by ben patterson | Jan 13, 2016 | how-tos, phones, tablets
Both Android phones and iPhones now boast low-power modes (aka battery saver modes) that’ll keep an almost-dead battery alive for a tiny bit longer—you know, long enough to send a few last emails or read one more chapter of a Kindle book. The only problem is... 
by ben patterson | Aug 26, 2015 | apps, desktops, how-tos, phones
At first, it was funny. A PR rep had accidentally sent out a press release with the entire mailing list—and we’re talking hundreds of recipients, including me—CC’d rather than BCC’d, meaning that the email addresses of everyone on the list were there... 
by ben patterson | Apr 28, 2015 | apps, how-tos, phones, privacy
So, what’s the big deal about Instagram, you ask? Well, it’s not just a smartphone app for adding eye-popping color filters and blur effects to your photos. Above all, Instagram is about sharing your latest snapshots with friends, other Instagram users, and yes, the... 
by ben patterson | Feb 24, 2015 | how-tos, phones, tablets
Ever wish you could put icons for your favorite contacts directly on your phone’s home screen—you know, so that the smiling faces of your friends and loved ones would appear right next to your Gmail, Chrome, and Phone icons? Well, you can if you have an Android... 
by ben patterson | Jan 6, 2015 | how-tos, phones, tablets
The latest version of Android—version 5.0, a.k.a. “Lollipop”—is taking its sweet time making it to Android phones and tablets. My Nexus 7 Android tablet only got the update a few weeks ago, and my newish Motorola G is still waiting for its own flavor of... 
by ben patterson | Dec 17, 2014 | apps, how-tos
So, did you put off holiday shopping until the eleventh hour? Never fear. If the special someone on your list has an iPhone, iPad or Android device, there’s still an easy—and best of all, instant—way to put a smile on her face: give her an app. In just a few... 
by ben patterson | Nov 13, 2014 | how-tos, phones, tablets
There are plenty of snazzy-looking third-party keyboards you can install on your Android phone, but for the most part, I’ve stuck with the tried and true “stock” Android keypad. But while the old Android keyboard has some nifty tricks up its sleeves... 
by ben patterson | Oct 7, 2014 | how-tos, tablets
Having just a single tablet for your entire family makes a certain amount of financial sense. But what if you’re not thrilled with your better half’s taste in wallpaper? And what happens when your little ones start deleting your email? Luckily,...