We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Daniel, who needs our help to tame his home network. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"My home network is a mess. It used to be simple, after all, you'd just need a modem to connect to your ISP and a router. Lately, however, I've been adding more components like a NAS, a Z-Wave bridge, a 3G microcell and a computer for telecommuting. All of these things need a wired connection, which means I'm going to need to buy an eight-port switch sooner rather than later. As consumer hardware isn't designed to be uniform and stackable, I'm now living in a mess! What I'd like to know is how others have tidied up -- did you find an off-the-shelf cabinet or do I need to start building something on my own?"

Here's where we turn the question over to you, our loyal Engadgeteers, to help solve and spread some peace through the gadget ecosystem this Saturday night. If you've tamed your own out-of-control home network, share your experiences below.

Filed under: Networking

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from William, who wants to make sure his new whip fits into all of the small spaces. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I've recently bought a new car and would like to install a reversing camera. Is it possible to install one that'll relay to my Android tablet rather than buying a dedicated display? Many thanks!"

Well William, we were originally a little bit skeptical but we did find reports of at least one device that might solve your problem. Valeo produces the Wireless Vue, a WiFi reversing camera that hooks up to smartphones and tablets. So far, so good, right? Well, unfortunately while the product's said to exist, we've not been able to find it available for sale either in the US or Thailand, where William is from. As such, this week's Ask Engadget is a two-pronged encounter. Have any of you wonderful people seen a Valeo Wireless Vue on sale, and if not, is there anything else that can do the job?

Filed under: Cameras

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Anthony, who feels that bigger is better. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"Back in the days of the Netbook, a 10-inch device was crap, but now 10-inch devices is pretty much all you can get. What's available (and good) that's bigger than 10-inches?"

Well Anthony, there certainly are a few tablets for the meaty-handed out there, but the question of which one you should buy is less clear. After all, there's Archos' 11.6-inch 116 Platinum or Toshiba's 13-inch Excite 13, but if you're prepared to wait a while, Panasonic's forthcoming 20-inch 4K tablet and Viewsonic's rumored 22-inch unit. Of course, that's just a smattering of suggestions from us. This, after all, is Ask Engadget -- so let's open the question up to the floor and see what we can shake out together.

Filed under: Tablets, Mobile

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Icaro, who is off to Brazil and needs a phone while there. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"Seeing the Nokia 301 reminded me that I need to get a new phone when I go back to Brazil. Can you suggest a candybar phone that's reasonably priced and that won't break? Thanks!"

While most of you may be lusting after the latest and greatest, there are still plenty of people clamoring for a simple and functional candybar. The 301 is a perfectly decent handset, and for $85 you'll get a 3.2-megapixel camera, Xpress internet and mail for exchange. But let's see what all of you out there are keeping in your pocket, so if you can think of a better candybar, leave a comment below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Xan, who wants Cintiq functionality without paying Cintiq prices. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I'm a student and I'm considering staying on to do graphic design, and I really like the look of Wacom's Cintiq devices. Unfortunately I couldn't afford one even if I sold a kidney, so I was wondering if I could turn an Android tablet into a cheaper version? I figure a device like the Galaxy Note 10.1 with its Wacom digitizer would be a good fit, so is there a way to do it? Thanks!"

We're sucking in air through our teeth, as we're sorry to say, we can't think of a way this could be done successfully. There's a few problems like no software, a lack of bandwidth and doubts over the accuracy of a tablet to replicate such a sophisticated piece of hardware. That said, perhaps the forthcoming Surface Pro software update might solve this problem altogether, but an Android tablet? We're not so sure. But if there's anyone out there who has made it happen and wants to share their revelation, why not leave a note below?

Filed under: Peripherals

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Meredith, who needs a new Ultrabook so she can go to law school. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I'm going to law school and I'll need a new laptop. Since I'll be commuting with a long train ride each way, I'm looking for a sub-$1000 device with Windows, a long battery life, SSD and it has to be lightweight. I don't need anything too powerful as I'm not doing any gaming, but something that'll work reliably for the next three years would be ideal for lecturers, web browsing and word processing. Is there a bargain to be had now, or should I wait for back-to-school Ultrabooks to come out? Thanks!"

In your humble narrator's position, waiting a few months for a Haswell device, which promises significantly increased battery life might be a wise choice. However, if you're not too fussed about a touchscreen device, then our laptop expert feels that Samsung's Series 9 might be the way forward. Of course, this isn't just a private enquiry, so let's share this out with the wider community and see what they can come up with. It's Ask Engadget, folks, you know the drill.

Filed under: Laptops

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from James, who wants to break into audio mixing, but needs some noisyboxes for his desk. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

I'm no audiophile, but I would like some decent quality sound for my desktop. I've tried 4.1, 2.1, 2.0 setups but none of them made me very happy, which isn't helping my attempts to get into professional audio work. Is there a lower-end line of speakers that the pros use that I'd be able to afford?

Fortunately for you, James, we can turn this question over to our podcast producer, who suggested that you could do worse than a pair of KRK RP6G2 Rockit speakers, which come in at $400 for a pair. They're studio monitors rather than purely desktop speakers, but if you want to start working in audio then you're probably better off with these. Of course, it wouldn't be Ask Engadget unless we turned this question over to our clever crew of commenters, so if you know of anything that's better (or cheaper) then fire your answer into the comments below.

Filed under: Desktops, Portable Audio/Video

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Travis from Provo, who is a jammy individual, wants to replace his router. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I'm currently living in Provo UT, and my wireless router just died. I want to replace it with something that's going to handle Google Fiber as that's on its way. What do you recommend?"

Given the number of places that are now getting super-speed fiber, we're very interested in the results of this one. We ask a similar question each year, and in 2012 you were all voicing your support for Cisco/Linksys hardware, ASUS' RT-N66U and D-Link's DIR-655. The only question is what'll come out on top in 2013, so get commenting, friends.

Filed under: Wireless, Networking

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Philip, who wants to document his son's baseball adventures. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

I'm looking for a HFR camcorder, as I like to record my son playing baseball and play it back in slow motion. The Kodak PlayFull looked like the solution, offering 120fps at 1,280 x 720 for $200, but then Kodak axed its camera businesses and it never made it to market. What other options, therefore, exist for 120fps video recording around a similar price bracket?

To be honest, slow-motion recording at such a low price is going to mean you'll only be able to get pictures at dreadful resolutions. If you're happy with footage at 640 x 480, then you could snag a Canon Powershot S100, but even that comes in at $319 from Amazon right now. It's a shame your budget couldn't stretch to $1,000, as we're desperate to find out if JVC's Procision is worth the hype. It's at this point that we should probably turn this over to the Engadget community and get them to share their wisdom -- so join in, HFR fans.

Filed under: Cameras

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Icy, who wants to embrace their metro (geddit?) side. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"As Windows 8 is bringing touch to the desktop, I'm curious what touchscreen monitor I should buy. Any suggestions? Thanks!"

Short and sweet, Icy, just the way we like it. We'll return the favor by pointing you in the direction of options from Viewsonic, Samsung and LG. Then we'll bow out and let the massed ranks of the Engadgetarti oblige you with their worldly wisdom.

Filed under: Displays

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Chris, who wants to find a low-cost way of getting his wife online. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"My family's already invested in Android, and my as wife isn't the most computer literate, I thought an Android PC stick would get her online without any fuss. However, there are so many available, I thought I'd ask which one's worth my time, if any? Thanks!"

Well, when it comes to Android sticks, you're spoilt for choice. After all, you've got enterprise-level offerings like Project Ophelia through to the FAVI Streaming Stick, the GameStick, Always Innovating and, of course, the humble MK802. When it comes to which one you should buy? Let's leave that up to the mood of the vox populi, who will be sharing their opinions below the break.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Saad, who's got wants some of that Mailbox goodness for himself. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I've seen wonderful applications like Mailbox and Sparrow on iOS, which do the job and aren't too shabby in the looks department. Having used Sparrow on the iPad, I've been looking for an alternative that can be used on my Android phone. Any suggestions? Thanks!"

We can tell you're not a fan of the Gmail app, so what about alternatives? Well, perhaps something like Aqua Mail, MailDroid or K-9 Mail could float your ocean-going vessel. If not those, then maybe it's time to ask what the Engadget faithful use on their daily drivers, so have at it, friends.

Filed under: Software

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Christopher, who wants to brave the world of Bluetooth cans for his daily rounds. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"Yeah, okay. 'Audiophile' and 'Bluetooth' don't go together, but I'd really like a good pair of Bluetooth cans to use with my iPhone. Naturally, we're talking about headphones / cans rather than earbuds, ideally with track control buttons, a microphone and noise canceling -- but what I'm after is clean, beautifully reproduced audio above anything else. What can you suggest for less than £300 ($455)?"

Engadget's resident audiophile is a Klipsch evangelist, so it's probably best to start by talking about its Image One Bluetooth headset. It's £199 / $249 and comes with A2DP and aptX for high-quality audio, and we're fairly sure the company wouldn't put its name to a headset unless it was sure it was half-decent. Still, if you're sure you want to max out that headphone budget, then for £259 / $399, you can get Parrot's Phillippe Stark-designed Zik cans, which come with noise cancellation, jawbone microphone and touch-sensitive controls. Then again, we can only offer you so many suggestions before we open this question up to the folks in the peanut gallery -- so what do you peeps down there think?

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Richard-Keith, who leapt before he looked and now needs our help. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"Sheepishly, I have to admit that I didn't do my homework, but when the chance to get a Mac Pro came around, I didn't stop to think about the consequences. Now I've got a lovely new desktop, but now I'm lamenting the lack of an SD-card reader, built-in speaker and a webcam. I'm sure there are other displays that do the latter three jobs, including the Apple Cinema Display, but is there something a little cheaper than its rather staggering $999 price-tag? Thank you from the bottom my heart."

Let's be fair and help out our friend, after all, we've all made that odd impulse purchase without doing our homework. There aren't that many monitors that can do all of the jobs you need, but you can pick up a Cinemaview with extra USB ports, or perhaps ASUS' VK248H (and related), which even have Displayport outputs and a Webcam, although it may be a bit weak in the speaker department. Still, it's high time we passed this question over to the throng of Engadgeteers, to find out if they know of anything better.

Filed under: Desktops, Displays, Apple

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Bernard, who wants an answer to the age-old question of ensuring you get the most out of your batteries. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"It's said that you should always leave brand-new electronics plugged in for 'a few hours' after being fully charged, but how do you decide that period of time? Is there a calculation depending on the capacity of the battery, or what? Help me, please!"

Nowadays, do you even need to? While memory effect was an issue on NiCad batteries, Lithium Ion units don't suffer from the same issue. It could also be tied to the belief that most chargers only re-juice batteries up to 95 percent, but we can't find any authoritative proof on the matter. Let's turn it over to the electrical engineers and battery experts who read Engadget on a regular basis so we can sort this out, once and for all!

Filed under: Misc, Mobile

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Nikunj, who wants to produce his own apps for both sides of the smartphone war. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I'm a C++ student and I was wondering what's the best language to develop apps in both Android and iOS? Is C++ enough, and if not, could you all suggest some other languages? Thank you."

Your humble narrator isn't a developer, but has scratched out the knowledge that neither platform's SDK is that germane to C++. iOS, for one, uses Objective-C or Cocoa, while Android at least does provide a C++ developers kit, it's apparently not as nice to use as the Java equivalent. Beyond that? That's where we'll turn this question over to those developers who proudly call themselves members of the Engadget fraternity.

Filed under: Mobile

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Arthur, who's considering giving this new-fangled electronic book thing a go. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"During a recent move, I dumped a dozen boxes of books at goodwill, and have decided to give e-books a try. But what's the most "open" way to buy them? Me and my wife want to share titles (reasonable enough, given that we wouldn't buy two copies from a bookstore). As such, we'd like to open an account somewhere that will let us read on our various computers, PlayBook, iPad and Nook. Is there a store that you can suggest?"

Given your humble narrator's long-held resistance to e-books (and devotion to building a library of their own), this is one we're going to pass straight over to the Engadget community. So, dear friends, what's your opinion?

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Sarah, who would like a tablet, but only for one week a year. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"One week every summer, I go out of town for a convention that I work with. I don't get a lot of downtime, but when I do, I want to stay connected. A laptop's too bulky and a smartphone just won't have the battery life, so is there a way I could rent a tablet with a 3/4G connection for a week at a time? Thanks"

Sarah, you've posed your humble narrator a real head-scratcher here. We've hunted around online, and found some web-based services that at least promise to do what you need. One that we are familiar with is Xcom Global, who will loan you a tablet if you select one of its MiFi plans, but it's a service designed more for international travel than a short hop like yours. We found a few places, including RentOurTablets, RentAComputer and RentFusion -- but we're not qualified to say if any of them are any good. As a consequence, it's time to turn this question over to the Engadget community. If you've got any experience of services that you trust and have used before, chime in and spread a little knowledge this weekend.

Filed under: Tablets, Mobile

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Tom, who wants to know what's the best option to get connected during a trip over the pond. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"Hi Engadget, I'm a Verizon subscriber and I've got an upcoming trip to London and Dublin. As I'm on a CDMA network, my Galaxy Nexus isn't going to be much use to me, so what options are available to me? I'm only going for 8 days, so we can't justify a big investment, but I only need calling and GPS (to get around). Thanks!"

You're right that there's no CDMA networks in the UK, but you aren't without options.

• Of course, the easiest and cheapest thing to do is convince a friend to loan you their unlocked GSM smartphone and buy a SIM card when you arrive in the UK, and then Dublin.
• Alternatively, you could pick up a pay as you go handset from one of the UK's budget carriers. Tesco Mobile offer the Motorola Motosmart, its cheapest with GPS, for £50 ($78), but if you can get by with using a map, then the Nokia 100 is available for just £9 ($14).

But, dear commenters, this is where you come in. Got a better suggestion? Throw it into the space below and help Tom stay connected wherever he go.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Arthur, who has asked one of the most dangerous questions it's possible to ask the internet.If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I'm out of contract, and my employer is offering me a company phone of my choice. I'm currently using a BlackBerry Bold 9700 and I handle a lot of e-mails on any given day. What phone would you recommend for someone who needs to send and receive plenty of emails during travel and downtime? I'm not tied to an ecosystem and I don't care about app libraries or anything else -- I just need the best email phone on the market. Please help me!"

What a question! Your first concern should be comfortable typing and if it'll play well with your work server. If you're wedded to a physical keyboard, then you should probably wait for the BlackBerry Q10. If not, then Windows Phone's keyboard is pretty good, but the added real estate offered by the Galaxy Note 2 might be more your scene. What do you think, friends? Give the man some options by filling in the comments below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Berry2Droid, who wants to geek-up monitoring his first-born. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"My wife and I are having a baby soon and need a video monitor. We'd like it to be compatible with our Android phones, rather than having a separate screen in the package. We'd also like some sort of visual aid as my wife is deaf so she would need some sort of other signal. If there was any ability to add additional cameras, that'd also be great. Thanks for your help!"

We could certainly point you in the direction of Samsung Techwin's Video Baby Monitor or Y-Cam's offering, both of which are infrared-and-internet capable cameras that pump the picture straight to your mobile device. We came a little unstuck on the visual warning element for your wife, however, but that's why we'll turn this question over to our faithful group of commenters to see if their knowledge stretches further than our own. Dear friends, help out a lovely couple as they embark upon the majestic (albeit fraught) journey of parenthood and provide some wisdom in the comments below.

Filed under: Cameras

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Mårten, a self-styled Swedish geek with a love of statistics who wants to make a lifestyle change in 2013. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I'm looking for a recumbent exercise bike that's able to hook up to a smartphone or tablet. That way, I could also hook it up to my Withings scale and my ANT+ (Bluetooth 4.0) chest strap. I've got a need to loose weight, so could your readers tell me if they've found anything similar on the market? Thanks!"

Well Mårten, we struck out looking for bikes that just had tablet docks, but you can always just pick up a holder like the Scosche IPD2FR -- which would do a similar job. Of course, perhaps the throng of Engadgeteers will know better, and if you do, let us know downstairs.

Filed under: Misc, Tablets

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Jeroen, who wants to use an app-builder to help realize his smartphone software dreams. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I was wondering what online app builders you'd recommend? I only want to make a simple app for an event, but I'm wary of services like AppsBar which offer free development. What should I do? Thanks!"

Let's assume you're not a hardcore hand-code it yourself type, but do need to dip your toe into the app-building world. A lot of the more reputable app design services charge a fee to build and submit your app, which can be as small as $5 (Magmito) or as much as $120 (Shoutem) a month*. Which should you go for? Well, it's probably one of the better questions with which to test the knowledge of our Engadgeteers -- so, dear friends, if you've been down this road before, what would you recommend?

* Plenty of other services are available.

Filed under: Internet, Software

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Sam, who needs to find a new way of attaching a Galaxy S III to a windshield. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I've ditched my GPS unit for a Galaxy S III in my car, but I can't find a good windshield mount. Are there any models that don't use suction cups? For some reason they won't stick to my window, and yes, before you ask, yes I do keep it clean. Thanks!"

While we wouldn't recommend doing anything unhealthy, we've found a good lick on the suction cup before attaching it sometimes helps. Your mileage, however, may vary. Still, you could always try one of TomTom's generic smartphone dashboard mounts or perhaps even using a Bean Bag mount? As for a window mount that doesn't use suction cups? That's a question we'll leave for our friendly commenters to join in on.

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Mobile

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Charles, who's capping off the year with a fine question about DIY PC chassis. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I work in motion graphics and it's upgrade time. I'm a DIY and Windows nut, so I'm looking to build my own tower, but the cases are all so horrible! I don't need a plastic window, or something that looks like it was designed by aliens -- just something that's sharp, solid, good looking and has a respectable airflow. Is that too much to ask?"

Well, we trawled our brains (as well as a fair chunk of the internet) looking for some classy chassis, and this is what we found:

• Corsair's Obsidian 550D may have a plastic window, but otherwise it's a monolithic piece of imposing black metal that won't ugly up your office.
• Coolermaster's Silencio 650 is hewn from diamond-cut aluminum and drops the plastic window, and given the company's heritage, should have excellent airflow.
• Finally, there's the Lian-Li PC-A71F, which can only be described as terrifyingly sleek.

But what about you all? Let's cap the year off with some stylish PC cases, peace and goodwill to everyone and a very happy New Year to you, the Engadgeteers.

Filed under: Desktops

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