Popular Mechanics articles from November 2006

Popular Mechanics archives from November 2006

Break on through.(creative thinking )(Editorial)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Welcome to Popular Mechanics's second annual Breakthrough issue: a salute to the country's boldest innovators, inventors and manufacturers. Spearheading the project (which has already become my favorite on the PM calendar) is contributing...

Radio free us.(on-demand radio program of 'Popular Mechanics Show')(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Last year, the word "podcast" became one of the latest tech terms to make it into Webster's dictionary. When we tried podcasting for ourselves a few months ago, it was easy to see why some people are calling it the biggest revolution in radio...

Tune to the popmech show.(The Popular Mechanic Show: ON THE AIR AT POPULAR MECHANICS.COM)
November 1, 2006... PLAY ONLINE Look for the audio player on the main pages of our Web site (and built into podcast blogs and articles). Press "play"to listen on the Web. SUBSCRIBE Podcasts use RSS feeds--a fancy way to say that if you click...

The gospel of spud guns.(MSNBC Cable Network's Tucker Carlson )(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... MSNBC anchor Tucker Carlson shares his arsenal, such as a breech-loading, propane-fired semiautomatic. Plus: answers to car care questions; Rand Simberg explains the problems with Orion--NASA's new Crew Exploration Vehicle; we drive the...

The nuclear option.(atomic energy)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Greenpeace founder Patrick Moore explains why he thinks his former foe--atomic energy--is our best hope to cut carbon emissions. Ed Lyman, a Union of Concerned Scientists physicist, warns of dangers that nuclear power poses.

Debunking 9/11 myths.(Vincent Dunn joins the editors )(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Retired FDNY Deputy Chief Vincent Dunn joins the editors of the new PM book, Debunking 9/11 Myths, to analyze the collapse of the World Trade Center towers and to present facts that are frequently distorted by conspiracy theorists.

Electric auto.(Tesla Motors Inc.'s Martin Eberhard )(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... CEO of Tesla Motors Martin Eberhard talks to us about how he designed the world's coolest electric car; senior editor Glenn Derene maps out the future of TV; Daniel H. Wilson discusses the future of battlefield robots.

On the road.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... Congratulations on the fine article regarding Bob's three-wheel car ("Remembering a Man I Never Met," Sept. 2006). I'm Bob's brother, and I know he would be happy that the car is kept in good condition and is being driven regularly. Bob and I...

The meaning of life.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... Your cover story in the Sept. 2006 issue ("Are We Alone?") is one that everyone should see. It presents a very complex but important topic in a most readable way. Life-forms on Earth are abundant, robust and amazing. They are all dependent on...

Backfire.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... Your conclusion that a 100-mpg car ("100 MPG," Aug. 2006) would be sluggish and priced at $50,000 to $60,000 is wrong, as illustrated by the 114-mpg uncompromised mid-size fuel cell Revolution SUV that my team designed in 2000. Our 2004...

Against the grain.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... Your Blu-ray reviewer ("Blu-ray Test Drive," Sept. 2006) complained that many of the movies looked grainy. If this is film grain, it would indicate that the image was very sharp and high-resolution; otherwise, you wouldn't be able to see this...

Depth charge.(atmospheric diving system )(Daniel Jackson sets navy diving record)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Taking work pressure to a new level, Chief Petty Officer Daniel Jackson set a U.S. Navy diving record in August, descending to nearly 2000 ft. in the Atmospheric Diving System (ADS) Hardsuit 2000. The ADS uses 16 rotary joints and two...

Making an atomic point.(tungsten needles )(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Canadian scientists have finally perfected one of mankind's first tools, the pointed stick. The team used nitrogen gas and an applied voltage to create a tungsten needle whose point is a single atom wide. It could be used to direct narrow beams...

WiMAX on the way.(mobile )(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Because the world can never be too wireless, Intel, Motorola, Samsung and Sprint have announced a combined effort to build a new wireless broadband network called mobile WiMAX. Instead of lurking within 300 ft. of a Wi-Fi hotspot or tower,...

Virtual autopsy.(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Researchers used a Swiss particle accelarator to do a "virtual dissection" of 500-million-year: old fossil arthropod embryos, producing 3D reconstructions, below, with over 2000 times greater resolution than a CT scan. The analysis suggests...

Ripe for the sticking.(color changing stickers developed by a professor of University of Arizona )(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... A University of Arizona professor has created stickers that turn from white to blue as a piece of fruit ripens. The stickers are sensitive to the ethylene gas released by ripening fruit. They should be available to growers next year and to...

Northern light.(helps in migration of birds)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Scientists have struggled for decades to understand how birds keep their bearings during migration. The secret, researchers in Sweden and the United States found, is in the polarized sunlight visible at sunrise and sunset, which allows birds to...

Robo-snob.(robot developed to distinguish wine varieties)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Japanese researchers have developed a robot wine snob, below, that distinguishes among 30 varieties of wine. It fires an IR beam at a sample and measures the reflected light, detecting organic compounds unique to particular wine-growing...

One wrong turn: how did Comair 5191 wind up taking off from the wrong runway? The country's antiquated system for airport navigation may be to blame.
November 1, 2006... When Comair Flight 5191 took off from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Ky., it was flying low--low enough to clip a boundary fence and immediately crash. The reason was hard to accept: The pilot picked the wrong runway, one that was too short...

Lighting crime.(new camera from Fujifilm for forensic science)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... FORENSIC SCIENCE is a more tedious and low-tech affair than CSI and 24 would have us believe. Infrared and ultraviolet photography, for example, can reveal residual ink on charred documents, or present juries with a clear image of blood on dark...

Electronic warrior.(EA-18G Growler being tested by United States. Navy)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... THE NAVY is currently testing the first new electronic attack aircraft in decades, to be deployed in 2009. The EA-18G Growler, a variant of the F/A-18F, has almost no offensive firepower, but is designed to cripple enemy radio and radar. ...

Time machine 1970.(TECHWATCH)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... ARTIFICIAL HEARTS debuted in the 1960s, with even more fatal results than early transplants. By 1970 PM saw promise in the pneumatic Liotta heart, reporting that it "points the way to a permanent mechanical heart that will succeed where...

Pitch perfect.(baseball )(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... It's quickly becoming the Bigfoot of baseball, an urban legend born in a Japanese lab and racing across the Internet. They call it the "gyroball"--the exact translation is probably closer to "Demon Sphere Gyro Ball"--and it's either the first...

Oil and trouble: when the yield from the nation's largest oilfield was suddenly cut in half, the problem wasn't that corrosion had been discovered in the pipelines, but that it hadn't been found sooner.(BP PLC)
November 1, 2006... On Aug. 6, London-based oilfield operator BP Amoco PLC made history, announcing the partial shutdown of the largest oilfield in North America, due to severe corrosion in a pipeline. It wasn't the first sign of trouble in Alaska's Prudhoe...

Best seat in the house.(MicroOptical Corp.'s Myvu a personal media viewer)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... There's no avoiding it--MicroOptical's Myvu personal media viewer for the iPod ($399) will make you look like a certain head of engineering on the Starship Enterprise. But you'll be too busy to notice, as you watch TV shows, movies and music...

Sweeter BlackBerry.
November 1, 2006... Despite dominating the smartphone category, BlackBerrys aren't very appealing--they're bulky, light on features and hard on the eyes. The comparatively slim and versatile BlackBerry Pearl ($199) might change your impression of these mobile...

Bionic Grip.
November 1, 2006... If the Bionic Grip ($33) looks familiar, it could be because we gave an Editor's Choice Award to its predecessor last year. e new model, a combination adjustable wrench and pliers, can be used on tubes and pipes that the previous, closed-head...

A vault for cellphone contacts.
November 1, 2006... For those of us without smartphones (that is, most cellphone users), backing up your phone book calls for a mind-numbing act of data entry. Which is why practically no one does it, and why lost or broken handsets take years' worth of contacts...

Maximum bang for your buck: in the crowded field of high-tech deer hunting gear, it's easy to confuse overpriced gadgets with genuine improvements. Here's our wish list of the season's most innovative equipment.(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... STEINER 8X22 PREDATOR PRO Price: $149 Weight: 10 ounces steinerbinoculars.com These lightweight binoculars pack high-quality, high-contrast optics into a compact, folding rubberized aluminum frame. The green-tinted, antireflective...

Speaker of the House.
November 1, 2006... The I-Sonic ($599) does everything but surround sound. That's not a backhanded compliment--this compact audio/video system plays CDs, DVDs, AM and FM radio, plus digital HD Radio and XM Satellite Radio (with optional attachments). It also...

Security blanket.(LukWerks Starter Kit )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Admitting that you're paranoid is easy The tough part is installing a security camera before actual burglars show up. We tested one of the latest PC-connected systems, the LukWerks Starter Kit ($300 for a camera and receiver), to find out just...

Total Control Super Splitter.(UPGRADE /// WISH LIST)
November 1, 2006... In the Darwinian world of tool design, hybrids like the Total Control Super Splitter ($33) are overtaking less versatile breeds. Its unique head is small and light enough to chop branches like an ax, while retaining the wedge shape of a...

Passing the Bar Exam.(breathalyzer, Breathkey G10, Alcohawk Slim, Alcomate Prestige)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2006... A few companies are selling small, user-friendly breathalyzers that can supposedly detect alcohol on your breath. Are they accurate enough to be more than a novelty act? We tested three models against the real thing--a police-issue...

Fun with supermagnets: the MythBusters are notorious for their obsession with magnets. And, as you might expect, Jamie and Adam use them in some pretty extreme ways--like climbing walls.(Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman)(Interview)
November 1, 2006... As longtime innovators, movie special effects wizards and stars of the Discovew Channel's MythBusters, Adam Savage (left) and garaje Hyneman are masters of gonzo engineering. Here, in their continuing series for PM, they share their fascination...

Long-term test cars: we say goodbye to half our fleet. In one case, prematurely.(AUTOMOTIVE)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2006... final report JEEP LIBERTY SPORT CRD After a year and nearly 20,000 miles of service, our lovable little Liberty has gone back to Jeep world HQ. Unfortunately, one of our editors had seriously wanted to buy it at the end of its test....

Basking in the glow: with a solid chassis, potent engines and a good-looking body, Saturns Aura is for real.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... A company that began with interesting engineering innovatively sold had descended into automotive limbo. But thanks first to the Sky and now the Aura, Saturn is buzzworthy once again. A day's driving on the California Coast and in the Santa...

Minus two: BMW 3 series coupe.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Never a group to take shortcuts, BMW's engineers made sure their 3 Series coupe wasn't simply a sedan minus two doors. But its long hood and short overhangs are pure 3 Series--and they're just right. If you're shopping for a 3 Series, you...

Family-size fun: Nissan Altima.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Large, front-drive family sedans aren't usually at home on twisty mountain roads. But the all-new Nissan Altima is. This car loves to be driven hard, as we found during a day's drive around California's rugged Monterey Peninsula. From behind...

Red Sky at night: Saturn Sky Red Line.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Back in August, we said that the Saturn Sky needed more power. Now it has it, in the form of the Red Line. With 260 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, this roadster is as much fun to floor the throttle in as it is to look at. We wish that the...

Give us more: Lamborghini LP640.(Lamborghini Murcielago LP640)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... We just spent a day hammering a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 at California Speedway in Fontana. Now, we have a problem: The experience left us wanting more. The LP640 is an evolution of the '02 Murcielago. Back then, the V12 had only 571 hp and...

More sun.(Chrysler Sebring)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Chrysler has delivered its new Sebring sedan. But what of all the other models? Here's a prototype of a Sebring convertible/coupe. Is it a soft-top or hardtop? Our guess, from the ribs seen under the roof covering, is it's a soft-top. But...

Lanced.(next Mitsubishi Lancer)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Here's a look at the next Mitsubishi Lancer. Underneath the skin it's a whole new platform, with an independent rear suspension, that will also be used by the next Outlander SUV. The base engine will be a 2.0-liter making around 150 hp shared...

Future zoomer.(Ford Motor Co's next Mazda6)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... This is the next Mazda6. It's several inches longer and wider than the current car, and it has Ford's new 250-hp 3.5-liter V6. A hybrid four-cylinder version should eventually join the lineup and a Mazdaspeed6 version with 300 hp seems...

Someone says ...(Tom Stephens on future of engines)(Interview)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... TOM STEPHENS, VP GM POWERTRAIN, on the engine of the future: "It's not going to be gas, diesel, hybrid or electric. It will combine--where possible--all the features that make one or the other superior." + Not Dead Yet Don't count out...

Switch on the brakes.(Siemens VDO Automotive AG)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Siemens VDO claims to have a brake-by-wire system that operates with today's 12-volt electrical systems and provides shorter stopping than conventional hydraulic systems. The key is wedges that use the brake rotors' kinetic energy to multiply...

Mind the gap.(automobile companies ranked)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... According to the most recent J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study, the difference in quality--as defined by reliability over three years--between expensive and affordable, and import and domestic has shrunk considerably. Lexus...

We're dyin' out there.(news)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's annual assessment reveals the death rate on our country's highways went up in 2005, the first rise since 1986. The increase in the number of fatalities, to 43,443, is due primarily to a sharp...

Desk jockey to jet jockey: a retired great-grandfather intends to become the next king of speed by going 800 mph.(Ed Shadle of International Business Machines Corp.)
November 1, 2006... I have a huge soft spot for the little guy who has the ingenuity and drive to take on the big boys. I always find myself rooting for the underdog, especially when he's an example of the real--and vanishing--American do-it-yourselfer. Ed Shadle...

The future starts here: final frontiersman: Breakthrough Leadership Award winner Burt Rutan.(Interview)
November 1, 2006... SO MUCH INNOVATION HAPPENS every day in labs, hangars and two-car garages across the country that picking a handful of breakthroughs is a tough challenge. Rule No. 1: To beat out the hundreds of candidates we find each year and win a...

Samsung Helix XM2GO.(AUDIO ///)
November 1, 2006... The portable Helix ($399) marks a milestone by linking satellite radio to your earthbound MP3 collections. It receives and records live XM programs, and plays MP3 and WMA files downloaded via USB. xmradio.com/samsunghelix [ILLUSTRATION...

DaimlerChrysler bluetec.(ENGINES)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... While manufacturers struggle to perfect hydrogen-powered cars, they are still working to stretch every gallon of crude. And it's not just about hybrids. DaimlerChrysler has produced a diesel engine that, besides delivering diesel's typical...

Black & Decker Alligator.
November 1, 2006... The Black & Decker Alligator Lopper ($100) forges a new category of yard equipment The 4.5-amp motor and 6-in. chain saw bar help the tool cut through 4-in.-dia. branches. That's far too big for a traditional lopper. The pincers hold bendable...

Lexus LS 460.(AUTOPILOT)
November 1, 2006... The Lexus LS 460 (pricing unavailable) sets a benchmark in a world of ever smarter cars by virtually parallel parking itself. Sensors track the length and position of surrounding cars and the orientation of the Lexus's wheels. A control module...

Crescent rapidslide.(HAND TOOLS)
November 1, 2006... The Cescent wrench has been a staple of toolboxes since 1907. For 99 years, PM editors thought the design was nearly perfect. Then we saw the RapidSlide ($17). The slow-turning nut that controlled the jaw is replaced by a fast-sliding...

Netgear Wi-Fi Skype.(TELEPHONY)
November 1, 2006... Phone companies have potent competition from VoIP services such as Skype. Just-released Wi-Fi-enabled Skype phones up the ante by making free calls over the Internet from any wireless hotspot on the planet This Netgear phone ($250) was the...

Climate energy Micro-CHP system.(HOME ENERGY)
November 1, 2006... A basement setup that supplies both heat and power for the home sounds like a hypothetical appliance--but the Warm Air Micro-CHP system is here, poised to take a bite out of the energy crisis. A small natural gas engine built by Honda powers a...

Pioneer pro elite 1540HD.
November 1, 2006... Yes, it's got a great picture, but what's special about this 60-in plasma set ($8000) is its Ethernet jack. It propels the TV into the future, where a movie is just one more file to more around your home network, pioneerelectronics.com ...

Lego mindstorms NXT.
November 1, 2006... Mindstorms was always a great robot-building kit. The NXT system ($250) is much more. It uses 32-bit processing, Bluetooth antennas, servos and sensors to help robots see brightness, hear commands and perceive movement Planning a career in...

Sawstop contractor's 10-in. Saw.
November 1, 2006... The Contractor's Saw (about $1000) is a full-on workhorse. But what matters most is that a sensor can detect a finger contacting the moving blade. The saw then stops in 3 to 5 milliseconds--reducing a probable amputation to a forgettable cut....

The truth about hydrogen: wild promises abound. But can the simplest element in the universe really power our homes, fuel our cars and reduce our contribution to global warming? PM crunches the numbers on the real hydrogen economy.(George W. Bush)
November 1, 2006... WHEN ASSESSING THE State of the Union in 2003, President Bush declared it was time to take a crucial step toward protecting our environment. He announced a $1.2 billion initiative to begin developing a national hydrogen infrastructure: a...

Lake George disaster: when 47 senior citizens boarded the Ethan Allen in upstate New York, the afternoon was ideal for a boat tour. An unstable vessel and an ill-timed wake caused it to end in tragedy.
November 1, 2006... On a warm afternoon last October at Lake George, N.Y., a group of 47 retirees from Michigan and Ohio climbed--some with the assistance of walkers--aboard the 38-ft. tour boat Ethan Allen. It was one of the last stops on a week-long fall foliage...

Home invaders: nice little house you got here ... be a shame if something happened to it.
November 1, 2006... We like nature on certain terms--as in, the less of it inside the house, the better. So perhaps you can understand what compelled C.W. Roseburr to smoke a family of raccoons out of his house in Kansas City, Mo., last May. Seems Roseburr had a...

Lab test digital camcorders.(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2006... Digital video cameras are changing fast. Multiple formats, a wide range of prices and an overwhelming selection give you more options than ever, but can also make shopping a confusing mess. Which technologies are essential and which are...

Movable feast: we designed a kitchen island that combines harvest table charm with uptown style. Here's how to make it.
November 1, 2006... When we set out to design our island, we aimed for something more than a kitchen-cabinet clone stranded in the middle of the room. Instead, we took our cue from the classic worktables of rural America, and blended in the utility you'd expect of...

Fan club: kit for dropped ceiling.(ceiling fan to be installed in dropped ceiling)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Can a ceiling fan be installed in a room with a dropped ceiling? The ceiling panels are about 8 ft. above the floor. Yes, with a couple of caveats. First, the ceiling must be high enough to keep the bottom of the fan blades at least 7 ft....

Heating with used oil.(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q Our house is heated with an oil-fired furnace. Can I put the used oil from my vehicles in the storage tank for use in the oil burner? If so, would it need to be filtered? A The short answer is no. Burning used oil in an oil burner that is...

Chain saw sharpening.(method)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... When you get that shiny new chain saw home and lay the cutting bar on its first log, the chain will virtually suck itself into the wood. But that feeling won't last. The chain races around the bar at about 60 mph; in 1 second approximately 600...

The corner store.(Homeowners Clinic)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q I have a 40-year-old ranch house that has wood siding with metal covers at the corners. Three or four of the corners are either damaged or have rust holes. I have looked everywhere for new corners but can't find any. What can I do to repair...

Razing the Roof.(Homeowners Clinic)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q I am planning on replacing my old roof shingles. There is only one layer of shingles on the roof now, and I'm fairly certain there is no felt underneath. Do I strip the roof and install felt with the new shingles, or do I just install the new...

Outdoor plumbing.(Homeowners Clinic)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q I have an outdoor faucet on the back wall of my house. It is a Watts antisiphon type and it's leaking around the plastic cover on top. Can this be repaired or do I have to replace the sillcock? A You can repair the faucet using an...

On the Farm.(Homeowners Clinic)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q I have an old farmhouse in Texas and the front of the porch joists are pretty rotted, as are the posts. Should I tear down the porch and build a new one of can it be saved? A It's far easier to build a new porch, but if the porch is...

Rowing bike.(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Hanging over the workbench in Jim Cosgrave's shop is a quote by Sir Humphry Davy, the 19th century chemist: "The most important of my discoveries has been suggested to me by my failures." Cosgrave, who spent 40 years as a mechanical engineer...

Changing a tire.
November 1, 2006... Like in the proverbial cheap novel, it's dark and stormy night. But this is real life and help is nowhere in sight. Nor is there any sign of civilization, a single bar of of cellphone signal strength or even a wide spot in the road. So, of...

Mixed signals.(Auto Clinic)(repairing turn signals )
November 1, 2006... Q The turn signals on my old Jeep flash really slowly when I'm signaling left turns, but work fine when I signal right. Even weirder is that if I have my motorcycle trailer hooked up, the left turn signal is fine, and the right side blinks...

An end to gas guzzling.(Auto Clinic)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q Why can't I siphon gas from my Toyota Corolla? A Starting right after the 1973 oil crisis, most car manufacturers designed the filler necks of their new cars with a baffle a few inches down to prevent people from siphoning fuel. And just...

Under cover.(CAR CARE: Auto Clinic)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q I have to keep my car parked outside at night. My son-in-law, who is a pretty good "Saturday mechanic" himself, yowls whenever I mention using a car cover. He says they scratch your car. I can't see how they can do any more damage than bird...

Highlights from tech service bulletins.(SERVICE TIPS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Power folding mirrors on your 2002-06 Escalade, H2 or other full-size GM SUV of pickup folding themselves back at highway speeds? According to Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 03-08-64-010B, the motor may have gotten out of sync with the mirror...

TESlite voltmeter leads.(YOU NEED THIS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... I probably have six voltmeters around my shop. Most of them have simple short leads that just conduct electricity from the circuit that I'm measuring. The toughest electrical fault to chase is a connection with a resistance, because the...

Light-foot.(CAR CARE: Auto Clinic)(how to avoid damage to car brakes)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q I have a 2003 Buick Century, I drive it 1 hour to work and 1 hour back home. Mostly 40- to 50-mph in-town traffic. I try not to brake suddenly for stop signs of traffic lights. I have no idea how long brake pads should last, but my pads are...

Hogging the party line.(Tech Clinic)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q My local cable provider is offering access speeds of up to 15 megabits per second (Mbps)--five times the speed of my existing broadband account. If I buy that plan, does everyone else's access suffer? A All cable modem users in a given...

Overexposure.(high dynamic range )(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q While browsing one of the photography blogs recently, I read about a digital effect called high dynamic range (HDR) photography. Can I make HDR images without professional software? A HDR can really make photos pop, creating images with...

Net neutrality.(Federal Trade Commission on regulations of net neutrality)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... 1 Who's fighting whom? As streaming video and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls increasingly gobble up bandwidth, Internet service providers (ISPs) such as AT&T, Comcast and Verizon want to implement tiered access--where...

What is the nugget, and what does it do?(a lump at the end of data cable)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... One of the minor mysteries of the electronics world is the small nugget at the end of many data cables. Some wires have it, some don't. Why? According to Jason Meyer, product manager for PC cable and peripheral manufacturer Belkin, the...

Follow your phone.(using navigation system in car)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Q I've been told that my new cellphone has a GPS antenna in it. Is there any way to hook up my phone so that I can safely use it as a navigation system in my car? A The first thing you should do is check the software that came with your...