AskBob's Best of 2012 - Part Two

AskBob's Best of 2012 - Part Two

Here's the second half of my Best of 2012, the most popular AskBobRankin articles fom the past year. I scoured my logs to find the ones that generated the most interest from YOU -- based on your views, clicks, comments and recommendations. Here's another batch of ten top articles for you to review. I hope you'll read each one, leave your own comments, and use the Share buttons to smarten up your Email, Facebook and Twitter friends. :-)

1. Track a Cell Phone
   
   There are many reasons you might want to locate a cell phone and track its movements. Perhaps you lost your phone and would like it back. You might be an anxious parent, a government agent, or you could be part of a group of friends who want to keep tabs during a night on the town. Whatever your reason for tracking a cell phone, there are several ways to go about doing it. Here's the scoop on cell phone tracking...



2. Convert iTunes Music to MP3
   
   Is there a way to convert iTunes to MP3? I've purchased a bunch of music from iTunes and enjoy listening to it on my computer. But my portable music player is not an iPod, so I can't take my songs with me. Is there any way I can convert my iTunes music to MP3 format to get around this unfair restriction?




3. Free Satellite TV on PC?
   
   "I saw a website advertising software that's supposed to give you free satelite TV on your PC. The program costs $40, but they claim it lets you watch hundreds of live worldwide channels free of charge. Sounds too good to be true... is this a scam?" Here's the answer...



4. Magicjack Phone Service
   
   "Is Magic Jack phone service for real? I've seen commercials for Magic Jack, a device you can plug into your computer for really cheap phone service. It sounds too good to be true... is MagicJack a scam, or does it really work?"



5. Free People Finder Tools
   
   A reader asks: 'As part of my job, I often need to find information about people or companies using online tools. But sometimes my searches come up empty. Can you suggest any clever ways to find people or business information online?



6. Do They Really Work?
   
   The world is full of stuff that sounds too good to be true, and the tech world has its own share of these dubious products. They run the gamut, from software products that make enticing claims, to gadgets that promise a bounty of free services. Some of them are outright scams, shams or ripoffs. And surprisingly, some of them actually work. Read on to get the low-down on six tech tools, and my verdict on each one...



7. Five Common Wifi Security Mistakes
   
   WiFi networking is convenient and liberating, and essential if you have a laptop or tablet. But if you aren’t careful, using wireless Internet can leave you open to hackers and unauthorized moochers of your Internet service. Here are five of the biggest mistakes that people make with WiFi, and how to avoid them. Read on!



8. Free Antivirus Programs
   
   A reader asks: "I've been using the free Norton antivirus package that came with my computer, but the subscription will expire in a few days. Are the free anti-virus programs any good? What do you recommend?" Here's a rundown of the most popular free anti-virus packages. I'll also share my take on on free versus paid anti-virus software. Find out which option is right for you.



9. Twelve Online Tools For Savvy Consumers
   
   The Internet is a fantastic resource for consumers, because an abundance of information helps to level the playing field for buyers and foster competition among the sellers. Here are a dozen online tools to help you save money on financial services and consumer products...



10. Seven Free Cloud Services You Should Try
    
    Cloud computing is a simple, versatile concept. Just turn over your data and software needs to the experts up there in “the cloud” of the Internet. Let them worry about storing your data, keeping it secure, organizing it, and maintaining software that lets you manage it. Check out these seven different types of cloud services...