4.0.4

Create photo collages with PicStory

This app offers one of the easiest and most effective ways to combine multiple photos into one work of art. If you want to combine some smartphone pictures but don't have the editing chops, then PicStory is for you. It gives you enough effects to add a nice touch of personality and even has a fun social networking element.

The app offers hundreds of combinations of frames, borders, and animations for you to choose from. You can unlock even more by downloading a few affiliated apps, but you probably won't need any more options. PicStory's photo editor … Read more

MetroPCS unveils $55 unlimited 4G plan and new 4G phone

MetroPCS may hand the major carriers some competition, with its new 4G LTE plan for budget-conscious consumers.

Available as a promotion, the carrier's new 4G LTE plan provides unlimited talk, texting, and 4G LTE data for $55 a month for a single line. Families can join in by paying $50 a month for second, third, and fourth lines. Though the deal is being offered as a promotion, the expiration date is open-ended.

MetroPCS President Thomas Keys told CNET that the end of the promotion will depend on the adoption rate by consumers. "We didn't want to set … Read more

Android 4.0.4 update reaches Sony's Xperia S

Sony is rolling out the latest flavor of Android 4.0 to its Xperia S customers starting today.

Users can update their phones over the air via a mobile network or WiFi, or sync their phones with their PCs using Sony's Xperia Update Web site, PC Companion, or Bridge for Mac software.

The update weighs in at around 200MB, so using Wi-Fi directly or syncing with your PC are better options than updating over your carrier's cell network.

Xperia S owners will receive a notice when the update is ready. The rollout will run over the next few … Read more

How to force your Verizon Galaxy Nexus to update to Android 4.0.4

Last week, Verizon Wireless officially announced the Android 4.0.4 update for the Galaxy Nexus. Since then, I've been obsessively checking for the update on my Galaxy Nexus with no luck. But thanks to a forum post on Android Central, there just might be some hope to forcing your Galaxy Nexus to update.

The normal procedure to check for an update is to go into Settings > About Phone > System Update > Check Now.

You can force your device into grabbing the update by going into Settings > Apps > All. From there, scroll down and select … Read more

Android 4.0.4 rolls out to Samsung Galaxy Nexus phones

Samsung Galaxy Nexus owners are getting a taste of the latest flavor of Ice Cream Sandwich, aka Android 4.0.4.

Verizon has already approved the latest Android update to start rolling out. The Verizon Web site indicates that the update is coming soon, though a fellow CNET reporter with a Verizon Galaxy Nexus confirmed that he has already received it.

The 4G LTE Galaxy Nexus came equipped with Android 4.0 out of the box, so the new update brings it up the latest version, namely Android 4.0.4. A Verizon spokesman told CNET that the update also … Read more

Sony flavors its 2011 phones with Ice Cream Sandwich

Sony is giving all of its 2011 smartphone owners a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich.

The electronics giant revealed today via a user forum that the latest Android update has started rolling out for all its remaining 2011 smartphones. The models specifically cited by Sony include the Xperia Ray, Xperia Arc S, Xperia Neo V, Xperia Neo, Xperia Arc, Xperia Pro, Xperia Mini Pro, Xperia Mini, Xperia Active, and the Live with Walkman.

The company provided details for each of the phones showing that the rollout kicked off yesterday. As usual, the Android 4.0.4 updates are being released … Read more

Stay safe with Safetica Free

Safetica Free is a freeware version of Safetica's powerful security client scaled down for the home user. It combines data protection and encryption with a secure password manager and generator, temporary and junk file shredder, archived file tool, disk encryption, RSA key generator, and more.

Safetica's installer offers more options than most, including whether to run the program at startup and also to open the program's Web site and Help file when the installation finished. The Help file and Web-based resources often refer to the enterprise-level software client, which includes tools for monitoring employees' computer behavior. But … Read more

Alt-Tab Update

Alt-Tab Thingy is a free tool that replaces the venerable Alt-Tab function, also known as the Task Switcher, in Windows. Alt-Tab Thingy is a much more capable and flexible tool. It still lets you switch rapidly between programs and windows, but it's highly customizable, with numerous settings and options, and it adds some useful extras. It breathes new life into an old Windows feature.

Alt-Tab Thingy's system tray icon accesses its two main interfaces; one is an extensively tabbed Settings dialog, the other an enhanced version of the Windows Task Switcher box with an optional Preview Pane. The … Read more

Corral your passwords

Password Corral from Cygnus Productions is a free password-management tool that can help you remember and recover your passwords and protect them with strong encryption. You can add descriptions or comments that help you remember or organize your passwords as well as track their expiration date. You can set Password Corral to time out to the Windows system tray after a period of inactivity and prevent it from reactivating without your master password, which keeps your passwords protected even if you accidentally leave the program open. It can export and back up your password data in encrypted or unencrypted form, … Read more