Hot Gadget Hacks How-Tos
How To: Get Automatically Expanded Notifications on Your Samsung Galaxy S4
Back when 4.1 Jelly Bean came out (boy, how time flies), Android introduced expandable notifications. Depending on the notification, a simple swipe down with your finger could expand it and show extra content, like Delete and Reply buttons for Gmail messages.
How To: Block Ads for Hulu Plus, Pandora, YouTube, & More in iOS 7 (No Jailbreak Required)
What do Hulu Plus, Pandora, and YouTube all have in common? Ads—and lots of them. Sometimes, an advertisement or two isn't a big deal, but when you're bombarded with them daily on your iPhone, they can get old really quick, and might even lead you to delete the apps entirely.
Keep Flapping: 10+ Flappy Bird Clones & Alternatives for Android, iOS, & Web
In a much-hated move, Flappy Bird developer Dong Nguyen removed his incredibly popular, yet extremely frustrating app from both Google Play and the iOS App Store. The jury is still out on the exact reason behind the move, though we can rule out pressure from Nintendo, but one thing is for sure—Flappy Bird has fallen for good.
How To: Enable the Hidden Multi Window Features on Your Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Restrictions are inconvenient, and for this reason I've sought out softmods that loosen the constraints for many of the features on my smartphone. Things like adding favorite apps to the Pen Window drawer or choosing any app for Multi Window mode are now must-haves on my Samsung Galaxy Note 3—and should be on yours as well.
How To: Stream Personal Movies, Music, & Photos to Chromecast from Any Android Device
It's been a great week for Chromecast owners. First, Google released the development kit, allowing devs to install the casting code into their apps. Then, CyanogenMod dev Koush updated his AllCast app to support the Chromecast. That means you can shoot personal movies, music, and photos directly from your Android device over to a Chromecast-connected display.
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: 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: 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: 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: Stream Your Google Play Movies & TV Shows on an iPad or iPhone
Apple and Google are not only two of the biggest names in the tech world, but also two of the biggest competitors. So, it's no surprise that you can't watch movies or TV shows purchased from iTunes on an Android device. Likewise, you can't watch any videos purchased on Google Play with your iPad or iPhone—until now.
How To: Open the Air Command Menu Without Using the S Pen on Your Galaxy Note 3
Improved S Pen functionality materialized in the form of Air Command controls on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, allowing users to access shortcuts for their stylus features from anywhere on the screen. While the pie-interface controls are extremely useful, the only way to access them is when the S Pen is removed—making it impossible to use otherwise.
Forget Boring Ringtones: How to Make Your Phone Announce Your Caller's Name Instead
Wouldn't it be cool to know exactly who is calling or messaging you without ever looking at your phone? It'd be a great way to keep you from reaching into your pocket or purse every time you get a message, and an efficient method to ignore people you'd rather not deal with.
How To: Customize The "Slide to Unlock" Text on Your iPhone's Lock Screen to Say Whatever You Want
Here we go again, softModders, it's time for another awesome tweak for your iPod, iPhone, or iPod running iOS 7. Have you ever felt like changing your lock screen with a custom text instead of it saying "slide to unlock"? Why shouldn't we be able to edit this? We're not given much freedom as it stands with our Apple devices.
How To: Add a 5th Column of Apps to Your iPhone's Home Screen in iOS 7
When I compare my iPhone 4S to my friend's iPhone 5, I notice that his elongated screen gives him an extra row of applications. Am I jealous? Yes, a little.
How To: Add a Second Status Bar Clock on Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 for Different Time Zones
Whether it's because you travel quite often or have loved ones in another part of the country, Android makes it easy to place dual clocks on your home screen using a widget. While there are several other widgets you can use to tell the time, that's pretty much the only way you can get two different time zone clocks on your Android device. If you want an alternative option, I'm going to show you a mod that lets you get two different clocks in your Status bar on your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 or ot...
Screw Translucency: Make Your iPhone's Dock Background in iOS 7 Transparent Instead
Apple is extremely strict when it comes to modifying your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. For example, let's look at the dock on iOS 7 devices. You've only really got two options for the dock background, either the default frosty translucent one, or the dark gray version. That's it, and the dark one will also change the look of other things on your device.
How To: Capture Action on Your Nexus 7 Using the "Exclusive" Sony Xperia Motion Shot Camera
Sometimes, taking a picture of your friend doing a crazy stunt just doesn't suffice. Getting the progression of the stunt in one image does!
How To: 5 Things You Need to Know Before Buying Anything on Amazon.com
Amazon.com has been around for a long time now, but there are still a few things most people don't know about when it comes to buying products from them. Here's a quick roundup of tips to help you get the most out of Amazon and save some money in the process. The holidays are the busiest time of year for online shopping, but these tricks will work all year around.
How To: Download & Install the Xposed Framework on Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2
Android's deeply customizable platform has long been the attraction for those of us looking to make our smartphones more unique, but that doesn't mean that it's always easy. Flashing mods and installing custom ROMs can be difficult at times, as well as dangerous.
How To: Start a Fire
This is for those people that want to create a fire in a camping situation, survival situation, flare type alert to other that you are lost, or simply for entertainment.
How To: 10 Surefire Ways to Speed Up & Fix Your Family's Mac OS X Computer During the Holidays
If you're marginally inclined towards computers, you've probably been approached at some point by a family member who wants you to "fix" their system during a visit home. With the holidays coming up, these opportunities (or ambushes) are even more likely.
How To: Unlock the Hidden Battery Percentage Status Bar Icon in KitKat on Your Nexus 7 Tablet
Much like the built-in screen recording tool on Android 4.4 KitKat, hidden features like the new battery Status bar icon must be manually unlocked on your Nexus 7 tablet. This is both exciting and annoying.
How To: Speed Up & Fix Your Family's Windows Computer During the Holidays
It's officially the holiday season, which means everyone will soon be traveling home to spend time with loved ones. And anyone who has any knowledge whatsoever of computers knows what else that means—family members left and right asking you to fix their various technical woes.
How To: Get the New Dark Keyboard in iOS 7.1 (Plus, the Darker Home Screen Dock & Folders)
There are a lot of cool things in iOS 7, but there are also a lot of annoying things about it. One of the biggest issues I have is Apple's stock wallpaper options. I was really hyped about the new dynamic wallpapers, but they turned out to be a real disappointment because of the new interface.
How To: This Energy-Saving Live Wallpaper Gives Your Android Home Screen a Fresh Look Whenever You Want
If you're not acquainted with 500px, you should be. One of the more preeminent photography communities out there, 500px takes you through a journey of incredible shots—anything from nature and urban explorations to cities and architecture to the abstract. Whatever your preference is, you can be sure to find it on 500px.
How To: Use Android Device Manager to Find, Wipe, & Lock Your Android Phone or Tablet
If you haven't heard yet, Google made it possible a couple months ago for every Android user running 2.2 or higher to track his or her smartphone or tablet using their Android Device Manager service. It's a super easy way to track, lock, and secure erase your Android device from the web without ever having to download a third-party application, like Droid Finder, since it occurs in the background via Google Services.
How To: Create a Bootable Install USB Drive of Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks
Apple may have made Mavericks more accessible to Mac users everywhere at the fair price of zero dollars, but unfortunately, they made it trickier to create a bootable install drive of the Mac OS X 10.9 operating system.
How To: Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC
While still extremely awesome, the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch is limited as to what you can download on to it, especially apps. It also doesn't have its own internet access (only Bluetooth), so apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Vine have yet to make their way to the Gear Store.
How To: Customize the Quick Settings Toggles on Your Samsung Galaxy S4 with Color Themes
Samsung's quick settings toggles are insanely useful for accessing settings that you would normally need to dig into menus for. Definitely a case of function over form, though. TouchWiz's bright green on dark blue has to be one of the fugliest color combinations I have ever seen.
How To: Add a Folder to a Folder in iOS 7 to Save Massive Amounts of Space on Your Home Screen
With over a million apps available in the App Store, you'd think that Apple would have come up with a better way to organize them on your iPhone.
How To: Enable Multi-Window View for Every Single App on Your Samsung Galaxy S4
If you're a self-described multitasker, Samsung has a feature that's perfect for you called Multi-Window, which lets you display two apps on your Galaxy S4's screen simultaneously.
How To: 3 Foolproof Ways to Block or Ignore Annoying Callers on Your Samsung Galaxy S3
You don't have to be in debt to receive annoying calls from unwanted numbers. You may love your grandma, but if she calls you three times a day to ask how to turn on the television, you might just want to push all of her calls to voicemail.
How To: Get iOS-Style "Badge App Icons" on Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 or Other Android Device
Converting from iOS to Android doesn't have to be a particularly difficult process, but people make it that way anyways. Transferring contacts becomes a big deal, dimensions and hardware become an issue, and most importantly, features that were once loved become sorely missed.
How To: Install the Xposed Framework on Your Samsung Galaxy S4 for Quick & Easy softModding
Xposed, by XDA developer rovo89, is a framework for your Samsung Galaxy S4 (or other Android device) that lets you add tweaks and customizations to your ROM (either stock or custom) without any real hassle.
How To: 18 Sneaky Privacy-Betraying Settings Every iPhone Owner Must Know About iOS 7
You saw our post on the 18 coolest new features of iOS 7, but now that you've had a chance to play around with your updated iPhone, it's time to lock it down.
How To: The Coolest 18 Features in iOS 7 That You Probably Didn't Know About
Now that iOS 7 is out, what can you do that you couldn't do before? In this softModder guide, I'm going to cover all that's new and noteworthy about iOS 7. I've been playing around with it on my iPhone 5 since the first beta came out, so I'm excited to show you some of the secrets that are lurking within Apple's newest mobile operating system.
How To: Add App Shortcuts to the Pull-Down Notification Center on Your iPhone—Without Jailbreaking
The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but the shortest way to launch an app on an iPhone can be a much more complicated process.
How To: Use Hashtags in Texts to Quickly Share Locations, Music, & Other Info on a Galaxy Note 2 or Other Android Phone
If you're a Twitter user, it's a safe bet to assume that you've used a hashtag. On all social networking sites that have the capability, such as Instagram, Facebook, and Google+, the pound (#) symbol is used to mark and designate specific keywords or topics in order to make it effortless for users to connect with one another.
How To: Hide That Pesky NFC Icon from Your HTC One's Status Bar (Root Required)
If you turned on your HTC One for the first time and wondered what that weird icon that looks like an N is, it indicates that NFC is on. It seems strange to me that HTC wanted to waste Status bar space on an NFC indicator, but sometimes we just have to deal with it. However, if you're a softModder, you don't have to just deal with it. The icon can't be removed permanently, but there is a very easy way to hide it forever.
How To: Make the Simplest Motor Ever
For this project, you will need a magnet, two AA batteries, two keys, a metal plate, and a copper wire coil.