Hot Gadget Hacks Posts
How To: Auto-Hide the Navigation Bar on Your Galaxy S10 — No Root Needed
Because of the way Android is laid out, you automatically lose a portion of the top and bottom of your screen thanks to the status and navigation bars. The thing is, you don't always need the navigation buttons. By hiding them, you can enjoy more of your Galaxy S10's big, beautiful display.
News: New Biometrics Update Makes the Galaxy S10's Fingerprint Scanner 4 Times Faster
The Galaxy S10 is one of the best phones in years from world's largest smartphone OEM. With its astonishing display, new UI, and top-tier cameras, there isn't much to complain about. The one major gripe we've had is the in-display fingerprint scanner and just how slow it is. Thanks to a recent update, it just got a whole lot faster.
News: Snapchat Summons Dragons from Westeros to New York for Game of Thrones AR Promo
Spring is here across the US, but, through the lens of Snapchat and augmented reality, winter is coming to New York.
How To: Which Streaming Service Should You Ditch if You Want Disney+?
After much anticipation, Disney finally revealed its plans for its exclusive streaming service. Disney+ launches Nov. 12, and with it, all of the Disney content you know and love. But do you really need another streaming app in your life? We asked the same thing, so we broke down what we know about Disney+ and compared it to the current competition.
News: Computer Vision Startup Dent Reality Offers SDK to Create AR Navigation Apps for Malls & Airports
London-based developer Andrew Hart has been working on AR navigation since Apple's original ARKit tool was still in beta preview. Now, he's ready to unleash his technology on the world.
How To: Use Snapchat to Figure Out What Song Is Playing Around You
Say you're sending a snap to a friend at a restaurant, bar, store, what have you, but you're curious about the song that's playing in the background. You could leave the app to Shazam it, or you could ask screen-hogging Siri or Google Assistant what the track is, but why not just have Snapchat do the work for you? With its built-in scanner, you can discover a song without ever leaving the app.
News: Apple Adds to Its AR Bench Strength with Hiring of Jaunt Co-Founder
Arthur van Hoff, former CTO and co-founder of Jaunt, is taking his immersive content talents to Cupertino.
News: USA Today Builds Latest Augmented Reality Story Around the World's Tallest Skyscrapers
While The New York Times' augmented reality section has largely been dormant in 2019 (so far), USA Today has continued to crank out AR news stories.
How To: Create & Manage Spark Email Templates & Canned Responses
If you find yourself emailing the same email over and over again with just a few changes such as new addressees, or if you're constantly replying to messages with the same response, typing it out every time is, well, a waste of time. Spark, a third-party email client for mobile devices, takes all the work out of this — no matter which email account you need it for.
News: Apple Just Released iOS 12.3 Public Beta 2 for iPhone, Features Small Updates to Wallet & Date/Time
Apple just released the second public beta for iOS 12.3 today, Tuesday, April 9, one day after the release of the iOS 12.3 developer beta 2. This update introduces new Japanese "Date & Time" updates as well as changes to Wallet transactions. Overall, iOS 12.3 includes Apple TV Channels, premium monthly subscriptions with content available directly in the TV app across the Apple ecosystem.
News: AT&T Begins Selling Magic Leap One Nationwide Online, Debuts Commercial Promoting DirecTV Now
The era of AT&T and Magic Leap has quietly entered a new phase that ramps up the mainstreaming of the cutting edge augmented reality device.
News: US Military Shows Off Modified HoloLens 2 Augmented Reality System
New images reveal that Microsoft is already well underway in fulfilling its $480 million contract to provide augmented reality headsets to the US Army.
News: Google Glass Engineer's Patent Application Points to Potential Google AR Headset
If you thought Google was sitting on the sidelines of the growing race toward mainstreaming augmented reality, think again.
News: Traveling Abroad? Here Are 6 Reasons Google Fi Is the Best Option
After reviewing the international plans for major US wireless carriers, it became obvious they're all pretty bad. Your data is heavily restricted, requiring a daily fee which can cost an extra $100+ on a seven-day vacation. That's when I learned about Google Fi, and how for most travelers, it's the best option.
How To: The Ultimate Checklist for Getting Your Phone Travel-Ready
Smartphones are now indispensable when traveling. Domestic and overseas travel alike require food, navigation, translation, and so much more to make work or vacation successful. Gone are the days of lugging multiple tourist books around with you everywhere you go — you need to let your smartphone handle the dirty work.
Market Reality: Meta's Legal Woes Continue, Snapchat Beefs Up AR in Its App, & AT&T Expands Magic Leap Retail Rollout
To borrow from the canon of Game of Thrones, what is dead may never die. And while the Meta Company that we knew this time last year is no more, the patent infringement lawsuit filed against the company lives on.
How To: Schedule Emails in Spark So You Don't Forget to Send Them Later
So you forgot to send that super important email to your boss, teacher, or another important contact. We've all been there. Spark makes these panic moments a thing of the past. With "Send Later," you can schedule emails to send at any time you want, even when you're not by your phone or computer. You just need to remember to write the email in the first place.
Our 3G Tower Is Broken: The Trials & Tribulations of Staying Connected on a 3-Month Bike Trip Across Central Asia
Silence spreads over these mountains like nothing I've ever felt. If I didn't have Moby blasting in my earphones, there'd probably be no other sounds around. Well, except for someone, Phil probably, murmuring in a nearby tent just low enough to make his words indiscernible.
Exclusive: Meta Company Patent Lawsuit Takes New Turn as Plaintiff Asks Court for Injunction
Months after Next Reality broke the story surrounding the financial troubles at Meta Company, there's a new update in the company's ongoing patent lawsuit.
News: Snapchat Redesign Includes AR Bar, Adds Landmark AR Feature, Integrates Giphy & Photomath Camera Tools
The first annual Snap Partner Summit kicked off on Thursday in Los Angeles, and with it came some new products announcements, several of which enhance Snapchat's already robust augmented reality powers.
How To: All the Smartphone Accessories You Need for Your Next Overseas Trip
Planning a vacation overseas can sometimes feel overwhelming with the number of things you need to remember before heading out. Since smartphones keep us connected at all times, it's essential that you have everything you need here as well. Unexpected events can arise while on your trip, and you should be prepared for anything like a survival expert.
News: Turn a Vacation into a Treasure Hunt with Just Your Phone
It feels strange to be walking through an open field in a small village in the English countryside. There's no one else around — just the four of us: me, my husband, my 12-year-old son, and my adult niece. The day is spectacular, particularly for England. The sun is shining, and the temperature is in the low '70s.
How To: The 5 Best Travel-Friendly Phones for Road Warriors, Vacationers & Business Flyers
Whether it's a short road trip or an 18-hour flight, our phones are now essential travel companions. No longer do we need a GPS unit, maps, cameras, camcorders, or even boarding passes. However, not all phones are created equal in this regard. Some are more suited for traveling, no matter the duration.
News: Edge Touch Updated for One UI — Stop Accidental Touches on Your Galaxy S10
While the Galaxy S10+ is a fantastic device, the biggest gripe I have with it is the curved display. Yes, it adds to the aesthetics of the phone, but it makes the phone prone to accidental touches. Thanks to a recent update, however, this is a problem of the past.
How To: Stop Others from Adding You to WhatsApp Groups You Don't Want to Join
Thanks to its encrypted messaging, WhatsApp can be a platform for secure communication with friends and family. One drawback, however, is that the app would let anyone add you to a group chat, regardless of if you approved it or not. This lack of control over your own account is over, as WhatsApp now lets you decide who can add you to a group chat.
News: SK Telecom Rolls Out Magic Leap In-Stores in South Korea, Announces Harry Potter & League of Legends AR Partnerships
The partnership between Magic Leap and leading South Korean wireless carrier SK Telecom took on an added importance earlier this week as the company unveiled the world's first nationwide 5G network.
News: Marvel Continues Its Augmented Reality Rampage with Iron Man Robot for 'Avengers: Endgame'
Already a dominant force at the box office, Marvel Studios appears intent on establishing itself as the ruler of augmented reality media as well.
Vacationing for the 'Gram: How Instagram Is Changing Hotels & Restaurants
I noticed the neon yellow sign at the new location of Pho Bar in Chinatown right away. The sweeping cursive yellow letters spell out "Crazy Rich Broth"; the same phrase printed on the back of servers' shirts. It's the kind of minimalist but colorful design feature that is especially popular on Instagram at the moment — shots of patrons in front of a glowing sign.
News: Microsoft Remote Assist Now Available for Android in Preview
Just weeks after revealing plans to port one of its most vital augmented reality products from HoloLens to the smartphone world, Microsoft has finally opened the mobile software floodgates to the public.
How To: Remove Any Status Bar Icon on Your Galaxy S10 — No Root Needed
Samsung's popular Good Lock app has been updated to work on One UI and now lets you take full advantage of its awesome add-ons to customize your S10 in a few simple taps. One add-on in particular lets you get rid of mostly redundant indicators like the NFC "N" for a cleaner status bar.
News: Comparing the Best International Data Plans from All Major US Carriers
Traveling abroad can be a hassle. Between the flight, hotels, food, and the languages barriers, it can be a lot to manage. There's one tool you have that can help with all of this — your smartphone. Fortunately, nowadays, you don't have to change your carrier to continue using your phone.
News: Everything You Need to Know About the OnePlus 7 Pro
The OnePlus 7 Pro is definitely a beast on paper. With a specs page that ticks virtually every box and a price point that undercuts the competition by hundreds of dollars, it's hard to overlook this phone. But before you get too excited, know that OnePlus has repeatedly shown to be misleading with their official specs.
News: Magic Leap Adds More AT&T Retail Stores, Reveals Game of Thrones Fan Swag
The Game of Thrones premiere is fast approaching, and along with it, Magic Leap has begun to unveil some of the fan-centric swag associated with its immersive experience based on the hit TV series.
Market Reality: Magic Leap's Florida Fortress Exposed, Apple's Smartglasses Secret Weapon, & Game of Thrones in AR
They say home is where the heart is. So, the opportunity to view the inner sanctum of Magic Leap is like gaining access to what makes the company tick, just as the fruits of its labor make it into select AT&T stores.
News: Magic Leap Adds New Multi-User & Sharing Features, Improves Hand Tracking in Latest Lumin OS Update
After showing off a prototype of the Grordbattle multiplayer first-person shooter at the Game Developer Conference, Magic Leap has added a new Shared World feature in version 0.95.0 of the Lumin OS update released this week.
How To: Enable Dark Mode & OLED Night Mode in the Twitter App
Smartphones and dark mode go hand in hand. Screens can be bright, causing eye strain and battery drain, and dark mode can take the edge off both. It's perfect for nighttime browsing, but also for general use, especially on OLED displays with inky blacks. Dark mode, aka night mode, is particularly great for tweeting, and Twitter makes it easy to switch.
News: Medivis App for Magic Leap One & HoloLens Lets You Study the Human Anatomy in Augmented Reality
Not content to merely assist surgeons via the HoloLens, Medivis has expanded its augmented reality suite to Magic Leap One with an app for medical students.
News: Apple Just Released iOS 12.3 Public Beta 1 for iPhone, Includes Updated TV App with Subscription Channels
If you're a public beta tester, your Thursday just got awesome. Apple just released the first public beta for iOS 12.3 today, March 28. This update comes right on the heels of the first developer beta for 12.3, which itself released just one day ago. Thanks to that release, we know that this update contains a new TV app with updated layouts, Apple TV Channels subscriptions, a new logo, and more.
News: New Consumer AR Smartglasses Contender Emerges with Action Air from China's Shadow Technologies
We last saw China-based augmented and virtual reality headset maker Shadow Technologies at last year's Augmented World Expo, where they had the Action One, one of the wildest augmented reality headsets we've seen, on display.
Exclusive: Inside Magic Leap's Secret Headquarters
The long guarded veil of mystery surrounding Magic Leap for years was finally lifted last year when the company revealed its Magic Leap One device.