As a growing number of iPads, smartphones, and other devices offer viewers simple program menus and touch screens, the technology behind traditional cable and satellite television can seem downright clunky.

Hooking a retro handset up to your cellphone or computer can bring you back to the good old days of Ma Bell, phone numbers with letters in them—and real conversations.

The Infocast Internet Media Display by Insignia shows digital photos and content from videos, applications and more. But the touchscreen can be unresponsive and many of the apps aren't useful, writes Marisa Taylor.

Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 operating system has a novel and attractive interface, but it lacks key features now common in its rivals' phones, writes Walt Mossberg.

Microsoft improved each of the key components for its new Mac version of Office, which finally includes a robust version of Outlook, writes Walt Mossberg.

In the continuing tug of war between apps and the Web, Microsoft offered a little bit of both last month in its beta release of Internet Explorer 9.

Several major news organizations are planning apps for Samsung's new tablet device, the Galaxy Tab, which will be built on Google's Android software.

Walt Mossberg finds Ford's touch-screen dashboard to have clear, logical displays. But the interface has so many options it presents a learning curve.