I've always been good about using multiple passwords for different sites with varying degrees of complexity. Recently, it seems like a week doesn't go by without hearing about another hack, so I decided to give Apple's iCloud Keychain password manager a try. One of the best things you can do to secure your online information is to use very strong unique passwords for every website and app you use. If we could do this and remember them all there would be no need for password managers, but obviously that's not practical. Apple's iCloud Keychain tries to make it easier. It does some things well, but struggles in other areas. If you're an Apple and Safari user, read on to see if you should use it.
Read MoreSave iCloud space by backing up photos to Dropbox, Google, or Flickr for free
Apple's iCloud is an easy and convenient way to back up photos and other data from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. It has a few shortcomings though: only 5GB is available for free, and it is only accessible on Apple devices (though limited functionality is available through web browsers). 5GB fills up pretty quickly, especially if you take lots of pictures or have multiple device backups. One way to conserve iCloud space is to turn off photo syncing and instead automatically sync photos to Dropbox, Google Drive, Google+, Flickr, or other free cloud storage providers.
Read MoreThe best free texting app for Android, iPhone, & iPad: Google Voice vs Talkatone vs iMessage vs Hangouts
With a free texting app you can send and receive short messages and pictures over wifi or cellular internet that won't count against your texting plan. Some apps can send text messages to phone numbers, while others will only work with other devices that have the same app installed. Some apps also have the ability to make and receive free calls. Here are some of the most popular contenders for the title of best free texting app
Read MoreWhich iPhone 6 model to buy contract-free
Whether you're on a prepaid plan or paying full price because your contract isn't up yet, here are some things to consider when buying an iPhone 6 contract-free. There are actually more models of the iPhone that are available unlocked and will work with multiple carriers. See which one is right for you.
Read MoreThe best companies to watch cable TV online with a subscription
You can watch cable TV online with that subscription if you're away from home or someone else is using the TV. There are a lot of popular streaming services that require a cable TV subscription to use: HBO Go, AMC, FX Now, and watchESPN, just to name a few. Some of them support just about every cable company, while others only support a few, so this could be a deciding factor if you're lucky enough to have a choice of cable companies.
Read MoreAn overview of the best prepaid cell phone plans: Virgin Mobile vs Metro PCS vs Straight Talk vs Boost Mobile
Hopefully this overview of the best prepaid cell phone plans will help you drastically lower your bill and ditch two-year contracts. There are a lot of other benefits to using prepaid cell phone plans: they run on the same 4G networks as the big carriers, you won't be charged lots of extra taxes and fees, and since there aren't any contracts you can change your phone or cancel your plan at any time.
Read MoreApple vs Google (and Microsoft too): time to pick your platform
Until recently, I bought each of my devices for a specific purpose and chose which vendor I thought was the best. There were some small things tying smartphones, tablets, and laptops together, but we weren't missing out on much if we had an iPhone and Windows laptop, or Android phone and a Macbook. However, Apple and Google have both made recent announcements aimed at making their devices work better together. It's becoming clear that to get the most out of our gadgets they will all have to be running an operating system from the same company: Apple, Google, or Microsoft.
Read MoreThe most important screen on the smartphone
There are several different screens you may have on your smartphone depending on its operating system: a home screen of static app icons, a contextual home screen, a lock screen, app drawers, and the all important notification screen. I think the notification screen is fast becoming the most important and most used screen on our mobile devices. I find it much more useful than the iPhone's grid of app icons or the stock Android home screen, which basically just provides quick access to Google searches.
Read MoreWhy I ditched Google Voice with a tablet data plan for Straight Talk
Well, I finally did it. I moved my number out of Google Voice and got a normal cell phone plan, and I couldn't be happier (well except that my monthly bill will go from $30 to $50). I ported my number to Google Voice 18 months ago to use my iPad mini as a phone with just a tablet data plan. I eventually got another phone, the Android Nexus 5, but I kept using Google Voice with a tablet data plan because I really got accustomed to making and receiving calls and texts over wifi on my smartphone, tablet, and laptop. This was especially handy in areas with bad cell reception. And you couldn't beat the price: I varied between tablet data plans that cost $9-$30 per month.
Read MoreWho is the Amazon Fire Phone for?
Last week Amazon unveiled its oft-rumored smartphone, the Amazon Fire Phone. Compared to popular Android phones and the iPhone it has a familiar design and specs, some interesting new features, and the same price tag. It will be interesting to see if the Fire Phone does enough to stand out in a crowded smartphone marketplace. Why did Amazon make the Fire Phone, and who did they make it for?
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