Tunes - Tuneflow

Hexxeh, creator of the easiest way to test out Google's Chrome OS, has updated his unofficial ChromiumOS build to automatically update, support more video and Wi-Fi hardware, use webcams, and offer menu customization. All it needs is a 2 GB USB stick.

Charged and synced portable devices keep us connected and get us through the day, so it's extremely annoying when you need to connect but don't have the right cord nearby. FlipSync puts one on your keychain for iPhones and generic USB devices.

More and more lightweight laptops and netbooks are shipping sans optical drives. Don't buy an external drive for for $50+ for those few times you need it, turn an old USB HDD enclosure and DVD drive into an external drive.

The ZAGGsparq is a portable power supply about the size of an Airport Express that can charge up to two USB devices at a time and hold enough juice for up to four full iPhone charges.To use the ZAGGsparq, you just plug it into the wall to store up a charge of its own. Then when you've got a USB device that needs charging (think your phone or MP3 player), just plug it into ZAGGsparq and get charging.

You don't have time to tether yourself to a wall while your cellphone, PSP, DS, or other gadget charges. Next time your portable gear starts running low on juice, strap on gadget manufacturer Brando's clever wristband battery recharger and keep on keepin' on.

Sure you could go buy a USB charger off the shelf, but what fun would that be? Try making one yourself with a little help from a 9V battery and a few extra components.

Last week's Hive Five vote was a heated one and involved all the high-noon drama of a dusty street shootout. PortableApps started with a strong lead, followed by LiberKey with a very respectable second place position. Both groups had noted on their forums that their respective portable suites were up for a vote. Early this morning LiberKey shot to first place with a sudden surge of votes, and by the time the polls closed they had squeezed out a small lead over PortableApps.

Once upon a time, easy remote computing was a pipe dream, now people routinely carry gigs of data around on flash drives smaller than a modest pack of chewing gum. Manage your apps and data with these portable application suites. Photo by basheertome.

After reporting on how thieves used Windows malware to steal sizable sums from small banks and businesses, a Washington Post reporter recommends a fairly air-tight solution for net banking: boot up Linux from a live CD or USB drive.