The draw of wireless earbuds is convenience, and many still offer the same sound performance as their wired counterparts. The difficult part is finding a pair that will stay in your ear reliably, work when you need them, and give you the best audio quality.
In 2017, Google introduced a new feature called Fast Pair. This made discovering and pairing Bluetooth devices completely stress-free, as it eliminated the need to fumble through settings. Google has now made it even easier, so Fast Pair is a must-have feature for your next headphones.
When you drive along the deceptively sedate streets of Silicon Valley, there are few hints that all those nondescript office parks and low-rise buildings contain the very future of the planet, but they really do. On a recent trip to tech's epicenter, I found that out firsthand when I got to visit the offices of Meta, the startup that produced the Meta 2 augmented reality headset.
Privacy is a hot topic. In the wake of Facebook's data scandal, many want to safeguard their personal info. On the other hand, we all gain a certain amount of convenience by using services administered by huge companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter. Google Assistant collects plenty of data, but you can easily check what is stored and delete items at will.
With only one profitable quarter in the last two years, LG's mobile division is undergoing a shakeup. With a fresh set of executives, LG has delayed the expected launch of the upcoming G7 and instead decided to start the year with yet another variant of the V30.
Because it sources a majority of its vital data from actual drivers on the road, Waze is easily one of the best navigation apps to use if you prioritize safety. Benefits such as crowd-sourced traffic data, police trap locations, and road work avoidance, when combined, help you anticipate traffic conditions with unprecedented accuracy and make adjustments accordingly.
The Google Assistant is great about understanding what you actually mean, so you don't have to issue exact commands like you do with Amazon Alexa, for instance. But even though it's a master of colloquial speech, it could still be better, and that's where shortcuts come into play.
The primary method of activating Siri is done by pressing and holding either the Home or Side button, depending on the iPhone model, but there's a much better way to ask a question to Siri or command it to do something — and you don't need to touch your iPhone at all to do it.
The "Discover" tab in the latest version of the Google Home app has a new tip that says multiple users are now supported. Google Home uses a built-in speaker and microphone combo to give users access to smart search, a personal assistant, and smart home controls. This addition has the potential to make the voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant much more efficient for households with more than one user. However, it seems that Google wasn't quite ready to announce this new fea...
Cortana, Microsoft's voice-activated personal assistant, originally launch on Windows Phone, but is now built directly into Windows 10 complete with "Hey Cortana" voice search (take that, Apple). It can help you locate files, set up reminders, control music.
Auto manufacturers are slowly starting to debut models with Google's new Android Auto software baked into the dashboard console. Starting with the 2016 model year, we should see vehicles from Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, and many others sporting the new software.
Facebook essentially strong-armed us all into installing their standalone Messenger app for mobile devices, but the recent initiative that allows third-party development on the platform definitely makes it worth your time.
Getting a new phone is exciting, but having access to its exclusive apps ahead of its release is what we're all about here on Gadget Hacks.
Google's text-to-speech engine is getting pretty good these days. In a recent update, the computerized voice that reads on screen text (like Google Now search results) got an audio quality bump that brought its clarity up to its highest level yet. And with each update, that robotic voice becomes a bit more human.
Notice anything different about your Google searches lately? Your favorite businesses are becoming even more reachable online. Now, you can simply Google a business and click on its highlighted phone number to give them a call immediately from your computer.
The all new HTC One M8 is the latest Android flagship making the rounds through major carriers hoping to beckon your purchase. Coming in at about $200 for most carriers with a contract, it makes a good case for itself with its advanced features and solid price point—but, there's another way to buy the One, and it's not from your carrier.
As Microsoft unveiled their new Windows Phone 8.1 software update yesterday, undoubtedly the most memorable takeaway was their showcase of Cortana. Competing directly against Apple's Siri and Google's Now, Cortana is Microsoft's entry into the digital voice assistant fray, and the official replacement to their search app.
Tony Stark is a smooth talking, genius billionaire playboy that occasionally saves the world... what's not to like? The Marvel films starring Robert Downey, Jr. have grossed well over a billion dollars in the U.S. alone, so it's needless to say that Iron Man is a very popular superhero.
Here's a neat little demonstration video on how to draw a Christmas tree using a pencil, an eraser and pen. This tree will be drawn with a more realistic looking drawing style, compared to the simplified abstract stack of triangles that people normally draw Christmas trees with. British children's author Shoo Rayner, writer and illustrator of over 200 books, shows you how.
One of the most traditional foods that one can enjoy at a Guy Fawkes Night celebration is the Lancashire Parkin. It's a relative of gingerbread made with treacle (molasses) and oatmeal to give it a distinctive color and flavor. Watch this video to learn how to make a Lancashire Parkin from an old British gran named Hilda.
In this video, learn how to make traditional Irish comfort food; shepherd's pie with creamy potatoes, cheddar cheese, corn and ground beef.
While organic gardening might sound like a complicated endeavor, you'll find it's actually considerably less trouble to work with nature than to constantly fight against it. This green gardener's guide from the British National Trust presents a primer on the subject. For more information, and to get started creating your own organic flower or vegetable garden, take a look.
An easy way to use a voice command to dial your iPhone is by downloading an ap that enables you to do just that. Without a built in voice dialing system, you will have to turn to external solutions if you wish to have this ability.
Don’t pass up on this festive favorite because of the calories; just mix yourself a lighter version mojito.
Yep, just what the headline says. Believe it or not, NTT DoCoMo has showed off "a set of prototype in-ear headphones that can detect and measures changes in the body's electrical state when your eyes move." Forget voice activation, eye gesture recognition is the thing of the future. Image.
No time for elaborate practical jokes this April Fool's? Not a problem, it's 2011—meaning, apps can do just about anything these days. Measure beauty, check for STDs, even fix late night drunken social media stupidity. So why not pranks? Below, 10 digital solutions for your April Fool's Day wickedness.
Paula Cox from Sunny Signers shows us how to introduce yourself in British Sign Language. Learn how to say your name, age, and where you live in sign language through this simple video. Introduce Yourself Using British Sign Language.
Paula Cox from Sunny Signers shows us how to talk about food in British sign language. Talk about food using British sign language.
It is easy to save a recorded file in WAV format with all versions of Voice Changer software. This tutorial shows you how to save your recording in WAV format instead of the default mp3 format with AV Voice Changer Software 6.0.
This ESL tutorial shows how to make yes-no questions in the passive voice in the present perfect tense. The passive voice un the present perfect tense uses have or has + subject + been + past participle. Watch this how to video and you'll be speaking English in no time.
Modal verbs in the passive voice follow this pattern: Modal + be + past participle. There are many possibilities with modal verbs. This ESL tutorial gives a basic description of how to use modal verbs in the passive voice. Watch this how to video and you will be speaking English properly in no time.
Learn how to use the English past tense passive voice in this how to video. The passive voice is the form of a transitive verb, that requires both a subject and one or more objects. To make the past tense passive, use "was" or "were," depending on the subject, and then add the past participle.
Learn how to use the English passive voice in the continuous tense in this tutorial. When the present continuous tense is in the passive voice it looks like this:
This ESL how to video teaches you the use of the passive voice in the passive tense in English. The passive voice is the form of a transitive verb, that requires both a subject and one or more objects. In the present tense, the subject changes the verb "be" and then you use the past participle of the main verb. Watch this tutorial and you will be speaking English in no time.
Synopsis: Tell one guy that a girl that one of the other guys knows just had some sketchy demonic encounter/satanic experience at some Wicca gathering she went to last night while she was trying to get answers from the past. Then say she’s incredibly creeped out right now and is home alone tonight so they are going to seize the opportunity(while she’s still scared) and have him dress up as Satan himself and go to her house late at night and “appear” to her in her bedroom. (Don’t be overly des...
While our smartphones are many things, one of their primary functions is to make calls. Many of us try to avoid ever having to make calls, but there are situations when it's a must, such as wishing your grandma happy Birthday or calling 911 — and in those times you want stellar call quality.
British bombshell Kiera Knightly loves wearing her chestnut colored strands in an updo. But since the lean actress is a fan of indie-inspired, bohemian chic, she never makes her hair looks overdone or overstyled.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a planet with exaggerated features, similar to things you may have seen in advertising for Lloyds TSB, British Gas or Chrysler. For more information, and to get started using this trick in your own Vue 6 xStream projects, watch this 3D modeler's guide.
There is nothing better with a plate of perfectly fried fish than a handful of absolutely divine crispy chips. In this tutorial, learn how to fry chips the right way so that they are the perfect size, taste and texture. These salty snacks will add to your meals and provide tons of finger licking snacks throughout the day. You really can not go wrong with this recipe. Yum!!
Interested in making and using your own compost? Fortunately, as this home gardening guide from the British National Trust demonstrates, it's quite easy to do. So easy, in fact, that this gardener's guide can present a complete overview of the process in just under four minutes' time. For details, and to get started making your own rich, fertile soil from your own garden and food scraps, take a look.
