[a_c_s]

you shouldn't have to tether via USB since Wifi is clearly easier to set up and is part of the point of having a phone like this...when using Wifi, taking off the back cover works...the other option is to open the keyboard, stand the phone up vertically against something (so the back is exposed to cooler air) and as somebody else suggested, dim the screen...there is an "always on" app floating around here somewhere that will keep wifi active and connected even with the screen off and when data transfer slows or stops...