Hot Gadget Hacks Posts
News: The Best Smartphone Deals on Amazon Prime Day 2019 — Save Big on Samsung, Google, LG, Motorola & Nokia
Amazon Prime Day is nearly here, but that doesn't mean the deals are a mystery. Sure, most of Amazon's best sales and discounts won't be announced until Prime Day itself, but we already know some awesome smartphone deals thanks to a handful of early sneak-peeks.
How To: Play Your Favorite Xbox One Games on iPhone or Android
Game streaming has never been better. Not only can you watch your favorite Twitch streamer play, but with the new tools being added to YouTube, you can even play along with them. And now, with a solid internet connection, you can stream your Xbox One games to your phone to enjoy console games on the go.
How To: The Best 2019 Amazon Prime Day Deals on Smartphone Accessories
The fifth annual Amazon Prime Day is upon us. Starting July 15, Amazon will offer thousands of deals on products across its site, kicking off at 3 a.m. EDT. This year, it will only run for 48 hours, so you have even less time to act. To save you some of that time, we made a list of the best deals for smartphone accessories.
News: Early Augmented Reality Concept Film That Envisioned the Future Gets a Sequel Powered by Kickstarter
Long before the HoloLens or the Magic Leap One, a California-based team of independent filmmakers envisioned what the future of augmented reality might look like.
News: Microsoft Launches Closed Beta Sign-Ups for Minecraft Earth Mobile Augmented Reality Game
The long tease that is the release of Minecraft Earth continues, this time with an opportunity to start playing what might be one of the hottest augmented reality games ever, before the general public.
News: Snapchat Smile Rater Lens Helps You Work on the Perfect Selfie Smile
For Snapchat users wondering if that selfie is ready to send to their crush, independent Lens Studio creator Andrew Mendez created a handy tool called the Smile Rater.
News: Google Teams with New York Times to Deliver 'Stranger Things' Augmented Reality Easter Egg in Newspapers
The promotions around last week's release of Stranger Things 3 have been numerous, with Netflix at one point even taking over an entire baseball field via augmented reality.
News: Apple Opens App Accelerator in China, Move Could Sway AR Developers Focused on Android Smartglasses
With the latest version of ARKit and a new set augmented reality development tools set to arrive this Fall with iOS 13, Apple has taken an unprecedented step in recruiting Chinese developers to fill the App Store with mobile AR apps now, likely with an eye to the future.
How To: View Moving, Time-Synced Lyrics in Apple Music to Sing Along to Your Favorite Songs in iOS 13
There are a lot of songs out there, so it's tough to remember all of the words to every song you like. If you're like me and have a less-than-perfect memory, visual aids will ensure your Apple Music jams aren't interrupted with incorrect or forgotten lyrics. That's why Apple's update with time-synced lyrics is so cool, essentially turning your iPhone into a portable karaoke machine.
How To: Use YouTube's Search Filters to Find Videos Faster
Have you tried searching for 4K HDR videos on YouTube, only to get 1080p videos just because the uploader used "4k" or "HDR" in the description? Or have you tried looking for a video about something that just happened, except YouTube's algorithm surfaces established videos first by default, so all the results you get are older than a month? Well, there's a better way.
Coming Soon: Shadow Ban Haters & Bullies on Your Instagram Posts
In general, the internet can be a cruel place, and Instagram is no exception. Most of the time, the platform is a fantastic way to share and view unique and creative content, to reach an audience of both fans and friends. People can step out of line and harass or bully others on posts to the detriment of the entire community. However, this type of commenting won't be sustainable for much longer.
News: Startup Form Launches Underwater Smart Goggles for Swimmers
Sports technology company Form is testing the waters for augmented reality wearables with a product aimed at a very specific user group.
News: Apple Just Released iOS 12.4 Beta 6 for Developers & Public Testers
Apple's upcoming iOS 12.4 isn't the company's most exciting release on its surface, given iOS 13's impending fall unveiling. However, anyone interested in Apple's in-the-works credit card, Apple Card, will need iOS 12.4 on their iPhone to use the card, and that day seems to be getting closer. The sixth beta for iOS 12.4 was just released today, July 9, for both developers and public software testers.
News: Apple Just Released iOS 13 Public Beta 2, Includes FaceTime Attention Correction, Cursor Sizing Options & More
The third developer beta for iOS 13 has been out since July 3, and while devs have had fun exploring all the new features, those of us on the public beta have sat on the sidelines running the public version of dev beta 2. But we don't need to wait any longer, as Apple just released iOS 13 public beta 2 and all the goodies that come with it.
How To: Increase Text Size in Google Chrome for Android
There are many reasons you might want to increase your text size in Google Chrome. The browser's accessibility options have a few tools to help the readability of text on websites. Changing the text scale, enabling zooming, and toggling the simplified view can customize Google Chrome to be perfect for you.
How To: Use Google Translate to Translate Text You See in the Real World
If you've ever traveled to a country where you do not speak the language, you know there are times you need to translate text. Or maybe you just ordered a foreign good that requires text translation. Google Translate can easily solve this with its camera translation feature. It will translate any text you see in the real world into your desired language.
Market Reality: Insiders on Apple's Smartglasses Plans, NASA Bets on HoloLens, RealWear Banks $80 Million in Funding
The future of smartglasses for consumers seems ever dependent on Apple's entry into the market. Coincidentally, the exit of Apple's long-time design chief Jony Ive has shed some light on that eventual entrance.
News: YouTube App Lets You Put Yourself in the World of 'Stranger Things 3' via Augmented Reality
So you're all done binge watching Stranger Things Season 3 and you want to start sharing your personal review with friends.
News: FaceTime for iOS 13 Uses ARKit to Help Callers Pretend They Are Maintaining Eye Contact
You may soon add feigning eye contact to the list of ways that augmented reality is improving our lives.
News: Apple's iOS 13 Developer Beta 3 Available for iPhone, Packed with New Features & Changes
On July 3, Apple pushed out iOS 13 developer beta 3 for iPhone, and there's a lot found hidden within. A new FaceTime setting, more Arcade details, full-page scrolling screenshots everywhere, a noise cancellation option in the Control Center, and a new markup tool — and that's just a few of the new features.
How To: Find All Songs Your Favorite Artists Helped Create on Tidal
Contrary to popular belief, it takes more than just one artist to create the sound, lyrics, and vocals of a song. With most music being enjoyed digitally nowadays, it's harder to know all of a track's collaborators, as this info used to be in the CD booklet. Well with Tidal, you can now easily find this information and more.
How To: Get All of Your YouTube Notifications Delivered at the Same Time
Some may find it annoying to get YouTube notifications randomly throughout the day. Every time a YouTube channel uploads a video, every time someone replies to your comments. But at the same time, you don't want to turn off those notifications so you don't miss out. Well thankfully, YouTube offers a happy medium where you can get important notifications, but only get them once a day at your desired time.
How To: Find Out How Much YouTube You Watch
Did you know that the YouTube app can tell you how much time you've spent watching videos? If you're like me, you'll be surprised to know exactly how much of your life is spent inside the popular app. You can get a specific breakdown of how much you YouTube you consume.
News: Qualcomm & Bose Back RealWear's Enterprise Augmented Reality Wearables in $80 Million Funding Round
Some investors play the short game, placing their bets on industries that show the quickest return on their investment, and, in the augmented reality space, that means the enterprise sector.
News: Apple Design Chief Jony Ive's Exit Offers Another Clue About Company's Rumored Augmented Reality Smartglasses
A new profile on Apple's exiting design chief Jony Ive, the man behind many of the company's most successful products, paints a fuller picture of what led to his departure.
Market Reality: Vuzix & Vivo Tease New Consumer Smartglasses, Gucci Goes AR, & Nreal Fires Back at Magic Leap
While a viable version of consumer-grade smartglasses has yet to find mainstream success, two more contenders emerged this week, as Vuzix confirmed that a leak of a fashion-forward design is legitmate and Vivo introduced tethered smartglasses designed to pair with its new 5G smartphone.
How To: Forward Skype Calls to Your Phone Number on iPhone or Android
You can forward your Skype audio calls to your cellphone or landline. This way, you'll still receive calls when you have no Wi-Fi, and you don't have to worry about always being logged into Skype.
How To: Enable Dark Mode in Google Keep
Google Keep now has a dark mode. If your device is running Android 10, it kicks in automatically when you turn on the system-wide dark theme. If your device is not running Android 10, you will have to manually switch on dark mode for each app, including Keep. The benefits of dark mode include increased battery life, reduced eye strain, and improved readability.
News: Sony Gives Spider-Man a New Augmented Reality Home via iPhone & Android Apps
Fans of the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man have yet another way to experience the web-slinger in augmented reality.
News: Jurassic World Alive Game Update Lets Dinosaurs Eat Goats & Destroy Vehicles in Augmented Reality
Players who have stuck around with location-based game Jurassic World Alive just got a new treat that makes the augmented reality experience even more fun.
News: Papa John's Launches 'Spider-Man: Far from Home' AR Experience via Snapchat
In the Tom Holland era, it appears to be impossible to promote a new Spider-Man movie without an augmented reality experience, a trend that continues with Spider-Man: Far From Home.
News: Apple iPhone Owners Can Now Try Out Gucci's Ace Sneakers via Augmented Reality
While Gucci is among the most recognizable brands in fashion, you would be excused for not realizing that the company makes sneakers as well.
News: Smartphone Maker Vivo Enters Consumer Smartglasses Market with Vivo AR Glass
A company whose sole product line is smartphones might be worried about early proclamations that the smartphone is dead with the advent of augmented reality wearables.
How To: Remove Location Data from Photos & Videos You Share in iOS 13 to Keep Your Whereabouts Private
The photos and videos you take with your iPhone contain bits of information, known as metadata, including the location where they were taken. This metadata makes it easier for Photos to organize your media, but put these photos and videos in the wrong hands and anyone can find out where you live or work. Luckily, iOS 13 makes it easy to wipe the geotag from images and videos before sharing.
How To: Enable Zen Mode on Your OnePlus 7 Pro to Help Curb Your Smartphone Addiction
In this era of smartphones, we all know very well how easily we can get addicted to our devices. Spending hours each day doing the endless scroll through Facebook and other social media sites just because we feel like we'll miss something if we don't. Both Google and Apple are aware of this and are trying to help control smartphone addition in their own way for Android and iOS.
How To: Move Android's Quick Settings to the Bottom for Easier Access to the Swipe Menu
For those with small hands, smartphones have gotten out of control as of late. Nearly every flagship phone is over six inches in length, so many are forced to use phones that are too big for them and hope they don't fall. Well, thanks to one developer, using these phones can be a lot easier.
How To: Disable Auto-Playing Video Previews on Your iPhone in iOS 13
The long-awaited Dark Mode may have grabbed all the spotlight with iOS 13, but Apple has made subtle changes across the whole platform to make your iPhone even more user-friendly. A small option aimed at people who are sensitive to motion is one such example — a feature that can also be a godsend for the rest of us.
How To: Share Songs from Pandora with Friends on WhatsApp, Twitter, or Facebook
One of the best parts of Pandora is its personalized stations that auto-generate songs within the specific style or genre you've chosen. Not only does this play your favorite tracks with regularity, but it also opens your ears to previously unknown songs or artists — ones you may fall in love with and want to share with others.
News: Vuzix Confirms New, Smaller Smartglasses Model with Fashion-Friendly Design
The recent industry whispers in augmented reality are mostly about Apple and its rumored fashion-friendly smartglasses, but one company isn't waiting for the iPhone heavyweight to enter the fray.
News: Apple Releases iOS 12.4 Beta 5 for Developers & Public Beta Testers
Right now, Apple is testing two versions of iOS. On the one hand, you have iOS 13, buggy but feature-filled. On the other, iOS 12.4. The latter just got an update to the fifth developer and public beta versions, 13 days after the release of iOS 12.4 developer beta 4.