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A fair number of companies that read our product reviews tell me that they take our criticism to heart to improve their wares. That's flattering to hear, but I don't think the message is getting to the right people. How do I know? Companies continue to send us new laptops, tablets and smartphones that exhibit the same annoying design flaws over and over. Consider this list a polite but forceful intervention. Laptop Mag's Mark Spoonauer has a few gripes with the way gadgets are designed. What are the most annoying ones? Keep reading. Imagine if your car's door had a protective cover around the keyhole. Why? Exactly. I can understand if you're targeting the military, field workers or outdoor adventurers who need a device that can withstand water splashes and dust storms. But otherwise there's no need to cover up that microUSB port - or any other port - with a flap. It just gets in the way. Every time I see a covered port, I instantly take points off the review. T...

Jul 30, 2012 6:40 PM   It's close to dinner time and I have food on the brain. This makes me wonder: for those of you who spend a lot of time in the kitchen (actually cooking food, that is), what is the most indispensable tool you own? Is it a simple utensil like a knife? Or is it something more gadgety, like a digital thermometer? Let's talk cooking gear. View the original article here This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Jul 23, 2012 10:00 AM   It's Monday morning in late July, and if you're not on vacation, you'd almost certainly rather be. So rather than checking email or filing a report, let's think of sandy white beaches and the one gadgets you never leave behind. Whether it's a Kindle for your beach read or some portable speakers for your campsite, we all have a go-to device we never forget to pack. So what's the gadget you never leave at home when you're vacationing? Image credit: haveseen/Shutterstock View the original article here This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.