Smartphones Features

How To: Enable Dark Mode in Google Maps on iPhone & Android

Dark mode is one of the most requested features these days, but it's even more important with a navigation app. If you're using Google Maps for directions while driving at night, the default white background will shock your eyes and make it harder to see the road in front of you. Thankfully, you can now enable a dark theme to make this whole process a lot safer.

How To: Broadcast a Message to Multiple WhatsApp Contacts Individually at the Same Time

Let's say you want to send out a message to all of your friends. Normally, you'd have to put all of the recipients into one giant group thread to do this. But when people started responding to your message, everyone in the group would get a notification, so your friends would probably be annoyed that you started the group thread in the first place. Luckily, if you're using WhatsApp, this isn't an issue.

How To: Not Getting the Jelly Bean Update Yet? Here's How to Flash Your Samsung Galaxy S III to Android 4.1.1

The newest firmware update for Android, Jelly Bean 4.1.1, has been out for a while now, but not every device has gotten it yet (some never will). One popular device that has recently gotten it is the Samsung Galaxy S III, only they'll be pushing the update out overseas during the next couple weeks, with the UK already seeing Jelly Bean from the cellular provider Three (if you're on Three, see how to update your device here). Unfortunately, stateside users will have to wait a bit longer. There...

How To: Make or add a folder on your iPhone/iPod Touch

Want to clean up your iPhone or iPod Touch by adding folders to stash stuff in? Make folders and clear up some space, make scrolling easier, and/or just make your springboard look more tidy with help from this tutorial using the free app from Cydia called "Categories". (In order to do this, your phone must be jailbroken or unlocked.)

How To: Create Mini Emoji-Style Stickers of Yourself in Gboard for Android & iOS

Expressing yourself during chats is much easier these days thanks to the steady rise of emoji. Now, products like emoji Minis for Gboard are taking the craft to an interesting yet familiar new level. With emoji Minis, you can automatically create stickers based off your own face. From there, you can further customize the stickers by adding key features such as glasses, earrings, and facial hair.

How To: Use the Apple iPhone 3GS with this helpful guided tour

Thinking of buying the new Apple iPhone 3GS? This video tutorial straight from Apple is an iPhone 3GS guided tour, which takes you through a demo of the features of the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet. iPhone 3GS features video recording, video editing, voice control, up to 32GB of storage, a digital compass, mms messaging, internet tethering, voice memos, and more.

How To: Successfully track someones cellphone

Wondering if your friends are close by? Where the person who stole your phone went? Or maybe you're just a nasty stalker!? (I keed, I keed!) There are ways of tracking a cellphone using certain services. In this video you will get tips and suggestions for programs that you can use to track someone elses cellphone or your own!

Netflix 101: Choosing the Netflix Plan That's Right for You

Netflix offers three different tiers of service. The good news is that no matter which subscription plan you choose, the available content is the same. Whether you choose the cheapest plan or the most expensive, you'll be able to watch any TV show or movie in Netflix's library. But there are other things to consider when choosing the plan that's right for you and your smartphone.

How To: Long press on Android cell phones (2.0)

Most people refer to "long press" as "touch and hold", but no matter which way you say it, it's an awesome feature for Android cell phones. Long pressing lets you get more information, download photos from the web, edit pictures and more! Watch as Google teaches you about long pressing, a nifty feature that reveals additional functionality on your Android-powered phone.

How To: Make Companies Call You Back Instead of Waiting on Hold

Getting on the phone for customer service can be extremely frustrating. First you've got to find the correct phone number for your region (good luck trying to get customer service from a sales department), then you have to listen to the annoying automated system to navigate your way to the department you want. More often than not, you'll be stuck with some elevator music while you wait to speak to an actual human.

How To: Take Better Photos with Your Phone

It's truly amazing how far smartphone camera hardware has come in such a short period of time. It took roughly 5 years to advance the image processing capabilities from a pixelated mess to the crisp and clear photos we can take today. This reaches well beyond the megapixel spec race, since camera modules these days sport vastly improved optics, wider aperture, and even larger pixel sensors that capture more light.

How To: Keep Your Android, iPhone, or Other Smartphone's Cracked Screen from Splintering with Sugru

Just about everyone I know has broken a phone at least once in their life. It's almost inevitable considering we carry them everywhere we go, but that doesn't make it any less irritating. A cracked screen is difficult to read and can actually be a little dangerous if there are loose pieces of glass. Simon, a designer and producer over at Sugru, came up with a quick fix that'll help hold your screen together in the meantime until you can get it fixed properly. He figured out that a paper-thin ...

How To: Why & When to Evolve Your Pokémon in Pokémon GO

Like previous installments in the Pokémon series, as you progress through Pokémon GO you'll be able to evolve your Pokémon into more-powerful monsters with new and more-damaging attacks. However, unlike older entries in the series, your Pokémon won't simply evolve when they reach a certain level. Instead, you'll have to "feed" them a certain amount of character-specific candy to induce the transformation.