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.
Whether it's a chaotic family day meetup at the beach, barhopping with buddies, or getting stranded in the middle of nowhere with a dead car battery, being able to share your exact location with others using your smartphone makes life easier and less stressful.
The newest version of iOS 8 beta is now out. Almost three weeks ago, in the iOS 8 beta 2 release, we saw podcast integration, full-screen caller ID, new assistive touch toggles, and a "disable all" button for app notifications, among other things.
Texting just got a whole lot better for your iPhone. In iOS 8, you can send an in-the-moment picture or video without exiting the conversation you're in, and you can also send voice messages! Plus, they'll self-destruct, similar to Snapchat.
We've all been there. Our phone rings, but we're at a concert or dinner and don't want to spend time sending a text explaining our whereabouts. While ignoring a call is easy, it isn't always the most polite thing to do.
A while back, Facebook released a killer feature called "Chat Heads" to its Facebook Messenger app. Messages from users would "pop up" in small bubbles that floated on the screen that could be seen, accessed, and moved around from within most apps.
Wouldn't it be cool to know exactly who is calling or messaging you without ever looking at your phone? It'd be a great way to keep you from reaching into your pocket or purse every time you get a message, and an efficient method to ignore people you'd rather not deal with.
For my money, one of the greatest improvements brought about from the smartphone revolution is the advent of visual voicemail. No longer do we have to slog through dial menus or trudge through every single message to get to the next. We can just look at our messages, right there on our screens, organized neatly like emails or text messages.
You know that sinking feeling you get when know you've just done the unthinkable? It's the worst. Sending that ridiculous text message to the wrong number or posting a shameful tweet during a weekend bender.
Tons of iPhone 5 users with Verizon Wireless hit the message boards last week complaining about their phones sucking down massive amounts of cellular data when they were actually using a Wi-Fi connection. Of course, that means Verizon customers could have been getting charged for cellular data they weren't actually using.
Security researcher and iPhone hacker pod2g has brought attention to a flaw in Apple's iOS that allows the user to change the reply address of an SMS message. This bug has been a part of the iPhone's SMS since the first iPhone in 2007, but Apple has yet to address it. Basically, there's a section in the text payload called User Data Heading (UDH) that controls some advanced features, one of which is the reply address. By changing the reply address of a text message, you can make someone send ...
Hello! I want to share a few thoughts about affection with you. This post is for all who wonder what is or could be the best way to communicate with the person you like. There are many ways of expressing. When Two Worlds, Mars and Venus Collide.
This is a very simply process. Pick any app and press down on it. Soon an X will appear in the upper left hand corner. All Iphones have certain default apps, which cannot be removed. These apps will not get an X. The apps will start vibrating. Decide which apps you want to remove and touch the X. You will get a message saying that the certain app is being deleted, as is all of the apps data. The message will say "delete" or "cancel". Once you hit delete you will get a message, which will ask ...
Learn how to practice proper etiquette on a BlackBerry, smartphone or PDA. Make sure your love for your BlackBerry or other PDA device isn't making you obnoxious.
Maybe you're tired of receiving annoying messages from apps or people on Facebook? Why not block them so you don't have to deal with them ever again? Take a look at this guide for information on how to block online games and apps on Facebook from sending you notifications, requests, or other information. You can even stop people on Facebook from sending you event notifications or posting on your page by blocking them too.
If you want your valentine to die of cuteness overload this Valentine's Day then make this origami heart complete with a necktie. While it's simply a heart-shaped origami project, it can easily be turned into a card if you write a nice message on the front or back.
Embed Facebook directly into your Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox browser's toolbar using this nifty new add-on directly from the people at Facebook themselves. This addon shows you on the toolbar the number of pokes, friend requests, unread messages and upcoming events that you have, in addition to quick links to various sections of the Facebook site. In this demo video, Patrick from Tekzilla explains the cool new features and details.
Everyone loves getting Christmas cards, and it's even better when they're handmade. This tutorial shows you how to make an elegant card that evokes feelings of winter in a snow covered forest, and expresses the seasonal Peace on Earth message.
Halloween just isn't Halloween without your fair share of spooks, frights, and spine-tingling delights. If you're planning to host a Halloween party this year, why not craft your own favor boxes? It's really not as hard as you think.
Sort your emails by either date or sender within MS Outlook 2007. This clip will teach you how. Whether you're new to Microsoft's popular email and scheduling application or a seasoned MS Office professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Outlook 2007 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, and to get started organizing your own inbox, watch this free video guide.
A blind carbon copy (or BCC) is a way to send a mass email without letting your recipient see the other email addresses on your list. This computer skill is important in the business world, where privacy is prized. Hiding the addresses when sending your secret message is a useful technique you can use for any email program.
TextNow is a great App for the iPhone that allows you to, for a $1 initial fee, send unlimited text messages to any other TextNow user without using any of the precious limited texts on your AT&T plan. The App is very easy to use, requires only a modest amount of additional money to keep using it forever, and will probably wind up saving you money in the long run by cutting down your monthly billed texts.
Show your father how much you love him this Father's Day by crafting a literal representation of your feelings. This cute and easy to make origami heart comes adorned on top with a handsome white tie, sending your father messages of thanks and kindness.
If you are anxious to get the new iPhone 4G and aren't sure if you are eligible for the upgrade offer, check out this tutorial. With a quick dial you will find out if you qualify. This only takes seconds to do, so give it a shot - and it won't cost you any text messaging fees either! Good luck!
In this tutorial, learn how to create an absolutely perfect profile picture for your Facebook Fan Page. Often your fan page is used to boost your business or make yourself more popular and having the right picture can make all the difference. Check out this clip and get all the facts and tips for making your fan page stand out and get the message across.
What do President Obama, the Dalai Lama and Justin Bieber have in common? Why, they're all on Twitter, of course. Join the party. Whether you're new to Twitter's popular microblogging application or just missed a few of the essentials along the way, you're sure to benefit from this free video tutorial, which presents a complete, step-by-step guide on how to compose and share a Twitter "tweet" with the world.
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.
Secretly shoot your voice across the room in stealth mode on a laser beam in this fun and easy project! Make Magazine and Kipkay present this cool spy trick. Build a simple laser communicator that transmits your voice across a room. You need an amplifier, radio, laser pointer, battery pack and a solar cell.
Some governments and organizations employ proxy servers to filter web content, permitting access to some web sites while blocking others. Here are several ways to get around these censorship policies. This is employed in China with YouTube and many other voices of anti-goverment ideas.
With iPhoto and Mac OS 10 Mail, or other email programs, you can easily share photos with friends and family. You can send a single photo or multiple photos.
Watch this video tutorial to see how to make a wedding centerpiece with pink silk flowers and candles. This DIY (do-it-yourself) silk flower wedding centerpiece is lovely and includes three tea lights that add that special romantic mood. Every bride should look into centerpieces like this, since they're cheap and efficient, not to mention suitable for engagement parties, rehearsal dinners and anniversaries as well.
In this gardening tutorial, Martin Fish from Garden News shows you how to take cuttings from Salvia patens or blue flower sage. Cuttings are a way to root new plants from a larger plant. Watch this how to video and you can get tips on how to take a cutting and root a blue flower sage plant.
The Motorola Droid Bionic has support for both corporate email and personal email accounts. If you want to setup either, take a look at this guide from Motorola on how to sign into your email on the Android smartphone so that you can start reading and sending new messages using Verizon Wireless's 4G network connection.
This slider card is an unexpected take on your normal fold-out cards. It slides from the side, revealing a hidden message.
We know that spring seems ions away, but if you're a gardener then it's time to begin thinking about what flowers you'll be planting to bloom during the spring. If you don't have much garden space but would love a very fragrant bloom, check out this video to learn how to grow lavendr provence in a container.
Want to optimize your computer for peak performance so you can avoid error messages and hiccups when using Pro Tools? This tutorial shows you how to go into your computer's system directly and set the power option to customize it for using Pro Tools.
This tutorial shows you a very simple thing you can do to your computer in order to maximize Pro Tools' performance on your hard drive and cut down on the number of error messages you might receive - just by making a a few changes to user account controls.
This tutorial is aimed at users of Pro Tools, but anyone interested in improving their computers' performance can use it, too. It's possible that an incompatible network adapter might give you an error message in Pro Tools, and this tutorial shows you how to disable it.
In this video tutorial, we learn how to hide files within Microsoft documents and picture files as well as how to hide messages in tweets on Twitter. For more information, including a complete demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this how-to from the folks at Tinkernut.
Want to know how to submit and post Facwebook fan page updates directly to Twitter? This clip will show you how it's done. Whether you're completely new to the Facebook's popular social networking site or simply require a small amount of clarification on how to perform a particular task on Facebook, you're sure to benefit from this helpful video guide. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.