Apple

It's the ultimate digital dilemma: you're happily browsing the web, listening to tunes, and composing a little email when all of a sudden your computer freezes up. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to fix a frozen computer and identify the problem.

As a good rule of thumb, always, always, always save frequently and back up your work. If the machine is sluggish — not frozen — then there are several quick fixes to speed it up. But if your Mac or PC starts to slow down and its hard drive revs up then stops altogether, follow our antifreeze recipe before forcing the computer to shut down (which should be a last resort, as you'll probably lose precious data!).

Here's what to do if your computer freezes . . .

. . . During Start Up

• If your Mac is delayed for a second or shows a question mark when booting up, try going to System Preferences > Startup Disk > and select a disk, if there isn't one already selected.
• Disconnect everything that's plugged into your computer. If your computer later starts up with no hubs, extension cords, USB, or Thunderbolt devices plugged in, one of those external devices was likely the culprit. If it is because of these plugged-in devices, then try installing the latest drivers for the device, or read its manual for troubleshooting steps.
• If the Apple logo does not appear after powering on the computer, then force shut the device down and, when it starting up again, hold down the option key until disk icons appear. Select one of the disks (for now, it doesn't matter). After the desktop is fully loaded, go to System Preferences > Startup Disk > and select a disk.

What to do when things get bad randomly or while running an application after the break.

The "next best thing" or something for the "forward thinking"? Now that the gold iPhone 5S has arrived, can Apple again claim dominance over Samsung in the smartphone category? The 5S and its colorful compatriot, the iPhone 5C, have replaced the iPhone 5, and Apple's hoping the 5S, the premium iPhone model, will have you sweeping right past Samsung's futuristic Galaxy S4 when it's time to renew your mobile contract.

With its 64-bit desktop-class processor, the iPhone 5S should have you scrolling at lightning speed. But the features of the Galaxy S4 are a tempting lure to the Android side. The S4 has a bigger screen for watching all those cat videos, higher resolution for when you move from cat videos to TV shows, and a higher resolution front and back camera for when you need to share precious pictures of your cats.

The iPhone 5S is priced competitively against the S4; the new Apple phone is $199 for a 16GB device on a two-year contract at many carriers, as is the Galaxy S4. While Apple added features like slo-mo, burst mode, and square cropping to the camera, the Galaxy S4 can erase unwanted objects in a photo without uploading to an editing app, plus a dual camera mode can use both onboard cameras at once during something like a video call.

Gadget companies are still trying to figure out how to make a product that people want, but not make the customers into walking beacons for thieves. With its fingerprint recognition technology built into the home button of the 5S, Apple is a leader in using biometric data to deter theft because many consumers don't use passcodes on the phones.

Verdict

So while the Apple iPhone 5S has flash in its golden hue and processing speed, the Galaxy S4 has the features you're dreaming of in a smartphone. For those who can't move past iOS, especially when iOS 7 is around the corner, the 5S is essential, but when it comes to bells, whistles, and overall value, it's the Galaxy S4 you want.

The roller coaster of emotions that is Apple launch day can not be tamed. The annual September Spectacular begins with speculation and ends in heartbreak and/or gold iPhones. Relive all of the feels in this emotional GIF guide to Apple product unveilings.

The days leading up to the launch.

With rumors a-swirling, new iOS gadgets are all you can think about. Your decrepit, cracked iPhone 4 begins to feel green with envy.

Did someone say . . . GOLD?!

When photos of a gilded iPhone surface, glamour nodes go into overdrive.

Tweet. I. Must.

Frantically looking for the livestream, vigorously tweeting tech feels, and surfing the web for when and where to buy . . . furious typing begins as soon as the event does.

Hanging on to Tim Cook's every word.

Timmy does such a great job introducing every "amazing" feature, and you just can't look away. A fingerprint sensor?! Icons that pop off the screen? What is this, the future?!?

When it's not what you expected.

So maybe you didn't get an iWatch, or the much-anticipated Apple TV, or even longer battery life — but there's no need to wallow in the window. There's always next year.

When someone next to you has the new iPhone — and you don't.

Who do they think they are . . . early adopters?? It wasn't even an impressive release and the next generation will be totally worth the wait. They'll have figured out time travel then. Right?

After much speculation, Apple's phone for the everyman, iPhone 5C, made its public debut at Tuesday's Apple event at its Cupertino, CA, headquarters. The candy-colored device is billed as an affordable device "for the colorful" and a perfect complement to iOS 7 — but is it right for you?

Before the iPhone 5C is up for preorder on Sept. 13, weigh the reasons why you should or should not buy Apple's latest smartphone.

Pros

• Cheap (on contract) — With a two-year contract, the iPhone 5C costs $99 for 16GB and $199 for 32GB. That's $100 off the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S. Off contract, the phone is $549 for 16GB (yikes).
• Lots of iPhone 5-grade features — The iPhone 5's A6 chip, Retina display (326 ppi), 8MP iSight camera, and 720p FaceTime camera will be found in the iPhone 5C. The former flagship iPhone 5 will no longer be sold.
• Global LTE bands — More LTE coverage is available on the 5C, which has up to 13 LTE bands. Travelers can now use fast data speeds in more places around the world.
• Battery life — A higher capacity battery is one edge the 5C (10 hours of talk time) has over the 5 (eight hours of talk time).
• iOS 7 — It gets iOS 7, the new bright and beautiful mobile OS! In fact, Jonny Ive said that iOS 7 is designed to match the 5C (with those bright colors, we suppose).
• All the colors — Bright hues brought Apple technology to life (think iMac, iBook, iPods), and it's about time that color comes to the iPhone. Blue, pink, yellow, green, and white are the 5C's color options.

Cons

• No option for black — Those who favor darker hues will not find comfort in the iPhone 5C. There is no black iPhone 5C.
• Plastic — The 5C's polycarbonate shell is reinforced with a steel frame, so we're not sure if it'll behave like other plastic-backed phones. In our own experience, plastic has a tendency to break and crack since it's a rigid material, and it's less durable than metal.
• Limited storage — The iPhone 5C is limited to 16GB and 32GB, with no 64GB option.
• Heavier — At 4.65 ounces and 0.35 inches thick, the 5C is heftier and thicker than the 5 and 5S (both are 3.95 ounces and 0.3 inches).
• No Touch ID — That incredibly awesome fingerprint sensor on the iPhone 5S is missing from the 5C.

Final Verdict

The iPhone 5C is a pretty easy sell: iPhone 5-grade specs at a relatively affordable price, great color options, and travel-friendly connectivity around the globe.

If you've already got an iPhone 5, an iPhone 5C might feel like an upgrade with its longer battery life, but its heft will certainly weigh you down. If you've got an iPhone 4 and don't have the funds to purchase an iPhone 5S, then the upgrade to the 5C is definitely your best bet. Preorder the phone on Sept. 13, and you'll receive it on Sept. 20.

For the first time ever, Apple is offering iPhone covers of its own for the just-announced iPhone 5C and gilded iPhone 5S.

The iPhone 5C cases are made of soft silicone and lined with microfiber. They come in six colors: black, white, pink, yellow, green, and blue. The circle cutouts reveal the phone's color beneath, so you can mix and match hues. Volume buttons and the power button are covered, and the lightning cable port, mute switch, camera, and headphone jack are left exposed.

Sept. 20 is the ship date for the iPhone 5C cases by Apple, and they will cost $29 each.

Premium leather is the material of choice of the iPhone 5S case, which comes in six different colors: brown, beige, yellow, blue, and a special (PRODUCT) Red edition. The volume up/down buttons are fully covered, as is the power button, and the camera and silent switch are left exposed. The case, interestingly enough, also fits the iPhone 5.

Apple's leather iPhone 5S case will be available starting Sept. 20 for $39 each.