sms

Unfortunately, the option to back up your text messages is not built in to the syncing software on Android devices. VeryAndroid SMS Backup offers a very effective solution to this problem: users download the application on their mobile device and a separate manager tool on their PC. The result is a great SMS management system.

The setup for VeryAndroid SMS Backup takes very little time, but it does require installation of the PC software and a brief registration. The application itself is pretty straightforward. The intuitive main screen has only a few buttons with functions such as Backup, Restore, and … Read more

You've played that "no phones at dinner" game and lost. You can't bear ignoring your messages. Well, this bit of bling could be your new best friend.

LinkMe is a digital bracelet that displays the messages, Facebook updates, and tweets that you need most.

Billed as a world first on its Kickstarter page, LinkMe will "display the messages and alerts you choose, making your entire social life available to you with just a glance at your wrist." … Read more

Text messaging is way more subtle than a phone call, but who you text can still get you in trouble. My Sms Interceptor creates a password-protected area for all the contacts you shouldn't be texting. It isn't the easiest to set up, but it will definitely hide things from snoops or prying eyes.

The app appears in your menu, which is unfortunate if you're trying to hide it. The name isn't too revealing, but a less descriptive icon would be nice. Once you're inside the app, you have to navigate through a few annoying ad … Read more

Wickr (download) gained new secure sending and subsequent self-destructing powers in a big update to the encryption and security app today, perhaps not coincidentally Data Privacy Day.

There are four new features in the app. You can now send and subsequently self-destruct images and PDFs from Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box to other Wickr users, which expands the limits of the original send-and-self-destruct feature. You can also send up to three 30-second videos, up to 5 MB, per message. Audio messages, which function like voice mails, have been extended to 30 seconds long, as well.

Wickr can now connect to … Read more

Trying to find parking in San Francisco sometimes feels likes a car-based version of "Survivor." It's not pretty. Cars block driveways, drivers forget to curb their wheels, lights get left on, and meters run out. These are all reasons why you might want to contact a vehicle's owner. If everyone in San Francisco signed up for CurbTXT, then it would be easy to get in touch.

Drivers can sign up for CurbTXT by registering their license plates and phone numbers. A sticker on the car gives people an anonymous way to contact the driver through text … Read more

Fumbling with the small keyboard on your phone or searching for your phone when you need to text became a thing of the past with this app. Mighty Text allows you to send messages right from your computer without downloading any desktop clients. You don't have to memorize any of your friends' phone numbers, either. It's almost like having a SIM card in your PC or laptop.

The app works using your existing Google account and requires you to authorize the app on the Web. Once you do, all of your contact information, texts and calls are forwarded … Read more

A well-timed text message can really be a lifesaver. Whether you need one to get out of a boring situation or you need one to support a little white lie, Fake SMS Sender will help you out. It sends you a text whenever you need one that is sure to fool someone -- if that person doesn't look too carefully.

Fake SMS Sender app offers a very straightforward interface with the options to choose the time, date, and sender of any text. You can choose a random number or select one from your contacts and even send postdated texts. … Read more

Who says that instant messaging is dead? This free app lets you send unlimited text and picture messages to all of your friends in an IM-like environment. WhatsApp Messenger requires a somewhat annoying setup but has millions of members for you to chat with. Though you'll eventually have to pay a nominal fee, it could save you big if you have a limited texting plan.

When you install the app, it makes you use your real phone and verifies it through a text. The process takes anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes to complete. This may be a little … Read more

Cloud computing is one of the main trends to keep an eye on in 2013, according to a new report from Ericsson.

The electronics firm's "Ten Hot Consumer Trends 2013" report (PDF) suggests that not only is cloud computing becoming increasingly important in our daily lives, but young people's use of the Internet will drive new businesses and products in the coming year.

The most important technological trend is cloud computing. More than 50 percent of tablet users and 40 percent of smartphone users in the U.S., Japan, Australia, and Sweden subscribe to these kinds … Read more