Hot Gadget Hacks How-Tos
How To: Manage Your Live Tiles in Windows 8
The new Windows 8 is only days away from its mass public release on Friday, October 26th. And there's a ton of new features you'll need to get used to, either on your computer or your tablet. One of them is the Live Tiles, which provide users with live information and is way more aesthetically pleasing than the traditional Windows layout. The new Tiles system adds another level of functionality and information for the user, but it definitely takes some getting used to. The video below by Pure...
How To: Hack Your Mini-Fridge into a Vending Machine to Take Care of Freeloading Friends at Your Next Party
It always sounds like a good idea to throw a party... until the party gets there. Next thing you know, you're running around hiding anything breakable, and once everyone leaves, you're stuck cleaning up the mess. But the worst part is footing the bill for everything, and if you don't charge at the door, your chances of getting anyone to chip in are slim to none once the party starts.
How To: Build a Programmable Robot with Snap Circuits
Want to learn how to build a robot out of Snap Circuits? I'll show you how to combine Snap Circuits parts from three different sets (the Snap Circuits rover, Snap Circuits Micro, and the Snap Circuits motion detector) to make a simple programmable motion activated robot. For a complete step-by-step build of the robot, visit my project at Instructables: http://www.instructables.com/id/Hack-the-Snap-Circuits-Rover/
How To: Send Encrypted Spy Messages Through Gmail on Google Chrome
Have a super secret spy communication you'd like to send out, but don't have the funds to hire your own trusted operatives to deliver the message? Then stick to what you're used to—email it. SafeGmail is a browser extension that allows you to send encrypted emails right through your regular Gmail account. While this may seem a bit unnecessary for most messages, encrypting your email can definitely be useful.
How To: Root and Flash Omega ROM onto Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2
The new Samsung Galaxy Note II is a powerful and sleek device that begs for some customization, and there's no better way to customize your Android device than installing a custom ROM of your choice. One of your choices is the Omega ROM, which is just one of many that you can download and flash to your Galaxy Note 2. Before you begin, you'll need to root your Galaxy Note 2 and install Odin and CWM Recovery. You can get a toolkit of everything you need over at XDA Developers. Then follow the v...
How To: Un-Root Your Samsung Galaxy S III and Flash Back to Android 4.0.4
Rooting your device gives you all-powerful administrative access to your phone and its system settings. Of course, with such power comes great responsibility, and sometimes that responsibility becomes to burdensome or just plain unnecessary.
How To: Install Flash on a Samsung Galaxy Note, Nexus 7, and Other Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Devices
Samsung's Galaxy Note and Note II phablets have been hailed for their large displays and responsive systems, making them ideal for gaming and movie watching. But if you've recently upgraded to Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) from Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0), you'll be sad to know that some Android devices running Jelly Bean no longer support Adobe Flash Player.
How To: No Jelly Bean for You? Motorola Offers Trade-In Program, Gives Credit for Newer Android 4.1 Devices
Thousands of Android users have been disappointed to learn that getting the latest firmware update isn't as easy as it sounds. Some really popular phones like the Samsung Galaxy S III just started getting the Jelly Bean upgrade, with the update continuing to roll out over the next couple of weeks overseas. All of the stateside S3 users will have to wait even longer for Android 4.1.
How To: Get the Windows 8 Picture Password Unlock Screen on Your Android Smartphone
One of the more innovative features about the new Windows 8 operating system is the ability to unlock the screen via a picture password. This new feature allows the user to select any photo they would like and use taps, circles or straight lines to unlock the device. The video below shows the picture unlock in action.
How To: Install Siri on Your Jailbroken 'A4' Apple Device Running iOS 6
When the new iOS 6 came out a few months ago, I was pumped because I finally would get Siri on my iPhone 4. Having the automated voice assistant readily available on my phone would be cool, even if I probably wouldn't use it all that much.
How To: New to Windows 8? See How the Start Screen, Charms Bar, and Quick Access Menu Work
Microsoft's newest operating system, Windows 8, will hit stores everywhere on October 26th, and they hope this new version will shift the way we think about computers and their interfaces. In an effort to get as many early adopters as possible, Microsoft is even making their OS cheaper than usual, offering upgrades from previous versions for as low as $40 for a limited time.
How To: Recover or Restore a Bricked Samsung Galaxy S III Smartphone
There is no better example of a risk-versus-reward scenario than jailbreaking your iPhone or rooting your Android phone. While both jailbreaking and rooting undoubtedly has its advantages, this possibility of something going wrong and you ending up with a 500-dollar doorstop is never too far out of mind.
How To: Uninstall Applications in Windows 8
Windows 8 and its new Windows Store have simplified the process for uninstalling and cleanly deleting applications from your computer. Removing applications in older versions of Windows required a few more steps: My Computer -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> Find the Program -> Click Uninstall.
How To: Not Getting the Jelly Bean Update Yet? Here's How to Flash Your Samsung Galaxy S III to Android 4.1.1
The newest firmware update for Android, Jelly Bean 4.1.1, has been out for a while now, but not every device has gotten it yet (some never will). One popular device that has recently gotten it is the Samsung Galaxy S III, only they'll be pushing the update out overseas during the next couple weeks, with the UK already seeing Jelly Bean from the cellular provider Three (if you're on Three, see how to update your device here). Unfortunately, stateside users will have to wait a bit longer. There...
How To: Get All the News, Tips, and Tricks for Your Specific Android Device in One Place with Drippler
There are thousands of articles published every day about smartphones, tablets, eReaders, and any other kind of gadgets you can think of. The problem is that most people only really care about news related to the devices they actually own. So how do you filter out all of the stuff you don't care about? That's what Drippler does. It pulls news, tips, and app reviews and recommendations from all over the web and puts them all in one place, but only for the devices you want to read about. You te...
How To: Find and Install New System or App Updates in Windows 8
Keeping your operating system up to date is essential to keeping it bug-free and running properly. Windows regularly pushes out patches and security fixes through Windows Update, so making sure to turn on Automatic Updates or checking at least once a week is strongly advised.
How To: Add or Prevent Programs from Starting Automatically When Booting Windows 8
Programs that run automatically every time you start your computer can slow down your boot time—or just be plain annoying. Many of these programs are rarely used and don't even need to be running for your computer to function properly. So, if you want to disable these auto-run programs and increase your computer's startup speed, here are a few ways you can do it in the new Windows 8.
How To: Use LinkedIn as a Source for Content Creation
If you have tried your hand at sourcing great places to place your content, you know it is not always easy. Using LinkedIn as a tool to find places to post is a great option.
How To: Set a Personalized Picture Password for Signing into Windows 8
Windows 8 comes with a bunch of new features, and none may be cooler than the new Picture Password option. If you're tired of the old lock screen and login options, or don't want to remember any more passwords, than you'll like this great new addition to Windows.
How To: Not Suck at Instagram (But If You Still Suck, Just 'Be' Instagram Instead)
What do Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian, Chris Brown, Rihanna, and Soulja Boy all have in common? They suck at Instagram.
How To: New iOS 6 Jailbreak Makes Installing Cydia Easier on Your Old "A4" Apple Devices
For those interested in jailbreaking their A4 Apple devices (iPhone 4, 3GS, and 4th Gen iPod touch), a new update has been released that makes things a little easier. Unlike the previous Redsn0w iOS 6 jailbreak, the newest version, 0.9.15b1, comes with full support of the Cydia App store.
How To: Spot a Fake Samsung Galaxy S III Smartphone
If you watched the presidential debate last night, then you might recall Mitt Romney's remark on the fake Apple Store in China "selling counterfeit goods". That store actually sells real Apple products, only it isn't licensed to sell them, so it was a little misleading. Not to say that there aren't real counterfeit iPhones on the market in China. There are and for the most part, people know how to spot them; they mainly buy them because they are cheaper.
How To: WiFi Camera Lets You Snap Photos on Your iPhone Using Someone Else's iPhone Camera
An influx of creative photography apps has struck iOS 6 since its release, and developer Daniel Amitay has now added to the stream of cool photo applications with WiFi Camera, a new remote-photography tool.
How To: Add Sticky Notes to Your Email Threads in Gmail
Notes for Gmail now allows you to insert sticky notes directly onto your email threads in Chrome. The browser extension, currently in beta, allows you to annotate your emails as a whole (thread)—or individually. You can add as many sticky notes as you would like and they all appear at the top of the webpage for easy accessibility. To download the application, go to this page and request an invitation. They add users everyday—I was added almost instantly after I applied. Once you've downloaded...
How To: Replace the Boring Stock Tiles in Windows 8 with Your Own Custom Designs
The new Windows 8 is set to launch on October 26th, and developers and early adopters are still getting used to the new interface. Windows 8 borrows a lot of its functionality and look from the touchscreen-friendly Windows phones. As with Windows phones, Windows 8 uses the now ubiquitous tiles as part of the new Metro Desktop. These tiles, much like the vintage iPhone icons, can get a little stale. But unlike the iPhone, Windows 8 users can in fact create custom tiles in their own without any...
How To: Unstick Your Stuck Lightning Cable from a USB Port
As if there weren't already enough problems with the iPhone 5, now the new Lightning USB cable is reportedly getting stuck in USB power adapters and computer ports. The newer Lightning cables have deeper divots and a slightly thinner mouth on the USB plug than the old 30-pin cables did, so the cable can get stuck inside your USB port.
How To: View Your Friend's Tweets in the Contacts App on Mac OS X Mountain Lion
A hidden feature residing in Mac OS X Mountain Lion is the ability to view and also reply to your friend's tweets through the Contacts application, previously known as Address Book. The only way to do this, though, is to provide your Twitter account login data to the Contacts app. To integrate your Twitter, just go to System Preferences, then click on Mail, Contacts & Calendars and choose Twitter. Put in your Twitter login information and then click on Update Contacts. Twitter will use your e...
How To: Build a Remote-Controlled Water Gun (Or Flamethrower!)
You can do a lot with water guns. Have trouble waking up? Make a water gun alarm clock that (almost) no one could sleep through. Prefer real ammo? Turn your water gun into an airsoft BB gun. And if you don't have one, you can even make your own.
How To: Turn a Super Cheap Mousetrap into a Powerful BB-Shooting Handgun
Here's a way you can turn a mousetrap into a fun little handgun that shoots up to 40 feet! This is a great project because it can be made with simple materials, very basic tools, and in just a few minutes!
How To: Light Up Your Whole House with This DIY 'Nuclear Explosion' Chandelier
If you're the kind of person who misses the bright, sunny days of summer during the colder months, Michail has the perfect addition to your home. He built this "Nuclear Explosion" Chandelier that's as bright as daylight, so you can recreate the feeling of summer, no matter what time of year it is. It puts out 99,400 lumen (a typical 60W light bulb only produces 800 lm), so it takes quite a bit of electricity to run. Michail used 7 metal-halide lamps, which are much brighter and more energy ef...
How To: Add an Extra USB Port to Your Wired Computer Mouse
Ever try plugging in two flash drives into your MacBook Pro before? The USB ports on MacBooks are not only directly side by side, they're insanely close to each other, so it can be extremely difficult to plug in a large USB device with another smaller USB device. Sometimes it can fit, but it's a strain on the USB port and the device itself. If one of the items in question is a USB mouse, then your worries are over...
How To: Deal with Broken Hardware Buttons on Your Android Device
When the hardware buttons on your smartphone aren't working right, it can be a real pain to do almost anything. Simple tasks like accessing your home screen, opening the menu, and powering your phone on and off—normal functions you use every day—become chores, if you're even able to do them at all.
How To: Stream Pictures from Your Mac or PC Directly to Your iPhone with AirFoto
Syncing photos onto your iPhone using iTunes can be a bit of a hassle. You have to connect the iPhone, create a folder with the pictures you want exported, and wait until it all syncs onto the phone. This is not only time consuming, but annoying with having to do it every time you want to transfer a picture.
How To: Hide Secret Files on Your Mac's Desktop with Obscurity
There are certain files on your Mac that do not warrant encryption, but still need to be hidden. Whether it be snoopy parents trying to find pictures, or friends stumbling upon one of your love letters, there are times when you need to hide a file and have it kept secret. Obscure Your Files with Obscurity
How To: Easily Split, Merge, Rotate, and Combine PDF Files with No Software or Registration
PDF files are awesome because they're easy to share and they prevent the format on your document from being messed up, no matter what system or program it's opened in. Their biggest downside, though, is how difficult they are to edit or change once they're made.
How To: Make Your Own Halloween Masks by Modding Your Shop Vac into a Vacuum Forming Machine
You may have never heard of vacuum forming, but you use products made with the technique all the time. The lid on your coffee cup, the plastic bowls you used at last week's barbeque, and the blister packs your prescriptions come in are all made with a vacuum forming machine.
How To: Include Yourself in Photos You Take of Your Family and Friends with Your iPhone
Sometimes there's no one around to take a picture of the entire family or group of friends. That means that one unlucky person is chosen to be the photographer and left out from the moment. Sure, you can set up a timer and run, but that's not a viable option during interactive moments. You could always edit yourself into the picture, but who has the time and proper skills to make it look genuine?
How To: Don't Trust Cloud Security? Here's a Safer Local Alternative to Dropbox
Having all of your stuff in the cloud is super convenient if you want to access it on multiple devices, or if you want a backup in case it gets lost or wiped. The biggest downside with services like Dropbox, though, is security. With everything sitting there in one place, the last thing you want is for someone to break in.
How To: Replace Your Apple iPhone 5's Cracked Screen
Apple's new iPhone 5 has enjoyed three weeks out in the public since its September 21st release. Millions of consumers have been shelling out big bucks and waiting in long lines just to get their hands on it. But sometimes users forget to actually keep their hands on their new phone, causing something like this... It only takes a second to drop your new iPhone 5, but the pain of picking up the phone and turning it over to reveal a cracked display lasts a lifetime. Well, not exactly a lifetime...
How To: Mod Your Old iPod 30-Pin Dock into a Bluetooth Speaker for Your iPhone 5
If you bought the new iPhone 5, you've probably been less than thrilled with the lack of cases and accessories that you can use it with. Docks are no exception—users were disappointed to learn that Apple has no plans to even make one for the newest addition to the Apple family.