Hot Gadget Hacks How-Tos

How To: Digitize Your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card on Your Phone for Easy Access Anywhere

As the U.S. inches closer to herd immunity and reopening after the pandemic, it may become necessary to keep your COVID-19 vaccination cards on you at all times to gain access to places and events that are prone to spreading the coronavirus. You probably won't want to lose your card, so it may be wise to load a copy onto your smartphone for easy access.

How To: 7 Cool Features iOS 14.5 Adds to Your iPhone's Music App — For Apple Music & Your Own Library

Apple's big iOS 14.5 update adds over 60 new features and changes to your iPhone, some of which are upgrades that audiophiles and even casual music listeners can appreciate. Whether you subscribe to the Apple Music streaming service or simply use the Music app for your own library of tunes, iOS 14.5 has a few things you should know about.

How To: Report Speed Traps, Accidents & Hazards in Apple Maps During Navigation to Help Out Other Drivers on the Road

Driving is anything but problem-free. Speed traps, accidents, and other hazards can appear at any time, requiring motorists to be attentive, quick, and prepared for anything. If you see something dangerous on your route that you want to warn others about, there's an easy way to do so in Apple Maps.

How To: Unlocking Your iPhone While Wearing a Mask Just Got Way Easier

One of the smaller frustrations of the coronavirus pandemic is unlocking your iPhone with Face ID while wearing a mask. If you have an iPhone with Touch ID, you won't need to punch in your passcode every time Face ID fails since you can use your fingerprint. But for those of us without Home buttons, unlocking our iPhones just got a lot easier — even if we're wearing a mask.

How To: Stop Apps from Asking to Track Your iPhone Activity in iOS 14.5 for More Control Over Your Privacy

If you're like me, you're not too keen on being tracked. So when an app asks you if it can track your iPhone activity across other programs and websites for ads or data brokers, the answer is pretty much always "no." If you're tired of choosing "Ask App Not to Track" over and over again, there is a way to stop apps from even being able to ask in the first place.

How To: 3 Reasons Why You Need iOS 14.5's New Privacy Features on Your iPhone

Many of us choose to use an iPhone — as well as other devices in the Apple ecosystem — because of the company's dedication to user privacy and security. If you need more proof of that commitment, look no further than iOS 14.5, released April 26, which adds new tools to protect our data while browsing the web and more control over the data installed apps collect on us.

How To: 8 Big Apple Maps Features iOS 14.5 Brings to Your iPhone

If you rely on Apple Maps to get around over other navigation apps, there's a lot you can do. Look Around lets you tour cities up close, restaurant reservations make dining less frustrating, and 3D view gives a new perspective of a neighborhood. While there are many more where that came from, iOS 14.5 just added six new features and changes you need to know about.

How To: 4 New Reminders Features in iOS 14.5 That'll Boost Your Productivity & Make To-Lists More Fun

Apple's Reminders app has come a long way. In the past, if you really wanted to keep track of your important daily, weekly, and monthly tasks, you needed to install a specialty third-party app to make it work. While those apps still offer valuable features, Reminders can get the job done for many iPhone users now. With iOS 14.5, Apple only sweetens the deal.

How To: Browse Privately & Securely with This VPN

If you're looking to improve your browsing experience, then a VPN is the right way to go. If you're tired of censored or geographically blocked sites and wary of companies selling your data, then a good VPN can be your answer to a problem that limits every aspect of your experience online.

How To: Apple's AirTags Are Ready to Preorder on Amazon & Other Online Stores — Get Some Before They Sell Out!

If you have no intention of getting personalized engravings on your AirTags, you don't need to shop on the Apple Store unless you have an Apple Card you want to earn Daily Cash with. Best Buy. Target. Adorama. B&H Photo. All of those places will let you preorder AirTags now but so does Amazon, America's second-biggest retailer, a good choice whether you have Amazon Prime or not.

How To: Learn to Design Games with Unity for Just $39.99

Game design is among the fastest-growing industries in tech. What once was a passing hobby or niche job has become a thriving industry with a huge variety of work. If you are interested in learning game design, either as a hobby or a profession, then The 2021 Complete Learn to Code by Making Games in Unity Bundle will hold some interest for you — and it's on sale for $39.99.

How To: This HomePod Setting Keeps Other People Out of Your Notes, Reminders & Calendar for Good

HomePod and HomePod mini are excellent smart speakers if you're entrenched in the Apple ecosystem. They even offer ways to protect your sensitive information from friends and visitors who try to ask Siri to spill your secrets. But there's an extra layer of privacy you can put in place to make sure nobody gains access to any important notes, reminders, and calendar events.

How To: These Top-Rated Wireless Earbuds Are Only $65

It's frustrating to go and listen to music just to find that your wired earbuds more closely resemble a tumbleweed you can't easily unknot. Cords tangle, are vulnerable, and make it hard to do so many of the things music makes easier — like working out, commuting, and cleaning. The Raycon E50 Wireless Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds are completely wireless earbuds that are on sale now for $64.99 — a full 45% off their regular listed price of $119.

How To: You're Searching Your Safari Tabs Wrong — Use This Hidden iPhone Trick to Find Them Faster

I am constantly hitting Apple's limit of 500 open tabs in Safari on my iPhone, so it's safe to say that I have way too many tabs to sort through. With that many tabs open in the browser, it can be impossible to track down the one needed at any given moment. If that sounds like you, stop browsing tab after tab to locate the right one because there are hidden tricks to searching those tabs that make it easy.

How To: Make Excel Work for You with This Training Bundle

Microsoft Excel is one of the most widely used tools in the professional sphere. It's also one that's difficult to master beyond a superficial understanding of how to input data. The All-In-One Microsoft Excel Certification Training Bundle can teach you how to make this multifaceted software into a time-saving utility, and right now, it's on sale for $33.99.

How To: Let This $40 Robot Clean Your Hard Floors for You

Keeping your home clean is an endless battle with time, motivation, and the easy availability of cleaning supplies. That's where the Hard Surface Floor Cleaning Robot Vacuum comes in. This magical device will save you time by automatically keeping your floors clean, never requires motivation, and doesn't require additional supplies beyond occasionally emptying the dust bin.

How To: Master the Adobe Creative Suite for $33

In the creative world, Adobe products have become synonymous with the work you can do using them. Photoshop and Illustrator are staples in visual art, and every other program Adobe offers is similarly adored. However, as beloved as Adobe products are, they can have a steep learning curve, particularly for beginners and for those returning to them after some time away.

How To: Experience the Best of VR Gaming for $99.99

VR gaming has developed rapidly in the last few years, moving from a fantasy to a product you can actually afford. As the VR industry grows, so do the ways you can experience virtual reality. The Dragon VR Gaming 3D Stereo Headset with Bluetooth Controller is the ultimate in VR gaming, offering you top-of-the-line performance for only $99.99 while it's on sale for 50% off.

How To: Browse the Internet Safely for 10 Years with This VPN

There are so many things in place that make browsing the internet difficult. From geographical walls to malicious software and spying — there's a lot to consider any time you do the most basic of functions online. VPN.asia: 10-Year Subscription is a VPN that can streamline your security process and make browsing the web so much easier, and right now, it's on sale for just $79.99.

How To: Turn Your Contacts into Apps on Your iPhone's Home Screen

When iOS 14 was released, the "Favorites" widget, which provided quick access to your most-used contacts, was nowhere to be seen. There's a workaround that brings it back via the Shortcuts app, but the original Favorites widget was better all around. For those of you looking for something better, try turning all your favorite and most-used contacts into apps on your home screen.

How To: Learn the Most Used Coding Languages for $30

Learning to code is difficult, but the potential of a little expertise in a few programming languages grants you is worth the effort. Learning to code won't just put you on one career path; many fields, from game design to data science, use coding languages. The All-in-One Coding Skills Bundle can be your start toward mastery of some of the most useful coding languages around for $29.99.