There is no shortage of options when it comes to communicating with a modern smartphone. There are literally hundreds – likely even thousands – of different ways to communicate. There's the voice call, which is no longer a staple in mobile communication for many. And there is an endless supply of different IP messengers available, free of charge, depending on what mobile OS you use. There's email, for the more traditional feel of correspondence. And there are several popular social networking sites around the Web that are (generally) easy to access via mobile and, likewise, great for ...

Last week, I wrote an article laying out my smartphone history, in which I waxed nostalgic about some of the devices and platforms from my past. The idea was to give readers some context for where I'm coming from, device-wise, and it led to a lot of great comments from users who wanted to share their own lists and favorite-device memories. A side-effect of looking backward over the course of my smartphone-owning life, however, has been a renewed fascination with a few apps from my younger days. Topping the list, this week at least, are those apps which functioned as virtual secretaries. ...