How To: Run MIUI's Apps & Launcher on Your Galaxy Note 2 Without Rooting
While rooting your Galaxy Note 2 certainly has its advantages—everything from increasing security to relieving the Power button of its duties—it's definitely not for everyone.
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Game of Thrones Returns: Celebrate with a DIY Feast of Westeros-Worthy Food & Drink
The wait is almost over. The sixth season of Game of Thrones kicks off this Sunday, April 24th at 9 p.m. (PT) on HBO, or at 5:57 p.m. (PT) on HBO GO and HBO NOW, with the first episode "The Red Woman."
How To: Add Your iCloud Email Account to Your Galaxy Note 3 or Other Android Device
Whether you've been fully converted or just want a little Apple with your Android, adding your iCloud email to your Galaxy Note 3 is a fairly simple task. Usually, Apple and Android don't play nice, but your iCloud address can be added to your stock email app just like any other email account.
How To: Add Swipe Gestures to the Stock Launcher's Home Screen on Your Nexus 5
The Google Now Launcher that was introduced with the Nexus 5 seems to have a lot of folks torn. On the one hand, having a home screen page dedicated to Google Now, as well as the always-listening voice search, are killer features. On the other hand, its lack of customization options like home screen gestures and variable grid sizes has some people considering switching to third-party launchers.
How To: Scan Multiple Docs into One PDF on Your iPhone with FineScanner (Free for a Limited Time)
Mobile scanning applications are nothing new in the world of Apple, except that the majority of them usually come with pesky in-app purchases that stifle the entire experience and render some features useless until you pay for them.
How To: Install Hundreds of Custom Themes on Your HTC One Without Rooting
Changing your wallpaper and downloading icon packs is nothing new to the HTC One, but some people will go overboard with remapped keys, icon layouts on custom grids, and extensive wallpaper cropping—processes that could take hours to get just right.
How To: Send Shutdown, Sleep, & Other Commands to Your PC Remotely from Your Galaxy Note 2
You probably use your smartphone to mostly surf the web, play games, and communicate with others, but there's so much more it can do. Thanks to integrated features and third-party apps, you can seamlessly control things around your home, including your TV, tablet, Bluetooth speakers, and even lighting fixtures.
How To: Sync Your Galaxy S3's Music with Any Android Device Without Using Group Play
Whenever a new version of a phone comes out, there's always that one cool feature you wish you had on yours. For me, that's Group Play.
How To: Get Sony's Exclusive Media Apps (Album, Movies, & Walkman) on Your Samsung Galaxy Note 3
The Xperia Z1, Sony's flagship device, has been extremely popular overseas, so much so that it has made its way into the U.S. market as the Xperia Z1S, a modified version of the original. Known more commonly as the "waterproof smartphone," the Xperia Z1 packs one of the most powerful cameras on the market, with an impressive 20.7 megapixels. Since the device is only available for T-Mobile here in the States, unless you currently have that carrier, the chances of you getting your hands on Sony...
How To: Block Ads for Hulu Plus, Pandora, YouTube, & More in iOS 7 (No Jailbreak Required)
What do Hulu Plus, Pandora, and YouTube all have in common? Ads—and lots of them. Sometimes, an advertisement or two isn't a big deal, but when you're bombarded with them daily on your iPhone, they can get old really quick, and might even lead you to delete the apps entirely.
Hack Like a Pro: Digital Forensics for the Aspiring Hacker, Part 4 (Evading Detection While DoSing)
Welcome back, my hackers novitiates! As you read my various hacking tutorials, you're probably asking yourself, "What are the chances that this hack will be detected and that I'll land behind bars, disappointing my dear mother who already thinks I'm a loser?"
How To: Install the Xposed Framework on Your Nexus 5 for Max Customization
If you've been keeping up with anything Android these days, you've no doubt heard about a little dandy called Xposed Framework kicking around. Xposed, by XDA developer rovo89, is a framework for Android devices that lets you easily modify your stock or custom ROM.
How To: Extract & Back Up All Your Text Messages & Picture Messages from Your iPhone to Your Mac
NSA aside, Apple makes it difficult for users to extract and download text messages from their iPhones onto a computer. For whatever reason (legal, devious, neurotic, etc), we've all found a time where we'd like to save backups of certain meaningful, important, or perhaps incriminating conversations (including all MMS or iMessage pictures and videos). While there are a handful of third-party applications that can help with this process, the majority of them cost money and implement certain te...
How To: Play Almost Any Downloaded Video or Music Files on the Xbox One
Seriously?! That's what a lot of people are saying when they found out that their Xbox One doesn't have a native streaming media player. When a new system is introduced and lacks features that the previous system had, it really pisses people off. The Xbox 360 allowed people to stream music and video files from a flash drive, as long as it was formatted with the Windows FAT32 file system.
How To: Make App Shortcuts on Your Galaxy Note 2's Lock Screen Adapt to Your Routine
Not particularly good looking, TouchWiz's lock screen adequately supplements the clunky and almost cartoonish-look of the infamous user interface on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. While there are hundreds of lock screen options in the Google Play Store, I've never quite discovered one that I've thoroughly enjoyed, due to the obfuscation from so many options.
How To: Android 4.4.2 Update Removes Hidden App Ops Privacy Feature: Here's How to Get It Back
If you've been using Google's hidden App Ops to lock down and prevent some of your Android applications from exposing your privacy, then think twice before updating to the new Android 4.4.2 software.
How To: Get CyanogenMod's New Secured Text Messaging Without Rooting or Installing a Custom ROM
In spite of the degree of difficulty it is to install, CyanogenMod has steadily climbed the ladder to become one of the most popular third-party firmwares for Android devices.
How To: Fix Audio Issues on the Xbox One Wired Headset
Finally, the much-hyped Xbox One is out, setting the stage for an epic holiday showdown between Microsoft and Sony. While the PS4 was released a full week before the Xbox One, Microsoft's next generation system is fully equipped with the latest games and acts as an all-out media hub.
How To: A softModder's Review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3: "Way Better Than the Note 2"
My first encounter with a phablet was late last year with the AT&T version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, having never touched or even seen its highly-acclaimed and pioneering predecessor. Initially, I was a bit overwhelmed by the enormous screen and taken aback by the dated stylus, which brought up ugly memories of my dad using his ten pound PalmPilot.
How To: Find the Cheapest Last-Minute Flights Home for the Holidays
The holidays are quickly approaching, which means everyone will be scrambling over the next couple of weeks to find the cheapest options for flights to wherever home is. There are so many sites to buy them from that it can be hard to know where to start, so we've compiled some tips and tricks for making the process as painless as possible, whether you're flying home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or whenever.
How To: Get "A Better Camera" Experience on Your Samsung Galaxy S3
Point-and-shoot cameras are practically extinct these days now that every new phone on the planet has a camera built right in. This makes the smartphone market highly competitive, because the camera specs and features are a big selling point.
How To: Save Battery & Data When Streaming YouTube Videos in the Background on Your Samsung Galaxy S4
YouTube may have started out as a video-sharing site, but these days a lot of people use it as a source for music. When I'm browsing the internet on my desktop, I usually have a YouTube tab open in the background playing some music.
How To: The Easiest Way to Play Classic NES Games on Your HTC One
One of the best-selling video game consoles of all time is the Nintendo Entertainment System, better known by its acronym, NES. However, cartridge-based gaming consoles are a pain now when compared to the newer download-and-play alternatives.
How To: Retain Swipe to Unlock Effects with Lock Screen Security on a Samsung Galaxy S4
Most hardcore Android fans loathe carrier or manufacturer additions to the Android operating system. Whether it's bloatware or changes to the user interface, many enthusiasts prefer the clean look of stock Android.
Body Language 101: How to Hold Your Beer & Body to Look & Feel More Confident
Walking into a bar or crowded dinner party can be intimidating. Being surrounded by a bunch of people you're unfamiliar with or trying to impress the smokeshow at the bar is no easy task...for most of us.
How To: Network Unlock Your Samsung Galaxy S3 to Use with Another GSM Carrier
Why unlock your Samsung Galaxy S3 to use with a different SIM card? One possible reason is that you love your phone, but not your cellular provider because of the poor service or an unreliable connection. If you purchased a Samsung GS3 with AT&T, T-Mobile, etc. on a contract, it might be locked for a specific amount of time called the contract period.
How To: Add Quick Settings Toggles to the Notification Tray on Your HTC One
Starting on Android 4.2, a new feature called Quick Settings was integrated into the Notification tray, which allows you to quickly turn on and off certain device features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, etc. These toggles also provides a shortcut to the feature's more advanced settings by long-pressing on the icon.
How To: Ditch Phone Mode & Get the Full Tablet UI on Your Nexus 7—Without Rooting
If you've never played with a Nexus 10 tablet, then you probably have no idea that your Nexus 7 actually has a different user interface. For some reason, Google decided it was better for the Nexus 7 to use a phone UI instead of a tablet one, but luckily for us, we don't have to accept that.
How To: 10 Life Hacks You Need to Know for a Better Summer
Are you a messy burger eater? Ants and fruit flies invading your home? Hate drinking warm drinks? Find out the quick and easy DIY solutions to these problems with these 10 amazing tips and tricks for the summer.
How To: Customize the Home Button Shortcut on Your Samsung Galaxy S3 for Any App You Want
As mentioned before, the Home button is one of the most important keys on your Samsung Galaxy S3, and pretty much all Android devices for that matter. However, when it comes to customization, it's rather tame.
How To: Add the Control Center Style Quick Settings from iOS 7 onto Your Samsung Galaxy S3
There are very few things Android users would want to borrow from Apple's iOS, but let's move beyond the fanboy/girl biases and admit that Apple actually does a few things pretty well. One of those things is looks, and the new iOS 7 looks pretty amazing to me.
How To: Sideload & Install Open Source iOS Apps on Your iPhone Using MacBuildServer—Without Jailbreaking
Apple is widely known for keeping a tight grip on iOS, disallowing open-source and third-party downloads. While there are many reasons for this, the three most frequently referenced are quality control, malware prevention, and of course—money.
How To: Use Speech Commands on the Nokia Lumia 920 and Other Windows Phone 8 Devices
I used to have nightmares when I watched Terminator 2. I mean, I didn't step on a playground for a least two months after I saw that movie. There was something terrifying about computers having so much intelligence.
How To: Work Around the Copy/Paste Bug on the Samsung Galaxy S3, Note 2, and Other TouchWiz Devices
If you have a Samsung Galaxy S3 or Galaxy Note 2, you might not have noticed it yet, but there's an annoying little bug that centers around your clipboard. If you tend to do a lot of copy/pasting on your device, you've probably seen it happen—your phone crashes.
Spraffl: A New Location-Based Social Network That's Completely Anonymous
The long standing popularity of 4chan has been due to the entirely anonymous setup. The site's anonymous community and culture has provoked media attention, in turn inciting larger audiences. On the other side of the spectrum is Facebook—popular for its connectivity and easily identifiable names. With the brush of keyboard stroke, you can be connected with your entire high school class in a matter of seconds.
How To: Amazon's AutoRip Gives You Free Digital Copies of 15 Years Worth of Bought CDs, But There's a Catch…
When was the last time you bought a CD? Most of us listen to music through a number of digital channels—MP3s, Internet streaming services like Pandora and Spotify, and satellite radio, to name just a few.
How To: Get Unlimited Free Trial Subscriptions to Netflix, Spotify, and More Using Gmail
Free trials are a great way to test out products before a purchase, or simply for the exploitation of free stuff for that limited amount of time. Some trials last a few days and some last even a month or two, but no matter what—these trials will always expire. But like most things in life, there is a way to get around such limitations.
How To: Android's Built-In Scanner Only Catches 15% of Malicious Apps—Protect Yourself with One of These Better Alternatives
Most of us have some sort of malware scanner or antivirus program on our computers, but what about our smartphones? A lot of people don't realize that computers aren't the only devices that are susceptible to malicious software and apps—they can follow you on your smartphone or tablet, too.
News: A Small Survey of a Selection of Steampunk Santas
This post has been brought to you by the letter S. With the Christmas season fast approaching, it's time to ask one of the most important questions of our lifetime:
How To: The 5 Most Timely Costumes for Halloween 2012
Timely costumes for Halloween are awesome—especially really obscure ones—because they're indicative of social awareness. In 2010, I remember seeing several Chilean Miner costumes, which I thought were great. 2012 brings new stories, new characters and more importantly...new Halloween costumes.