2.3

Need quick access to a currency converter? Then maybe XE Currency Converter from Kurisu is the app for you. The free software is a Google Chrome add-on that accesses currency conversion information directly from XE.com.

XE Currency Converter, once installed, is very easy to use. Access is through Chrome's Productivity Tool Kit. The app has a very simple and very understandable interface. Just put in the amount and the currencies you want to use, click on the Convert button, and that's it, instant real-time currency conversion. Really a whole lot faster than going through the XE Web … Read more

Android 4.x "Ice Cream Sandwich" is making gains, though Gingerbread still takes the lion's share, according to a snapshot of data provided to Android developers.

Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) had about a 2.9 percent share and Honeycomb had more than a 3 percent share, according to Android Developers, which describes the data as "the relative number of active devices running a given version of the Android platform."

ICS started appearing in devices only toward the end of last year.

The Web site says the data can help developers "understand the landscape of … Read more

When U.S. Cellular picked up the Samsung Galaxy S II, it gave me a chance to lay some fresh eyes on a familiar device long after it ceased being the de facto best Android Gingerbread phone around.

I'm happy to report that it's still a terrific phone, and one with components that can stand against most of the next wave of more advanced phones, with one major and one minor sticking point. The major caveat: it won't support LTE. The minor one: it's U.S. Cellular's priciest offering, at $230 after a $100 mail-in rebate (so you're out over $300 up front).

However, if you can afford the cost, and if 4G data speeds aren't your primary concern, then you're looking at the carrier's newest flagship phone.

Check out the video, the photos, and all the pros and cons in this full review of the Samsung Galaxy S II for U.S. Cellular.… Read more

Don't let its 5.3-inch size fool you; the Samsung Galaxy Note for AT&T is no tablet.

What it is, is a very large Android 2.3 smartphone firmly rooted in the Galaxy S II family tree. Yet the Note branches off in two places: that huge screen that makes the phone awkward to hold, and the stylus--called the S-Pen--that lets you navigate, write, and doodle in all sorts of apps.

Not everyone's going to like the size; in fact, I suspect it'll be a niche group who does. And yes, some people who are … Read more

Nearly every PC can get some kind of benefit from regularly cleaning out junk files, emptying system caches, and other preventative maintenance measures. While premium system cleaners emphasize deep cleaning, frequent updates, extra features, and even technical support, freeware system cleaners haven't been sitting still. System Ninja is a freeware system cleaner that includes a Junk Scanner and a Startup Manager.

When System Ninja's installation wizard finished, it asked if we wanted to open the program. We clicked OK but received an error message, and the program failed to launch. The troubleshooting guide on the program's site … Read more

If you don't mind a slab of a phone that really does resemble a king-size candy bar, then feast your eyes on the LG Spectrum.

If the clean lines and checkered back cover don't win you over, then perhaps the 4.5-inch screen, Verizon's LTE speeds, and 720p HD display will.

LG doesn't stop there, either. The 8-megapixel camera/camcorder can shoot video in 1080p HD, and LG and Verizon have preloaded a trio of HD apps that optimize high-definition video playback.

The Spectrum isn't immune to flaws, though, and the handset is seeing fierce … Read more

Score one for Cricket, whose Huawei Mercury is arguably the most feature-rich phone in its lineup.

I say "arguably" because the Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone lacks Muve Music, the all-you-can-download music portion of the unlimited voice and data plan for select Cricket handsets, such as the Samsung Vitality.

Muve would be the icing on the cake, but if you're no audiophile, the Mercury is absolutely a phone that Cricket fans should eye.… Read more

We've all used sticky notes, the ubiquitous yellow squares that work great for affixing notes to paperwork, computer monitors, and planners. StickyPad is one of many programs that seek to replicate the usefulness of sticky notes on your computer desktop. It's actually one of the more elegant and useful options we've seen, and it's worth checking out if you could use an unobtrusive but handy way to keep track of important information.

StickyPad appears as an icon in the system tray, and clicking it launches a small menu with options to create a new note or … Read more

There are a couple of unique features that will help the announced, but not-quite-released, Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G stand out when it hits store shelves.

First, and most importantly, there's the 4G LTE compatibility for this Android smartphone. MetroPCS doesn't have a 3G network to speak of, so the speed differences between the 2.5G network and the LTE are significant.

Second, and equally important, is the price. At $200 off-contract, it'll cost $100 less than the LG Esteem. It's got the advantage there for more-price-conscious buyers who still want a premium smartphone, even if it … Read more