dock

Tweak your system safely

If you're not already a pro at using the command line, OnyX is a solid choice for conducting routine maintenance and tweaking the interface on your Mac. This free utility shares much of the functionality of applications like Cocktail (which its help files suspiciously resemble), and it can help you with everything from checking SMART status on your disks to configuring the Dock, Finder, and Dashboard and Expose to your liking.

OnyX can even help you run Unix utilities, change your desktop to an animated background, and unlock hidden functions in apps like Safari and iTunes. As with all … Read more

OS X Desktop backgrounds gray after waking from sleep

A problem some Mac users have been experiencing with OS X Lion is an issue where their desktop backgrounds are showing as a bland gray color instead of the designated picture or pattern. This happens randomly after the systems have been woken from sleep, and when it occurs, the background will not change even if you manually try to reset it.

It appears that this occurrence is a problem with the management of multiple monitors and desktops, which in OS X is the responsibility of the Dock. When this problem happens, you can usually correct it by using Activity Monitor … Read more

Five-deal Friday: A MacBook Air for $650, an iDevice speaker dock for $16, and more!

It's been a rough week for the Cheapskate. The blog, I mean, not the man. (I'm doing fine.) First that super-cheap powerline Ethernet kit sold out in what seemed like minutes, then yesterday's free DVD ripper caused all kinds of confusion (as these things always seem to do, despite my best efforts at making the instructions clear).

But do I buckle? Do I bend? Hell, no! I come roaring back with a week's worth of goodies in a single post! Because no way can five deals sell out. Bring it on, universe!

1. This is probably … Read more

Rumor: Apple's iOS dock ports headed for a diet

What's one thing that's basically stayed pretty much the same throughout the entire lifespan of iOS devices? The dock port.

But that could change soon, according to a new report. iMore says that Apple is on the cusp of switching to a smaller version as part of a move to save space and make room for other components in its portable devices.

How soon that change is headed to a device is as unclear as ever though. iMore suggests it won't be the next iPad, but could be the next iPhone. … Read more

Kickstarter racks up over $2 million for two projects

"WoooooooooOOOOoooOoOoooOOooo! We did it! 100% funded in just over eight hours. You people are amazing!," read the Kickstarter page for Tim Schafer's Double Fine Adventure today.

This was one of two projects to hit $1 million in donations today from the crowd-source funding platform Kickstarter.

According to Kickstarter, every week, tens of thousands of people pledge millions of dollars to projects listed on its site. But never has a project topped $1 million, much less two in one day.

One of the projects is the Elevation Dock designed by Casey Hopkins, the founder of ElevationLab in Portland, … Read more

JVC nightstand pulls double duty as iPhone dock

Like to recharge your iPhone overnight? Listen to tunes while getting dressed? Set the mood during a romantic evening? Are you, perhaps, a fan of monochromatic art-deco furniture?

Also, do you have more money than you know what to do with?

JVC has the product for you: the N-BX3 iPhone/iPod nightstand speaker. No, it's not a speaker that sits on your nightstand; it is a nightstand, one with a pretty powerful audio pedigree.

The N-BX3 comes in black or white (to match your iDevice, natch) with a glass tabletop and front-facing iPhone/iPod dock. It also packs an … Read more

Multi-deal Monday: Save big on tablets, speaker docks, and more!

I learned a lesson last week: BlackBerry PlayBook owners are a passionate bunch! My mere suggestion that the tablet was not long for the world (along with a couple forehead-smacking factual errors) elicited a response that I can only describe as fanboy-esque.

Even a RIM rep reached out to insist, "RIM remains committed to the BlackBerry PlayBook." Time will tell, of course, but I'm glad to see the product has such a vocal fan-base. I'm going to see if I can get some hands-on time with a PlayBook so I'm better informed about it next … Read more

iPhone running on empty? Recharge with an old book

As more and more people turn to e-books and tablets for their reading needs, there are stacks of books gathering dust on shelves, or even worse, being tossed into the trash (for shame!). Thankfully, one California couple is out to rescue these neglected and unappreciated treasures.

Richard and Brenna Neeley from Cerritos, Calif., take old and vintage books, as well as some new ones, and convert them into charging docks for iOS devices. Each dock is handmade to order and features a power cord (wall adapter not included) threaded through the book, with a slot on the front cover to dock your iPhone or iPod. … Read more

Get an Altec Lansing iPhone speaker dock for $49.99

Quick housekeeping note: I apologize to those of you who had difficulty on Friday getting the Acronis True Image freebie. When I wrote about the deal that morning, I'd followed the instructions, received my license keys (there were two), and successfully activated the software. I wish I could explain why some of you had a different experience, but I can't.

However, as some commenters noted, there are a number of extremely good backup programs that are always free--not the least of which is the one built into Windows 7. Other solid choices: Easeus Todo Backup and Macrium Reflect Free. … Read more