Jim Bray, CFP Automotive Editor

Getting “Hung Up” on MagicJack, and Scanning Family Photos with Epson

People tired of being in thrall to a phone company – or who've never bothered getting a land line in the first place – have a pretty good friend in MagicJack, a hardware/software gadget offering phone service at reasonable rates.

Entry Level Subaru Still “Impreza-ive”

The 2010 Subaru Impreza sports a few upgrades and enhancements designed to make it more attractive to its base of loyal customers – and others – while remaining true to its "rally-bred" roots.

Toyota RAV4 a Fun, Roomy Cute Ute

Sport. It's a word familiar to car nuts worldwide and it's generally an indication that the vehicle associated with the word is a little more, well, interesting and fun, than the run-of-the-mill vehicle.

Windows 7, the First Months – So far, So Good

Windows 7 may be the Microsoft Operating System Everyone has been waiting for.

Acura MDX Tweaked Nicely for ‘10

Acura's big SUV didn't need a lot of fixing for 2010, and the company has wisely kept its hands off it for the most part.

FRAGnSTEIN Facilitates PC Gamers’ Move to Consoles

Gamers wedded to using a keyboard and mouse for their adventures have an ally in playing their favorite console-based games.

Toyota 4Runner Off-road Capable

Toyota's 4Runner was one of the first SUV's and its newest version is still a compelling vehicle for those who want four wheel drive stability coupled with serious off-roading capability.

Primacoustic Panels Tune Your Home Theater

Having good audio and video equipment is important if you want the best from your home theater, but having your room right can be vital to ensure all that equipment sounds as good as it can.

New Technology Proves Illuminating for Drivers

Driving or working at night can be tough enough without having to worry about what's lurking in the dark. Fortunately, today's modern lighting fixtures are doing a better job than ever of not only banishing the darkness, but of ensuring that you can be seen by those around you as well.

Mini Zeppelin Truly a Rockin’ Dock

Bowers and Wilkins, one of the giants of the high end audiophile speaker market, has gone down market again, introducing a new iPod/iPhone speaker dock system.

Can Less Zoom-Zoom Be a Good Thing?

Can downsizing a vehicle's specs supersize its appeal? Mazda hopes so. For a company that has prided itself on the concept of "Zoom-Zoom" for many years, Mazda may seem to be doing a silly thing by "down-powering" its CX-7 SUV. Yet that's exactly what it has done for the 2010 model year.

Ford F-150 Raptor a Real Attention Getter

Judging by the reception I got during my week with Ford's outrageous SVT pickup truck, the company is causing much lust among truckophiles.

Microsoft LifeCam Lets You Star in Your Productions

Budding TV stars – or just plain folks who want to Skype the family with high quality video – may find a friend in Microsoft's LifeCam Cinema, a hardware/software product that brings widescreen HDTV production to your PC.

Technology Makes Outdoors Wonderful in Winter

Despite claims of global warming zealots, winter is cold. Keeping warm while being active outdoors in winter can be a challenge.

Volkswagen, Subaru Snag Canadian Car of the Year Awards

VW's hot Golf and Subaru's "Sport Utility Wagon" have been named Canada's top new vehicles for 2010.

Self-parking Lincoln a Big and Bold Statement

If the Lincoln MKT is any example, the Ford Motor Company is being quite successful in the return from its near-death experience. It's a technologically advanced vehicle that's also good to drive and will carry an abundance of people and/or stuff.

Turning Flat Screens into Art, and Remembering Passwords Remotely

For the person who has everything: a way to hide your flat screen TV when you aren't using it! And for the person who can't keep track of all the passwords you use, an online solution that remembers them for you.

Universal’s Flipper Discs Bourne to Spin

Literally. In an attempt to help wean consumers from DVD's and encourage them to adopt the far superior Blu-ray high definition format, Universal has introduced "flipper" discs that contain DVD and Blu-ray versions of a title on a single, two sided disc.

New and Improved TL, TSX Highlight Acura for 2010

It's a darn shame that Acura/Honda seems to have fired its exterior designers because they make some really nice cars.

Honda Accord Crosses Over

Well, if you smashed in the front and rear ends you might call it an "Accordion," but perhaps more relevant is the new Accord Crosstour, a crossover/SUV-type beastie that raises Honda's immensely popular car to new heights.