Personal Tech: What Geeks are talking about from The New York Times

Tech Tip: Understanding Messages From the DVR
Your cable converter box has its own operating system software, just like your computer does.

State of the Art: The Echo From Amazon Brims With Groundbreaking Promise
The voice-controlled computer has the potential to become a dominant force in the most intimate of environments: our homes.

App Smart: Mobile Games to Make Time Fly
Here are some of the best games to take the boredom out of unexpected lulls in your day.

Gadgetwise: Create YouTube-Worthy Videos With a Few Simple Tools
Expensive equipment isn’t necessary to make videos that attract million of views. Gadgets starting at less than $50 will do just fine.

Disruptions: The Risks in Hoverboards and Other Lithium-Ion Gadgets
Inexpensive battery-powered devices are catching fire and exploding, but there are ways to protect yourself.

Tech Tip: Giving an Android App Permission to Play
Google’s Android 6.0 operating system, known as Marshmallow, gives its users control over their apps.

Amazon to Add Two Alexa Voice-Controlled Devices
The new devices, the Amazon Tap and Echo Dot, expand what appears to be a successful product line for the Internet retailer.

Tech Tip: Making the Mac Ignore Those Phone Calls
Apple’s Continuity software makes it easy to get iPhone calls on your Mac and other iOS devices, but you can turn it off.

Tech Tip: Keeping Track of Windows Updates
You can see what software and security patches Microsoft has pushed out to your PC by looking in the Windows Update history.

Tech Tip: Checking the Graphics Card Specifications on Your Computer
If you have no idea what kind of graphics card is under the hood of your computer — PC or Mac — there is an easy way to find out.

Tech Fix: For Some, iPad Pro Can’t Match PC Strengths
A panel of design professionals found that despite the tablet’s size, they still had to turn to a computer for more powerful apps.

App Smart: Keep Tabs on the SXSW Interactive Scene
Apps to read about the start-up world before the South by Southwest Interactive event begins later this month.

Tech Tip: Clearing Clutter From the YouTube Video Screen
If you find the annotations that pop up on top of certain YouTube videos annoying, turn them off in your YouTube account settings.

Tech Fix: Tips and Myths About Extending Smartphone Battery Life
We teamed up with the Wirecutter to determine the best methods for preventing your phone from going dark.

Tech Tip: Loading the Kindle Library on an iPad
If you have purchased books on an Amazon Kindle e-reader, you can download the collection onto your iPad with the iOS Kindle app.

Trilobites: Reading This While You Drive Could Increase Your Risk of Crashing by 10
Researchers found that dialing a phone was the most dangerous distraction, followed by reading or writing.

State of the Art: The Apple Case Will Grope Its Way Into Your Future
In an Internet of Things world, every home appliance could be turned into a listening post. That’s why the Apple case matters.

Tech Tip: Watching DVD Movies on Windows 10
Windows 10 does not come with a program to play DVD movies, but you can find free software online to do the job.

App Smart: The Best Apps for Delivering Celebrity News
As the 88th Academy Awards fast approaches, here are a few ways to keep up with the latest news in the entertainment industry.

Tech Tip: Starting Windows 10 Without a Password
You can automatically sign into Windows 10 without having to type in your password every time, but make sure your computer is in a secure location.

Tech Tip: Moving Music Between iPads
There are several ways to transfer your old tablet’s music files to a new model.

Tech Tip: Fighting Fraud on Multiple Fronts
Fake text messages about your financial accounts are just some of the many schemes going around.

Tech Tip: Windows 10 Upgrade Options for Vista Users
Moving on up from Microsoft’s 10-year-old operating system is not impossible, but it takes time, money and patience.

Tech Fix: Free Tools to Keep Those Creepy Online Ads From Watching You
Ads that seem to know what you’re searching the Internet for can send a shiver down your spine. We rated four free tracker blockers that can give you some privacy.

Should the Authorities Be Able to Access Your iPhone?
An act from the 18th century helped the Justice Department in its push to make Apple help write software to disable privacy defenses in its phones.

App Smart: Find Out What’s New in Smartphones at Mobile World Congress
Tech news apps can be used to keep up with what’s new and on the way, as seen at the mobile industry’s annual trade show in Spain.

How Smartphones Are Killing Off the Fashion Show
The system of showing clothes on a runway, then selling them in stores six months later, seems increasingly irrelevant in the age of social media.

Fashion Industry Scrambles to Find a Use for Snapchat
Lured by the attention garnered by the likes of Gigi Hadid, Kylie Jenner and DJ Khaled, big brands have clamored to build a presence on the messaging app.

App Smart: Filters That Add a Dash of Dazzle to Smartphone Photos
Several inexpensive or free apps offer an array of options for images.