Brandon Dimmel

Microsoft will be hoping the second time's the charm for the firm's Surface line of tablet computers. New reports say the Redmond, Washington-based company will unveil the Surface 2 at a September 23, 2013 media event in New York City. It's not yet ... clear what Microsoft has planned for its second version of the Surface. However, early reports suggest the device will, like its predecessor, come in two different versions. New Surface, New Hardware Specifications That means a Surface 2 Pro will come equipped with Intel's new 'Haswell' Core processor, while a cheaper and less powerful version will ... (view more)

EverNote 5.0.0.1137 Looking for a free alternative to Microsoft's pricy OneNote software? Then check out EverNote. It allows you to instantly and easily record and save your ideas. You can then access those ideas from any web-connected device. ... http://evernote.com Splash Lite 1.8.3 This high-definition media player is completely free. It allows to play all of your favorite clips and movies, whether they're downloaded over the Internet or recorded on a home camcorder. No additional codecs required, just download and watch! Please note that you'll need to enter your email address to initiate the ... (view more)

Video games are blamed for a lot of things -- exposing kids to violence, encouraging antisocial behaviour, and generally 'rotting' peoples' brains. But a new study finds that a computer game called 'NeuroRacer' can actually improve neurological (or ... brain) activity. In fact, the game is apparently having the most positive impact on players over age 60. NeuroRacer was specially designed for the Gazzaley Lab at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). There, neuroscientist Adam Gazzaley and a team of researchers have been using the game to test its impact on the neurological activity ... (view more)

PhoXo 8.1.0 This completely free but very useful tool allows you to edit your favorite digital images. Not only is it fast, it's also extremely easy to use -- in fact, it's promoted as a 'mini' PhotoShop. Features include special effects, batch ... processing, retouching, and more. http://www.phoxo.com Kindle for Android 4.2 This app allows you to access the popular Kindle e-reader software through your favorite Android-based device, such as a Samsung Galaxy smartphone or Google Nexus 7 tablet computer. Gain access to more than 800,000 e-books now. http://www.amazon.com This freeware software ... (view more)

After the National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance scandal broke earlier this year, many Internet users have attempted to protect their private data . In some cases this simply involves deleting temporary Internet files. Others, however, have ... gone a step further by using encryption techniques to protect sensitive information stored in emails and text messages. However, a new report from Britain's The Guardian newspaper and non-profit organization ProPublica reveals that the NSA has tools that allow it to read many encrypted messages. NSA Invests Billions in Decryption Research The report ... (view more)

SideSlide 3.5.18 SideSlide is a highly-customizable and accessible desktop extension tool. It allows you to clean up your desktop, making accessing your favorite files easier and faster than ever before. SideSlide uses containers and other ... innovative features to help you improve your productivity. http://www.northglide.com Wise Folder Hider 1.38.75 This program is designed to help you hide your most personal files and folders. It can be used with a personal computer or a removable device, like a portable hard drive or thumbstick USB drive. Folder Hider makes it easy to keep your personal data ... (view more)

Security experts say you should never use the same password twice. But for many of us that means having to remember a dozen or more different sets of login data. But what if your devices could identify you by your heartbeat? That's the idea behind ... Nymi, a new wristband developed by Toronto, Canada-based firm Bionym. According to reports, the wristband replaces passwords by identifying the wearer through electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors. In other words, a wearer's heartbeat is used to communicate authentication to a wide range of devices. Unique Heartbeats Make For Foolproof Security The ... (view more)

Restore Point Creator 1.3.22 Restore Point Creator helps you easily and efficiently create custom restore points on your computer. Once you've set up this program you won't ever have to worry about mindlessly searching through Windows menus to ... create a restore point. http://www.toms-world.org Blank And Secure 3.74 Delete your data once and for all with Blank and Secure. This program uses a radical process for deleting data that involves overwriting information with zeros prior to deletion. This makes it impossible for deleted data to be restored. http://www.softwareok.com This freeware ... (view more)

Looking for a laptop with battery life that lasts throughout the work day and all evening? Lenovo's new ThinkPad T440 uses dual batteries to achieve that feat. The 14-inch ThinkPad T440 comes in two versions -- the base T440 and the premium T440s. ... The former starts at just $899 and is available with Windows 7 or Windows 8. New ThinkPad Features Next-Gen Hardware Specifications The T440 weighs in at 1.76 kilograms, making it one of the lightest sub-$1,000 laptops on the market. For extra cash buyers can upgrade to a 1600 x 900 touchscreen display. The T440s, meanwhile, starts at just over $1, ... (view more)

Chasys Draw IES 4.12.05 This application suite includes an advanced image editor that allows users to create their own animations, convert image files, view images (quickly and efficiently) and process photographs. This suite is designed with ... multi-core processors in mind. http://www.jpchacha.com nLite 1.4.9.3 This program can help you avoid installing Windows components like Media Player, Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, MSN Explorer, and Messenger when performing a fresh install of Windows. In effect, it lets you choose to install only the components you'll use. http://www.nliteos.com ... (view more)