Popular Mechanics articles from April 2009

Popular Mechanics archives from April 2009

Future in space.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As a 40-year space program veteran, I was both interested and saddened by February's story about competing proposals for the next generation of launch vehicles, "NASA and Its Discontents." It seems much of the...

PM lab vs. TV claims.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... I so enjoyed your article on products, "If You Act Now... " A friend gave me a set of the as-seen-on-TV Aqua Globes you tested, and though they are a good idea, I found one of the stems so tight I couldn't even get water into the bulb. ...

Larger than life.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... Thanks for supersizing me-I truly enjoyed your story "Mega Vehicles." I only wish you had highlighted the Antonov An-225 Mriya as the world's largest aircraft. Getting a close glimpse of that colossal jet would have provided a titanic ending to...

Safety snake: a robot built to conduct dangerous inspections slithers to the top of a Korean tech contest.(Tech Watch: NEWS + TRENDS + BREAKTHROUGHS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Inspecting high-rise construction sites is a dangerous job, but somebody--or some robot--has to do it. Engineers at Virginia Tech built the HyDRAS-Ascent II to climb by encircling a beam and twisting its 90-degree joints in sequence. In...

Gripping medical nanotech.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Doctors usually resort to invasive biopsies to fetch body tissues from patients. But engineers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore have developed a magnet-guided "microgripper," the size of a speck of dust, that can do the job gently. The...

Avatars of exercise.(TECH WATCH)(Human Body Model)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] One of the trickiest parts of exercise is maintaining good form to activate the right muscles. A new system developed by Amsterdam-based Motek Medical displays a virtual body double showing exactly which muscles are...

Experimental eagle.(TECH WATCH)(F-15 Eagles )(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NASA recently finished a program that may aid the return of supersonic commercial flights. During tests at NASA's Dryden Right Research Center in Edwards, Calif., two uniquely modded F-15 Eagles flew as close as 100...

Full-spectrum e-literacy.(electronic reading devices)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Reading devices with electronic paper, or e-books, are catching on, but so far they're still black-and-white. Researchers at the University of Toronto recently demonstrated a new photonic crystal screen whose pixels can each cover the entire...

The friendly neighborhood wind turbine.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... A new wind turbine promises to be a fit for any home. Michigan-based Cascade Engineering's 7-ft-dia. turbine has a ring around its blades that minimizes vibration and helps keep noise to less than 35 decibels--barely a whisper--no matter what...

Hard as steel, easy as plastic.(plastic that conducts electricity )(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... A new plastic that conducts electricity has been developed by German scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research. The composite material combines the electrical and thermal properties of...

Soft landing: surviving the watery crash of an airplane with no engines was no miracle.(TECH WATCH)
April 1, 2009... No airliner that suffers total engine failure after hitting a flock of geese can be called "lucky." The odds of striking birds large enough to destroy two airplane engines are extremely remote. Yet, when birds knocked out both engines of US...

Time machine: March 1916.(arming train cars with heavy artillery)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The need to protect the nation's infrastructure has always bred fresh thinking. In March 1916, as the Unites States mulled its entry into World War I, POPULAR MECHANICS reported on a New York inventor who proposed...

Miracle projector: a scientist turns a doctor's visit into a machine to help the visually impaired see.(TECH WATCH)(Elizabeth Goldring )(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] During a trip to the optometrist 20 years ago, Elizabeth Goldring became inspired to create a seeing machine for the visually impaired. That's when Goldring, who is legally blind in one eye and partially blind in the...

Landing on the deck.(TECH WATCH)(Stealth X-47B)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Landing on the deck of an aircraft carder takes quick reflexes, sharp mental focus and cool daring. But does it require a pilot? This fall Northrop Grumman will start flight testing the first unmanned strike airplane created to operate from a...

Powerful whirlpools: Scientists borrow from fish to create energy in slow-moving water.(TECH WATCH)
April 1, 2009... Hydropower researchers at the University of Michigan are borrowing strategies from fish to maximize the energy that can be harvested from slow-moving water. For example, trout use spinning eddies that form on both sides of a stationary object,...

The world's space fleet: meet the spacecraft that could inherit the space shuttle's job of ferrying supplies into space.(TECH WATCH)(Orion)
April 1, 2009... The space shuttle is due for retirement in 2010, and NASA's next spaceship, Orion, won't be available until at least 2015. That will leave a five-year gap during which NASA astronauts and space-station cargo will be grounded unless they find...

Double display.(Upgrade: GEAR + TOOLS + TOYS)(Lenovo ThinkPad 7000ds )(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Tech aficionados love using multiple monitors--the second screen boosts productivity. But until now, such setups were reserved for the desk-bound. The Lenovo ThinkPad 7000ds (from $3660) is the first laptop with a slide-out secondary screen....

Looking beyond vista.(UPGRADE: wish list)(Vista operating system )(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To be honest, I never really developed the visceral hatred for Microsoft's Vista operating system that many users seem to feel, but the sentiment is understandable. Vista is bloated and slow--and it took a...

Super fly gear.(UPGRADE: wish list)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... There's something Zen-like about fly fishing. It's just you, the river and whatever you carry with you. But novice anglers often make me mistake of overdoing the last part, loading up on unnecessary and expensive equipment. We tested the latest...

Kodak Zx1 ($150).(UPGRADE: wish list)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2009... The recession has been kind to pocket camcorders--the gadgets' low prices have made them commercial successes in an otherwise bleak business year. But technology moves fast, and these once no-frills cameras are now offering advanced features....

Telescope torque.(UPGRADE: wish list)(Magnetic Nut Driver)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nuts and hexhead fasteners aren't always located in easy-to-reach places (laundry appliances, in particular, are notorious for their poorly placed fasteners). The Klenk 1/4-ln. Adjustable-Length Magnetic Nut Driver...

Pocket presenter.(UPGRADE: wish list)(Samsung MBP-200 Pico Projector )(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While microprojectors have been trickling onto the market over the past year, their portability (and usefulness) has been limited--they need to be tethered to other devices to produce an image. The Samsung MBP-200...

Pre approved.(Editor's Choice)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The past few years have seen a number of attempted iPhone killers. But without exception, they've all been hampered by unresponsive touchscreens, bulky designs or nonintuitive interfaces. So what makes the Palm Pre...

Hustler Zeon ($6500).(UPGRADE: wish list)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... While electric mowers are cleaner, quieter and easier to maintain than their gas brethren, they rarely provide enough power to mow anything but a small lawn. The Hustler Zeon ($6500)is the first electric zero-turn riding mower, and it's able to...

Connected camera.(UPGRADE: wish list)(Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] All Wi-Fi cameras allow users to upload files wirelessly, but the 10.1-megapixel, 4x-optical-zooming Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 ($500) is the first that also has a built-in Web browser, allowing on-camera access to...

City slicker.(New Cars: CROSSOVER + MOTORCYCLE + HYBRID + DETROIT AUTO SHOW)(Kia Sport and Kia Sport)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] One could argue that the Kia lineup--at least in the past--has been more like background scenery than iconography. That will likely change with the Soul, a hip new box poised to challenge Scion's xB. The Sport is...

Home-team hybrid: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid.(NEW CARS: test drives)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Three years ago, when Ford began work on its $27,995 Fusion Hybrid, few envisioned the ensuing fuel-price roller coaster. Luckily, Ford homed in on maximizing efficiency: The new Ford boasts an impressive rating of...

Under the radar: 2009 Toyota Highlander.(NEW CARS: test drives)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hybrid powertrains may grab headlines, but sometimes efficiency doesn't require the added expense. For 2009, the Highlander is available with a new 187-hp 2.7-liter four-cylinder under the hood paired to a six-speed...

Spine tingler: 2009 Aprilia Shiver SL 750.(NEW CARS: test drives: motorcycles)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Aprilia may barely register a blip on the collective radar of American riders. But for those who know, these bikes are the two-wheeled equivalent of a Lamborghini. Aprilia's most aggressive attempt yet at planting a...

Machismo redefined: 2009 Ducati Monster 696.(NEW CARS: test drives: motorcycles)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sixteen years is a lifetime in the motorcycle world, but that's how long it took Ducati to redesign this icon. Hey, you can't afford to mess around with a megahit like the Monster. The air-cooled, 80-hp 696 cc L-twin...

Hot chopper: first look: 2010 Honda Fury.(NEW CARS: test drives: motorcycles)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In a shocking move, Honda has unveiled a production chopper. At first glance the bike boasts the usual chopper cues, but closer inspection reveals modern touches like liquid cooling and shaft drive. The fork is raked...

5 cars that could save Detroit.(NEW CARS: first look)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DETROIT Despite a shaky economy and a rougher-than-rough 2008 for automakers, the 2009 North American International Auto Show revealed sharp designs and innovation. But perhaps the biggest news came a week after...

3D's big revival: 3D has been around for a century. So why is everyone excited now?(DIGITAL HOLLYWOOD)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hollywood is buzzing about 3D. Dreamworks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg has compared it to the introduction of color. Director James Cameron delayed the release of his stereoscopic epic Avatar in part to give...

Solar racer: looks like a UFO, starts like a turtle, runs as long as the sun shines--driving the wolverines' latest winner.(CAR CULTURE)
April 1, 2009... The car I'm sitting in is so futuristic and so technically advanced that it would cost nearly a million dollars to duplicate. Yet this Jet Propulsion Lab on wheels lacks the basic features of even the humblest sedan: a radio, roll-down windows,...

Safety through danger? When drivers get too comfortable, advances in safety start to look like retreats.(THINKING AHEAD)
April 1, 2009... Reading Tom Vanderbilt's latest book, Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us), I was struck by a recurring theme: Making things safer may actually make them more dangerous. I wonder if it's a lesson that also applies off...

The smarter home 2009: when it comes to conserving resources, every building can do better. Here, PM's guide to products and projects that can help unlock your house's hidden potential.(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Step into any home-improvement store these days and you'll confront a smorgasbord of "eco-friendly" labels crafted to grab your attention: VOC-Free! Saves Energy! All Natural! It's easy to take a cynical attitude...

Water-collection system.(RAINWATER HOG, RAINTUBE)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Collecting rainwater for gardening conserves supplies and controls runoff--but most people don't want a hulking tank out back. Australian architect Sally Dominguez says manufacturers "basically laughed" at her...

Building better concrete.(INTEGRITY BLOCK)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... * Manufacturing the cement that binds typical concrete causes about 5 percent of global C[O.sub.2] emissions. Integrity Block, which makes a structurally sound concrete replacement, shaves that figure by using 40 percent less cement in its...

Home-efficiency monitor.(AGILEWAVES)(Agilewaves' Resource Monitor )(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... * Conservation upgrades save energy and water--the challenge is deciphering just how much. Agilewaves' Web-based Resource Monitor tracks a home's utility usage in real time, then calculates how much C[O.sub.2] it generates. While other monitors...

Shower heat exchanger.(ECODRAIN)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... * You already paid to heat the water washing down your shower drain--why waste it? EcoDrain's heat exchanger transfers heat from water passing through the shower drain to fresh cold water headed to the tap (the two don't mix). A typical shower...

Moving massive amounts of air.(BIG ASS FANS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * When it comes to heating and cooling large rooms efficiently, bigger fans are better. Most regular-ass fans top out at just under 5 ft in diameter, but the blades on a Big Ass Fan range from (5 to 24 ft. The size...

Safer sidewalks, healthier trees.(DEEPROOT SILVA CELL)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... * The roots of trees can push sidewalks out of position, and the gravel-heavy aggregate that supports traffic above them compacts soil, stifling root growth and limiting their ability to absorb storm-water runoff. DeepRoot's Silva Cell is an...

Shipping-container housing.(SG BLOCKS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Former merchant officer David Cross got plenty of exposure to shipping containers in the four years he spent cruising the world on cargo vessels. Cross saw the large corrugated-steel boxes reused as tool sheds in...

Easy indoor compost.(NATUREMILL)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... * Compost keeps food waste out of landfills while enriching garden topsoil--but producing it at home can be a dirty job. NatureMill's under-the-counter composter makes the whole process as easy as tossing scraps into the kitchen disposal. "I...

10 ways to raise your house's IQ this year ... these weekend projects will conserve energy, water and, ultimately, your hard-earned cash. With today's technology, you can be conscientious and comfortable.(THE SMARTER HOME 2009)
April 1, 2009... Living Room Build better fires. * To boost efficiency in the fireplace, begin by replacing the leakprone mid-chimney "throat" damper with a "top-sealing" or "chimney cap" damper. This opens, shuts and seals like a storm door for the...

... And 14 steps to take today: Stroll through your home with PM's list of low-cost (or free!) upgrades, making quick fixes as you go.(THE SMARTER HOME 2009)
April 1, 2009... * TURN DOWN THE WATER HEATER Lower the temperature to 120 F, and for every 10-degree drop, you recoup 3 to 5 percent of the power bill. No temperature dial on the tank? Check the temp at the tap farthest from the heater. * UNPLUG...

Water from air.(ELEMENT FOUR WATERMILL)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... * British Columbia-based Element Four helps ease water shortages by pulling moisture straight out of the air. Engineered for muggy outdoor environments or humid indoor rooms, the wall-mountable WaterMill constantly adjusts to the ambient dew...

Reinventing the tree.(THE SMARTER HOME 2009)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... * As organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) set the rules for safe harvesting, engineers are hard at work redefining the nature of lumber itself. These three wood alternatives represent a creative approach to a Classic...

Weapon of mass disruption: hackers could use the very computer systems that keep America's infrastructure running to bring down key utilities and industries. Just how worried should we be?(CYBER ATTACK)(Cover story)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE NEXT WORLD WAR might not start with a bang, but with a blackout. An enemy could send a few lines of code to control computers at key power plants, causing equipment to overheat and melt down, plunging sectors of...

Masters of rescue: at America's elite helicopter rescue academy, Coast Guard. professionals are put to the test by ocean cliffs, sea caves and a treacherous stretch of coastline known as the Graveyard of the Pacific PM attends a challenging course at the school of disaster heroes.
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I HEAR THE HELICOPTER BEFORE I SEE IT. A gentle whir at first, the noise grows to chain-saw strength as the orange-and-white-striped pod hurtles into view and settles into a hover over a paved landing pad just a...

The fast and the frugal: the best way to grin through roller-coaster fuel prices and a down economy is to choose on efficient vehicle that delivers plenty of thrills, too. So, what'll it be: a subcompact or an exotic Italian bike?(Comparison Test)(Ducati Hypermotard and Honda Fit Sport)(Product/service evaluation)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE ADRENALINE RUSH that comes from piloting a sporty car or a hot-blooded motorcycle through a series of sinuous curves is a joy every gearhead craves. It's not all about gunning for fiat-out, maximum speed....

Finding your inner garage: with some creativity and elbow grease, a garage can be a lot more than just a place to park cars.
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WITH ONLY A CRAWLSPACE BELOW their house ill Knoxville, Tenn., Tanya and Laurence Brown eyed their garage when they decided to add a home gym. "We both like to exercise," Laurence says, "but ever since we had our...

Grow up: raised beds take the hassle out of horticulture.(DIY HOME: CLOSET UPDATE + CONCRETE FASTENERS + SUMP-PUMP DUMP)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Experienced gardeners use raised beds to sidestep a long list of gardening challenges. These controlled experiments in plant parenthood are so easy, in fact, that they're also well-suited to novices picking up a...

Window theory: a window can be, basically, a hole in the wall. Or it can look great while cutting heating and cooling losses. Your choice.(How Your House Works)
April 1, 2009... Windows are complex. A new model may consist of wood, metal, plastic, glass, mineral oxides and perhaps an inert gas. Yet even a well-insulated unit delivers an R-value no better than an uninsulated wood-frame wall's (roughly R-4 to R-5). And a...

Closet solutions.(Homeowners Clinic Q + A)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q Our closets are packed and overflowing. We were thinking of renovating them with wire shelving and baskets, but weve also seen some wood cabinets for closets. Which is better? Is installing these closet systems...

Painting galvanized steel.(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC Q + A)
April 1, 2009... I have two galvanized steel posts that hold up a sign with my house's street number. The paint is peeling off the posts. How do I repaint them? First, decide if you really want to paint the posts. A galvanized finish will form a...

Dumping the pump?(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC Q + A)(Sump pumps)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... How long do sump pumps last? I have one that's 10 years old, and I'm wondering if I should preemptively replace it. That's a good question with no clear answer, at least as far as rm concerned. I've seen heavy-duty pumps that looked as...

Concrete fasteners for any application.(KNOW YOUR STUFF)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Powder-Actuated Fastener What: A 22-cal. shell to drive a fastener up to 3 in. long. You strike a specialized tool (the Ramset HD22) with a hammer to detonate the charge and drive in the fastener....

Drafty fixtures, tricky electricals.(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC Q + A)(recessed lights )
April 1, 2009... When I removed a bulb from a recessed light in my living room, I felt cold air gushing from the attic into the room. I'm concerned about energy loss through these fixtures. What should I do? Recessed lights are notorious for leaking air. In...

Caulk for glazing.(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC Q + A)(window repair)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... I have a 100-year-old house, and I've hired painters to paint it and refurbish its 40 wood windows. They say they're going to use caulk to repair the putty that the old window glass is set in. Is this a proper repair? I thought only window...

Doorstop solution.(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC Q + A)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... There's probably an easy answer to this. I want to replace the doorstops all over the house because the cheapo ones installed by the builder are ugly. I put a new one in a few weeks ago and scuffed it up by using pliers to twist it in the last...

Home-grown power problem.(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC Q + A)(garage door openers)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... We lose grid power a lot, and I've found that I can't operate my garage-door opener on the power supplied by my home generator. The opener works fine with grid power, but not from my generator. I'm stumped. We've been getting more of these...

Storm-damaged trees.(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC Q + A)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Our trees took a beating this winter from repeated storms. We're about ready to begin our spring yard cleanup, but before we start, we thought we'd get some advice. If the damage is light and the trees are small enough that you can make repair...

Silence that squeal: the serpentine belt is a crucial part of the engine assembly. Here's the right way to replace it.(DIY Auto: SERPENTINE BELT + WHEEL FIX + WATERPROOFING CONNECTIONS)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SATURDAY MECHANIC * DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY /// EASY There's a squeal emanating from underneath your hood--and it doesn't sound good. The noise started a few months ago, on a gray and rainy morning, but it went...

Waterproofing connectors.(Car Clinic Q + A)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q The electrical connection to my car's radiator fan quits every few weeks. It's fine for a while, but then it dies and I have to take it apart and clean the connection again. Any ideas? A Moisture isn't supposed...

Faulty logic.(Car Clinic Q + A)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... A few months ago you described how to repair a leaky rim. I think it's easier to fix porous rims by just installing a tube. This also helps seal rims that aren't cleaned up at the bead surface before they're mounted. Bad idea. Don't do it....

Idle thoughts.(Car Clinic Q + A)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... I left the van running by mistake for 12 hours while it was parked. Will this hurt my vehicle? It drove fine afterwards, but I didn't know if letting a vehicle idle for that long could cause damage. In a perfect world, cars would not idle,...

Mind your manners.(CAR CLINIC Q + A)(Toyota Camry XLE )(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... My 2003 Toyota Camry XLE makes a gurgling sound under the dashboard when I slow down or accelerate. (It's easier to hear upon deceleration because the engine is quieter.) Any ideas before I go ahead and dig into a possibly long adventure under...

Rust never sleeps.(CAR CLINIC Q + A)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Aside from Saturn, who else among the big car manufacturers makes cars with polymer bodies? Tired of watching your steel-bodied car rust away in front of your very eyes? There are a few vehicles on the market today with nonmetallic body panels,...

Power to the people.(CAR CLINIC Q + A)
April 1, 2009... Ice and snow storms leave thousands without electrical power, running around trying to find 110-volt generators. I was wondering if a 12-to 110-volt inverter would be sufficient to run a heater of 12 amps at 110 volts, or how to size one that...

Rust never sleeps.(HOW IT WORKS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It was a terrific paint job, home from the spray booth so recently that you could still smell the enamel reducer in the garage. I always like to see vintage cars, in this case a '62 Dart, well-restored by their...

What's that smell.(CAR CLINIC Q + A)(cooling systems)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... I recently replaced the radiator in my 1989 Firebird Trans Am. When I turn on the heater or defroster I get a faint smell of antifreeze. It's a terrible odor, so I don't even turn the heat on anymore. What's the problem with my cooling system?...

Making the most of your router: with a bit of tinkering, a home wireless router can do more than just bring a computer online.(DIY Tech: OVER-THE-AIR TIVO + WHDI EXPLAINED + SAFER WEB MAIL)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Not so long ago, most home wireless routers were one-trick ponies, rarely used for anything other than bringing PCs online. Today, a router hooked up to a well-managed home network can connect all sorts of devices....

Securing web mail.(Digital Clinic: Q+A)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q I rely on Web-based e-mail, but am worried about how secure these services are. Is there anything I can do to protect my mail against hackers and digital snoopers? A It's easy to understand the appeal of...

Broadcast TiVo.(Digital Clinic: Q+A)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... I recently canceled my cable. Can I still use TiVo to save over-the-air television? You sure can, but, thanks to the country's coming conversion to digital TV, owners of older TiVos will need some additional hardware. If you've got a newer...

Playing catch-up.(Digital Clinic: Q+A)(Sony PlayStation 2)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... I have a PlayStation 2. It works fine through a standard-definition TV. However, when I play it through an HDTV, there appears to be a small lag between when I press a button and when it registers on the screen. What's going on here? Most...

WHDI: (a new standard for wireless high-definition).(tech term)(Wireless Home Digital Interface)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Nobody likes cables. That's why TV manufacturers are looking to build TVs that can receive high-definition video from computers and cable boxes without using wires. In an attempt to stave off a wireless HD format war, major TV makers such as...

This is my job: fisherman.(Jeff White)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The happiest two days of Jeff White's life were when the parts to build his 40-ft lobster boat arrived at his house--and when they finally left as a completed craft seven months later. The independent fisherman fills...