conveniently

iOS 6 became available for download today, and if you want to get up to speed on what exactly is included with the update, check out my review here. Some of the major highlights are the completely redesigned Maps app, upgrades to Siri, and several other new features. But with iOS 6 there are more than 200 new features, and clearly I couldn't cover them all in my review.

Part of what makes this update a must-have for Apple's mobile devices are the numerous smaller tweaks that make using your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch easier. I'm … Read more

Well, that was fast. Verizon Wireless caved to pressure from outraged consumers and a possible probe by the Federal Communications Commission and backed off of a plan to charge customers a $2 fee to pay their wireless bills online.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the company said it would drop the plan announced yesterday.

"At Verizon, we take great care to listen to our customers," Dan Mead, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless said in a statement. "Based on their input, we believe the best path forward is to encourage customers to take advantage … Read more

Verizon Wireless's new $2 "convenience fee" for paying a bill online has outraged consumers, and today the Federal Communications Commissions said it will look into the fee.

"On behalf of American consumers, we're concerned about Verizon's actions and are looking into the matter," the FCC said in its statement.

The FCC isn't providing further information about its investigation. The New York Times was the first to report the FCC's statement.

Verizon confirmed on Thursday that beginning January 15, it will charge customers $2 to pay their bills online using the one-time … Read more

Many soft pretzel recipes call for a dunk in boiling water before baking. This helps to give them their distinctive chewiness and appealing texture. But like all things in the kitchen, cutting corners is a time-honored tradition that will always have a place on the countertop. Often in a clamshell shape.

The Nostalgia Electrics SPF200 Soft Pretzel Factory is a specialty countertop appliance that simplifies the pretzel-making process. Featuring interchangeable plates that can cook batches of either two large pretzels or six smaller ones, the gadget can deliver a round of pretzels in 3 to 5 minutes. No complicated twisting … Read more

PALM DESERT, Calif.--Among the many companies pitching at the DemoSpring conference, newcomer Visiarc is trying to solve an annoying problem. In this case, it's accessing and sharing large e-mail attachments on underpowered devices on congested networks.

While those two problems are slowly being solved by hardware-makers and the carriers, Visiarc wants to make the transition a little less painful with an app called Mobile Documents that simply streams in large attachments.

The tool, which is being launched first for Symbian 60 devices, changes the way your phone handles e-mail attachments. It lets users browse attachments page by page … Read more

Sometimes there is no substitute for convenience. When out and about and hunger strikes, there are many options available to satiate an appetite. While fast food and snacks can hold off the hunger, caffeine lovers go another route. Luckily, corner caf?s and coffee carts are plentiful, accessible and usually offer a quality product. But what of those moments when convenience is needed at home or in the office?

The Nespresso Citiz Espresso Maker with Aeroccino Plus Automatic Milk Frother are a convenient duo designed to eliminate any hassle involved in getting a cup of coffee. The machine uses Nespresso … Read more

OrgPassword offers users a safe haven for their numerous user ID and password information for e-mail, credit cards, and various other private accounts. Unfortunately, several glitches prevented us from getting very far with the program.

During our tests, some testers had issues accessing the program once it had been installed, and continually received a message stating that the program had stopped working. However, other testers were able to access the program without any issues. The user interface mimics the look and feel of Microsoft Office products, so if you're familiar with any of the products in the Office family, … Read more

More than anything else, convenience fuels many businesses today. Entertainment. Software. And, as the Wall Street Journal reports on McDonalds' foray into high(er)-end coffee bars, food.

The confrontation between Starbucks Corp. and McDonald's Corp. once seemed improbable. Hailing from very different corners of the restaurant world, the two chains have gradually encroached on each other's turf. McDonald's upgraded its drip coffee and its interiors, while Starbucks added drive-through windows and hot breakfast sandwiches.

The growing overlap between the chains shows how convenience has become the dominant force shaping the food-service industry. Consumers who are unwilling to cross the street to get coffee or make a left turn to grab lunch have pushed all food purveyors to adapt the strategies of fast-food chains.

We're seeing much the same thing in the software world.… Read more

I'm at that age where most of my friends are starting families, so I find myself shopping for a lot of baby stuff. In fact, I've developed a bit of a reputation for giving the kind of wildly impractical baby gifts that only a non-parent would buy. But the Squirt baby food dispensing spoon just might help salvage my reputation as a gift-giver. Parents can fill the bright orange bulb with up to three ounces of baby food, then secure the spoon on the end. A squeeze of the bulb dispenses a bite of food onto the spoon, … Read more