Hot Gadget Hacks Posts

News: Get Google's Awesome 'Android x Justice League' Wallpapers Right Now

DC's highly anticipated new Justice League movie is opening tonight, and Google just pushed out a nice treat for Android fans heading out to the movie. Over on the official Android Twitter account, we found a few exclusive "Android x Justice League" wallpapers featuring our favorite bugdroid.

How To: A Smartphone User's Guide to Surviving Thanksgiving

The holidays are stressful. Between traveling, family, and dinner, Thanksgiving weekend can feel like weeks. Many families have traditions that make the days long, but some of us would rather curl up somewhere and watch our favorite shows. But all is not lost — our phones do so much for us now that they can help make the long stressful weekend much more bearable.

News: Google's New Project Fi Deal Could Net You a Free Moto X4

There are a lot of holiday tech deals starting to trickle out as Black Friday approaches. We've already rounded up some of the best deals for Android, iPhones, and headphones, but Google just dropped a big announcement for users of their Project Fi MVNO service. Now through December 17, you can earn yourself a free Moto X4 or Chromecast by referring your friends and family to Project Fi.

News: Google Glass Resurfaces as a Tool to Help People with Autism Improve Their Social Skills via AR

Considered by many (perhaps unfairly) to be a very public failure, Google Glass can add another plot point to its comeback story, this time as a tool to teach social skills to children and adults with autism.

HoloLens Dev 101: Building a Dynamic User Interface, Part 9 (Moving Objects)

So after setting everything up, creating the system, working with focus and gaze, creating our bounding box and UI elements, unlocking the menu movement, as well as jumping through hoops refactoring a few parts of the system itself, we have finally made it to the point in our series on dynamic user interfaces for HoloLens where we get some real interaction.

Apple AR: Zynga's CSR 2 for iPhone Puts Your Dream Car Within Virtual Reach with AR Mode

Exotic sports cars are the province of the ridiculously wealthy but, thanks to augmented reality, you can now get closer than ever to a Bugatti Chiron.

News: iOS 11.2 Beta 4 Released for iPhone with Mostly Under-the-Hood Improvements

Apple seeded the fourth beta for iOS 11.2, just one day after releasing iOS 11.1.2 to the public. The new iOS 11.2 beta 4 has also already hit public beta testers and includes mostly bug fixes and security patches to improve the overall experience for iPhone owners.

Galaxy S8 Oreo Update: You Can Now Make Lock Screen Notifications Transparent — Here's How

Samsung kicked off their Android Oreo rollout earlier this week. The update already improved the lock screen significantly with new wallpaper color-matching for the clock. With the newest update, we also get the ability to tweak the transparency of lock screen notifications.

Market Reality: In the Race for Consumer Smartglasses, the Future Is Coming into Focus

The next frontier for AR hardware is the consumer headset, and tech companies of varying size and tenure are working hard to strike the right mix between comfort, cool factor, and cost. How these companies handle the hype and flow of information vary wildly.

Gaming: The 7 Best Paid Trivia Games for Android & iPhone

Trivia games are among the most entertaining ways to learn factoids and interesting info you may have never known about before. They're also the perfect genre to enjoy with friends and family, as they're particularly great at breaking the ice to make for a more memorable time together.

News: Teach Your Kids to Code with This Cute Augmented Reality Robot

If you or someone you know has younger kids and you're looking for an augmented reality toy, Pai Technology has just the educational option for you.

Coming Sept. 12: iPhone XS, XS Max & iPhone XR — Everything We Know So Far About Apple's 2018 Lineup

The iPhone X was released in November 2017, and the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus dropped right before it, but the hottest news right now revolves around the 2018 iPhone releases. The rumor mill regarding the iPhone X's successor started churning out speculations on names, cameras, display size, and more almost immediately after last year's devices, and there have been many new leaked details since.

Google Play Music 101: How to Use Radio Stations to Make the Perfect Party Mix

Have you ever wanted the perfect radio station for an artist, genre, or even one to match your mood? Luckily, Google Play Music has an extensive radio feature that takes you exactly where you and your friends want to go for a quiet brunch, or a neighbors-banging-on-the-walls dance party.

News: Vuzix Exec 'Sneaks' Demo of Futuristic Blade Smartglasses onto the Web

Up until now, experiencing augmented reality through Vuzix's next-generation Blade 3000 smartglasses would have required a trip to a tech conference where the company has an exhibition booth.

News: Don't Even Think About Buying a OnePlus 6 Next Year

OnePlus just took the wraps off their new flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 5T. The phone has an impressive spec list, including a Snapdragon 835 processor, 6.01" FHD display at 2160 x 1080, 6 or 8 GB of RAM, 64 or 128 GB of storage, 3,300 mAh battery, and the awesome Dash Charging technology. This rapid turnover to a new device has many OnePlus 5 early-adopters angry and feeling duped.

News: Magic Leap CEO Tweetstorm Reveals the Company's Vision for the Future of AR Computing

When you run an augmented reality company worth billions of dollars, backed by some of the biggest names in tech, and you haven't even released a product yet, even late night tweetstorms rank as worthy of dissection. Such is the case with Rony Abovitz, CEO of Magic Leap, who decided to spend a little time on Twitter on Wednesday to outline his vision of the future of immersive computing.

News: YouTube Pinch-to-Zoom Comes to More Devices

Google launched the Pixel 2 XL with a unique pinch-to-zoom feature in the YouTube app. The feature is pretty basic, allowing users to expand the video to full-screen on devices with 18:9 aspect ratios with a simple pinch gesture. Considering its simplicity, it was strange that the feature was limited to the Pixel 2 XL. Today that exclusivity has ended as the feature is rolling out to the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Note 8, LG V30, and LG G6.

Hands-on: Lenovo & 'Star Wars: Jedi Challenges' Deliver First Truly Mainstream AR Headset

After spending a good portion of 2017 teasing us with images and bits of news, Lenovo, in a partnership with Disney and Lucasfilm, has finally released its Mirage AR headset along with the Star Wars: Jedi Challenge game collection.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Deals on Portable Chargers for Your Smartphone

With the holidays fast approaching, our smartphones are more important than ever — keeping in constant contact with family, organizing trips and gatherings, and online shopping is only a taste of what we put our smartphones through. All of that means a big strain on your smartphone's battery. That's why portable chargers are so necessary, and what better time to pick one up than on Black Friday.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Deals for Smartphone Cases

It's the holidays. That means new smartphones, and new smartphones mean new cases. Whether it's the Galaxy S8, the iPhone X, or the Note 8, your new phone deserves to be protected. Of course, good cases can get pricey fast. That's what Black Friday is for, of course.

Action Launcher 101: How to Use the New Adaptive Folders Feature

Chis Lacy's Action Launcher is easily one of the best third-party home screen apps for Android. If you're interested in the basic feature set of this impressive app, check our our overview of the top five launchers on Android. Today, we're taking an in-depth look at the brand new Adaptive Folders feature included in the latest update.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Deals on Headphones for Your Smartphone

Our smartphones have outlived the Walkman, iPod, and even stereo systems, to some degree. So it makes sense to treat your iPhone or Android device to a quality pair of headphones, whether you're a hardcore audiophile or just an everyday music lover. This doesn't come cheap, of course, so why not buy them on Black Friday?

Pocket Camp 101: How to Build Up Supplies in Animal Crossing

For a friendly mobile game, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp has an overwhelming number of items and collectibles — from fruit to fish to friends. Even though it can be difficult to keep up, this guide will be a great stepping stone to creating the campsite of your dreams without spending a dime.

News: To Win This Obscure Star Trek Game on the HoloLens, Players Need to Control Their Stress Levels

When playing word association with Star Trek, the first thing to come to mind with regards to augmented reality is likely Holodeck, not The Game, an obscure episode from season five of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Deals on Android Phones

There are a lot of Android phones out there, and chances are that someone in your life is looking for one this holiday season. Well, there also happens to be a lot of Black Friday deals on Android phones this year. So we've rounded up the best deals taking place on Black Friday weekend to help you save big.

News: Apple Tests Retail Waters for AR Hardware with MekaMon Gaming Robot

As it turns out, Apple did get AR hardware into its retail stores for the 2017 holiday shopping season, but it's not the headset we've been hearing rumors about for years; it's the MekaMon battle-bot.

News: Virtual Faucets Pour Water & Light Fixtures Shine in ARKit Update of Build.com App

Thanks to ARKit, homeowners and apartment dwellers can visualize just about every aspect of their abodes, from furniture and decor with the IKEA Place, Houzz, and Amazon apps to new countertops with Cambria's app and retractable awnings via Markilux.

News: Razer Phone Officially Available for Order — Here's Where You Can Buy It Now

Razer took to the stage this month to unveil their new flagship phone, fittingly called the Razer Phone. The device is targeted at gamers, but has a list of specs that make it an intriguing daily driver for any user. Its headlining feature is an 120 Hz IGZO display, the first of its kind in a flagship smartphone released in the US. Tonight, Razer officially opened up orders for the new phone on their website.

How To: Install the Oreo Beta Update on Your Essential Phone

Essential just dropped the Oreo Beta Program for their flagship PH-1 phone. Users have been eagerly awaiting this update as the early Nougat builds of the PH-1 software have suffered from numerous performance issues and lag. The good news is that you can grab the Oreo update today with a few simple steps.

News: After Meta Lawsuit Settlement, Dreamworld to Open Pre-Orders for AR Headset

Now that it has buried the legal hatchet with Meta Company, augmented reality startup Dreamworld has announced plans to open up pre-orders for its Dream Glass AR headset.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Speaker Deals for Your Smartphone

Speakers today are a marvel for their portability and sound quality. No longer do we need giant boxes to bring down the house — a speaker that can fit in your hand can fill a room with your favorite music. This is even more important when you pair it with your smartphone, and there are lots of smartphone-friendly speakers on sale this Black Friday.

News: MAC Cosmetics Stores Get AR Makeover with Virtual Try-on Mirrors

While AR apps by Modiface and Perfect Corp. have made it easier for people to shop for makeup without setting foot in a store, MAC Cosmetics wants to give its brick-and-mortar customers the same experience.

News: Samsung Pulling Latest Oreo Beta Update After Critical Bug

The Android Oreo Beta for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ has been available for nearly two weeks. Samsung started rolling out the Beta 2 update late last week in the UK, and just yesterday in the US. Unfortunately, the US version of the update firmware (G955USQU1ZQK6) experienced a critical bug with the phone app at launch. As a result, Samsung has completely pulled the US Beta 2 update for the time being.

News: Samsung's Latest Oreo Update Doesn't Have a KRACK Fix

Samsung just began rolling out the Oreo Beta 2 to registered users of the Galaxy S8 and S8+. The update's changelog promises the inclusion of the October 2017 security patch. Unfortunately, after downloading the update, we've noticed this is not the case. Omission of the more recent security patch is notable in that it leaves devices vulnerable to several known exploits, such as KRACK.

News: Hotstepper Dances Alongside You in Augmented Reality as You Walk to the Next Party

Sure, Blippar was first to market with an AR navigation app for iPhones (and iPads) compatible with ARKit, but does it know how to party? Hotstepper does.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Deals for iPhones

There's a good chance that an iPhone is on one of your Christmas shopping lists, but these things are uber-expensive now, making it hard to justify as a holiday gift — even for yourself. That's what Black Friday is for, though, which can help you save a little bit of cash on an iPhone purchase — or at least, give you something in return to help you get even more holiday presents.

News: How Stable Is the Galaxy S8 Oreo Update?

So you're thinking about downloading the Galaxy S8 Oreo beta, but you're not sure if it's stable enough to use. It is a beta, of course, so you might want to wait for others to give it a try. Over the past ten days I've used the Galaxy S8+ running Android Oreo as my daily driver, running down the best new features. Let's take a look at the bugs, the performance, and the battery life.

News: Apple Working on Rear-Facing AR Sensor for 2019 iPhone, Report Says

Apple CEO Tim Cook told us that augmented reality would change everything, and now we have a better idea of exactly what he meant.

News: Another Security Concern from OnePlus — Backdoor Root App Comes Preinstalled on Millions of Phones

After recently being in the news for collecting PII (personally identifiable information) for analytics and after-sales support, OnePlus has another security problem. An individual going by the name Elliot Alderson discovered an app in OnePlus devices that can enable root access with one command.

News: This Is the Only iPhone X Black Friday 2017 Deal We've Found

The iPhone X is sure to be a hot seller this holiday season. You probably know someone with the $1,000 iPhone on their wishlist, and with a price tag that high, Black Friday is probably the best chance of them getting one. But there's only one store we've found so far that's even offering a real holiday deal for the iPhone X.