Gadget Hacks Features
How To: Get the Pixel 4's Leaked Camera App on Older Pixels
XDA recently reported on a leaked version of the upcoming Pixel 4's camera app. By testing the app, they were able to find upcoming Pixel 4 features like a new Night Sight mode that can photograph stars. Well that leaked version has leaked itself, so now you can install it on your own Pixel phone.
News: New Magic Leap Gesture Documentation Offers Insight into How Hands Will Make Its Digital World Come Alive
As the week of the Game Developer's Conference hits the mid-point, we've already had some major announcements hit the AR space. The specific timing of these announcements are thanks in part to a conference within a conference called VRDC, aimed at VR, AR, and MR developers. And while the week is hardly over, the announcement that is still having a big effect on the developer population is the reveal of the Creator Portal for the long-awaited Magic Leap One device.
News: What the Laws on Jailbreaking, Rooting, & Unlocking Mean for You & Why the White House Is on Our Side (Updated)
UPDATE (February 26, 2014) Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1123 with a 295-114 vote decision. The ruling repeals the 2012 Library of Congress (LOC) decision that limited the ability to legally "unlock" your smartphone (see below).
How To: Enable native net tethering on iPhone 3G/3Gs
You can enable native internet tethering on iPhone 3G/3Gs. To do this you need a jailbroken device. So go to Cydia sources and add the SinfuliPhonerepo.com. Now go to it and find the "Enable Tethering for 3G or 3Gs" and install it.
How To: Root a Samsung Galaxy Google Android smartphone
Unlock your Galaxy's hidden potential by rooting it! Rooting your phone will enable you to do fun, against-the-rules things like running custom ROMs. Want to turn your Galaxy into a wireless hotspot with free WiFi tethering? You can do that too.
How To: Get Icy (Cydia) on your iPhone or iPod touch
If you've been using Cydia and you noticed that there's a lot of loading and waiting, check out this video to learn how to install Icy. Icy is very much like Cydia except less loading and waiting. It's much faster and you don't lose any of your sources you've added from Cydia or Installer; they are synced into icy.
Hands-on: DreamGlass Looks Like a Cheaper, More Mobile Meta 2, But This Is What We Really Think After Trying It
Earlier this week, we told you about the new DreamGlass augmented reality headset from Dreamworld, a company started by a former Meta executive. The device looks great, and the features sound good, but is it worth your hard-earned cash? I recently took it for a brief spin to find out.
How To: Pair a phone with a BMW bluetooth kit with navigation
This video shows you how to pair your phone with your BMW bluetooth integration kit in a 3 series with navigation.
How To: Unlock and Jailbreak your iPhone 3.0.1
This video tutorial shows you how to jailbreak and unlock your iPhone 2G, iPhone 3G, and iPhone 3GS on firmware version 3.0.1 with Redsn0w and Ultrasn0w.
How To: Change the language in your Swype texting app
Swyping is no longer limited to English. In this clip, learn how to wave that finger across the keyboard in any language. It is actually quite easy to swap between languages and dialects on your Swype enabled phone. Follow along with this tutorial and you can text at the speed of light in any language you choose!
How To: Etch a printed circuit board using toner transfer
Making a PCB is very simple; it does not consume a lot of time and the results look professional. After watching this step-by-step how-to video, you will be able to make your own PCB in your workshop using just a few inexpensive materials.
How To: Print from your Motorola Droid Bionic using MotoPrint
Motorola's Droid Bionic has several Android apps built into the device that allow you to speed up your workflow. For example, with the MotoPrint app you can print from the Verizon Wireless smartphone to a printer. With it, you can print everything from photos, PDF's, documents, or emails directly from your Bionic.
News: The HoloLens Is Already Teaching Tomorrow's Doctors
The human body is amazingly complex, and seeing inside one poses a variety of challenges whether you're dealing with an actual human or some kind of facsimile. Mixed reality offers the ability to get the best of both worlds by creating a holographic teaching tool for human anatomy.
How To: Share Photos from One iPhone to Another with Just the Sound of a Chirp
There are several ways to send pictures to others on your smartphone—picture message, email, Bluetooth, and even by bumping phones together. Now there's an even more unique way to transfer pictures from one Apple device to another—with sound. Chirp for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch
How To: Hack iPhone jack to support headphones
As any informed PopSci reader will know, the iPhone is definitely a game-changing piece of hardware, but it's not without its problems. Chief among those nagging little imperfections, for me, was the recessed headphone hack that rejected any headphones but Apple's trademark gleaming white buds. Apple's 'phones aren't that bad, but my Shure in-ear pair is better for blocking out noise on the subway (and my Grado SR60s are better for listening at home). Thankfully, an easy solution to this prob...
How To: Ditch Your Doorbell for This Front Door RFID Lock That Lets Whoever You Want In (Whenever You Want)
Hate answering the door, but don't trust your friends with a set of keys? This RFID front door lock made by Steve Pomeroy will solve all your party-hosting problems. It reads the RFID tags in his friends' public transit cards and decides who's allowed in based on "groups" that Steve defines. And I have to say, it's also rather stylish. It's controlled by an Arduino serial console and a custom Android app to add and remove cards. The reader can store 50 or 100 tags at a time and allows 7 diffe...
HoloLens Dev 101: Building a Dynamic User Interface, Part 4 (Creating Objects from Code)
After previously learning how to make the material of an object change with the focus of an object, we will build on that knowledge by adding new objects through code. We will accomplish this by creating our bounding box, which in the end is not actually a box, as you will see.
How To: Glitch or circuit bend a Nintendo gaming console
By circuit bending low voltage electronic devices, you can transform your old unused toys into musical devices or to create visual manipulations. Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to bend an old classic Nintendo. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to circuit bend the NES in such a way that you'll be able to produce cool distortions while in gameplay. Remember to exercise caution when circuit bending.
News: The New Verizon iPhone Dissected
If you're considering getting the new Verizon iPhone, you may want to check out reliable teardown site iFixit. Although the exterior of the new phone may look the same as the old, the interior shows significant differences.
How To: Install Android Q Beta on Any Project Treble Phone
For many, the stock version of Android is often considered the epitome of what the operating system should look and feel like by default. It's clean and clear of unwanted extra apps that come pre-installed with the system, provides a fluid and fast user experience, and runs on just about any device that has an unlocked bootloader to install a custom ROM with the stock version ready to go.
News: L'Oreal Acquires Leading Augmented Reality Makeup Provider ModiFace
The cosmetics industry faced a rude awakening on Friday as beauty behemoth L'Oréal gobbled up ModiFace, one of the leading providers of augmented reality technology to the cosmetics industry (price details for the acquisition were not disclosed).
News: Renault Trucks Tests HoloLens to Visualize Quality Control in Engine Assembly Operations
French manufacturer Renault Trucks is looking to the HoloLens to improve quality control processes with its engine assembly operations.
How To: Build a beeping electronic practical joke
Watch as Kipkay from MAKE Magazine shows you how to make something really cool for the office, with parts from RadioShack. One of the original practical jokes is the gravity activated subwoofer simulator, or better known as the Whoopee Cushion. See how to make a high tech prank... the Joke-A-Tron. This electronic prank device will beep and beep to keep your enemies on their toes.
News: User-Created Facebook & Instagram Face Filters Lead to Ban on 'Plastic Surgery' Effects
Facebook recently hit a snag in its quest to take augmented reality face effects to its millions of users.
How To: Solder the basics
Soldering isn't hard as you might think. This video will cover the basic soldering techniques for electronics and electrical wiring. It presents a comprehensive look at the soldering process, covering everything from choosing a soldering iron and solder to proper soldering technique. Get started soldering with this electronics how-to.
How To: Set Separate Sleep/Wake Volumes on Your Samsung Galaxy S4
When I'm not actively using my Samsung Galaxy S4, I typically crank the volume up all the way so I can hear it in my pocket or if I'm in another room. But when it's in my hands and I'm using it, I don't want the ringer to blast at full volume, or any volume at all. Either I'll see a notification come in, or a quick vibrate will call my attention to any pertinent alerts.
News: Now Anyone Can Order Vuzix M300 Smart Glasses
Vuzix Corporation has lifted the preorder status on its M300 Smart Glasses, making the augmented reality device available for purchase by resellers, registered developers, enterprises, and consumers.
News: Samsung Galaxy S4 Release Dates Leaked for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon
Attention folks—the Samsung Galaxy S4 is coming soon to a cellular provider near you. Though the official release date for the GS4 here in the states has been closely guarded, a recent leak from a Staples store training document has revealed some possible days that the GS4 could land in your hands—and it's not that far away! Here's the rundown, but remember, none of these dates have been confirmed by Samsung or any of the providers.
How To: Create a new photo album on Facebook
Share pictures with your friends by making photo albums on Facebook. This clip will show you how it's done. 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, take a look.
How To: Circumvent an internet proxy or browser filters
Some governments and organizations employ proxy servers to filter web content, permitting access to some web sites while blocking others. Here are several ways to get around these censorship policies. This is employed in China with YouTube and many other voices of anti-goverment ideas.
How To: Create 8-Bit Pixel Art & Animations on Your Samsung Galaxy S3
Give me a paintbrush and easel and you'll be sorely disappointed, but give me a Samsung Galaxy S3 and a new app called Let's 8-Bit Art and you might call me the next Picasso.
How To: Use the TextNow 4.0 App to send unlimited texts on the iPhone
TextNow is a great App for the iPhone that allows you to, for a $1 initial fee, send unlimited text messages to any other TextNow user without using any of the precious limited texts on your AT&T plan. The App is very easy to use, requires only a modest amount of additional money to keep using it forever, and will probably wind up saving you money in the long run by cutting down your monthly billed texts.
News: Google Assistant on iOS Is Absolute Garbage
Google Assistant was just released for iOS today. You may know it as the AI-powered assistant that makes Google Home tick, or perhaps you've heard from one of many review sites about how much better it is than Siri. Well, before you run off to the App Store to install Google Assistant, let me save you some time: It sucks.
How To: Get “Do Not Disturb” on Any Nexus Device
Oddly enough, stock Android does not come with a "do not disturb" function out of the box. Samsung has their own version built into to TouchWiz called "Blocking Mode," and Apple has had their "Do Not Disturb" feature since iOS 6, so why is stock Android so late to the game?
How To: Add Smart Indicators for Battery Temp, Wi-Fi Speeds, & More to Your Galaxy S3's Status Bar
Your status bar is a hub of essential information, displaying things like battery life, signal strength, and missed calls and texts.
How To: Create a cool CD clock out of an old two buck alarm
This will show you how to hack an old two dollar alarm clock and transform it into a cool DVD clock! No, it doesn't play DVD's or CD's, but it still looks cool.
News: Smart Home Proof of Concept Uses a Raspberry Pi to Control Air Conditioner with HoloLens
Empea Berlin, a Germany-based company specializing in augmented, mixed, and virtual reality software, released a Facebook video a few months back showing off their experiments in smart home technology. Using a Raspberry Pi and a HoloLens unit, they were able to make a virtual remote control for an air conditioning unit. The remote is complete with various modes, temperature controls, timers, and other features. There have been no updates on this project since they first showed it off, but hop...
YouTube 101: Is YouTube Red Worth It?
When Google announced YouTube Red — a paid monthly subscription service that disables advertising, among other perks — many of us thought "just use an ad blocker." But it isn't really that simple.
News: Hasbro Makes Marvel Movie Magic Real with Iron Man AR Helmet
Soon, kids young and old aspiring to imitate Iron Man will only need to learn how to duplicate Tony Stark's snarky wit, because Hasbro will now supply the augmented reality helmet.
How To: Get Facebook's Geo-Restricted Snapchat Clone 'Flash' on Any Android Phone
Facebook released a new app in November 2016 that aimed to compete directly with Snapchat, but it was only officially available in Brazil—and still is. The app, called "Flash," is so much like Snapchat that it's not even the slightest bit of a stretch to call it a clone.