Gadget Hacks News
Deal Alert: Use Android Pay to Get a Free Chromecast & Music
Google announced today that it's offering rewards to Android Pay users, and taking advantage of these deals could land you a free 2nd Generation Chromecast, among other prizes. The Tap 10 promotion is pretty self-explanatory: Tap to use Android Pay 10 times before February 29, 2016, and Google will give you a code to redeem a free Chromecast, free music, or both. You'll also be rewarded for Taps 1 through 9 as well. You'll receive a code for one music track from the Google Play Store for ever...
News: Netflix to Block VPN & Proxy Users from Streaming Content in Other Territories
Netflix subscribers (or friends of subscribers) have been able to utilize a virtual private network (VPN) or proxy service to gain access to content in other countries. Unfortunately, the movie and TV streaming service announced today that it will soon block those services so that viewers will only have access to movies and shows that are licensed for the country they're currently in.
News: Sony Brings Xperia Stateside; Schedules February Release for the Z5 & Z5 Compact
Sony announced that it is releasing its flagship Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact handsets to the United States on February 7th, a first for these flagship devices.
News: Our Favorite WTF Gadgets from CES 2016
There was lots of new tech to check out at CES 2016, but you could argue that the majority of the big-ticket items weren't the most unique things in the world. Thankfully, there were a few innovative, unconventional ideas on display, and here are some of our favorites.
News: The Coolest Tech to Come Out of CES 2016
There's been a whole lot going on at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, from the latest in virtual reality gear to televisions that continue to slim down while producing higher quality images.
News: 23 Important Apps That Work Great on Both Android & iOS
Brand loyalty is one of the main factors behind our decision to choose a particular mobile device, but it doesn't have to be the entire equation. Educated consumers know that certain devices simply fit their budget and usage better than others, which means you can't always let a logo dictate what kind of phone or tablet you buy.
CES 2016: New Gadgets from Samsung's Creative Lab
The Creative Lab at Samsung, also known as their C Lab, is trying to make wearable fitness devices more inconspicuous with its wearable smart belt, the WELT, but that might not be all.
CES 2016: How You'll Get Drunk at Home in the Future
Three smart devices shown at CES 2016 are making it easier for you to make stupid decisions. PicoBrew, Somabar, and 10-Vins demonstrated their systems for beer, mixed cocktails, and wine, respectively, and each one is attempting to change the way we enjoy our favorite potent potables at home.
More Proof Emerges: iPhone 7 Will Not Have a Headphone Jack
It's looking more and more likely that rumors stating that the iPhone 7 will not include a 3.5 mm headphone jack are true. Chinese websites Wei Feng and Anzhuo.cn reported that anonymous sources on the supply chain confirmed that the controversial design choice is a reality.
CES 2016: LG Shows Off Its Newspaper-Like Flexible Screen
LG literally rolled out a prototype of its cutting-edge flexible display at CES 2016 in Las Vegas. The company showed off an 18-inch screen with 1,200 x 800 pixel resolution that you can roll up like a magazine or newspaper and take with you. And while an 18-inch HD screen that rolls up is already pretty impressive, LG plans to build them up to 55 inches and beyond, with 4K resolution.
News: Ford Is Adding Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, & More with New Sync System
You've probably heard the old joke about how Ford is an acronym for "Found on Road Dead." Well, the Detroit automaker on Monday announced a new and much better way to help you find your parked vehicle, as well as a whole host of other features—just use your smartphone.
News: Oculus Rift Preorders Finally Begin on January 6th
Virtual reality technology company Oculus VR announced that it will begin accepting preorders for its long-awaited Oculus Rift headset beginning Wednesday, January 6th, at 8 a.m. Pacific time.
News: Images Surface of the New Google Glass
A new model of Google Glass has appeared on the FCC website, along with a handful of high-res pictures.
News: Gadget Hacks' Favorite Must-Have Android Apps of 2015
Considering that nearly half a million brand new apps were published to the Google Play Store in 2015, you can definitely call it a banner year for Android development. In fact, it's getting to the point where we're a bit spoiled as end users, since we've grown to expect something new and exciting practically every week.
News: 7 New Games Just Released for Chromecast
Now that Chromecast has taken the title of top-selling media streaming device and held onto it for well over a year, game developers absolutely have to take Google's $35 streaming stick seriously. As a result, we're starting to see big-time media and game companies throw their hats into the proverbial Chromecast ring, with new interactive offerings that pair your smartphone and your big screen in spectacular fashion.
News: iPhone 7 Prototype Video Leaks from Factory
A video showing what is alleged to be the new Apple iPhone 7 has appeared online. The uploader of the video claims that it was shot on one of Foxconn's assembly lines.
News: Samsung to Debut Galaxy S7 & Others in March 2016
A slide shown during a China Mobile conference indicates that Samsung's Galaxy S7 handsets should be hitting the market next March. If this chart is to be believed, it strongly suggests that Samsung will unveil its flagships at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (Feb. 22-25, 2016). For reference, the public got its first look at the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge on March 1st at last year's MWC; the handsets were released a little over a month later on April 10th.
News: You Can Already Preorder 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'
Have you already lost the thrilling feeling of waiting for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens to come out? Now you can do it all over again, as Google Play, the iTunes Store, the Windows Store, and Best Buy are already accepting pre-orders for the digital and Blu-ray release.
News: Sony Developing Longer-Lasting Smartphone Battery
Sony Corp. is working on new battery technology that the company says would have a 40% longer life than a lithium-ion battery of the same size. Sony is planning to have the higher-capacity batteries on the market around 2020.
News: Android 6.1 Rumored to Include Native Split Screen Support
Google seems to be following Apple's and Microsoft's lead, as the "point" update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow (6.0 -> 6.1) will reportedly allow multi-screen support. Android 6.1 is expected to debut in June 2016.
News: How to Get a Free $20 Best Buy Gift Card from Google (Limited Time Offer)
Nexus owners in the United States are eligible to grab an easy $20 e-gift card from Best Buy this holiday season. All you have to do is install the Android Pay app and use it to make a purchase at one of the million-plus participating merchants through December 31st, 2015.
News: Samsung Galaxy S7 Likely to Have iPhone-Like Pressure-Sensitive Screen
It sounds like Samsung is impressed enough with Apple's 3D Touch feature on the iPhone 6S models that the company is planning on implementing a similar feature on its upcoming Galaxy S7 handsets. A source told The Wall Street Journal that the latest iteration of Samsung's flagship will feature a similar design to this year's Galaxy S6, and will again feature both standard and curved AMOLED models. It's also rumored that the standard design will once again support microSD cards, which should p...
News: 21 Free Android Apps Your Kids Will Love
Today's smartphones and tablets offer a great way for children to learn through interactive sight, sound, and touch, but they can also provide hours of genuine fun. If you have a spare tablet laying around—or at least a nice, durable case—the only thing you need to get your child started in this world of fun and learning is a handful of good apps.
News: 5 Free Photo Editing Apps for Android That Kill the Competition
Smartphone cameras are so good nowadays that there's almost no reason to own a point and shoot. Once the megapixel spec race was finally settled (hint: more isn't always better), manufacturers started focusing on the quality of their camera sensors, which has led to a huge jump in color accuracy, dynamic range, and image clarity.
News: How to Hail a Ride in Uber's Official Windows 10 App
Windows 10 universal apps are actually pretty awesome—regardless of if you're using a desktop, laptop, tablet, or convertible, the same app automatically scales up or down to suit your device. Definitely cool, but the Windows Store is pretty bare-bones as it stands, so the downside is that you can't always find a good universal app for every purpose.
News: This App Blocks All Kardashian Stories from Showing on Your iPhone (Including This One)
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have fittingly named their second child "Saint," but I'm sure you don't care about that—and neither do I. Unfortunately, regardless of our pop culture interests, we're forced to know these types of stupid facts because the internet is so densely populated with Kardashian-related content that it's impossible to avoid. It's enough to make you puke.
News: What’s New in iOS 9.2 for iPad, iPhone, & iPod touch
We're near the end of a productive year for Apple, one that introduced a new Apple TV, the iPad Mini 4 (in conjunction with the Apple Pen), the iPad Pro, and the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, as well as iOS 9. Now, the second major update to iOS 9—version 9.2—has just been released to the public.
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: 5 Apps That'll Make You Ditch Your Stock Photo Gallery
Making sure you have the best gallery app available for your Android device used to be as easy as just installing QuickPic. But late last year, Android's top photo-viewing app was sold to a company who is notorious for permission spamming, so QuickPic quickly lost everyone's approval.
News: The Best Cyber Monday Tech Deals on TVs, Phones, Laptops, & More
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are becoming almost synonymous these days, but there are still plenty of awesome deals that you can only get starting on the Monday after Thanksgiving. Amazon, for instance, will be hosting a week-long Cyber Monday sale, and of course, most big-box retailers will follow suit with their online stores.
News: Android's Best Build.Prop Tweaks for Better Speed, Battery Life, & Customization
Android has a single text file named build.prop that determines tons of various system-wide settings on your device. You need root access to edit this file, since it's stored on the system partition—but the various lines of codes it contains are actually fairly easy to interpret and modify.
News: Free Alternatives to Pushbullet Pro Features
As one of the most powerful Android apps for connecting your phone or tablet to your other devices in various ways, Pushbullet had always been a fan—and Gadget Hacks—favorite.
News: The Complete List of Marshmallow-Compatible Xposed Modules
The Xposed Framework was just recently made available for Android Marshmallow, but everything isn't quite back to status quo just yet. Sure, some Xposed modules function properly, but others are a bit buggy, and several don't even work at all. This is mostly a result of changes to the Android system that Lollipop modules relied upon, and such modules will need to be updated for Marshmallow compatibility.
News: These Apps Know Your Age, Gender, Emotions, & More
I think it was 1986 when I first discovered my love for making computers say stupid things out loud. My older brother got a Commodore 64 for his birthday, which came bundled with software that would speak out any term you typed in—and boy, that computer sure made a fool of itself after my five-year-old imagination got a hold of the keyboard.
Game Changer: YouTube Music Is Live for Android & iOS
In the wake of Apple Music making its debut on Android devices, Google has finally released its highly anticipated YouTube Music app. With these two tech heavyweights throwing their hats into the ring, the streaming music world is about to get rocked.
News: Windows 10 Gets Its First Major Update—Here's All the Cool New Stuff
Microsoft's "Fall Update" to Windows 10, code named Threshold 2, has a lot of new tricks up its sleeve. It's the biggest update we've seen since Windows 10 was released this summer, and it's rolling out to all users right now.
The Big Android Dictionary: A Glossary of Terms You Should Know
Android comprises an entire ecosystem of apps, games, functions, and features, so it would only make sense that it has its own lexicon. Words, phrases, and acronyms that didn't exist ten years ago are now used in an off-the-cuff style by developers and support technicians across the web.
News: Microsoft Opens Its First Flagship Store in New York City
Apple isn't the only retailer that can boast futuristic-looking storefronts.
News: Twitter Announces Polls & New Publishing Tools for Users
Twitter, the global social networking site, announced on October 21st that it would be launching a new feature that allows all users to create polls. The company stated that the goal is to allow people to "weigh in on all the topics they care about."
News: Ad-Free Videos, Offline Playback, & More: YouTube Red Goes Live on October 28th
YouTube, the popular video streaming website owned by Google, announced on October 21st that it will be launching a new subscription service titled "YouTube Red" for $9.99 a month. Under the membership, subscribers will be able to watch videos without ads. Yup, all videos—from music to trailers to gaming and everything in-between—completely ad-free. Additionally, individuals can save videos to watch offline on their mobile devices as well as play videos in the background.