People love the word "free," and cell phone addicts especially love the word "text." However, mobile phone services love to raise data service prices, and if you aren't careful about sticking to your service plan, you can find yourself outraged by the additional charges. Luckily, several companies have created ways to bypass the whole pay-for-texting situation. Here are six messaging services you Read more

If writing a book is always the resolution left behind once the calendar runs out, make 2012 the year to finally get your novel out of your brain and onto the page. The fear of being rejected by publisher after publisher can set you back, but more than ever, self-published novelists are turning to ebooks to make their mark on their own. Ebooks are gaining some serious ground in sales, even Read more

Didn't get an iPhone 4S this holiday? Don't worry — there are other voice-recognition apps on the market that can stand up to Siri's voice-controlled awesomeness on your devices. In fact, a few of these apps are available for Android and BlackBerry users as well. Check out some download-worthy and free Siri alternatives below. Vlingo — Vlingo doesn't just take voice commands to make calls, Read more

Rather than printing hotel directions and frantically searching for a confirmation number at check-in, simplify travel planning and sign up for a TripIt account. This website and mobile app pulls all travel plans into one easy-to-use itinerary. Forward the confirmation emails from any travel website to your TripIt account, and the service will automatically create one trip itinerary to access on Read more

Mobile shopping is on the rise. In fact, nearly 60 million users will shop on their mobile phone for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales this year. Just because you might be using your smartphone to shop for gifts this year doesn't mean you aren't at risk for hacking, viruses, malware, or identity theft (especially if you're an Android owner, just sayin'). Since we increasingly put more personal Read more

It's hard to believe that we're halfway through November already, but it's true. Not only is it time to start thinking about your guest list for Thanksgiving dinner, but also your Black Friday shopping list. Get a head start on your planning by checking out these Black Friday ads that are already posted online for your browsing pleasure. Amazon Motorola phones will be on sale for just a penny. Read more

Whether you're visiting your in-laws or on a business trip, spending a few days in a new location doesn't mean you have to put your yoga practice on hold. Word of mouth is great for finding a yoga studio nearby, but if there's no one around to give you a recommendation, you can turn to your iPhone, Blackberry, or Android and use Yoga Journal's new app FindYoga. This free app is a cinch to use and Read more

Perhaps the biggest trend to come out of this year's SXSW Interactive: group messaging services. One such option, Beluga was recently snapped up by Facebook. Another, GroupMe, was the clear favorite during the Austin event. GroupMe allows you to talk to multiple friends or contacts at once, share photos, or conference call across a group of people. You can even use the app to geo-locate yourself Read more