Back in January I wrote about the "inconvenient truth" of trying to charge your iPad from a USB port: there's not enough juice.

My recommendation at the time was Digital Innovations' ChargeDr, a USB dongle that allows tablets and other devices to charge more quickly. It works (quite well, in fact), but it's a $30 solution.

If you fancy free workarounds instead, check out Asus Ai Charger. This free utility promises to charge iPhones, iPods, and iPads up to 50 percent faster using your PC's existing USB ports.

That's a pretty lofty claim: software that can boost the effective power output of hardware? It sounds almost impossible, but I'm here to tell you: it works.

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Last year I shared three things you should know about Google Voice—basically a rundown of three cool ways to use the service.

Here's a fourth: Use it as a disposable phone number.

See, when you sign up for Google Voice, which you can do for any new or existing Google/Gmail account, you get the option of choosing a new phone number. (You can also port an existing number, but that's not part of the discussion today.)

One of the neat things about Google Voice is that you can route calls to that number to any/all of your existing numbers (home, office, cell phone, etc.).

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Password-protecting your smartphone makes sense, as it prevents unauthorized users from accessing your data.

But it can also work against you. Suppose, for example, your phone gets lost. If a Good Samaritan finds it and wants to return it, he or she won't be able to do the necessary detective work. (And it's not like you'd want them poking around your data anyway.)

Fortunately, Android 4.0 offers a solution in the form of lock-screen contact information, which will display the message of your choosing even on a passcode-protected device. Here's how to set this up:

1. On your Android phone, head to Settings, then look for an entry called Lock Screen. (I found this under the Personal section on my Samsung Galaxy S3; on your phone it might be under Security or somewhere similar.)

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Robert Harris asked me to explain the technologies and concerns around smartphone Internet access.

[Email your tech questions to answer@pcworld.com or post them on the PCW Answer Line forum.]

Not so long ago, it didn't matter much how you accessed the Internet from your smartphone. Changes in most people's service plans, however, are altering that condition. Use the wrong technology, and your mobile phone bill will go up.

Smartphones, such as iPhones and Android phones, are basically small, handheld computers with built-in phones, GPS, and cameras. And like any other modern computer, they're tools for accessing the Internet. For many people, that's their primary function.

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Tethering: It's one of the most convenient features your smartphone has, yet carriers insist on restricting it.

Tethering most often refers to using your smartphone as a mobile hotspot. In other words, it lets you connect to the Internet on your laptop, tablet, or Wi-Fi enabled device, using your phone's data connection. Tethering is very useful if you happen to be in an area that has no free Wi-Fi and you need to do your computing on a device other than your phone.

[Related: How to tether your iPhone]

Carriers don't really want you to use this oh-so-convenient option, because users who tether are more likely to use a lot of data. After all, it's much easier to use data when you're browsing on a laptop or a tablet, than when you're limited to your smartphone's tiny screen. You might argue that, since most mobile plans feature limited data anyway, it shouldn't matter how you happen to use that data. But some carriers disagree, and will typically charge an extra $20 to $50 per month for tethering plans.

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It's no secret that the Samsung Galaxy S III is the must-have phone this summer. After all, this high-end Android phone has won over reviewers and consumers alike, selling more than 10 million units in less than two months on the market. PCWorld gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Much of the hype surrounding the Galaxy S III is well deserved?the phone comes packed with cool features, including its voice controls, gesture controls, and multimedia-sharing tools.

However, your Galaxy S III has some lesser-known features that could be more useful than its headline-grabbing capabilities. And, despite what Samsung's marketing campaign may have you believe, not all of these features are specific to the Galaxy S III?some are available, often via downloadable apps, on many high-end Android devices. Read on to learn 15 ways you can get the most out of your slick new smartphone.

Calls made easier

Dialing phone numbers or even tapping a contact's name to place a call? That's so 2011. The Galaxy S III's motion controls allow you to place a call simply by moving your phone to your ear when you're viewing a contact or a text message.

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My iPhone lives inside one of those extended-battery cases, which is good for power but bad for syncing. I've lost the special sync cable that came with the case, meaning I now have to take the case off (major hassle) whenever I want to sync with iTunes. This is driving me nuts. Is there some other way to sync?

Good news, Jed: there is! With the introduction of iOS 5, Apple made it possible to sync with your PC via Wi-Fi, meaning you don't need a dock, cable, or anything else -- just your existing home network.

This feature came and went without a lot of fanfare, which I find surprising because it's singularly awesome. Well, okay, there's one downside, but it shouldn't affect you: Your iPhone must be plugged into a power source for Wi-Fi syncing to work. (Update: Should have said "automatic Wi-Fi syncing." You can sync manually even without a power source.)

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The check-in feature at Facebook exemplifies location-based social media use at its simplest. When you check in on Facebook, you're just telling your Facebook Friends "Here I am!" Google+ and Yelp up the ante by encouraging users to leave reviews.

Other social networks are completely built around location-based services. They turn the process of checking in at various locations into a real-world game, complete with points, achievement badges, leaderboards, and the ability to win rewards and discounts at participating locations.

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That's true whether you have a gigantic hard drive quickly filling up with applications, movies, music, and photos or live with one of the newer ultrathin laptops sporting fast but tiny solid-state drives that can’t hold much to begin with.

Thankfully, lots of easy ways exist to reclaim hard-drive space and keep the dreaded “out-of-disk-space” warnings away. Let's check some of them out.

Clean Up Files You No Longer Need

The first step is to get rid of the common space-hogging culprits. These include unnecessary applications and a variety of useless system files.

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Trying to decide between, say, the hot new Samsung Galaxy S3 and the iPhone 4S? How about the Amazon Kindle Fire and Google Nexus 7 tablets?

Sure, PC World's reviews can help tremendously, but sometimes it's nice to see a blow-by-blow comparison between the exact models you've narrowed down.

For that, head to Versus IO. This handy site lets you compare two mobile phones or tablets side-by-side, giving you not only an overview of their features, but also explanations as to what those features' advantages are.

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A lot of this depends on what email service and/or local email client software, and what calendar program, you're using. I'm going to concentrate here on Gmail, because many people use it, you can easily channel multiple email accounts through it, and, since it's cloud-based, syncing comes naturally (well, sometimes).

I'm also assuming here that you're using Google Calendar.

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Android's built-in calendar app can display the contents of more than one Google calendar, integrating them together. These can include both calendars that you create yourself (for instance, separate work and off-hour calendars), as well as ones created by other people that you can read but not alter. For instance, in addition to my own calendar, I display calendars for US and Jewish holidays.

Here's how to turn off a particular calendar on an Android phone:

While in the Calendar app, press the hard Menu button below the screen. Then tap Calendars.

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A phone battery should last--even under heavy use--for the 16 or 17 hours from when you wake up until you go to bed. (I'm assuming that you recharge your phone at night.) Unfortunately, a great many phones can't always make it through the day.

But there are settings that can extend the phone's battery life. Try turning off Wi-Fi, and set your phone to not automatically sync email, your calendar, or other cloud-centered apps. If you have an Android phone, consider removing some of your widgets; since their function is to show you live data, they have to be working at all times.

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These kinds of accidents happen all the time, often with the result of an expensive trip to the store for a replacement. But maybe that doesn't have to be the outcome.

A couple years back, PC World offered some tips for reviving a wet phone, including the ever-popular "submerge it in a bowl of dry rice." But if you want a more robust solution, consider stocking a Bheestie Bag.

For $20, this moisture-absorbing bag of magic beads claims to be 700 percent more effective than rice, and faster than silica gel (which is what some other device-drying products use).

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Let's take this problem one PC browser at a time.

This one's easy. In Firefox, on the PC, select Tools (if you don't see menus at the top of the window, tap ALT), then Set Up Sync. Fill out the form, sticking to defaults when you're not sure.

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Also, be sure to check out our consumer cell phone buying guide, which walks you through the general features and specs to look for and test while shopping for a phone.

Operating System

Google's Android (found on multiple devices), Apple's iOS (found only on iPhone models), RIM's BlackBerry OS (found on BlackBerrys of various designs), and Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 all can be ideal for business, but each OS offers different features and advantages. Familiarize yourself with all of the platforms before settling on one. Prior to your shopping trip, ask your IT person whether your mail system is compatible only with certain clients, or if he or she recommends one mobile platform over another for your work email.

Android

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Experts we spoke with say you must proactively manage your online persona if you're serious about your career. If someone you wanted to impress--a potential employer or recruiter, for example--were to research you online, what would he or she find?

Would a Google query turn up a wealth of information that points to your business acumen, valuable technology skills, and impressive history of achievements? Would it uncover a veritable vacuum that indicates you haven't given your public profile a moment's thought? Worse, will posts to that CNN.com article you made two years ago raise questions about your character? The answers may be make-or-break factors in landing your next job.

Here are 12 strategies to pump up your online profile with the savvy needed to win in a competitive marketplace (plus a little bonus tip at the end).

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Unfortunately, most apps created for smartphones or tablets aren't available for use on a PC. Some apps let you sync favorites or other personal data with a companion program or a somewhat equivalent application on a PC, but mobile apps and their PC counterparts are rarely the same.

Thankfully, Silicon Valley-based startup BlueStacks recently released an alpha version of what the company calls an app player--a PC program that enables users to download Android apps directly or transfer them from an Android-based smartphone or tablet to their PC. The BlueStacks app player essentially runs an instance of Android in a virtualized environment on the PC, so the apps act as though they're running on a mobile device. If that's something you'd like to try, here's how to set it up.

Getting Started With BlueStacks

Using the BlueStacks app player is relatively straightforward, but there are some quirks involved with getting apps from a mobile device to a PC which we'll go into a little later. To use the BlueStacks app player, you must first download it from the BlueStacks website or from PCWorld's Downloads Library. Then run the BlueStacks app player installation file, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation. Keep in mind that the BlueStacks app player is still in the early phases of development, so you can expect some minor performance issues and perhaps a bug or two.

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1. Virtual Machines

One method of making a personal phone safe for work data is through software installed onto your personal phone by your employer. Mobile Device Management (MDM) software like Microsoft's System Center can control settings on your phone, making sure your security setup is safe for work data. Another option is virtual machine software like VMware’s MVP, which was demonstrated at CES on an Android-powered LG phone, which allows a phone to maintain a separate business environment with its own apps and settings, like a phone within a phone, making a clear distinction between work and personal data. These solutions are still very new, so they may not be an option yet at your workplace.

2. Remote Desktop

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The problem with a calendar on a desktop computer--even one that keeps its data in the cloud--is that you need a connected web browser to access it. A one-hour reminder that you have a 7:00 appointment won't do much good if you're away from your computer at 6:00.

If you use Google Calendar and have an Android phone or tablet, this is no big deal. The calendar that comes with the mobile device pretty much gets synced with the one in the cloud automatically. Of course it does; they're both by the same company.

Syncing Google Calendar with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch isn't much trouble, either. Just follow these directions.

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Be aware, however, that the lower-end models you may see advertised at rock-bottom prices come with lots of gotchas. The following three key points are critical to keep in mind before you buy.

1. You Get What You Pay For

The one bonus: None of these inexpensive models require a service contract with a carrier, so you'll have the option to ditch your first tablet with less pain than if you had signed a contract.

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When you're traveling, make sure to know the local laws about mobile phone use and text messaging while driving. Some infractions carry weighty fines and even potential jail time.

Many of us want the right to talk and text in our cars, but study after study shows that talking or texting while driving causes accidents. Distracted-driving laws result from battles between legislators, law enforcement, insurance companies, and individuals. Opponents of the laws claim that they're a way for law enforcement to beef up revenue from traffic fines at the expense of individual liberties. Whatever your viewpoint is, this guide should help on your next trip.

United States

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been calling for a complete ban on talking and texting while driving, even with hands-free devices.

This list is derived from available regulations as of December 2011.

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As a business traveler, you typically can’t do your job without functional smartphones, laptops, power adapters and charging accessories. Add to this the stress of getting materials ready for meetings and deadlines and you can find yourself disconnected, offline, and frustrated. If you have to travel for work this holiday season, you can relate to these following issues with tech and travel.

1. Potential Loss of Your Laptop or Mobile Device

Never bring a laptop along that you aren’t willing to lose, or have damaged or confiscated. While customs and TSA officials do not randomly confiscate laptops, the hard truth is that if they see something about your laptop they don’t like, they can prevent you from taking it onto the plane. This is more of a danger on international flights than on domestic ones, but even so you should pack a tablet or a laptop that you won’t be sorry to let go of if the situation demands it.

There is a very minute chance that this will even happen according to both the TSA and customs. The TSA is primarily interested in scanning your laptop for explosive devices, and won’t even turn it on. Customs only refers a very small percentage of travelers to secondary inspection of electronics, and of those only a very few are subject to laptop searches. Even so, in the course of traveling, anything could happen to your devices, and bringing your prize MacBook Pro along for the ride may not be advisable unless you can readily afford to replace it.

[Related: How to travel like tech royalty]

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Ironically, Kodak’s misfortunes come at the hands of one of the companies own creations: the digital camera. Pieced together from spare parts back in 1975, the technology was immediately pooh-poohed by Kodak’s officers as it strayed from the company’s business model of providing consumers with affordable cameras as a gateway to the continuous revenue stream generated by film and photographic processing materials.

Two decades later, with consumers wholeheartedly embracing digital photography, Kodak was in serious trouble. In 2009, the company produced its last roll of Kodachrome film. Today, market analysts are playing the odds as to when the company will announce that it’s seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

If market irrelevance can break a behemoth of industry like Kodak, it can nudge your business too out of existence too. To avoid its fate, consider these pointers for staying relevant in the digital age.

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Before updating, here’s what you should be thinking about to make the transition to Ice Cream Sandwich safe and painless.

System Updates

Updating the operating system on any device is a process with multiple opportunities for failure:

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Do you know where your smartphone is? Unless you're using it to read PCWorld.com, your phone is probably plugged into an outlet somewhere to charge, because the battery stinks. You can find plenty of good reasons why your smartphone battery sucks, most of which stem from the failure of lithium ion batteries to keep pace with the exponentially increasing power demands of rapidly evolving smartphone technology. Thankfully, plenty of tips and tutorials are available to help you wring every last drop of juice from your smartphone battery, and such tricks can be distilled down to two critical steps: Configure your smartphone for maximum battery life, and then download a reliable and trustworthy battery-optimization app.

Optimize Your Phone for Maximum Battery Life

Configuring your smartphone for maximum battery life entails giving up a few luxuries such as GPS tracking and a stunningly bright screen; but after testing these tricks, we’re willing to bet that you won’t even notice the loss. What you will notice is the few extra hours of battery life you’ll earn with simple tweaks such as dimming your smartphone screen, reducing the screen timeout to the shortest available time (preferably 15 seconds or less), and switching off the power-sucking Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios when you aren’t using them. Making those three changes should net you an extra hour or two before your phone dies. If that’s not enough, however, check out our complete list of tricks that boost your smartphone’s battery life.

Download Battery-Management Apps

Once your device is running lean and mean, you should download a few good battery-optimization apps to ensure it stays that way. The best app for your needs will vary depending on what sort of smartphone you carry.

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"It lets [smartphone users] always have the Web with them without taking any extra equipment along," says Allen Nogee, research director for wireless technology at market intelligence firm In-Stat.

Like dedicated mobile hotspot devices, these phones connect to a mobile data network and then act as a Wi-Fi router, distributing the bandwidth to nearby clients. There is a price to pay for the convenience that hotspot phones provide: Three of the four national networks charge an additional fee to use tethering. On the other hand, you don't have to worry about finding a public Wi-Fi hotspot or having another device to buy, lug around, keep charged and accidentally leave behind.

Want to know more? After speaking to analysts, network engineers and other mobile experts, I've rounded up and answered the 12 most common questions about smartphone tethering, including options and carrier policies. Additionally, I used a couple of smartphones as hotspots in various parts of the U.S. and Europe to discover what the experience is like in real life.

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These devices have the potential to compromise security, whether by introducing malware onto other devices on your network, or transporting company data outside the network. Fortunately, antivirus and encryption apps are available for all the major smartphone and tablet platforms, and most allow remote management.

1. Create Formal Policies for Mobile Devices

You can’t ask users to abide by a security policy if you don’t have one. It doesn’t have to be a long document that covers every possible contingency. A brief statement about protecting corporate assets will not only be easier to understand and remember, but easier to get buy-in on from users. Make clear that the rules aren'tt simply to make users' lives harder, but to protect the organization.

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QR codes offer an efficient way to create links to websites, but they can also store text, phone numbers, email addresses, or calendar events, or send SMS messages. Here are some tips on how to use a QR app to access the data you want.

First, you need a QR-code app and a smartphone or tablet equipped with a camera. iOS users should check out RedLaser. Android fans can try either RedLaser or QR Droid, and BlackBerry users will like QR Code Scanner Pro. All of these apps are free to download, and each one should handle any standard QR code just fine.

When you launch your app of choice, you'll see that your phone's camera is activated, with an on-screen framing guide. Line up the camera on your device with the QR code you want to scan, and hold the device steady until the app can read the code in front of it.

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2. Ask phone makers for help. Some manufacturers, including Motorola and Samsung, have developed little-marketed products and services for enterprises. Samsung, for instance, is developing a version of its TouchWiz software that will support advanced encryption standard security and VPN connections. Motorola recently acquired 3LM, a company developing software that resides on the phone and in a corporate server, to encrypt data travelling to and from the device and set up a VPN to corporate data. 3LM's software is expected to be available on other Android phones, not just those made by Motorola.

3. Restrict users to models with better security. Motorola, for instance, has a line aimed at enterprise users-business-ready phones that include enhanced security features. The Droid Pro, for example, allows for remote wipe of SD cards, and comes with a VPN client and the ability to force users to create new passwords after a set time.

4. Wait for mobile virtual machine technology to mature. VMware is working on a mobile virtual machine that lets users toggle between two phone personas: one for corporate use and one for personal use. The company plans to also offer a management tool so IT departments can set policies for the corporate persona on the phone. So far, LG and Samsung say they hope to make phones capable of using the VMware tool. Other companies, like Open Kernel Labs, are offering tools that let developers build applications that can run inside a virtual machine, isolating them from threats.

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