Stories by Edward N. Albro

Windows 8 Metro UI: 7 things you may just hate

As everybody knows, the most striking thing about Windows 8 is its Metro interface - those brightly colored tiles that serve as both shortcuts to programs and live widgets reporting data from those programs.

Windows 8 survey: Half who have tried the OS wouldn't recommend It

People who have installed the Windows 8 Consumer Preview praise its speed and the changes to Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer, but most readers who answered a PCWorld survey aren't satisfied with the new Metro interface--and half indicate that ...

Want Siri on your Android phone? Try these apps

Wouldn't you like to have your very own gofer dedicated to doing all the menial tasks you hate? That's a big part of the appeal of the iPhone 4S: Siri, the voice-driven virtual assistant, turns anyone with a couple hundred bucks into a CEO attended b...

Will the iPad be as unbeatable as the iPod?

When Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPad, many observers (including me) called it a big iPod Touch. We were talking about the similarities in design and functionality. But as time has gone on, I've started to think the iPad and the iPod may share anot...

Google management shuffle: Right move, wrong guy?

Today's announcement that Google co-founder Larry Page would replace Eric Schmidt as the company's CEO was a surprise, but maybe it shouldn't have been. While the company's earnings are still stellar, Schmidt has made a series of embarrassing stateme...

The hottest products at CES 2011 (so far)

We round up some of the coolest tech at CES 2011.

Google CR-48 Chrome netbook (preview)

What's most striking about Google's CR-48, the company's proof-of-concept Chrome laptop, is just how little there is to it. Here's our Google Chrome netbook review.

Google CR-48: Unboxed and started up

The CR-48 has landed! This morning, we received one of Google's first Chrome OS-powered laptops. As you'll see in our video, the CR-48 looks a lot like an old black Apple MacBook that's trying to sneak past customs -- it's all flat black with no stic...

Beta watch: EmailOracle, FriendShuffle, Storify

EmailOracle: Inbox Spy

Sonos ZonePlayer S5

Sonos makes multiroom network music streaming components that are elegant and reliable and great-sounding, but rarely inexpensive. At $699, however, the company's new Sonos ZonePlayer S5 is quite affordable, though it won't be the right option for ev...

10 new search tools that complement Google

Search engines get to grips with Web 2.0

MindJet Mindmanager 8

Solid mind-mapping application, but some new features are glitchy.

Technology for the obscenely wealthy

Planning on hitting the jackpot soon? From a gargantuan HDTV to your own flying car, here are nine new tech toys you'll want to decorate your life.

Sonos Zone Player 120

If you already have a multi-room digital music-streaming system, you don't have to replace it, but the Zone Player 120 is a nice choice for new buyers.

12 promising new Web sites and services

This week saw the battle of the Web 2.0 conferences, with 70 entrepreneurs presenting their ideas at Demo Fall 2008 in San Diego and 50 more making their pitch at TechCrunch50 in San Francisco. Some of the ideas are little more than a glimmer in a co...