plus

Sharp FX Plus review: Best for Android beginners

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

Fanhattan review: One app to rule your iPad video

Devices like Apple's iPad are revolutionary for their myriad ways of accessing TV and movies, but discoverability across services is a huge pain. Example: knowing whether any Steven Spielberg movies are on Netflix streaming. Or, is your favorite TV show on Hulu, Netflix, or neither? Is it on iTunes, or maybe even Vudu? Fanhattan is an app that intends to help users tackle this problem by tying together a media-browsing interface and search that doubles as a launcher for those TV shows and movies. The app launched earlier this year, but a recent app update has added more features, including a Facebook connection. Is it the ultimate way to figure out what video to watch on your iPad? Well, it's close.… Read more

Netflix vs. Blockbuster: What's the best service for streaming and DVDs?

Editors' note (September 19, 2011): Since this story was first published, several important changes have occurred. Netflix has initiated new pricing plans and is spinning off its DVD-by-mail program into a separate company known as Qwikster; Starz content will be disappearing from Netflix streaming as of February 28, 2012; a new Blockbuster subscription streaming service is rumored to be debuting before the end of the year. We'll update this story in the future once the details on these new developments are fully revealed.

There are more choices than ever for your entertainment dollar, but Netflix and Blockbuster remain the only two that offer both online streaming and disc-by-mail options. Recent changes to both--a controversial Netflix price hike and a change of ownership for Blockbuster--make this a perfect time to re-examine how both of these vendors stack up against one another.

In the analysis below, we explain how Netflix and Blockbuster stack up against each other on both fronts (discs and streaming), look at the other competitors (including Hulu Plus, Amazon, Vudu, and iTunes), and make an overall recommendation on the best choices for you.… Read more

How to block or ignore someone on Google+

One of the biggest complaints on Google+ is the amount of noise generated in your stream by people you don't necessarily want to hear from.

For example, when people add you to their Circles and share content with you, the notifications are overwhelming, notifying you each time someone has shared a post with you.

The annoyance is enough push you away from Google+, but now the Plus team has released a solution.

Ignoring someone on Google+ When you ignore people, their posts and anything they've shared in your "Incoming" stream will be removed. In addition, you … Read more

How to post directly to Facebook from Google+

Note: After some feedback, this method has been deemed unreliable. Posts more than 50 characters long are cut off. As an alternative, use Publish Sync extension for Chrome.

Another social network is here, Google+, making it even harder to keep all your profiles--Facebook, Google+, and Twitter--updated. Sometimes we get so engrossed by one (Google+), we end up neglecting another (Facebook).

To make things easier, there's a simple way to post directly from Google+ to Facebook without any extra extensions, or third-party apps.

Method: Go to Facebook.com/mobile and copy the e-mail address provided under "Upload via Email&… Read more

Hulu Plus lands on Vizio tablet

Vizio's 8-inch tablet will now support Hulu Plus, the company announced today.

According to Chief Technology Officer Matt McRae, Vizio's tablet has become "one of the first Android-powered tablets to support Hulu Plus."

Vizio launched its 8-inch tablet earlier this month. The device comes with Wi-Fi connectivity and the ability for users to control their home entertainment devices with the built-in universal remote. The tablet also comes with an HDMI port, allowing users to push content to their HDTVs in high-definition.

Nintendo Wii Mario Kart bundle review: Is $150 still a good deal?

As of November 2011, the Nintendo Wii will be 5 years old. That's a long time in game years; in fact, it's nearly a console generation. To no great surprise, then, Nintendo has already announced the Wii's successor, the Wii U, with a likely release date of 2012. Until then, the Wii still survives, but as a lame duck console. That doesn't mean it should be overlooked. Nintendo's latest Wii console bundle--the fourth since the Wii's debut--is the lowest price ever, at $150, although the components in the bundle since last year's $200 have changed.

Gone is Wii Sports, the perennial Wii console pack-in. Gone, too, is Wii Sports Resort. Instead, the new Mario Kart bundle includes a Wii Remote Plus, nunchuck, a copy of Mario Kart Wii, and a Wii Steering Wheel plastic accessory. Mario Kart's a fun casual racer, but Nintendo has taken its most popular motion-control game, Wii Sports, out of the equation, forcing people to buy it separately. It doesn't make much sense, especially considering the game's 5 years old. Those interested in multiplayer games will also have to buy an extra Wii Remote Plus and nunchuck, $40 and $20, respectively.

Europe has announced an even less expensive redesigned Wii bundle, but the $150 Mario Kart version remains the least expensive Wii console in the U.S. We'd love to see this system drop down to $99, but that's just wishful thinking for now. That said, it can be found for under $135 at such major retailers as Wal-Mart and Amazon.

So the question remains: at those prices--about half that of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360--is the Wii worth the investment for first-time buyers?… Read more

Trend Micro Titanium steels itself for 2012

Trend Micro overhauled its security suites last year to great success. The company changed everything about the programs, from introducing a cloud-based detection engine on up through an interface with fast transitions and even the name, rebranding the suites as Trend Micro Titanium. Available exclusively today from CNET Download.com, this year's Titanium Maximum Security 2012 (download), Titanium Internet Security 2012 (download), and Titanium AntiVirus Plus 2012 (download) offer far fewer and far less dramatic changes, but they do include some improvements that ought to keep the suite competitive.

In addition to last year's Smart Protection Network, which … Read more

How to customize Google+ privacy

After several Facebook privacy scares, many have flocked to Google+ for better security, selective posting to "Circles," and a fresh start in social networking. But if you're not careful, you might make the same privacy mistakes on Google+.

Buried around Google+ are many privacy options for posts, photos, and your profile. Here's how to customize those settings:

Posts Although you might be compelled to post publicly for better exposure, beware that all public posts are indexed by Google.

Disable reshare: If you're using Circles to keep certain posts limited to close friends and family, adopt &… Read more

Samsung refreshes Galaxy S for Vodafone with Plus edition

Quick, which handset is the successor to last year's Samsung Galaxy S? If you answered, the Galaxy S II, then you would be right. However, there's another acceptable answer to consider now with word of a Samsung Galaxy S Plus.

U.K. Web site TechRadar recently spent some time with the new phone, which falls somewhere in the middle of the two iterations.

Looking more like a refresh of 2010's model, the Plus largely resembles its predecessor on the surface. Save for the glossy chrome rim around the bezel and lighter weight, the phone could easily be … Read more