Gadget Hacks Features
News: New Uber Update Lets You Travel to a Friend & Use Custom Snapchat Filters
Uber has recently been updating their app on a weekly basis to ensure that users have the smoothest travel experience possible. The entire UI was recently redesigned to increase user-friendliness, the total app size was reduced to improve performance, and an intelligent shortcuts feature was added which tries to guess your next destination.
News: This Accessory Lets You Control Almost Any VR Headset with Gestures
The Oculus Rift's virtual experiences become a little less immersive when you're barely moving in a chair with a headset on, playing on a gamepad—but you don't have to accept that reality anymore.
News: Give the Gift of AR This Holiday Season with These 12 Newbie-Friendly Ideas
If you're a regular reader of Next Reality, you're more likely to spread the joy of augmented reality than most others. But it can be difficult to introduce newbies into the AR fold if you don't give them exactly the right starting point in terms ease-of-use and affordability. But fear not, oh gift-giving AR pioneer, we're here to help!
News: Lionsgate Goes Deep into AR & VR Ads for New 'Saw' Movie 'Jigsaw'
With a new installment of the Saw horror series opening in theaters nationwide this weekend, Lionsgate is betting its ad dollars on immersive advertising to sell tickets.
How To: Install Moodle on your server with a web browser
Interested in teaching an online course using your own server but can't quite figure out how to install everything you'll need? This video demonstrates how to install Moodle, the free, open source course management utility, to your server via the Webmin interface. For step-by-step instructions, take a look.
News: Google Is Promoting Adware as One of the 'Best Apps of 2017'
Just yesterday, Google announced that it is banning all apps that contain any form of lock screen ads. Today, they posted a list of the Best Apps of 2017 for the Play Store. Given the new policy of cracking down on apps with advertisements on the lock screen, you wouldn't expect to see one of those in the list of top apps. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened — Google is promoting obvious adware in their list of best apps.
PSA: iOS 10.3 Update May Have Re-Activated Disabled iCloud Features on Your iPhone
While there are many good reasons to update to Apple's newest mobile software, a bug has made it to where you may want to double-check your iCloud settings after doing so.
How To: Set a lock-screen security pattern on an LG Droid Ally smartphone
In this clip, you'll learn how to quickly set a security pattern on an LG Droid Ally Google Android smartphone. For more information, including a complete demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started setting up your own security secreen, watch this helpful video guide.
How To: Use ShapeWriter for fast texting on your Android phone
In this tutorial, learn how to use the ShapeWriter app on your Android phone to increase the speed of your typing. ShapeWriter is similar to Swype and allows you to text and e-mail without ever taking your hand off the keyboard. Start texting at the speed of light with this cool app and this helpful tutorial from the pros at Shapewriter.
Instagram 101: How to Natively Regram Other Posts on Your Feed Without Leaving the App
You can retweet on Twitter, and you can reblog on Tumblr, but you cannot regram on Instagram. Until now, that is. For years, third-party apps have made it their business to help Instagram users share content from other users. With some new developments, Instagram looks to render those apps obsolete by adding a native regram button to the official Instagram application.
News: Facebook & Ray-Ban Stories Smartglasses, Details on the Specs, Colors, Prices, Software, and Availability
Just hours after an early leak via Twitter, Facebook and Ray-Ban have officially released their new wearable collaboration.
Hands-On: Hands-On with CNN's Magic Leap News Video App
Magic Leap has done a great job of aggressively releasing new apps, software updates, and major franchise tie-ins. But aside from all the creative and entertainment apps, what's it like to use one of the apps the company hopes you'll use every day?
How To: Work with multiple calendars in MobileMe Calendar
If you work with MobileMe Calendar, you can create individual calendars to help you keep track of what's going on in your life. Let's say you've just started a new book club and you want to create a new calendar for it: just click on the plus sign in the lower-left corner, then click "New Calendar"; next, give it a new title such as "Book Club." Now, with your new calendar selected, when you enter the kickoff meeting for Sunday afternoon, that event will be added to the book club calendar. To...
News: Amazon's New Augmented Reality App Highlights Dog Reality Stars from Prime Video Series 'The Pack'
Amazon has joined the ranks of film and TV studios using the power of augmented reality to engage fans looking to go behind passive screen viewing.
News: DAQRI Deploys Smart Helmet for Navy Gunners
Augmented reality headset maker DAQRI has collaborated with the US Navy to outfit the company's Smart Helmet device for use on battleships.
How To: Root an HTC Droid Eris Google Android smartphone with unrEVOked
Root your Droid Eris the easy way with unrEVOked rooting tool! Unlock your mobile phone's hidden potential by running custom ROMs, overclocking it, and even turning it into a wireless hotspot with WiFI tethering. For all of the details, and to get started rooting your own HTC Droid Eris cell phone, take a look.
News: Unity Labs to Bring Tools to Simplify Mixed Reality Development
In a press event this past week at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, Unity Labs, the experimental and forward thinking arm of Unity, announced an upcoming toolset for developers in the augmented, mixed, and virtual reality space called the XR Foundation Toolkit (XRFT).
How To: Firefox 16 Is Vulnerable to Hackers—Here's How to Downgrade to the Safer Firefox 15 Version
The newest update of the Firefox web browser was released yesterday, and whether you were upgraded automatically or manually, Mozilla is advising that you downgrade to Firefox 15.0.1 as soon as possible. Firefox 16 is Mozilla's latest release, and is apparently extremely susceptible to malicious sites hacking their users complete browsing history.
News: Intel Reveals Vaunt Smartglasses, Normal Looking Glasses That Work with iOS & Android Smartphones
Just a week after news leaked out about Intel's 2018 plans for smartglasses, the company revealed what the device looks like and how it works in a new video (bottom of this page) released on Monday.
News: Verizon's $80 'Unlimited' Plan Actually Has Lots of Limits
Verizon launched the $80 unlimited prepaid plan this week and we've found that it actually isn't as limitless as they would have you believe.
News: Niantic Levels the Pokémon GO Playing Field Between iPhone & Android with ARCore Support
Players of Pokémon GO on Android now have a reason to turn on AR mode with the release of AR+ support via ARCore.
News: Snapchat Transports Gucci Fans to Trippy Tropical Island for Holiday Promotion
Baby, it's cold outside, but, with some help from Snapchat augmented reality, Gucci is thawing our wintery hearths with a virtual trip to the tropics.
News: Leap Motion Exec Posts Early Peek at Hand Interaction Project via Meta 2
It's been months since Leap Motion, the hand-tracking interface startup, announced the hiring of Keiichi Matsuda as the VP of design and global creative director based in London. Since then, Matsuda's normally active social media stream has been fairly quiet — until now.
How To: Cross-Network Play Between Xbox & PlayStation Is a Great Idea... But We Deserve More
It was definitely a shocker when Microsoft proposed cross-network play between the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 last month. After all, Microsoft and Sony have been competing for the same user base for more than a decade now, and this new feature might actually decrease console sales as a whole.
News: Merged Notifications Could Make Life Easier for Facebook, Instagram & Messenger Users
Online lives could be made easier now that Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger are testing merged app notifications. 'Could' being the operative word!
How To: Use a proxy to get on YouTube when at school
Circumvent your school's Internet filter with a proxy. This hacker's how-to will show you how it's done. For all of the details, and to get started learning how to acess YouTube and other blocked sites like Facebook when on a computer at your own school, take a look.
How To: Fix MMS picture messaging and FaceTime video chat on a jailbroken iPhone 4
Some users are experiencing difficulties using the MSS picture messaging and FaceTime voice chat features on their jailbroken iPhone 4. This tutorial shows you an easy fix after jailbreaking your phone - all you need to do is go into Cydia and upgrade all packages in order to regain your features.
How To: There's a Faster Way to Check for System Updates on Your OnePlus
We all know Android updates have been iffy in the past. But Google has implemented several measures recently that have sped up the process substantially, and OnePlus is taking advantage of these. Still, a staged rollout update might keep you waiting for a few days or longer. So if you'd rather skip the wait, there's a better way to manually check for system updates.
News: Lenovo Mirage Star Wars AR App Gets 'Last Jedi' Update, Including Porgs & New Lightsaber Duel
Although The Last Jedi hype has mostly passed, there are still a good number of fans out there dueling Sith lords in augmented reality via their new Lenovo Mirage headsets. Now, thanks to an update on Thursday, those aspiring Jedi have a new AR challenge to engage in the Star Wars: Jedi Challenges app.
How To: Manage all your keyboard shortcuts in Windows
If you're computer savvy, you might already have shortcuts on your keyboard for all your favorite programs. This episode of Tekzilla will show you how to get an application called ShortcutMan which will help you manage your keyboard shortcuts.
News: Magic Leap One Passes Through FCC Certification, Setting the Stage for Imminent Release
The rite of passage for every tech product, formally known as Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification, has come for the Magic Leap One: Creator Edition.
How To: Set up a Tumblr blog
In this tutorial, we learn how to set up a Tumblr blog. First, log onto the Tumblr website by clicking the sign up button. Enter your email address, a password, and the URL you want your Tumblr website to be at. After this, click the sign up button. Now, you will be brought to a welcome page and start changing your settings. Click on customize, then add a title, description, and upload a picture. You can also click on the theme, colors, and feeds tab to change more preferences. When you are f...
How To: Use the Cmd prompt to view MySpace at school
This how-to video is about how to use command prompt to view the blocked websites at school. This step by step instruction will help one to open the blocked websites at school.
How To: Trouble Staying Focused at the Gym? Here Are 4 Ways Your Phone Can Help You Get Locked In
New year, new me. You finally committed to working on the best physical you by going to the gym multiple days a week. Except about an hour in, you start getting really tired of it all. Before you run to the exit, pick up your phone.
Hands-On: Kopin's Golden-i Infinity Is What Google Glass Was Supposed to Be, But Comes at a Cheaper Price
If you cover a particular area in tech long enough, you develop certain pet peeves, and one of mine happens to be devices that attempt to keep us wed to the Google Glass style of augmented reality. And while I remain mostly uninterested in such devices, one of these products recently earned my admiration and might work for you, too, under the right circumstances. It's called the Golden-i Infinity.
Market Reality: Apple's AR Toolkit Is Slowly Catching on While Google & Snap Invest in More AR Development Tools
The business of enabling the development of augmented reality experiences appears to be as lucrative as AR app development itself.
How To: Is Your Device Ready for Android Wear? Here's How to Find Out
One of the main talking points at the Google I/O was Android Wear, an there are actually two smartwatches already available, the LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live. While these watches are very reasonably priced, you'll want to make sure your phone can work with them prior to making an investment.
How To: Replace the SIM card in a BlackBerry smartphone
Looking for a quick guide on how to swap out the internal sim card in your BlackBerry phone? This clip will show you how it's done. Whether you're the proud owner of a BlackBerry smartphone or are merely considering picking one up, you're sure to be well served by this video guide. For detailed information, including step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Get Your FIFA Fix & Play Kings of Soccer on Your iPhone Right Now
Kings of Soccer recently soft launched in the Netherlands and a few other countries, garnering positive reviews from the mobile gamers who've experienced it. With the 2018 FIFA World Cup now in full swing, we wanted to let you in on a little secret: You can play Kings of Soccer right now ahead of everyone else, regardless of where you live.
News: Brenda Freeman Leaves Behind TV & Film to Join Magic Leap as CMO
Today, December 7, it was officially announced that Magic Leap has found their replacement for the recently departed Brian Wallace. Magic Leap CEO Rony Abovitz has tapped Brenda Freeman, former EVP and Chief Marketing Officer of National Geographic Channel, as their new Chief Marketing Officer.