Hot Gadget Hacks How-Tos

How To: Set embedded YouTube clips to automatically play

YouTube videos can also be embedded in your own website. These YouTube videos by default do not play and one should explicitly click the play button for the videos to stream. However you can change the embedded video settings so that the video starts streaming once your web page loads. This can be very helpful as it starts streaming immediately with out wasting time for the user to click on the play button. Go to the YouTube video that you want to auto play on the YouTube website. Copy the em...

How To: Use Bluetooth to connect your cell phone to your Mac

First open up system preferences, select Blue Tooth and click the plus at the bottom. Make sure that your phone has Blue Tooth on and wait for your phone to pop up. Click continue and enter the number 71057113 onto your phone in the space provided. Once your phone is connect to Blue Tooth, this space should be there. After clicking pair on your phone a Bluetooth set up assistant window should pop up. Click on the x, then click on the settings after selecting your phone. Even though it says no...

How To: Downgrade the iPhone 3Gs firmware from 3.1.3 to 3.1.2

This video illustrates the method of Downgrading the iPhone 3Gs firmware from version 3.1.3 to version 3.1.2. The process is composed of the following steps -Step 1Download the iPhone 3Gs firmware version 3.1.2 from the internet. You can find this on apple's official site or you can get this from a customer service center.Step 2Upload the firmware files in the root of your iPhone's internal phone memory. Create a folder named "firmware v312" and add the firmware files in it.Step 3Access this ...

How To: Upload pictures, embed videos, and publish in Blogger

Radford University demonstrates how to upload pictures, embed videos and then publish them in Blogger. Log into blogger and go to your dashboard page. Click edit posts or create a new post. In the blog editor choose edit image from the toolbar. You can now add an image from a URL or upload one from your computer by choosing the choose file option. Next, choose your image position and size. Then, click the upload image button and then click done. Your image will now appear in your post. To emb...

How To: Reset your SSH password on an iPhone or iPod Touch

This video tutorial from DrJailbreak shows how to reset your SSH password on iPhone or iPod.If you changed your password through Rock with your Mobile Terminal and forgot it, this is what you are going to do to set your root and mobile password back to alpine.First you will need iFile application. Open Cydia and browse to http://repo.beyouriPhone.com. Navigate to Be Your iPhone Repo and scroll down to iFile. Download and install.Open iFile and navigate to /Private/etc.Scroll down and open mas...

How To: Access blocked websites on school computers

In this video you will learn how to get past website blocks on your school network. Some school computers have command prompts blocked. If this is the case then you will want to open a notepad. In the notepad type command, then save as something school related, making sure the file name ends with .bat. Do not save it on the desktop, but rather in a folder deeper on the unit. Once you've saved it, make sure no one is looking, then open the file. It will bring up a blank black window. In the bl...

How To: Block Farmville on Facebook

We are visually taught how to block the Farmville postings that come with the users who play it on Facebook. It's been a concern since some people wish to block the Farmville updates without actually blocking that particular user. Once a Farmville post has been made, go to the right of the post. It will show the options Hide applicant or Hide user. Click the Hide applicant option. At the bottom of the feed there is a more options where you can choose which applicant you wish to block. This wi...

How To: Jailbreak an iPhone and iPod Touch

iPhone arena teaches viewers how to Jailbreak and iPhone or iPod touch using REDSN0W. This will work for both Mac and PC. First, you need to download is your device firmware file. Make sure it is 3.0 and restore you iPhone next. Now download the Redsn0w pack and launch it. Now, open Redsn0w and browse for the 3.0 firmware. Now, click next and there will be a bootloader file and browse for the file so you can unlock your device. Now, turn off your device and slide to power off. Now click next,...

How To: Start and set up a free blog

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to start and set up a free blog. Viewers will learn how to setup a free blog for a charity, make a blog entry, edit and customize a blog and share a blog with their network. A blog is a online journal that provides the reader with regular posts on various topics. Three of the most popular blogging sites are: Blogger, Word Press and Live Journal. When creating a blog, keep the posts short and meaningful. Try to engage the reader. Update your blog regul...

How To: Turn an MP3 to a ringtone for your Blackberry Curve

This video demonstrates how to turn your favorite songs into ringtones for your Blackberry Curve. You will need a USB cable to connect your Blackberry to your computer. After connecting your Blackberry, a message will ask you if you would like to turn on "Mass Storage Mode". Select yes. On your computer, open the Blackberry in a window, and then open "music". Then click-and-drag songs from your computer onto your Blackberry. You can transfer files to either music or ringtones (as long as its ...

How To: Force an iPhone to turn off

In this tutorial, we learn how to force an iPhone or iPod touch to turn off. First, hold the power button ( at the top of the device) and home button (one the bottom middle) at the same time and wait until the screen turns completely off. To turn back on, press the power button that is located at the top of the device. You will see an Apple logo pop up and it will stay on the screen for several seconds. After it's loaded, it will re-boot as normal and your regular home page will show up as it...

How To: Do all the Facebook smileys

Would you like to impress all your friends by making 23 different smileys/emoticons on Facebook while you chat with them? Some of them are simple and easy to guess because they are used almost everywhere, but some of them are not so common.

How To: Delete browser history & temp internet files in IE

In this video, we learn how to remove our browsing history on Internet Explorer. First, click on "tools", then click on "delete browsing history". If you want to delete all of your browsing history, then click on that option. Most people are content with only deleting temporary internet files as well as browsing history. Getting rid of these will speed up your internet a bit. Another way is to go into "internet options", click under the "general" tab and choose which files you'd like to delet...

How To: Trace any IP hostname or web address

Tracing any IP hostname or web address free online is demonstrated in this video. To trace any IP, website and hostname free online firstly go to the websiteGeoLocationWhen the webpage appears you will get a find option. Enter your IP address, website or hostname here. Then click the find option. Your IP hostname or web address is traced. So easy. Quick and simple to use. Your IP address, city, country, continent and time zone will be displayed in a rectangular box in your location in the wor...

How To: Tag a picture with a friend's name on Facebook

In this tutorial, Mike Montgomery shows up how to tag a friend in a picture on Facebook. First, log into Facebook and click your photos and upload your photo to the desired photo album, or create a new one. Once it's uploaded you can add a caption to the picture as you wish, then click on "publish now". If you would like to involve your friends in the picture that have Facebook, click on the "tag this photo" button. You can click on their faces in the photo, then a drop down menu of your frie...

How To: Change the SSH root password on the iPhone and iPod

This video tutorial from iDeviceTutz shows how to change the SSH root password for iPhone or iPod.When iPhone or iPod is jailbroken it sets its password to default - alpine.Thus your device becomes vulnerable from a network attack that could steal your information or identity. So you need to change your password as soon as possible when your device is jailbroken.For this you'll need Mobile Terminal program on your device and SSH client (Cyberduck or WinSCP) on your computer.First download and...

How To: Get free ringtones for your Verizon Wireless phone

This video is about how to get free ringtones for a Verizon wireless phone. First you need a Verizon wireless phone with Vcast. You can either have or not have a micro SD card. You need a phone with Bluetooth. First go to your email, then where it says to put vzwpix.com you don't need a subject on the email but you need to type in your phone number. You have to also be able to get picture txt. Then next you need to open a new window and go to MyTinyPhone and enter in the ringtone you want. Fi...

How To: Make all Facebook emoticons

Facebook is a wonderful website where you can connect and keep up to date with your friends. Facebook has some useful features like chat. Facebook chat can be used to chat in live with your online friends. The chat also supports smileys. Using different character combination you can create different smileys. To create the happy smiley type :). To create sad smiley use :(. Use :P to show a funny smiley. These are the basic smileys. There are many more smileys present like the one showing teeth...

How To: Record songs from the Internet without a microphone

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to record songs on the Internet without a microphone. Begin by putting the sound control icon into the application bar. Then go to Volume Control and click on Properties. Click on Recording and then select all the recording options. Now close the window. Then select the mixage on the volume control, but do not close it. Then open the sound recorder in the Start menu and find the song that you want to record on the Internet. Play the song and click on ...

How To: Block and unblock Facebook applications

This video is about how to block and unblock Facebook applications. The first step that you will have to do is to go to the application's page. Once you have found the page of the application, click "Block Application" found on the left side of the page. Once you have blocked the application, you will not receive any information from the application then the entries of the application will automatically be removed. Another way of blocking an application is by going to the home page. In the ho...

How To: Make your Android phone unlock pattern visible

In this video, Mike Callahan shows us how to make our unlock pattern visible on an Android phone. First, unlock your phone and go to the home screen. Then, go to 'settings, location & security". After this, click the button that says "use visible pattern" so that the check mark and button are both gray instead of green. To test this, tap back on the home screen and lock your phone. Now, when you draw in your pattern you will be able to see it on the screen. This way you can see the pattern as...

How To: Adjust screen timeout on your Android phone

Mike Callahan will show you the tricky process of changing the screen timeout on your Android cell phone. While some people like their screen to black out right after they finish using it others prefer it to stay lit for a while. Mr. Callahan shows you how to change the setting regardless of how you like it. First tap on settings. Next, tap on sound and display. Then, you are going to want to scroll down until you get to screen time out. After selecting the screen time out option, you will ha...

How To: Uninstall a program from your Android phone

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to uninstall the program on an Android phone. Begin by clicking on Settings and select Applications. Click on Manage applications. Now users will be revealed a list of all the applications that are installed on the phone. Simply scroll through the applications and select the unwanted application(s). Users will now see the information about the application, click on Uninstall. Now click OK and click OK again when the application is finished uninstallin...

How To: Create your favorites list on an iPhone

In this video, we learn how to create a favorites list on an iPhone. Doing this will make it easier and quicker to speed dial! First, just tap on the "favorites" button. Then, click on the "+" button to add a new favorite from your contacts. You can then click "edit" to rearrange or remove favorites from your list. Click on the blue arrow next to a name to see the full contact details for that person. As soon as you add or remove someone from your favorites it's saved. That's all you need to ...

How To: Fix a wet phone using rice

In this video, we learn how to fix a wet phone using rice! Before you begin, you will need to turn your phone off and take the back off and battery out. After you do this, take a bag of Basmati rice and place the phone inside of it. If there is a reseal on the top of the rice bag, seal it, if not, place tape on the top to seal it. Next, stick the bag on the radiator or heater overnight. The rice will soak up the moisture from the phone and the heat will extract the water. In the morning, your...

How To: Use the GmailThis! bookmarklet

The bookmarklet tool lets you send Gmail messages with the click of a button so you don't have to visit your Gmail account. It's an application called GmailThis! From the developer's website, drag the GmailThis! link to the browser's toolbar. Then, if you are already logged into Gmail, just click on the bookmark and a Gmail applet will pop up with a link to the website you were visiting, along with any text you may have been highlighting. You may notice that the subject line is already filled...

How To: Put ringtones on an iPhone without jailbreaking

First, go to mobile9.com . Next, go to gallery. Then, go to apple iPhone ringtones. After that, you can browse through the available ringtones and select one that you want. Once you find the one you want, click on it and then click on download. Once you finish downloading it, open your iTunes library. It may show up in there. If not, you need to click and drag the downloaded file into your iTunes-library. Once the file is in your library, go to your iPhone section of iTunes and go to the ring...

How To: How To Block Facebook Applications

In this video, we learn how to block annoying applications on Facebook. Instead of just deleting these, you can block them so they won't show up on your page anymore! First, click on where it says "via (application name)" it will take you to the application's Facebook page. On the left hand side of the page, underneath the profile picture, there will be a button that says "block this application". Once you click this, you will just need to confirm that you want to block it and those types of ...

How To: Setup Google customized alerts

This video tutorial from TruTricks presents how to setup Google customized alerts.Open your internet browser and search for Google Alerts using Google search engine.Click first result that says Google Alerts.You will need to sign in to use this Google feature.Google or Google mail account will work. If you don't have it you should create one.After you signed in Google Alerts welcome screen will open.Here you can create new Google alerts using Create a Google Alert window.Enter Search Term you...

How To: Crop, stretch, and increase quality of YouTube videos

CompHelp uses his Mac to show us a new feature that the website has recently introduced. This feature allows people to use a simple code to crop, change, stretch, and even increase the quality of YouTube videos before they are uploaded. He starts out by showing viewers the memo where this information was released, then goes step by step to show interested parties how to use the special codes.He uses one of his own videos as an example, demonstrating what was wrong with it, then using the new ...

How To: Do the master reset on the iPhone 3G

If your iPhone has frozen and you're not sure why you're in luck because there is a way to reset it. The first thing you're going to want to do is load up iTunes do a normal reset but don't turn it back on, then plug your iPhone into the connector for your computer but don't actually connect it to the computer yet. Hold down the home button then while holding it plug the connector into the computer. While still holding the home button and have plugged in the connector wait for your iTunes to ...

How To: Fix dim screen problems on your iPod Touch or iPhone

In this video, we learn how to fix and iPod touch LCD screen that is too dim/won't light up. First, open up the back case of the device and take out the battery. Make sure not to disconnect the battery that is attached to the battery. After this, take a tool, which you can purchase at ifix, and remove the LCD connection button, then snap it back on. This is located at the bottom left hand side and is black. Replace your battery and case your back light will now be back up, without having to p...

How To: Block Facebook messages from your email

In this how-to video, you will learn how to block Facebook messages going to your email address. First, go and open Google in your web browser. Next, go to the Facebook website. Click on settings and edit your information. Click on the notifications tab. Now, you will be presented with a list of items that will be sent to your email if checked. Uncheck any items that you do not want to happen, such as receiving an email if someone sends you a message. Once this is done, click on the button la...

How To: Use the Wubi installer for Ubuntu

This video describes basics about using Wubi installer for Ubuntu in Windows operating system.Wubi installer is usually used for Ubuntu family distribution installations.You can download Wubi installer from the Internet and then it will install all desired distribution automatically or you can run installer from CD or DVD.In this example Wubi is installed from Kubuntu live DVD.After inserting DVD into your computer's disk drive autoplay function offers to run Kubuntu installer. If you don't h...

How To: Put an iPhone or iPod Touch into DFU Recovery Mode

Here's how to enter recovery mode on your iPhone or iPod touch the easy way. No need to press the sleep button and the home button at the same time for x amount of seconds, just turn your device off, if the device is frozen and can't be turned off normally just hold the above buttons until it turns off, now press and hold the home button and plug the device in. Do not let go of the home button until you see a screen in which the connector cable is displayed and there is an arrow pointing from...

How To: Get a smoother running springboard for your iPhone

Dr. Jailbait shows the viewers a new device called Smoothboard. With Smoothboard installed the Springboard will not lock while scrolling through your apps. It allows you to scroll and stay in between pages for your apps. You can scroll through multiple pages in one swipe, as opposed to it freezing on each page. To get this, open up Cydia. Go to search and type in Smooth B. Smoothboard from Big Boss will appear. Click on it and then click install. Once it finishes installing, your device will ...

How To: Enable cookies with Google Chrome

This video shows you how to enable cookies in Google Chrome browser.Enter Google Chrome. First of all, select the last icon in the upper right corner of the window (the one that looks like a wrench) and click on options. Then choose the "Under the hood" tab and scroll down until you reach the cookies section. All you have to do is make sure that the "Allow all cookies" option is selected and click OK.Once this is done, you will be able to use sites that require cookies, which otherwise would ...