It's been about six months since T-Mobile's Binge-On free video streaming during the NFL Playoffs lured me away from Straight Talk. Although I frequently encounter dead zones where I used to have good coverage, I haven't switched back. I've come close a few times, but then T-Mobile seems to add another perk to their offering that convinces me to stay.

iPad apps with support for picture in picture mode was one of the things I most looked forward to when I got my new 9.7" iPad Pro. I noticed a few of my favorite video apps support this feature, but several did not. I could not find a list anywhere of what iPad apps support picture in picture, so I thought I'd create my own. 

At yesterday's unveiling of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, Apple also announced an iPhone Upgrade Plan. The pitch is simple: pay for your phone in monthly installments with $0 down and get a new iPhone every year. Most of the big carriers have moved away from contracts and subsidized phones, so this upgrade plan is a natural fit. But is it a good deal and should you do it? Well, that depends.

All of the major US carriers are deemphasizing or doing away with two-year contracts and phone subsidies. This makes the true monthly cost of cellular service more transparent, and it is much higher than prepaid carriers. With the new iPhone a few weeks away and several great Android phones launching recently, it's a great time to try a prepaid plan and save a bunch of money.

Recently I needed to receive an international call, from China specifically. I don't have a landline to receive free calls, so I set out to see whether my prepaid cell phone plan from Straight Talk or a free calling apps is capable of receiving free international calls. I searched the internet and read several forum threads but couldn't get a straight answer. There was much more information on placing a call, which almost always requires a fee. Ultimately, I used Google Hangouts to receive the call for free, and found out that Straight Talk should have worked as well. See more details and options for receiving free international calls below.

Google has unveiled the details of its new cell phone plan, Google Fi. It operates differently than any other plan on the market and has some unique features. It will be a great deal for some users, but probably won't appeal to everyone and is only available on one device to start. Read on to get the details and see if it's for you.

Here are some of the best unlocked smartphones to use with a prepaid cell plan or replace a phone before a contract is up. Prepaid cell plans are a great value, but they require you bring a compatible device or purchase a new phone at full price and the carrier may not have the greatest selection. Some manufactures make it easier than others to purchase unlocked versions of their phones online. There are also a few great unlocked smartphones that are sold at very reasonable prices compared to a new iPhone or Samsung Galaxy phone. I'll go over some things to look out for, the best models, and where to buy.

Use an iPad as phone to make calls and text. A few free apps will turn your iPad or iPad Mini into an iPad phone with unlimited texting and calling within the US. There are several reasons to use an iPad as phone, whether it's your primary or secondary device: lower cell phone bill, great battery life, a larger screen, and receive all calls and texts over wifi or cellular (great if you live or work in a place with poor cell reception or just want to get your messages on all multiple devices). Follow the steps below to set up your iPad phone, iPad Mini phone, or Android tablet phone.

A free photo backup app can keep your pictures safely backed up, synced across all of your devices, and clear up precious smartphone storage space, all for free. Apple and Google both have good default photo backup options, but there are other apps available with more free storage and additional features.