Glance over at your cell phone. How does it look? Dirty? Smudged? Now think about putting that phone up to your face to talk, or touching it with your hands to text. Are you now sufficiently motivated to clean it up? I'll tell you how when you read on. More

Creating the perfect living space can be an ongoing endeavor requiring imagination, patience, and occasionally some hands-on work. Properly done, research and preparation should come before the actual handiwork, whether you already know your way around a toolbox, are an absolute beginner, or are simply looking to fix a niggling problem around the house. A DIY home repairs app can be an extremely useful partner when tackling home repair projects... More

I've been advising a friend who moved into her very first own apartment. She's in the process of trying to "make it all come together" on a budget, which of course means Craigslist is high on her list of resources. We go back and forth throughout the day with links and comments: "How does this look?", "This might be in your budget", "Ewww! No". I'm going to recommend this iOS/Android app to give her a surrogate CL buddy to help her with the ongoing hunt for the perfect coffee table...

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Sure, Samsung's $3999 flagship refrigerator is pretty impressive on both the technology and design tip, as reported when we were scouring and reporting from the floors at CES. But what we really wanted to report previewed behind closed doors and we had to promise to stay mum about it until this week...

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San Francisco is a city of rich history and culture, and as anyone planning a visit to the City by the Bay realizes, it can be difficult to narrow down all the places to visit and thing to do while there. Aside from the usual tourist spots like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco also offers historic architecture on nearly every corner, a serene Japanese Tea Gardens, the glorious Golden Gate Park, alongside countless cultural and artistic institutions. Need help fitting it all into one vacation? You might need an app for your smartphone (or tablet) to serve as your guide. More

There's a lot of pressure on Valentines Day for couples to go above and beyond to show how much they care. But when all is said and done, it's how we treat that special somebody for the other 364 days of the year which truly matters. Technology is often deemed "cold", but there are several ways smartphone apps can reinforce the human connection. Here are some new (and romantic) ways to let them know 'I'm thinking of you.' More

Republic Wireless
• $259.00 (phone w/shipping) then $19.00/month
• Republic Wireless

Not everybody needs the latest bleeding edge device. In fact, I know more than a few people who still use dumb phones for their cost and convenience (including my own mom). Sometimes it's a case of "don't want to relearn how to use a phone", but more often than not, it's the cost of upgrading to a smartphone that prevents people from upgrading. Republic Wireless is aimed at casual smartphone users who are more apt to use their smartphone to make calls at home or within the perimeter of the a wi-fi network... More

When the bone-chilling winds howl and the snowfall persists without end in sight, it's easy to begin daydreaming about a holiday to somewhere warmer. Now is a pleasant (and more affordable) time to visit Los Angeles, a city where winter means low 70 degree weather with evenings warmer than my daytime temperatures. But with its massive sprawl and distinctively different neighborhoods, cracking the City of Angels can be tough for a first time visitor. But it's never been easier when loaded up with apps on your smartphone to help you navigate LA's freeway arteries, discover her best eateries, and experience the sights and sounds beyond the typical... More

Samsung Galaxy Note II
• $679.97 (unlocked)/$239.00 (contract)
• Samsung

Last year I found myself surprisingly smitten with the original Shaquille-sized Samsung Galaxy Note, but my better half remained skeptical of the gargantuan smartphone's appeal and utility. So when the sequel arrived at our doorstep, I asked Emily to live with the updated and upgraded sequel for one month and tell me what she thought... More

Love it or hate it, nobody can deny Twitter is an adaptable medium, whether for news feeds, promoting artists or blogs, communication between friends or business associates, and sometimes as a comedic outlet. One thing's for sure, when it comes to microblogging, the smartphone is where many tweets are conceived. With Twitter apps being a dime a dozen, we searched high and low to compile this list of 6 that are guaranteed to please. More