HowStuffWorks Newsletter
Telecommunications devices, including cell phones, satellite radio or Voice over IP, connect us to one another and to the world of information at our fingertips. Learn all about the technologies we depend upon for efficient communication.
Why buy an expensive e-reader when you can e-read any book you want on your phone? Go ahead and download one of these e-reader apps, then devour a juicy novel.
In the past, if you wanted to own an iPhone, AT&T was the service provider you had to live with. Now you can get an "unlocked" iPhone and select any carrier you choose -- but it'll cost you.
Is your texting app taking a little longer to open, not responding well to typing or won't send texts quickly? You might have way too many old text messages hanging around.
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Protecting a smartphone with a case is a no-brainer for a lot of phone owners. Others, however, don't think smartphone case protection is all it's cracked up to be.
Smartphones can get a little hot when they're engaging in some heavy activity. But can that and their owners' exercise push them over the edge and make them overheat?
You may use your iPhone for everything from paying for groceries to helping you with your taxes, but it can also help you when you're out boating. Hurricane warnings? Yeah, there's an app for that.
Finding the best TV apps for your Android phone can be a bit boring compared to actually watching the shows. See if you agree with our picks for the best TV apps.
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These days, smartphones are mini computing devices that suck up power like nobody's business. Are battery-saving apps the cure for power-hungry phones?
Unlike conventional gadgetry, fuel-cell-powered devices run on a liquid fuel that you pour into a tank. Would people really be willing to adopt the technology, and isn't there a risk of spilling fuel?
Your iPhone comes with built-in video capability courtesy of your camera app. But what if you want to put a little more polish on your home movies?
Wish you could scan notes from a whiteboard or blackboard into your phone -- and then save that text on your computer? Try one of these apps.
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That certainly is a cute picture of your pup. Thanks to file-sharing apps like Dropbox, you can bust that photo out on even more mobile devices. Your co-workers and friends are going to be thrilled!
By Robert Lamb
Remember when you used to keep friends and family updated during your travels by dropping postcards in the mail with a hastily scribbled "Wish you were here!" Now, you can do just that just by using your iPhone.
They say you can't get something for nothing, which is why free-texting apps seem like they'd have to be a scam. But are they?
Rooting allows you to tweak your Android smartphone settings to your heart's desire, via apps. We'll share 10 of our favorites with you in this article.
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Social networks have cropped up to fill almost any and every niche market, and singles hoping to flirt and connect with other singles drive a number of them. But is it dangerous to use dating networks?
Just tap your smartphone or mobile device against your pal's and you can share digital information instantly? Sounds like science fiction! (Android) Beam me up, Google.
What if you could send a postcard that talks? Or maybe even sings? With the help of your iPhone and this app, it's possible.
Android and iOS devices seem to rule the smartphone market, but Nokia is hoping to change that with the Lumia 900 -- running the Windows Phone operating system. Does this high-end member of the Lumia family stand a chance?
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Wait, this tiny little chip could rock your world? Yep. Puny as it might seem, this up-and-coming technology has the potential to streamline aspects of your daily life, from purchases to passwords.
NFC tags are smart little chips that allow you to snag digital information with your smartphone at short range. Get the details on this tag technology in this article.
These days, more people are glued to their mobile devices -- and increasingly impatient about slow download speeds. 4G networks promise to deliver all the speedy data we could wish for, but do they?
Samsung has been tight-lipped about the release date of the follow-up to the Samsung Galaxy S II, but plenty of speculative information is swirling in the tech world. What can you expect from the latest in the Galaxy S lineup?
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Call it 4G insanity. We're being bombarded by promises of what this newest wireless network can deliver, but is it all hype?
RFID, NFC ... If these wireless technology acronyms are starting to look like alphabet soup to you, have no fear. We'll help you spot the differences between these communications cousins.