbird, and more.

Thanks to Tales (from the chat room) for saving our bacon!

Grab big pics off Google Images the easy way

If you happen to frequent Google's Images search tool with the intention of grabbing the full-quality version of whatever image you're looking for, you've probably noticed Google makes you jump through some hoops to get there.

In fact, Microsoft and Yahoo do the same thing, but it's with good reason: to offer you the full version of the image without actually visiting the page removes the context of why it's there, and makes the search engines more of a content leech than a beneficial traffic director.

The good news, is that if you feel like … Read more

CNET to the Rescue: Androidpalooza

This week on CNET to the Rescue: it's all Android, all the time. Pretty much, anyway. Tons of questions from listeners on how to make Android work better, and if you should bother at all. Plus, the Mystery of the Silent Pre--solved!

CNET to the Rescue 1: Josh joins the fray (podcast)

Welcome to CNET to the Rescue, formerly known as Real Deal, in our new weekly slot, Wednesday at noon PT, with new host Josh Lowensohn. Everything about this podcast has changed, except our mission: to help dispel the fear, uncertainly, and doubt in tech, and help you get the most out of the tech products you own and use. This week: road test, and your questions answered. More or less.

What are all those camera modes for, anyway?

Editors' note: This story was originally published in Feburary 2010. Surprisingly little has changed since then, but enough that it merited an update to include video, 3D, and screenshots of cameras from manufacturers still in the business.

Everyone out there who leaves their camera set on full automatic, raise your hands.

Automatic is great while you're learning your camera, and I frequently recommend it to people who want to step up to a dSLR but are too intimidated by all the settings on the camera. But like any crutch, ultimately you're better off without it. Here's some guidance about all those other modes you could be shooting in.

If you're frequently unhappy with your photos shot in Auto, it's time to substitute some of the camera's decisions with your own. Auto can only guess that you're shooting sports, but you know. Why leave it to chance? Choosing from these modes is the way you provide important information to the camera to help it make better decisions. Yes, it'd be nice if the camera could just take perfect pictures without any thought on your part, but most technology simply isn't that smart yet.

I'll start with some basic terms, then move to the core shooting modes -- ones that have been around forever and that you really should try (if your camera has them) when you're ready to take control of your photography. If you're not ready for these, then jump below to Typical scene program modes and Less-common scene modes. … Read more

Real-time tracking of those who wander

It's said we exit this life the same way we enter--drooling and in need of diapers. It is, then, cruelly fitting that Medical Mobile Monitoring has recently developed a medical-alert tracking system that resembles a baby monitor.

The company's MobileHelp medical-alert system, launched in November, tracks users no matter how far they wander, as long as they are within range of an AT&T cellular network. It costs about $35 a month. The system also uses GPS satellite tracking, so you can literally watch the person you are monitoring online in real time:

When subscribers need help, they simply press their help button and are connected via two-way voice to a central monitoring station that is live 24/7/365. The technology from Medical Mobile Monitoring also allows family members to see an online map and location of their loved ones over the Internet and be notified via mobile phone and email when an emergency arises.

Aside from such a service being both inherently creepy and inherently useful, it is also a sign of the times. In October, we covered the release of a similar tracking system, called EmSeeQ, whose faceless black watch has the unfortunate effect of looking like something Batman or a secret agent would wear, thereby calling unnecessary attention to itself.

MobileHelp's waterproof pendant may be better, but still doesn't hit the mark.… Read more

CHM Converter

CHM Decoder takes the unpopular CHM file type, commonly used for Help files, and easily converts it to the more readable HTML. The program's simplicity is its biggest benefit, as it allows users of all skill levels to operate it.

The program's interface was simple for us to grasp; its major functions were divided into three tabs. Oddly, this program designed to convert Help files didn't contain one of its own. The three-step process was very intuitive, requiring us to locate the CHM file in question, select a destination for it, and simply convert it. We tested … Read more

Attractive education scheduler

School Calendar is an attractive program that allows users to track multiple school schedules. Although we liked its design, we had trouble getting a sense of who the program is made for and how it could be most effectively used.

At its heart, School Calendar is similar to many other scheduling applications we've seen, with a variety of different calendar views, the ability to schedule reminders, and so on. The program's interface is quite sleek and is reminiscent of Office 2007 products; our first impression was positive. Once we started exploring School Calendar, however, we got a little … Read more

Challenging puzzle game

RatMaster is a fun and challenging puzzle game in which users reconfigure mazes to allow their rat to reach the cheese at the end, all while avoiding snakes and other potential dangers. The simple premise and sometimes difficult puzzles make this game easy to get hooked on.

The program's graphics and interface didn't totally blow us away, but they are definitely above average. The music and sound effects were appropriate and added to the game's experience, but they can be turned off if desired. Game play is intuitive, and a Help file explains the basic rules of … Read more