Gadget Hacks Features
How To: Shorten URLs and hide your email address
In this tutorial, Gary Rosenzweig of MacMost.com takes a look at two tiny, but nevertheless very useful, Web services. The first, tinyurl.com, will take a long Web address and shorten it to make it easier to send in email. The second, http://tinymail.me, will hide your email address. For more information consult this great how-to.
How To: Shazam for Mac Makes Collecting New Songs Easy
Shazam has ushered in an age where any song we like, but don't recognize, can be almost instantly identified. While the whole process is easy enough—just pull out your phone and hit a button—there are still moments where we might miss those quick and fleeting tunes.
News: Niantic's Ingress Roots Get a Reboot with the Real World Platform
Ingress, the godfather of location based-AR games developed by Pokémon GO creator Niantic Labs, is getting a new lease on life via Ingress Prime, a reboot of the game built on the Niantic Real World Platform.
News: Audi Drives into AR Ahead of SpaceX Moon Landing Mission
Amazingly, SpaceX founder Elon Musk just launched a Tesla into space, bound for Mars. But just because you're not a billionaire with drone rockets at your disposal, that doesn't mean you can't participate in the automobile-infused future of space here on Earth.
How To: Use the Near-Field Communication (NFC) feature on an Android 2.3 Nexus S
In this clip, we learn how to use the NFC feature on an Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)-equipped Google Nexus S smartphone. For the details, and to get started learning about NFC for yourself, watch this Android owner's guide!
How To: Watch Apple's WWDC 2018 Keynote for the New iOS, ARKit & Apple Watch Reveals
The next big event Apple is holding is WWDC 2018, its Worldwide Developers Conference, is about to happen. If you want to see the first glimpse of iOS 12 for yourself, as well ARKit improvements, Apple Watch news, and maybe even some macOS announcements, here's how you can tune into the event right at home from your computer or mobile device.
How To: Translate webpages with Google Toolbar
This video will show you how to translate webpages using Google Toolbar. To quickly translate a web page using Google Toolbar, simply do the following: Click on the 'Translate' button in the toolbar. Select the language into which you wish to translate the page, and it will be translated within seconds. If you want to go back to viewing the page in its original language, simply click on 'Show Original'.
News: Snap Teams with Sotheby's to Launch Historic AR Lens Hailing the Art of Christo & the Arc De Triomphe in Paris
One of the most iconic architectural landmarks on the planet, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, will become a part of augmented reality history thanks to a new project from Snap.
How To: Download & Run the Latest Developer Build of Mac OS X for Free
Apple has announced the release of their OS X Beta Seed Program today, which allows anyone with an Apple ID and a Mac to download and run the latest developer build of Mac OS X 10.9.3—the most updated beta version of Mavericks. The OS X Beta Seed Program allows us to run software that was once only available to limited test audiences or registered Apple developers—with the latter costing $99 a year for a membership. With this program, not only do we get our hands on extremely new software, bu...
News: Adobe Integrates with HoloLens for Personalized Marketing
At Adobe Summit 2017 this week, Adobe announced they are looking to occupy a new space in the market by combining their analytic capabilities with augmented reality. Teaming up with Microsoft, the company has combined Adobe Sensei software with the HoloLens, reports GeekWire. Together, the tech and software create a new tool for retailers to track their consumers' habits.
News: Apple Working with Valve on AR Smartglasses, Report Says
Rumors are what Apple dreams are made, so most of the time it's best to ignore the juicy ones -- but some Apple rumors demand a least a little attention.
News: Big Changes in Apple Music Will Fix Some Annoyances (But Not All)
Apple is planning to completely overhaul its Apple Music streaming service this summer, and is expected to unveil the changes at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, according to reports from Bloomberg and 9to5Mac.
How To: Multi-task on a LG KU990 Viewty cell phone
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.
How To: Install Joomla CMS 1.0.13 on Windows 2003 with IIS
If you have been looking for a way to get the popular Joomla Content Management system running on Windows with IIS, you may have run into many problems. In fact, many people spend days trying to get Joomla running on IIS and run into roadblock after roadblock. The problem is getting PHP, MySQL, Joomla and IIS to all play nicely together. As you search for solutions, it is easy to find part of the answer, but rarely do you find it all in one place... until now. In this video tutorial we start ...
How To: Order Food Directly from Google Search on Android & iOS
Google constantly adds useful little features to stay on top of the search engine heap. Recently, we've seen them add "Find my phone" functionality, as well as the ability to set alarms and send directions to your Android phone or tablet.
Hands-On: This Is How Magic Leap's Voice Control Works via the New Lumin OS Update
This week's Magic Leap Lumin OS update contained a number of goodies, including iris authentication, and a way to stream to Twitch from the device.
News: No, Bose, Those Aren't AR Glasses You're Hyping, but Nice Try
On Friday, audio giant Bose emerged as the latest, and perhaps the most surprising company to announce that it's planning to release augmented reality smartglasses.
How To: Personalize Google Search with a custom background image
Want to know how to customize Google Search with a personal image? Let this video be your guide. It's easy and this clip presents a complete, step-by-step overview of the process. For more information, including detailed instructions, and to get started using a custom background on Google yourself, take a look.
How To: Use Home screen and Home button on an Apple iPhone
In this clip, you'll see how to navigate and use the Home screen and button on any Apple iPhone, including, of course, the 4G. Whether you're the proud owner of an Apple iPhone or perhaps just considering picking one up, you're sure to benefit from this free video tutorial. For more information, including a detailed overview, watch this iPhone user's guide.
News: DIY Digital Combination Clock
Ever wondered how a digital combination lock works? Instructables member Nino123 is kind enough to demonstrate the inner workings, with a step-by-step HowTo on building your own.
News: Insomniac Games Releases Seedling — the First Paid Augmented Reality Game for Magic Leap One
One the leading game developers for the PlayStation 4 and Oculus Rift platforms, Insomniac Games, is finally releasing its first major augmented reality title: Seedling for the Magic Leap One.
How To: Read a binary clock
Check out this video on how to read a binary clock, courtesy of glassgiant. The current binary clock comes in both java and flash. So, check out this tutorial on how to actually tell time with a binary clock, because we all know it is quite confusing. Some people even have trouble with analog clocks, yikes!
News: Bob Iger Says AR, Not VR, Is the Way of the Future for Disney Parks
Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger has out and out rejected Virtual Reality (VR) as a component of any Disney Theme park. While Knott's Berry Farm, why-hasn't-this-chain-shut-down-yet Sea World (seriously, RIP Tillikum), and Six Flags have all invested in VR to help spice up their parks in this theme park depression period, Iger has "ordered his team not to even think about it." Iger instead is very much onboard the Augmented Reality (AR) train.
How To: Solder to a metal strap
This is an instructional video featuring Doug Prime, founder of the Future Engineers Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. If you want to make a homemade switch watch this video on using solder to tie the wire. Use sandpaper to clean where you will solder.
How To: Build simple motor
This video shows how to build a simple motor using a battery, magnet, a screw, and some wire. This is a fun project for children. Build simple motor.
News: The New Nokia 6.1 Is a Solid Upgrade to One of Last Year's Most Durable Budget Phones
HMD (the company currently making Nokia-branded phones) only released one flagship device last year, with the rest of the phones falling in the mid-range and entry-level tiers. However, at Mobile World Congress 2018, HMD announced their ambition to become a top five smartphone maker in 3–5 years. Meeting this goal will require penetration in all markets — especially the United States — and it looks like Nokia will get the ball rolling early this year.
News: Apple's iOS 14 Developer Beta 6 for iPhone Contains Spatial Audio & Fixes for Files, Widgets, Automations, Mail & More
At first, Apple's six developer beta for iOS 14 isn't much to look at, but there wouldn't have been an update if there weren't some important issues to address. Most of the serious updates in build number 18A5357e revolve around SwiftUI, which even has a few new features, and there's a fix to Shortcuts automation that will likely please you if you use those.
News: Here's Your Official Look at the New HTC One M9
Today marked the official unveiling of the HTC One M9 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The newest HTC flagship will be released by the middle of March globally, and come in gold, gunmetal, pink, and silver. And if you were wondering, yes all of the leaks were pretty much spot on.
How To: Enable Google Chrome's side tabs option
If you think you've got to much clutter on the top portion of your web browser, then Google Chrome has the solution. Chrome has an option which allows you to choose something called "side tabs" which moves the tabs for those websites and webpages you have open from the top of the browser to the left side. But how do you get side tabs in Chrome? lifehacker has the answers.
How To: Make the y-axis motor mount 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: 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: Get Custom iPhone Alerts for Shows, Films, Games, Weather, & More with Hooks
While it's not too hard to remember to watch your favorite TV show every week, it's almost impossible to remember to watch all of your favorite shows. Add on to that sports games, live music events, and new film releases and you'll find yourself in a disorganized mess with a lot of missing out.
How To: Make and repair audio cables
In this video series, watch as professional sound engineer Kip Bradford teaches how to make and repair audio cables. Learn the tools needed to repair and make audio cables, learn what kind of solder to use, learn the types of connectors and wires to use, how to solder audio cables, how to remove solder from a solder joint, and how to roll audio cables.
News: Facebook Will Have AR Integrated with Oculus in 10 Years
Facebook announced at its F8 Developer's Conference on April 12th that, in addition to the VR-ready Oculus Rift we have today, it plans to bring Augmented Reality (AR) into the fold of their social machine.
News: Netflix Is Finally Going to Offer High-Quality Streaming on AT&T & Verizon
Netflix has become the subject of heavy buzz this week, and not due to the latest season of Daredevil (which gets two thumbs up, btw). The online video entertainment provider is drawing fire over its admission that it has been throttling video streams for its AT&T and Verizon customers for years.
How To: Breathe New Life into an Older Nexus Device (Without Rooting)
Remember the feeling you had the moment you removed your shiny new Nexus device from its packaging and booted it up for the first time? You swiped through the app drawer at lightning speed and thought to yourself, "This is the last Android phone I will ever need, they just aren't going to get any better than this."
News: Looking Glass Teams with Reggie Watts to Auction Holographic NFT Art, Paving Way for Popularizing AR Art You Can Hold
The moment many of the crypto savvy insiders in augmented reality and VR have been waiting for is here: we're finally getting our first big auction of NFT art that exists purely as a hologram.
News: Google Lens Gets Smarter with Text Selection, Style Recommendations, & Real-Time Search
During Tuesday's keynote at the I/O developer conference, Google unveiled new capabilities for its Lens visual search engine and expanded the availability of the platform in smartphone camera apps.
News: Android App PicshaPass Generates Secure Passwords from Photos
Developers have created many tools for testing the strength of passwords (1, 2); there are also plenty of tips for coming up with a strong password in the first place. But why do the grunt work when an app could generate a perfectly secure one for you?
How To: Upgrade your Droid X to Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread
Check out this video if you want to upgrade your Droid X to the latest version of Android, 2.3.3 also known as Gingerbread. First, download the file and then follow all of the instructions in this video to safely get your Droid X running Gingerbread