Kiran Upadhyay

3D printing is the next manufacturing revolution, they tell us. No longer will we need to trek down to the store to buy that  widget  – we can print one at home. Most affordable 3D printers are sold as self-assembly kits, involving weeks of tinkering to get even the most basic print, but the  Cubify Cube  promises to be plug-and-plug with minimal fuss. Does it live up to that promise? The Cube weighs in at a hefty $1299, on the upper middle price range for consumer grade 3D printers. The superior  Makerbot Replicator 2  costs $2200, while the cheapest you can find is the  Printrbot Simple ($400) . The Cube does however, suck you into a closed marketplace for consumables. Initial impressions Regardless of what’s inside, as it sits in my living room – huge and imposing – it urges me to open and discover the very future of home production systems. The packaging reminds me of the original iMac; it might even be the same f...

What exactly is the difference between a Google Chromecast and a generic Android Mini PC stick? Although visually similar, Chromecast and Android sticks work quite differently. The Chromecast is simply an enabler. It enables you to mirror your Chrome tab from your computer to your TV, or broadcast certain apps from your Android or iOS device to your TV. It’s supplementary to the devices you already own. On the other hand, Android sticks are essentially Android phones without a screen or the cellular component. They run the full Android operating system, generally version 4.2, and can plug into any TV and accept input from devices like USB and Bluetooth mice and keyboards. These devices stand alone and don’t need the help of another computer or mobile device. So which is right for you? Let’s take a look at some of their features to dissect exactly what they are, and then we’ll see what kind of user would benefit the most from each. Google Chromecast Announced back in July,...

You can’t always be sitting in front of your computer, but you can control it remotely through 3 different methods of which you might not be aware. Let’s talk about ways to control your Windows desktop remotely that are slightly…esoteric. The methods introduced here are different than the usual mainstream tools, such as LogMeIn, or remote desktop clients, or even client/server applications like VNC. Those are all well and good, but today, let’s look at something more unique! Chrome Remote Desktop Chrome Remote Desktop (CRD) is another Google offering that is streamlined and simple in its usage. Simply install the CRD extension on your home computer, and you can access it from any computer in the world that has the Chrome web browser and CRD extension on it. The connection gives you a high quality view of your remote desktop. Even in the screenshot below, you can see that it offers a nice, crisp view. CRD offers only the most needed basic functions: ...