Hot Gadget Hacks How-Tos
How To: Use These Tricks to Set Timers Faster on Your iPhone
The native timer feature on your iPhone works well enough that you probably haven't even thought about installing a third-party timer. With just a few taps, you can get a countdown for any amount of time up to 24 hours (or one second shy of 24 hours, to be precise). But as fast as it can be to set a timer from the Clock app, there are even faster ways to start the countdown.
How To: Get Your Favorite Local Business into Pokémon GO
A side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is that small businesses are suffering from forced closures and social distancing, but game developer Niantic has a solution.
How To: Join in the First-Ever Virtual Pokémon GO Fest
With the global COVID-19 pandemic preventing Pokémon GO players from venturing into the real world, developer Niantic has adapted the game for trainers to play in a socially-distanced manner.
How To: Make a Panic Button That Deletes All Your Google History in Seconds
We all know Google keeps a history of everything we do on our phones unless we say otherwise. However, you might not realize just how detailed it is until you check it for yourself — even the actions you do in each app are tracked by default.
How To: Stay Safe with These Essential Social Distancing Tools
Every state has begun reopening in some capacity. While there are important steps for everyone to get back to work and begin socializing, precautions will be in place for some time, especially with an expected second wave coming this fall. The virus is not over.
How To: Should You Install Android 11 Beta? Here Are All the Major Problems
Android 11 is available as a simple beta install for Pixel devices right now. Just visit Google's beta signup page, make sure you're signed in with the same account used on your Pixel, then opt into the program. You'll get an OTA update that will put you on Android 11 in no time. But is it ready to be a daily driver?
How To: Save 50% Off This 57-Piece PPE Bundle for a Limited Time
The rush to secure face masks and hand sanitizers in March left many Americans concerned for their safety. With an expected second wave this fall, consider stocking up on PPE now.
How To: Take the First Step Towards an In-Demand & Lucrative Career in IT for Under $35
Since its founding in 1984, Cisco Systems has been a global leader in information technology. From networking hardware and software to domain security and energy management, the company dominates the IT field.
How To: There's an Easy Way to Turn Off Camera's Night Mode on Your iPhone 11, 11 Pro, or 11 Pro Max
Night mode on the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max is a godsend if you want clearer photographs in dimly lit environments. But if you want to keep the image dark or full of shadows as an effect of sorts, it's not immediately obvious how to disable Night mode, which turns on automatically when the app thinks you need it. But it can be turned off.
How To: There's a Faster Way to Check for System Updates on Your Pixel
Prompt and frequent system updates are a big part of the Pixel's identity — we're even getting quarterly feature drops now. But not all devices receive these all-important updates at the same time because of Google's staged rollout system. If you want the update right away, there's a way to manually check without having to dig around in Settings every time.
How To: Put Android Apps into Picture-in-Picture Mode on Your Chromebook
With each update, Chromebooks are slowly becoming the Android tablet we always wanted. They already run your favorite Android apps and recently added a multitasking feature introduced to Android smartphones a few years ago: picture-in-picture mode.
How To: Learn How to Create Fun PC & Mobile Games for Under $30
The global gaming market is expected to generate $160 billion in 2020. With emerging markets in the Middle East and Africa, the planet's 2.5 billion gamers are always looking for the next great adventure.
How To: Start Managing Your Money & Investments Like a Pro with This Affordable Course Bundle
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit everyone hard. With over 36 million American workers filing unemployment claims, finances are at the front of everyone's mind. Understanding your accounts has never been as important.
How To: Become an SEO Wiz & Increase Your Brand's Exposure for Just $25
SEO is the name of the game. If you want your business or brand to succeed, ranking on the front page of Google is a boon. Getting to the front page of search engines takes work, but it's not impossible when you master SEO best practices.
How To: Learn How to Grow Your Instagram Following for Under $14
Celebrities and influencers learned how to leverage Instagram's platform to build their brands. While some effortlessly amassed a following, many had to do the legwork to reach a vast audience. Understanding their secrets will help you grow your own following.
How To: Turn Your Pixel into a Dead Man's Switch That Texts Your Emergency Contacts if You Don't Arrive in Time
Google's feature drops for Pixel devices have added fun and useful new abilities, such as AR effects for Duo, Call Screen automation, scheduling Dark Mode, and Quick Access Wallet for Google Pay, that are exclusive to the company's line of smartphones.
How To: Show Your Support for Social Causes with AR Lenses from Snapchat, Instagram & More
For the average consumer, augmented reality is a fun way of dressing up photos and videos for social media. However, AR is also gaining momentum as a medium for storytelling, particularly in sharing powerful messages.
How To: Charge Up Anywhere with This Compact Solar Power Generator
As sheltering at home orders ease up, we still have to remain respectful of social distancing. Camping is one of your best options. You'll avoid the crowded beaches and trails while still soaking up nature. Right now we can all use some fresh air and sunshine.
How To: 4 Smartphone Tips to Help You Stay Safe During the Country's Reopening
It is a scary time to be alive. As states start to ease back shelter-in-place restrictions, the new world you're entering is still unsafe. With a vaccine months away, your best bet is to follow CDC guidelines and use the tools at your disposal.
How To: Download HBO Max Movies & TV Shows in the Highest Quality on Your Phone
Whether you're binging "Friends," "Game of Thrones," or Harry Potter movies, if you want to watch HBO Max downloads in the highest quality possible, you can't just use the default settings. Without doing the legwork, the TV shows and films you download onto your iPhone or Android phone will be lower quality than the full HD version you can have.
How To: 5 Major Privacy Concerns with 5G
For all the benefits 5G brings to cellular data, it isn't without weaknesses, the biggest being privacy. Yes, the latest standard comes with breakneck downloads speeds up to 4.3 Gbps, but at what cost? Like with all things on the internet, 5G devices open opportunities for both good and bad actors.
How To: Everything You Should Do Before Posting Protest Photos & Videos on Social Media
As protests surge in the wake of George Floyd's murder by a Minneapolis police officer, powerful photographs and videos from the demonstrations have gripped the world, putting our nation's very real and very justifiable widespread civil unrest out into the digital world. Unfortunately, these pictures could put you or others in danger if precautions aren't taken before uploading them online.
How To: Ensure You Never Lose a File Again for Just $49
You might know the feeling: the sinking stomach that informs you something terrible has happened. You click on your trash bin. Nothing is there. Your hard drive has been wiped clean.
How To: There's a Quick Gesture to Open Hidden Camera Settings on Your iPhone
The camera on models in the iPhone 11 series includes an ultra-wide lens to take wider images, Night mode for taking better-looking photos in low-light environments, and a 16:9 frame for shooting. With these new features comes a slightly redesigned interface in the Camera app, one that even the second-generation iPhone SE received despite only having one of those three features.
How To: Spur Your Child's Interest in STEM with This Discounted Toy
How much screen time is too much for a child? Should you let your children have a smartphone or tablet? What age is appropriate to introduce them to technology?
How To: Everything You Need to Know About 5G — Answers to the Most Common Questions
We are now in the age of 5G. Carriers worldwide are upgrading their networks to the newest standard for mobile, which will dramatically improve your phone experience. How? By giving it download speeds and latency that surpass Wi-Fi. But before you upgrade, there are few things you should know first.
How To: Wipe & Obfuscate Identifying Information in Your Protest Photos for More Anonymous Sharing
Every single photo you take carries with it a considerable amount of seemingly "invisible" yet important information known as metadata. Although metadata is usually helpful to sort your photographs by location and date, that same information could potentially be used against you, especially if the pictures are taken during a precarious situation.
How To: Understand Math Like an Engineer for Under $30
Do you believe you just don't have an intuitive sense of math? Sadly, this is the case for many people. The reality is that math is learned with practice. No one is born with a math gene making them more intuitive than others.
How To: Learn from Leaders Like Elon Musk & Tim Ferriss with Big Think Edge
If you're trying to learn a new skill, you wouldn't want to waste your time learning from someone with sub-par experience. No, you'd want to learn from the very best of the best to ensure you're getting a quality education.
How To: Optimize Your Apple Computer with 1,200 Features for Under $40
Mac users know why they love Apple. Of course, there are limitations. An entire universe of shortcuts is unavailable to the average user.
How To: Change Your HBO Max User Profile Image
Many streaming services offer user profiles for different people in your household, some of which also include profile images. In most cases, you can set a custom profile image to better differentiate and personalize your account from the others, and HBO Max lets you do the same, albeit, with limited options.
How To: The Fastest Way to Share Your Location via Messages on Your iPhone
Apple makes it simple to share your location with your family and friends using tools built into the "info" page for each conversation thread in Messages. With those tools, you can send your current location or share trackable real-time coordinates. But iOS always has a few hidden tricks to make things easier than they seem, and that's precisely the case if all you need to do is share your current location.
How To: Upgrade Your Work-from-Home Setup with These Accessory Deals
Working from home is going to be a reality for more people than ever. With Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey announcing that his employees will be working remotely for an extended period of time (and even permanently, in some cases), the workforce is rapidly changing. More companies are certain to follow suit.
How To: Only Buy a 5G Phone Right Now if You're Okay with These 4 Problems
No doubt, you've heard a lot about 5G lately. This might have you looking at your current 4G phone and lamenting your inability to connect to the faster network. But is 5G worth buying a new phone over, and should you buy one right now?
How To: Watch HBO Max on Your Roku TV Right Now
If you've jumped on board HBO Max to watch more than just HBO's content, such as DC films, Looney Tunes, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, and movies from Warner Bros., there is a downside to HBO's improved service. Namely, you cannot use it on all of your devices yet. The most notable omission is Roku players and TVs. But there are workarounds you can use until an official app comes out.
How To: Learn to Draw Like a Pro for Under $40
Creativity is one of our most unique features. We can dream up gods and demons and give them form through drawing. We can even take a two-dimensional surface and bring our ideas to life in three dimensions. It only takes a little training for our giant imaginations to blossom on the page.
How To: Telegram Has a Fun Way to Jump Back into Group Chats
Although Telegram wasn't able to make our roundup for the best encrypted messaging app, it's my go-to for group messaging thanks to its ever-expanding list of features. The app even makes jumping into group chats fun and easy by allowing you to set a home screen shortcut for your favorite Telegram threads.
How To: Try Out Instagram's Wild New AR Effects That Dance to the Music & Remix Your Photos
While Snapchat had a head start in making augmented camera effects popular on smartphones, Facebook has spent the past few years in hot pursuit, with no less than three apps offering mobile AR experiences, plus its Portal hardware lineup of smart home devices.
How To: HBO Max Subscribes You to Its Newsletter Automatically — Here's How to Opt-Out
HBO Max promises to entertain you with hours upon hours of content, from shows like "Friends" and "Game of Thrones" to movies like "Joker" and all eight Harry Potters. The company wants to keep you in the loop on all things "Max," so it signs you up for a newsletter to do just that. That might not sit well with you, but don't worry — there's a simple way to opt-out right now.
How To: Get Back Your Watch List for HBO Max — Before or After Upgrading from HBO Now or HBO Go
As of May 27, HBO Max is taking over your HBO Now or HBO Go account. If you have your devices set up to auto-install new app updates, you should pause it right now if your HBO app hasn't been updated yet. There's one thing you'll want to do before you make the leap. However, you're not out of luck if you already upgraded.