Tunes - Tuneflow

The coverage maps provided by cellphone companies don't really tell you all that much about the quality of the coverage they offer. If you'd like a real-world look at coverage, you can check out Root Coverage.

We've featured one or two Google Voice clients before, but why install another client when you can use one you already have? Free service GVXMPP brings Google Voice support to your IM client of choice, adding SMS-sending power to your desktop.

The New York Times' Bits blog details the workarounds New York City iPhone owners resort to for better service coverage, including furniture reorganization, window lurking, and going EDGE-only. We'd guess our readers have some cellular reception tricks of their own. Photo by The JoshMeister.

Did you have something to do this weekend other than scan tech news and Twitter for "Nexus One"? Here's the quick-read lowdown on what the "Google Phone" is (and isn't), what it looks like, and when it might arrive. Image via Cory O'Brien.

Windows only: When the AIR-based site-specific browser just won't cut it, GVNotifier.NET brings Google Voice notifications, one-click calling, and SMS to your desktop.

Sure, when you go to a carrier's website you can see a map of their coverage and it usually looks pretty awesome. What about in the real world? DeadCellZones catalogs user-reported dead zones to show you real-world coverage.

You've misplaced your cellphone in your house and you don't have a land line or friend handy to call your number and make it ring. If you've got internet access, WheresMyCellPhone can fill in for your friend.

GooSync, the Google Calendar syncing service for those without iCal or Outlook-compatible smartphones, announced to subscribers in an email this week that GooSync Free would be unavailable as of Oct. 19. The replacement is GooSync Lite, which goes for £5.99 per year, about $10 in U.S. funds. For unlimited contact backup, multiple calendars, and other goodies, GooSync Premium runs £19.95 per year. Are you a GooSync Free or Premium user?

We've been impressed with the speed increases that rooting and moving apps to SD cards can bring to sometimes sluggish Android phones. If you're not about to crack your phone's firmware, the AndroidGuys blog suggests a few optimization tips.