News: Who Has the Best Camera of Them All? HTC U11 Apparently
The Google Pixel was just knocked off its pedestal as DxOMark Mobile's best smartphone camera, courtesy of the HTC U11. Ouch ...
Quality Online Search Results
Dev Report: Microsoft's New Telepresence Tutorial Makes Entry Point for Sharing Easier
We know your time is valuable to you, so starting this week — and continuing every Wednesday — we are going to release weekly Dev Reports that quickly highlight important news and updates that augmented and mixed reality developers should know about.
News: Anchor Brings Quality Call Recording to the Masses with New 'Interview' Feature
As someone who grew up adamantly complaining every time my parents dared to turn on talk radio in the car, I can admit it's a bit weird that I have a love affair with podcasts. I can't help it! Even though podcasts are essentially the modern-day customizable talk radio, I choose to defend my all-out obsession with pointing out how popular they are (I mean, SNL even picked up on the trend).
How To: Improve Your LG V20's Speaker Sound with This Simple Hardware Mod
The LG V20 is a true audiophile's phone when it comes to playing music through headphones, but it only has a single bottom-firing mono speaker. So even though the V20 has received plenty of praise for its overall audio experience, that single built-in speaker ruins the fun by putting out some shoddy and cheap-sounding audio.
How To: Force-Enable High Impedance Mode on Your LG V20 for Better Sound
The LG V20 went on sale on September 29, 2016, and is the second flagship phone in the V series to be released by LG. Both the V20 and its predecessor, the V10, have been audio-oriented phones from the start, but the V20 has a much nicer Hi-Fi Quad 32-Bit DAC, which makes the output audio from the 3.5 mm headphone jack sound amazing. It's loud, it's crisp, it's full, and everything from the higher frequencies to the lower ones can be heard.
News: Microsoft Research Shows Off Mobile Holoportation
In recent years, wave after wave of technological advancement has led us down roads that are beginning to look more and more like science fiction stories. In their efforts to bring us from science fiction to science fact, Microsoft Research showed us a new communication medium called Holoportation earlier this year—and now they have found a way to make this highly complex holographic system far more mobile.
FYI: Why Android's Snapchat App Takes Inferior Photos
If you've ever wondered why the pictures and videos you share with Snapchat on your Android device seem to look grainy with low resolution, you're not alone. We all know it, and we've come to accept it as a plain fact: Snapchat image quality sucks on Android.
How To: Create Emoji Art from Your Photos Using This Fun Tool
While there are tools online that let you turn photos into interesting emoji art, and mobile apps that let you create emoji mosaics, none do it better than an iPhone app by second verse, which makes it a super easy, highly customizable process.
How To: Download & Watch the Original Star Wars Trilogy Unaltered
I loved the original Star Wars trilogy when I was a kid, but loathe all of the current DVD, Blu-ray, and streaming versions available today. Ever since 1997, every version of A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi has had horrendous CGI effects added in that George Lucas deemed necessary to bring his "ideal" version to life.
How To: Find & Delete Dumb, Offensive Posts on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter
One tweet can get your fired from your job. At least, in the cases of Gilbert Gottfried, Rashard Mendenhall, Ozzie Guillen, and Mike Bacsik, who were all either fired or forced to resign from their jobs after posting regrettable tweets online.
Dating by Profession: Retailers Don't Say No; Students Can't Get a Date
Are you a lawyer who's married to a computer programmer? Chances are you might not have even dated if you first met online.
How To: New Google Now Launcher Makes Your Old Android Feel Like It’s Running Lollipop
These last few months have been a Lollipop lovefest, and I'm not talking about the candy. Android's latest OS has been exalted for its embrace of Material Design, and we've certainly given Lollipop its fair share of coverage as well; check out all its new features and ways to make older devices get some of the new look and feel of Android 5.0.
How To: Instantly Detect When Online Articles Are Actually Ads
Earlier this month, John Oliver spent a segment on Last Week Tonight explaining native advertising, a practice followed by many online media outlets such as BuzzFeed, The New York Times, and VICE, which combines editorial content along with sponsored advertisements.
How To: The Flat-Out Easiest Way to Create a Nandroid Backup on Android
If you have a custom recovery installed on your Android device, the first thing you should have done as soon as you finished installing it was to create a Nandroid backup. But if you didn't, I'm not here to judge—I'm here to show you a much easier way.
News: Google Joins Netflix in Shaming ISPs into Faster Service
Netflix releases monthly reports on major ISPs relating to how well their service works on each provider. The purpose is to educate the public on their choice of service provider, but since many of us hardly have any choice at all when is comes to an ISP, it backhandedly works to shame them (if they're even capable of feeling shame under all those millions of dollars).
How To: Create an Online Course in 30 Minutes
If you are willing to teach online, you might have thought of making online courses. But if you found it too hard, you can start with micro-courses, that can be created in 10 to 30 minutes. Step 1: Define 5-7 Main Points That You Will Cover in Separate Lessons.
How To: Record High-Quality Audio of Phone Calls on Your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (No Root Required)
While the legality of secretly recording phone calls varies in each country, sometimes it's useful to have audio documentation of conversations you have on your Samsung Galaxy Note 2.
How To: Identify Fake Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses
How can you tell if the pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses that you are about to buy online are not a fake? Follow these 9 simple steps to verify the authenticity of your purchase. Always ask the seller to use the youVerify app prior to purchase. It's Smarter Selling & Safer Shopping.
How To: Your Personal Data May Be Stored in MP3s Purchased Online! Here's How to Delete It
If you weren't aware, all music purchased online through iTunes, Amazon, and other digital audio providers have information embedded that can be used to identify the buyer and transaction of the digital music file. This may seem like something you should be disclosed about in their terms of use, but it's not.
How To: It's Now Against the Law to Unlock Your Mobile Phone—Here's How to Help Make It Legal Again! [UPDATED]
UPDATE: The whitehouse petition has received enough signatures to require a response from the government. Your voices have been heard! Now we wait...
How To: Watch the 2013 Super Bowl XLVII Game Live Online and on Your Phone
It's finally here. After months of amazing games and one of the best playoffs I've seen in years, two teams have finally made it to the top of the mountain. The Baltimore Ravens and the San Fransisco 49ers are set to square off February 3rd at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana for Super Bowl 47. Historically, the most watched event on television is the Super Bowl, but that's exactly where the problem lies—television.
How To: Stop the Delete Key from Sending You Back to the Previous Webpage in Firefox
For the most part, keyboard shortcuts are great. They save you some time and make it easier to do everything right from the push of a button. But like most things in life, there is always a caveat, and in this case, for me—it's a huge one.
How To: Pack Household Goods Effectively
When the time comes to move home, the logistics of moving your belongings can easily become tiresome, tricky and even disastrous. However, with a little careful planning and foresight, the act of packing can be a simple process. The key to getting the most from your move is in efficiency, planning and care. Here, we take a look at the best ways to pack in order to ensure a safe and simple move.
How To: Craft a festive paper advent calendar for Christmas
The holiday season rushes by so fast that it helps to keep track of touching holiday memories with an advent calendar. Advent calendars also allow you and your family to congregate together each day and spend some quality time together counting down the days to Christmas and sometimes getting a new small gift each day.
How To: Write a personal statement to finish your application
In this video we learn how to write a personal statement to finish your application. This should not be a listing of all your qualities, it should be a story. This should have a lot of information about yourself to show how great you are. Write about anything that makes you different and focus on a strength you have. Think about everything you do outside of the classroom and be honest, because these people don't know you. Write with your heart and don't brag about yourself. Think about your a...
How To: Fix bothersome cracks in driveways with QPR's Pavement Crack Filler
Your driveway is not perfect and over time, can succumb to bothersome cracks that make driving very uncomfortable. They can even make walking harder, and are unsightly. But Lowe's has the solution to fill them up in a hurry— QPR's Pavement Crack Filler.
How To: Add video to an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad app with the Apple iOS 4 SDK
Want to play video in your iOS 4 app? This clip will teach you everything you'll need to know. If you're interested in writing apps for the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, you'll need to know how to use the iOS SDK. If you're entirely new to the dev kit, however, never fear: the web is awash in high-quality, free tutorials like this one, which will teach you everything you'll need to know. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started writing your own app...
How To: Use the Event Kit UI in the Apple iOS 4 SDK
In this clip, you'll learn how to utilize the Event Kit UI in the iOS 4 development kit. If you're interested in writing apps for the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, you'll need to know how to use the iOS SDK. If you're entirely new to the dev kit, however, never fear: the web is awash in high-quality, free tutorials like this one, which will teach you everything you'll need to know. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started writing your own apps and ...
How To: Craft funky woven duct tape credit card holders
Wallets are our least favorite item to purchase. Why? Well, they're either super crappy in quality and looks (think a pleather wallet you can purchase at the clearance bin at Wal-Mart) or gorgeous but out of this world expensive (Dior, anyone?). There's selmonly a space in between where we can get a good-looking wallet for cheap.
How To: Make a healthy no bake cheesecake
If you're craving cheesecake, but wish it wasn't so fattening, this next tutorial is for you. In the video, you'll find out how you can make a healthy no bake cheesecake in less than a day. Most of the ingredients in the recipe are of low-fat quality and has half the calories od traditional cheesecake. It's easy to make and tastes so good, you'll be wanting more. So good luck and enjoy!
How To: Increase the render speed in Final Cut Pro
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to increase the rendering speed in Adobe Final Cut Pro. Begin by right-clicking on your current sequence and click on Settings. Click on the Video Processing tab and select "Always Render in RGB". Then click OK. This change will only be noticeable when working with really high quality high definition footage or film. Even then, you are able to re-render at a higher bit rate later, without having to affect the original image or export. This video will ...
How To: Edit and touch up your pictures in Adobe Photoshop
Want to take your digital pictures to the next level? This tutorial demonstrates how to use Photoshop's various touch-up tools to do just that. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular image editing software or simply looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're sure to benefit from this free video tutorial. For more information, including step-by-step instructions on how to retouch your own digital photographs for professional-quality images, watch this digital photographer's guide.
How To: Play a G7 shuffle strum pattern on the ukulele
There's no getting around it: if you want to get good at playing the ukulele or any other instrument, you'll need to practice. Fortunately, the Internet is awash in free, high-quality uke lessons, like this one from YouTube's preeminent tropical tutor, Ukulele Mike. This particular tutorial provides a detailed, step-by-step overview of how to play a G7 shuffle strum pattern. For more information, and to get started playing this shuffle strum pattern on your own ukelele, watch this helpful how...
How To: Achieve a picture-in-picture effect in Apple iMovie
This video will show you how to take advantage of one of Apple's iMovie advanced editing feature, picture-in-picture effect. This feature allows you to embed either another video, or images into a base video. To enable this valuable tool in iMovie, go into the iMovie preferences by clicking on "iMovie" in the top left hand corner of your screen. Under the General tab make sure "Show advanced tools" is selected. Import a video from your event library by dragging it into iMovie and selecting pi...
How To: Make a gorgeous spa pamper gift basket
Debbie Quintata shows us how to make a gourmet spa gift basket. By starting with a planter as a gift basket container you can start filling it with your pamper spa items fit for friends, family, co-workers or anyone who deserves a gift basket. Suggestions to fill your basket include a high quality towel, body spray, relaxing music, linen, a simple white tea cup, box of relaxation tea, candle, body bar of soap, and a engraved rock. Very simple and a great gift for anyone, including yourself. S...
How To: Batch resize photo in Photoshop
Are your high resolution photos taking too much space on your hard drive? Tired of getting file too large error when emailing photos? Don't worry Photoshop Samurai will help you batch resize your photos as fast as a ninja! You will need: Photoshop (Not Elements version), photos that need to be resized Go to file, then scripts and select image processor. Select the source folder (where your pictures are stored on your computer). Then select a destination location (where you would like the proc...
How To: Make herbal capsules with a capsule machine
Mountain Rose Herbs John Gallagher shows us how to make our own quality powdered herb capsules using a machine in this video. You will need three things to do this, your powdered herbs, zero size capsules and a zero size capsule machine. He shows us the parts of the capsule machine so we can follow his instructions. Find a container to put the base of the machine in, pull apart the capsules, putting the bottom part in the bottom of the machine and the top in the top part of the machine, filli...
How To: Upload HD videos to YouTube
This is a tutorial video on uploading HD quality video onto YouTube. The video is simply a screen shot view of the YouTube home page. As the narrator goes through the steps the cursor moves and clicks on what you should click on. He advises to click on upload; he clicks to choose a video. The video must have a certain resolution to be assigned HD video. He indicates that YouTube will accept a variety of file formats to upload. You must use the 44.1 kHz frequency rates to get the best resoluti...
How To: Make caramel sauce or dip
In this video by Stupidly Simple Snacks you will learn how to make a simple caramel sauce. Follow these simple steps to make the caramel sauce which goes on top of the Coffee Caramel Bourbon Cupcake. You will need the following: Heave whipping cream, unsalted butter, one cup of sugar, a good quality whiskey and a measuring cup. Put the sugar into the saucepan and boil for 5-7 minutes, until it becomes the shade of maple syrup. Add 3 tablespoons of butter and a 3/4 cup of heavy cream. Now add ...
How To: Draw storyboards
Gus Russel explains how storyboarding can be used to illustrate what a movie might be like. He has been given the task of drawing a frame for each page of a 130 page movie script. Story boarding gives the author a general idea of how the movie will come together, how the characters will look, etc. Russel shows the audience how to quickly draw a quality sketch, and how to shade it properly. The sketches do not function to show exactly what will happen in each scene, but rather what "might" hap...