Gadget Hacks How-Tos
How To: Replace the glass digitizer on an HTC My Touch Android phone
If you need to repair a broken component in an HTC My Touch mobile Android phone, take a look at this guide for a walkthrough of the teardown. The tutorial specifically focuses on repairing or replacing a glass digitizer that may have cracked or broken and needs to be fixed.
How To: Take and send pictures using your Droid 3 Motorola smartphone Camera app
The Droid 3 smartphone from Verizon has a great camera perfect for taking beautiful photos. If you want to learn how to perfect your on-the-go photography, take a look at this tutorial from Verizon Wireless that features instructions on all the different settings in the Camera app on the Android device.
How To: Use a volume rocker shortcut to mute the speaker on your iPad
If you need to quickly silence your iPad, accessing the volume options on screen can be tedious and lengthy. You can also use the volume rocker, but if you have to press the button several times before the sound is finally muted, it can take several seconds. Instead, try long-holding the lower volume button on the side of the iPad so immediately mute the audio coming from your tablet.
How To: Save battery life with the Battery Manager on the Motorola Droid 3
Is the battery on your Motorola Droid 3 getting drained fast? If you're tired of running out of battery life when using the Verizon Wireless smartphone, try out the Battery Manager located in the settings menu on the Android device. The utility features several different profiles including "maximum battery saver" and "nighttime saver." By changing a few options on your smartphone, you can drastically increase and improve the battery life of the device.
How To: Record HD video with the Camera app on the Motorola Droid 3 Verizon smartphone
If you want to capture HD video using your Motorola Droid 3 smartphone from Verizon, you'll want to learn all the features and functionality of the Camera app. Be sure to switch the camera to video mode so that you're able to record all those memories in full HD for editing later.
How To: Play games on the Xperia Play smartphone using apps and the slide-out gamepad
The Xperia Play is a Sony Ericsson smartphone on Verizon built for gaming on the go. The mobile phone features a slide-out gamepad that you can use to navigate the web and play different gaming apps preloaded on the phone or downloadable from the Android market.
How To: Personalize the home screen on the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play smartphone
The Xperia Play smartphone runs the Android OS and can be customized in many different ways. If you want to add icons, widgets, or change the wallpaper on the Sony Ericsson phone's homescreen, take a look at this walkthrough to make the mobile gaming device yours.
How To: Customize your inbox views in Gmail to better organize your email
The Gmail interface is highly customizable, allowing you to organize your email messages in a variety of ways. One of the best ways to organize the email is by changing your inbox view. By trying a different inbox view mode, you can prioritize your email messages by importance, unread order, starred emails, and more. So give the different inbox views a spin and see if it helps you better manage your Gmail messages.
How To: Connect your Motorola Droid 3 to an HD TV or monitor using an HDMI cable
The Motorola Droid 3 smartphone is capable of recording 1080p video, and while the screen on the Verizon Android phone is large, wouldn't it be nice to look at all the pictures, games, and videos on a bigger screen? If you have the right kind of HDMI cable nearby, you can connect your Droid to an HD device using the Mirror Mode feature.
How To: Turn your Motorola Droid 3 smartphone into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot
There are so many different devices today that have Wi-Fi capabilities--notebooks, handheld gaming devices, tablets, and more. Why not share some of the 3G and 4G internet that streams into your Motorola Droid 3 with the other electronics you carry with you? You can turn your Verizon Wireless Droid 3 smartphone into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot using the mobile hotspot menu on the android phone.
How To: Stop the iPhone from tracking your location by turning off Location Services
If you want to increase your privacy and prevent iPhone apps from gaining access to data containing your location, take a look at this tutorial on turning off the location services in the settings menu on Apple's iPhone 3G devices and above.
How To: Listen to your favorite music by creating a station on Pandora
Pandora is a fantastic website that will let you listen to music for free. One of the greatest features of the music service is the ability to create your own station so you can listen to your favorite songs and even discover music you'll like. This segment will walk you through the process of creating a Pandora station.
How To: Block apps and people from interacting with you on Facebook
Maybe you're tired of receiving annoying messages from apps or people on Facebook? Why not block them so you don't have to deal with them ever again? Take a look at this guide for information on how to block online games and apps on Facebook from sending you notifications, requests, or other information. You can even stop people on Facebook from sending you event notifications or posting on your page by blocking them too.
How To: Play Augmented Reality Games on Your Nintendo 3DS with Android & WP7 Phones
The Nintendo 3DS comes with six AR cards that allow you to play the augmented reality games packaged with the device. Of course, if you were to lose the fragile paper cards or damage them in some way, you would be unable to continue playing them. It's easier and safer to carry constant access to the AR games by installing apps on your Android and Windows Phone 7 smartphones. Both apps are free and available through the smartphone app markets.
How To: Use QR codes to store or retrieve data within an image
QR codes allow you to quickly and easily store and retrieve data within a single image. Much like barcodes at grocery stores, QR codes are images that can be scanned to discover data, such as an online website URL. Additionally, they can also be created by inputting text data into a QR code generator. Try scanning some of the QR codes in this video with an app on your phone or tablet to see how they work!
How To: Add an email account in webOS on the HP TouchPad
One of the many features of the webOS tablet, the HP TouchPad, is a full featured mail app. Before you can use the app however, you will need to setup your email account on the tablet. Take a look at this guide to learn how to setup an account using the automatic method, or the more customizable manual mode.
How To: Overclock the hardware in your HP TouchPad for a faster tablet
In this two part segment, we learn how to properly overclock the HP TouchPad. One of the few complaints about the tablet was the occasional slow reaction time of the processor, but now you can speed up your TouchPad for a faster webOS. This guide walks you through everything from downloading Novacom drivers to inputting the Konami code.
How To: Jailbreak your HP TouchPad by installing Preware
Jailbreaking your HP TouchPad allows you to install third-party software and features on the webOS device. Before you can jailbreak the tablet, you'll first need to go through the steps necessary to install preware on it. Take a look at this walkthrough and use the download links below when necessary.
How To: Update an HP TouchPad tablet to the latest version of webOS
This guide will help you learn how to find out what version of webOS your TouchPad is running by checking the settings area of your tablet. If you find that your software is out of date, it will also help you upgrade your HP TouchPad to the latest version so that you always have the newest update!
How To: Use apps and features in webOS on an HP TouchPad
If you're interested in learning all the features and functions of webOS 3.0, look no further than this walkthrough on a HP TouchPad tablet. The video shows you how to switch between apps, configure settings, use the default programs on the device, and more!
How To: Search for and install apps on the HP TouchPad using the HP App Catalog
The HP App Catalog features thousands of apps ripe for downloading and installation on HP's webOS tablet--the TouchPad. Take a look at this guide to find out how to search for apps using HP's version of the app store. The walkthrough will even teach you how to install them, so get ready for a few rounds of Angry Birds!
How To: Setup your HP TouchPad using the initial webOS wizard
If you were one of the lucky individuals to score a TouchPad before HP discountinued them, you will need to proceed through the initial setup wizard when you turn on the device for the first time, or after performing a data wipe and reset on the tablet. This guide will walk you through everything from accepting the terms & conditions, connecting to a Wi-Fi network, and creating a webOS account for the first time.
How To: Configure the settings on an HP TouchPad tablet
The HP TouchPad is a webOS tablet capable of displaying media, browsing and connecting to the web, downloading and accessing apps, and more. This guide walks you through the process of configuring a number of settings on the device. Learn how to adjust the time, location services (GPS), screen lock, privacy features, and more.
How To: Use the power button shortcuts on a Nokia N900 phone
Did you know there are several functions accessible by shortcuts using the power button on the Nokia N900 smartphone? This tech support video from Nokia details how to bring up a menu allowing you to turn on silent mode, lock the screen and keyboard, and more.
How To: Add a shortcut to the desktop on a Nokia N900 phone
Take a look at this video from Nokia to discover how to add a shortcut to your desktop on the N900's launcher screen. Now you can quickly access your favorite web page or load an application directly from the home screen on the N900 smartphone.
How To: Navigate and use installed apps on a Nokia N900 phone
The Nokia N900 smartphone comes with a wide variety of apps including e-mail, a browser, and more. Browsing, opening, and switching between these apps is an easy task when you know the right gestures and taps to make on phone's screen.
How To: Connect to a Wi-Fi network on a Nokia N900 phone
Connecting your Nokia N900 smartphone to a wireless hotspot or your home wifi network is just a few quick taps away! Take a look at this tech support video from Nokia that will tell you exactly where to find the available internet connections on the phone and select the one you wish to connect to.
How To: Look up people and companies on social networks quickly with Tabble in Firefox
For an easy way to lookup and connect with people and companies across the web (and all of its many social media outlets) check out the Firefox extension Tabble. Tabble provides you with access to all of an individual's relevant online information and can even show you relevant e-mails in your Gmail account if applicable.
How To: Modify house clocks to run on solar power for five dollars
Power the clocks at your home with the sun! With a solar cell that costs around $5, you can convert a clock to solar power and avoid buying batteries or running up the electric bill. Instead, connect a rechargable battery to the solar panel with a few wires and some adhesive and soon you'll have enough energy to power your clock for as long as it lasts.
How To: Use Facebook keyboard shortcuts for quick social browsing
You may or may not know that Facebook has several keyboard shortcuts you can use to quickly navigate around the site without using a mouse.
How To: Share a link to a specific comment posted to a video on Youtube
Youtube comments - some of the most beautiful pieces of rhetoric displayed on the internet. There are any number of reasons why you may wish to link directly to a youtube comment. A specific youtube comment perhaps, one that captures the essence of the emotional response a viewer might have when watching that particular Youtube video.
How To: Use favicons to display extra information in Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome
Greasemonkey scripts allow Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome to be augmented in powerful ways. Take these two Greasemonkey scripts will help add information to your favicons when using Google Calendar and Gmail - now you can see the current date and unread message counts on their respective favicons.
How To: Turn an Old Scanner into a Keyboard Light
Do-it-yourselfer Kipkay salvaged parts from an old parallel port scanner and made a flexible, super-bright light in this how-to video. The modification is done by extracting the lamp and running it through clear tubing. He mounted the new lamp above his keyboard for night typing. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to turn an old scanner into a keyboard light.
How To: Increase the range of a remote control
Kipkay shows you how to increase the range of your remote control for your television. You use electrical tape to make sure that the leads do not come into contact with the reflector.
How To: Hack a toy radar gun into a real one
Turn a 'toy' radar gun into the real thing! Cops don't even have one like this! While this is a completely new and different design, the inspiration for this video is from an article by Ken Delahoussaye in MAKE Magazine. Just watch this video tutorial on how to hack a toy radar gun into a real one.
How To: Hack a megaphone into a bionic hearing spy device
Make a bionic hearing spy device by hacking a megaphone! Kipkay brings you this hack video on how to use a megaphone to spy on people. You can pull in conversations up to 100 feet away! Check out Kipkay hiding in a tree, spying on people. It also works through walls. That's how to make a bionic hearing spy device!
How To: Secretly record people with your own spy sunglasses
Hack a pair of sunglasses to secretly record audio and video and spend less than $40 in the process with this how-to video. To replicate this hack for yourself, you will need a spy camera and black solar shield sunglasses. For detailed, step-by-step instructions on building your own spy recorder sunglasses, watch this hacking how-to from Kip Kay of Make Magazine.
How To: Turn a flashlight into a laser
Kipkay demonstrates how to extract the laser from a DVD burner and mount it in a small flashlight to create a handheld laser burner that can light matches and burst balloons, all in this how-to video. All you need is a 16x DVD burner, a laser housing, and a flashlight. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to modify a flashlight into a relatively strong laser.
How To: Make a Blu-Ray Laser Phaser
Build your very own Trek-style Blu-Ray laser phaser with this hacker's how-to video from Kip Kay of Make Magazine. To replicate this hack at home, you'll need the following materials: (1) a PS3 Blu-Ray laser assembly (which can be had on eBay for roughly $45), (2) an original series-style Star Trek phaser gun (a good quality replica of which can be found for roughly $30), (3) a 9-volt battery, (4) a 9-volt battery snap, (5) a 150 Ohm resistor, and (5) a new switch to replace the phaser trigge...
How To: Make a motion triggered spy camera
Kip "Kipkay" Kedersha is known for his intriguing and clever how-to and prank videos, even when he teams up with MAKE Magazine. He will show you how to tweak, hack, mod, and bend any technology to your hacking needs. No electronic device, gadget, or household item can stand the test of Kipkay's hacks and mods.