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Google is taking direct aim at Microsoft by offering its mobile app Quickoffice available for free to all users, as outlined by writer CJ Arlotta with MSPmentor. Quickoffice is, of course, the incredibly useful app that enables users to work with Microsoft Office documents on their mobile devices.

Microsoft and Apple have long been rivals. Now Microsoft is chasing consumers who have already purchased iPhones, offering them a $200 trade-in if they bring in gently used iPhone 4S or iPhone 5 phones to a Microsoft store, as outlined by a recent story by CJ Arlotta for MSPmentor.

Want to safeguard your online accounts from hackers? Try two-step verification. Under this type of system, you first log onto your accounts with a traditional password. But that’s just the first step. You also need to enter a passcode or other form of identification to complete the log-on process.

It seems like so long ago, but there was a time when your Mac was fast. These days, though, using your favorite computer is a sloth. Your Mac has slowed down with age. A part of the problem may be the apps you’ve downloaded to it. Thankfully, writer Matt Elliott with CNET has a solution: It’s time for you to download System Lens, an app that lists the apps running on your device and the amount of resources they are consuming.

There are lots of portable hard drives on the market. But which hard drive meets your needs? Seamus Bellamy, a writer for The Wirecutter, has a recommendation: Western Digital's 2TB My Passport Ultra. In a recent review Bellamy stated that this portable hard drive has all the things a computer user could want.

Think you’re tech savvy? Well, you’ve probably fallen for more tech myths than you know. For instance, Mac computers aren’t really virus-proof and emptying your recycle bin doesn’t entirely delete the files it once held. And if you’re using private browsing you’re still not surfing the Internet anonymously.

Maybe mom was wrong: Those video games may not rot your brain afterall. The fact is, they could make our brains act more youthful. The New York Times recently ran a feature story highlighting research from brain scientists that suggests that certain video games can boost the power of our brains.

Feeling rundown before the end of your workday? A power nap might be the ticket. Writer Melanie Pinola, in a current feature for the Lifehacker Web site, covered the benefits that short naps can have for workers struggling to make it through the workday.

Does your iPad regularly crash as you surf the Web? Does your iPhone battle to pull up videos and Web pages? The chances are your device is getting old. And this often means slow performance. There is hope, though. Lifehacker writer Gordon Whitson in a recent feature presented several tips for owners seeking to inject new life into their lethargic iPhone or iPad.

Are you itching for a smartwatch? If so, you're in luck. The Samsung Galaxy Gear is now available and rumors are swirling that Apple is planning its own iWatch. But what features should a smartwatch boast?

Aware

Thomas Claburn, an editor with InformationWeek, has some suggestions.