2.2

Your mouse probably has several buttons and maybe a scroll wheel or two, but are you using the default settings or can you open and close Web pages, turn the volume up and down when you play music, or simulate any keystroke? You can, with X-Mouse Button Control. This free utility lets you set customized profiles, called Layers, with individually customized mouse controls in each, and rapidly switch between them. You can create separate mouse control profiles for individual applications, such as games that don't support extended mouse buttons. Or, you can have the scroll wheel change to a … Read more

Attention, Wal-Mart shoppers! Sharp and AT&T have seen fit to renew their relationship in the form of the Sharp FX Plus, a slide-out smartphone sold exclusively at Wal-Mart and on Walmart.com.

What's that, you say? Sharp?! It's true--while the electronics powerhouse is better known for TVs and other home electronics, the manufacturer does release the occasional handset. Compared with the original Sharp FX, the Plus variety is rounder, smoother, and smarter, now that it boasts Android as its engine.

While there are some nice touches to recommend the Sharp FX Plus--like its compact keyboard and good call quality--there are also some red flags in the too-short battery life and underpowered processor. Still, for just under $30, the handset is priced to sell, at least for shoppers on the lookout for a budget smartphone. Click here to read our full review of the Sharp FX Plus.… Read more

Although Windows comes with a built-in screen capture utility, it's pretty bare bones; there are a lot of useful things that it can't do. Numerous software developers have stepped up to fill the gap, and among the many offerings is Capturino. It's not the most elegant screen capture program we've seen, but it's not a bad choice if you want a few more options than the Windows utility provides.

The free version of Capturino opens with a nag screen that lists all of the features that are only available in the paid edition, including automatic … Read more

Over time, the Windows Registry becomes a tangled jungle as programs are installed and removed and the debris of daily computing piles up. A good registry cleaner can scan your registry for invalid, orphaned, and corrupted entries and take out the trash, which typically makes your PC run a bit faster, more smoothly, and more safely. Registry Cleaner Free promises to analyze, clean, and optimize your registry. However, we found that the "free" part only goes so far.

Registry Cleaner Free has the stylish dark background, white fonts, and large, sleek, 3D buttons typical of the breed. The … Read more

Over time, your PC fills up with leftovers, junk files, and digital debris, which makes your system run slower and can even increase its vulnerability to attacks. Software programs designed to clean up and tune up PCs can help you keep your PC in shape, if you use them wisely. Fortunately, even freeware system cleaners have gotten both safer to use and much more versatile. We recently ran PC Brother System Care Free, which offers not only to clean and optimize your files, registry, and disk drives but also to check your security status, manage programs, and provide easy access … Read more

U.S. Cellular customers looking for a prepaid account will now have two more phones to choose from: the Samsung Gem and the HTC Merge.

The angular, black plastic Gem is a full touch-screen Android 2.2 Froyo handset. It has a 3.2-inch screen, a 3.2-megapixel camera, and it'll cost $139.99.

The heavier HTC Merge has metal accents, also runs Android 2.2, has a 3.8-inch touch screen, a 5-megapixel camera, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and dual-SIM mode for world travel. It costs $299.99.

U.S. Cellular's prepaid plans range from $40 to $… Read more

You're probably familiar with online data storage sites that promise to store your critical data securely, but do you really believe your data is totally safe when it's in someone else's hands and online, too? And are you sure that your computer's Internet connection is totally secure from intrusion and even attack? Common sense suggests the answer to both questions is "No," and that's the rationale behind MyInfosafe. It creates an encrypted, password-protected "personal data warehouse" that stores your important documents and data securely in your PC, not online. It does … Read more

It's without much fanfare that we learned about AT&T's Sharp FX Plus, a rather entry-level Android 2.2 Froyo smartphone that has been available since July 30. Like the Sharp FX before it, the FX Plus is positioned as a messaging phone targeting the younger set. However, it does get an upgrade with Android, and a much rounder body that smooths over some of its predecessor's rough edges.

In addition to a virtual keyboard equipped with Swype, the Sharp FX Plus has a slide-out QWERTY for composing longer texts and messages. The handset supports AT&… Read more

We experienced a bit of deja vu when we first saw the Huawei M835 for MetroPCS. It's the spitting image of the T-Mobile Comet, but thankfully without the same issue of peeling-off components. It's also one of MetroPCS' most budget-conscious Android phones, starting at $80 after an instant $50 rebate (without a contract, mind you). Unfortunately, that may be the best news about the phone, which we found slow with slipshod performance and design. For example, call quality disappointed, photos were just passable, and data took its time. Some of this is expected for an entry-level Android smartphone, … Read more