Gadget Hacks How-Tos — Page 166 of 336

How To: Bottom Right App in Your Dock Keeps Vanishing? Here's How to Fix It

Seemingly out of nowhere, something strange started happening on my Nexus 7. Every time I restarted my device, the camera application on the far right of my dock kept disappearing on me.

How To: Jailbreak iOS 7 on Your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch Using evasi0n7

Just 94 days after the release of iOS 7, the team over at evasi0n have once again gifted us with their latest jailbreaking software for the newest version of iOS. The first iteration of evasi0n7 contained Chinese malware, but the subsequent release removed the malicious Chinese app store, so this evasi0n7 jailbreak should be just as safe as previous evasi0n jailbreaks were for iOS 6.

How To: You Can Now Jailbreak Your iOS 7 iPhone & iPad, but You Totally Shouldn't—Here's Why

Update 1: Evad3ers have released a statement to the jailbreak community, claiming that the safety and security of their users is the most important thing to them and that all speculations about malware being encoded into the jailbreak is simply not true. You can read the full letter over at Evasi0n's site.

How To: Keep Things Clean & Simple with This Minimalistic Launcher for Your Samsung Galaxy Note 3

In a world where more features are king, sometimes it's a good thing to breathe, take a step backwards and keep it simple. With home launchers, this isn't often the case, as developers add a galore of features to their apps in order to be at the top of the game.

How To: Customize the Ringer Based on Calendar Events on Your Samsung Galaxy S3

I've said it before, but there are few things quite as annoying (or embarrassing) as having your smartphone go off at a time where it just shouldn't happen. Imagine a nice, intimate evening with your significant other; you dim the lights, snuggle up, and "this classic" comes on. Or, your phone goes off in a meeting, and your boss gives you that look.

How To: Turn Your Nexus 7 Tablet into a Mouse & Keyboard for Your Computer

Like insurance, it's always better to have a computer mouse and not need it than to need it and not have it. Honestly, I don't want to carry around a clunky mouse with my laptop, so I don't. I do something else, something more convenient. I use my Nexus 7. If you want to give it a try, I'll show you how it's done right now. All you need to is a Wi-Fi network and a specific Android app to control your computer with your Android tablet.

How To: Capture Action on Your Nexus 7 Using the "Exclusive" Sony Xperia Motion Shot Camera

Sometimes, taking a picture of your friend doing a crazy stunt just doesn't suffice. Getting the progression of the stunt in one image does!

How To: 5 Things You Need to Know Before Buying Anything on Amazon.com

Amazon.com has been around for a long time now, but there are still a few things most people don't know about when it comes to buying products from them. Here's a quick roundup of tips to help you get the most out of Amazon and save some money in the process. The holidays are the busiest time of year for online shopping, but these tricks will work all year around.

How To: Edit & Filter Your Photos Like a Pro on the Nexus 7 Tablet

For those of you who have (or had) and iPhone, one of the cooler photo apps for iOS was VSCO Cam, an extremely popular camera with pro-quality filters and effects. Now this app is available for Android on Google Play for your Nexus 7 tablet and any other devices running Android 4.0 and up.

How To: Download & Install the Xposed Framework on Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Android's deeply customizable platform has long been the attraction for those of us looking to make our smartphones more unique, but that doesn't mean that it's always easy. Flashing mods and installing custom ROMs can be difficult at times, as well as dangerous.

How To: Never Miss Important Dates Again with These Countdown Widgets & Apps for Your Nexus 7 Tablet

I can't begin to tell you how many times I've forgotten a special day or event. Once, I even showed up to class where everyone was turning in essays while I sat there empty-handed. Important dates sneak up on us. Especially one-time events we just can't wait for, like the release of a new movie when we count down the days, minutes, and hours.

How To: Text a Girl Like a Boss

Who needs to talk to a girl when you can just text them? I mean, am I right? There's even a movie about a guy who falls in love with a girl inside his cell phone (and it actually looks pretty good too). For all you clowns, the girl is not actually inside of his phone.

How To: Find Out Who's Snooping Around on Your Samsung Galaxy S3—And Why

Snapchat was created for the sole purpose of removing evidence from your mobile that a photo or video ever existed. That way, snoopers can't find any of these questionable selfies in your photo gallery. Of course, there are plenty of ways around this safeguard, but it's still more private than the standard social networking app.

How To: Remove Ads When Watching Videos in the YouTube App on Your Galaxy Note 2

While ads certainly pay the bills (thank you guys, we love you), they can also be obtrusive and annoying when it comes to accessing and viewing content (not our advertisers though, they rule).

How To: Go Caroling with Google Now's Christmas Song Karaoke Cheat Sheet for Android

If you're using an Android phone or tablet with Google Now, then you and your little ones are in for a little treat. Just tell Google, "Let's Go Caroling," and watch the holiday metamorphosis as your device changes into a personal, karaoke caroling machine. Just in time for the holidays! Choose from one of five famous Christmas songs (Jingle Bells, Up on the House Top, Deck the Halls, O Christmas Tree, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas), press Play, then keep up with the bouncing ball as it h...

PSA: Google's Keeping Tabs on Your Location & Here's How to Stop Them

We're only years away from a complete Robot Revolution and Google Inc. will surely be leading the charge.

How To: Unlock the Nexus 5 Bootloader & Start Modding Your Android Experience

You know what's awesome? You own a Nexus. That means, with Google's blessing, you have easier access and control over your device than other manufacturers allow. You can really dig in and do some interesting things if you root.

How To: Stop Gmail from Automatically Loading Images in Your Emails

Securing your email address is one of the most important things you can do on the internet. Hackers, spammers, and overly aggressive marketers can turn your Gmail inbox into a heap trash if you're not careful.

How To: Separate the Settings Menu on Your Nexus 7 Tablet into Tabs Arranged by Category

It seems like most of the really cool and interesting modifications you can make to your Android device always require special root access, so when a fun mod comes along that doesn't require root—I feel it's my duty to alert you.

How To: What's New (& Removed) In Apple's Latest iOS 7.1 for iPad, iPhone, & iPod Touch

This last weekend, Apple released the second beta of iOS 7.1 for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, and I've got a firsthand look of what's to come in iOS 7.1—the first major update since iOS 7 was released.

How To: The Fastest Way to Switch Between Your Favorite & Most Used Apps on a Samsung Galaxy S4

Like many other smartphones these days, your Samsung Galaxy S4 is built to handle multitasking like a pro. With a 1.9 GHz processor and 2 GB of RAM (specs comparable to laptop computers just a few years ago), this powerhouse of a phone can switch between apps with supreme ease.

How To: Register a Domain Name with NameCheap

If you are struggling to get yourself a domain name, watch the video below and register a domain name you desired immediately.

How To: Use This Invisible Keyboard to See More of Your Screen When Typing on a Samsung Galaxy S3

The space on your phone is extremely valuable, so getting the most out of your screen real estate can help you out when multitasking or for just making your device feel bigger. One thing that is often overlooked when it comes to saving space on the screen is the keyboard.

How To: Android 4.4.2 Update Removes Hidden App Ops Privacy Feature: Here's How to Get It Back

If you've been using Google's hidden App Ops to lock down and prevent some of your Android applications from exposing your privacy, then think twice before updating to the new Android 4.4.2 software.

How To: Integrate Two Computer Fans to Make You Chill

This simple contraption almost acts like a Rube Goldberg machine to give you that cold tranquility that you need during the summer.

How To: Turn Your Nexus 4 into a Nexus 5

The Nexus 5 is the current Google flagship packed with the latest and greatest of all things Android, but what if you never made the leap from your Nexus 4 smartphone?

How To: Go Old School on Your Samsung Galaxy S3 with a Rotary Dialer

Out with the old, in with the new—but sometimes that phrase is reversed. Just take a look around and you'll see some high-top fades from the '90s and some hipster wearing his great grandmother's Depression-era reading glasses.

How To: Browse the Web or Play Games While Skyping on Your Android Device

Skype has recently made some really great changes to their Android app that were once exclusive to softModders with rooted devices. Previously when Skyping, using your device for other tasks was impossible. Your entire screen was devoted to your Skype conversation.

How To: Set Auto-Reply Emails When You're on Vacation Directly from the New Gmail Android App

The holiday season brings together three of my favorite things—presents, time off, and drinking. And in order to enjoy all of these things in peace, you have to make sure to put your work behind you.

How To: Get Adaptive App Shortcuts on Your Nexus 7's Lock Screen

There are a gazillion lock screen apps available on Google Play, but the majority of them are subpar and not worth your time. However, in my opinion, there is definitely one out there worth your time—one that constantly learns and adapts to what apps you use when and where to determine which shortcuts to give you.

How To: The New Google Keyboard Update for Android Adds Color Theme Options

When the KitKat-friendly Google Keyboard launched, it added an array of cool new features like emojis and swipe gestures. I've also recently covered its awesome keyboard shortcut feature, which lets you create shortcuts for words, phrases, and even email addresses to save on time and fumbling finger taps.

How To: Record Your Nexus 7 Screen Using ADB & KitKat's Hidden Screen Capture Tool

Whether it's because you want to make a quick tutorial video or want to show off your gameplay skills, recording the screen your Nexus 7 tablet isn't an easy feat. At least, until now. Hidden inside Android 4.4 KitKat is a built-in screen capturing feature, but it takes a little effort to dig it out.

How To: Congress Wants to Make Unlocking Smartphones Legal Again—Here's How You Can Help

Whether you have AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, or any other mobile carrier, chances are your smartphone is sold locked to only work on that specific carrier's network. Sure, you could unlock your carrier-subsidized device, but that would mean breaching the Library of Congress' latest Interpretation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act—making the whole process illegal. As softModders, boundaries and regulations are things that we don't take lightly, although many times we have to begrudg...

How To: Take Back the Photos & Videos You Send via Instagram Direct

It seems that Facebook doesn't take rejection lightly. After being denied for a $3 billion buyout of Snapchat, Facebook-owned Instagram has updated their popular photo-sharing service with Instagram Direct—a new feature that allows users to send private photos/videos.

How To: Block Instagram Users from Sending You Direct Photo & Video Messages

Instagram recently released their new Instagram Direct messaging feature in their Android and iOS apps, which lets users share private photos and videos directly with individuals or groups of up to 15 users. However, there are no restrictions on who you can send private photos or videos to.

How To: Access Your Notifications from the Pattern or PIN-Protected Lock Screen on Your Galaxy S4

Smartphone users these days can get bombarded with texts and emails every hour. Online retailers sending you coupons to get you to buy stuff. Girlfriends asking where you are. Service providers reminding you to pay your bills on time.

How To: Enhance the Music Listening Experience on Your Nexus 7 Tablet

When choosing a phone or tablet, I always take in to consideration what my music experience will be. Unfortunately, the Nexus 7 doesn't have Beats by Dre technology, which some may view as overrated, though it's definitely one of the better ways to get perfect-sounding tunes with headphones. But it's not all about the Beats. There are many other ways to make listening to music on your Nexus 7 tablet a better experience, and we'll highlight some of the options and add-ons that you can try out.