preview

Google announced earlier this week that it has enabled Instant Previews for Android handsets running Froyo (version 2.2) or later. Like its desktop counterpart, it allows you to see search results in a handy image format before clicking blindly on a link.

The feature is perfect for a number of scenarios, such as step-by-step instructions and how-to guides. What's more, providing a cached screenshot preview of the results is very convenient for smaller screens. I know I've grown frustrated by having to navigate the mobile browser back and forth, looking for the right page.

Instant Previews does … Read more

One of the unsung heroes of Apple's Mac OS X is the simple, yet incredibly powerful, Preview application. Using Preview, you can easily adjust your photos and get them ready for print, projects, and sharing. And best of all, it comes free on every Mac, bundled with OS X.

Many tips floating around the Internet will suggest using Adobe's Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to accomplish tasks like resizing and adjusting image resolution. Though these applications are great solutions, they can also be costly and somewhat complicated for new users. Photoshop can run as high as $199 for the … Read more

In the future, people sitting next to you on the couch with their Windows Phone 7 device will be able to jump in on a game you're playing on the Kinect.

At least that's the message being delivered by Microsoft in a technology demo video that shows off the company's vision it outlined earlier today in Barcelona during Mobile World Congress.

The technology preview, which runs less than a minute in length, shows off a male player going up against the computer in Rally Ball, a mini-game included in the Kinect Adventures title that ships with Microsoft'… Read more

We've been following the Chevrolet Cruze sedan's evolution from concept to production model. We've even taken a first drive in one. Now, as the 2011 Geneva auto show approaches, we get an early look at the production version of the Cruze's hatchback design.

Interestingly, the five-door Cruze's silhouette and roofline don't change all that much from those of the four-door model when viewed from the front quarter. However, when viewed in profile or from the rear quarter, the Cruze begins to resemble a bow-tie badged Subaru Impreza.

While a Geneva debut signals definite European … Read more

Microsoft reports its fiscal second-quarter earnings tomorrow afternoon, and much has changed for the company since its last, both good and bad.

There are some big new products in the pipeline like Kinect and Windows Phone 7, as well as enterprise-oriented tools like Lync. But there are also some new questions about the future of PC growth and Microsoft's health as a company with more key employee departures that are likely to have Wall Street asking some tough questions during the Q&A.

As far as expectations go, analysts surveyed by FactSet peg Microsoft's second quarter at … Read more

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which we answer questions e-mailed from our readers. This week we have questions on RAM modules not working in one PowerBook RAM slot, options for viewing alternative region DVDs, and a Windows 7 taskbar "Preview" option in OS X. We continually answer e-mail questions, and though we present a few here, we certainly welcome alternative approaches and views from readers and encourage you to post your suggestions in the comments.

Question: RAM not working in one slot

MacFixIt reader Donald asks:

G4 Powerbook, 15", 1.67GHz, Early 2005. I have 2x1GB … Read more

Magnepan, based in White Bear Lake, Minn., has built nothing but flat-panel speakers since 1969. The company will be premiering a new speaker, the MG 3.7, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, from January 6-9. To some this may appear to be a deja vu event, mirroring last year's introduction of the MG 1.7, which turned out to be one of my speaker of the year picks for 2010.

But I wouldn't want you to think of Magnepan as one of those companies that rolls out "all new" models every year. The … Read more

The great thing about search engines is that they can return pages and pages of results on just about any topic you can imagine. The bad thing, though, is that there's often no way to know anything about those results before you click on them. Are they legitimate, or are they spam, or even porn? BetterSearch is a Firefox extension that gives users more control over their search results by providing previews and other helpful features.

BetterSearch installs easily in Firefox and then integrates seamlessly with the search results of several major search engines, including Google, Yahoo, and Bing. … Read more

While we haven't really been impressed with gaming's presence at the last few CES shows, there does seem to be some evidence that 2011 might be different. Given the news that Nintendo will be making an appearance in Las Vegas, we're anxious to see if the company will be offering a more in-depth look at the next portable gaming system to hit around springtime, the 3DS.

There is also a growing buzz surrounding what's arguably 3D's best platform: video games. Expect to see more 3D HDTV manufacturers showcasing their products' prowess while hooked up to … Read more