If you do a lot of writing, a desktop dictionary tool can be a powerful asset. With it, you can highlight a word within any program and then click the dictionary icon in your menu bar, which will open a new Web browser window containing the definition of the word.

Backing up your data rarely is an easy undertaking, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. But as the sheer volume of information we need to protect has grown, the physical media--recordable CDs or DVDs--many people use for backups hasn't really kept pace. So when it comes time to backup 40 GB of photos, files, or records, your only choice for local backup might seem to be to buy a second hard drive, and keep the files there--an expensive proposition. That's where freebie GSplit comes in.

Thanks to online video, Web apps, social networking, and so on, the humble Web browser is being pushed to do more and to do it faster. With a few simple tweaks and tools, you can improve your browsing experience and save yourself some time in the process.

Mozilla's popular Firefox browser has always been a haven for tweakers thanks to its built-in support for a wide range of extensions. But getting more out of this open source browser goes beyond installing a plug-in or two. Follow these tips and tricks to really set that fox on fire!

AT&T, everyone's favorite phone company to hate lately, has finally set the date for MMS availability on the iPhone. Multimedia messaging will debut for U.S.-based iPhone 3G and 3GS users on September 25, AT&T says. All you'll have to do is download a software update, and you'll be in business.

While some are sure to start doing the samba in excitement, I have to respond with a sarcasm-soaked, upward-inflection-ending: "Yay?" The reason for my subdued nature (aside from my general surliness toward phone-related salivation): Sure, MMS functionality is something iPhone users have been clamoring to get for ages. But it's also something that should have been introduced -- well, ages ago.

If you don’t already own an e-book reader like the Amazon Kindle or Sony Reader, how much would you pay for one? For these devices to attain mass-market appeal, they’ll need to be priced as low at $50, according to a new report by Forrester Research.

Problem is, today’s e-reader costs more than $50 to manufacturer, the report says. A 6-inch e-ink screen alone runs about $60. Larger displays, like the Kindle DX’s 9.7-inch slate, naturally cost more. E-reader manufacturers will have to find innovative ways to bring costs down, such as adopting the subscription model common among wireless carriers and mobile phone manufacturers. Newspapers and magazines, desperate for a workable business model, would be likely partners:

The third Android phone to land in the US, the HTC Hero, has been confirmed for an October 11 launch date on the Sprint network. While the Sprint-branded version gets a slight redesign from the European version, that's not the biggest surprise here. Priced at a cool $180 with a two-year contract, the HTC Hero is less expensive than the Palm Pre (also on the Sprint network) and the T-Mobile myTouch 3G (also on HTC-made Android phone), which are both $200, respectively.

The Hero's price point is a wise decision on Sprint's part and makes them a direct threat to T-Mobile's Android stronghold. While the myTouch 3G and the G1 are solid phones, they just can't compete with the Hero's 3.2-inch multitouch screen, 5-megapixel camera, and speedy 528-MHz Qualcomm processor. And its eligibility for Sprint's ultra-affordable $100 Everything plan makes the Hero all the more desirable over the myTouch 3G.

Because I'm perfect in every way, I've never, ever forgotten to attach a file to an e-mail. But I've been on the receiving end, and nothing beats the feeling of superiority that comes from composing this reply: "You forgot the attachment, doofus!"

To avoid e-mail smackdowns like that, consider installing a plug-in that alerts you to forgotten attachments (the digital equivalent of showing up at someone's door without any pants).

Are you totally reprehensible and feeling lonely? Or maybe you're just a struggling business looking for some instant online companionship? The firm Usocial has the answer for you -- buy Facebook friends and fans.

Rumor has it that Google is working on a possible deal with Hollywood studios that would give YouTube a streaming rental store. The idea is makes sense, as YouTube has, far and away, the biggest audience for online video, and Google needs to monetize in other ways besides advertising. But, if a YouTube rental system is going to work, it has to be done right. Here are five ways YouTube actually might persuade me to pay for its content.

That didn't take long. Just a month-and-a-half after Toshiba announced it would be coming out with Blu-ray Disc products in 2009, Toshiba has actually released details about its first Blu-ray Disc player. Due in November, it comes out just in time for the holiday buying season. Not a bad timeline, considering how long it took for the high-definition format war to run its course.

Lonerlady asked the Answer Line forum about this very insistent program that wants to download itself and protect her computer.

Five masked men pulled off a well-executed smash-and-grab at an Apple Store in Marlton, New Jersey earlier this week. The perps got away with a massive load of merchandise including 23 MacBook Pros, 14 iPhones, and nine iPod Touches. Around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, five men broke into the Apple Store, Sagemore by smashing the plate glass door with a brick. The men then ran into the store, grabbed the merchandise and left with their booty in just 31 seconds.

Without knowing the specs of the devices it's hard to know the total value of the stolen equipment, but the criminals must have left with at least $40,000 worth of merchandise. But will they get away with it