Featured Story

How to Buy (and What's Inside) a Digital SLR Camera

You're ready to step up from a point-and-shoot (or cell phone camera) to a big, old fashioned looking SLR. But what is that exactly? And how does it work? PM dissects one and gives advice and buying tips for every budget.

Previous Upgrade Stories

How to Buy (and What's Inside) a Digital SLR Camera You're ready to step up from a point-and-shoot (or cell phone camera) to a big, old fashioned looking SLR. But what is that exactly? And how does it work? PM dissects one and gives advice and buying tips for every budget. (Published in the December 2008 issue)
Eagle Eye's Paranoid Thrills Ditch Real R&D for Fake Spy Tech Are we all really doomed to the sci-fi fate of Shia LaBeouf—tracked by the government over a switched-off cellphone? We asked an NSA veteran, a privacy analyst and even the DoD to separate fact from fiction.
Popular Mechanics Puts Obama on the Cover ... Sort of Wednesday night on "Late Night with David Letterman," Sen. Barack Obama joked that he was considering appearing in a Popular Mechanics "centerfold, with a wrench." Here at PM, we couldn’t be happier with the suggestion.
Top 5 iPod Features Apple Won't Unveil (Even Though It Could) Nothing sets gadget geeks into a frenzy like an Apple product launch. And while most speculation is centering on incremental improvements to the existing product line, there are a few new features we'd like to see on the iPod.
5 Designers' Simple Inventions Match Up for Save-the-World Prize This week the University of Kentucky's School of Design will bestow its inaugural Curry Stone Design prize. Here are the recently announced design wizards, including one 2007 PM Breakthrough Award Winner, vying for the top award.
7 Steps to Buying a New LCD TV on Your Budget LCD TVs rule the market, and shopping for one requires a new vocabulary. There are many options to choose from, and each has its pros and cons. Understanding the technology behind the panel is the place to begin your journey to TV enlightenment. (Published in the October 2008 issue)
Top 5 Famous Sci-Fi Aliens You Can Play in Spore's Virtual World As the best video game in years finally launches, PM's resident geek crawls the Spore Creature Creator for the handful of otherworldly invaders that will bring the customized gameplay back into this world.
Why Interactive TV Will Catch on Like Camera Phones: Buzzword Widgetized, busyfied HDTVs may seem like a one-off excuse for some corporate synergy. But as PM explains, if history has taught technophiles anything, it's that too much is never enough ... eventually.
How 3D on the Big Screen Will Change Tech in Your Living Room Getting directors to film movies in 3D is just one step toward making the technology mainstream. The medium's next home? Your big-screen TV. PM explains why the transition is coming sooner than you think.
The Popular Mechanics Show Podcast: Tune in Every Other Friday!
View Full Technology: Upgrade Archive

Upgrade

PM's Wish List 2009

Here's our list of the most wanted tech, toys and tools of 2008. They make great gifts, but feel free to pick some up for yourself.

PLUS: Prep Your Home for the Holidays

Solar Thermal Power May Make Sun-Powered Grid a Reality
It's solar's new dawn. Now new innovations are exiting the lab and plugging into the grid - turning sunlight into serious energy.

Technology

PM's Data Recovery Guide

If your drive are still functioning, you can recover the data yourself. If there's mechanical damage, send it to the pros.

VIDEO: External Hard Drive Abusive Lab Test

Current Issue

Out Now: New Missiles

For December, PM visited an Alaskan Army base keeping America safe from nuclear attack. With features on recycling, digital SLRs, mileage gadgets and more!

Mythbusters

Mythbusters Central
Jamie and Adam break down today's tech conundrums, from the moon landing to the state of science in the classroom and more!

Featured

myMod: Sign Up for Hacker Community!

Got a DIY computer rig, souped-up gaming system or custom mobile device? Upload your project with photos and even video, then show off against other PM readers to win prizes!

MOD OF THE MONTH: PS3 PC

PM Ad Partner Links

My Popular Mechanics

Join PM's User-Powered Motorcycle Community!

Rev up with myBike to upload rides from your garage, rate others, make biker buddies and chat on message boards!