Chicago Sun-Times

Prey takes over your devices to keep thieves under surveillance

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:04:08 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO REVIEW: Prey is a powerful - and frightening - piece of computer security software. With it, you’ll be able to not only pinpoint the location of a stolen or lost device, but compile user evidence without detection. As for the invasiveness of the software itself on your system? It’s probably worth the slighly icky feeling to know you machine - and the information on it - is secure and relatively easy to locate.

Apple iBooks Author and textbook store a significant publishing step

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:04:00 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO: The task of creating a multimedia, layered textbook became infinitely less complex with the release of Apple’s free iBooks Author software. Despite the inherent iTunes approval process and some complexity with the creation of smaller publications, these tools promise to drag the educational content experience into the present, even if it’s not quite the holy grail of publishing. Yet.

The big hammer of SOPA, PIPA will only crush Internet freedom

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:28:40 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO: A building rage over the Stop Online Piracy and Protect IP Acts culminated on January 18 when numerous popular sites “went dark.” Destinations like Wikipedia, BoingBoing and Google shut down or posted other measures of protest over the twin bills targeting online piracy. Why fight a seemingly noble cause? Because we all lose when the free Internet is beaten and broken into a wasteland of criminal proceedings at the beck and call of the RIAA and MPAA.

CES Day 2: the day the tablets took over

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:10:51 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO: Tablets, tablets, tablet. Day 2 at the Consumer Electronics Show was all about showing off a parade of shiny new devices using Tegra 3 processors to chew on Ice Cream Sandwich. But is it enough to erase the dark memories of tablet flameouts in 2010 and 2011 — and to combat whatever Apple has up its sleeve in 2012?

Smart TVs, Windows phones and ultabooks invade CES day 1

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:59:01 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO: The buzz for “Smart TVs,” whatever that might mean, ultrabooks, no matter how utra they were, and Windows Phones was what Day 1 at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show was all about.

The 2012 CES is ready with Ultra HD, Ultrabooks and ultra viruses

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:57:42 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO: The Consumer Electronics Show of 2012 is upon us once again. The Ultra Definition TVs, the cameras, the Ultrabooks and, of course, the next generation of Android tablets ready to take on iPad are lurking.

Get your credit card ready - Comicraft’s annual font sale nearly here

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:38:01 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO: Comicraft, the type house that concentrates sloely on fonts and typography for comic books, has typefaces that cost up to $395. Except on New Year’s Day. That’s when their entire catalogue is on sale for $20.12 a font — something Andy can rarely pass up responsibly.

Last-second personal technology holiday gift guide

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:41:12 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO LAST-MINUTE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and there you were, empty-handed in the gift department. Fear not! From streaming video and audio to books to photos to good ol’ gift cards, threre’s plenty of gift buying you can do that takes no time and offers instant gratification.

POW! Marvel, DC and the other comics publishers finally go digital

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:44:28 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO: The big four comics publishers - DC, Marvel, Dark Horse and Image - are finally taking their books - all the new editions - to a digital download model. There are issues to be ironed out and the question of survival for comics shops, but this is certainly a win for the reader.

REVIEW: Breaking down the Nook Tablet vs. Kindle Fire

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 07:35:54 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO REVIEW: Now that Barnes & Noble’s Nook Tablet is there to go head-to-head with Kindle Fire, which device deserves your money? The Fire still has the edge, if for no other reason than the $50 cheaper pricetag, as the best tablet without an Apple logo on it. But don’t leave the Nook Color out of the equation.

1080 or 720? LED or plasma? Your HDTV buying questions answered

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:16:00 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO: For everyone grappling with buying a new HDTV this holiday season there are plenty of questions about contrast ratios and refresh rates. It’s important to not get bedazzled by the wall of TVs in the Big Box and think about how you’ll use the TV, what your home viewing area is like and what features you want for the money.

Questions you should ask now that Carrier IQ has become a ‘gate’

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:14:06 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO: The Carrier IQ scandal embroiling the smartphone industry is coming to a head even as the public still finds out just how much of their personal information and data has been purloined by phone makers and carriers.

FTC slaps Facebook for privacy concerns, what does it mean to you

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:02:40 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO: The Federal Trace Commission has weighed in on the question of just how much your privacy concerns are addressed by Facebook. The answer? Not much. Facebook has issued the requisite “my bad,” but phrased in terms of “no big deal, everybody’s fudging this stuff.”

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: Roku to Apple TV to GoPro and more for the geek in your life

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:04:30 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: From streaming Web video to your Tv to making videos while skydiving to enjoying a beverage chilled by Han Solo in carbonite, a little some for every thrill-seeker, technophile and nerd in your life.

REVIEW: Kindle Fire is no iPad killer - but it is a killer device

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:52:05 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO REVIEW: After a year-and-a-half, there’s finally an Android-powered tablet to get excited about. The Amazon Kindle Fire is a 7-inch device that does media consumption extremely well.

Questions you should ask now that Carrier IQ has become a ‘gate’

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:14:06 -0600

REVIEW: iPhone 4S is a convincing upgrade - just ask Siri

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:28:56 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO REVIEW: Once youget past the fact that this is NOT an iPhone 5 witha retractable 5-foot big screen display and lasers, you’ll realize a simple truth: the iPhone 4S is a pretty great upgrade. From speed in the A5 chip to a industry superior camera to the remarkable Siri, there’s a lot to like. But is it worth it with that iPhone 5 lurking round the corner?

Talking the Amazon Kindle Fire with ComiXology CEO David Steinberger

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:59:17 -0600

ANDY IHNATKO: The world of digital comic book delivery continues to evolve as the Kindle Fire and Nook color reader enter a booming tablet marketplace. ComiXology CEO David Steinberger talks about the evolution of the industry.