Gadget Blog

Cisco Connect Express app offers a hint of what to come in 2012: the ability to manage your network from a mobile device.

(Credit: Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET)

The wireless router is arguably the most important piece of computer equipment in your house since it connects the rest of your gadgets to one another and the Internet.

Now that we're well into the new year, let's look back at the top-five routers of 2011. These routers will stay relevant this year and maybe even beyond. They are a handful from among the many I reviewed last year that represent what consumers will find on the market.

The year 2011 was when true dual-band and the new 3-by-3 450Mbps ceiling speed became popular. The 450Mbps standard is practically the fastest that the existing 802.11n specification has to offer. All of the routers on this list are true dual-band and some of them also support the 3-by-3 standard. You'll also find among them hints of features that are predicted to become popular in 2012.

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(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)

Cisco Linksys E4200 v2This is ... [Read more]

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The Asus Padfone, introduced at Computex, features a 4.3-inch Android smartphone and a 10.1-inch tablet dock.

(Credit: Asus)

Many a gadget hunter has searched for the mythical beast known as the Asus Padfone, but new reports suggest it could officially arrive at Mobile World Congress next month.

From the Motorola Atrix phones to the Samsung Galaxy Note, convertible or hybrid mobile computing products are a new trend to watch. Asus also made waves with the Transformer Prime, a tablet that connects to an external keyboard letting it morph into a laptop.

Now another of the company's fabled gizmos, the Padfone, is likely to become reality at the MWC show in Barcelona, Spain. Android site Android Central reports that Asus sent out press event invites all but confirming a genuine and imminent Padfone launch.

What makes this device so interesting is that instead of using a laptop dock to change it into a netbook-style computer, users can place the Padfone in an accessory that gives the pho... [Read more]

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Bang & Olufsen's Tue Mantoni

(Credit: Bang & Olufsen)

A running analogy proved hard for Bang & Olufsen Chief Executive Tue Mantoni to resist.

Mantoni, an ultra-marathoner, described the launch of a new sub-brand of slightly more affordable goods from the struggling luxury consumer electronics firm as the first steps in a long race.

"We've run the first couple of miles in a marathon," said Mantoni, who once ran for 30 hours straight in the 102.5-mile Mont Blanc Ultra Trail Run in France. "In some parts of Europe, there is still a very big hill ahead of us. There's hail, and a very strong headwind."

Mantoni, Danish-based Bang & Olufsen's third chief executive in four years, is working to make sure the company doesn't wither before the race ends. The global recession and the current European debt crisis have hammered the company, whose speakers and televisions can approach $20,000 each. At the same time, the company, known for its gorgeous industrial designs, has strained as entertainment devices have become more interactive, testing its limited software-design expertise.

One of Mantoni's first initiatives to put B&O back on track debuts next month. That's when Bang & Olufsen's newly minted sub-brand, B&O Play, will launch a new wireless, portable speaker for iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices. ... [Read more]

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Yahoo! News - Welcome to Just Show Me on Tecca TV, where we show you tips and tricks for getting the most out of the gadgets in your life. In today's episode we'll show you three apps for your Android phone that'll help you stay on top …