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Get your data back with MiniTool Power Data Recovery Free Edition

MiniTool Power Data Recovery Free Edition is a free file- and data-recovery tool for Windows. It bundles several tools that together can recover lost and deleted data from hard drives, USB drives, and nearly every kind of disk or directory that can hold (and lose) data. Of course, not all lost data can be recovered, and there's no guarantee that recovered data will be intact or still usable. But MiniTool's modules are focused on specific data-recovery tasks, giving you a good chance of getting your data back. Its wizard-based operation and simple interface make it easy enough for … Read more

Home networking explained, Part 2: Optimizing your Wi-Fi network

Editors' note: This post is part of an ongoing series. For the other parts, check out the related stories.

Since my last post on the basics of home networking, which is Part 1 of this series, I've been flooded with even more e-mails than I had been before (which explains why some of you haven't heard back from me). The good news is that nobody is asking about what a router is anymore. I guess I did an OK job explaining that in my previous post.

Most of the e-mails this time asked about how to have the … Read more

Home networking explained, Part 1: Here's the URL for you

Editors' note: This post is part of an ongoing series and was updated on February 13, 2013, to add information about hubs, switches, and the new 802.11ad Wi-Fi standard. For the other parts, check out the related stories.

As the guy who reviews networking products, I generally receive a couple of e-mails from readers a day, and most of them, in one way or another, are asking about the basics of networking (as in computer to computer, I am not talking about social networks here.)

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate e-mails because, at the very least, it gives me the impression that there are real people out there amid the sea of spam. But I'd rather not keep repeating myself. So instead of saying the same thing over and over again in individual e-mails, I'll talk all about home networking basics, in layman's terms, in this post.… Read more

Troubleshooting PowerNap in OS X Mountain Lion

Apple's latest 2011-2012 MacBook Air and 2012 Retina MacBook Pro systems support a new power-saving mode called PowerNap, which allows the systems to perform a number of background tasks when in Sleep mode, thereby maintaining low power but preventing a flurry of synchronization and update activity when the system is woken up.

When activated, the system should go into Sleep mode as usual, but periodically you should see activity with an attached Time Machine drive, and also see received e-mail messages, updated contacts, iCloud content, and also be able to use Apple's Find My Mac remote access features. … Read more

High-end audio amplifiers, born in the U.S.A.

I have fond memories of the original Aragon 4004 power amplifier from my days when I worked as a high-end audio salesman. That was in the late 1980s and the big 200 watt amp sold for a lot less money than the reigning high-end amps of the period. The distinctive styling, with a "V" cutout in the 4004's chassis, made it stand out from rows of lookalike designs at the store. While the Aragon amps sold for a couple of thousand dollars, they were more affordable than most high-end amps. A few years after the 4004 arrived … Read more

Firmware update for Retina MacBook Pro adds PowerNap

Apple has issued a firmware update for its latest Retina MacBook Pro systems that adds support for the new PowerNap feature in OS X Lion.

PowerNap allows the system to save energy by maintaining Sleep mode but still allow the system network access for updates and synchronization, as well as allowing backups to happen in the background. This feature is only available on the 2011-2012 MacBook Air systems and in the MacBook Pro with Retina Display; however, these systems did require a firmware update to use the new feature.

Apple issued the required firmware updates for the MacBook Air systems … Read more

J.D. Power: For third time, Verizon is customer service champ

For the third time in a row, Verizon Wireless has been dubbed the wireless provider with the best customer service, according to marketing researchers, J.D. Power and Associates.

Its semi-annual report, "2012 U.S. Wireless Customer Care Full-Service Performance Study -- Volume 2 and 2012 U.S. Wireless Customer Care Non-Contract Performance Study," gave the Big Red an overall score of 771 in customer care performance.

Sprint came in second with 764, while AT&T and T-Mobile scored 756 and 722 points, respectively.

As for non-contract networks, Virgin Mobile, which also came in first in the … Read more

Mountain Lion's PowerNap feature requires firmware update

One of the new features in OS X Mountain Lion is the PowerNap energy-saving option that allows newer MacBook Pro and MacBook Air systems to continue to use network and backup services when in sleep mode. However, even after installing the OS X Mountain Lion upgrade, qualified systems may not be able to use the PowerNap feature.

When activated in the system's Energy Saver system preferences, PowerNap will perform hourly checks for new e-mail and updates to Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Notes, iCloud documents, and Photo Stream. It will also maintain a connection for Apple's Find My Mac service. … Read more

Trusted Power Search

Trusted Power Search by Moose-Tech Software is a free Web search tool that promises faster, more efficient searches. The application is able to deliver on this by limiting the number of sites that it searches to a predetermined list that is defined by the user.

The application presents a simple, easy-to-understand toolbar interface. There is a Help tab to guide the user in how to use the application. You can set your preferences as to which sites you want to use, Google, Microsoft Internet Explorer, or Yahoo, and how many searches are displayed. There is also a parent-friendly Safety mode … Read more