What should replace my old BlackBerry?

— -- Question: I'm a longtime BlackBerry user but I'm not thrilled with how the service is going. I want to replace my BlackBerry. Can you tell me what other smartphones are close to it?

Answer: Most other smartphones are well ahead of their BlackBerry counterparts. Really, your options come down to two alternatives. You can get an iPhone, which is easy to use and runs more apps than a BlackBerry. The only potential drawback is the lack of a physical keyboard. I know that's a must-have for many BlackBerry users. In that case, you'll need to go with an Android phone. Android phones come in all hardware shapes and sizes. Some, like the Droid 3, have physical keyboards. Visit www.komando.com/news for more on purchasing the right smartphone for you.

Q: I have relatives coming over for Christmas. How can I let them use my computer without endangering my files?

A: Good job thinking ahead. I once had relatives accidentally delete important files from my computer, so your concern is justified. That's why I give them a Guest account to use. This prevents them from deleting files or installing programs. In Windows, go to Start>>Control Panel and select User Accounts. In XP, click Guest Account and choose Turn On Guest Account. For Vista and 7, click the Manage another account link, then select Guest account and click Turn On. On a Mac, go to System Preferences, click Accounts and then click the lock at the bottom of the window. You'll be asked to enter your password. Select Guest Account from the menu. Check the box labeled "Allow guests to log into this computer." Before your relatives arrive, log out of your regular account and log back in using the Guest account.

Q: I've signed up for Apple's iCloud service, but I'm having trouble with Photo Stream. Photos I take with my iPhone don't appear on my MacBook Air or iPad. I've checked my home Wi-Fi network and it works fine, so what could the problem be?

A: Make sure all your devices have the latest software. That's iOS 5 for the iPhone and iPad. Your Mac should have OS X Lion at least 10.7.2 and iPhoto 9.2. On your Mac, choose System Preferences>>iCloud, and make sure the Photo Stream checkbox is enabled. Next, open iPhoto and choose Preferences>>Photo Stream. Make sure the Enable Photo Stream checkbox is selected. That should push photos to your laptop. On your iPad, tap Settings>>iCloud>>Photo Stream. The slider should be set to ON. Return to the Home Screen and then tap Settings>>Wi-Fi. That slider should be on, too. There are two other tidbits to know. Photo Stream can't upload photos from the iPhone until the Camera app is closed. Photo Stream also won't push photos while you're on a cellular connection.

Q: I heard that my private Facebook photos might be public. How can I fix this, and how can I prevent it from happening again?

A: Some Facebook users discovered you could view anyone's private photos with Facebook's content-reporting tool. Even Facebook-founder Mark Zuckerberg's private photos were stolen and posted elsewhere. Facebook quickly fixed the problem, so your private photos are "safe" once again. Unfortunately, you can't prevent this from happening again in the future. Setting your Facebook profile to maximize your privacy is always a good idea. However, flaws in the system can pop up. You need to remember that anything you post on the Internet or send in email may eventually end up in public. So, if you have something you don't want everyone to see, keep it offline. Go to www.komando.com/news for more information about securing your Facebook account.

Q: This Christmas, I thought it would be fun to let the kids use my smartphone to track Santa's trip around the world. What's the best app for that?

A: That sounds like a lot of fun for them, and for you! Every Christmas Eve for more than 50 years, NORAD has tracked Santa's progress. This year, NORAD is making it even easier to track Santa with the NORAD Tracks Santa app. You can see Santa's progress wherever you may be. Also, so you can use it before the big night, the app includes information on NORAD and an Elf Toss game to keep you occupied.

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Kim Komando hosts the nation's largest talk radio show about consumer electronics, computers and the Internet. To get the podcast, watch the show or find the station nearest you, visit www.komando.com. E-mail her at techcomments@usatoday.com.