look

Mobile browsing was one hot trend at CTIA 2009, and will continue to gain both attention and momentum as the technology develops. In this First Look video, take a peek at Bolt mobile browser, a beta application we recently reviewed. While Bolt may not have the add-on power of Firefox's mobile-browsing prototype, what it does have is workable video, crisp text, and rendering that's surprisingly free of flakiness.

For a few years now, video playback has been a blistering-hot topic in the mobile industry--both as a roadblock and as an achievement. We can easily count Google's update to its straightforward YouTube for Mobile application (Windows Mobile|Nokia Series 60) as a step forward.

Sure, we have our complaints, but overall the free YouTube application makes searching and browsing for select or top-rated videos a dauntless task. Your biggest hurdle will be with your data connection if you're in a fuzzy zone. We've also got some practical advice you should heed before you begin streaming like … Read more

Internet Explorer 8 takes some long-needed strides to bring it up to speed with its competitors. It's more secure, with tab sandboxing and more aggressive malicious site warnings, and introduces some slick new features like Accelerators and Web slices.

Even with better support for Web standards, it's far from perfect. Check out what's hot and what's not in this First Look video.

Nintendo stopped by our CNET New York offices Wednesday afternoon to give us a sneak peek at the brand new Nintendo DSi. We had plenty of hands-on time with the portable gaming device and have a good idea what we can expect from the various built-in media features.

We also got a taste of some features we're just not allowed to talk about yet. Unfortunately, we weren't able to hold on to a DSi, but we were assured we'd be getting our review sample soon.

For now, check out our First Look video of the DSi where … Read more

If you have to ask yourself why out of the teems of top-notch freeware image editors at your disposal, folks consistently choose IrfanView, then you don't know IrfanView.

It may not be the slickest-looking app by a long shot, or even the most complex. But its combination of simplicity and strength make the classic image viewer and editor a middleweight favorite. It doesn't hurt that the feature set has some unique extras in addition to the regular touch-up tools. Check out IrfanView in this First Look video.

Other great image-editing applications -FastStone Image Viewer -GIMP -… Read more

Safari's currently the third-most popular browser for Windows, but is Apple aiming for number two? The Safari 4 beta debuts a completely reworked program, from the Nitro JavaScript engine to the Chrome-styled interface and Top Sites.

Some users are already swearing by the faster speeds in the beta, while others won't touch a browser without extension support. Let us know your favorite browser and why in the comments.

IOBit's Smart Defrag is one of the best utilities out there, offering several levels of defragging, an auto-run option, and a scheduler in a freeware package. It doesn't hurt that it's fast and effective, either.

Small, light on its feet, and extremely good at what it does, Smart Defrag has become our go-to defragger. Watch this First Look video and see if it's the defragger you've been looking for, too.

Thankfully, recent developments in mobile search applications have given us a handful of sturdy options when it comes to launching search from a Windows Mobile phone. Last month, Microsoft released a credible update to Live Search for Windows Mobile. This month it's Google's turn with Google Mobile App for Window Mobile smartphones and Pocket PCs.

Although Google has a precedent of mobile search applications established for BlackBerry and iPhone, Google's mobile division has tailored this iteration of its Mobile App to the logic of Windows Mobile's Home Screen, to good benefit. See for yourself in this … Read more

If your family and friends live in another area code or country, talking to them using Skype is a no brainer. The latest Windows version, Skype 4.0, adds some useful audio and video enhancements that should dramatically improve call quality, especially for those of you plagued by a dial-up connection or low bandwidth. Yet staunch fans of the free VoIP application have been disappointed by some of Skype's other changes, with good reason. Watch this First Look video to see why.