Gadget Hacks Features
How To: Get the OnePlus 7 Pro's Zen Mode on Any Android
The OnePlus 7 Pro comes with a new Zen Mode feature to help increase your concentration and reduce distractions. It takes things a step further than Google's Digital Wellbeing by disabling your device and stopping sounds. But even if you don't have a OnePlus, you can now get this distraction-free feature on any phone.
Hollywood's Nightmare: Watching Pirated Movies on Your HDTV Is as Easy as Buying a $35 Chromecast
Popcorn Time is an app that streams movies directly from torrents on to your computer, and it's seen its fair share of publicity, being lauded as a free Netflix alternative and chastised as an illegal file-sharing network.
How To: Change OS X’s Annoying Default Settings Using Terminal
When setting up a new Mac, there can be a bunch of settings that need to be changed in order to get the system running the way you like it. That usually involves going through tons of System Preferences panes and app settings—but it doesn't have to.
How To: The Flat-Out Easiest Way to Create a Nandroid Backup on Android
If you have a custom recovery installed on your Android device, the first thing you should have done as soon as you finished installing it was to create a Nandroid backup. But if you didn't, I'm not here to judge—I'm here to show you a much easier way.
How To: Get Total Control Over Android's Volume Slider Precision
On most Android devices, the various volume levels are comprised of either 7 or 15 steps between minimum and maximum. For voice-call volume, alarms, and notifications alike, 7 presses of a volume button will bring you all the way from silent to full-blast. With media controls, you get 15 steps between mute and max.
How To: Bring Back the Squeeze Gesture for Google Assistant on Your Pixel 5 — No Root Needed
The Pixel 5 is a bit of a departure from previous Pixels. Gone are the Pixel 4's Soli-based Motion Sense gestures, the Pixel 3's dual front-facing speakers, and the glass back panel of previous generations. But perhaps the most notable omission for long-time Pixel users is the lack of a squeeze gesture to trigger the Google Assistant.
How To: Share a Facebook Post with Friends & Family on WhatsApp
We're starting to see more WhatsApp integration with apps that Facebook also owns. We got our first glimpse last year with the ability to share Instagram posts directly to WhatsApp contacts. Now, the same is being tested on the Facebook app itself, so users will be able to share statuses, videos, photos, and more to WhatsApp.
How To: Use All 10 Fingerprints for Touch ID on Your iPhone — Not Just 5 of Them
While Apple has moved on from Touch ID to Face ID in newer iPhone models, there are still plenty of iPhones with fingerprint sensors — in fact, Apple's second-generation iPhone SE is the first new Touch ID iPhone in three years. With Touch ID, you can register up to five fingerprints, but it doesn't stop there. Using a little-known trick, you can sneak another five fingerprints in there for a total of ten.
Important: Back Up Your Galaxy Note 3's EFS & IMEI Data for Emergency Restores
The options for customization are virtually endless when you're rooted and have an unlocked bootloader and custom recovery. However, there is always risk involved when flashing new mods or installing new ROMs. I always make backups in case something happens, but when I'm testing certain mods out, I sometimes get a damaged EFS partition.
Cydia 101: How to Uninstall Tweaks from Your Jailbroken iPhone
It couldn't be any easier to remove apps from your iPhone — simply do a long-press on the app's icon, then tap on the delete button once it pops up. However, when it comes to removing unwanted tweaks and apps from a jailbroken iPhone, the process is often a little more involved.
How To: Unlock the Bootloader on Your LG G6 (T-Mobile Variant)
Preorders for the LG G6 have all been fulfilled, and the phone has been up for grabs at local cell phone providers for three weeks now. However, not every LG G6 was created and released equally. The T-Mobile variant of the LG G6 features an unlockable bootloader, while most other North American variants come with a tightly locked down bootloader, which effectively limits the full potential of your brand new fairly expensive phone.
How To: Stop Nosy Friends from Viewing More Photos on Android Than You Intended
You have a cool picture that you want to show someone, but when you hand your phone over, they start swiping through all of your photos. Surely, you've encountered this scenario before. I definitely have.
How To: Revamp the “Complete Action Using” Dialog for a Better Way to Open Files on Android
One of Android's strengths when compared to other mobile operating systems is its ability to set third-party apps as the default handler of certain file types. Instead of being stuck with pre-installed system apps when it comes to opening files and links, you're free to choose a better-fitting alternative.
How To: Go Retro with These Classic-Style Start Menus for Windows 10
Windows 95, which introduced the Start menu to the world, recently celebrated its 20th birthday! The feature was an instant hit, becoming a core component of Windows operating systems. Well, it was removed in the mistake that was Windows 8, but you should know by now that the Start menu has been reincarnated for Windows 10.
How To: Turn Your Personal Handwriting into a Custom Font for a More Unique Look
There are thousands of fonts you can download online. Some are free, some you have to pay for, but they all have something in common—if you can get them, so can everyone else. If you want a truly unique font that no one else is using, you have to make your own, and what's more unique than your own handwriting?
Meltdown & Spectre: Here's How to Keep Your iPhone or Android Phone Secure
You may have seen news reports over the last two days detailing a major security flaw in virtually all smartphones. The devices that are at risk are not limited to either iPhone or Android — all of us are affected. If you want to make sure your smartphone and its data stay secure, there are a few steps you can take.
How To: Watch Reddit Videos on Your Android TV
Reddit is one of the internet's greatest sources of funny and interesting videos. Its user base is extremely active, and a system of upvotes and downvotes ensures that the best content always rises to the top.
How To: 7 Tips to Help You Take Better Workout Photos at the Gym
Chance are, you or someone you know is that person in the gym: flexing in front of a mirror, posing for the perfect photos to show off your workout results. But finding the right picture is hard. The thing is, it doesn't need to be.
How To: Start a Fitness Competition Among Friends with Samsung Health
When you're trying to get fit, friendly competition can go a long way towards keeping you motivated. Samsung Health has a great feature for just that, letting you challenge your friends or even complete strangers to bring some excitement to an otherwise routine workout experience.
How To: Use Split Tones in Photoshop Express to Create Cinematic Photos
If you want your photos to look like they came straight out of a movie scene, the best method is to use split toning. Many Hollywood producers use this effect to recreate the cinematic look of cameras before the digital film era, which is why most people associate split toning with a cinematic feel.
How To: Cut, copy, and paste on your iPhone
You love your iPhone and you can't live without it, but it's lacked the basic ability to cut, copy, and paste across multiple apps. With Apple's OS 3.0 upgrade, you can do it all with just a few taps. Watch this Howcast guide to learn how to cut, copy, and paste on your iPhone.
How To: Your Eyes Are All You Need to Keep Your Galaxy's Screen On
Having your phone's display suddenly dim and black out while reading is an annoyance we've all had to live with. If you have a Samsung Galaxy like the Note 10, however, there's a simple setting you can enable to take care of this problem once and for all.
How To: Customize Your Mac's Top Keys to Control Either Functions or Built-in Features Without Using “Fn”
Mac keyboards are great when listening to music or watching a movie, since you can control what's playing without going back into iTunes or QuickTime Player. However, when you're using an app like Photoshop that uses the F7, F8, and F9 as shortcuts, it gets pretty annoying to have to hold down the Fn key. Why can't you just hit the back, play/pause, and skip buttons alone?
News: Magic Leap's Biggest Problem May Not Be Legal Fights but a Major Battery Charging Issue
While everyone was marveling at the latest drama over at Magic Leap involving employees last week, a major rumor listed in one of the reports, related to the company's flagship device, was mostly overlooked.
How To: Watch Apple TV+ on Any Android Phone or Tablet
With the prestige appeal of its original programming and relatively low subscription price, Apple TV+ is one of the more appealing streaming options out there — and you don't need an Apple device to subscribe and watch movies, TV shows, sports, and other Apple TV+ content.
How To: Password Protect and Hide Any Window in the System Tray with WinLock
When you share a computer with other people, privacy can be a complicated matter. Even if you trust the other users, there are some things that you don't want anyone else having access to. Sure, you can encrypt everything, but what happens when someone needs to use the computer while you're in the middle of something?
News: Resolution Games Ports Popular Fishing Game from VR to Augmented Reality
Having pushed more than two million downloads of its Bait! game for the Gear VR and Daydream platforms, VR developer Resolution Games is bringing the virtual fishing fun to augmented reality.
How To: Install Super Nintendo on an iPhone/iPod Touch (3.0)
This is a video tutorial showing its audience how to install Super Nintendo onto an Ipod Touch or an IPhone. The first step is to open Cydia and click on packages. Scroll down and click on Open SSH, install the program and then open it. Then go to games and you can install the Super Nintendo application. Next install SSH Client on your computer and open it. Next plug your IPhone/IPod into your computer and transfer your Super Ninentdo game onto your IPhone/IPod. When you are finished transfer...
How To: Capitalize your letters when texting with Swype
When using Swype to send faster than life text messages on your mobile phone, you may need to capitalize something once in a while. Luckily, it is just as quick to add proper caps to your messages as it is to type out a super speedy text.
Apple AR: The Box Gives the Gift of AR with ARKit
If giving truly is better than receiving, then The Box AR should be the best ARKit app available when iOS 11 releases next week.
News: Avegant's Future Looks Bright as It Lands $12 Million in Funding for Augmented Reality Displays
The display is one of the most critical components in augmented reality hardware, and on Tuesday, one of the companies making that component, Avegant Corp., closed a funding round of $12 million to support development of next-generation AR displays.
How To: Create Custom Emoji or Cinematic Wallpapers on Your Google Pixel for a More Personal Home/Lock Screen
While Google's generative AI wallpapers for Android won't be out until the fall, you can take advantage of emoji backgrounds and cinematic wallpapers on your Pixel smartphone right now.
How To: Force Restart the iPhone X When It's Acting Up
Every now and then, an iPhone will freeze up and become unresponsive due to a software glitch. It can be a buggy app that somehow interferes with iOS or a software update that somehow didn't install properly. Whatever the cause, it's safe to say that no iPhone is immune to this problem, not even the new iPhone X.
Spotify 101: How to Change Playlist Pictures from Your iPhone Instead of from Your Computer
Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services available and allows you a high degree of control over the way you experience your music. Included in that is the album art for your playlists. While not an option ingrained in the mobile app itself, changing a playlist's cover image on your phone can still be done.
Snapchat 101: Never Lose a Snapstreak with These 3 Tips & Tricks
One of the most popular things to do on Snapchat is to earn a Snapstreak. This occurs when you and one other friend have sent snaps (not chatted) to each other within 24 hours for at least three consecutive days. One you've passed the three-day mark, then you and your friend will receive a fire emoji next to your names.
How To: Extract & Back Up All Your Text Messages & Picture Messages from Your iPhone to Your Mac
NSA aside, Apple makes it difficult for users to extract and download text messages from their iPhones onto a computer. For whatever reason (legal, devious, neurotic, etc), we've all found a time where we'd like to save backups of certain meaningful, important, or perhaps incriminating conversations (including all MMS or iMessage pictures and videos). While there are a handful of third-party applications that can help with this process, the majority of them cost money and implement certain te...
How To: Fix a Soft-Bricked HTC One by Flashing a New ROM via ADB
Flashing ROMs can be a tricky process, and sometimes you can end up leaving yourself without a ROM at all, often referred to as a soft brick. If you accidentally wiped your internal memory before a flash or forgot to download the ROM before wiping your system partition, don't worry, there is always a way to get your phone back up and running.
How To: Connect an Android Wear Smartwatch to Your iPhone
Believe it or not, not every Apple lover is willing to make the commitment and fork over $350+ for the Apple Watch. Like many others, I'm not willing to put that much faith into Apple's first attempt at wearable tech.
How To: Customize iOS App Icons Without Jailbreaking Your iPhone
While iOS offers a plentiful mix of excellent and exclusive features, what you see is what you get. Apple doesn't leave much room for customizability, meaning most people's iPhones look relatively the same. You can make yours stand out, however, by giving your apps unique and personal icons.
How To: Mimic the New iOS 7 Look in iOS 6 on Your Jailbroken iPhone
Apple is set to release its latest operating system for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch this fall, and if you haven't noticed yet from our iOS 7 softModder guides, it's going to be pretty slick.