Tech tips: Wait for the iPhone 5

Question: My old cellphone is dying. I really want an iPhone. Should I wait for the iPhone 5 or get an iPhone 4? Is the iPhone 5 coming out soon?

Answer: You're not alone. Many people are waiting anxiously for the iPhone 5. Rumor suggests that the next iPhone will be faster, sport a better camera and have a bigger screen. It is expected to launch in October. Now, even if you decide not to get the iPhone 5, the short wait is worth it. The price of the iPhone 4 will drop when the iPhone 5 hits the street.

Q: I'm taking a road trip soon across the country. I want to use cellular broadband on my laptop for Internet access. Which cellular provider has the best coverage?

A: To cover the United States, providers have put up countless cell towers. Providers tend to place cell towers around heavily populated areas and main roads. Areas with little or no population may not have any service. If coverage is most important, plan your trip route first. Then, compare the route you selected against published cellular coverage maps. Be sure to check both voice and data versions of the maps. Data coverage may be much different than voice coverage.

Q: I just finished writing an important document on my Mac. I saved it, but now I can't find it! Please help me get it back.

A: You don't have to panic. It's likely you just saved the file to the wrong folder. Fortunately, OS X has a powerful search feature. Start by going to Spotlight. This is in the upper-right corner of your screen. Click the magnifying glass to open the search bar. Start typing the name of the file. I hope you remember what you called it. A list of possible matches will appear automatically. The file should be on that list; just click to open it. If you don't remember the file name, don't despair. Go to File>>Find for a more comprehensive search method. Search for document files created in the last day or so. Your file should turn up quickly.

Q: I'm always getting lost while driving. So I'm thinking of getting a GPS unit. What model do you recommend?

A: GPS is a blessing for the navigationally challenged. It used to require a dedicated unit, but no longer. My GPS unit, for example, is my iPhone. Almost any smartphone can be used for navigation with the right high-quality app. These apps can provide turn-by-turn directions, text-to-speech, points-of-interest and much more. A smartphone costs about the same as a standalone GPS unit. Plus, smartphones offer much more versatility.

Q: I've heard you say on that Internet Explorer isn't a secure browser. What alternatives are there?

A: Internet Explorer has had its share of security problems in the past. The latest version, IE 9, however, is much better than previous versions. You can use it safely. Just be sure to regularly install Windows updates. The most secure alternative to IE is Google Chrome. It regularly stumps hackers in hacking competitions. Plus, it is one of the fastest browsers around. Mozilla's Firefox is another good browser. Its security is strong and being improved steadily. Historically, Mozilla patches any serious security flaws quickly.

source:usatoday.com