Tech Tips

It looks like making video telephone calls from your television sets will soon become a reality. Skype has announced support for Skype™ video calls on PCs in 720p high definition (HD), as well as Skype software embedded into Internet-connected widescreen televisions from its consumer electronics manufacturer partners. Skype enabled televisions should start appearing on the market in the middle of 2010 from LG and Panasonic. High definition webcams will be available in February. HD calls can be made from the newest version of Skype software for PC.

Click here to read the full press release for more information.

There's always a best time of the year to buy certain products. So when is the best time to buy digital cameras, clothing, computers, or cars? Lifehacker has put together a great timeline detailing ust when they believe the best times are to buy all sorts of stuff.

Click here to read the full article.

1. How to Remotely Wipe All Data from Your Smart Phone
Many people may not realize how much data, some of it highly sensitive, they carry around in their pocket everyday. Someone could pick up your phone and instantly have access to all sorts of information. Just having access to your email account, someone can retrieve passwords to just about any website for which you have logon access, including your bank etc. Of course, requiring a password to login to your phone is an excellent feature to use, but just because someone can't log in, doesn't mean they can't access data on the phone through other means. Having the ability to remotely erase all the data on your smart phone is the sure fire way to securing your personal information. There are different ways of doing this for each type of smartphone on the market.

PCMag.com has created a guide detailing how each phone can be remotely wiped, Click here for more info.

2. Windows 7's 'God Mode'
The term 'God Mode' has been coined for this trick, but don't go ahead of yourself just yet. What this trick actually does is expose a secret interface with tons of options all in one place. Basically it combines all the system's control panels in one folder. The trick is also said to work in 32 bit versions of Windows Vista.

Click here for details on how to set up this handy feature.

3. Windows Key Shortcuts
Aah yes, everyone loves knowing more keyboard shortcuts. Surely you know how to copy, paste, and all that right? But do you know what can be accomplished with that strange key with a picture of the Windows logo on it? Turns out it can perform some pretty useful shortcuts when combined with other keys.

Click here to read our guide outlining Windows Key shortcuts.

Google Releases Nexus One Smartphone
The Nexus One is an important milestone in the smartphone market. Google, a software company frustrated with making compromises with hardware manufacturers, has developed their own device for their Android operating system. This phone is Google's vision of the perfect Android device. It has a large and beautiful screen, fast processor, and software elegance of Google Navigation, Live Wallpaper, and a Voice Keyboard. Combine all of this with the Google Voice service, and you've got quite a device on your hands. The phone can be purchased with a T-Mobile 2-year contract (other carriers coming soon), or you can purchase the phone directly from Google to be used on any carrier.

Click here to see a chart comparing the Nexus One with the Palm Pre, Droid, and iPhone 3GS.

Click here to read an in- depth review of the Nexus One.