Gadget Hacks Features
News: Set Rotating Wallpapers of Flickr Images, Instagrams, Tumblr Pics, & More for Your Android Device
Last week, we covered a new, open-source live wallpaper (LWP) called Muzei, and less than a week later we have no less than twenty beautiful add-on extensions to the app.
How To: Make a USB crystal ball light
Make a crystal LED light from the chemicals in a cold compress that runs on USB power.
How To: Run a Full Version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on Your Windows PC
Being able to run mobile apps on a computer is nothing new. Maybe you don't have a mobile device, or maybe you just like seeing the apps on a larger screen. Whatever the reason, with programs like Bluestacks, you can use your laptop to Instagram, play Angry Birds, and run countless other apps made for smartphones.
How To: Hack together a Star Wars light saber
Systm presents this detailed tutorial on how to make a custom Star Wars style light saber. Luke, Darth and Obi-Wan's Lightsabers were pieced out of junk piles. David shows you how to build exact replicas and an original design from The Custom Saber Shop. Then he picks a fight with Patrick.
How To: Send, receive and read SMS text messages on a Verizon Salute cell phone
In this clip, you'll learn how to use the SMS and MMS text messaging features on a Verizon Wireless Salute. For more information, including a complete demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started messaging on your own Salute, watch this helpful video guide.
How To: Use the home button shortcut on an Apple iPhone 3G/4G
Want to quickly get back to the primary (or home) menu on your Apple iPhone? With the Home button, it's a cinch. Whether you're the proud owner of an Apple iPhone 3G or perhaps just considering picking one up second hand, you're sure to benefit from this free video tutorial. For more information, including a detailed overview, watch this iPhone user's guide.
News: Xposed Installer Gets New Features & UI in Massive Update
Over the weekend, rovo89 and the guys behind the wildly-popular Xposed Framework released a huge update. Leaving practically no UI element untouched, this new version brings a lot of polish and functionality to the revolutionary root softModding tool.
How To: Prevent Your Nexus 5 Addiction from Keeping You Awake at Night
Did you know that using your Nexus 5 can deprive you of sleep—and not just because you can't seem to quit playing that addicting game or watching Netflix videos?
How To: Use Circle Hack to Organize Your Facebook Friend Lists à la Google+ Circles
There's a lot of talk going around about Google's new social network and how it's heavily influenced by Facebook, but truth be told, how could they build Google+ without taking a note
How To: Set up Exchange email on your iPhone
Watch this tutorial video to learn how to get your work e-mail on your iPhone using the latest firmware upgrade. New iPhone users will find this how-to video particularly helpful because it shows an easy way to set up Exchange email on Apple's iPhone.
How To: Trick Out Your Nexus 7's Lock Screen with a Custom Lockring Icon
If you're as bad at locking your Nexus up as I am, you have the "slide" option set for your screen lock. It may not be the most secure option, but it's definitely the easiest way to unlock your device while being able to utilize lock screen widgets.
How To: Add Custom Replies for Messages on Your Apple Watch
The display on the Apple Watch is way too small to even attempt typing on it, which is why the Messages app only allows for responses using default replies or by speaking a message. But you won't always be able to speak a message, and often the default replies will be too generic to want to use.
How To: Launch Any Music App When You Connect Headphones to Your LG on Android 10
For audiophiles, few smartphones come close to LG flagship devices. With either the latest G series or V series phone, you can be sure you're getting the best audio experience of any smartphone thanks to Quad DACs and headphone jacks. And with some tinkering, you can make this experience even better.
News: The Pixel 3 Still Has a Circular Polarizer
The Pixel 2 XL had what Google called a circular polarizer to ensure the screen would be visible from any orientation while wearing polarized sunglasses. They made a pretty big deal out of it at their 2017 event, but in 2018, there was no mention of whether or not this feature would return in the Pixel 3. It did.
Hands-On: Hands-On with the Nreal Light, Smartphone-Powered Augmented Reality Immersion
While Microsoft dominated the augmented reality news at this year's Mobile World Congress, a small AR startup we've covered in the past arrived in Barcelona, Spain, to unveil the next phase of its mission.
How To: Share Songs from Any Music Service on Your iPhone to Anyone Using Craaave for iOS
When I stumble upon a new song that I'm really into, I don't just listen to it repeatedly—I share it with family and friends that I think might enjoy it just as much as I do. Now, thanks to a new iOS app called Craaave, sharing those tunes are a cinch, no matter if I'm using Spotify, SoundCloud, or any other music streaming app on my iPhone.
How To: Pin Apps to the Carousel on the Amazon Fire Phone
The latest software update to the Amazon Fire Phone packed a lot of new and enhanced features, one of which makes the Carousel (a favorite feature of mine) much more useful.
How To: Assemble a CNC machine router kit
A CNC router machine is probably the most useful tool a hobbyist can own, but the price for a CNC machine on the market is way more than the average hobbyist is willing to spend. You can build your own CNC with very basic tools, little knowledge of machinery, mechanics, or electronics, but be warned, these machines are inherently dangerous, so wear the proper protection and use common sense. At the very least, read the instructions and precautions on every tool you use.
How To: Cut Text on Your iPhone with a Simple Gesture
Why is it that "cut" is such an underappreciated edit function? It copies and deletes text, what more could you ask for? Well, how about a more efficient way to do so? With iOS 13, Apple introduced a suite of new gestures and swipes to edit text easier on iPhone. It just so happens cutting text gets its own gesture as well.
How To: Calibrate the LG KU990 Viewty cell phone touchscreen
With the LG KU990 Viewty, you can take and view a crystal clear photo. Packed with high-quality camera features, this camera phone enables you to capture a high-definition image using a 5 MP camera lens certified by Schneider-Kreuznach and edit your photo on a large, clear, 3-inch display just like a professional photographer.
News: DIY Laser Tripwire System That Tweets Whenever Sharks Swim Past
If you've ever wished you could keep tabs on the fish in your aquarium, Justin of Antipasto Hardware Blog has just the mod for you! He created this DIY "shark detector" that sends out a tweet whenever Bruce the shark breaches a perimeter that he set up in the tank.
How To: Use These 420-Friendly Apps to Be a Better Stoner
Pot, weed, bud, herb – whatever you want to call it, the green earthy treat makes everything way more fun. Now that marijuana is legal to some extent in more than half of all US states, we thought it was high time to showcase some apps that enhance your experience with the controversial pastime known as rolling up.
How To: how to make a catapult out of office supplies
Bored at work or school? In the middle of waging a cubicle war, and need to up your arsenal? Just like making catapults? This video shows you how you can make a basic catapult out of an assortment of office supplies. To make your catapult, you will need a ball point pen, a large binder clip, a few rubber bands... and, of course the ammo! Crumpled up pieces of paper or Post It notes work very well as ammo.
How To: How Do I Delete My Facebook Account!? Well, Maybe You Don't Need To...
Good news. Facebook has finally listened. After severe criticism for ignoring the world's privacy norms, Facebook will finally release simplistic, user-friendly privacy settings soon.
How To: Add Native Clipboard Support to Your Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Think of all the times you've ever copied and pasted a string of text on your device. At least once, I bet you've wanted to see your copy history.
How To: Solder a pair of headphones
Find yourself faced with a dead channel on your headphones? Before them out, you might take the opportunity to see what you can learn from trying to fix them yourself with a soldering iron. The repair can often be straightforward. For detailed step-by-step instructions on resoldering a broken connection on your own cans, watch this headphone repair tutorial. Take a look.
How To: Use a BlackBerry Curve 8330 cell phone
Some cell phones have so many functions, they're almost more like mini-computers and can thus, be somewhat tricky to use. This instructional video slide show explains the different functions and features on a BlackBerry Curve 8330 mobile phone. Click around this tutorial and learn how to optimize your experience with the handy BlackBerry Curve 8330. Use a BlackBerry Curve 8330 cell phone.
How To: Stop Others from Adding You to WhatsApp Groups You Don't Want to Join
Thanks to its encrypted messaging, WhatsApp can be a platform for secure communication with friends and family. One drawback, however, is that the app would let anyone add you to a group chat, regardless of if you approved it or not. This lack of control over your own account is over, as WhatsApp now lets you decide who can add you to a group chat.
Space-Saving Tip: Stream Your Music Collection from Dropbox or Google Drive on Your Nexus 7
There is no SD card support on the Nexus 7, so managing internal storage can be tricky. There are ways to free up space, but the biggest space hog on my tablet is music, and that's not something I'm willing to delete just yet.
How To: Use an email address to find someone on Facebook
Want to find a friend on Facebook? Have their email address? Whether you're completely new to the Facebook's popular social networking site or simply require a small amount of clarification on how to perform a particular task on Facebook, you're sure to benefit from this helpful video guide. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to use Facebook's handy email search feature, take a look.
How To: Check Which Apps Have Access to Your Google Fit Data
There's definitely some malware-ridden apps on the Play Store. When it comes to the third-party apps you've connected to your Google Fit account, some have a crazy amount of permissions they have no business accessing. For example, you probably don't want a heart monitor app having access to your personal location data.
How To: New to Android? Here's How to Get Started & Get the Most Out of Your Device
Whether you're just getting your first Android, or are already on your fifth annual cycle of picking up the latest flagship, there is always the question of what to do after booting up your device for the first time.
How To: Modify a solar yard light into electronic crickets
Create a nighttime chorus of insect sounds by modifying a solar yard light! You'll need some components, and the circuit board is not for the timid. It's pretty complicated with resistors, capacitors, thermistors, amplifiers, and some transformers. If you can manage all of this soldering work, then you will have one hell of a cricket show!
How To: Send a text message to a landline from your cell phone
Send a text message to a landline? You can! If you're on a Verizon or Sprint network, you can write the text message and include the landline number. This will convert your text to a voicemail, and ask for approval before sending.
How To: Unlock a computer at school
A tutorial showing 2 ways to get CMD and REGEDIT on a blocked school computer. Unlock a computer at school.
How To: Hack a PlayStation monitor into a digital television
Hack a PlayStation monitor into a digital television! Get that old PS1 out of the closet and dust it off, because the switch to digital television is coming soon, and you need a DTV, so why not put that PlayStation One to use? You can build a digital television from a new set top digital converter box and that PSone video monitor, plain and simple. It's easy! Don't forget that forty dollar coupon though from the government for the purchase of the digital converter box.
How To: Enable Dark Mode in Outlook's Mobile App
Microsoft is catching up by adding the revered dark mode feature to its suite of apps. The biggest name to get this treatment is Outlook, and it looks great. Dark mode is slowly rolling out, meaning only some people have it right now. So it's time to check and see if you have dark mode on Outlook.
How To: Edit Videos on Your Smartphone Automatically Using Adobe Premiere Clip
Are you interested in video editing, but have no background in it? Are you looking to put together a short from some clips you've shot, but don't know where to start? You could use iMovie, an application that comes free with every iPhone, but then what would you do on Android? There must be a universal solution that works across both iOS and Android to let you work however and wherever you like.
How To: Make a free iPhone paper clip stand
Want to watch Hulu on your iPhone? Maybe Netflix on your iPod Touch? YouTube videos? The best way to watch these hits is with a brand new… and FREE… paperclip iPhone stand.
How To: Install a cross dowel to adjoin wood for a CNC router
A CNC router machine is probably the most useful tool a hobbyist can own, but the price for a CNC machine on the market is way more than the average hobbyist is willing to spend. You can build your own CNC with very basic tools, little knowledge of machinery, mechanics, or electronics, but be warned, these machines are inherently dangerous, so wear the proper protection and use common sense. At the very least, read the instructions and precautions on every tool you use.