Gadget Hacks Features
News: What Augmented Reality Needs to Come of Age
Augmented reality (AR) holds much promise for how we'll interact with technology in the future, but we still have many hurdles to clear before that dream fully comes to fruition.
How To: Remove and Replace a Broken Alfa AP121U (Pineapple) Aerial
For those of you who are as unlucky as me with your Pineapple and need to re-seat or replace the aerial connector this will show you how.
How To: Check your Gmail in a new tab with Google Mail Checker Plus for Chrome
In this tutorial, we learn how to download and install a Chrome extension that will enable you to check your Gmail without losing your present page or pages. It's an easy process and this video presents a complete guide. For more information, including a full demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this helpful home-computing how-to.
How To: Unroot a T-Mobile MyTouch 3G or HTC Magic Google Android smartphone
Unhappy with your rooted T-Mobile MyTouch 3G or HTC Magic Google Android smartphone? Put it back as it was by unrooting it! It's easier than you'd think. So easy, in fact, that this two-minute guide can present a complete overview of the entire process.
News: Excited About the Embedded Touch ID in the iPhone 8? Think Again
The rumor mill surrounding the iPhone 8 is churning this week, and not necessarily in a good way. Yesterday, we learned Apple may be leaving the 3D camera out of the next big iPhone to keep the phone on schedule. Today, rumors allege the 10th-anniversary edition of Apple's smartphone may not ship with Touch ID embedded under its display.
NR50: Welcome to Next Reality's 50 People to Watch in Augmented & Mixed Reality
Those of us that work with or around augmented and mixed reality have seen a powerful shift in the last year as the popularity and interest have grown in the field. With Microsoft's HoloLens release, the popularity of Pokémon GO, and the constant rumor mill known as Magic Leap, the terms augmented reality and mixed reality have started to become a part of the modern vernacular more and more each passing day.
How To: Build a website for free with Weebly
1. On the browser, type www.weebly.com. If you are a new user, then sign up. Write your username, email, password, and click on Sign Up and Start Creating.
How To: Create & edit documents with the Pages app on an iPad
This clip from CNET TV presents an introduction to using the Pages on app on an Apple iPad. Whether you're the proud owner of an Apple iPad 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 iPad user's guide.
How To: Change the wallpaper on your Android device
Make your Android phone your own by customizing the wallpaper. You spend a lot of time looking at the screen of your Android device, so make sure you've got something easy on the eyes there. This video will show you how to set the wallpaper on an Android HTC Thunderbolt.
How To: Beat level 1-18 in Cut the Rope HD for the Apple iPad
Need help figuring out how to beat Theme 1, Level 18 of Rovio's Cut the Rope HD with three stars? See how it's done with this gamer's guide, which presents a complete walkthrough of the process. With the right technique, you'll find it quite easy to beat. For more information, and to get started beating level 1-18 of this whimsical puzzle game won your own iPad, this helpful video guide.
How To: Downgrade the firmware on an HTC Hero before rooting it
If you have a newer-model HTC Hero, you'll need to take an additional step before rooting your phone and that's downgrade its firmware. This hacker's how-to presents a complete, easy-to-follow overview of the process. For all of the details, and to learn how to get your own HTC Hero ready for custom ROMs, take a look.
How To: Make free ringtones for your iPhone 3G without hacking
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to create free custom ringtones for an iPhone 3G. Begin by opening iTunes and select the song that you want as a ringtone. Right-click on the song and select Get Info. Go to the Options tab and make the song last only 40 seconds. Then right-click on the song again and select Convert AAC Version. Now open the file in the iTunes folder and rename the m4a to m4r. Click on Use m4r to confirm and open the file in iTunes. This video will benefit those viewe...
Apple AR: Apple's First Augmented Reality Wearable May Include MicroLED Panels from Taiwan, Report Says
With numerous insider reports, patent awards, acquisitions, and hires over the past few years, augmented reality smartglasses from Apple appear to be an inevitability.
How To: Use the iRadio application on an iPhone
iRadio is the native internet radio application for you iPhone. This video shows you how to use it.
News: Mozilla Wants to Make Firefox Reality Your Web Browser for Augmented & Virtual Reality Headsets
Before Google Chrome entered the scene and subsequently dominated the market, Firefox trailed only Internet Explorer as the most popular web browser. Now, Mozilla has its sights set on a new opportunity to revive its browser for immersive experiences.
News: Snapchat Is Quietly Developing Augmented Reality Glasses
In the wake of Google Glass' failure, we can expect other companies to fill the void in due time. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Snapchat may be one of the first.
How To: Block wireless phone spam
How to block wireless phone spam and stop getting unwanted text messages through Verizon wireless.
News: Know How to Repair iPhones? You Could Make $20,000
Are you looking for a get-rich-quick scheme? Need a way to buy that Tesla you lied about having? Well, I don't know how to get you that. But what I can tell you is there is an emerging market that pays pretty darn well, for work that's more than interesting. I'm talking, of course, about iPhone repairs.
News: 'Create Magic in Seconds' with Lightform's New Computer Made to Project Augmented Reality
Lightform might just be the thing to have at your next party. The San Francisco-based company just created the first computer ever able to connect to a projector and instantly scan 3D scenes to mix reality with projected light.
How To: Keep Tabs on Today's Voting Results for the 2012 Presidential Election
Believe it or not, the 2012 Presidential Election is (finally) almost over. While most of us are breathing a collective sigh of relief (no more political ads!), it still seems like it hasn't been that long since the last election results were announced. This time, though, one of the biggest differences is how people will watch. Since traditional cable is on its way out, and mobile devices are getting more popular every day, a lot of people will be watching this year's election results online ...
How To: Hand solder QFN components using SchmartBoard
Hand soldering a QFN component is almost impossible unless you have the right tools. Among these tools is the SchmartBoard|ez prototyping board. Here we hand solder a .5mm QFN component.
News: Sony Might Be Working on a DualShock Controller with Built-in Phone Dock for Dedicated Mobile Gaming
A new Sony patent shows the company doubling down on mobile gaming, and it could mean more advanced controller features for your iPhone or Android phone, similar to those in PlayStation's DualSense and DualShock controllers.
News: Apple Reportedly Moving Forward with VR/AR Hybrid Headset with Potential 2022 Launch
The latest whispers about Apple's plans to launch its long-awaited (yet still unconfirmed) augmented reality device hits several familiar notes, but lands on a different refrain.
Dev Report: Tango Is Dead, ARCore Preview 2 Is Here with No Change to the Device List
In a highly exciting but ultimately disappointing turn of events, Google released the ARCore Preview 2 today. While the new preview does bring with it new versions of the application programming interface (API) for the C language, pause and resume functionality, as well as increased accuracy, one thing it seems to be missing is a bigger compatibility list.
How To: Don't Have Photoshop? Use the Free Web Tool Cropp.me to Crop and Resize Images Easily
Cropping images can be a huge pain if you have a bunch to do at once. Even if you have Photoshop or a similar program, the process of opening each individual photo and cropping them one at a time can take forever. A free web-app called Cropp.me makes that task a lot easier by auto-cropping your photos to whatever size you choose. All you have to do is upload an image, choose what size you want it to be, and click Cropp My Images. You can choose from a list of sizes or input a custom size of y...
How To: Learn How to Speculate & Make Money as a Day Trader While You're Stuck at Home
We all know how volatile the stock market is, especially during times of crisis. That does not mean that the market is impossible to gauge, however. Day traders are trained to read charts in order to recognize market trends and price patterns, giving them the insight they need to make their trades as profitable as possible.
News: Google Play Pass Is the Perfect Quarantine Companion for Android Users
This extended period at home due to COVID-19 is the perfect time to try out new apps in the Play Store. But instead of buying premium versions, Google Play Pass will give you unlimited access to paid apps and games for about five bucks. And there's an even better deal now to help with coronavirus.
News: USA Today Scores Points with NHL Fans via Augmented Reality Profile of Capitals Star
If you've blocked out your calendar to watch the NHL All-Star Game this weekend, then you might be excited to know that USA Today has given its readers the opportunity to meet Washington Capital's John Carlson in augmented reality.
News: UK-Based Ultrahaptics Acquires Leap Motion for $30 Million
The long and somewhat tumultuous journey of Leap Motion has come to an end, thanks to another startup.
How To: Chat with your friends and family on Facebook
Need some help figuring out how to use Facebook's chat feature? 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.
Market Reality: Microsoft's Consumer Smartglasses, Apple Invests in Corning & Niantic Launches Lightship Beta
Sure, Microsoft has mostly marketed its HoloLens headsets towards enterprises and developers, but we learned this week that, like every other tech giant, the company is working on a consumer-grade AR wearable. Speaking of consumer smartglasses, Apple made another strategic investment this week that has implications for Apple's AR future.
Dev Report: Live 3D Tiles Are Finally Available for Windows Mixed Reality Headsets but Not HoloLens
Longtime Next Reality readers may remember my Wish List for Microsoft early last year. It was a post in which I put my head together with a number of other community developers to create a list of features that would make Windows Mixed Reality and HoloLens better for developers. It would seem that one of the most sought-after features is finally here ... well, sort of.
News: Niantic Planning to Chart AR Maps with Crowdsourcing Help from Gamers
If you are an active player of Pokémon GO, you may soon be capturing more than just virtual pocket monsters.
News: New Update to Gboard on iOS Adds Both Fun & Useful Features
When Gboard was released on iOS in May of 2016, it gave iPhone users more control over their mobile keyboard experience. Unlike the stock Apple keyboard, Gboard lets you customize the look of your keyboard and search Google directly from the keyboard itself. Now, Google has added even more functionality, by providing users with Google Maps, YouTube, and doodling support — all without leaving your chat.
How To: Set up a web-based email account
Email is one of the most popular ways to communicate. A web based email account may be for you if you often find yourself at different computers, and need access to email via the Internet. Here you can find which web based account (Gmail, Hotmail,Yahoo, MSN, ect...) will suit your needs. Set up a web-based email account.
How To: Synchronize two MySQL databases with DreamCoder
If you're new to DreamCoder for MySQL, one of the first things you may want to know how to do is synchronize two remote MySQL database. Happily, this tutorial will walk you, step by step, through the process. If you need to synchronize databases with DreamCoder for MySQL, take a look!
How To: Protect your privacy on Twitter
In this video, we learn how to protect your privacy while using Twitter. Your personal information can get stolen in an instant with the internet. With Twitter, when you are doing updates showing where you are and what you are doing, someone could try to find you and potentially create harm to you. To help you avoid situations like this, you need to go to the security settings of your Twitter account. When you go here, you can change the account so that it only allows people you want to follo...
News: Opera's Android Browser Just Got Native Ad-Blocking
Opera's web browser for Android, Opera Mini, now comes with integrated ad-blocking technology for a less cluttered browsing experience. More importantly, it decreases the amount of data being loaded, which Opera claims increases webpage loading times by 40 percent. This is in addition to the 90 percent data reduction from Opera Mini's compression technology.
How To: Use the Mail email app on an Apple iPad
If you want to send and receive email on your Apple iPad, unless you're an advanced user, you'll most likely want to go through Apple's official Mail app. Fortunately, it's easy to use. So easy, in fact, that this guide can present a complete, step-by-step overview of the process in just over three and a half minutes' time. For detailed instructions, and to get started reading and composing email on your own iPad, take a look!
How To: Use the Zoho Creator database application
While all Web 2.0 applications are by no means equal, certain among them can save you time, money, and frustration–one such web app is the Zoho Creator database utility, which is comparable to Access from the Microsoft Office suite. For more information, or to get started using the Zoho Creator online database application for yourself, take a look!