2

Verizon subscribers who own the Galaxy Note 2 may find a major update waiting for them the next time they power up their phone.

Rolling out on Friday, the latest update from Verizon graces the large-screen phone with Android 4.1.2 along with several security patches from Google. The update also brings improvements to such apps and features as VZ Navigator, SMS text messaging, Verizon's Backup Assistant Plus, ISIS Mobile Wallet, Exchange Active Sync, and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Galaxy Note 2 users will now be able to use the Multi Window View to juggle more apps, such as YouTube, … Read more

Busy users may need an efficient way to track their tasks. TodoPlus for Mac has all of the functions necessary for organizing to-dos, but the cluttered interface makes it difficult to use.

Download and installation of this free program completed quickly, as did initial set up. No technical support was available and the tutorial was of little help. After moving through the tutorial menus, TodoPlus for Mac began to slow the test computer down, lengthening the time spent switching between different menus. The program's main interface has a cluttered row of buttons along the top of the window. Users … Read more

The iPad Mini appears to be trouncing the iPad in popularity based on estimates coming out of the Asia-based supply chain.

Of the 19.5 million iPads sold in Apple's second quarter (January to March), 12.5 million were iPad Minis, according to an estimate from Taipei-based Digitimes that cited sources. The publication defines the number as "shipments."

Of course, only Apple (which does not break down iPad and iPad Mini sales) knows the real number, but this jibes with shipment trends that DisplaySearch was seeing in December.

At that time, DisplaySearch expected Apple to sell 6 … Read more

When I first learned that Cartoon Network's Adult Swim released a sequel to Robot Unicorn Attack (RUA) a few days ago on iOS, I could barely contain my excitement.

As one of the first apps I ever downloaded onto my device, it holds a special place in my heart. I forked over $2.99 for it, and ever since then, I was able to travel to a world with so much wonder and color, my eyes cried rainbows after 10 minutes of gameplay.

And while it's hard to improve a game that already features jumping dolphins and severed … Read more

By far the coolest thing Canada has in space is Chris Hadfield, commander of the International Space Station. He's all over social and news media with his wacky zero-g demos, guitar playing, and amazing photos of Earth.

Today Hadfield notched another first: unveiling a banknote in space. At a Bank of Canada press conference in Ottawa, the mustachioed colonel appeared via ISS video link. He plucked the bank's latest polymer bill from a bracket on the wall, gave it a few weightless twirls, and pointed to the robots it features.

"I just want to tell you how proud I am to be able to see Canada's achievements in space highlighted on our money," Hadfield told Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney. "To feature Canadarm2 and Dextre for the theme of the $5 note, it really marks Canada's contribution to the International Space Station Program, and especially our longtime area of expertise in robotics." … Read more

It is important to make sure your computer is maintained well and running at an optimal temperature. Temperature Monitor Widget for Mac helps you avoid letting your computer overheat by reading out all accessible temperature sensors. It is a rather easy-to-use and non-intrusive widget that runs in the background.

Temperature Monitor Widget for Mac comes in a 200KB installer and adds the widget to the dashboard. It will default to displaying the temperature of your CPU, but you have the option to change which components it monitors. The app is very non-intrusive and you'll most likely forget it's … Read more

The iPhone is a perfect device for integrating audio and images into a single interface. While this usually means creating videos, it doesn't have to. There are dozens of ways to use the technology in new and creative ways. Case in point: Talking Pictures. This app allows you to tag a photo with different audio tracks that can be activated by other users with the same app -- a potentially innovative way to share information.

When you open the app, you can choose to view your gallery (which will be empty) or create a new talking picture. Choose the … Read more

Toddlers Flashcards is exactly as it sounds, a collection of flashcards you can download for your iPad that will help your child learn things like colors, letters, numbers, and more. The app is very easy to use, but for its target audience -- children between 12 months and 3 years -- it works quite well. While there are some issues with the volume of content available in the free version and the interface is very bare bones, it is a decent download for parents eager to help their child learn basic concepts.

Upon starting, you'll choose the language in … Read more

Photo Icons HD is designed to provide the tools you need to create icons for your iPhone or iPad. The HD version of the app upscales the interface so you can see the full-sized version of the icon, add new backgrounds, borders, and images, and tweak it until it's ready for sharing. While not perfect, the app provides the basic tools you'll need to create rudimentary icons and buttons.

The interface for Photo Icons HD is very easy to use. Onscreen is a list of 11 options, each with a simple button. Tap each to bring up a … Read more