Gadget Hacks How-Tos
How To: All the New Features & Changes in iOS 13.5 for iPhone
Since Apple launched iOS 13, we've seen four major updates for iPhone, each of which added some cool new features. Between iOS 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, and all the minor updates in between, there's never been a better time to be on iOS. And now, we've got even more positive changes with the iOS 13.5 update.
How To: See if Your Phone Has A/B Partitions for Seamless Updates
If your phone has an A/B partition layout, there are two virtual hard drives that each contain a copy of Android. After every restart, it picks a partition to boot from, then the other lays idle. The idle partition can be overwritten with a new copy of the OS and it won't affect the active one. So the next time you reboot, it just switches partitions and it's as if you updated instantly.
How To: Stop Group FaceTime Tiles from Auto-Resizing & Moving When People Speak
When using Group FaceTime with more than a handful of people, all of those participants in one chat can be difficult to follow. That's why Apple automatically enlarges the tiles for people who are currently speaking, bringing them into the forefront. However, all of that zooming in and out can get pretty distracting, and now there's a way to disable it whenever you need to.
Deal Alert: Grab This Microsoft Office Beginner's Guide for Only $35
Since its release back in 1988, Microsoft Office has been the top client and server software suite for businesses around the world. Office's domination is thanks to both Microsoft's extraordinary foresight and their continual updates and innovations to ensure that companies always get what they need.
How To: Use Samsung's New Quick Share Feature to 'AirDrop' Large Files
Despite Samsung's long running support for Wi-Fi Direct, most users still struggle to transfer files between their devices. Whereas Apple has AirDrop, Samsung's previous solution wasn't so obvious. With the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung hopes to correct this with "Quick Share," a file transfer system that still uses Wi-Fi Direct but makes it easier to use.
How To: This Is the Best Way to Send Large Files to Your Nvidia Shield TV from Any Android Phone
Without an available browser, it is challenging to enjoy media on your Nvidia Shield outside of the apps on the Play Store. It is because of this limitation that file transferring is vital, as only then can you enjoy your movies and music.
How To: Hide the Status Bar at the Top of Your Galaxy S20's Screen
In previous Android versions, you lost about an inch of screen real estate to the status bar and navigation bar. But if you enable Android 10's new navigation gestures on your Samsung Galaxy, you can regain the bottom part — and with the help of ADB, you can reclaim the top portion as well.
How To: Disable COVID-19 Exposure Notifications on Your iPhone
In iOS 13.5 and later, developers can create and release contact tracing apps for iPhone, which could help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. With these apps comes COVID-19 exposure notifications, which you may or may not want to receive. If you don't want to get these alerts, you can disable them.
How To: Remove the 'Connected to VPN' Notification on Your Samsung Galaxy Device
If you're using a VPN app to block ads or secure your Galaxy's internet connection, Samsung has decided you need yet another non-dismissible notification from One UI to tell you about it. Not just a status bar indicator like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, but a full-size alert that can't be dismissed. The entire time your always-on VPN is running.
How To: Become a Productivity Master with Google Apps Script
Since its launch in 2009, Google Apps Script has given creative thinkers the ability to perform light-weight application development within GSuite. Based on JavaScript, you can build your own simple tools that will increase your efficiency and productivity.
How To: Hide Any Album on Your iPhone for a Cleaner, More Private Photos App
The "Albums" tab in Photos is great for sorting through the images and videos on your iPhone since you can narrow things down by your recent pics and recordings, apps used, media types, people, places, and so on. If you never look at all of those folders, however, it could feel like an overwhelming cluttered mess. Plus, there may be some collections you don't want others to see.
How To: Open Your iPhone Camera to Portrait Mode Every Time
Every iPhone Apple currently sells, including the brand new iPhone SE, ships with Portrait mode, injecting DSLR-like depth effects into your Camera app. If that's the shooting mode you use more than any other, it may feel tedious having to switch to "Portrait" from "Photo" every time you open the app. But you can fix that, and there are a few different ways to go about it.
How To: Make Your Galaxy S20's Photos Instagram-Ready in Seconds
To stand out on Instagram, you need more than just the great camera on the Galaxy S20. You have to think like a professional photographer, which means two things: using manual mode and editing your photos. It is only with the latter that what you imagine becomes a reality.
How To: Use Your Rooted Phone to Root Another Phone
The biggest hurdle to rooting is that it usually requires a computer. Things get complicated when you're trying to use a desktop operating system to exploit a mobile OS, and the connection isn't always reliable. But with the help of Magisk, you can now use one Android phone to root another.
How To: Find What's Eating Up Your RAM on Android
Not every app is designed well. With nearly 3 million apps on the Play Store and countless more that you can sideload from other sources, there are bound to be a few stinkers. And many of them do a terrible job using RAM.
How To: Use the Built-in Screen Recorder in Android 11
After adding and removing a screen recorder feature in Android 10, Google finally adopted a proper version in Android 11. Unlike the buggy and incomplete function last year, this one looks like a final product. And best of all, it is no longer hidden.
How To: Permanently Remove the 'No SIM Card Inserted' Notification on Your Samsung Galaxy — No Root Needed
Your Galaxy's lock screen already lets you know there's no SIM card installed if it's missing on your device, so there's really no need to have a persistent icon for it on the status bar. If you want to hide the pesky symbol and accompanying notification for good, there's a nifty app you need to check out right now.
How To: Open 2 Apps at the Same Time on Any Phone with Android's Split-Screen Mode
As phones' screens get closer to seven inches, now is the perfect time to take advantage of Android's split-screen mode. This feature has available since Android 7.0 Nougat and allows you to divide the screen into two halves, with a different app on each side.
How To: Make a Google Keep List That Syncs to Your Work & Personal Accounts
Google's G Suite collection of premium cloud services and apps have become popular with business customers, with more than six million subscribers now.
How To: Disable the Redundant Screenshot Notifications on Your Samsung Galaxy Phone
An unfortunate byproduct of Samsung's One UI version of Android is redundancy, where you have the Google/AOSP way of doing things mixed with Samsung's methods at the same time.
How To: Get Fastboot Flashable Factory Images for Any OnePlus Phone
OnePlus phones are easy to root, but that also means they're easy to brick if you get trigger happy with your superuser privileges. If you find yourself in this situation, you'll quickly realize the OnePlus firmware download page doesn't provide files you can flash in Fastboot mode.
How To: Become a Master Problem Solver by Learning Data Analytics at Home
There is so much information in the world that trying to make sense of it all can be daunting. That's where data analytics comes in. By learning how to inspect and model data, you can take large data sets and transform them into highly valuable information that can take any business further.
How To: Disable the Post-Screenshot Toolbar Overlay on Your Samsung Galaxy
With Samsung's One UI version of Android, it's easier than ever to take a screenshot and quickly edit the captured image. However, the downside to that convenience has manifested itself in an overlay ribbon that can also get in the way.
How To: Make Sure Your Galaxy S20 Doesn't Drain Itself Too Much When Charging Other Devices
The Galaxy S20's Wireless PowerShare is a must-use feature. With even the base model packing a 4,000 mAh battery, you have more than enough juice for all your Qi-enabled devices. The default settings make it so that in certain situations, you may have to choose between your phone or wireless earbuds, but you can change that.
How To: See Which Apps Run at a Higher Refresh Rate with Android 11
For Android smartphones, the latest craze is high refresh rate displays, and many popular flagships have them. But until now, there has been no way to confirm it is, in fact, running at higher hertz besides a menu option. Android 11 changes this.
How To: View the Battery Percentage on Your iPhone SE to See Exactly How Much Power Is Left
There are two main ways to view how much battery is remaining on an iPhone: the battery level icon and battery percentage. Out of the box, the second-generation iPhone SE only shows the battery level icon in its status bar, which only gives you a rough idea of how much juice is left. But there are ways to view the exact percentage instead.
How To: The Best Settings to Use for Pro Mode in Your Galaxy S20's Camera App
No matter how many camera improvements a phone adds, you're always better off using manual mode. Known as "Pro Mode" on the Galaxy S20, this feature can remove Samsung's pre- and post-processing from photos, putting you in total control.
How To: 8 Ways Google Lens Can Help You Be More Productive
I've covered augmented reality apps for about three years now and the most useful mobile app I've encountered over that time is Google Lens.
Deal Alert: VPN Unlimited Is Only $39 Right Now for a Lifetime License
Working from home is already challenging. Add the threat of a cyberattack into the mix, and the situation gets even hairier.
How To: Here's Your Guide to Launching a Podcast from Home
Over half of all Americans have listened to at least one podcast, and that number is growing every year. With over one million podcasts and 30 million episodes in existence, there's no end to discovering new voices expounding on a range of topics.
How To: Boost Your Brain Power by Learning a New Language
The cognitive benefits of learning a new language are many: it helps your memory, sharpens your mind, makes you a better problem-solver, aids in your understanding of your first language, and even helps you become a better multitasker. Your appreciation for the culture you're studying also expands.
How To: Enter Recovery or DFU Mode on Your iPhone SE (2nd Generation) to Bring Your Device Back to Life
If your new 2020 iPhone SE is frozen, unresponsive, or won't load the system, and a standard power down and up procedure didn't work, there are few more things you can try. Force-restarting the device may do the trick, recovery mode is a last-ditch option, and DFU mode is your fail-safe.
How To: There's a Secret Way to Reopen an App You Just Closed in Android 11
You no longer have to worry about accidentally closing an app with Android 11. The latest version introduced a new gesture that lets you bring back an app you inadvertently dismissed from your recent apps list.
How To: 3 Easy Ways to Transfer Large Files Between Your Chromebook & Android Device
I recently picked up a Pixel Slate when Google had a deal going on. I'd been in the market for an Android tablet since the Nexus 7, and this was the closest thing to it. Unfortunately, I soon learned Chrome OS and Android aren't as integrated as I had hoped.
How To: Force Restart Your iPhone SE (2nd Generation) When It's Frozen or Otherwise Acting Up
Your brand new iPhone SE packs the latest A13 Bionic chip into the form factor of the iPhone 8. With all that modern tech, you'd expect your iPhone to be unstoppable. That said, no smartphone is perfect, and sometimes, the iPhone SE will give you trouble. If your device is frozen, bugging out, displaying the wrong data, or won't shut down the usual way, you might want to try a force restart.
How To: Get Fast Charging on the iPhone SE (2nd Gen) Without Breaking the Bank
After many years of rumors, the second-generation iPhone SE is here. At $399, it is the most inexpensive iPhone Apple has sold since the original iPhone SE came out. And while the new SE comes with Apple's typical five-watt power adapter, the smartphone supports fast charging — you just need to get a fast charger separately.
How To: Force-Close Running Apps on the New iPhone SE to Clear Them from the Task Switcher
When you press the Home button on your iPhone SE, you're not quitting your current app. Instead, it stays open in the background. If an app ever bugs out on you or you don't want it to run in the background, you'll need to force-close to quit it completely. Doing so is also helpful when your app switcher gets too cluttered, and you find it hard to switch between apps because of it.
How To: Shut Down & Restart the iPhone SE (2nd Generation) — There's More Than One Way
In a departure from Apple's newer iPhone models with Face ID technology, the 2020 iPhone SE goes back to the old days where the Home button ruled, and Touch ID was the biometrics method. But if you've never owned an older iPhone with a Home button, something as simple as shutting down and restarting the iPhone SE could elude you.
How To: Jobs Are Out There — Here's How to Create the Ideal Résumé
There's a lot of résumé writing happening right now. While it's a confusing and frustrating time, you don't have to wait to search for new opportunities. Maintaining a clear head and being proactive in your next career steps are two qualities that are necessary at this moment.
How To: 17 Things You Didn't Know Your iPhone's Home Button Could Do
The Home button on an iPhone does a lot. That's not necessarily news for anyone who's ever owned an iPhone with a Home button, but what you might not know is that it's capable of so much beyond the standard everyday functions. So if you have an iPhone 7, 8, or the new SE model running iOS 13 or later, keep reading to learn about 17 secret Home button tricks you're missing out on.