Hassle-Free PC: Smart Ways to Use Your Cell Phone

Illustration: Hal Mayforth

I'll bet your smart phone isn't so smart. I have tricks for saving money, downloading digital pictures instead of e-mailing them, and more. Stay on the line....

Free 411 Calls

The Hassle: I hate paying $1.25 to call 411 from my phone. Any advice?

The Fix: I have two quick workarounds. First, try 1-800-FREE411, a toll-free information service. Sometimes when I tried the service, I talked with a live operator; other times I got an automated voice. The only cost is spending about 12 seconds listening to an ad--and often, there isn't an ad at all. (Use FREE411 on your landline as well.) Don't like that idea? If your phone can browse the Web, try go2.com, a free service that offers listings of local information, including driving directions.

Saving Phone Photos

The Hassle: I just bought a camera phone, and I would like to download photographs to my PC without having to e-mail each one.

The Fix: Many new phones come with the necessary paraphernalia--cables and software--or have built-in Bluetooth or infrared adapters that can do the job.

If your phone didn't include a way to make the transfer, or if you're unhappy with it, you can zap your phone photos to your computer with Susteen's DataPilot Individual Kit Software. Prices range from $30 to $70, depending on your phone model. The tool uses a USB cable that matches your phone; you can also sync and back up your phone book, as well as upload videos and MP3s.

Quick Tip:Use Pix2Fone, a free add-on, to send photos--for logos or screen savers--from your phone to supported phones and services.

Smart Backups

The Hassle: The DataPilot is cool, but all I want to do is back up data in my phone. How about it?

The Fix: I get the feeling you like kvetching. If your phone has a SIM card, you may be able to use a SIM reader (priced at under $13) to back up your phone's data. Vavolo's USB Universal SIM Card Reader and Writer looks like a flash drive and works the same way. Just plug it into a computer's USB port, and it will read SIM cards; it works on any GSM SIM card. No SIM card? Then try the $30 BackupPal, a no-frills backup device that connects directly to your cell phone.

Magnified Display

The Hassle: I'm not young anymore and can't read my cell phone's display.

The Fix: You and me both. Try the Phone Monocle ($10), a lens that slips over your cell phone's display and magnifies the image.