Android
How to use Google Maps offline on Android
How to use Google Maps offline on Android By Justin Duino, 9to5google.com
Whether you’re going on vacation overseas or just want to be able to navigate around town without draining your data plan, you can download different areas within Google Maps to use while offline. Here’s how.
How to use your Google Maps offline By Contact, www.androidauthority.com
Google Maps is one of the most popular and reliable mapping/navigation services, but it’s not without its faults. One of the main complaints is that it works best with a solid data connection, something we don’t always have outside the city. Thankfully, it’s possible to take Google Maps offline, but this great feature is rendered useless without some proactive procedures.
Android Pie 9.0: 3 settings to change right away
Android Pie 9.0: 3 settings to change right away By Jason Cipriani, www.cnet.com
Google's Android Pie 9.0 operating system has slowly made its way to more devices than the Pixel ($350 at Amazon) line since its release. With an improved Do Not Disturb feature, gesture navigation and smart recommendations, Android Pie has a lot to like.
5 obscure Android features you need to start using By Ryan Whitwam, www.pcworld.com
If you’ve been using Android for more than a few generations, it can be easy to forget just how far we’ve come. Google has added a ton of useful features to Android, and some of the best don’t get as much attention as they deserve. But we can fix that. Here are the five most underappreciated features hiding in the latest versions of Android.
Tips to Change your Password – LastPass
5 Tips to Change your Password By Leah Bachmann, blog.lastpass.com
Even though weak, reused and compromised passwords are the cause behind many breaches, people continue to display pretty risky password behavior. In fact, we’ve found that 91% of people know that using the same password for multiple accounts is a security risk, but 59% admitted that they do it anyway.
Using LastPass on iOS: Tricks you Might have Missed By Leah Bachmann, blog.lastpass.com
You want your phone with you everywhere. Don’t you feel the same way about your passwords? With the LastPass iOS and Android apps you have access to all your passwords wherever you go.
Using LastPass on Android: Tricks you Might have Missed By Leah Bachmann, blog.lastpass.com
We carry our phones with us everywhere, so it’s important our favorite apps are available on-the-go. LastPass offers a great app for both Android and iOS users that lets you access all your passwords and other essential information wherever you need it.
Password Fatigue and LastPass By Joe Siegrist, blog.lastpass.com
John Kelly of the Washington Post had an amusing article today about how much trouble it is to create a new password every 90 days: So Many Passwords, So Little Time By John Kelly
Google Maps for Android will now let you set arrival and departure times
Google Maps for Android will now let you set arrival and departure times – By Alex Wagner, www.phonedog.com
Google Maps users have long been able to choose their arrival and departure times when setting up navigation on the web, but that feature is only just now arriving on mobile.
Can Anyone Really Track My Phone’s Precise Location?
Can Anyone Really Track My Phone’s Precise Location? – By Chris Hoffman, www.howtogeek.com
Lewis Tse Pui Lung/Shutterstock.com.Photo by: Lewis Tse Pui Lung/Shutterstock.com
It’s the year 2019, and everyone willingly carries a tracking device in their pockets. People can have their precise locations tracked in real time by the government, advertising companies, and even rogue bounty hunters. It sounds like dystopian fiction—but it’s a reality.
– Use Your Android Phone as a Flashlight
How to Use Your Android Phone as a Flashlight – By Cameron Summerson, www.howtogeek.com
It’s dark and you need to be able to see. It’s fine—whip out your trusty Android phone and put the camera flash to work as a flashlight. Here’s how to do it.
How to Take the Best Photos with Your Android Phone
How to Take the Best Photos with Your Android Phone – By Florence Ion, lifehacker.com
It’s that time of year again when you’re working your smartphone overtime attempting to keep up with all of the memories of holiday parties, family gatherings, and pets you’ve wrangled into festive attire. If you’re working with any of the latest Android phones, including the Google Pixel 3 or Samsung Note9, then one of the best cameras on the market is already in your pocket.
5 best remote desktop apps for Android!
5 best remote desktop apps for Android! – By Contact, www.androidauthority.com
Remote access to a desktop is one of the most niche power-user features out there. However, it is perfectly doable on an Android device. There are two basic ways to do it. Users can remote into their Android device from a computer. We covered that functionality in our best screen mirroring apps for Android list. This list focuses more on accessing your desktop computer from your Android device. There are a bunch of apps that boast remote access as a feature. However, only some of them are actually good. Here are the best remote desktop apps for Android!
Google Smart Lock: The complete guide
Google Smart Lock: The complete guide – By Jr Raphael, www.computerworld.com
Think fast: How many times a day do you pick up your phone to look at something? Unless you live in the tundra or have far more self-control than most, the answer probably falls somewhere between "quite a few" and "more than any sane person could count." Assuming you keep your device properly secured, that means you're doing an awful lot of unlocking — be it with your face, your fingerprint, or the code you tap or swipe onto your screen.
How to Remotely Troubleshoot PC’s
How to Remotely Troubleshoot a Friend’s Windows PC Without Any Extra Software – By Chris Hoffman, www.howtogeek.com
Windows offers a few built-in tools for performing remote assistance over the Internet. These tools allow you to take remote control of another person’s computer so you can help them troubleshoot it while you’re on the phone with them. They work similarly to Remote Desktop, but are available on all editions of Windows and are easy to set up.
How to Avoid Fingerprint Scams in Apps
How to Avoid Fingerprint Scams in Apps – By David Murphy, lifehacker.com
It’s great when an app allows you to add extra security—a fingerprint scan or a depth map of your face, for example—to access its contents. In case someone ever gets their hands on your unlocked device (or figures out your PIN), it’ll be trickier for them to access critical apps, like your banking apps, if they don’t have your finger or face nearby.
Best Phones for Google Fi in 2018
Best Phones for Google Fi in 2018 – By Hayato Huseman, www.androidcentral.com
For just $20/month for unlimited calls/texts and $10 per GB of data you use (any data past 6GB is free), Google Fi is one of the most compelling MVNOs around — especially when you factor in its excellent roaming support, nationwide coverage, and Bill Protection feature that credits back whatever data you don't use. Fi works on almost any unlocked phone these days, but certain features work better on some phones than others — these are the ones that will give you the best Fi experience.
Google Fi (aka Project Fi): The complete FAQ – By Jr Raphael, www.computerworld.com
Google Fi may sound like some weird sort of initiation ritual ("Whoa, what happened to Rick? I heard he got Googlefied!") — but if you can get past its silly-sounding name, the recently rebranded wireless service can both save you money and step up your smartphone security situation.
Android Power User Features
The best Android power user features you may have forgotten about By Corbin Davenport, www.androidpolice.com
Android has now been around for over a decade, and every single update has brought new features. Some functionality is unknown to the vast majority of smartphone owners, either because the options aren't well-advertised, or because their uses are limited.
In this post, we've compiled some of the best power user features that Android has to offer.
Google app with a dark mode
Here’s every Google app with a dark mode, and how to enable it By Ben Schoon, 9to5google.com
For years now, the Android community has cried out for dark themes in applications and the system throughout, all while Google continued to slap more and more white themes basically everywhere. Slowly but surely, though, we’ve been seeing more Google dark mode apps on various platforms. Here’s every Google dark mode app available today.
The Best Grammar Checkers For Every Type Of Writing
The Best Grammar Checkers For Every Type Of Writing by Jennifer Allen @jenjeahaly
We all want to write better and more effectively. It’s easy to become both paranoid and complacent over one’s writing style. Fortunately, there are plenty of online services that help by checking your grammar. We’ve looked at some of the best grammar checkers out there.
Android Pie’s lockdown mode
What you need to know about Android Pie’s lockdown mode By Contact, www.androidauthority.com
Hidden away amongst all the interface enhancements and feature additions in Android Pie is an all-new feature that has somewhat slipped under the radar for many users. Lockdown mode is a new security-focused addition that is going to be of particular use to anyone who is worried about protecting their private data in situations where their smartphone might not be in their possession.
Hidden features for Google Maps on Android
9 handy hidden features for Google Maps on Android By Jr Raphael, www.computerworld.com
Who doesn't love Google Maps? The native Android app helps those of us with oatmeal for brains find our way anywhere, without having to fire any neurons or exercise any synapses. It even helps us find places to pick up tasty cuisine — like, uh, oatmeal (yum!).
Google using lock screen passwords to encrypt Android Cloud backups
Google using lock screen passwords to encrypt Android Cloud backups By Lisa Vaas, nakedsecurity.sophos.com
Google’s got your back when it comes to your backups, it says – and it’s even promising to keep its own peepers off the goods.
Google Advanced Protection Program
Google Advanced Protection Program by landing.google.com
What is phishing?
Phishing is a common technique that can be used to trick you into giving away your username, password, 2-Step Verification code, or other personal information. Phishing attacks can happen through a variety of channels, including email, telephone, text message, or in apps.How does Advanced Protection defend against phishing?
Advanced Protection requires you to use a physical Security Key.
-Best Android Phones Under $300
The Best Android Phones Under $300 by reviewgeek.com Michael Crider
One of the nicest things about the Android platform is that phones come in all sizes and price ranges. We’ve selected the best phones under the $300 mark for American shoppers.
With a price range under three C-notes, you won’t get the latest processors or a long list of extra features. But these phones have access to Google’s Play Store.
How to Make Android as Secure as Possible
How to Make Android as Secure as Possible by howtogeek.com
Mobile security is a big deal, probably now more than ever. Most of us live on our phones, with financial information, calendar appointments, family photos, and more stored on our devices. Here’s how to keep your Android phone secure.
– 5 best password managers for Android
The 5 best password managers for Android by androidpolice.com
Our accounts hold invaluable information about us — about our work, our finances, and our social lives. Keeping that information safe from prying eyes is paramount, and to do that, we need solid passwords. Assuming you're a typical person living in the modern age, you probably have accounts and passwords for about a million websites and services, and it can be hard to keep them all straight. Password managers take the onus of remembering dozens and dozens of (hopefully) unique strings of characters off our stupid brains, and once you've used one, it's hard to imagine going without.
– Turn your face into a sticker for Gboard
Google wants you to turn your face into a sticker for Gboard by trustedreviews.com
The trouble with emoji is that very few of us look like the caricatures we punctuate our instant messages with. If you’ve been itching for a more personalised experience, Google is rolling out an answer right now in new versions of its own Gboard keyboard for Android and iOS.
Google PhotoScan, Glare-Free Way to Capture Photos
Google PhotoScan– The Glare-Free Way to Capture Old Photos by dottotech
Looking for a great photo scanning app for your phone? A way where you can easily scan precious photographs without a dedicated scanner?
How to Juggle Multiple Google Calendars
How to Juggle Multiple Google Calendars by howtogeek.com
If you only have one Google account, managing your calendar is pretty simple. But once you bring your work account, shared family calendars, and even specialty calendars into the mix, keeping things organized becomes more challenging.
How to Set Up Google Family to Share Your Google Services by howtogeek.com
If you pay for a book on Google Play Books, your significant other should be able to read it, too. The same goes for movies, music, and even apps or games—if you make a purchase, everyone in the family should be able to enjoy it. Thanks to Google Family, they can.
Google Datally adds new modes
Google Datally adds emergency bank and bedtime mode by androidandme.com
Mobile data limits are tricky creatures. Plans vary wildly in how they handle data limits and it can be confusing for users. It’s particularly bothersome when you hit your data limit and are left stranded with no or slow data. To help users, Google released Datally, an app that helps you better manage and conserve your data. Today, Datally is gaining two new features: emergency bank and bedtime mode.
Google’s New Gmail Features
Gmail’s biggest redesign is now live by theverge.com
The world’s most popular email service is getting a big overhaul today. Google is making official the changes we saw leaked earlier this month, with email snoozing, nudging, and confidential mode making their debut alongside a substantial visual redesign for Gmail on the web. The new Gmail begins a global phased rollout today, which is to say that it won’t be available to every one of Gmail’s 1.4 billion users right away, and the first to get it will be invited to opt in rather than being able to just turn it on themselves.
Google’s New Gmail Features and How Best to Use Them by tech.co
This year, Gmail’s 1.4 billion users are getting their first major upgrade since 2011. From a game-changing “snooze email” function to the exciting option to make sent messages “self-destruct”, we run through the key features of the new Gmail upgrade.
How to Find Contacts in the New Gmail by howtogeek.com
The new Gmail started rolling out last week, and it’s awesome. But many people are asking the same question: where did Contacts go?
The previous version of Gmail, now called “Classic Gmail,” had a drop-down at the top-left for quick access to Contacts and Tasks.
Google will force you to switch to the new Gmail whether you want it or not — here's when you'll get it by businessinsider.com
Google recently announced a massive update to its popular email platform. So far, it's given personal account holders and company admins (who run company's G Suite accounts) the choice to leave their Gmail inboxes as-is, or to opt into the new Gmail, which comes with a new look and a lot of new features. If they don't enjoy the experience, users and admins are welcome to opt back out.
That's no longer going to be the case in a matter of months, as Google announced
How to undo the Gmail update – and what features you'll miss if you do by independent.co.uk
The new Gmail update features a snooze email function, a fresh design and a 'confidential mode' that protects outgoing emails.
However hundreds of Gmail users took to social media to complain about Google's new design. Fortunately for them, there is a way to switch it back to the old version, but only for a limited time.
Apple Pay Now Accepted at Costco Warehouses
Apple Pay Now Accepted at All Costco Warehouses in United States by macrumors.com
Apple Pay is now accepted at all Costco warehouses in the United States, at in-store checkouts, according to the company. Costco has been equipping its warehouses with contactless payment terminals over the past several months, and as of this week, it has activated contactless payments at all of its 750 locations
Gmail for Android allows you to undo sending an email
Latest Gmail for Android update allows you to undo sending an email by androidandme.com
The desktop version of Gmail is able to undo sending an email. The feature delayed the actual sending of the email for a short time so you can hit undo if you made a mistake or wrote something stupid. But the feature has not been available on Android until now.
Protect Yourself Against a SIM Swap Attack
How to Protect Yourself Against a SIM Swap Attack by wired.com
A spate of hacked Instagram accounts. A $220 million lawsuit against AT&T. A bustling underground crime ring. They all have roots in an old problem that has lately found new urgency: SIM card swaps, a scam in which hackers steal your mobile identity—and use it to upend your life.
– Grammarly, an online grammar checking too
Grammarly Review: Is Grammarly Worth All The Hype? by bloggingocean.com
Do you make a lot of grammatical and punctuation errors? Don't worry; you are not the only one to face this problem.
Grammarly, an online grammar checking tool, claims to make writing a lot easier by proofreading your content in real time as you type. Off late, it is gaining a lot of popularity and is being used and recommended by many people.
Grammarly – Advanced grammar and spell checker for iPad and Mac by michaelkummer.com
Grammarly is an advanced grammar and spell checker for iOS and the Mac. It helps me to write better copy at work and in my capacity as a blogger. If you write as much as I do, I would highly recommend to check it out.
Find your recently uploaded pics on Google Photos, even if they date back many years
How to find your recently uploaded pics on Google Photos, even if they date back many years by androidpolice.com
I love Google Photos and I keep recommending it left and right to anyone I know. But Photos isn't perfect and there's still a lot that the service could do to improve the user experience. For example, the ability to order photos in different ways is missing — you get reverse chronological and that's it. If you're only backing up recent images as you take them, that's not an issue, but if you're uploading older photos, it becomes near impossible to find those images and edit, share, or make albums of them. You might scroll and scroll, try to search for the date if you remember it, and sometimes nothing works. There is one little trick though.
Android Auto Tweak
Every Android Auto User Should Tweak These 3 Settings by makeuseof.com
Android Auto makes accessing your phone’s music, navigation, and more in your car easy and safe. It features tons of compatible apps and easy commands thanks to Google Assistant.
If you want to go further with Android Auto, you should know about a few quick tweaks to make it better.
LastPass Authenticator
LastPass Authenticator by logmeininc.com
LastPass Authenticator is a multifactor app for Android, iOS, and Windows mobile devices. It supports 3 ways to log in:
- Time based 6-digit codes
- One-tap push notifications
- SMS 6-digit codes
LastPass Authenticator is also TOTP compliant, meaning it’s compatible with all apps and websites that support Google Authenticator. That means you can conveniently manage Multifactor Authentication for multiple services, all from LastPass Authenticator.
Tips to Help You Master Gboard for Android
20 Tips to Help You Master Gboard for Android by android.gadgethacks.com
Typing on a mobile device has come a long way since the days of flip phones. Today, there are awesome keyboard apps like Gboard, which integrates Google search features and makes typing a breeze. But the whole experience still stands to improve if you take some time to learn a few useful tips.
Gboard incorporates everything we've come to expect from a modern keyboard, including emoji support and voice typing.
Turn Your Galaxy S9 into a Google Pixel
Turn Your Galaxy S9 into a Google Pixel by gadgethacks.com
Unless you own an Exynos model, there won't be much development on the custom ROM front for the Galaxy S9. But that doesn't mean you have to put up with all of the UI quirks from Samsung Experience (née TouchWiz). With a little work, you can give your S9 a stock Android makeover, even without root.
Yes, You Should Still Change Your DNS Settings for Better Internet
Yes, You Should Still Change Your DNS Settings for Better Internet by gizmodo.com
The DNS (Domain Name System) server settings on your laptop, phone, or router are your gateway to the web—converting easy-to-remember domain names into actual internet IP addresses, just like your contacts app converts names into actual phone numbers. You can change which DNS server your devices use though, and perhaps get yourself a faster, more secure internet connection along the way.
How to Change the DNS Server on a Chromebook by howtogeek.com
Chromebooks allow you to set a custom DNS server, but Google doesn’t make the option easy to find. There are many reasons to change your DNS server, after all.
– Things You Can Do in Android 9 Pie
12 Cool Things You Can Do in Android 9 Pie That You Couldn't Do Before by gizmodo.com
Android 9 Pie is finished and heading out now to Pixel devices, with phones that were part of the Android P beta program next in line. Whether you’ve been following the development of the OS for the last six months, or you’re completely new to it, here are some of the cool tricks that are now possible on Android devices.
Why we hate using email but love sending texts
Why we hate using email but love sending texts by bbc.com
Around 15 years ago, I was working at my part-time job at an electronics store at the mall. One of my colleagues asked me if I “use text messages.”
“I’m addicted,” she said wide-eyed. “They’re so much fun.”
Moto X4 vs. Moto G6
Moto X4 vs. Moto G6: What are the differences, and which should you buy? by androidcentral.com
Motorola has been busy these last few months, putting out a range of different phones at different price points. While we like the modular Moto Z3 Play, it's a bit expensive compared to the rest of the lineup at $499. The company's lower budget selection is arguably much more important; there are plenty of great options in the $500 ballpark, but Motorola is one of the few companies that consistently puts out high-quality, inexpensive phones.
The Moto G6 is the company's latest in its wildly popular line of low-cost phones, modernizing the brand with 2018 design traits and refreshed internals. Last year's mid-range Moto X4 is coming down in…
* Turn Your Smartphone into an Early Warning System
How to Turn Your Smartphone into an Early Warning System for Almost Anything by gizmodo.com
Our phones affect our lives in all kinds of ways, from socializing to travel, but these ever-present pocket gadgets can also act as early warning devices for a host of important alerts—from life-saving notifications to convenient warnings about your commute. Here we’ll show you what’s possible, and which apps you’ll need.
NeverSSL
NeverSSL by NeverSSL.com
This website is for when you try to open Facebook, Google, Amazon, etc on a wifi network, and nothing happens. Type "http://neverssl.com" into your browser's url bar, and you'll be able to log on.
The Best Cell Phone Plans for Families
The Best Cell Phone Plans for Families by reviewgeek.com
Finding the right cell plan for you and your family can be a challenge. While many plans are simpler than ever before, the difference between carriers is still vast. Here are the plans that deserve a closer look.
Before choosing a plan, however, you need to figure out what your family needs. How many lines do you need? Is streaming king so you need as much data as possible? Do you prefer one video service over another?
Waze now works in standalone Android Auto
Waze now works in standalone Android Auto on your phone by androidpolice.com
When Waze finally added support for Android Auto last year, it unfortunately required a proper Auto head unit, a discovery that tainted the good news. That's no longer the case as Waze recently started working in the standalone version of Auto, the one that uses your phone as a display and doesn't necessitate any other additional gear.
If you have both Android Auto and Waze installed on your phone, you can tap on the navigation icon in the Auto menu and you should see both Google Maps and Waze as options…
Set up Android Auto on your phone
How to set up Android Auto on your phone so you'll actually use it by androidcentral.com
When Google first announced Android Auto, it was a fairly basic app that let you connect and display a limited amount of information from your phone to your car via a wired connection to an aftermarket in-dash display head unit. Automakers eventually supported the platform as more cars included touch displays in their interface, but unless you're driving a newer model car from 2016 on there's a solid chance the car you're driving isn't equipped to support Android Auto.
Prevent some spam calls from interrupting you
Google’s Phone app can now prevent some spam calls from interrupting you by theverge.com
Google’s Phone app can now automatically filter out calls that it detects to be spam, sending them directly to voicemail. Your phone won’t ring, and you won’t even get a missed call notification for any calls that Google weeds out.
If the spam callers leave a voicemail — you know, like the usual spiel about charges being filed against you over back-owed taxes — that will still find its way to your voicemail inbox.
I barely noticed a difference using this $250 smartphone
I barely noticed a difference while I was using this $250 smartphone after using $800 phones for years by businessinsider.com
I looked around the subway one day and noticed people with expensive smartphones, like the $1,000 iPhone X and $800-plus Galaxy S9, and I questioned whether those people getting more out of their expensive smartphones for their day-to-day apps than I was with this $250 device.
I was streaming my music via Bluetooth, streaming videos, browsing the internet and social media, sending emails and messages, video calling with family abroad, and using all the apps I usually use without a hitch on the Moto G6.
How to Make Your Phone’s Fingerprint Reader More Accurate
How to Make Your Phone’s Fingerprint Reader More Accurate by howtogeek.com
Fingerprint readers on phones have made devices more secure and faster to unlock, at least when they work on the first try. If you have trouble unlocking your phone quickly, there are things you can do to improve your device’s fingerprint reader.
Biometric identification on phones has come a long way over the last few years, with both Apple and Google building…
Factor Authentication (and Sync Your Codes Between Devices)
Factor Authentication (and Sync Your Codes Between Devices) by howtogeek.com
Strong passwords are not enough anymore: we recommend using two-factor authentication whenever possible. Ideally, that means using an app that generates authentication codes on your phone or a physical hardware token. We prefer Authy when it comes to authentication apps—it’s compatible with all sites that use Google Authenticator, but is more powerful and convenient.
MoviePass: Everything you need to know
MoviePass: Everything you need to know by androidcentral.com
Unless you've been living under a rock lately, there's a good chance you've heard a thing or two about MoviePass. Although the company was founded way back in 2011, it's picked up a lot of steam over the past year or so with its too-good-to-be-true offer of allowing you to see one movie per day for just $9.95/month.