Carriers like to distinguish their Android phones from the competition by making small changes to the interface here and there. This practice is so common that Android now has a built-in system for managing these small tweaks.
When you're browsing the web, going through emails, or reading a book or magazine, you'll occasionally come across a word or phrase that you haven't seen before. This would be a perfect time to have some sort of built-in dictionary lookup service, but most Android apps lack such a feature.
Samsung included an "SOS" feature for its phones since the Galaxy S6 that could literally be a lifesaver should you ever find yourself in an emergency situation. It's one of those things that we hope to never have to use but will be very thankful for if a need ever arises.
Google Earth has long served as a great tool to explore the furthest regions of our beautiful planet from the comfort of our own homes, but for those with more than just a recreational interest, a bundle of pro features had always cost $399... a year.
S Health is one of the biggest selling points for newer Samsung Galaxy devices. It offers a centralized place to view and manage data collected by all of the various sensors like the heart rate monitor.
Motorola changed the way users interact with their devices when they introduced their "always listening" feature on the Moto X. When I first saw it demoed, I couldn't wait to get the same functionality on one of my handsets, and now that has finally come to fruition.
Thanks to Apple's new extensibility features in iOS 8, developers are now able to create extensions for their apps that let you perform actions in notifications, widgets, and in stock Apple apps without having to open up the specific app itself.
Skimming through the hundreds of photos you may have on your iPhone for that one selfie of you and your friends in Los Angeles can be a tedious task, especially if you were inebriated and snapping pics indiscriminately. Thankfully, as one of the many cool features available in iOS 8, the Photos app now lets you search your images based on date or location.
The new Camera app in iOS 8 has a few really great features, but some of the best photo-centric features were packed into the iPhone's photo editing tools. These new editing features can create even more dynamic images than before, no Instagram required.
Among the additions that Apple's included in iOS 8 for iPhones are a couple of new features to the Camera app, including a timer and manual control of the exposure setting. Hit up the video to see how these new features work, of scroll down for the written walkthrough.
Apple introduced recent contacts for the app switcher (aka multitasking menu) in iOS 8, useful for quickly calling and texting your most-contacted friends and family. Just tap on one of the contact bubbles and an assortment of options appear—call, message, or FaceTime. While the feature can be helpful when you want quick access to functions for recent contacts, it may not be for everyone. Check out the short guide below to learn how to easily remove recent contacts from the multitasking menu ...
You may not have noticed it, but Google snuck a new feature into Glass recently. Called Notification Glance, this feature lets you view new notifications by simply looking up at the screen.
Location-based app shortcuts in iOS 8 work at places like Starbucks, the Apple Store, as well as train stations, banks, hospitals, grocery stores, and more. When you're in the vicinity of these locations, a small notification appears at the bottom left of the lock screen. You you can slide up on these icons (as you would on the camera icon on the lock screen) to access specific apps based on where you're located, making it easy to access your Starbucks account when you're buying coffee or che...
It seems that Apple is taking a page from Google's book with their new "Hey, Siri" voice activation feature in iOS 8. This feature mimics the one found in Google Now, the voice-activated intelligent personal assistant available to just about all Android users. Apple's version allows you to bring up Siri with a simple voice command, but there's a small catch.
When it comes to blocking unwanted calls, your Android device comes stocked with a native blocking feature that allows you to reject certain phone numbers. That being said, the native blocking feature on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 isn't the prettiest or the smartest, with its non-obvious setup and lack of features.
Starting today, you can experience all the unique feature of Samsung's next flagship device, the Samsung Galaxy S5, right on your Galaxy S3 or other Android device.
Apple's iOS 7 is riddled with annoying features, and some of them can't be toggled off in Settings. For example, I really don't like having labels directly underneath my app icons, and there's no way to remove them. Sure, it may be nitpicky, but it's my device, and it should behave the way I want it to.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 has already received a ton of hype, as it follows one of the most successful Android phones ever—the Galaxy S3. While the phone isn't set to be available for a least another month, it does boast some pretty awesome features.
Samsung unveiled their new flagship device, the Galaxy S4, at a live event in New York City today. Here's a quick rundown of the specs and all of the new features that you can expect when you finally get your hands on one (whenever that will be). The GS4's Specs
Since the release of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, many of its features have been replicated by Android developers for other devices. The most popular feature, aside from Smart Rotation, on the Note 2 has been the multitasking multi-screen/multi-window feature, which allows you to run several apps at the same time.
Sprint has announced that it will be the first U.S. carrier to release Jelly Bean 4.1 for the Samsung Galaxy S III. The over-the-air updates have already started, with users receiving a notification on how to update on their phone. The reason Jelly Bean has garnered so much attention is due to several, well-known features like Google Talk, Project Butter and expandable notifications.
Whisper sweet nothings to your amor by crafting this simple and quick origami message card, which features a heart seal. It's a delightful way to package a loving, amorous sentiment and can also hold tiny trinkets of your affection.
If you've just exported your masterpiece from GarageBand and found that your volume on the song is too low, then you're going to have to fix it. And increasing the levels on your "too quiet" song, you just need to get back into GarageBand and make some adjustments.
GarageBand is a great tool for composing your own beats and jingles, but when it comes to filters, it's not so easy to understand exactly what they do, as in the case of the AUBandpass filter. This video explains exactly what the AUBandpass feature does in GarageBand and how it can be used to make quality-sounding instrumentals for you beat projects.
A 'rollover' is a little Java animation when one text or image replaces another one of similar size. This can call attention to a featured product or allow you to have a scrolling news or update feature. This tutorial shows you how to add a rollver to your website using Dreamweaver.
Google SketchUp offers a new feature in the most recent version of their program - dynamic components. Dynamic components add a certain intelligence to objects within your project, as well as make interactivity easier. This series shows you how to alter your component and take full advantage of the dynamic component feature.
Looking for a way to improve your development speed? With the Flash CS5 code hinting feature, it's easy! And this clip will show you how it's done. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular Flash-development platform or a seasoned web developer looking to better acquaint yourself with the new features and functions of the latest iteration of the application, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, watch this video guide.
Interested in learning how to use the Photomerge Faces feature in PSE 8? This clip will teach you what you need to know. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular raster graphics editing software or a seasoned professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.
In this tutorial, we learn how to use the zoom feature in Mac OS X Leopard. First, go to system preferences, then universal access. Find the zoom category, then turn it on of off. You will also see the keys that you can press which will make it appear. If you go to the options menu, you will be able to maximize or minimize the zoom. Test this out by zooming in on a page and holding the control key along with the tracking ball on your mouse. When you do this, everything will become far more zo...
With this quick Blender 2.5 video tip, you'll see how to stave off frustration in the case of a crash or lost work by using Blender's autosave feature to recover your work. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular open-source 3D computer graphics application or are a seasoned digital artist merely on the lookout for new tips and tricks, you're sure to be well served by this free video software tutorial from the folks at CG Cookie. For more information, including step-by-step ins...
In this quick Blender 2.5 video tip, you'll see how to use the new external drag and drop functionality recently added to Blender. This feature enables you to drag and drop images and videos from your operating systems file browser into Blender. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular open-source 3D computer graphics application or are a seasoned digital artist merely on the lookout for new tips and tricks, you're sure to be well served by this free video software tutorial from...
Many science fiction feature films and TV shows feature holographic communication and interfaces. Red Giant Holomatrix allows you to easily recreate that effect with just a few clicks. This clip, in particular, addresses how to make those few clicks as a complete and utter newcommer to Holomatrix. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with Red Giant Holomatrix, you're sure to be ...
Refining selections and creating masks are unglamorous but utterly essential Photoshop techniques—you've got to master both in order to perform tricky compositing tasks, such as extracting a person from an image and then adding a different background.
Whether you're new to Adobe Photoshop or a seasoned graphic design professional after a general overview of CS5's most vital new features, you're sure to be well served by this (17-minute) official video tutorial from the folks at Adobe TV. In it, you'll learn how to do each of the following: realistically blend colors on canvas with the new Mixer Brush; create superior composites for print or web layouts with new technology that makes it easy to select even the trickiest image elements, like...
Chi running focuses on core muscles, integrating body and mind, and long-term performance to enhance the joy of running. In this tutorial, you will learn how to harness your Chi and improve your running technique and overall fitness.
Backpacks are handy for camping, hiking, school and travel, but they can be difficult to pack properly. In this tutorial, learn how to pack your bag so that its light and efficient.
If you want a challenge, try this at home or anywhere. Learn to spin a book on your finger. This will make you enjoy more of your vacant time. It also helps your balancing skill developed. 1. Get a book. 2. Get your finger to the center of the gravity of the book. 3. Spin the book on your finger. 4. As the book spins, your finger gets outside of the center. 5. Try to get your finger back to the center and you can do that by moving your hand in a linear circular manner. 6. Keep practicing by s...
This video is an informative packed tutorial in the new Ableton 8 sound mixing software and shows a new work flow improvement upgrade from earlier versions of the program. It shows you how to use the new sequencing feature within the "piano view" instead of the traditional xox sequencing from earlier Ableton programs. This tutorial also shows you how to add notes easily in the sequencer in the "piano view" with a few clicks of the mouse. It also shows you shortcuts within the sequencing feature.
You can use starburst to make stars in photos stand out or you can use that feature to make reflections and glares on cars, mirrors and other shiny things. You use different layers in Photoshop to create the starbursts then add it to the photograph that you select. You can choose the pixel, size and color. The tutorial also teaches you other buttons to use in conjunction with the starburst feature, which teaches you other things so you can work on other pictures.
This how-to video describes how to properly contour your face. The process begins by applying a moisturizer followed by foundation, eyeshadow, color and powder. The end result is a perfectly contoured face that puts focus on the elegant features of the face. The entire process takes about 7 minuets to complete and is perfect for girls who want to achieve a modern and modest look that exemplifies their natural features. This is a great way to look great in a small amount of time.