Cell phones, smart phones, and PDAs

Google's Ice Cream Sandwich software update is just around the corner, and it's promised to offer huge improvements that will make Android phones easier to use. But what if you've already got an Android phone? Will you be left out?

In this edition of Ask Maggie, I try to answer that question. First, I explain which phones I expect the different manufacturers to update first with Ice Cream Sandwich. And in the second question, I offer some alternatives to another reader who likely won't get the benefits of Ice Cream Sandwich.

Ask Maggie is an advice … Read more

It was only a few years ago when Verizon Wireless customers complained they didn't have enough choices when it came to cool new phones. Now it looks Verizon is the place to be for the latest and greatest in smartphones.

But what's an average smartphone consumer to do? It seems like every week, Verizon is adding a new "flagship" device to its offering. While Verizon representatives say they are simply trying to offer customers more choice, they're also creating some confusion. In this Friday's Ask Maggie, I help one reader get a handle on … Read more

NEW YORK--Motorola's ultrathin Droid Razr may be just the device to take on the Apple's latest iPhone 4S.

Motorola today took the wraps off the new Droid Razr, the thinnest smartphone ever made, in a move that revives what some would call an iconic brand, the Razr. Motorola's Razr, introduced in 2004, was the hottest-selling cell phone for years. It's super-thin design was the envy of industry and helped push Motorola to a top spot in the world cell phone market.

The company is hoping to strike gold once again with the brand and with the … Read more

Updating software on smartphones has become a scary proposition. It seems like you never know what glitch or bug might break your device.

But at the same time, new software updates promise all kinds of cool new features. And Apple's iOS 5 is no exception. So it makes sense that iPhone 3GS users, who aren't ready to upgrade to the iPhone 4S, would want to update their phones with the new software. But can two-and-a half year old iPhone 3GS handle the new software? In this week's Ask Maggie, I address this very issue.

I also offer … Read more

The iPhone 4S hits store shelves today. But some potential customers are already thinking of the future and the resale value of the new device.

Like any smart consumer making an investment, one reader asks whether the resale value of a new iPhone 4S will be better if the device is bought for AT&T's network compared with an iPhone 4S from Verizon Wireless or Sprint Nextel. Another reader wants to know if Apple has killed the Siri personal assistant app in the App store for older iPhones because it is simply trying to get people to pony-up … Read more

Despite record breaking pre-sales of the iPhone 4S, there are still many Apple iPhone fans who were disappointed that the company didn't launch a newly designed, 4G-enabled iPhone 5.

In this edition of Ask Maggie, I do my best to answer the unanswerable: when will the real iPhone 5 hit the market? I also offer some further explanation for why the iPhone 4S, even though it is the exact same phone sold on every carrier, will not be able to be used on all three U.S. iPhone carriers. In other words, I explain why a Verizon iPhone 4S … Read more

Carrier contracts and device subsidy policies mean wireless subscribers who want the latest and greatest iPhone have to think carefully about their upgrade strategies.

In this edition of Ask Maggie, I offer some advice to one frustrated reader who has been waiting a long time to upgrade to a new iPhone. She can't decide if she should pull the trigger now and buy the iPhone 4S, or whether she should wait for the next upgrade to the iPhone, expected next year.

I also explain how the fact that Apple has used common chips for the iPhone 4S on AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint Nextel means that travelers have more freedom to use their phones when they're overseas. But at the same time, the software each carrier uses to lock these phones to their own networks, also limits where and how they can be used.

Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers' wireless and broadband questions. The column now appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double dosage of Ask Maggie's advice. If you have a question, I'd love to hear from you. Please send me an e-mail at maggie dot reardon at cbs dot com. And please put "Ask Maggie" in the subject header. You can also follow me on Facebook on my Ask Maggie page.… Read more

Apple's next iteration of the ever-popular iPhone is expected to be announced today. And eager fans are already asking questions in anticipation of buying the new device.

Where is the best place to sell old iPhones to fund the purchase of a new one? And will an AT&T version of the device that's expected to support the faster network technology HSPA+ really offer a noticeable performance boost over 3G versions of the same phone from Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel?

These are just two questions I tackle in this installment of the Ask Maggie column. Look … Read more

Amazon's new Kindle Fire is so cheap that it's sure to appeal to people who would love a tablet like the Apple iPad, but aren't willing to pay $500 for it. So how does it stack up to other $200 devices?

In this installment of Ask Maggie, I try to answer that very question. One reader wants to know if he should get the Kindle Fire or the Apple iPod Touch for his young son. At $200 the Kindle Fire is hard to pass up. But before he preorders the new tablet, I offer some cautionary advice.… Read more