Smartphones: Apple iPhone 4S

Review

What can a company be expected to offer next when its product is already the best-selling, most innovative smartphone among its competitors? That question has become obligatory whenever Apple debuts a new model of the wildly successful iPhone.

In the case of the Apple iPhone 4S, the answer is that you can expect many important upgrades and even some groundbreaking features. While there are always detractors who will hasten to point out what new smartphones don't offer, we found it easy to select the Apple iPhone 4S as our TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award winner.

The iPhone 4S is the first Apple cell phone to be available from the three largest U.S. carriers, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. AT&T has the longest history with the iPhone, having been its exclusive carrier through the first three iterations of the device. With AT&T, you get a 3G data network that is typically America's fastest. The downside is that in some regions, that network can be somewhat less reliable than the Verizon Wireless 3G network. The data load created by the popularity of iPhones has sometimes overwhelmed the AT&T network, but the problem seems to have been largely resolved.

With Verizon Wireless, which already carries the iPhone 4, you arguably get the nation's largest and most reliable network. Though the two biggest carriers' speed and reliability claims echo each company's advertisements, research substantiates those claims. The effect of the popular device's availability on Sprint's network remains to be seen.

eBook Reader: Kindle 3 Wi-Fi

Review

After being torn in a number of directions through several different eBook Readers, we found one that is, hands down, our number one choice. The Amazon Kindle 3 can easily be called Today’s Best eBook Reader. Although we enjoy Barnes and Noble's Nook’s LendMe feature and library eBooks, we feel those features do not replace the plethora of benefits one can receive through using the Kindle 3. The Kindle 3 is also placed above the Kindle DX because it is a faster and more portable device. The Kindle 3 receives our TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award because the handheld eReader that can be used anywhere – clouds or shine.

For all the great features of the Kindle 3 plus the added benefit of 3G network connectivity, we definitely recommend the upgraded Kindle 3G + Wi-Fi.

AntiVirus Software: Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2012

Review

If you’re looking for a strong and easy antivirus software, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus stands at the ready. Offering rock-solid security, simple usability, effective resource usage and an enticing price point, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is the best antivirus software and our TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award winner. It is a top-tier antivirus software solution with superior protection and performance whether you’re an advanced user looking to control the whole process manually or an average user who simply wants a set-and-forget solution. This antivirus software provides protection and peace of mind without taxing your PC performance or paycheck.

The software is available as boxed software or via online download. Both are easy to install and implement. Installation is quick and includes step-by-step instructions. The process includes a pre-installation scan and doesn’t require a reboot before you’re up and running.. The user interface is elegant and minimalistic. You can drag and drop modules to perform actions directly from the main window. The application uses a feature called Autopilot to make security-related decisions without prompting you for responses. There is nothing to configure, no alerts and no pop-ups. If you choose to make any manual changes to the security settings, Autopilot shuts itself off in the same way that your car's cruise control cancels itself if you tap the brakes.