Watching movies with cellular Internet

— -- Question: I want to purchase a Verizon MiFi cellular system for my kids so they have Internet access. The Verizon plan has a data limit of 5 gigabytes a month. Is that enough? Will my kids be able to watch movies on a service like Netflix?

Answer: The short answer is yes — but very carefully. For streaming video, 5GB will run out quickly if you aren't careful, and you'll pay expensive overage charges. Cellular data plans really aren't meant for streaming video. Let's use the streaming movie service Netflix as an example.

I recommend choosing the default quality setting yourself. You can do this in your Netflix account settings under Watching Instantly>>Manage Video Quality. With the lowest setting, Good, Netflix uses roughly 0.3GB of data an hour. So, you can watch 8 two-hour movies or 16 one-hour TV shows a month. By contrast, at the Best setting, you'll be able to watch only 2 movies or 5 TV shows. That doesn't take into account any other Internet surfing your kids will do.

Annotation for e-books

Q. I'm interested in a tablet or e-reader that has the ability to highlight, underline and annotate pages. I have a Kindle, and its annotation system is a little clunky. Is there a better option, maybe something with a stylus?

A. For e-readers, the only annotation system I've seen that beats the Kindle is the Sony Reader Wi-Fi. The Sony Reader allows you to highlight, underline, circle and add handwritten notes in an e-book. You can use your finger or the included stylus. Beyond that, you'll need a tablet or a computer-based reader program. If you want to stick with your Kindle, the free Kindle mobile app and Kindle computer program both have more robust annotation tools than the Kindle e-reader. You can then share those annotations with the e-reader.

Calibrate your Mac's screen

Q. My 5-year-old was using the family iMac and somehow messed up the display's settings. The colors are all off. How can I fix it?

A. Kids always seem to find the strangest computer settings to mess up. Fortunately, this one is easy to fix. Go to System Preferences>>Display>>Color. You'll see a color profile that will return your display to its default settings. Just select that profile and you're done. You could call it a day after doing that, but maybe you want to tweak your settings for photo editing or movie watching. Click the Calibrate tab to fire up the Display Calibrator Assistant. Follow the instructions and save a new monitor color profile you can switch to as needed.

Powering off your smartphone

Q. I just got a new phone and I'm still figuring it out. My biggest problem is that it won't turn off. Whenever I think it's off, I press a button it pops right back on again. What am I doing wrong?

A. Unfortunately, modern smartphones have just as many power-off options as a computer. Just pressing the On/Off button on a smartphone isn't enough. To fully turn off an iPhone, for example, press and hold the On/Off button for several seconds. A red slider will appear on the screen. Slide your finger across the slider and the phone will turn off completely. To turn it back on, press the On/Off button. On an Android phone, press and hold the power button. Depending on the phone, you could see several options, including putting it in airplane more or sleep mode. Tap the Turn Off option to fully power down the unit. One confusing thing about Android is that some phones will turn back on when you plug them in to charge. When the phone is plugged in, you can't turn it off. So, don't frustrate yourself trying.

File your taxes online for free

Q. I'm thinking about filing my taxes online, and I hear it's free with certain preparers. How do I go about doing this?

A. To file electronically, you'll need an Internet connection and the necessary documentation (W-2s, 1099s, receipts, etc.). Then pay a visit to the IRS' Free File page. On the Free File page under the QuickLinks options, choose either Pick a Free File Company or Use Free File Fillable Forms. Clicking Pick a Free File Company leads you to a list of websites providing the free e-filing service and their requirements. Note that most of these services don't file state returns for free. If you can't decide on a company, click the Help Me Find a Free File Company link. If you're comfortable doing your own taxes, choose the Use Free File Fillable Forms option. This will take you to a site that will give you the forms you need to file for free.

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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.