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Computerworld Reviews

These are the latest reviews posted by Computerworld and several of our sister sites. You can also search a database of Computerworld reviews (from 2007 to the present) .

Latest Reviews

Election fever: 6 mobile apps that can keep you informed
The race to the U.S. presidency is on, and there are mobile apps out there to help keep you informed. We review 6 iOS and Android apps to see how well they do the job.

NextAdvisor picks its top cloud storage services for consumers
Product review site NextAdvisor.com now offers rankings of cloud storage services.

Microsoft fixes Windows 8 Consumer Preview launch event for Feb. 29
Microsoft said it will host a launch event for the Windows 8 beta on Feb. 29 in Barcelona, the site of the Mobile World Congress.

Microsoft drops Start button from Windows 8, reports say
Microsoft will scratch the 17-year-old Start button from Windows 8, according to reports based on a purported leak of the latest beta build.

Review: Intel's new 'Cherryville' SSD 520 drive
Intel today started shipping its fastest solid-state drive to date, the 520 Series SSD, sporting its smallest 25nm NAND flash memory and SandForce's SATA 3.0 controller with 500MB/sec-plus performance.

Image gallery: 5 online backup services keep your data safe
Backing up can be easier if you send your data to the cloud. We look at 5 of the most well-known online backup services to see how they compare.

5 online backup services keep your data safe
Backing up can be easier if you send your data to the cloud. We look at five of the best-known online backup services to see how they compare.

Sanitize your hard drives with Drive eRazer Ultra
Drive eRazer Ultra can wipe your hard drives in a variety of ways to make sure that any data that resided on it is completely and unalterably gone.

Microsoft sets Office 15 public beta for summer 2012
Microsoft announced it has kicked off a 'technical preview' of the next version of its money-making Office suite and promised a public beta will ship this summer.

6 Google Chrome remixes worth trying out
Chromium-based spinoffs bring privacy, security, social networking, and other interesting twists to Google's Chrome browser.

Upstart Mobile OS Tizen Previews Code
An alpha release of the source code for the Tizen open-source operating system, aimed at giving Android and iOS a run for their money, is now available for download.

US Commission probing if India intercepted its emails
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) has asked for an investigation after hackers posted online a memo purportedly from India's military, which claimed that the country had intercepted emails of USCC officials with the help of Nokia, Research In Motion, and Apple.

Three HTML5 animation tools: Adobe Edge, Sencha Animator, Tumult Hype
HTML5 developers might want some help in dealing with a steep learning curve. We review three applications that can help. Insider (registration required)

Image gallery: Which Linux desktop is for you?
The four top Linux distributions -- Fedora, Mint, openSUSE and Ubuntu -- differ widely in their approach to the desktop. We look at all four and figure out which is right for you.

Fedora, Mint, openSUSE, Ubuntu: Which Linux desktop is for you?
The four top Linux distributions -- Fedora, Mint, openSUSE and Ubuntu -- differ widely in their approach to the desktop. We look at all four and figure out which is right for you.

QuickPoll: What was the top story of 2011?
IT made headlines throughout 2011, from social media's role in Arab Spring to the popularity of Google's Android and Google+ and more. What was the top story of the year?

Is anyone really using Windows 8's preview?
Although millions have downloaded Microsoft's Windows 8 developer preview, relatively few are actually using it, Web measurements show.

Goodbye 2011 ... What a year!
Gibbs ponders the year that just shot past ...

Hands-on: The ReadyNAS NV+ provides serious storage for prosumers
Netgear's ReadyNAS NV+ device includes storage for up to four 1TB hard drives along with three levels of RAID synchronization. Insider (registration required)

In depth: Using the Kindle Fire vs. the Kobo Vox vs. the Nook Tablet
Preston Gralla worked on the three new color e-readers -- the Kindle Fire, Kobo Vox and Nook Tablet -- and reports on his experiences and preferences.

Hands-on: The Velocity Solo offers an easy upgrade to SATA 3.0
Apricorn's Velocity Solo upgrade kit gives older Windows PCs the ability to read SATA 3.0 hard drive and SSDs.

10 must-have tools for cloud power users
All it takes is a few simple browser add-ons and other tools to unlock the potential of the Web's most popular services including Gmail, Dropbox and more.

Microsoft slates Windows 8 beta for late February 2012
Microsoft yesterday confirmed that it will release a public beta of Windows 8 -- and open its Windows Store to the public -- in late February.

Ultrabooks hit the shelves: Acer Aspire S3 vs. Asus Zenbook UX31
The new line of ultrabook notebooks are thin, lightweight and elegant. But do they deliver all they promise? We put Acer's Aspire S3 and Asus' Zenbook UX31 to the test.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime: The Rolls-Royce of Android tablets
The new Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is a bright, fully-equipped quad-core Android tablet that blows the competition out of the water -- but all that power comes at a cost.

In-depth: Google's Ice Cream Sandwich -- a new era for Android
From power to polish, Google's Ice Cream Sandwich delivers a massive burst of energy to the Android platform. Here's a detailed review of what's new and how it measures up.

Image gallery: Google's Ice Cream Sandwich -- a new era for Android
From power to polish, Google's Ice Cream Sandwich delivers a massive burst of energy to the Android platform. Here's a close-up look at many of its new features.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Pure Google, pure delight
Samsung's Galaxy Nexus, which will run Google's new Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) OS, looks like the next smartphone to beat.

Analysis: Kindle Fire, Nook Tablet, Kobo Vox
Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo are all vying for the dollars of those consumers who want either a high-end e-reader or low-end tablet. What does the race look like?

Siri for Android -- sort of
Are you an Android user but longing for the functionality of Siri's voice recognition? We look at a variety of interesting apps.

Image gallery: Alfresco -- an open-source ECM alternative for SharePoint
Microsoft's SharePoint ECM system can be expensive; companies may be able to find an alternative in Alfresco, or make do with simpler document management systems.

Alfresco: An open-source ECM alternative for SharePoint
Microsoft's SharePoint ECM system can be expensive; companies may be able to find an alternative in Alfresco, or make do with simpler document management systems. Insider (registration required)

Hands-on: Zaggfolio Bluetooth keyboard case for the iPad 2
The Zaggfolio wireless keyboard/case combination offers iPad 2 users the ability to protect their tablets and type comfortably as well.

Image gallery: 5 office suites for Android phones
We look at five Android office suites that allow you to create and edit word processing docs, spreadsheets and presentations.

5 office suites for Android phones
We look at five Android office suites that allow you to create and edit word processing docs, spreadsheets and presentations.

Image gallery: Google's new Gmail
Google usually offers tweaks to its various online apps in dribs and drabs, without much notice -- a new feature here, a slightly revamped one there. But its new redesign of Gmail, Google is pushing out several rather radical changes in one swell foop.

3 Bluetooth keyboards for Android tablets
A Bluetooth keyboard can add a whole new dimension to your Android tablet. We highlight three excellent and affordable options.

Hands on: Samsung's Stratosphere smartphone doesn't quite reach orbit
Samsung's new Stratosphere Android smartphone comes with a slide-out keyboard and 5GHz Wi-Fi, but it could get lost amid its slicker competition.

5 iPad gadgets for geeks
If you're not content with simply surfing or watching videos on your iPad, we've found 5 cool and useful tech add-ons.

First look: Motorola Droid Razr is razr-sharp
Running on Verizon's 4G LTE network, this super-svelte Gingerbread-based smartphone offers top-shelf hardware and some nice extras.

Hands on: iPhone 4S 'meets every expectation, and then some'
With a noticeably faster dual-core A5 processor, more storage, an improved 8-megapixel camera, a revamped antenna design and an AI assistant called Siri, the new iPhone impresses.

Image gallery: Posterous Spaces vs. Tumblr
A new wave of free blogging sites, headed by Posterous Spaces and Tumblr, encourage social networking and sharing. We test the two services head to head.

Microblogger shootout: Posterous Spaces vs. Tumblr
A new wave of free blogging sites, headed by Posterous Spaces and Tumblr, encourage social networking and sharing. We test the two services head to head.

Western Digital's new drives expand laptop storage to 1TB
Western Digital breaks new ground with its 1TB Scorpio Blue internal SATA hard drives for laptop computers.

Image gallery: Windows Phone 7 Mango edition adds features, polish
Mango, the latest version of Microsoft's Windows Phone 7, adds new social networking features and other useful tweaks to the OS.

Hands-on: Windows Phone 7 Mango edition adds features, polish
Mango, the latest version of Microsoft's Windows Phone 7, adds new social networking features and other useful tweaks to the OS.

Lenovo ThinkStation C20: A compact, powerful and pricey business PC
Lenovo's ThinkStation C20 compact workstation saves space and supports high-end graphics.

One week with Samsung's Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch
Samsung's Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch is one of the best Android-based phones you can buy right now -- but it may not be the right choice for everyone.

A deep dive into Windows 8 Developer Preview
Preston Gralla spends several days working with Windows 8 on a PC, and reports on his experiences.

Hands-on: 5 wireless keyboards for the iPad
Some typists can't make do with the iPad 2's on-screen keypad. Here are 5 wireless keyboards that could make for faster, more accurate typing.

A week with the Motorola Droid Bionic: Too much of a good thing?
After using Motorola's Droid Bionic for a week, our reviewer enjoyed its interface and admired its performance -- but he found its short battery life a real problem.

Visual tour: Windows 8 goes Metro
Microsoft's next operating system is not designed for your parents -- or is it? Take a look and see what could be on your next PC, or tablet.

Image gallery: 11 Android apps to boost speed, battery life and more
These 11 Android apps can help you increase the efficiency and speed of your mobile device.

11 Android apps to boost speed, battery life and more
These 11 Android apps can help you increase the efficiency and speed of your mobile device.

Windows 8 snags an early thumbs-up
Microsoft's long-awaited deeper look at Windows 8 on Tuesday has piqued consumer interest, according to a company that scores online news and social media trends.

First look: Windows Server 8 improves scalability and scope
Windows 8 offers more sophisticated virtualization, better management tools and a design that incorporates mobile computing into the mix.

First look: The two faces of Windows 8 Developer Preview
The first download of Windows 8 Developer Preview reveals an operating system with two different interfaces: a traditional desktop and a smartphone-like Metro.

Image gallery: Drupal vs. Joomla vs. WordPress
We review three of the top free site-building applications -- Drupal, Joomla and WordPress -- to see which has the most tools, offers the best features, and is the easiest to set up.

Site builder shootout: Drupal vs. Joomla vs. WordPress
We review three of the top free site-building applications -- Drupal, Joomla and WordPress -- to see which has the most tools, offers the best features, and is the easiest to set up.

Microsoft opens Windows 8 preview to all
Taking a different tack than it did three years ago, Microsoft has made a preview of Windows 8 available to anyone who takes the time to download it.

A week with the ViewSonic ViewPad 10pro Windows/Android tablet
The ViewSonic ViewPad 10pro tablet offers a dual Windows 7/Android environment for travelers who need both operating systems.

Hands on: Norton Internet Security 2012 adds performance features
Symantec's Norton Internet Security 2012 has added a number of new and improved features, including a startup manager and better site monitoring, among others.

Masterful mousing: 6 out-of-the-ordinary laptop mice
We look at six laser mice that offer unusual, interesting and useful features for better laptop control.

3D laptops: Asus G74sx vs. Toshiba Qosmio X775
We look at 3D laptops from Asus and Toshiba, which offer high performance mobile media, gaming and presentations.

How We Tested the Palo Alto PA-5060 firewall
We assessed the performance of the Palo Alto PA-5060 firewall using three sets of tests, covering rates with mixed content, rates with static content, and TCP connection behavior. Two pairs of Spirent Avalanche 3100 GT traffic generator/analyzers, each equipped with two 10G Ethernet interfaces, served as the primary test tool.

Palo Alto earns short list status
Palo Alto Networks has injected excitement and innovation into the firewall market with its "next-generation" appliances that combine traditional firewalls, threat mitigation technologies such as anti-malware and intrusion prevention, and the new magic dust of application identification.

What is a next-generation firewall?
If there is a simple way to describe the difference between a next-generation firewall and a traditional firewall, it is "more detailed controls." In firewall terms, people talk about "widening the 5-tuple."

Hands on: Norton Mobile Security protects your Android phone
Norton Mobile Security, Symantec's new Android app, can protect your smartphone against malware, phishing, theft and spam.

Image gallery: Google Docs reconsidered
Google has steadily upgraded Google Docs, its online office suite, over the past two years. We take a look at some of the improvements that have been added.

Google Docs reconsidered
Google has steadily upgraded Google Docs, its online office suite, over the past two years. We take a look at some of the improvements that have been added.

Image gallery: 6 tools that help businesses tame Twitter
Twitter can be a valuable platform for communications and engaging customers, but only if you can manage it effectively and sift through the clutter. Here are six tools that can help.

6 tools that help businesses tame Twitter
Twitter can be a valuable platform for communications and engaging customers, but only if you can manage it effectively and sift through the clutter. Here are six tools that can help.

Hands on: iTwin shares files without a cloud in sight
The iTwin allows you to share files with another computer remotely without depending on a cloud service or other external server.

Hands on: The Google+ Android app is a winner
An Android app allows Google+ members to keep up with the new social networking service on their smartphones.

Hands on with Microsoft Forefront Identity Manager 2010
The software works very well, but its biggest problem is its cost. Only the largest enterprises will be able to use it.

Hands on: Motorola's Droid 3 is almost an awesome phone
The Droid 3 brings honor to the family name. Except for missing 4G functionality, it's darn near perfect.

Windows 7 business tablets: Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 vs. Motion CL900
New tablets from Fujitsu and Motion Computing provide companies with Windows 7 systems in ruggedized, enterprise-level devices.

Hands-on: Belkin N750 DB router extends your Wi-Fi's reach
The Belkin N750 DB dual-band router can extend the reach of your Wi-Fi using an upgraded antenna system and improved signal-focusing technology.

Hands-on: Facebook Video Calling vs. Google+ Hangout
Video chat is turning out to be a popular feature for social networking; we tried out both Facebook's new Video Calling and Google+ Hangout.

Hands-on: HP's TouchPad has great features but is no show-stopper
HP's new TouchPad tablet offers a slick interface and some nice features, but this won't be enough to help it compete with the iPad

Gmail gets a Google+-like makeover
Google is giving Gmail users a glimpse of design updates that will roll out over the next few months.

Image Gallery: Google+ lets you hang with a small (or large) circle of friends
Google+, the search giant's latest try at social networking, lets users limit who gets which message -- a strategy that could eventually challenge Facebook's "one list fits all" approach.

First look: Google+ lets you hang with a small (or large) circle of friends
Google+, the search giant's latest try at social networking, lets users limit who gets which message -- a strategy that could eventually challenge Facebook's "one list fits all" approach.

Hands on with the HP TouchPad
I spent half an hour in a meeting, using HP's new TouchPad tablet, before someone realized I wasn't using an iPad. That says a lot about this product--due to be released Friday--and not just in superficial ways.

10 drive docks help you re-use old hard drives
If you don't want to waste older internal hard drives, one of these 10 drive docks can help you expand your external storage.

Hands on: T-Mobile's mobile hotspot offers speed and flexibility
No. 4 wireless carrier T-Mobile has joined its larger rivals in offering its customers a mobile hotspot. How does the device -- and network -- stack up?

Mobile hotspots: AT&T, Sprint and Verizon compete on price, features, speed
Mobile hotspots provide a convenient way to get online when you're on the road. We put the latest models offered by AT&T, Sprint and Verizon to the test.

In-depth: Google's Chrome OS and Samsung's Chromebook
Samsung and Acer have shipped their Chromebooks, which use Google's new Chrome OS to trade the desktop for the cloud. We take a close look at the hardware and the OS.

First Look: Motorola's Photon 4G calls and computes
The latest Android smartphone from Sprint and Motorola offers nice features and a dock that can turn it into a desktop computer.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: A slim and sexy Android tablet
Samsung's new Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet is slim and sexy, with a great display and the latest version of Android 3.1 (Honeycomb). But it isn't perfect.

First look: The Kobo eReader Touch Edition
The Kobo eReader Touch Edition offers e-reading at its simplest; a touch interface and reasonable price could make it a competitor.

Hands on: Can the ThinkPad X1 take on the MacBook Air?
Lenovo's ThinkPad X1offers business-class performance and a durable display in a stylish ultrathin case.

First look: Google Music
Google Music is now available in beta and it looks like it's going to be a real contender against Amazon's Cloud Player and even Apple's iTunes.

Hands on: Droid Charge is cool but costly
Samsung's new Droid Charge offers a superb display, a large battery and Verizon's fast 4G LTE network for a cool $300.

Two laptops mean business: HP EliteBook 8460p vs. Lenovo ThinkPad L420
These new laptops from HP and Lenovo are meant for business travelers who need reliable, durable and up-to-date technology.

Hands-on: The Crucial M4 SSD boosts read and write performance
The Crucial M4 SSD offers better performance than previous SSDs, and it costs less.

Image gallery: Evernote vs. Springpad
Evernote and Springpad both collect any and all digital info so that you can find it when and where you need it. How well do they work and which works better?

Try to remember: Evernote vs. Springpad
Evernote and Springpad both collect any and all digital info so that you can find it when and where you need it. How well do they work and which works better?

Image gallery: 4 remote-desktop services
These services let you connect to another computer over the Internet without much hassle in setting things up. Which option gives you the most (remote) control for your money?

Hands-on: 4 remote-desktop services
These services let you connect to another computer over the Internet without much hassle in setting things up. Which option gives you the most (remote) control for your money?


To search a database of Computerworld reviews from 2007 by date, product or product category, see page 2.


Blogs

Transformer Prime Wi-Fi performance: A hands-on test

Does Asus's Transformer Prime have a Wi-Fi performance problem? I tested it head-to-head against other Android devices to find out.

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Asus's Transformer Prime TF700T: Some important perspective

Asus has announced a new version of its highly rated Transformer Prime tablet: the TF700T. So what's this new device all about, and what does its arrival mean for the original Transformer Prime?

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Oops! Signs of Google 'dogfooding' visible on Verizon Galaxy Nexus

Verizon's new Galaxy Nexus seems to have a remaining sign of Google's internal testing process, generally referred to as "dogfooding."

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Verizon Galaxy Nexus: Hands-on impressions

Verizon's Galaxy Nexus is similar to the international model I reviewed last month, but it does sport a few noteworthy differences.

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Asus Transformer Prime: To buy or not to buy?

The Asus Transformer Prime is the best Android tablet you could buy right now, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the right purchase for everyone.

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Hands on: Asus Transformer Prime -- the world's first quad-core tablet

Asus's Transformer Prime is sleek, sexy, and more powerful than any other tablet to date. So what's it like to actually use? Here are my first impressions.

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Android 4.0 and the Galaxy Nexus: My in-depth reviews

With Ice Cream Sandwich and the Galaxy Nexus, Google's Android operating system has really grown up. I've spent the past several days exploring the hardware and software to get a full understanding of what they have to offer.

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A snapshot of Android 4.0's cool new photo sharing features

Google's Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is full of interesting surprises, like the new user-friendly features built in for photo sharing.

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Galaxy Nexus review roundup, LTE release date Monday?

Galaxy Nexus The embargoes have expired, and here come the Samsung Galaxy Nexus reviews. They're pretty positive, but we're still unsure about the Galaxy Nexus LTE release date in North America. One quote from a Google spokesperson seems to say Monday, but there's more than a little doubt about the interpretation. In IT Blogwatch, bloggers contribute to Richi's review roundup. Not to mention: I Believe I can Fly...
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Hands on: Google's Galaxy Nexus and Android Ice Cream Sandwich

I've been spending some hands-on time with Google's Galaxy Nexus and Android Ice Cream Sandwich this week -- and boy, oh boy, are we in for a treat.

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