The SPOT Satellite Messenger gives outdoor thrill seekers a little extra insurance: It lets the folks back home track their progress, and learn when they’re OK or when they’re in trouble. However, the device isn’t perfect.
We tested Meebo, Adium and Digsby, free instant-messaging programs that work by being a one-stop shop for online communication. All three are straightforward and work without much effort or instruction.
If you’ve heard of Twitter but don’t exactly know what it is or how it works, you’re in good company. In the past two months a bunch of my friends, ranging in age from early 20s to late 30s, have asked me about Twitter–or Tweeter, as one person accidentally called it. To clear things up, I’ve put together a basic Twitter guide that explains how to use it, Twitter lingo, privacy options, mobile applications that can be used with the service and problems that it has.
Edited by Walt and written by Katie Boehret, this is a guide to gadgets, web services and other consumer technologies.
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Here is a statement of my ethics and coverage policies. It is more than most of you want to know, but, in the age of suspicion of the media, I am laying it all out.