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Cloud Engines' Pogoplug devices have evolved from basic network-attached-storage tools into full-fledged streaming, backup, and sharing systems. Pretty cool ones, too.

Want a state-of-the-art model for a standard-edition price? While supplies last, Best Buy has the Pogoplug Series 4 for $49.99 plus sales tax. That's half off the list price, and about $30 less than you'll find it elsewhere.

The only catch? It appears to be sold out online. You'll have to hit your local Best Buy store. (Call or check online first to make sure they're still in stock.)

The Pogoplug works like … Read more

There's no point in wasting valuable hard-drive space by keeping it cluttered with duplicate files. Duplicates happen to just about everybody at some point, whether they're the result of accidental multiple downloads, the byproduct of importing and renaming images, or some other mundane activity. Duplicate File Hunter is an easy-to-use tool that can help you locate, compare, and delete duplicate files. We've reviewed a lot of programs of this type, and Duplicate File Hunter is definitely one of the most straightforward, though not necessarily the most sophisticated.

Duplicate File Hunter's interface is all business. There are … Read more

Time was that fools masquerading as Windows users could delete just about any file in the system, with immediate and disastrous consequences. Windows has gotten better about keeping users from deleting critical system files, to the point that it sometimes keeps you from deleting files you should be able to delete because they're in use, locked, or otherwise busy. Free File Unlocker from 4dots software restores your ability to wreak havoc on your operating system by giving you the power to unlock and delete files that are currently in use, locked, busy, or undeletable for various reasons. Used carefully, … Read more

WiseCleaner's Wise Disk Cleaner Professional is now free to all home users, so we took a look at it to see how it fared against the large and growing field of freeware system cleaners. We found it easy to use but thorough, with expert options (and frequent warnings to keep novices from trying them) though most users will find Wise Disk Cleaner's default settings perfectly safe.

Wise Disk Cleaner's interface leans toward the "clean and simple" end of the system utility style chart, with none of the huge fonts and overbearing logos found in some … Read more

4Sync creates a folder that allows you to access files from any Internet-connected device.

Creating a new account simply requires an e-mail and password. After registration, 4Sync guides you through a series of pages telling you about all the great things it can do, but at the end of the day, it's a synced folder in the cloud.

If you've ever used similar services (like Dropbox), you should feel right at home: 4Sync creates a folder under My Documents (PC) that acts as your primary folder. If you have 4Sync installed on other PCs/Macs or smartphones, then … Read more

Apple has filed a patent application detailing a better process for encoding and transmitting data over Bluetooth.

The patent application, uncovered by AppleInsider, was refiled back in February as a continuation of a December 2008 patent application and shows Apple's continued commitment to get the best performance from its mobile, battery-powered devices.

"Data Format Conversion for Electronic Devices" seeks to improve your iDevice's battery by simplifying the data conversion process that occurs when sending information to other devices via Bluetooth connections.

Data sent over a Bluetooth connection must be compressed due to limited transmission capacity of … Read more

We've seen many file-deleting utilities. Most are freeware offering "secure" file deletion by overwriting files on your disk multiple times until the data is unrecoverable. Kevin Solway's Delete Doctor is a bit different. It's designed to delete those files that just don't want to leave your system, such as viruses and malware, files in shared folders, and files currently in use. To that end, it offers four different methods for removing files from your system. This simple freeware also has drag-and-drop capability.

Delete Doctor's interface is compact but efficient, beginning with an entry … Read more

Chances are that you've deleted a file by accident. Sometimes you're lucky enough to still have it lingering around in your recycle bin, other times you panic after realizing you emptied it three days ago.

Undela is a Windows application that seeks to give you a second chance with your deleted files. Much like a similar app named Recuva, this app will attempt to analyze your free disk space for deleted data and display a result list of its findings. Once you find the file you're seeking in the list, you're just a … Read more

Tim Cook has twice been placed atop the list of highest-paid CEOs in recent weeks, and a new legal filing suggests he's not particularly greedy for more.

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission today, Apple notes that Cook will not be taking the dividend equivalents on his restricted units, a detail of considerable importance given the grant of 1 million restricted stock units last year.

"At Mr. Cook's request, none of his restricted stock units will participate in dividend equivalents," the company said in the filing, which was flagged by MacRumors. &… Read more