Jim Rapoza

Welcome to the all-new Tech Directions column, now of a higher quality than ever before! I hope that all of you will enjoy the clearer, more insightful content that comes from this greatly improved column platform. Now, on to the content! Wait. Just a second. The specialized “security” software that comes with my new column […]

Although Internet Explorer 7 has been out for several weeks now, users of the Microsoft Web browser have yet to see all of its new features. Thats because the version of IE 7 included with Microsofts Windows Vista operating system has a few capabilities that arent found in the version that runs on Windows XP. […]

Im really excited to be finally trying out this new car. It supposedly uses the latest in driving interface technology. Hmm. It drives quite nicely. Im a little cold, though. Ill just turn up the heat and … whoa! What the … ? A giant pop-up climate control window is blocking half the windshield—I can […]

Captivate 2 is a huge upgrade over the previous version of the product, bringing the Adobe software simulation tool fully into modern times. Captivate 2 also has outstanding usability. In fact, when we first launched and began testing Captivate 2, we were able to record an application and create a very professional-looking software demo in […]

When we reviewed Camtasia Studio 3.1 less than a year ago, we found it to be one of the easiest software demo tools that we had seen at that time. Adobes Captivate 2 may have stolen some of Camtasia Studio 4s usability thunder, but the TechSmith product continues to be a very good option. And, […]

Two new versions of popular software simulation products focus heavily on providing easy-to-use yet powerful demonstration tools. Adobe Systems Captivate 2 and TechSmiths Camtasia Studio 4 make it very simple to record any action from an application, a presentation or a Web site. Users also can add quizzes, directional aids and learning tools and deliver […]

In March 2005, I wrote a column that questioned the rush to put RFID tags in everything from passports to credit cards. In that column, I wondered about the potential threat to privacy, personal safety and credit lines. Then, as now, I felt that RFID tags—which make it possible to wirelessly read information on everything […]

Its a familiar and sad story: A business traveler, on her way to an important meeting, entered a busy airport. Her laptop was taken, along with sensitive company information and all the data needed for that vital meeting. But Im not talking about a traveler whose laptop was stolen while she was stuck in a […]

Microsofts Internet Explorer 7 is a massive upgrade from previous versions of the browser, with greatly improved standards support and a more secure default security profile. But with great changes often come great hassles, and businesses upgrading to IE 7 will run into their fair share of site and application incompatibilities. One of the biggest […]

Sometimes it can be hard coming up with ideas for a weekly opinion column. But theres one well that never seems to go dry (unfortunately). I can always rely on some court or politician making a shortsighted decision that has the potential to hurt the entire technology business and even the Internet itself. One such […]