Hot Gadget Hacks How-Tos
How To: Move Any App's Window Around on Your Galaxy Note 3 for Better One-Handed Operation
Your Note 3 is a magnificently large phone. So much so that it has a handful of built-in options that make it easier to use with one hand, collectively called "One-handed operation." While these settings are helpful, they have to be manually enabled and disabled whenever you're done using them.
Editor's Choice: 10 Must-Have Mods Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Is Begging For
There are a lot of things your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 can do straight out of the box, but there's also a ton of things it can't, or simply could be better at. That's why most of us end up rooting—to enhance the mobile experience.
How To: Save Any Photo or Video from Instagram on Your Galaxy Note 3—Without Rooting
Scrolling through Instagram, you're going to come across a lot of photographs and videos that you "like." But sometimes, you're going to want to remember a photo, and naturally want to save it to your device so you can look at it for forever and ever.
How To: Remove Ads from Videos in the YouTube App on Your Samsung Galaxy S3
There is only one time every year where I will willingly watch advertisements—during the Super Bowl. Maybe a Victoria's Secret commercial every now and then, too, but that's about it.
How To: Install the Xposed Framework on Your Samsung Galaxy S3 for Instant softModding
There are plenty of apps on Google Play for customizing your Samsung Galaxy S3 with wallpapers and new lock screens, but to be honest, you're not really customizing until you root.
How To: Change Your iPhone's App Icons to Any Shape You Want in iOS 7
More and more, our phones are becoming an expression of us. Whether it's the device we choose, the case it dons, or the ringer it bellows, we like to personalize. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do beyond cases and ringers on your iPhone, unless you jailbreak.
How To: Launch Google Now from Anywhere on Your Galaxy Note 3—Using Only Your Voice
Exclusive to only a handful of smartphones, including the Nexus 5, the Google Experience Launcher allows us to open Google Now simply by speaking out a certain phrase, at any time—dubbed a "hotword."
How To: The Easiest Way to Record Video of Your Nexus 5's Screen
Not too long ago, we told you about a new feature within Android KitKat that allowed for video recording directly from the screen of your Nexus 5. Though functional, the method was a bit clunky and involved hooking your phone up to your computer and sending over an ADB command to start the recording.
How To: Encrypt Private Photos & Videos on Your iPhone for Your Eyes Only
Let's be honest for a second; we all have sensitive material on our phones that we wouldn't want anyone else to ever see. Maybe it's to protect ourselves or someone else, or maybe it's none of your business why I don't want you to see pictures of my bachelor party. Regardless, sometimes we need to keep things hidden and safe.
How To: Set Up WinterBoard on Your Jailbroken iPhone for Unlimited iOS 7 Theming
One of the biggest reasons we jailbreak our iPads and iPhones is to add and change themes. Apple locks down a lot of how we can personalize our devices, and while the stock look is easy on the eyes, sooner or later we may realize how boring it can be. Now, it doesn't have to be.
How To: Get a KitKat-Style Music Lock Screen on Your Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Android 4.4 KitKat has begun rolling out for the Galaxy Note 3 in India, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, and several other countries, and an unofficial build for AT&T customers has been leaked for all of us stateside.
How To: Close ALL Running Background Apps at the Same Time in iOS 7
When lending our iPhone to our kids, siblings or friends, it's not uncommon to have it returned with what seems like a million apps open in the background. What's worse is being too lazy to close all those open apps, in turn having our battery drain much faster than normal.
How To: Install the Leaked KitKat Build on Your AT&T Samsung Galaxy S4
Earlier today, @DesignGears leaked an unofficial KitKat build for the Galaxy Note 3, and now they've dropped one for our Galaxy S4s, too. How to Install the 4.4.2 Build
How To: KitKat Leaked! How to Install the Latest Android 4.4.2 Build on Your AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 3
The @DesignGears guys have been busy today, leaking an unofficial KitKat build (Android version 4.4.2) for the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 3. The latest is a peek into what the international variants are beginning to see, although this build is far from official. Still, if you want to give it a shot, I'll show you how to install it, but make sure to check out the details below the how-to to see what you can expect, good or bad.
How To: Watch the 2014 Super Bowl XLVIII Game Online or Live Stream to Your Phone or Tablet
The mother of all games is almost here. Super Bowl XLVIII pits the Seattle Seahawks (or Seachickens, if you're from the Bay Area) against the Denver Broncos and regent exemplar of neck surgeries, Peyton Manning.
How To: Spruce Up Boring Text Messages on Your iPhone with Animations, Fonts, & Background Pics
Texting something as simple as "What up, bruh?" can be transformed into something way more baller by adding emojis, emoticons, GIFs, and textspeak. Some people would even argue that texting is a form of art, similar to Shakespearean sonnets, but it still has a ways to go if you ask me.
Stop Yelling at Your Roommates: How to Sync Bills, Chores, & Groceries Across Android & iOS
We've all heard our fair share of roommate horror stories, or have some of our own, because we never truly know who someone is until we've lived with them. Cohabitation issues generally revolve around things like bills, chores, cleaning, and groceries. Approaching a roommate, especially an adult one, to remind them to do their chores can be an anxiety-ridden and daunting task. After all, we're roommates, not parents!
How To: Install the Xposed Framework on Your Nexus 5 for Max Customization
If you've been keeping up with anything Android these days, you've no doubt heard about a little dandy called Xposed Framework kicking around. Xposed, by XDA developer rovo89, is a framework for Android devices that lets you easily modify your stock or custom ROM.
How To: Stop YouTube Surfing with a Personal Video Concierge for Your Samsung Galaxy S3
Whether you're on the john or sitting quietly on the bus to work, there's always time for a little video. And thanks to my favorite high school procrastination site, I'm going to be turning that little into a lot.
How To: Mimic Your iPhone's Lock Screen in Mac OS X with This iOS-Style Screensaver
The iOS 7 release brought with it many new aesthetic upgrades, from new flat, vibrant icons to a sleeker text messaging interface. Another small, yet noticeable, difference is the minimal and clean lock screen, which removed the overbearing "Slide to Unlock" background bar in lieu of just the text.
How To: The Quickest Way to Search on Google in Chrome, Firefox, & Safari
So, you find an interesting article online, but there’s something you don’t quite understand about it and instinct kicks in. Open new tab. Go to Google. Enter keywords. Search. Find information. Understand.
How To: Revert Back to Google Map's Original One-Finger Zoom on the Galaxy Note 3
Pinch-to-zoom has been a well-known feature in Google Maps, but one-finger zoom has always been a more practical way of navigating, especially for those of us using our phones with one hand.
How To: Can't Take That Call? Respond with a Photo or Quick Voice Message (Like Shaq Does)
We've all been there. Our phone rings, but we're at a concert or dinner and don't want to spend time sending a text explaining our whereabouts. While ignoring a call is easy, it isn't always the most polite thing to do.
How To: Get Definitions Faster by Adding Dictionaries Straight to Spotlight Search on Your iPhone
As an avid reader, I come across a plethora of words I don't know, but my iPhone is always right there to help figure out their meanings.
How To: Enable "Unknown Sources" to Install Third-Party Apps (APK Files) on a Nexus 4 or Nexus 5
Here's one of those modding must-haves that's basic, yet easy enough to forget about. If you're going to install apps that don't live in the Google Play Store, like the Google Experience Launcher, the OnePlus One lock screen, or something that needs root privileges like the Xposed Framework, you need to turn on this setting.
How To: Enable One-Tap Page Scrolling in Either Direction on Your Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Recently, Mike over on Samsung Galaxy S4 softModder showed how to scroll from the bottom to the top of a page with a single tap, a feature that Apple is well known for, and something I missed very much on my Galaxy Note 3. However, there's always room for improvement.
How To: Back Up & Restore Your Nexus 5 with a Custom Recovery
A rooted Android device means we're on our way to some truly amazing customization options. But there may be a few steps left to completing that journey, and a major one is installing a custom recovery.
How To: Exploit Apple's AirPlay to Record & Save Music from an iPhone to Your Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Ever since its introduction back in iOS 6, AirPlay has been helping us iOS and Mac users stream content over to an Apple TV or third-party speaker system. It's an incredibly useful feature. However, it's also severely limiting. The few compatible products out there are extremely expensive, making wireless streaming a not-so-easy task.
How To: Burnt or Buttered? How to Add App Names & Icons to Your Galaxy S4's Toast Notifications
Toast notifications are a type of pop-up alert built into Android, letting us know when an app has performed a certain action. Whether it's Gmail saving a draft or Firefox opening a new tab, toasts are meant to be informational while not being totally intrusive.
How To: Slim Down Those Annoying iOS 7 Banner Alerts on Your iPhone for Smaller, Scrolling Notifications
So, I'm playing Injustice: Gods Among Us and whooping some serious superhero ass when out of nowhere I receive a stupid notification that ruins my game and subsides my thunder!
How To: Close Apps in Apple iOS 6 on iPad
Closing apps in iOS 6 was different that what is now in iOS 7. Shown in the video below is the old clumsy way of closing apps on the old iPads.
How To: Get Faster Access to Settings for Your Installed Xposed Mods on the Nexus 7
If you're reading this, chances are you're utilizing Xposed Framework to apply unique customizations to your device . We've covered various Xposed mods, like how to how to unlock KitKat's full screen capabilty and make your battery percentage easier to read on the Nexus 7, but today, we're showing you an Xposed module for Xposed. In order to access the modules on your device, you typically enter the Xposed Installer, go to Modules, then select your mod. Easy enough, right? Well, things just g...
How To: Get Chat Head Bubbles for Text Messages on Your Nexus 5
A while back, Facebook released a killer feature called "Chat Heads" to its Facebook Messenger app. Messages from users would "pop up" in small bubbles that floated on the screen that could be seen, accessed, and moved around from within most apps.
How To: The Fastest Way to Monitor Memory & Storage Usage on Your Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Modern smartphones can easily handle anything you throw at them, but it's always good to keep a tight grasp of what your phone is actually doing and how well it's doing it. System information can be viewed by looking through your Application Manager, but this process makes it difficult to keep an eye on usage in real time.
How To: Don't Tap—Swipe Back to Previous Screens on Your Nexus 7 Tablet Instead
Facial, voice, and hand gestures are the way of the future for controlling our devices, and even gaming consoles like the Xbox One have incorporated them. Unfortunately, our Nexus 7 tablets have not. We're currently limited to using soft keys for most actions, but we can inch closer to the future by replacing one critical action with a simple touch gesture—going back.
How To: View App Usage Stats in Your iPhone's Multitasking Menu
Those of you using iOS 7 probably know by now that swiping down on an app's preview screen in the multitasking menu does absolutely nothing. Swiping up force closes the app, but down is useless—unless you're jailbroken.
How To: Snapchat Increases Its Security Push, Adds Image Captcha Feature
Snapchat has had more than its fair share of security failures and mishaps. The photo-sharing company is looking to better address some of these security gaps by adding new features, and today its most recent addition is live: the Captcha. New users will be asked to verify their "humanness" by selecting the infamous Snapchat ghost out of a selection of images. The feature is supposed to help block hacker-made bots from creating fake accounts or accessing existing ones. But rather than using t...
How To: Tweet or Post to Facebook Directly from iOS 7's Notification Center on Your iPhone
Many of us were left scratching our heads when the iOS 7 update removed the Twitter and Facebook options from the Notification Center. Allowing you to quickly tweet and post Facebook updates, these were features used, and missed, by many—including me.
How To: Make Your Galaxy S4 Scroll-to-Top When Tapping the Status Bar—Like iOS Does
While browsing the internet on your Samsung Galaxy S4, you've probably scrolled to the bottom of a very long webpage, Twitter feed, or down into the abyss of some other app. Depending just how far down you've scrolled, it can be a test of your patience (and fingertips) scrolling back up to the top.
Never Miss an Alert: View Your Galaxy S3's Notifications Directly on Your Computer Screen
Having quick and immediate access to your notifications is one of the most important features for any modern day phone, but these alerts can be easily missed when your device isn't in the palm of your hand.