Brad Moon
Editor Computing solutions
I’m a long-time electronics and gadget geek who’s been fortunate enough to enjoy a career that lets me indulge this interest. I have been writing about technology for several decades for a wide range of outlets including Wired, Gizmodo, Lifehacker, MSN, About.com, Kiplinger, and GeekDad. I’m in my 10th year as a senior contributor for Forbes with a focus on reviewing music-related tech, Apple gear, battery power stations and other consumer electronics. My day job is with the Malware Research Center at AI-native cybersecurity pioneer CrowdStrike.
I’m a long-time electronics and gadget geek who’s been fortunate enough to enjoy a career that lets me indulge this interest. I have been writing about technology for several decades for a wide range of outlets including Wired, Gizmodo, Lifehacker, MSN, About.com, Kiplinger, and GeekDad. I’m in my 10th year as a senior contributor for Forbes with a focus on reviewing music-related tech, Apple gear, battery power stations and other consumer electronics. My day job is with the Malware Research Center at AI-native cybersecurity pioneer CrowdStrike.
HP Darkside: Star Wars themed laptop brings the power of the dark side
HP just released a new laptop. It has a 6th generation (Skylake) Intel Core i5 CPU, 12GB of RAM, a 15.6-inch Full HD display and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce 940M graphics card for gaming. All this is great, but what really matters is the look. No sleek machined aluminum or magnesium, this thing is battle-worn, covered with dark side graphics and glowing an ominous red. It’s the new HP Star Wars Galactic Empire Edition Laptop. And I want it …
What’s new with Microsoft this fall
Microsoft is on a roll. Windows 10 is so much better than Windows 8—worthy of skipping an iteration number altogether—Office 2016 is out and the company topped off the software announcements with several big hardware releases. The Surface Pro 4 and all new Surface Book convertible laptop are turning heads on the portable PC front, while new a new Microsoft Band hits the red hot wearables market and long-awaited Lumia flagship smartphones bring the best of Windows 10 to mobile. Microsoft has plenty to look forward to this fall.
Options for low cost portable gaming
One of our readers posted a question in the Plug-in forum, looking for advice on an affordable laptop or tablet for playing Minecraft. Beside showcasing what a great resource the forums are, that question reflects a buying decision that many parents are facing as we head into the holiday season. What options are there for low cost gaming?
Pebble Time Steel review: Colour display and Timeline UI update the smartwatch pioneer
The original Pebble went from Kickstarter smash to the first true smartwatch hit. With the Pebble Time Steel, the pioneering device has grown up, adding a colour display and a new user interface. And it still plays nice with both Android and iOS. After spending a week with a Pebble Time Steel, I still haven’t managed to kill the battery. Here’s the full scoop on my experience.
Microsoft unveils the Surface Pro 4
If you’re a fan of Microsoft’s Surface tablets or 2-in-1 convertible laptops in general, there’s some pretty big news today in the form of the Surface Pro 4. Thinner, lighter, faster, new accessories (plus compatibility with the old) and the ability to log into Windows 10 using facial recognition. Here’s the scoop on the latest version of Microsoft’s professional tablet/laptop hybrid.
Introducing the new Surface Book, Microsoft’s first ever laptop
With the introduction of the Surface line of tablets (or 2-in-1 laptops) in 2012, Microsoft officially entered the PC hardware business. Today, it took that involvement to the next level after unveiling its first ever laptop, the all-new Surface Book.
Why a 4K computer monitor makes even more sense than a 4K TV
Watching movies in 4K is awesome, but great as a 4K TV is, a 4K computer monitor connected to a PC that can drive it at full resolution can be even better.
Why add a second display?
One of the key features of your laptop is its compact, portable form factor. Open it up and you have a fully functional, self-contained PC, complete with a built-in monitor. Snap the lid closed and you can scoop it up and take it anywhere. So why would you want to add a second display? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose? Actually, an external monitor is one of the best additions you can make to any laptop, and it’s a useful addition to a desktop PC as well.
An IP Security Camera is Helping Me Care for My Injured Dog
IP cameras are best known for home security, or for installation in a baby’s nursery. I recently found another use for the connected cameras we have as part of our security system: I repurposed them to monitor our injured dog. Because of the real-time feed from the cameras, we are able to leave her for short periods of time, the vet has video proof of her recovery process and our household is much closer to normal than it would have been otherwise. In fact, I’m not sure how we could have pulled this off without remote camera access.
Three ClearStream HD antennas compared: free over the air content for your HDTV
Who wouldn’t want to get HD TV content for free? That’s the promise of three HD antennas from Antennas Direct, the ClearStream C1, ClearStream C4 and ClearStream Amplified Indoor Digital TV antenna. Hook one of these up to your TV and you can cut the cord, getting uncompressed high definition TV channels without paying cable or satellite fees. Here’s how I made out on my quest for free (and legal) HD television.
