Mike Riley

Author Details

Mike Riley's picture

Author Details

Mike Riley

Mike Riley is a frequent contributor to several technical publications and specializes in emerging technologies and new development trends. Mike was previously employed by RR Donnelley as the company’s Chief Scientist, responsible for determining innovative technical approaches to improve the company’s internal and external content services. Mike also co-hosted Computer Connection, a technology enthusiast show broadcast on Tribune Media's CLTV.

For most of my life, I have learned new skills by reading. While books continue to provide value to readers, video has surpassed the written word when it comes to efficiently teaching new skills. If you’re learning how to repair a leaky faucet, would you prefer to read a book on plumbing or watch a video that shows you how? Granted, not all online videos are well produced or even accurate, for that matter. Luckily, there’s been a rise in online platforms that focus on professional video instruction.

Protecting Privacy with Password Managers

Creating and monitoring unique passwords for different websites used to be a major hassle. Writing down confidential account information on sticky notes, paper notebooks, or unprotected spreadsheets used to be the norm. However, as the world has become more sophisticated and bad-actor hacking efforts have raised the vigilance bar, using a password manager not only makes security sense but is practically a requirement. With that in mind, I’ve broken down the best password managers available for the Apple platform to help find which ones best suit your digital security needs.

Even though Apple products have made remarkable strides in battery life performance, they still haven't quite made it to a full day of non-stop use. And with the iPad Pro and Mac line moving their charging connectors to USB-C, the old USB charging bricks no longer suffice. This article takes a look at three power-related products to help you decide which one may be best for your mobile computing work and play styles.

The heightened awareness around the transmission vectors of COVID-19 have also brought greater focus and attention to general air quality. The makers of the Aura Air air purifying system not only claim that the unit will clean the air of harmful particulates, but also that it can eliminate up to 99.96% of COVID-19 viruses in the area it is operating. While I had no way of validating this virus elimination claim myself, I did want to see and hear Aura Air in action. Read on for my evaluation and thoughts on the product.

As winter descends upon the northern hemisphere, we Apple device users have plenty of apps and accessory options to keep us active during the brisk days and cold nights. Let’s take a look at some of the most useful and innovative winter-centric apps for your iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, as well as high-tech gear to keep you warm and connected during frosty outdoor excursions.

Due to its early establishment in the consumer autonomous lighting space, the Philips Hue brand has been one of the most successful and prolific in the home automation market. The Philips Hue Play product line intends to elevate their capabilities beyond simply turning lights on and off by augmenting the home entertainment experience. Are these expensive enhancements worth the aesthetic response they elicit when activated? Read on to find out.

Battery chargers are as ubiquitous as wireless headsets, and trying to find that perfect needle in such a large haystack isn't easy. Some chargers have wireless capability with an anemic number of wired ports. Others have huge battery charge storage but are bulky and not that portable. And nearly all the chargers I've reviewed in the past have confusing battery level LED dot indicators that make determining remaining charge level a mystery. Infinacore has addressed nearly all these shortcomings with the Pandora Portable Power (P3) charging device ($39.95). Read on to find out how the company did.

Dire Wolf Digital has been making quite a name for itself as a preeminent digital board game conversion developer. Its latest release is a highly rated board game from 2018 that pits forest creatures against one another for dominance of the land. The game is essentially an area control and resource management title with a couple unique twists and die rolls to spice up randomized outcomes. Has Dire Wolf struck gold digging its conversion expertise into Root ($9.99)? Read on to find out.

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