Gadget Hacks Features

How To: Block websites on Windows Vista

In this tutorial, we learn how to block websites on Windows Vista. First, you will right click on the notepad and then run as admin. From here, you will click "file open". Then, go to the C drive and open up windows. Then, you will go to the system and find the drivers, then click on the host file. From here, go to the second local host and press enter twice. Then, type in "127.0.0.1" and press tab. Then insert all the directories that you want to block. From here, you will be finished blocki...

How To: Use the Remote Desktop on iPhone & iPod Touch

Remote desktop is a tool that can be used to access you computer from another device over a network. You can also connect to a remote desktop on Iphone or Ipod touch. Note that you will need EDGE and 3G for this to work. The files you need to connect are Mocha VNC Lite, and the desktop application Real VNC free edition 4.1. One is used on your computer and the other is used on your device. First launch you application store on your Iphone. Search for Mocha and open the Mocha VNC lite. Open th...

How To: Make a phone call with the Nokia N97

In this video we learn how to make a phone call with the Nokia N97. First, go to the main screen on your phone, then tap the dialer icon. From here, you will see a keypad with numbers on it. Enter in the phone number that you want to call, then press on the call key. The phone will then start dialing the number you chose. To hang up, press the end key. You can also call out from the contacts menu, by simply selecting the person you want to call, then pressing the call icon on your phone and u...

How To: Take Perfectly-Framed Photos Every Time on Android

At the end of an all-day affair with friends or family, I'll unwind and go through all the pictures I took that day as a sort of recap. All too often, though, I'll come across a few that are almost perfect, except I didn't quite position my phone well enough, leaving someone's face cutoff or too much space to one side of the image. It's a fail of a basic and crucial tenet of photography—framing.

How To: Upload HTML files without a FTP client

In this tutorial, we learn how to upload HTML files without a FTP client. First, go to your HTML files and name the home page "index". Next, go to Zymic and sign up with the website. Next, go to your account management, then click "create new web host account". You will now enter in your website, then login. Now, you will click on file manager and click "upload files". Browse to find your index page and anything else you want to upload. When finished, copy your URL, then test it out to see if...

News: Almost a Year Later, Android Oreo Is Still on Less Than 1% of Phones

The first developer preview build of Android P (Android 9.0) is right around the corner, but less than 1% of Android phones are running Oreo. The fragmentation on Android (the number of devices on different versions of the operating system) is staggering, and a problem that has plagued the operating system since it first debuted in 2008 — despite Google's best efforts to fix it.

How To: Take notes on a Google Android smartphone

Want to take notes on your Android cell phone? This brief video tutorial from the folks at Butterscotch will teach you everything you need to know. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started creating, storing and sharing digital notes on your own Android phone, take a look.

How To: How Much Time Do You Spend Indoors and Outdoors? Find Out with This DIY Arduino Tracking Device!

How much time do you spend outside, as opposed to inside? Whether it's because you're working, studying or just have a bunch of errands to run, it may seem like the majority of your day is spent indoors. Ever wondered exactly how much time you spend indoors and outdoors? Now you can, thanks to this DIY Arduino-powered tracking device by Instructables user Gramsky.

News: Instagram Brings iPhone's 3D Touch to Android

I had the chance to play around with an iPhone 6s this past weekend, and I have to say, I found the new 3D Touch feature to be pretty intriguing. It's still only partially implemented, but when it does work, it works quite well—you simply press a bit harder on certain elements like image thumbnails, then instead of opening in a full-fledged view, you'll see a pop-up preview that fades away as soon as you let go of the screen.

News: Signal, Snowden's Favorite Secure-Messenger App, Is Now on Your Desktop

Encryption is on everyone's mind these days, from the FBI's battles in court with Apple to WhatsApp's recent announcement of end-to-end encryption for their one billion users. Now you can add Signal, whistleblower Edward Snowden's favorite messaging app, back to that whirlwind discussion. Created by Open Whisper Systems, Signal is an encrypted messenger app that allows you to send text, images, video, and audio messages without the fear of prying eyes. They already have an Android and iOS app...

How To: Jailbreak iPhone 3G or iPod Touch 2G iOS4 with redsn0w

Jailbreaking any one of the i-family Apple products, be it the iPhone, iPod, or iPad, is a great way to expand their lamentably limited capabilities. If you were wondering if you could still do it on a unit with iOS4, the answer is you can! And this video will show you how to do it if you have an iPhone 3G or iPod Touch 2G by using a software program called redsn0w 0.9.5. If all goes well this should be quick, easy, and have you well on your way to enjoying all that your iDevice can offer.

How To: Connect the x and y-axis motor wires 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.

How To: Plug the data cable into the Samsung Galaxy Tab

Okay, so you might not need a how-to for this one, but nonetheless, just in case, here you go— plugging in the data cable to your Samsung Galaxy Tab. It's basically the same way you plug in all mobile devices these days, and it's just like any other Android tablet, so you should be able to do it with little difficulty. Just don't force it in, or you risk damaging it and your device.

Dev Report: Some Light Shed on Magic Leap's Persistent Object Locations Solution but Many Mysteries Remain

With the reveal of Magic Leap's developer documentation last week, many questions have been answered—and several new ones have been raised as well. But since the Magic Leap One (ML1) isn't simply called the "Leap One," these are questions that the company probably has no interest (at least for now) in answering. Understandably, Magic Leap wants to keep some of the "magic" under wraps.

How To: Enable Dark Mode on Overcast for iPhone

We all listen to podcasts differently — on the way to work, at the gym, when drifting off to sleep. If you're in the latter group and rely on Overcast to help you with your nightly routine, you're probably sick of its blinding light theme keeping you up. That's why the app features a dark mode, to keep things easy on the eyes while picking out or playing an episode.