Jim Bray, CFP Automotive Editor

Crucial Offers Tips for Keeping Computers Clean

Spring is finally sprunging and one of these days the grass might actually start to riz. That means it's time to start thinking about renewal – whether via the planting of seeds, hosing of windows, or even airing out the house from its winter button-up. It may also be time to start looking at some spring cleaning for your home technology, too. You don't want to hose this stuff down, of course, but some cleaning and preventive maintenance for your stuff could definitely be in order.

The Ten Commandments on Blu-ray disc

Cecil B. DeMille crafted what's arguably the ultimate in cinematic pageantry with his version of the life of Moses. And with the Blu-ray edition, Paramount has given it a fitting tribute by offering it in newly restored version that positively shines with new life. The spectacular 1956 movie, a staple on TV each spring, stars Charlton Heston in the role of the Hebrews' deliverer from bondage in Egypt. There isn’t a lot of need to get into the storyline here, since that everyone and his dog has seen this movie at least once by now. Suffice it to say that this sprawling “cast of thousands” epic is not only a moving and powerful religious epic but a story of the best – and the worst – of what makes us human beings.

Two, Four Door Sixes Are All Porsche

It's easy to forget that Porsche's Cayenne and Panamera don't only offer delicious, powerful V8's, that they can also be equipped with a V6 engine that eases both the entry price and the price at the pump. And you might be surprised to find how little you need to compromise when you slice off two cylinders. These are real, live Porsches – especially the lighter and more exotic Panamera.

New Engines Power Ford’s Line of F-150 Trucks

Calgary, Alberta - Ford's iconic F-150 pickup truck enters the second decade of the second millennium bristling with new power choices and features the company hopes will keep it at the top end of the best selling truck list. And if the demonstration they set up for us holds true in the real world, they probably will.

Wireless Media Stick and “Couch Mouse” – Convenience Incarnate?

Looking for a way to stream media files from a computer to a media player? If so, you might want to check out HSTi's Wireless Media Stick – though you should also prepare for some frustration. Likewise, Logitech's "Couch Mouse" M515 is a handy little gadget designed to let you point and/or click even when you're doing it on a rough fabric surface. Let's look at the Wireless Media Stick first.

Warner Brothers Returns to the Blu-ray Well with SteelBooks

Movie fans who may have missed some blockbuster Warner Brothers titles when they first came to Blu-ray have a new opportunity to pay full price for them. Yep, instead of poring through the bargain bin at your local video store, looking for the older Blu-ray versions of the movies, you can buy new, "SteelBook" editions that couple what's basically the same "old" disc into a tough new package the Warners folk tell me are really popular with collectors, and I can see why: they're very nice packages.

Mazda6 V6 Ups the “Zoom-Zoom” Ante

Mazda's largest sedan continues to be a compelling drive as it reaches about the middle of its life span. The Mazda6, like the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata and about a thousand other models, actually occupies the "mid-size" rather than the "full-size" niche – and is, in my never humble opinion, one of the most attractive sedans on the market these days. It's not only easy on the eyes, though, it also performs its function as a practical four door family car very well.

Mitsubishi RVR, Nissan Juke - A Tale of Two CVT Crossovers

One has a schnoz like Darth Vader's mask, the other looks like a legless frog on a skateboard, and the makers of both vehicles think they represent compelling solutions to customers' need for a small and capable crossover/wagon. Do they? It depends upon what you're looking for in a vehicle, of course.

NaturallySpeaking 11 Promises More Natural Speaking

Not all Dragons are fierce creatures, mythical flying beasts of legend. Nuance's Dragon, in fact, is an excellent tool for taking your – or someone else's – spoken words and turning them into printed words or actual deeds. And with version 11 of its Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice recognition software, Dragon-maker Nuance have given us what's easily the best I've tried.

Utility Meets Political Correctness

Mercedes-Benz' "entry level" SUV offers a lot of benefits for the luxury-minded consumer, while Toyota's third generation Prius is a rolling political statement that's definitely not aimed at the automotive enthusiast. Let's talk about the Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 4MATIC first. I got my test sample just as we received a bunch of snow, and it proved to be a wonderful time to test such a vehicle – except that it forced me to actually leave the house on some very, very chilly days.

Warner, Fox Movies Come to Smart Phones

If you've ever wanted to watch a movie on a tiny screen, Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox want to help you achieve that goal. Warners is launching what it says are "groundbreaking App Editions" of the Christopher Nolan films "The Dark Knight" and "Inception", which I have to admit is a pretty good place to start the collection.

Blu-rays offer Something Old, Something New, Something Furry, Someone Blue

Two recent Blu-ray releases show that just because a movie's old doesn't mean it has to look that way – and that just because a movie is new and state-of-the-art doesn't mean it'll automatically look great.

New Explorer Covers New Territory for Ford

Quebec, Canada – It bristles with high tech new features, and Ford is hoping its new Explorer will be discovered by armies of consumers searching for just the right big SUV. 
Ford introduced the all-new 2011 Explorer to a group of media folk at a "Winter Adventure" in the ultra-frosty climes of Quebec City and environs, an event that also proved the value of a good heating system for that time of year, when the temperature drops to near Absolute Zero.

Lexus IS and GS 350 AWD – a Fine Pair Gets All Wheel Drive

Lexus has been an incredible success story for Toyota since its introduction more than 20 years ago, when the outstanding LS400 luxury sedan not only dared to challenge the European luxury models, it kicked sand in their grilles in the process. Since then there has been a succession of great and somewhat great vehicles from Lexus as the brand expanded to fill new luxury niches. That evolution added the IS and GS rear drive sedans to the mix (so far), the SC coupe, a series of SUV's – and the front drive ES and HS hybrid.

Samsung Galaxy S Captivates Android Market

Samsung's Galaxy S phone is an excellent example of the smart phone genre. It – actually, they – is not only a good phone, but thanks to all the apps you can get, the Galaxy is also an excellent productivity tool. As hinted at above, Samsung doesn't only offer one Galaxy phone but, rather, some variations on the theme. I happen to own a Galaxy S Vibrant, and recently spent a couple of weeks playing with the Galaxy S Captivate, a phone I don't like as much overall as my S Vibrant so far as usability is concerned, though I prefer the way you get at its battery.

ToddyGear Wipes Away Screen Woes

It works wirelessly, hand in hand with your smart phone, portable computer or even your flat panel TV. Yet it doesn't require batteries – or electricity of any kind except, perhaps static. Not only that but, unlike most of the hand held stuff I write about, if you get it wet it won't give up the ghost in a mighty puff of steam and sparks.

Another Unintended Acceleration Bugaboo Bites the Dust

Now that the Obama regime has admitted there were no electronic problems behind Toyota's supposed unintentional acceleration incidents over the past couple of years, do you think Congress will apologize to Mr. Toyoda? I, for one, am not going to hold my breath.

Honda Civic Still Offers Good Transportation; Si-Tech Wipers Make a Clean Sweep

The 2011 Honda Civic is proof that even a pretty basic car can still offer a decent driving experience. Meanwhile, PIAA's Si-Tech silicone windshield wipers are a nifty item for helping keep a driver's visibility optimal when the weather gets wild. The Civic, whose 2012 replacement was just introduced at the North American International Auto Show, has been going strong in North America since the mid-1970s. I had a 1976 hatchback for three years and, though it was more like today's Honda Fit than today's Civic, it was a fine car that served us very well. Okay, it rusted out to beat the band, but all Japanese cars did back then – they've come a long way since those days.

Abundant Apps Accelerate Android’s Assault on Apple

The Smartphone may be one of the greatest adaptations of computer technology known to Mankind so far for the way it – and the media to which it's attached wirelessly – is putting the world in the palms of our hands. Most familiar through Apple's iPhone, and now the iPad – though the latter is more a tool than a phone while the former is a like the Swiss Army Knife of telephony – smart phones are becoming necessary tools for today's busy and connected citizen.

VW Touareg Ups Its Own Ante for ‘11

It's bigger, more graceful and more efficient than the previous generation and you can get it in a hybrid if that's important to you. It's also comfortable and luxurious, kind of a "less well-heeled man's" Porsche Cayenne. The difficult to spell Touareg is Volkswagen's full-sized SUV and it's a fine one. And for 2011 the Touareg, promoted as the second generation of the vehicle, there are substantial changes from the original model.