Tech Hacks | Popular Science https://www.popsci.com/category/tech-hacks/ Awe-inspiring science reporting, technology news, and DIY projects. Skunks to space robots, primates to climates. That's Popular Science, 145 years strong. Mon, 27 Nov 2023 15:00:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2021/04/28/cropped-PSC3.png?auto=webp&width=32&height=32 Tech Hacks | Popular Science https://www.popsci.com/category/tech-hacks/ 32 32 How to open a QR code on your computer https://www.popsci.com/diy/qr-code-on-computer/ Mon, 27 Nov 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=591442
Opening QR code on a laptop at the park
You don't need your phone to open a QR code. DepositPhotos

Scanning a QR code without your phone requires a little help from Google or a webcam.

The post How to open a QR code on your computer appeared first on Popular Science.

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Opening QR code on a laptop at the park
You don't need your phone to open a QR code. DepositPhotos

You probably already know how to scan a QR code with your phone. It’s simple enough: just open the camera app, point your phone at the code, and tap the link. What if you’re on your computer, though? You could point your phone at the computer screen, but that inter-device dance isn’t necessary. You can open that code right from your laptop or desktop. 

Scan a QR code in Google Chrome

Google Chrome users have it the easiest, as the browser has a built-in feature specifically to handle this situation. Right-click the image containing the QR code and click Search Image with Google

QR code open in Google Chrome
Google Chrome allows you to seamlessly reverse image search by right-clicking on the QR code. Credit: Justin Pot

This will open a Google Lens panel to the right of your browser window. At the top you’ll see your image. Below that you will see the words QR code: Text, along with the text contained in the QR code. If the text is a link you will also see a button for opening the link. 

Google Lens panel
“Search Image With Google” opens up a Google Lens panel. Credit: Google/Justin Pot

Non-Chrome users can still access this feature, it just requires an extra step. Simply head to Google.com in your browser of choice and click the Search by image icon, which is in the right side of the search bar.

Google search reverse image search icon
Google Search allows you to search the image by clicking on the icon on the right. Credit: Google/Justin Pot

You can upload an image with a QR code, if you want, or provide a URL for the image. Either way Google Lens will open and let you know what’s in the QR code. 

Scan a QR code with your webcam

Sometimes you have a QR code on a sheet of paper but your phone isn’t handy. Your laptop has a camera, though, and you can use it instead. 

In Windows 10 and 11 you can use the Camera app, which is included with your operating system. You can find this application by opening the Start menu and searching for “Camera”. Scanning is simple: hold your QR code in front of your webcam and click the QR code button. 

Apple’s macOS does not have a built-in camera application capable of scanning QR codes. The good news: the free application QR Journal, which you can download in the Mac App Store, can use the webcam to scan QR codes. 

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How to transfer your WhatsApp chats to a new phone https://www.popsci.com/diy/transfer-whatsapp-new-phone/ Fri, 24 Nov 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=591420
Hand holding phone with WhatsApp open. WhatsApp will help you move your messages between phones.
WhatsApp will help you move your messages between phones. Mika Baumeister/Unsplash

Don't leave your conversations behind when you switch devices.

The post How to transfer your WhatsApp chats to a new phone appeared first on Popular Science.

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Hand holding phone with WhatsApp open. WhatsApp will help you move your messages between phones.
WhatsApp will help you move your messages between phones. Mika Baumeister/Unsplash

Billions of people currently use WhatsApp to chat on mobile, and with good reasons. The app is packed with features, offers end-to-end encryption for users, and provides a rich experience on multiple platforms.

If you’ve invested a lot of your messaging time into WhatsApp, then you’re not going to want to leave behind those chats when you upgrade to a new handset. Thankfully, WhatsApp has you well covered here, and the migration process isn’t difficult.

There’s even provision for making the typically difficult jump from Android to iOS or vice versa. The process of moving chats is different in each case, but no matter which devices are involved, it won’t take more than a few minutes.

Android to Android

WhatsApp can restore messages from a Google Drive backup.
WhatsApp can restore messages from a Google Drive backup. Credit: WhatsApp/David Nield.

You shouldn’t have much trouble restoring your WhatsApp messages on a new Android phone if your old phone is an Android device too. On your old phone, first make sure everything is backed up to Google Drive: Tap the three dots (top right), then Settings and Chats, then Chat backup. Hopefully you won’t need this backup, but you’ll be glad to have it if something goes terribly wrong.

Then, install WhatsApp on your new phone. Once you’ve signed in with your existing phone number, the app should recognize you have chats on another device that you might want to move over. Tap Transfer from the old device when you see the prompt to do this, follow the instructions, and you’ll get a QR code on screen.

You then need to go back to WhatsApp on your old phone, which will be ready to scan the QR code on your new phone. Once you’ve scanned it, accept the invitation to link the devices together, and you’ll see a progress bar on screen.  When you see the confirmation that the transfer is complete, tap Done and you’re ready to go on your new phone.

You don’t have to use this direct transfer method, but it does mean your chats don’t need to go to Google Drive and back. You can also restore a WhatsApp backup from Google Drive: This option automatically appears if you install (or reinstall) WhatsApp on an Android device, and log in with a phone number associated with an existing backup. Just tap Restore to bring your chats back.

iOS to iOS

There's a direct iPhone-to-iPhone option, no iCloud required.
There’s a direct iPhone-to-iPhone option, no iCloud required. Credit: WhatsApp/David Nield

As with Android-to-Android transfers, you don’t necessarily need a chat backup if you’re jumping from one iPhone to another, but we’d recommend that you set one up anyway.  On your old iPhone, open WhatsApp and choose Settings, Chats, and Chat Backup. Backups on iOS make use of Apple’s iCloud storage service.

Go back to the Chats screen, then choose Transfer Chats to iPhone and Start, and a QR code is shown on screen. Now you can turn your attention to your new iPhone, where you should install the WhatsApp app and set it up using your existing phone number. When that number is recognized, you’ll be prompted to carry on with the chat transfer process you’ve already initiated, so tap Continue to accept.

Scan the QR code that pops up on your old iPhone using your new iPhone. That gives WhatsApp all the information it needs to beam your conversations between devices, and you’ll see a progress bar shown on screen while this happens. When the transfer is complete, tap Next to carry on using WhatsApp on your new iPhone.

Should that not work as intended, you can restore a WhatsApp backup on iOS instead. The restore option only appears when you first install WhatsApp though (so you might need to uninstall and reinstall it): When you’ve registered your existing phone number, select the Restore Chat History message that appears on screen.

Android to iOS

The Move to iOS app includes a WhatsApp option.
The Move to iOS app includes a WhatsApp option. Credit: Apple

If you’re going from Android to iOS, then the only way to move your WhatsApp chats over is to use the Move to iOS app for Android. It takes care of transferring data across a whole range of apps, including WhatsApp—it can also move across all of your Google contacts and calendars as well, for example.

Load up the Move to iOS app and just follow the instructions on screen—you’ll need to enter the code displayed on your new iPhone to confirm that you want to link the devices. The important screen is the transfer data screen, where you want to make sure that the WhatsApp option is selected, alongside any other types of data you need to move across.

The Move to iOS app will take care of signing you out on Android, and when you get the confirmation that the data has been sent over, you can go ahead and install and open up WhatsApp for iOS. As long as you log in using the same phone number you’ve been using, you should see a prompt to finish the transfer of conversations.

There’s no way to restore WhatsApp messages from a Google Drive backup (on Android) to WhatsApp on an iPhone—the Move to iOS app is the only option. You can, if you want, export individual chats from Android to an email archive (via Chats, Chat history, and Export chat in Settings), and start fresh on the iPhone.

iOS to Android

Android can copy data over from iOS, via a cable.
Android can copy data over from iOS, via a cable. Credit: Google

If you’re heading the other way, from an iPhone to an Android device, compatibility issues still create hurdles. WhatsApp on Android can’t read WhatsApp backups in iCloud, so you can’t simply sign in on a new phone and restore a backup. You can export chats to email (Chats then Export Chat in Settings), but again these can’t be restored on an iPhone.

What you can do is use the more general iOS-to-Android transfer solution that Google has built into Android, which covers a host of apps, including WhatsApp. However, you must do this when you start up your new Android phone for the first time, during the initial setup—there’s no option to do it later.

As you go through the initial setup process, connecting to Wi-Fi and so on, you’ll see a prompt to copy data from another phone: Make sure you choose Next here and not Don’t copy. Follow the instructions on screen, making sure WhatsApp is selected as one of the entries in the Apps section (it should be by default).

You’ll then need to connect your two phones with a cable: USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to Lightning. The transfer utility will then take care of the process of moving all your apps and conversations over, though you’ll still need to log in using your existing phone number when you open WhatsApp on Android for the first time.

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How to use ChatGPT’s new image and voice options https://www.popsci.com/diy/image-voice-new-features-chatgpt/ Tue, 21 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=590772
New features ChatGPT
You can now interact with ChatGPT in different ways. DepostPhotos

The AI chatbot is expanding with a range of new prompts beyond text.

The post How to use ChatGPT’s new image and voice options appeared first on Popular Science.

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New features ChatGPT
You can now interact with ChatGPT in different ways. DepostPhotos

ChatGPT is rarely out of the news at the moment, and the engineers behind it are regularly pushing out new features and improvements to the generative AI chatbot—including, recently, new voice and image capabilities.

[ Related: ChatGPT can now see, hear, and talk to some users ]

In simple terms, as per the OpenAI blog post, these new capabilities mean ChatGPT can now see, hear, and speak. You’re no longer restricted to text prompts when interacting with the bot, although it’s worth noting that these features remain exclusive to paying ChatGPT Plus users for the time being. At first, only a limited number of users got the features as they were rolled out, but now every ChatGPT Plus user should have access. (On November 21, ChatGPT’s voice chat feature has been rolled out to all free users.)

As well as changing how you interact with ChatGPT, these new features also widen the scope of what it can do—read you a bedtime story, for instance. Here’s what’s new, and how to make the best use of it.

Chatting with ChatGPT

You've got five voice options for conversing with ChatGPT.
You’ve got five voice options for conversing with ChatGPT. OpenAI/David Nield

If you’re a ChatGPT Plus user and you want to talk to ChatGPT, you need to use the mobile app for Android and iOS (this functionality hasn’t yet been added to ChatGPT on the web). Once you’ve signed into your account and reached the main prompt screen, tap the headphones icon (lower right) to start a voice conversation with the bot.

You’ll get a splash screen explaining what the feature does, then you can tap Choose a voice to do just that. There are five to pick from, and if you select any of them you’ll hear a short preview. Tap Confirm when you’ve decided which one you want to converse with, and you’re then ready to start talking.

Speaking with ChatGPT is as simple as just talking to your phone. When you stop talking, the app will process what you’ve said and generate a response. You’ll often find that when it’s speaking, ChatGPT will end its response with a related question, to keep the conversation going—but you can always ask to talk about something else, or tap the pause button in the lower left corner to start a new chat.

If ChatGPT isn’t quite catching what you’re saying or recognizing your pauses as you talk, you can manually give it voice inputs, walkie talkie style, by tapping and holding the screen. Say what you need to say, then release your finger and the chat will be processed—it’s a more deliberate way of talking that you might find easier.

Think about ways in which spoken responses are better: You can get ChatGPT to tell you a bedtime story, for example, or a poem on a topic of your choice. As with text prompts, you can be as specific as you like about subjects or the tone. When you’re ready to go back to the main ChatGPT interface, tap the red and white cross icon, and you’ll see the responses you’ve been given in text format. 

Image inputs and outputs

ChatGPT can identify the contents of images for you.
ChatGPT can identify the contents of images for you. Credit: David Nield

You can now prompt ChatGPT using images, whether it’s on the web or via the apps for Android or iOS. On the web, click the paperclip icon to the left of the input box, then pick the image from your computer; in the apps, tap the picture icon to choose an image from your gallery or the camera icon to take a new photo (if you can’t see these icons, tap the + button to the left of the input box).

You’ll be invited to add a prompt alongside your image, and your options here are virtually unlimited. You can ask ChatGPT about what’s inside the image, for example. You can also take a photo of a problem—like a leaky faucet—and ask about the best way to fix it, or show ChatGPT the contents of your fridge and ask for suggestions on what meal to cook.

If you’re in the mobile apps, you can tap on the image before you add the accompanying prompt, and scribble around a particular part of it—this focuses ChatGPT’s attention on a particular part of the image, which can be useful for troubleshooting problems or getting clarity about something specific.

The image generator DALL-E (also developed by OpenAI) is now integrated inside ChatGPT as well. That means you can ask for new images to be generated, as well as using your own as prompts: Ask it to produce a landscape of rolling hills, or a grimy street scene at night, or a cartoon-style rendering of an interior location. You can also ask it to modify or build on an image you provide.

As with text prompts, the more specific you can be, the better—you can be really precise about what’s in your picture, and what style is used, and how color and shade is applied. So, you might say you want to see a cartoon-style picture of fields with a well in the foreground. Or, you might want a photorealistic portrait of a CEO-type figure, rendered in black and white. If you’re not happy with the first attempt at something, you can ask ChatGPT to make changes with further prompts. To save your creations, click or tap on the generated images to find the download option.

The post How to use ChatGPT’s new image and voice options appeared first on Popular Science.

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How to avoid binge-watching YouTube videos https://www.popsci.com/diy/youtube-binge-watching/ Mon, 20 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=590536
Woman binge-watching YouTube videos
This doesn't have to be you. DepositPhotos

Remove recommendations, get rid of comments, and just stop spending so much time on YouTube with these tips.

The post How to avoid binge-watching YouTube videos appeared first on Popular Science.

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Woman binge-watching YouTube videos
This doesn't have to be you. DepositPhotos

Watching one quick video during a workday isn’t too bad—the problem is that YouTube, like chip companies, go out of their way to make sure you can’t have just one. There’s autoplay, a sidebar full of video recommendations, and so many more features designed to get you to keep watching all day. 

We’ve talked about how to avoid falling down a YouTube rabbithole in the past, but if those tips don’t go far enough, you can customize or even entirely replace the YouTube interface. These actions not only make it possible to hide all of those tantalizing features, they can also keep that adblocking warning from showing up to pester you. 

[Related: 3 ways to avoid falling down a YouTube rabbit hole]

Untrapp: Remove clutter from YouTube

Untrapp interface that allows you to make your YouTube browsing experience minimal.
The Untrapp browser extension allows you toggle off YouTube’s most annoying features. Screenshot: Untrapp

Untrapp is a free browser extension that lets you customize the YouTube user interface, allowing you to remove recommendations, comments, and more. To get started just install the extension—it’s free for Chrome and Firefox, while the Safari version costs $2. Install this extension and you can customize over 150 different things. For example: you can remove the recommended videos from showing up in the sidebar when you’re watching a video, or remove the comments from every video page. You can also set the YouTube homepage to be your subscriptions, instead of the algorithmic recommendations, allowing you to follow channels you want to watch instead of letting YouTube guess for you. You can blur thumbnails, you can disable UPPER CASE HEADLINES, and stop thumbnails from auto-playing when you hover your mouse over them. 

Untrapp even lets the truly hooked set up a schedule to block YouTube at a particular time every day or block particular channels altogether. If you’re not comfortable with your YouTube habit, Untrapp is well worth checking out. 

Invidious: Replace YouTube’s interface entirely

Invidious browser being used to view a YouTube video
Invidious allows you to view YouTube videos without spending any time on YouTube.com. Screenshot: Invidious

Invidious is an alternative user interface for YouTube. Basically, it’s a website you can visit to watch YouTube videos without having to spend any actual time on YouTube itself. The technology is open source and built to respect your privacy, meaning Google won’t be able to track which videos you’re watching. It also doesn’t have any ads.

There are a few downsides. Invidious is sometimes a little slower than YouTube, for example, and occasionally a video won’t work. You also can’t use Invidious with your YouTube account—it’s a completely different website. This means features like subscriptions, comments, and tracking watched videos won’t work. If you don’t care about that, though, Invidious could be a way to watch YouTube videos without letting YouTube get its hooks into you. 

Invidious is a free service hosted on multiple servers. It’s recommended that you try a few severs out and then bookmark one that works well for you—simply use that bookmark instead of heading to YouTube. You can use a browser extension like Privacy Redirect to open all YouTube links in Invidious instead of the YouTube URL with all its distracting, attention-grabbing functions. Either way, you’ll have a much less habit-forming way to use YouTube. 

Desktop players take things even further

Using VLC player to watch YouTube videos
You can use your VLC player to watch a YouTube video like any other video. Screenshot: VLC

VLC is one of the most popular video players on the planet, but did you know it can open YouTube videos? All you need to do is click File, then Open Network Stream, then paste the YouTube URL you want to play into the URL field and click Open. The YouTube video will play like any other video in VLC. You won’t see the sidebar, the comments, or any other feature of YouTube—just the video and the usual VLC playback controls. 

That method works, but takes quite a few extra steps. If you’d like a much simpler desktop application for watching YouTube videos check out MiniTube, which costs 10 euros (roughly $11 USD) for Windows or macOS and is free for Linux users. This application, which offers a demo you can try for free, lets you browse YouTube in a beautiful desktop client without any ads, tracking, comments, or recommendations.

Using MiniTube to play YouTube videos
MiniTube is a simpler alternative to a VLC player. Screenshot: MiniTube

This is probably the nicest YouTube interface you can get on a desktop computer, which is great, but I also find it much easier to use to watch one video without being pushed to immediately gobble up another. 

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How to use Double Tap to control your Apple Watch without touching it https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-use-double-tap-to-control-your-apple-watch-without-touching-it/ Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=589949
There's a new way to control your Apple Watch.
There's a new way to control your Apple Watch. Apple

The Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 have a cool new trick.

The post How to use Double Tap to control your Apple Watch without touching it appeared first on Popular Science.

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There's a new way to control your Apple Watch.
There's a new way to control your Apple Watch. Apple

If your hands are full with groceries or books, or hanging on to a subway car handrail or dog leash, then it’s not easy to operate your Apple Watch in the normal way—by reaching over to tap the screen or pressing the Digital Crown.

That’s the thinking behind Double Tap, a new gesture available with watchOS 10.1. As its name suggests, it lets you tap your forefinger and thumb together twice, with the same hand that your watch is on, to operate the wearable without touching it. It means you can answer calls and browse through screens with one hand rather than two, and it promises to be very helpful.

For Double Tap to work, you do need the latest Apple Watch 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2, because the AI smarts of the S9 chipset inside these models is required to recognize the gesture you’re making. You also need watchOS 10.1 (tap My Watch > General > Software Update in the Watch app on your iPhone to look for updates).

Older Apple Watch devices can still make use of a similar feature called AssistiveTouch, which is a more comprehensive way of controlling everything that happens on an Apple Watch with one hand. AssistiveTouch is available on every Apple Watch since the Apple Watch 4, including the Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Using Double Tap

You can customize some aspects of Double Tap.
You can customize some aspects of Double Tap. Screenshot: Apple. Apple

As soon as you’ve upgraded to watchOS 10.1, Double Tap should be enabled automatically and ready to go. You can turn it off, if you ever need to, by opening up the Settings app on your watch, then choosing Gestures and Double Tap, and turning off the Double Tap toggle switch.

To double tap, lift up your Apple Watch first, as you would do if you were checking the time. On the hand attached to the wrist where your Apple Watch is, bring your index finger and thumb together twice in quick succession. The only times Double Tap won’t work is when a Sleep Focus mode is active, or when the watch is in Low Power Mode.

What the gesture triggers will depend on what’s on screen. If there’s a call coming in, it’ll answer the call. If there’s a timer running, a double tap will pause it (and restart it). If a notification has come in, it will open the notification so you can read it. In general, a double tap will perform what Apple calls the “primary action” for the screen you’re on.

For a couple of functions, you can customise what a double tap does: When music is playing you can choose whether a double tap pauses playback or skips to the next track, and when Smart Stack widgets are on screen you can choose whether a double tap advances through the widgets or opens the first available one.

To change this functionality, open the Settings app on your watch, then tap Gestures and Double Tap. Select Playback and you can pick between Play/Pause and Skip, or select Smart Stack and you can choose between Advance or Select.

Using AssistiveTouch

Use AssistiveTouch to use your watch with one hand rather than two.
Use AssistiveTouch to use your watch with one hand rather than two. Credit: Luke Chesser/Unsplash

Another way of using your Apple Watch with just one hand is to use AssistiveTouch, which is supported on every model back to the Apple Watch 4 from 2018 (including the Apple Watch 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 9). It’s designed for people who are physically unable to use their other hand to operate their watch, but anyone can activate it.

AssistiveTouch covers a wider range of gestures, including a double tap, and is more comprehensive in terms of helping you operate the smartwatch. Activating it is more deliberate though: It doesn’t have the fluidness and ease-of-use of Double Tap, which uses machine learning algorithms to recognize wrist and finger movements. You can’t use Double Tap when AssistiveTouch is active.

To enable AssistiveTouch, open the Settings screen on your Apple Watch, then choose Accessibility and AssistiveTouch, then tap AssistiveTouch. On the same screen you can select Hand Gestures to change which gestures do what on the watch. AssistiveTouch can also be enabled from the Watch app on your iPhone, via Accessibility, then AssistiveTouch on the My Watch tab.

With AssistiveTouch enabled, raising your wrist will show a blue ring around the screen. You then need to clench your fist twice quickly to actually activate the gestures and switch to AssistiveTouch mode, where a focus ring appears on the first item on the screen (the ring indicates that something can be selected by AssistiveTouch).

The default actions include a thumb-and-index-finger pinch to move to the next item, a double pinch to move to the previous item, a fist clench to tap an item, and a double clench to bring up the action menu (where you can pick from actions like scrolling and pressing the Digital Crown). See here for a full guide to getting around all of the watch’s features and functions using AssistiveTouch gestures.

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All the ways you can use your phone as a mobile hotspot https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-can-i-use-my-phone-as-a-hotspot/ Sun, 12 Nov 2023 14:00:51 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=588992
Person sitting outside of a coffee house on a sunny day, drinking from a green cup and reading from an open MacBook.
Make sure you can get stuff done regardless of how much your local coffee shop wants you to talk to other people. Antoni Shkraba / Pexels

Share your connection with all your devices everywhere you go.

The post All the ways you can use your phone as a mobile hotspot appeared first on Popular Science.

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Person sitting outside of a coffee house on a sunny day, drinking from a green cup and reading from an open MacBook.
Make sure you can get stuff done regardless of how much your local coffee shop wants you to talk to other people. Antoni Shkraba / Pexels

You only realize WiFi is not as ubiquitous as you thought it was when your boss wants to hop on a last-minute video call and the coffee shop you’re at has no guest network. That’s when you’d better know how to use your phone as a hotspot.

That type of urgent scenario is not the best moment to figure out how to connect your laptop or tablet to your mobile network, so you might as well learn now. That way, the next time you find yourself in a tricky situation, you’ll be ready to hop online. 

A quick note: some mobile plans do not support hotspotting, so even though your phone has the ability to share data, nothing will happen unless your mobile service provider allows it. So before you start trying to tether your device, confirm that your plan has a dedicated hotspot quota or that you are allowed to use your phone’s data on another device. 

How to use an iPhone as a hotspot

On iOS, you’ll find the hotspot menu by opening the Settings app, and tapping Personal Hotspot. If you’re using an older version of iOS, you may need to go to Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot. Enabling it is as easy as toggling on the switch next to Allow others to join, but don’t do that yet unless you know you’re alone.

[Related: The best mobile hotspots of 2023]

You don’t want just anybody to piggyback on your data plan, so make sure you set up a secure password before you create a hotspot. From the Personal Hotspot menu, tap Wi-Fi password and type in a safe one—think a semi-long combination of letters (upper- and lowercase), numbers, and special characters. 

Now that your hotspot is ready to go, choose how you want to connect. Apple’s mobile devices provide some options.

Connect to your iPhone hotspot using WiFi

This is the easiest way to use your personal hotspot, as it turns your iPhone into a router. Doing so allows you to connect your tablet or laptop to it as you would to any other WiFi network. You can also connect via USB or Bluetooth (those sections are below), but those methods are a little more complicated.

1. Make sure you’re ready to use your phone as a hotspot by toggling on the switch next to Allow others to join.

2. On your laptop or tablet (or whatever other device you want to use your mobile data), open the WiFi settings and search for a signal. 

You can do this on a Mac by clicking the WiFi icon in the top right corner of your screen. Your system will automatically detect nearby networks and list them for you. If you don’t see the name of your iPhone (that’s the name of your hotspot), click Other networks

On a PC, open the System Tray by clicking the three icons to the left of the clock in the bottom right corner of your screen. Make sure the WiFi icon is blue (that means it’s on), then click the arrow next to it to open your computer’s WiFi settings—you’ll see a list of the available networks containing your iPhone’s name. 

3. Regardless of the make of your device, once you find your iPhone on the list of WiFi networks, select it, type in the hotspot password, and you’ll be all set.

How to use your Android as a hotspot

Series of screens showing the menus for internet, networks, mobile hotspots on an Android phone.
Before you turn on your WiFi mobile hotspot make sure to protect it with a safe password. Android

Before you hook any device up to your Android phone’s mobile data, you’ll need to set up your personal hotspot. Swipe down with two fingers from the top of your screen to open the Quick Settings menu, then tap the cog icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to open Settings. Go to Network & internet, then Hotspot & tethering

Here you’ll find a toggle switch for every way to connect a device to your hotspot: Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth tethering, USB tethering, and Ethernet tethering. The last two options will be blurred out unless your phone is already connected to a device via a USB or Ethernet cable. WiFi will likely be the easiest, but if you’re interested in trying something else, you can skip to the sections on USB tethering and Bluetooth tethering below.

Connect to your Android hotspot using WiFi

1. Tap Wi-Fi hotspot to set it up. Start by giving your hotspot a name—by default, it’ll be the name of your device, but you can change it to anything you want. 

Next, set up a Hotspot password to secure your connection and prevent strangers from draining your data plan. Make sure to choose a good one—a semi-long series of letters (upper- and lowercase), numbers, and special characters. 

You have two other options you can set up. Toggle on the switch next to Turn off hotspot automatically, and your Android phone will disable the feature whenever there are no devices connected to it. You can also tap the switch next to Extend compatibility, so your phone makes more of an effort to be discoverable to other devices. This will use up more battery power, so make sure to turn it off if you’re running out of juice. 

Once you’re done setting up your personal hotspot, hit the toggle switch next to Use Wi-Fi hotspot to turn it on. 

Screen showing macOS WiFi quick settings with a connection to a mobile hotspot.
Using your phone as a WiFi hotspot is the easiest way to share your mobile data. Apple

2. On your laptop or tablet (or whatever device you want to connect to your hotspot), open 

the WiFi settings. 

On a Mac, click the WiFi icon in the top right corner of your screen. Your system will find nearby networks automatically and list them for you. If you don’t see the name you gave your hotspot, click Other networks

If you’re using a PC, click the three icons to the left of the clock in the bottom right corner of your screen to open the System Tray panel. Make sure the WiFi icon is on (it should be blue), and open your computer’s WiFi settings by clicking the arrow next to it. There, you’ll see a list of available networks containing your hotspot’s name. 

Use your phone as a hotspot over a USB cable

You can connect your tablet or laptop to your phone’s hotspot via a USB cable, but it’s a lot easier with an Android. When it works, though, the connection between your phone and hotspot-using device is smooth as silk. 

Connect to your iPhone hotspot through a USB cable

There’s a catch here: You may only be able to easily do this between Apple products, so you might not be able to share your iPhone’s data with your PC or Chromebook, for example. 

1. On your iPhone, make sure your hotspot is active (from the Personal Hotspot menu, toggle on the switch next to Allow others to join) and connect your phone to your Mac using a USB cable. 

2. An alert will appear on your Mac—click Trust this device. You should see your iPhone appear as a drive on your computer’s Finder and you should be able to go online. 

If you’re not connected, go to your Mac’s System Settings and Network. You should see iPhone USB on the list of services—open it, click Make inactive, then Make active, and you should be good to go.

If you don’t see iPhone USB on the list, you’ll need to set it up as a new network. Scroll down all the way, click the three-dots dropdown menu, and choose Add service. Then follow Apple’s instructions to finish the setup.

Connect to your Android hotspot using a USB cable

Screen showing the connectivity icons on a Windows computer home screen.
When your computer is running on your phone’s data, you’ll see this icon change on the Windows task bar. Windows

Tethering your Mac or PC to your Android phone is surprisingly easy, and the connection is seamless. 

1. Connect your Android phone to your Mac or PC with a USB cable.


2. Go to the Hotspot & tethering menu (Settings > Network & internet > Hotspot & tethering) and toggle the switch next to USB tethering. The option will only be available if there’s a cable connecting your phone to another device. 

3. On a PC, Windows will offer to set up the connection between your phone and laptop, but you’ll realize you don’t have to do anything—as soon as you turn on the USB hotspot, your computer will connect to the internet. 

Screen showing macOS's network settings and a connection to a USB hotspot.
As soon as you turn on your phone’s USB hotspot, your Mac computer should be able to use your mobile data. Apple

Something similar happens on a Mac—when you connect your phone, macOS will ask if you trust it. Click Trust this device and you should automatically have an internet connection. If you don’t, go to Settings and Network, and under Other services find your phone’s name. Open the item and click the button Make Inactive, which will change to Make active. Click it again and you should be good to go. 

How to create a phone hotspot with Bluetooth

You can share your phone’s cellular data with another device over Bluetooth, but connectivity tends to be slower and more finicky than WiFi- or USB-driven hotspots. In fact, we had so much trouble getting this to work that it might only be useful as a last resort.

Connect to your iPhone hotspot using Bluetooth

For this, you’ll need to pair your phone to whatever device you want to connect to the internet—how you do that will depend on your device. 

1. On your iPhone, make sure your hotspot is on (from the Personal Hotspot menu, toggle on the switch next to Allow others to join).

2. If you’re connecting your Mac to your hotspot, go to System Settings and on the left sidebar go to Bluetooth. If you’ve ever connected your iPhone to your Mac via Bluetooth, you’ll see your phone’s name under My devices—just hover the mouse over its name and click on the Connect button that appears. If you’ve never connected your gadgets, you should find your phone’s name under Nearby devices—you may have to scroll down a bit to see it. Hover the mouse over your phone’s name, click Connect, and follow the instructions on screen. 

If you’re trying to tether your iPhone to a PC, open the System Tray by clicking on the three icons to the left of the clock in the bottom right corner of your screen. Make sure the Bluetooth icon is blue (that means it’s on) and click the arrow next to it to open your computer’s Bluetooth settings. If you’ve connected your iPhone to your PC in the past, you should find your phone’s name under Your devices, but if you haven’t, you’ll find it under New devices. Either way, just click on it and follow the instructions on screen to establish a connection. 

Once the devices are paired, you’ll need to connect to the internet on your laptop. It’s very different depending on the make of your computer, and it’s definitely not as intuitive as hopping on a WiFi network.  

On a Mac, click the Control Center icon (two toggle switches) in the upper right corner of your screen. From the emerging menu, click Bluetooth to see a list of connected devices. Find your phone and hover the mouse over it—click Connect to Network when the option appears. 

On a PC, open Settings and go to Network & Internet. Scroll all the way down and under Related settings, pick More network adapter options. On the emerging window, you should see an item called Bluetooth Network Connection—open it, find your phone, and right-click on it. On the menu, hover over Connect using and choose Access point to connect to the web.

Connect to your Android hotspot using Bluetooth

If your devices play nice with each other over Bluetooth, you can use your mobile data plan with your laptop. Just keep in mind that some Android phones, like the Pixel 7, may have trouble connecting to a Mac computer. If that’s the case for you, we suggest you save yourself some grief by choosing the easier WiFi approach. 

Screen showing Windows network settings.
Choosing your Bluetooth-paired device as your internet connection on your PC is anything but intuitive. Windows

1. Make sure your laptop is discoverable through Bluetooth. On a Mac, open the Control Center and ensure the Bluetooth icon is blue—if it’s not, click it to turn it on. On a PC, open the System Tray by clicking the icons to the left of the clock (bottom right corner of your screen) and make sure the Bluetooth icon is blue. If it’s not, click it to enable it.

2. On your phone, swipe down with one finger from the top of your phone screen to open the notification drawer, and on the tiles at the top of your screen, long-press on Bluetooth.

3. If you’ve tethered your phone and laptop before, find your laptop’s name under Saved devices, tap the cog icon next to it, and choose Connect on the next screen. If you’ve never paired your gadgets, choose Pair new device. Wait until your laptop appears in the list of discoverable nearby devices, and select it to start the pairing process. You’ll see prompts with five-digit codes on both screens—make sure they match and confirm the pairing. 

[Related: How to find free WiFi when you really need it]

Once the devices are paired, you’ll need to connect to the internet on your laptop. This will work differently depending on the make of your computer, and it won’t be as intuitive as hopping on a WiFi network.  

On a Mac, open the Control Center by clicking its icon (two sliders) in the upper right corner of your computer screen. On the emerging menu, click Bluetooth to see a list of connected devices. Find your phone and hover the mouse over it—click Connect to Network when the option appears. 

On a PC, open Settings and go to Network & Internet. Scroll all the way down and under Related settings, pick More network adapter options. On the emerging window, you should see an item called Bluetooth Network Connection—double-click to open it, find your phone, and right-click on it. On the menu, hover over Connect using and choose Access point.

The post All the ways you can use your phone as a mobile hotspot appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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6 ways to customize your Mac’s Menu Bar, and another to make it disappear https://www.popsci.com/diy/menu-bar-mac-settings/ Fri, 10 Nov 2023 20:06:51 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=588927
Person laying on a gray couch in a living room, working on a MacBook
Don't settle for the default look on macOS, when you can customize it as you like it. Vlada Karpovich / Pexels

You have more control over macOS's Menu Bar than you think.

The post 6 ways to customize your Mac’s Menu Bar, and another to make it disappear appeared first on Popular Science.

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Person laying on a gray couch in a living room, working on a MacBook
Don't settle for the default look on macOS, when you can customize it as you like it. Vlada Karpovich / Pexels

The Mac menu bar is iconic. With the Apple logo in the top-left and the text menu for the current application to the right, this feature has been at the top of the screen of every Apple computer since 1981. The last big update came 10 years later when the Cupertino company added icons to the right side. The menu bar has more-or-less looked the same ever since. 

But just because Apple hasn’t really changed the menu bar in the last 40 years doesn’t mean you can’t change it now. There are all kinds of subtle ways you can take control of how the menu bar looks and functions, starting with the order of those icons in the top-right corner. Here’s how you can customize the Mac menu bar to work just the way you want. 

Organize your Icons

It’s definitely not obvious or intuitive, so it’s ok if you didn’t know that you can rearrange your menu bar icons: Just hold the Command key and drag your icons into whatever order you like. This works for every icon except three: the Control Center icon, Siri, and the clock. Those stay in the top-right corner no matter what, but everything else is fair game. 

Customize your system icons

Screen showing the System Settings
If your Mac computer is suffering from Menu Bar overpopulation, you can fix that over at System Settings. Apple

By default, the Mac includes icons for Siri, Wi-Fi, and your battery in the menu bar. If you’d rather not see those icons all the time, don’t worry: just head to System Settings. You can get there by opening the dock icon with the gears, or clicking the Apple logo in the top-right corner and then choosing System Settings in the emerging menu. Head to Control Center on the sidebar to configure which system icons you want to show up in the menu bar. This can be a quick way to remove clutter or add relevant information. 

[Related: 4 tips and hidden settings that will speed up macOS]

You can also customize the clock from here, allowing you to add the date, day of the week, and even the seconds. You could also replace the text showing the time with an icon of an old-school analogue clock, if you like. 

Screen showing the Menu Bar customization options in macOS
If you’re masochistic enough, you might like your system clock to also show you all the seconds that are going by while you’re trying to work. Apple

What you can’t tweak here is icons for your applications.

Stop the transparency

The menu bar, by default, is slightly transparent, allowing a little bit of your desktop wallpaper to bleed through. If you don’t like this effect (and the other transparency in the macOS operating system) head to System Settings, Accessibility, and click Display. Check Reduce transparency and your menu bar will be solid white in light mode and solid black in dark mode. 

You can also customize the size a little bit—beside Menu bar size check Large and the text in the menu bar will be a slightly bigger. 

Hidden Bar is a free application for hiding the clutter

Way too many applications insist on putting something up in the menu bar, so the top-right corner of your screen can quickly look cluttered. The worst part is that there’s no native way to hide icons in macOS the way you can in Windows, for example, where you can move them to a secondary tray. On the Mac, meanwhile, the only way to hide an icon for a given application is to dig around in the app settings and hope it offers a solution—it’s a hit or miss sort of situation.

Screen showing the option menu on the Hidden Bar app for macOS
If you’ve worked on a PC before, you know you can stash icons into a secondary tray. Hidden Bar for macOS gives you the same possibility. Apple

Fortunately, there’s a free application called Hidden Bar that brings this feature to the Mac. Download it from the App Store so you can hide icons by dragging them to the left while holding Command. You’ll be able to see all hidden icons by clicking the right-pointing arrow. 

It’s a very simple application that gets the job done. Why Apple hasn’t built something like this into the operating system, I will never understand. 

Bartender hides icons and changes how the menu bar looks

For many the free Hidden Bar will do the job, but Bartender ($16) offers customization options the former doesn’t have. 

Yes, you can hide icons by dragging them to the left, just like you can with Hidden Bar. But you can also create a custom rule for when to display certain icons. Want to see the battery icon, but only when you’re not plugged in? Bartender can do that, and also show you the Wi-Fi icon only when you’re not connected to a network.

Screen showing the customization options of the Bartender app for macOS
This bartender won’t come to serve you a cocktail, but it’ll help you customize your Mac’s menu bar exactly how you like it. Apple

You can also change the look of the menu bar with this application—apply a color tint or add a border. You can bring back the drop shadow that Apple recently removed, or even round the corners of the menu bar so it looks less like a block. 

[Related: Master your Mac by creating custom keyboard shortcuts]

Basically, if you want to tweak every aspect of how your menu bar works, Bartender is the application you’re looking for. 

Hide the menu bar altogether

System Settings options on macOS showing how to remove the menu bar
And if your Mac’s Menu Bar doesn’t cooperate, you can just hide it from view. Apple

Customizing the menu bar is all well and good, but what if you just wish it would go away? You can hide the menu bar in System Settings. Head to Control Center and scroll down to the bottom. In the dropdown menu next to Automatically hide and show the menu bar, select Always. From now on, the menu bar will only show up when you move your mouse to the top of the screen. The rest of the time, it’ll stay out of the way. This means you get a bit more screen real estate, allowing you to focus on the task at hand instead of whatever the icons the menu bar displays. 

The post 6 ways to customize your Mac’s Menu Bar, and another to make it disappear appeared first on Popular Science.

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How to use Bard AI for Gmail, YouTube, Google Flights, and more https://www.popsci.com/diy/bard-extension-guide/ Thu, 09 Nov 2023 13:30:11 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=588290
A person holding a phone in a very dark room, with Google Bard on the screen, and the Google Bard logo illuminated in the background.
Bard can be inside your Google apps, if you let it. Mojahid Mottakin / Unsplash

You can use Google's AI assistant in other Google apps, as long as you're cool with it reading your email.

The post How to use Bard AI for Gmail, YouTube, Google Flights, and more appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person holding a phone in a very dark room, with Google Bard on the screen, and the Google Bard logo illuminated in the background.
Bard can be inside your Google apps, if you let it. Mojahid Mottakin / Unsplash

There’s a new feature in the Google Bard AI assistant: connections to your other Google apps, primarily Gmail and Google Drive, called Bard Extensions. It means you can use Bard to look up and analyze the information you have stored in documents and emails, as well as data aggregated from the web at large.

Bard can access other Google services besides Gmail and Google Drive as well, including YouTube, Google Maps, and Google Flights. However, this access doesn’t extend to personal data yet, so you can look up driving directions to a place on Google Maps, but not get routes to the last five restaurants you went to.

If that sets alarm bells ringing in your head, Google promises that your data is “not seen by human reviewers, used by Bard to show you ads, or used to train the Bard model,” and you can disconnect the app connections at any time. In terms of exactly what is shared between Bard and other apps, Google isn’t specific.

[Related: The best apps and gadgets for a Google-free life]

Should you decide you’re happy with that trade-off, you’ll be able to do much more with Bard, from looking up flight times to hunting down emails in your Gmail archive.

How to set up Bard Extensions, and what Google can learn about you

Google Bard extensions in a Chrome browser window.
You can enable Bard Extensions one by one. Screenshot: Google

If you decide you want to use Bard Extensions, open up Google Bard on the web, then click the new extensions icon in the top right corner (it looks like a jigsaw piece). The next screen shows all the currently available extensions—turn the toggle switches on for the ones you want to give Bard access to. To revoke access, turn the switches off.

Some prompts (asking about today’s weather, for instance) require access to your location. This is actually handled as a general Google search permission in your browser, and you can grant or revoke access in your privacy settings. In Chrome, though, you can open google.com, then click the site information button on the left end of the address bar (it looks like two small sliders—or a padlock if you haven’t updated your browser to Chrome 119).

From the popup dialog that appears, you can turn the Location toggle switch off. This means Google searches (for restaurants and bars, for example) won’t know where you are searching from, and nor will Bard.

Google Bard settings, showing how to delete your Bard history.
You can have Google automatically delete your Bard history, just like you can with other Google apps. Screenshot: Google

As with other Google products, you can see activity that’s been logged with Bard. To do so, head to your Bard activity page in a web browser to review and delete specific prompts that you’ve sent to the AI. Click Choose an auto-delete option, and you can have this data automatically wiped after three, 18, or 36 months. You can also stop Bard from logging data in the first place by clicking Turn off.

There’s more information on the Bard Privacy Help Hub. Note that by using Bard at all, you’re accepting that human reviewers may see and check some of your prompts, so Google can improve the response accuracy of its AI. The company specifically warns against putting confidential information into Bard, and any reviewed prompts won’t have your Google Account details (like your name) attached to them.

Prompts reviewed by humans can be retained by Google for up to three years, even if you delete your Bard activity. Even with Bard activity-logging turned off, conversations are kept in Bard’s memory banks for 72 hours, in case you want to add related questions.

Tips for using Bard Extensions

A browser window displaying a Google Bard prompt related to YouTube, and the AI assistant's response.
In some cases, Bard Extensions aren’t too different from regular searches. Screenshot: Google

Extensions are naturally integrated into Bard, and in a lot of cases, the AI bot will know which extension to look up. Ask about accommodation prices for the weekend, for example, and it’ll use Google Hotels. Whenever Bard calls upon an extension, you’ll see the extension’s name appear while the AI is working out the answer.

Sometimes, you need to be pretty specific. A prompt such as “what plans have I made over email with <contact name> about <event>?” will invoke a Gmail search, but only if you include the “over email” bit. At the end of the response, you’ll see the emails (or documents) that Bard has used to give you an answer. You can also ask Bard to use specific extensions by tagging them in your prompt with the @ symbol—so @Gmail or @Google Maps.

[Related: All the products Google has sent to the graveyard]

Bard can look up information from emails or documents, and can read inside PDFs in your Google Drive. For example, tell it to summarize the contents of the most recent PDF in your Google Drive, or the contents of recent emails from your kid’s school, and it will do just that. Again, the more specific you can be, the better.

A browser window showing a Google Bard prompt related to Gmail, and the AI bot's response.
Bard can analyze the tone of emails and documents. Screenshot: Google

In terms of YouTube, Google Maps, Google Flights, and Google Hotels, Bard works more like a regular search engine—though you can combine searches with other prompts. If you’re preparing a wedding speech, for example, you can ask Bard for an outline as well as some YouTube videos that will give you inspiration. If you’re heading off on a road trip, you could combine a prompt about ideas on what to pack with Google Maps driving directions.

We’ve found that some Bard Extensions answers are a bit hit or miss—but so are AI chatbots in general. At certain times, Bard will analyze the wrong emails or documents, or will miss information it should’ve found, so it’s not (yet) something you can fully rely on. In some situations, you’ll get better answers if you switch over to Google Drive or YouTube and run a normal search from there instead—file searches based on dates, for instance, or video searches limited to a certain channel.

At other times, Bard is surprisingly good at picking out information from stacks of messages or documents. You can ask Bard “what’s the most cheerful email I got yesterday?” for example, which is something you can’t do with a standard, or even an advanced Gmail search. It’s well worth trying Bard Extensions out, at least briefly, to see if they prove useful for the kinds of information retrieval you need.

The post How to use Bard AI for Gmail, YouTube, Google Flights, and more appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to make the keyboard bigger on an iPhone, so you can finally see what you’re doing https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-make-keyboard-bigger-on-iphone/ Thu, 09 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=587076
A young man wearing an orange plaid shirt focusing intently on an iPhone he's holding in front of him, as if he needs to make the keyboard bigger to see what he's typing.
For some, the default keyboard size on an iPhone may be too small, resulting in frequent typos and frustration. Depositphotos

Increasing the size of your iPhone keyboard is easy, but you can customize it further.

The post How to make the keyboard bigger on an iPhone, so you can finally see what you’re doing appeared first on Popular Science.

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A young man wearing an orange plaid shirt focusing intently on an iPhone he's holding in front of him, as if he needs to make the keyboard bigger to see what he's typing.
For some, the default keyboard size on an iPhone may be too small, resulting in frequent typos and frustration. Depositphotos

Making the iPhone keyboard bigger is one of the easiest ways to make Apple’s phones easier to use. Doing so will allow you to see the keys more clearly, providing a more comfortable typing experience and reducing your chances of pressing the wrong characters. This is particularly helpful if you have larger fingers or visual impairments.

Follow along with our step-by-step instructions on how to enlarge the keyboard on your iPhone, and stick around for additional iPhone keyboard settings tips and tricks that should improve your ability to interact with your iOS device.

How to make the iPhone keyboard bigger, instantly

The bigger iPhone keyboard, or what happens when you put your phone in landscape mode.
If your phone isn’t locked to portrait mode and you turn it sideways, you’ll automatically make the iPhone keyboard bigger. Screenshot: Apple

The quickest way to get a larger iPhone keyboard is to rotate your device until it’s horizontal. This will automatically switch the screen orientation to landscape, providing a wider, more spacious keyboard for easier typing.

If the keyboard won’t turn sideways, your phone is locked in portrait orientation. To remedy this on an iPhone without a Home button, swipe down from the top right corner to open the Control Center. If you have a phone with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom edge of your screen to get to the same place. Then tap the Portrait Orientation Lock button (a padlock with an arrow around it) to ensure it’s off—it will display in red if on and locked.

The iPhone's Control Center, showing what it looks like when the portrait orientation lock is enabled and when it's disabled.
On the left, you can see that this phone is locked in portrait mode. On the right, the lock has been disabled. Screenshot: Apple

Set the keyboard to display only uppercase letters

The iPhone keyboard alternates between lowercase and uppercase letters depending on the shift setting, but the lowercase characters can be harder to see. To make each key easier to identify, you can tell your iPhone to always display uppercase keys, simulating a physical keyboard with all keys printed in capital letters. You will still be able to type in lowercase letters as long as shift or caps lock is off.

[Related: 24 iPhone settings that feel like secrets]

To see only uppercase letters, go to Settings, tap Accessibility, then Keyboards. Toggle off the switch next to Show Lowercase Keys, and you’ll make the keyboard letters bigger.

The iOS Settings app, showing how to make the letters on an iPhone keyboard permanently uppercase.
Follow the steps from left to right and you’ll be able to ban lowercase letters from your iPhone’s keyboard. Screenshot: Apple

Make your iPhone keyboard bold

A side-by-side comparison of the iOS Notes app, with the left-hand example being normal, and the right-hand example featuring bold font.
There’s a slight difference between default font (left) and bold font (right), but it may still make a difference for you. Screenshot: Apple

Bold type is easier to see, making text and letters stand out. To make your iPhone keyboard more bold, and therefore, bigger, go to the Settings app and select Display & Brightness. From there, tap Text Size and hit the toggle switch next to Bold Text. Now, the letters on your keyboard and the text you type and see on your phone will be bold.

The iOS Settings app, showing how to make text bold.
Some may consider this a bold decision, but we think it’s a wise one. Screenshot: Apple

Switch to Zoom view

The iPhone’s Zoom function will allow you to magnify the entire screen, making it easier to see and interact with the content. Just be warned: enabling Zoom will activate it immediately, and you may struggle to go back to normal. If you need to turn Zoom off, double-tap the screen with three fingers. Now that we’ve hopefully prevented a stressful situation, you can enable the feature: Go to the Settings app, select Accessibility, and turn on the toggle switch next to Zoom.

The iOS Settings app, showing how to activate Zoom.
Zoom will make things bigger, including your keyboard. Screenshot: Apple

From there, you will see instructions for controlling magnification with finger taps.

You can also adjust the Zoom level according to your preference:

  • Follow Focus: Stays focused on typed and selected text.
  • Smart Typing: Zooms into the text box to make it easier to see when typing.
  • Keyboard Shortcuts: If you’ve connected an external keyboard to your iPhone by enabling full keyboard access, this will let you use shortcuts on that keyboard to control Zoom.
  • Zoom Controller: Lets you slide your finger around the screen to choose what Zoom focuses on.
  • Zoom Region: Allows you to use Full Screen Zoom or Window Zoom (partial screen zoom).
  • Zoom Filter: Customizes the color of your screen when Zoom is enabled. Choose from: None, Inverted, Grayscale, Grayscale Inverted, or Low Light.
  • Maximum Zoom Level: Drag the slider to adjust the level of Zoom.

Use a third-party keyboard app

Maybe the iPhone keyboard just doesn’t cut it, and you’d prefer something else. Thankfully, customizing your iPhone by adding a third-party keyboard is simple. First, go to the App Store and search for one of the best keyboard apps. After you install the one you want, go to the iPhone’s Settings app, tap General, Keyboard, and hit Keyboards.

The iOS Settings app, showing how to access third-party keyboards.
Goodbye, default iPhone keyboard. Screenshot: Apple

Next, select Add New Keyboard. Find the third-party keyboard app on the list and tap on it to add it to your active keyboards. To use your new keyboard, open the app itself and make any modifications that will make the keyboard bigger.

The iOS Settings app, showing where to add a new keyboard to your iPhone.
Once you install the keyboard app you want, you’ll find it here. Screenshot: Apple

Boost your iPhone’s text size

A side-by-side comparison of the iOS Notes app, showing default text size on the left, and increased text size on the right.
You may find bigger text (right) easier to see than the default iPhone font (left). Screenshot: Apple

Increasing the size of the text on your iPhone’s screen can make it easier to see what you’re typing (and reading). To change your iPhone’s text size, go to the Settings app and select Display & Brightness. There, tap Text Size and adjust the slider to make the text larger.

The iOS Settings app, showing how to make the font size bigger.
You can also use the slider to make the text size smaller, if you have, like, super vision or something. Screenshot: Apple

This won’t change the size of the keyboard, but it’s still a useful tip if you’re struggling to see what’s written on your iPhone’s screen.

[Related: Best iPhone 14 cases]

Change your iPhone keyboard sensitivity

If you’re having trouble typing on your iPhone, you may want to consider adjusting the keyboard’s sensitivity. This will determine how your phone responds to how long you press and hold your finger on the screen. To find it, got to Settings > Accessibility > Touch, then tap Haptic Touch.

The post How to make the keyboard bigger on an iPhone, so you can finally see what you’re doing appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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The best Android games for unlocking new worlds https://www.popsci.com/gear/best-android-games/ Thu, 09 Nov 2023 02:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=586913
A man and a woman sitting next to each other playing games on their phones.
Whether you're playing with others or alone, these Android games provide plenty of challenge. Afif Ramdhasuma / Unsplash

Indulge in a little healthy competition with some of the best Android games.

The post The best Android games for unlocking new worlds appeared first on Popular Science.

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A man and a woman sitting next to each other playing games on their phones.
Whether you're playing with others or alone, these Android games provide plenty of challenge. Afif Ramdhasuma / Unsplash

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

With hundreds of thousands of Android games on the Google Play Store, it can be tricky to find ones that are suitable to play. Often, the games we see advertised the most for Android phones and tablets are also the most predatory. Avoiding games designed more to take our cash than to entertain us is difficult, but we can help by recommending five of the best Android games that break the mold and still provide plenty of fun.

 Super Auto Pets

An early-game fight showing mice, ducks, fish, and other creatures facing off in the Super Auto Pets Android game.
Assemble a team of cute creatures with super powers. Screenshot: Super Auto Pets

Super Auto Pets is an answer to auto-battling games like Hearthstone: Battlegrounds, Riot’s Team Fight Tactics, and Marvel Snap. The game has a clear monetization scheme and instantaneous unlocks, yet still holds onto the addictive gameplay loop the aforementioned auto-battlers have. But the obsession comes from fun and achievements, not grinding out currency and unlocks.

During gameplay, you’ll assemble a team of cute animals (including a dinosaur or two), feed them, and head off to battle. As the primary game mode is asynchronous, it’s a perfect game for busy adults. You won’t have to hurry through turns if you dip into play intermittently throughout the workday. If you have time, however, you can sit down for a ranked match, which plays like more typical multiplayer online games. What animals (and food) you play with are determined by sets, which can be purchased in full with a single direct purchase, no “gems” or other in-game currency required. The first set is free and you can eventually play with all animals for free via weekly random and/or curated sets.

Super Auto Pets is free, and you can buy additional packs in the app.

2. Vampire Survivors

One of the many level-up screens in the Vampire Survivors' journey, featuring the Magic Wand, Santa Water, and Knife options.
The interface may look dated, but this game is still engrossing. Screenshot: Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors became a cult classic on PC during the summer of 2023. With graphics that can be described as “1998 DOS freeware” and a user interface defined by only one word—chaotic—this is definitely a stylized game. The effect is outstanding, however, and a satisfying game loop quickly seals players within its grasp.

Each session starts with a character and a weapon or two, automatically flying about the screen. As your weapon hits enemies who increasingly crowd around you, numbers begin to fly everywhere, levels rise, and resources accumulate. Regular pauses in the action give you a chance to breathe and plot, while also giving you access to items that will improve your build. As time progresses, so does the intensity of the opposition, with the final bits of action proving the true power of your build and if you’re worthy of unlockables.

Vampire Survivors is free with in-app purchases.

3. Dominion

An early-game hand in the base game of Dominion, which displays playing cards for a militia, moneylender, artisan, and more, as well as a tally of your points.
Collect enough cards to create your own world. Screenshot: Dominion

Dominion is a classic board game. Now, it has a new Android app edition, suitable for both new and recurring players. Dominion is a deck-builder that emphasizes trade-offs and long-term planning. Each turn, you collect cards that either boost your score or your potential to grab even better cards later. Grabbing early-game, high-point cards while you can will always feel good, for example, but seeing those cards (dead weight in your hand) again and again throughout a match can feel exhausting.

As mentioned, this game originates from older source material. However, this digital rendition is a fairly new implementation of the game, and at the time of this writing, it remains in early access. As a result, if you’ve been put off by other mobile implementations of board and card games of this era, you should strongly consider coming back for Dominion to see if a new generation of graphics, UI innovations, and controls can get you in the game.

Dominion is free, and you can buy expansions in the app.

4. Peglin

A screen displaying a forest and points in the Android game Peglin.
Vanquish monsters and other enemies in this RPG. Screenshot: Peglin

Take PopCap’s Peggle, toss in a Slay the Spire overworld and character development system, and throw in some unique thematic arcs of its own and you have Peglin. Essentially, the game’s core loop is you—depicted as a green goblin with pointy ears—throwing rocks and orbs through a board to hit pegs. To oversimplify greatly, the more pegs you hit, the more damage you do to oncoming monsters. It’s a hit-or-be-hit world. After battles end, you get to add a new rock or orb to your backpack and, potentially, get the chance to attend an event or obtain a game-changing artifact.

While the opening act of the game, set in a forest, feels like Peggle with RPG mechanics on top, that feeling doesn’t last. By the time you’ve prevailed past a castle and into the void, gravity and gameplay will both be significantly different. Mastered all the areas? You’ll still have the “cruciball” challenge, which tilts the odds against you, and new characters to play with as well. Plus, the developerss keep updates coming, both improving upon the game and adding new orbs to fight with. Peglin is a fully-contained offline adventure.

Peglin is free with in-app purchases.

5. Shattered Pixel Dungeon

A gray dungeon depicted in the Android game Shattered Pixel Dungeon.
This dungeon-crawler is easy at first, but difficult to master. Screenshot: Shattered Pixel Dungeon

If you want a traditional, adventure roguelike Android game, then Shattered Pixel Dungeon is worth your time. Ditching awkward numpad controls and step-by-step movement, Shattered Pixel Dungeon takes you on a finger-accessible journey with mobile sensibilities. Collecting items, discovering the unknown, and bashing enemies with swords and spells are all still there in all their traditional roguelike glory for you, though.

[Related: The best Android apps for your Chromebook]

You may already be familiar with part of the title of the game, and that’s because it comes as a fork, or separate branch, of the open-source code of Pixel Dungeon. While other forks of this game exist, Shattered Pixel Dungeon is generally favored above others for its consistent development, plethora of extra items and entities, and nearly 10 years of independent history. If you like this game, other Pixel Dungeon variants may also be worth a spin.

Shattered Pixel Dungeon is free to play.

While these games are meant to be best enjoyed on an Android phone, the fun doesn’t have to stop there. If you’d like to get them on a bigger screen, check out our guide on how to use Android games on PC.

The post The best Android games for unlocking new worlds appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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12 hidden Android features you should be using https://www.popsci.com/hidden-android-tricks/ Fri, 15 Apr 2022 16:12:54 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/hidden-android-tricks/
A hand holding a Pixel phone with the home screen unlocked.
Supercharge your Android experience. Sebastian Bednarek / Unsplash

Be the master of your Google-powered device.

The post 12 hidden Android features you should be using appeared first on Popular Science.

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A hand holding a Pixel phone with the home screen unlocked.
Supercharge your Android experience. Sebastian Bednarek / Unsplash

The Android versus iPhone debate continues to rumble on. But one thing is certain: Google’s phone software is still more versatile and customizable than Apple’s offering. Dig into the settings and discover Android’s secret capabilities, including a host of hidden features and useful tools. We’ve collected 12 of them here.

A quick note before we begin: Android has a wide variety of makes, models, and versions, which makes it difficult to find features that will be consistent across all devices. We only verified the following tips on stock Android 14—they should also work on related systems, but some of the menus and procedures may vary slightly.

1. Enable flash notifications for silent updates

The Android settings app, showing how to activate flash notifications.
No sound, only light. Screenshot: Google

Loud notifications are annoying, but have you ever heard a phone vibrating on a glass table? Somehow, it’s even worse. So whether you want to stay up to date with your texts in a quieter way or you’re hard of hearing, Android now allows you to set flash notifications, where your phone’s screen or built-in flash will blink to let you know there’s something new requiring your attention. 

To set it up, go to Settings, Accessibility, and Flash notifications. You’ll get two options: toggle the switch next to Camera flash to have the light on the back of your phone flash three times when you get a notification; or toggle the switch next Screen flash so that your device lets you know of any new messages by flashing a yellow overlay on your screen. You can enable either or both of them to get an even more effective visual alert. 

To see how they work, make your preferences and hit Preview

2. Run apps side-by-side

Android's split screen feature showing Spotify on the upper half of the screen and Twitter on the bottom half.
For those days when multitasking is a must. Screenshot: Google

This feature has been around since Android 7.0 Nougat, but it’s one of the few users tend to forget about. This side-by-side or top-and-bottom app view (depending on the orientation of your screen) comes in handy when you want to display photos, optimize your social networking, or multitask.

To set it up, make sure both apps you want to see are already open. Then, open the app carousel by doing a short swipe-up gesture from the bottom of your screen. Find the recent app you want to use and press on the circular icon at the top of its preview. On the emerging menu, you should see a Split top option. Keep in mind that not all apps support this feature (like Instagram, for example), so if you don’t see this option, it’s because you can’t use it like this. If you see it, tap Split top, and the app will automatically position itself at the top or left of your screen. On the other side, you’ll see the app carousel, from where you can open a second app. This time, just swipe your way to it and tap on the preview to open it.

You’ll notice a thick black line separating both apps—from the middle drag it up or down to re-distribute your screen. To exit Split Screen mode, just drag the black line all the way up or down.

3. Lock phone borrowers inside one app

Android's app carrousel with app pinning options open.
Make sure “I want to listen to a podcast” doesn’t turn into “Who’s that texting you?” Screenshot: Google

This is one of those Android tricks you need to know if you find yourself constantly lending your phone to a friend or young family member. Because if you do, you probably know that sudden anxiety that comes with the possibility of them going through your private information or posting to your social media accounts. 

App pinning lets you be generous without giving up your privacy and will lock one app to the screen until someone unlocks your device. Essentially, the user won’t be able to access any other parts of your phone without your credentials.

[Related: How to safely share your phone with others]

Screen pinning is easy to set up. Open Settings, go to the Security & privacy menu, scroll down to choose More security settings, and tap App pinning. Once you’ve turned on the feature, launch the app your friend needs to use and open the app carousel by making a short upward swipe from the bottom of the screen. Swipe your way to the app you want to pin and tap on the circular icon at the top of the preview. On the emerging menu, tap Pin. To unpin the app, swipe from the bottom of your screen and hold. This will lock your phone and you’ll have to enter your pattern, password, PIN, or biometrics to use it.

4. Activate one-handed mode

Android's messaging app with the one-handed keyboard activated
Don’t pull a muscle in your thumb—you can make your keyboard adapt to you. Screenshot: Google

As today’s phones continue to grow in size, they become harder and harder to operate one-handed. So Google’s custom keyboard, which is the default option on certain Android phones, has a solution: A special one-handed mode that you can switch to with a simple shortcut. If you own a Pixel phone, this keyboard will be your default typing option. If you’re on a Samsung or LG phone, you’ll have to first download Google’s version and set it as your default keyboard (as demonstrated in Tip 7).

Open up the keyboard as normal and tap and hold on the comma key. Drag up to the right-hand icon to enable one-handed mode. The arrow lets you switch this smaller keyboard from side to side, the bottom icon lets you reposition it, and the top icon restores the full-size keyboard. Other phone keyboards may also have one-handed modes, but they can be harder to access than Google’s. Try looking up your phone model and searching “one-handed keyboard” to learn more.

5. Customize your experience with regional preferences

The Android settings app, showing how to set your regional preferences for temperature and other aspects of your phone interface.
This post made by Celsius gang. Screenshot: Google

If you live in a foreign country either permanently or temporarily, you might find it frustrating that all apps and services are built to work according to that area’s specifications—metric units, calendar settings, etc. Some apps allow you to change these settings one by one, but that takes a while and you’ll have to do it all over again if you change phones, for example. 

This is why Android 14 debuted Regional preferences, a menu where you can change these settings at a system level so you don’t have to dive deep into each individual app. Find this feature by going to Settings, System, and then Languages. Once you’re there, open Regional preferences—you’ll be able to pick temperature units, number preferences, and the first day of the week. These changes will apply wherever possible within your device.

6. Choose new default apps

The Android menu showing how to set up new default apps
You don’t have to settle for the default. One of Android’s hidden features is the possibility to fully customize your experience. Screenshot: Google

One of the differences between Android and iOS is that Google’s mobile operating system lets you choose different default apps for web browsing, texting, viewing photos, etc. A default app is the one that opens automatically when you try to do something on your phone—so when you click a link, for example, your default web browser app will automatically open it.

Take advantage of this flexibility by setting up the defaults as you want them. Head to Settings, go to Apps and choose Default apps. Select any of the categories on screen to see a list of installed apps that can take over default duties. For example, if you’d prefer to chat with friends via Facebook Messenger, rather than your phone’s built-in SMS app, you can make Facebook’s product your default messaging app.

7. Cast your Android screen

Android's screen cast option
This native option lets you beam your phone’s content to a bigger screen. Beware of your notifications, though. Screenshot: Google

For a number of years, you’ve been able to broadcast your Android phone or tablet’s display to the larger screen of a television using a Chromecast. In addition to beaming video from all the usual movie and TV apps, this streaming device can mirror your phone. Take advantage of a shortcut in the Quick Settings pane especially made for this feature, which you can access by dragging down from the top of the screen with two fingers. You should find a Screen Cast option in this menu. If it doesn’t show up, swipe left on the Quick Settings menu for more options, or tap the pencil icon at the bottom to add the shortcut.

[Related: How to put video calls on your TV]

There’s also another way to set up mirroring. First, check to make sure you’ve installed the Google Home app for Android—you probably already used this program to set up your Chromecast. Open the app and choose your Chromecast and your device’s display should appear on the big screen. On your phone, tap Media and choose from Music, Video, Podcasts, or Radio and select a service to start streaming.

8. Make text and images more visible

Android's display and text size options.
Among the cool Android tricks you’ll find is being able to make everything bigger. Screenshot: Google

If you’re struggling to see what’s on the screen—or, alternatively, if you want to cram as much content as possible onto the display and don’t mind doing a bit of squinting along the way—you can zoom in or out on text and objects. Not all apps will respond to these adjustments, but most of them will.

To change size settings, open Settings and go to the Display heading. From there, tap the Display size and text and drag the slider under Font size to make text larger or smaller as needed. Android 13 introduced a new slider on this menu—Display size. You can play around with it to make icons and the Google search bar chunkier.

9. Disable the lock screen at home

The Android menu showing the on-body detection options.
Finally home, shoes off, phone unlocked. Screenshot: Google

To keep your device safe, you need to set up a PIN code or biometrics scan to unlock your phone. But this makes it more inconvenient to access your apps. Google’s Smart Lock feature lets you remove this obstacle, giving you instant access to your phone—but only when you’re safely at home.

From Settings, tap Security & privacy, go to More security settings and choose Smart Lock. As well as disabling the lock screen when you’re at home (that’s the Trusted Places option), you can also disable the screen when your phone’s Bluetooth is connected to a trusted device, such as your car stereo unit, or when it detects you have it on you.

10. Change volume settings independently

Android's menu showing independent volume sliders for phone calls, ringtones and notifications.
Don’t forget to set your alarm volume correctly so that you can actually hear it in the morning. Screenshot: Google

Your device plays several different types of audio—including ringtones, notifications, alarms, phone calls, and media. If you’ve ever gone to the Settings menu and opened Sound & vibration, you’ll have seen that you can use individual sliders to adjust these audio types individually.

However, Android gives you a quick-and-easy shortcut. Tap the physical volume buttons on the side of your device to make whatever’s currently playing quieter or louder (if no media is playing, this action will adjust your ringtone volume). When you do, a small box will pop up on the screen, showing which volume setting is changing and how. At the bottom of that box, you should see three dots. Tap them, and the box will expand to show multiple volume sliders at once. This can save you a trip to Settings.

11. Bring back lost notifications

The Android menu to install a settings widget
Once you drag the icon, you’ll instantly see a confusing menu that will make you think something went wrong. Fret not—choose Notification log and you’re set. Screenshot: Google

So you accidentally swiped away one of the notifications that you wanted to read fully and now you have a nagging sense someone emailed you, but are not sure. It happens. If you want to review all of your recent notifications on Android, you’re in luck. This ability is possible—though the option isn’t easy to find.

[Related: Switching from iPhone to Android has never been easier]

Tap and hold on an empty part of the home screen, and a screen-adjusting mode will pop up. Choose Widgets, and find the Settings shortcut. Drag this icon to an empty space on one of your home screens, drop it in place, and a list will automatically pop up. Choose Notification log from the list and tap the icon to open up Android’s notification history.

12. Get an always-handy magnifying glass

The Android settings app, showing how the magnification tool works and how to enable it.
Zooooooooooooooooooooom. Screenshot: Google

Other than changing display options and making icons and text bigger, Android 14 introduced a new feature that lets you magnify specific parts of your screen. To enable it, go to Settings, Accessibility, and Magnification. Start by toggling on the switch next to Magnification shortcut, which will introduce a red magnifying glass button to the right of your screen.

Whenever you need a little help looking at text, pictures, or animations, you can summon the Magnification tool by tapping the red icon. An orange frame will appear on screen, zooming into the display portion underneath it (just like a magnifying glass), and you’ll be able to move it wherever you need it. If the default zoom is not enough, use your thumb and index fingers to expand the view even more. Tap the red icon again to disable the tool.  

This story has been updated. It was first published in 2017.

The post 12 hidden Android features you should be using appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Turn your iPhone into a bedside clock with StandBy mode https://www.popsci.com/technology/standby-mode-ios/ Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:30:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=587092
A sunny wooden desk where an iPhone is propped up and showing StandBy Mode on screen.
StandBy mode makes use of your favorite iPhone widget. Apple

Don't waste your time waking up your phone to check the weather, time or your schedule.

The post Turn your iPhone into a bedside clock with StandBy mode appeared first on Popular Science.

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A sunny wooden desk where an iPhone is propped up and showing StandBy Mode on screen.
StandBy mode makes use of your favorite iPhone widget. Apple

One of the new iPhone functionalities ushered in with the arrival of iOS 17—like offline Apple Maps support—is StandBy mode. This feature turns your iPhone into a small smart display that will show you everything from calendar appointments to your favorite photo albums.

Perhaps the obvious use of StandBy mode is to turn an iPhone into a bedside clock, displaying the current time and even dimming the display once the lights go out. But there are plenty of other ways to use it.

StandBy mode is available on iPhones running iOS 17—that’s the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max launched in 2018, and every handset that’s appeared since.

If you have a Pro or Pro Max version of the iPhone 14 or 15, your device can display StandBy permanently on screen. On other models, you’ll need to wake the display to see it: You can do this by tapping the display or waving your hand in front of it.

How StandBy mode works

Screen showing the StandBy mode menu on iOS 17
You can enable or disable StandBy from the iOS Settings menu. Apple

You can enable StandBy mode by going to StandBy on the Settings screen and turning on the StandBy toggle switch. If you’re using an iPhone with an always-on display, use the Always On toggle switch to determine whether StandBy mode stays permanently on the screen.

[Related: 6 great features to try out on iOS 17]

To have StandBy mode activate automatically, charge your iPhone and prop it up on its side and at an angle (so not flat on a surface). Once your device meets all of these conditions, StandBy mode turns on—the first time that happens you’ll see a message explaining what StandBy mode is. By default, you’ll see clock and calendar widgets appear first. To quit StandBy mode, simply pick up your phone, lay it down flat, or remove it from the charger.

The feature works with both wired and wireless charging, but MagSafe chargers have a bonus functionality: StandBy mode remembers how you’ve configured it on each separate charger, so you can have different setups for different rooms (the bedroom and the kitchen, for example).

Customizing StandBy mode

Swiping left or right on the StandBy mode screen cycles through the different views available to you. There’s a widgets screen, a photos screen, and a clock screen, and on each one you can swipe up and down for different configurations.

On the widgets screen, the display is split in two so you can swipe up and down on them separately to scroll through the available widgets. You can pick from the weather forecast, your upcoming calendar appointments, and any active reminders.

Screen showing the options menu of the widget screen of the iPhone's StandBy Mode.
As on the home screen, you get a choice of widgets to pick from. Apple

Long press on the widgets screen to remove add-ons from the list (via the minus button) or add new ones (via the plus button). The widgets you see will depend on the apps installed on your phone, but there are a bunch of native ones built into iOS to get you started.

Other than the widgets available to you, you’ll see other options similar to the ones you have for widgets on the home screen. Smart Rotate will intelligently change the available widgets based on the time of day and your usual habits, and Widget Suggestions will add in widgets based on the apps you already use a lot.

A long press also unlocks options on the photos screen, allowing you to choose a particular album in your gallery that’s different to the images StandBy mode chose for you.

A long press on the clock screen brings up the available options of that particular view, but as of yet, there’s no option to add a new clock face.

Screen displaying the night mode options menu for the iPhone's StandBy mode.
Night Mode adapts the display in low light so your device won’t blind you or wake you up. Apple

Back on the StandBy screen in iOS Settings, you can customize the StandBy feature in a few more ways. The Show Notifications toggle switch determines whether incoming notifications appear in StandBy mode—enable the Show Preview on Tap Only option underneath if you’d rather not have previews (like the first lines of messages) appear on screen.

[Related: Hand gesture reactions are one of macOS Sonoma’s coolest new features]

You can also tap Night Mode and enable the Night Mode toggle switch. This feature dims the display and turns everything on it red whenever your iPhone detects it’s in a dark environment. That way, StandBy doesn’t stop you from getting to sleep. The same screen has a Motion To Wake toggle switch: Keep it on if you want to be able to wake the screen with a wave, or turn it off if you find your nightly tossing and turning is constantly lighting up the display while you’re in bed.

The post Turn your iPhone into a bedside clock with StandBy mode appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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It’s time to make your Venmo transactions private https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-make-venmo-private/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 13:12:18 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=586181
A hand holding a phone over a wooden table. The phone screen is blue and shoes the logo for the Venmo app.
There are definitely better ways to show the work you're a big spender. Tech Daily / Unsplash

No one has to know how many times you went for pizza last week.

The post It’s time to make your Venmo transactions private appeared first on Popular Science.

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A hand holding a phone over a wooden table. The phone screen is blue and shoes the logo for the Venmo app.
There are definitely better ways to show the work you're a big spender. Tech Daily / Unsplash

Money transfer apps are incredibly useful, which is why they’re so ubiquitous. But Venmo, one of the most popular of the bunch, has a problem: by adding a social element to our spending, the platform makes all transactions public by default. 

This means that all of the internet (or, best-case scenario, your friends and their friends) knows you’ve been ordering pizzaPeruvian food for breakfast at least twice a week. Or that you bought a statue of questionable taste from some person on Facebook Marketplace. Or something beyond what we can put to print. Venmo keeps some things private, but certainly discloses enough information to let other people know who you’re spending with, and potentially on what, so finding out your friends went for brunch without you is only a matter of scrolling.

This is why you should make your Venmo private right now. Thankfully, accessing and changing the platform’s settings is easy. 

How to change your privacy settings on Venmo

Mobile privacy settings for the Venmo Android app.
Finding Venmo’s privacy settings is easy. Venmo

1. Open Venmo and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner of your screen. 

2. Tap the cog icon in the top right corner to open the settings menu. 

3. Go to Privacy. 

4. Under Default privacy settings, make sure you select the bubble next to Private. This will make sure transactions are only visible to you and the person who’s paying or receiving money from you. 

[Related: The 7 best apps for sending money]

There’s also a Friends option, which will make your activity visible to your friends and their friends, but we’d discourage you from going that way. Venmo is an extremely practical app people usually only use to transfer money, which is why we don’t usually think too much about who we befriend on there. Think about that one time you went out for drinks with a large group of people and one person picked up the check so everyone paid them instead. You may not even know that person well, but if they’re your friend on Venmo, they, along with all of their friends, can see how you spend your money. 

Screen showing Venmo's privacy settings and how to turn them to private
You can stop your name from appearing on other users’ friends list. Venmo

If you’ve been using Venmo for a while, you should know that changing your privacy settings doesn’t work retroactively, and will only keep your future transactions private. To protect everything from the past, tap Past transactions on the privacy menu and select Change all to private. 

To go even further, and since you’re already in the privacy menu, tap Friends list and set it to private. This will prevent people from knowing who you’re friends with on the app. To finish, toggle off the switch next to Appear on other users’ friends lists. This will ensure that, even if your friends can’t be bothered with their privacy settings, at least you won’t show up on their lists.

More Venmo privacy tips

Maybe you like the social element of Venmo and prefer to keep things between friends (and their friends). That doesn’t mean you can’t still take care of your privacy. 

Make individual transactions private

You should know that you can always make individual transactions private. This is easy to do but not very intuitive, so you might’ve missed it. 

After completing a payment, open the transfer on your timeline or profile. Under Transaction details and to the right of the date and time, you’ll see the transaction’s privacy settings in blue—tap it to change it. You’ll get the same options as on the app’s privacy menu, and you’ll be able to make your activity visible only to you and the other person, your friends and their friends, or the entire world wide web. 

Opt for nondescript descriptions

As we mentioned before, Venmo doesn’t disclose the amounts of money you transfer on the app, but it says who you’re paying, and who you’re friends with, if applicable. 

That’s a lot of information as it is, but most importantly, the platform shows everyone the description of each interaction, which usually gives away the nature of the transaction and the context. So, for example, if you see someone paying somebody else and posting a pizza or drinks emoji, you can easily assume they ate or drank together, which can easily fuel gossip or, in the worst cases, “conspiranoia.” 

[Related: It’s time to start paying for everything with your phone]

If you’re keeping things between friends, give your transactions a non-obvious description. Since this is a required field to finalize payments, you can type gibberish or anything else that doesn’t give away what the payment or request was for. If you think you might need a receipt in the future, text that person directly confirming tha transaction. 

Check your friends list often

When you search someone on Venmo or scan their account QR code, the app will immediately take you to their profile page. You’ll be able to see their picture and their name, but you’ll also be able to spot somewhat of a dark pattern—it’s easier to add them as friends than it is to just make or request a payment. 

This is because the Add friend button is immediately below a person’s account details, whereas the transfer button (a white coin and a pencil against a blue background) is all the way down in the bottom right corner of your screen. You probably know this, but you can easily miss it, especially in the “We gotta pay and go” mindset after a meal. 

Again, if you set your privacy settings to Friends, make sure you take a moment, maybe once every few months, to revise your friends list. Make sure you know everybody on there and delete anyone you might not interact with on the app again. That way you’ll have a good idea of who your audience is and keep some control over it. 

The post It’s time to make your Venmo transactions private appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to text Siri instead of talking to it out loud https://www.popsci.com/diy/type-to-siri/ Sat, 04 Nov 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=584860
An open MacBook on a desktop showing the MacOS desktop and the results from a Siri query
Some meetings could be emails and some queries to Siri could be texts. Karolina Grabowska / Pexels

For when you only want to have a private chat with Apple's personal assistant.

The post How to text Siri instead of talking to it out loud appeared first on Popular Science.

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An open MacBook on a desktop showing the MacOS desktop and the results from a Siri query
Some meetings could be emails and some queries to Siri could be texts. Karolina Grabowska / Pexels

I, like many people, prefer texting to calling. So why does Apple think I want to talk to Siri out loud? 

I understand that in some circumstances talking out loud is easier, but when I’m in a public place I’d rather type notes to my virtual assistant than look like I’m talking to myself. This approach is particularly easy on my Mac, where I have a big keyboard ready to be used. 

If you’d also like to keep your conversations with Siri private, you can dive into the Accessibility settings to enable the Type to Siri feature and stop Apple’s assistant from responding to you out loud. 

How to turn on Type to Siri

Turning on Type to Siri is easy and the same on iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices. Keep in mind that the change only affects the gadget you’re using, so if you’re tweaking the settings on your Apple computer, it won’t affect your iPhone.

Start by opening the settings application for your device. On a Mac, you can find System Settings on the dock or by clicking the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and clicking System Settings. On your iPhone or iPad you can find the Settings app either on your homescreen or in the app drawer. 

[Related: Simplify your life by creating routines for Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant]

Continue by scrolling down on the left-sidebar, going to Accessibility, and clicking Siri.

Screen showing accessibility settings on MacOS
You’ll easily get to these accessibility settings no matter what Apple device you’re using. Apple

From here, toggle the switch next to the Type to Siri option to activate it. 

From now on, whenever you summon Siri, your system will show you a text box and allow you to type instead of waiting for you to talk. On the Mac, this happens in the top-right corner of the screen. On your iPhone or iPad, your on-screen keyboard will open along with a box prompting you to chat to Siri. Type a question or request and, as always, you’ll get a response. 

Mac screen showing the type to Siri feature with the Myrtle Beach weather forecast as a result.
On MacOS, Siri will display the results right below the text box where you typed your query. Apple

No matter what device you’re using, all Siri functionalities will stay the same, so you’ll still be able to ask follow-up questions like you can when using Siri out loud. 

Note that, on the Mac, you can set a keyboard shortcut for Siri, which is perfect considering you’re using the keyboard for the actual conversation. In Settings, head to Siri & Spotlight and click the dropdown menu next to Keyboard shortcut. You can choose between three default shortcuts or create your own by choosing Customize

MacOS Siri settings menu showing how to disable audio feedback
You can also use your keyboard to summon Siri—just set up a keyboard shortcut. Apple

How to prevent Siri from responding out loud

You’re not talking out loud to Siri but, by default, Siri will still respond by talking back to you out loud. To change this and have her reply with a written response instead, head back to the Settings application and go to the Siri and Spotlight (Mac) or Siri and Search (iPhone and iPad) section. 

[Related: Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant all have alternate voices. Here’s how to find them.]

Click Siri Responses and toggle off the switch next to Voice feedback

Siri settings menu on MacOS showing how to disable the digital assistant's audio feedback.
Enabling Type to Siri won’t prevent the assistant from talking. For that, you need to disable audio feedback. Apple

Note that on mobile you can’t prevent Siri from talking back at all times, and it’ll keep responding out loud whenever you’re driving. This will also happen when you’re using headphones and your iPhone’s screen is off. But the rest of the time Siri will communicate with you using text. 

The post How to text Siri instead of talking to it out loud appeared first on Popular Science.

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You should learn how to take screenshots on a Chromebook (and edit them) https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-screenshot-on-chromebook/ Fri, 03 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=585607
Person sat on a wooden desk working on a open Chromebook laptop
Capture anything that happens on the screen of your Chromebook. Brooke Cagle / Unsplash

ChromeOS users have their own way of taking screenshots.

The post You should learn how to take screenshots on a Chromebook (and edit them) appeared first on Popular Science.

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Person sat on a wooden desk working on a open Chromebook laptop
Capture anything that happens on the screen of your Chromebook. Brooke Cagle / Unsplash

Whether it’s to save messages for posterity, troubleshoot problems, capture memorable gaming moments, or run tutorials, the ability to take screenshots is so essential that it’s built into Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

ChromeOS, Google’s operating system for their Chromebook laptops, is no different and has easy-to-use tools to grab screenshots and screen recordings. The OS also provides some basic integrated editing tools for your captured content if you need them.

Start by launching the screenshot toolbar

Screen showing ChromeOS's Quick Settings Panel, where the screen capture option is visible.
You can find a Screen capture button on the Quick Settings panel. Google

Taking screenshots on a Chromebook will require you to summon the screenshot toolbar. There are several ways to do this, so pick the one that works best for you. 

Newer Chromebooks come with a dedicated screenshot key—it looks like a circle inside a rectangle and you’ll find it up on the top row of the keyboard. As you might have suspected, pressing this button brings up the screenshot toolbar at the bottom of the screen.

[Related: The best cheap Chromebooks in 2023]

If your Chromebook doesn’t offer this option, you can try the overview key: This is also on the top row of the keyboard, and looks like a rectangle with two vertical lines next to it. This key brings up an overview of all your open windows, but if you hold down Ctrl+Shift and then press it, the screenshot toolbar will appear.

Finally, you can get to the screenshot toolbar by bringing up the Quick Settings panel. Click the clock in the lower right corner of the screen and on the emerging menu, click the Screen capture button.

Customize how you take screenshots on ChromeOS

ChromeOS's Screenshot toolbar showing the different options to capture screen grabs and recordings.
Click on the different buttons to choose what kind of screenshot or screen recording you want to take. Google

No matter how you brought up the screenshot toolbar, once it’s open, your options are then the same. On the far left of it you can click either the camera icon or the video camera icon to switch between the ability to take screenshots and screen recordings.

The next three icons to the right let you grab different portions of the screen. Choose the first one to capture the whole screen, the second one to select part of it, or the third one to grab an image of a specific open window. Further to the right is a cog icon that opens the screenshot settings—most of them relate to videos, but you can also choose where in your Chromebook you save your screengrabs.

If you’re making a recording, you’ll be able to include audio from the Chromebook microphone, the feed from your webcam, along with clicks and presses from your mouse and keyboard. These are all useful options if you’re recording a tutorial or a gaming session, for example.

With everything set up the way you want, it’s time to take a screenshot or start a screen recording: For full screen captures, click anywhere on screen; to grab a specific part of the screen, use the crosshair tool to select a portion of it, or if you want to capture a single app window, just click it.  Your Chromebook will snap screenshots instantly, but for videos, you’ll see  a countdown before recording  starts. You can stop them whenever you want by clicking the red button on the shelf at the bottom of the screen.

Editing your screenshots on Chromebook

Screen showing ChromeOS's built-in screenshot image editor tool.
ChromeOS lets you easily annotate your screenshots right after you’ve grabbed them. Google

When you finish capturing a screenshot or screen recording, a small pop up appears in the lower right corner of the screen—click it to see the image or video stored on your Chromebook.

[Related: Revive your old computer by turning it into a Chromebook]

The pop up for screenshots also has an Edit button on it, though you don’t get this with screen recordings. When you click it, the image will open in the basic screenshot editor included with ChromeOS: Hover over the icons at the top to crop and rotate the picture, resize it, add annotations, or change the exposure, contrast, and saturation. 

It’s the annotation tool labeled Draw that’s perhaps most useful for screenshots. A new pane pops out on the right, showing different pen types and colors. Once you’ve made your choices here, you can start scribbling on the image. Click Done when you’re happy with the changes, or Cancel if you don’t want to save them. There’s also a link to launch the image in Google Photos on the web, where you’ll find more editing options.

The post You should learn how to take screenshots on a Chromebook (and edit them) appeared first on Popular Science.

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What is a router? It’s like your WiFi’s post office. https://www.popsci.com/technology/what-is-a-router/ Thu, 02 Nov 2023 22:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=585792
the signal display on a home wifi router
Here's how your home router works. Stephen Phillips / Unsplash

This device distributes internet access to your phones and computers. Here's how it works.

The post What is a router? It’s like your WiFi’s post office. appeared first on Popular Science.

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the signal display on a home wifi router
Here's how your home router works. Stephen Phillips / Unsplash

A router is technically a device for directing packets of data between two or more computer networks, but it’s also shorthand for the piece of tech you’re probably thinking about right now: your home WiFi router

A normal WiFi router creates a local area network (LAN) in your home that allows your computers, smartphones, and other devices to connect to your internet service provider’s, or ISP’s, network—enabling access to the open internet. A router is essential if you want multiple devices in your home to access the web.

What does a router do?

A WiFi router works like a post office. It takes packets of data from your devices and directs them to your ISP’s network (where more routers can send them to their final destination). Most importantly, WiFi routers allow a number of devices to share the same internet connection.

For example, let’s assume you are reading this article on your smartphone on your home WiFi network. When you tapped the link to this article, your smartphone sent a series of data packets to your WiFi router requesting the contents of this article, which it then forwarded to your ISP’s network, and on to whatever server PopSci is hosted on. That server then sent the contents of this article back along much the same path to your WiFi router, which neatly handed it back to your smartphone.

Do I need a WiFi router?

If you want to connect more than one device to the internet in your home or place of business, then yes, you need a WiFi router. It’s the best way to create a WiFi network that will allow all your devices to go online at the same time. 

[Related: Device won’t connect to WiFi? Here’s what to do first.]

Most WiFi routers are also wired routers. They normally have multiple Ethernet ports so you can connect devices that don’t have WiFi capabilities, or if you want to directly access the high-speed, reliable connection that an Ethernet cable provides.

While you probably need a WiFi router, you might not need to buy one. When you sign up for an internet plan, most ISPs will send you both a modem, which allows you to connect to the internet, and a router, which creates a LAN for all your devices—though the two devices may be combined into one.

What is the difference between a router and a modem?

Although your ISP may combine both a router and a modem into a single device, the two serve different purposes. 

As we’ve discussed, a router creates a LAN and manages data on it. A modem connects your router to your ISP so you can actually browse the internet. 

If you have a router, but no modem, you will be able to create a LAN and send data between your devices. (This is how people used to play multiplayer games with their friends before online gaming.) You just won’t be able to connect to the open internet.

Now, if you have a modem, but no router, you will be able to connect one device to the internet at a time via an Ethernet cable, but you won’t have a WiFi network for multiple devices to connect to.

Are there advantages to getting your own router?

While the routers provided by ISPs will do the job, if you want the best WiFi router you can get, you will likely have to buy one yourself. There are a number of advantages to upgrading your WiFi router:

Of course, if you just want to connect a smartphone or two to the internet, then any router will do. Just make sure to update your router security settings to keep your browsing safe and secure.

The post What is a router? It’s like your WiFi’s post office. appeared first on Popular Science.

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Stop spam texts with some help from your favorite messaging app https://www.popsci.com/diy/stop-spam-text-messages/ Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=584799
Person in a red sweater and a black coat holds a mobile phone on their hands and looks at the screen.
You don't have to put up with spam texts. Ruan Richard Rodrigues / Unsplash

Fight back against the deluge of unwanted messages.

The post Stop spam texts with some help from your favorite messaging app appeared first on Popular Science.

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Person in a red sweater and a black coat holds a mobile phone on their hands and looks at the screen.
You don't have to put up with spam texts. Ruan Richard Rodrigues / Unsplash

Spam’s everywhere: even when you’ve dealt with the junk mail coming through the post and the unsolicited messages clogging up your email inbox, you’ve still got to deal with the spam you get through SMS and other messaging services.

Fortunately, today’s smartphones and messaging apps come with built-in tools for limiting the amount of spam you see. This means that with a little work, you can keep your conversation lists clean and free from junk.

But before technology can do the heavy lifting for you, help it help you by being more careful with your mobile number. To prevent it from ending up in sketchy marketing lists, don’t put it on forms or in any kind of communication if you can help it, and keep it away from your social media profiles on the web.

How to fight spam on iOS’s Messages

iOS menu showing the options to see filtered spam messages.
Messages for iOS filters out communications from unknown senders if you ask it to. Apple

The default Messages app on iOS, covering both basic SMS texts and Apple’s iMessage service, lets you block specific numbers: Tap the name or number at the top of any conversation, choose Info and Block this Caller. Blocked texts won’t show up for you at all, but the sender won’t know they can’t reach you. To manage the numbers you’ve blocked, go to Messages and Blocked Contacts from the iOS Settings screen.

[Related: Why it’s still so tricky to track spam calls and texts]

You can also have Messages filter out spam automatically, though this ability only works on texts you receive through Apple’s own iMessage service. From iOS Settings, go to Messages and enable Filter Unknown Senders. This will create a new Filters link at the top of the conversation list in Messages: Tap it to see messages from known senders, unknown senders, or all messages together. This might include new numbers that are not yet in your contact list, so it’s a good idea to check the unknown senders folder from time to time in case you miss anything.

You can also report junk messages to Apple, which doesn’t stop the sender from texting you, but it gives their information to both Apple and your carrier. The company doesn’t explicitly say what good this does, but we’re assuming repeat scammers end up on some kind of blacklist. To report junk, swipe left on a conversation in Messages, tap the red and white trash button, then pick Delete and Report Junk.

How to fight spam on Android’s Messages

Google's Messages app showing the spam folder filled with unread spam texts
Messages by Google attempts to automatically filter out spam. Google

For Android users, Google’s Messages should be their default platform for both SMS and RCS texts. This app has built-in anti-spam protections that will automatically detect spam and move it out of your way, but it’s not on by default. To turn on this feature, open Messages, tap your profile picture (top right), go to Messages settings and tap Spam protection.

To see messages that have been filtered out in the app, tap your profile picture, then Spam and blocked. From here, you can tap the three dots (top right), then Blocked numbers to see the current blacklist. While Messages often deals with spam automatically, if the platform isn’t sure about a text, you’ll see a “suspected spam” dialog appear at the top of the message when you open it. If this is indeed an unwanted message, tap Report spam on the dialog to get rid of it.

If the Messages app hasn’t picked up on a spam message, press and hold on it in the main conversation list, then tap the block icon at the top (it looks like a crossed-out circle). Finish by choosing OK on the emerging dialog box to block the number and move the message to spam. The emerging box also gives you the option of reporting the sender’s details to Google, which helps it better detect spam messages in the future.

Fighting spam on WhatsApp

WhatsApp pop up window showing the blocking options for users.
With a few taps you can block and report contacts on WhatsApp. WhatsApp

If WhatsApp for Android or iOS is your messaging app of choice, you can deal with spam messages without much fuss. On an iPhone, press and hold on a message in your conversation list to find the Block option. On an Android phone, press and hold on a message on the list, then tap the three dots (top right) and hit  Block.

This will prevent the person behind this number from sending you any more messages. On both Android and iOS, you’ll also see an option to report the sender to WhatsApp as well as blocking them. This means they’ll be known to WhatsApp as a potential spammer, and the platform might ultimately take action against them.

To see the numbers that you’ve blocked, and reinstate them if necessary, tap Settings, Privacy, and Blocked on iOS, or the three dots (top right), Settings, Privacy, and Blocked contacts on Android. WhatsApp won’t identify or filter out spam on your behalf, so it’s up to you to manage this list of contacts.

How to fight spam on Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger's Filtered messages inbox filled with unread spam messages
Messages from unknown people are called requests in Facebook Messenger. Facebook

Unlike WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger for Android and iOS does attempt to do some kind of spam filtering. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right of the interface and choose Message requests—you’ll see the messages from people who you aren’t currently friends with or that Facebook Messenger thinks might be spam. Occasionally, you might find genuine messages in here, so it’s worth checking every now and again.

Messages in your main chats list are from people you’re friends with on Facebook, so in theory there shouldn’t be any spam here. But there are exceptions—maybe a spambot has been impersonating a friend of yours, or a scammer has gained access to their account. In that case, verify their identity through other forms of contact and let them know of the situation.

If you go into a conversation with someone, then tap their name at the top, you’ve got three options for dealing with spam or unwanted messages. The first one is Restrict, which won’t result in you blocking the person, but Facebook will auto-archive their messages and won’t send you notifications about them. The others are Block, where the person will no longer be able to message you, and Report, where you’re reporting the account to Facebook for spam messages or something else.

Fighting spam on other messaging apps

Instagram's message requests folder showing some unread messages.
Instagram filters out messages from people you don’t know. Instagram

We don’t have the space to cover every single messaging app here, but if you dig around you’ll find similar options to these in other platforms. You’ll at least get the ability to block and report spammers, even if your messaging client of choice doesn’t have its own spam filter installed.

[Related: Scammers busted in India for impersonating Amazon and Microsoft tech support]

If you use Instagram for Android or iOS to message people, you’ll see a Requests link at the top of your direct messages inbox—this is where the platform puts messages from people you’re not following. Meanwhile, you can block and report spammers whose messages get through from inside individual conversations: Just tap the sender name at the top of the chat to find the options.

Over on Signal for Android or iOS, messages from senders who are not in your contacts are flagged up as requests, though they still appear in the main chat list. When you open them, you can accept the message or block the sender. To block someone not flagged up in this way, tap the sender name or number at the top of a conversation and choose Block on the next screen.

The post Stop spam texts with some help from your favorite messaging app appeared first on Popular Science.

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Google Calendar now lets everyone line up their schedules perfectly https://www.popsci.com/diy/google-calendar-appointment-schedule/ Tue, 31 Oct 2023 14:01:17 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=584691
Screen showing an appointment booking confirmation notification on google calendar
Google Calendar just made booking time easier. Google Calendar

It’s like Calendly, but Google.

The post Google Calendar now lets everyone line up their schedules perfectly appeared first on Popular Science.

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Screen showing an appointment booking confirmation notification on google calendar
Google Calendar just made booking time easier. Google Calendar

There are few things more tedious than the back and forth between you and someone you need to meet. They may say they’re free whenever (me) but when you say a time and date, they wince and say that’s actually the only time they can’t get together (also me). 

To make coordinating meetings easier, Google has launched a new free Calendar feature called Appointment Schedule. The tool has been available to Google Workspace customers since early 2022, but earlier this month The Big G granted all users access to it—albeit with limitations, depending on whether they’re paying or not. 

With Appointment Schedule, you can set up chunks of availability on your calendar so that whoever wants to meet you—be that over a video call or in real life—can pick any time and date within your set parameters. The feature is highly customizable, and setting it up just right is the best way to make it work for you.

How to use Google Calendar’s Appointment Schedule

No matter the type of account you have, you’ll start setting up Appointment Schedule by going to Google Calendar in a web browser and hitting Create in the upper left corner of your screen. On the emerging menu, click Appointment Schedule, and a list of options will appear on the left side of the interface.

Screen showing Appointment schedule option menu
Create your appointment schedule from the same menu you’d create a new event in your calendar.

1. Give your appointment schedule a name. Free-tier users will only be able to create one schedule, whereas paying customers (or those who are part of a Google Workspace organization) can have multiple ones, so naming them will make things easier. Don’t spend too much time on this—you can always change it later. 

[Related: What to know about using Google Calendar’s Time Insights feature]

2. Set up an appointment duration. This will be the standard meeting duration. It can go from 5 minutes up to 23.1 hours. Why the extra 6 minutes? Who knows, but you and whoever you’re meeting will surely agree that an appointment that long is not exactly practical or productive. Don’t stress about cutting your meeting short: people can book more than one slot with you per day as long as the daily cap has not been met—more on that later. 

Screen showing meeting length options for Appointment scheduling on google calendar
Your appointments can be as short as 5 minutes and as long as… a little past 23 hours. Google Calendar

3. Set up your general availability. Under this setting, you’ll establish the big chunks of time you’re available for meetings. If you want this schedule to run forever until you turn it off, leave the Repeat weekly dropdown menu as it is. But if you just want to set up your availability for the next week, click on it and choose Does not repeat

Below this, you’ll see a list of the days of the week, and next to each one, start and end times for big availability windows. These are the chunks of time where people will be able to book an appointment with you, and you can add as many to each day as you want by clicking the plus sign to the right of each day. For example, if you’re available all day at the office, you could put down 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but if you don’t want anybody to bother you from noon until 1:30 p.m., you can set up two availability windows around that. Once that’s done, you don’t have to repeat the settings for each day of the week—click the copy icon on the right (two rectangles on top of each other) and it’ll automatically replicate your general availability Monday through Friday.  

Screen showing appointment schedule settings
Prevent anyone from interrupting your midday walk by building your availability around it. Google Calendar

Note that by default, Saturday and Sunday will be set as unavailable for meetings, but clicking the plus sign will change that. 

4. Adjust scheduling. The next menus will let you fine-tune details of how you want Appointment Schedule to work. For example, you’ll be able to set when it kicks in (select Available Now under Scheduling window, or Start and end dates) and how far in advance people can book time with you (up to a year). 

You can also tweak Adjusted availability for specific dates where you’d normally be able to meet. This works exactly like the general availability option, but instead of days of the week, you’ll choose specific dates. So, if your teeth cleaning falls during a time you’ve marked yourself as generally available, you can add that date here and adjust your schedule as needed. 

If you need time to prepare for each meeting or just want to prevent your day from becoming an endless parade of people asking you questions, you can limit your availability time by setting up a Buffer time and Maximum bookings per day. The latter will set a cap of daily meetings, and you’ll appear as unavailable when that cap is met.

Google Calendar menu showing appointment schedule settings
Give yourself a 5-minute break in between meetings. You deserve it. Google Calendar

5. Choose how Google Calendar determines if you’re busy. Your appointment schedule will always check your Google Calendar to see if you’re busy so that there’s no overlap with any other meetings you might’ve accepted. 

But here’s the catch: If you’re not a paying Google user and have more than one calendar (a personal and a work one, for example), you will only be able to pick one of them to define availability. Paying Google account holders and members of Workspace organizations don’t have to choose, so they can continue to compartmentalize their lives in a more practical way. 

When you’re done with these settings, click Next to continue.

6. Edit your Appointment schedule details. On the following menu, you’ll find more settings you can mess around with:

Google Calendar menu showing meeting options for appointment scheduling
The last option might also be called “Nah, we’ll figure it out”. Google Calendar
  • Booking page photo and name: Your booking page is what people will see when they want to book time with you. The name and photo you use for your Google account will appear there, so if you want something that looks professional, make sure you change these settings in the My Account page.
  • Location and conferencing: Tweak this to establish where you’d prefer to meet the person booking your time. You can choose to have the platform automatically generate a Google Meet link upon booking, specify a physical place (your office, for example), or transform all of your meetings into phone calls. You can also choose None / to be specified later so you and your guests can decide how you’ll meet. 
  • Description: Here you can say anything you want about your meeting. Maybe you want to make it clear to your students that you won’t be responding to questions about their latest exam, or you want to let people know about the price of your services. Yes—if you’re a Google Workspace subscriber you can also set up a Stripe account to receive payment for your time. 

7. Set up a booking form. Under Booking form, you’ll be able to specify all the fields guests have to fill before booking time with you. By default, Google Calendar requires their first and last name, as well as their email address, but you can add more if you want. Click Add item—you’ll be able to ask people to provide their phone numbers or fill out a custom field, like their preference of coffee shop. Check the box next to Required to make something mandatory and finish by clicking Add item

On this menu, paying Google users will also see the option to require email verification. Click the box beside it to have people verify their emails when booking time with you using a non-Google email account. This extra step might be annoying for some, but it’s also extremely useful to prevent malicious bookings, especially if your booking page lives in a public place, like a social media bio. 

8. Make sure your guests know about your meeting. Now, choose whether you want to remind the people booking time with you about their appointment. Free-tier users will only be able to send guests a confirmation upon scheduling, whereas paying Google customers will be able to blast out as many email reminders as they want. 

Google Calendar menu showing options to send reminders to people booking appointments with you.
If you’re a paying Google customer you can send your guests multiple reminders about your appointment. Google Calendar

By default, the box next to Email reminder will be selected and set to send a message a day before the scheduled appointment. Click on the dropdown menu to choose another time frame or create a custom one. If you want to send more than one note, hit Add reminder

Finally, hit Save to finish setting up your appointment schedule. 

How to edit Appointment Schedule on Google Calendar

With all of those settings, you might expect there to be an easy-to-access page where you can go back to the Appointment Schedule creation menu—there is not. To tweak any details of your appointment schedule on Google Calendar, you’ll need to find its name on the calendar (think of it as a single event that repeats itself), open it, and click the pencil icon

Note that you might find multiple entries of your appointment schedule on a single day. This happens because the name of your appointment schedule will always appear on days when there are time slots to be booked, but there will also be specific appointments that were already scheduled. You’ll know the difference because the former will have a four-square icon next to it, while the latter will have the name of the person who booked the slot inside parentheses to the right of it. 

Google Calendar menu showing options to delete appointment schedule.
You can delete your appointment schedule partially or completely. Just make sure you select the right option. Google Calendar

When you open Appointment Schedule from the Calendar view, you’ll also see a trash can icon—click it to get rid of your bookable schedule partially or entirely. On the next menu, you’ll be able to delete that day specifically (This week only), that day in all upcoming weeks (All weeks), or erase the schedule entirely (All availability). Check the bubble next to the option you want and hit Save

How to invite people to schedule an appointment with you on Google Calendar

Google Calendar appointment scheduling booking page
This is what your booking page will look like to people wanting to meet with you. Google Calendar

To let people book time with you on Google Calendar, you’ll need to direct them to your booking page. This is a simple website where they’ll be able to navigate your availability and choose the time that works best for them. Note that they’ll only be able to see when you’re free to meet, but won’t see any details of your calendar. 

[Related: Syncing Google and Apple calendars is less annoying now]

To share this link, open your appointment schedule from Google Calendar and click Open booking page. From there, hit the Share button in the top right corner of your screen—click Copy link to copy the URL to your clipboard and share it with whoever you want on a platform of your choosing, such as email, text message, or social media. You can also go to the Website embed tab to get an embed code that will allow you to add a widget to your webpage that people can click to book time with you.  

The post Google Calendar now lets everyone line up their schedules perfectly appeared first on Popular Science.

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How to save videos from Facebook https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-save-videos-from-facebook/ Tue, 31 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=582654
A person typing on a laptop that is opened to Facebook.
You don't have to lose your video memories if you decide to delete your account. Depositphotos

If you've soured on the social media platform or just want to back up your files, you should know how to save videos from Facebook.

The post How to save videos from Facebook appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person typing on a laptop that is opened to Facebook.
You don't have to lose your video memories if you decide to delete your account. Depositphotos

Facebook probably has a lot of your favorite videos—from lovely, mischievous puppies and memes, to all the memories from that wonderful trip to Europe last summer. They don’t have to stay there, though: You can easily save videos from Facebook, if you want to.

However, there are limitations. The platform doesn’t have a direct way to download videos, but there is an easy workaround to save footage that’s labeled as public or has been posted by your friends. This method doesn’t require downloaders or third-party software, and works on computers running Windows or macOS.

How to download your own Facebook videos

Downloading videos from your own Facebook page, whether they’re public, private, or only visible to your friends, is a pretty simple process.

1. Log into your Facebook account and go to your profile page.

2. Click Video in the Facebook navigation bar located just below your name and profile picture. On the next screen, you’ll see all the video content you’ve ever uploaded to the platform—find the video you want to download and click on it. 

3. Open the three-dot menu in the top right corner of your screen.

4. Click Download Video. An emerging window will appear allowing you to rename the video and save it wherever you like on your computer’s hard drive.

How to save public videos from Facebook

You can’t save Facebook videos that have been posted to a group or someone else’s channel if they’re labeled as private—you can only download them if they’re listed as public. That’s important if you’re trying to save a video for personal, historic, or accountability reasons. But there is one major caveat—this method involves snagging a mobile version of the video, which means the resolution will only be good enough to watch on a smaller screen. You can try watching a video you downloaded using this method in full-screen mode on a laptop, but you’ll notice a significant loss of quality. 

Another important note: Just because you can download a video doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want with it. If the video isn’t yours, it might be protected by copyright and you might need explicit permission from the owner before you share it on other platforms. Fail to do so and you could face legal repercussions. Keep all that in mind as you proceed.

1. Log into Facebook and find the video you want to download. Once you’ve located the video, click on the three dots in the upper right hand corner of the video.

The section of Facebook featuring a video of baseball player Kirk Gibson hitting his famous walk-off home run for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
It’s easy to save your favorite videos from years ago. Screenshot: Facebook

2. Notice that the emerging menu doesn’t give you the option to download the video as it does with those uploaded to your profile or channels, so you’ll need to go a different route. Select Copy Link.

The menu on Facebook that allows you to save videos by selecting "Copy Link."
Facebook doesn’t let you download your videos directly. Screenshot: Facebook

3. Open a new window in your browser, paste the link into the address bar, and press Return or Enter—this will display the full URL instead of the shortened one. Once you see the complete address, replace the “www” with “mbasic“, making sure to keep the rest of the URL intact. MBASIC is a pared-down version of Facebook designed to make the service easier to use on older smartphones. After making the change, press Enter.

A browser window open to Facebook, showing where you can paste a Facebook link to save a video from Facebook.
You’ll need to save videos from Facebook one by one. Screenshot: Facebook

4. On this page, you’ll see a stripped-down mobile version of the video grouped with other public Facebook posts. Click the play button located in the middle of your video to open it in another tab.

A public Facebook page with a video of a baseball player with a play icon to start the video and open it in a new tab.
Just a few more steps before you can save your Facebook video. Screenshot: Facebook

5. While the video is playing, right-click on the screen and select Save Video As.

[Related: How to keep your Facebook account secure]

Los Angeles Dodgers player Kirk Gibson walking to bat in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, with a menu over the video player showing where to click to save the video from Facebook.
Make sure you have space for the video on your hard drive. Screenshot: Facebook

6. A file explorer or finder window will open, allowing you to rename the video. By default, the video will save to the downloads folder on your hard drive, but you can choose another location within your system. Once you’ve renamed the file (if you want) and selected a download location, click Save.

Saving a Facebook video as an MP4 file on a computer.
Now you can save the file to the cloud or another storage location. Screenshot: Apple

7. Your system will save the video as an MP4 file, so you’ll need a media player that supports this file format to view it on your computer.

The post How to save videos from Facebook appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to stop spam emails from destroying your inbox https://www.popsci.com/stop-spam-emails/ Tue, 02 Feb 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/stop-spam-emails/
An old metal mailbox mounted on a wall and overflowing with junk mail.
Don't let your inbox be the digital equivalent of this. Thanhy Nguyen / Unsplash

Thine commercial emails shall not pass!

The post How to stop spam emails from destroying your inbox appeared first on Popular Science.

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An old metal mailbox mounted on a wall and overflowing with junk mail.
Don't let your inbox be the digital equivalent of this. Thanhy Nguyen / Unsplash

Everything that makes email so convenient—free messages, quick delivery—also makes it susceptible to spam. With only a list of addresses (widely available online), professional spammers can merrily bombard their victims with as many messages as they like, and they have a host of automated tools to help them expand their volume and slip past filters.

It’s time to fight back against the deluge. Here are five strategies for banishing junk email and learning how to stop spam emails for good.

1. Train your spam filter

Three old mailboxes inset into a brown wall. The left-most and middle ones both have mail overflowing out of them.
So what you want your inbox to look like? Hint: you want the one on the far right. Andi Munich / Pixabay

These days, most email clients include some form of spam detection. Your provider will automatically red-flag messages that seem worthless or fraudulent and move them to a special folder where you can review them later. However, these filters will work a lot better if you tell them when they chose well or made a mistake. In other words, the spam filter isn’t an end-all solution for getting rid of spam emails—you can configure its settings and actions to improve its performance. If you’re trying to figure out why you’re getting junk mail in your inbox despite having a spam filter enabled, you probably need to train it a little more.

For instance, every time you open an email in the Gmail web app, you’ll see a Report Spam button (it looks like a stop sign with an exclamation mark inside it) at the top of the page. Click this when you encounter any message that managed to sneak past Google’s spam filters. On the other hand, if you check your Spam folder and find a genuinely useful email, open it and click the Not spam button at the top of the page or the Report not spam banner in the email itself.

[Related: Why you should use whitelists to manage your email]

In Outlook, you mark a message as spam by selecting it in your inbox, selecting Report from the toolbar at the top, and clicking on Report Junk. When you’re browsing the Junk Email folder, restore a flagged message to your inbox by selecting it, clicking Report, and choosing Not Junk.

Just about every email client will include options like these. Simply dig into the settings or review the buttons that appear on the page.

2. Unsubscribe from unwanted messages

A redheaded woman in a coffee shop smiling while she uses a laptop.
Emptying your inbox of those annoying emails will sure make you smile too. Brooke Cagle / Unsplash

Many items that we think of as spam—such as newsletters and emails about deals—do aim to make your life better. However, these well-intentioned messages add up, cluttering up your inbox until they become stressful. Rather than deleting them en masse, look for unsubscribe links to stop receiving emails from that source.

These links usually appear at the bottom of an email—because most of the time, the sender doesn’t really want you to unsubscribe. If you do take time to hunt down these links, they often direct you to a page that asks you to confirm your decision. Once you do so, most sources will respect your wishes and remove you from their mailing lists. For Gmail users, this process is even easier, because if Gmail detects an unsubscribe link in the body text, it displays that link prominently at the top of the email. You can enjoy the same automated action in the Mail app on iOS—it will copy any unsubscribe link in the body text and display it at the top of the email, near the toolbar.

Another option is Unroll.me, a third-party service that scours your inbox for messages from mailing lists and gives you the option to unsubscribe in one click. If you’d like to keep receiving updates, but would prefer to see fewer of them, Unroll.me can condense all of those emails into a single daily message that’s easier to digest. The extension works with Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, AOL mail, iCloud, Hotmail, MSN, and Live Mail. Although it’s free and it will help you stop unwanted emails, it makes money by collecting anonymized email data on shopping trends, so be aware of that if you plan to sign up.

3. Use an alternative email address

A lot of unwanted messages make their way into your inbox when you order a product or subscribe to a mailing list—and then the company automatically signs you up to receive unwanted marketing updates or shares your contact information with an advertiser. One workaround for this problem is to create an email alias or a secondary address that you can use for some of these web activities, such as online shopping or hotel booking.

While another email address won’t stop spam from arriving, those unwanted messages will appear in a secondary email account rather than your primary one, keeping your main inbox free from clutter. If you already use Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook, or Mail.com, you can set up a decoy account for free, following the same process you used to establish your original account.

[Related: 4 tips to help you achieve “Inbox Zero” in Gmail]

Depending on your email client, you may not need an entirely new account. Many clients will accept variations of your existing email address. For example, Gmail addresses ignore dots, so emails sent to “johnsmith@gmail.com” and “j.ohnsm.ith@gmail.com” will both arrive at the same inbox. Your emails will also come through if someone sends a message to your email address followed by a plus sign and extra words—so messages addressed to “johnsmith@gmail.com” and “johnsmith+extra@gmail.com” will both land in your inbox.

Why is this helpful? It means you can enter a variation on your current email address whenever you sign up for or buy something, and then create a filter to corral anything sent to that address in its own folder. To create a filter in Gmail, click the settings button (cog icon) on the top right, followed by See all settings and then Filters and Blocked Addresses. Click Create a new filter, enter your tweaked address in the To field, and then decide what you want to do with these types of emails. You could mark them as read immediately, archive them, slap a shared label on them, or some combination of these actions.

4. Download third-party extensions to stop spam emails

The MailWasher app interface.
Want a little help? The MailWasher app can be a great sidekick when you’re fighting spam emails. MailWasher

If a lot of junk mail slips through your email client’s spam filter, try adding a third-party app to supplement it. This type of service nabs messages as they travel between an email server (the cloud where messages are stored) and an email client (the display where you actually see your messages).

For a free option, we like the effective, easy-to-use Mailwasher. You just plug in your email login details, and this service applies a series of intelligent filters to identify unwanted messages. You can review the captured emails online before they show up in your inbox. For more features, including access to the app version of Mailwasher and support for more than one email address, you’ll need a Pro account, which costs $50 per year.

On macOS, users recommend SpamSieve ($40 with a free trial available). Like Mailwasher, it relies on an intelligent filtering system that gets smarter over time by recognizing the messages you agree are spam or mark as safe. As it adjusts to your preferences, it will only let genuine messages through.

The free SpamCop service works slightly differently. It allows you to report bad actors to internet service providers (ISPs) so they can block these messages at the source. While it requires more effort—you’ll need to report the unsolicited mass emails you receive—you can find help on the SpamCop website. You also get the pleasure of knowing that your efforts are helping others.

5. Protect your email address

We’ve already spoken about setting up a second email address to take the brunt of the spam you receive. In addition, you should aim to keep your primary address as secret as you can. That means hiding it from public pages, such as your personal website or your Twitter profile, where bots and scammers can collect it.

If your job requires that you make your contact information available, try writing out your email address longhand—something like “John Smith at Google’s email service”—whenever you need to display it on the web. This format makes sense to a human, but an automated bot won’t recognize it as an email address it can collect. You’ll often see this tactic on online contact forms.

In addition to collecting email addresses with bots, some email marketers will use what’s called a tracking pixel, or related technology, to figure out which email addresses are valid. This means they’ll send messages to a variety of addresses, and as soon as a real person opens one of these pieces of bait, the sender will receive a confirmation that the address is in use. To keep your contact information private, avoid opening messages you know are spam—just trash them directly.

Another way to fight tracking pixels is to turn off images—if images won’t load, neither will tracking pixels. Gmail users can also lean on the Ugly Email extension, which highlights emails that contain trackers.

Because marketing methods evolve constantly, neither of these options are 100 percent foolproof, but they can still reduce the number of bad actors who get their hands on your email address.

The post How to stop spam emails from destroying your inbox appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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The best free language learning apps for building your vocabulary and conversational skills https://www.popsci.com/diy/best-free-language-learning-apps/ Fri, 27 Oct 2023 01:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=583480
A person holding a smartphone featuring Duolingo, one of the best free language learning apps.
Learning a new language can help you connect with so many more people. Depositphotos

Free language learning apps can help you join the global conversation in as little as five minutes a day.

The post The best free language learning apps for building your vocabulary and conversational skills appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person holding a smartphone featuring Duolingo, one of the best free language learning apps.
Learning a new language can help you connect with so many more people. Depositphotos

Learning a second or third language can help you better navigate the world and thrive personally and professionally. But not everyone has the money for private tutoring or language lessons. Free language learning apps can fill the gap between your budget and your desire to learn teach you the linguistic skills to communicate in as many languages as you’d like.

These apps vary in their focus, technique, strengths, and weaknesses. Some offer comprehensive, easy-to-use lessons, while others provide practical experience conversing with foreign language speakers. We’ve put together a list of the best free language learning apps with options that span different fluency levels, time constraints, and ages.

1. Best Overall: Duolingo

The homepage of the Duolingo language app, which features their green logo owl in the center and the languages you can learn with flags along the bottom of the screen.
Duolingo has become a big name in the language-learning space for a reason. And not only thanks to owl memes. Screenshot: Duolingo

Duolingo, while free, is one of the best language learning programs you can get, thanks to the number of languages you can pick up, and the app’s well-designed, bite-sized lessons. Duolingo aims to entertain while teaching, using challenges and game-like features to motivate learners. For example, you can earn gems by completing lessons—but you lose a heart every time you make a mistake. 

The app currently offers almost 40 languages, including a beta version that teaches Klingon—for you Trekkies out there. The short lessons typically last about five minutes and are designed for one lesson per day, though there’s no limit to how many you can do each day. However, the free version only lets you make five mistakes before the lesson pauses, and you’ll have to come back later. You can get around that by upgrading to the Super Duolingo subscription, which costs $7.99 a month (charged yearly). 

Duolingo lets you learn as many languages at once as you like, whereas some other apps, like Busuu, limit you to one language at a time. The option to learn two languages at once lets you explore a variety of linguistic possibilities, too. To get started, you’ll need to set up an account with a password, but once you’ve done that, there are few restrictions if you don’t mind a 30-second ad every now and then. 

The app’s organization and ease of use stand out among language learning apps. There’s a clear structure and order to the lessons. To keep you on track, you can’t move on to a new module until you’ve completed a certain number of lessons in the previous module. You’ll also have the option to review previous lessons, mistakes, and vocabulary as needed to refresh your memory and practice. Plus, you can listen to podcasts in your language of choice. 

On the downside, the amount of content isn’t the same for every language. Some, like Spanish and French, have content galore, while others, like Esperanto and Navajo, aren’t quite as fully developed. 

If you want more training, the Super subscription lets you use the app without restrictions and offers a few other perks like unlimited mastery quizzes and Test Outs, whereas free members only get so many. (Test Outs let you skip lessons if you’ve already mastered the skills.) You can also access extra speaking and listening practice with the Super membership, though repeating previous lessons can offer extra practice without the extra cost. 

Duolingo is available on iOS, iPadOS, iMessage, and Android.

2. Best for multiple languages: Memrise

The black and yellow homepage for the Memrise free language learning app.
Learn how to speak like a local from native speakers. Screenshot: Memrise

Memrise’s free tier might be all you need if you’re brushing up on your language skills or want to learn the basics of several languages at once. This app is more of a study aid than it is a comprehensive language learning app. But it tops other apps for multiple languages because it customizes suggested lessons based on your past performance and features an AI chatbot that can help you learn.

This app relies on a number of memory techniques, but it heavily uses videos in its courses. For example, when learning vocabulary, you’ll see short videos of native speakers saying a single word. Learners follow a “watch, learn, speak” method to learn vocabulary and pronunciation. Memrise offers 23 languages, and you can work on as many of those at a time as you want. Plus, your account syncs across devices, so you can access lessons from multiple places, including a desktop computer.

[Related: How to get your computer and phone to work together]

Memrise lets you customize your learning settings so you can adjust the number of words you work on in each learning or reviewing session. However, if you make these changes in the app and later use the desktop version, you’ll have to adjust the learning settings again, as that is the only part of the app that doesn’t sync. 

Memrise offers a free and paid subscription, with the latter coming in at $14.99 per month, $89.99 a year, or $199.99 for a lifetime membership. The paid tier is ad-free and includes access to all lessons in every language, which you won’t get with the free tier. 

Memrise is available on iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

3. Best for general vocabulary: Busuu

The purple and blue homepage for Busuu, which features a map and images of people saying hello in different languages.
Native speakers on Busuu can provide feedback on your new conversational skills. Screenshot: Busuu

Busuu may not have the wide language selection of apps like Duolingo and Memrise, but the app makes up for it in the quality of its vocabulary content and course structure. At the start of each lesson, you can clearly see what your goals are and what you’ll do next. They’re also broken down into manageable, logical chunks.

The free version of Busuu only allows you to work on one language at a time, and depending on the language you’re learning, certain features may not be available. If you want more and are serious about learning languages, we recommend the Premium Busuu plan ($6.95 to $13.95 per month). The fact that you can learn vocabulary in multiple languages alone makes the price worth it. However, if you’re looking to brush up or are happy learning a single language, the free version will work well.

A fun and unique feature that Busuu offers is the option to submit audio or written answers to the Busuu community for feedback and/or correction on your language skills. Community members who speak the language you’re learning will be able to offer suggestions or provide cultural context. This app’s instruction is excellent whether you opt for the free or paid version. Just know that if you’re looking to learn one of the less popular languages, Busuu may not have it because it focuses on 14 languages, including Spanish, Japanese, and Arabic.

Busuu is available on iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

4. Best for kids: StudyCat

A photo of a woman and a little girl on the the homepage of StudyCat, a free language learning app geared toward children.
Little kids are some of the best language learners. Screenshot: StudyCat

StudyCat offers free language learning for kids ages 3 to 8 years old. While kids won’t learn everything they need to know from this app (like grammar), it’s a fun way to support their language development. Harvard and MIT researchers have found that learning a new language before the age of 10 provides the greatest opportunity for proficiency.

The app uses fun characters and games that appeal to young kids. Many of the games are similar to matching or quest games they may have already played on a phone or tablet. More than games, the app encourages a critical thinking approach to language learning. Each activity builds on the previous one to increase vocabulary while encouraging curiosity. Learning comes through categories, such as numbers, actions, food, and body. Through these categories, kids are exposed to speaking comprehension drills and reading skills. You can jump to different categories, but you have to start at the first lesson before advancing to the next, which allows your child to gradually build upon each lesson. 

[Related: How to set parental controls on any phone or tablet]

StudyCat comes in five languages, and each language has its own app. That’s a little limited if you want to expose your kids to languages other than Spanish, French, English, Chinese, and German. However, it also keeps the app simple, which works well for young learners. 

On the downside, the free version of the app doesn’t offer full access to all categories, words, and phrases. You’ll get access to two categories, and some won’t have all of the games. For that, you’ll have to pay for a monthly $14.99 subscription. I had to dig past the signup screen to get to the free version, but it’s there. The app is simple and fun for young kids, providing plenty of good practice without feeling like a drill.

StudyCat is available on iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

5. Best for conversation: HelloTalk

The blue homepage of HelloTalk, which displays a chat conversation on two smartphones.
HelloTalk provides translations for users in real time. Screenshot: HelloTalk

If you’re ready to practice your language skills with a native speaker, HelloTalk is the app for you. It’s a language app with translation tools, so you can learn while you converse. You might think you need to be an intermediate or even an advanced speaker to carry on conversations, but that’s not true with HelloTalk. 

To get started, you fill out a survey with the language you’d like to converse in and your fluency level. Then, the app creates a list of fluent speakers with whom you can chat. You can type what you’d like to say in English, and the app will translate it into the language you’re learning. There’s also a quick tap option to translate specific words. Plus, you can hear the answers read aloud or see a transliteration. HelloTalk also offers a grammar correction option to help you communicate more proficiently. 

Group chat features let you talk with several people all over the world, and you can save conversations to go back and review words or phrases. You can chat in 18 languages, practicing your conversation and writing skills at the same time. This is a great app if you’re feeling more confident in your vocabulary and sentence structure. Language development increases when you use it in practical ways with native speakers. 

The best part is the free version offers access to the same features as the paid version, but it includes ads. You can invest in the ad-free version for $6.99 per month or $45.99 per year. If you really love conversation as a learning tool, you can purchase a lifetime membership for $175. 

HelloTalk is available on iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

The post The best free language learning apps for building your vocabulary and conversational skills appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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7 hands-on (and off) tips for the new Meta Quest 3 mixed reality VR headset https://www.popsci.com/diy/meta-quest-3-tips/ Thu, 26 Oct 2023 12:17:49 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=583448
A person wearing a Meta Quest 3 headset, standing in a well-lit room with their hands behind their head.
There's a lot to experience on Meta's latest headset. Meta

Meta's latest MR/VR headset might be one of the best, and we can help you find your way around.

The post 7 hands-on (and off) tips for the new Meta Quest 3 mixed reality VR headset appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person wearing a Meta Quest 3 headset, standing in a well-lit room with their hands behind their head.
There's a lot to experience on Meta's latest headset. Meta

The Meta Quest 3 could lay claim to being the best VR headset around right now, but it actually combines both virtual reality (completely enclosed digital worlds) with mixed reality (where digital elements are mixed with the real world).

With so many types of experiences available on the latest headset from Meta, there are a lot of features and settings to dig into if you want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your wearable gadget. Let’s get you started.

1. Cast to another screen

While you’re busy immersed in VR or MR, the people around you—outside the headset—might feel a little left out. If you’d like, you can cast the action happening inside the Meta Quest 3 to another screen, so anyone in the room can see what you’re doing.

You can cast to a phone or a computer, as long as all the devices are on the same WiFi network. On a phone, you’ll need to be logged into the Meta Quest app for Android or iOS: Tap Menu, then Casting to start the show. On a computer, head to oculus.com/casting in a web browser, log into your Meta account, and follow the instructions.

Casts can be initiated from inside the headset as well. Press the Meta button (the Meta logo, a warped infinity symbol) on the Touch Plus controller, then choose Camera and Cast. You can then pick from Computer or Meta Quest mobile phone app.

2. Enter passthrough mode

Beyond the apps and games that make use of the Meta Quest 3’s mixed reality capabilities, you can also let the real world in when you’re browsing through menus and apps in the Horizon Home environment.

Tap the Meta button on the Touch Plus controller, then select the button to the right of the notification bell icon to switch between immersive (VR) mode and passthrough (MR) mode—the button you want looks like a pair of goggles and will be outlined or filled in depending on which view you’re using.

3. Customize your avatar

Your avatar represents you in a variety of places on the Meta Quest 3, so make sure it looks like you and not some generic gray blob of a person (the default). When you’re in your Horizon Home environment, select the mirror to get started.

[Related: Make a Memoji that actually looks like you]

You’ll need to choose an avatar template to get started, but don’t worry if it doesn’t look too much like you—you can customize your facial hair, your outfit, your body shape, and a number of other attributes to get the right VR representation of yourself.

4. Record photos and videos

Capturing screenshots and videos on the Meta Quest 3 is a good way to share what you’re up to. If you press the Meta button on the Touch Plus controller, then choose Camera, you can find Take photo and Record video options, but they’re really just for the Horizon Home environment.

When you’re inside games and apps, you can take a screenshot by holding down the Meta button, tapping the right trigger button, and then releasing both buttons. To take a video, hold down the Meta button, hold down the right trigger button until you see the video recording message, then release both buttons—repeat the action to stop the video.

5. Boost the refresh rate

A person wearing an orange sweater and gray pants striking an active pose in a room while wearing and using a Meta Quest 3 headset.
Some games can be played at a higher refresh rate. Meta

The Meta Quest 3 comes with a significant boost in graphical capabilities over the Oculus Quest 2, including the ability to hit a 120Hz refresh rate if games and apps demand it. This means motion will look smoother and more fluid, though it also means the headset might get warmer, and the mode is more of a drain on battery life.

If you want to make sure games and apps are looking as good as they can be, tap the Meta button on the Touch Plus controller, then choose Settings, System, Display, and enable the 120Hz refresh rate option. If you’d rather have the extra battery life, turn it off.

6. Reset the view

You might sometimes find yourself a little lost in the VR (or MR) world, with the menu or dialog box you want to look at above or below or behind you. To reset the view so everything is in front of you again, press and hold the Meta button on the Touch Plus controller.

After a few moments, you’ll see a circle on screen—keep holding to complete the circle and reset the view. This works in games and apps as well as the Horizon Home environment, so you can use it whenever you’re disoriented.

7. Use hand tracking

The cameras on the front of the Meta Quest 3 can track the actions of your hands and fingers, so you can ditch the Touch Plus Controllers if you want to. The tracking isn’t perfect, but it’s a more natural way of getting around in VR or MR.

Press the Meta button on the Touch Plus controller, then select Settings, Movement tracking, and Hand tracking. Here you can enable the feature (via the top toggle switch) and customize how it works.

Use the options on this screen to choose how you want to switch between using controllers and using hand tracking: You can simply just put the controllers down, for example, or double-tap the controllers together to switch.

The post 7 hands-on (and off) tips for the new Meta Quest 3 mixed reality VR headset appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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What is WiFi calling, and when should you use it? https://www.popsci.com/technology/what-is-wifi-calling/ Wed, 25 Oct 2023 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=583269
Various icons on an iPhone screen, including the one for WiFi calling.
Everything to know about WiFi calling. Brett Jordan / Unsplash

All your WiFi calling questions answered in one place.

The post What is WiFi calling, and when should you use it? appeared first on Popular Science.

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Various icons on an iPhone screen, including the one for WiFi calling.
Everything to know about WiFi calling. Brett Jordan / Unsplash

With WiFi calling, you can make or receive calls with your smartphone over a WiFi connection in areas where you have poor cellular signal. It’s supported by most modern smartphones and most carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Of course, you won’t be able to do any of this unless you know how to turn on WiFi calling in the first place.

Once you understand the basics and have enabled WiFi calling on your iPhone or Android phone, you can dig deeper into other important questions like how this technology actually works and if it’s free for international calls.

How does WiFi calling work?

WiFi calling is like a cross between regular cell phone calls and VOIP services like Skype that allow you to make phone calls from your computer. Instead of using a third-party service, your phone call is routed through the internet to your cell provider and then connected over the cellular network to the person you’re calling (or is calling you). This means that it still uses your phone number and your cell provider’s network, rather than a username, email address, or anything else. 

The big difference between WiFi calling and regular calling is that it uses your WiFi network, not your mobile data. This means it works well in areas where you have bad cell signal but good WiFi signal, like if you have a satellite internet connection at your rural cabin or just live in a building with an unreliable cell service. WiFi calling won’t help you if you’re out on a hike or otherwise totally off-the-grid, though. And if you have a good mobile data connection at home, you won’t notice much difference.

How to turn on WiFi calling on an iPhone

To enable WiFi calling on an iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > WiFi Calling. If you don’t see the option, it is most likely because your carrier doesn’t support WiFi calling. You may be prompted to enter or confirm your address so your phone can pass your location on to emergency services if you call them.

All modern iPhones support WiFi calling, although some networks only support the iPhone 6 (released in 2014) and newer. Basically, unless you are using a 10-year-old iPhone that you’ve somehow kept running, your iPhone supports WiFi calling. 

How to turn on WiFi calling on an Android phone

To enable WiFi calling on an Android, go to the Phone App > More > Settings > Calls, and enable WiFi Calling. If you don’t see it, your carrier likely doesn’t support WiFi Calling.

All modern Android smartphones support WiFi calling as long as they are running Android 6.0 Marshmallow (released in 2015) or newer. While the Android update situation isn’t as clear-cut as it is with iPhones, as long you bought your phone in the last five years or so, it almost certainly supports WiFi calling. If you’re unsure, check what version of Android your phone is running.

Does WiFi calling cost money?

WiFi calling isn’t free, even if you’re connected to a free public network. At the very least, you are paying for it as part of your regular cell plan—and in some situations, like if you make an international call or phone a premium number, you will be charged extra. Think of it more like dialing a phone number on Skype rather than using FaceTime. 

[Related: The best WiFi boosters you can buy]

Check your cell plan to see if WiFi calling is included and how much you will be charged for different kinds of calls. 

Does WiFi calling work on an iPad or Apple Watch?

Yes, if your carrier supports “WiFi calling on supported iCloud-connected devices” (check Apple’s official carrier support list to be sure), you can make and receive WiFi phone calls on your iPad and Apple Watch.

To enable WiFi calling on your iPad or Apple Watch, open your iPhone’s Settings app, then go to Phone, WiFi Calling, and turn on Add WiFi Calling For Other Devices. Calls that come through your iPad will be routed through your iPhone. When you’re using an Apple Watch, though, you’ll be able to receive calls even if your phone isn’t turned on or nearby, as long as your iPhone has previously connected to the WiFi network you’re using.

The post What is WiFi calling, and when should you use it? appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to make hit Spotify playlists, alone or with your friends https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-make-a-playlist-on-spotify/ Wed, 25 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=582919
An iPhone connected to white, wired earbuds showing a Spotify playlist on the screen.
Get your tracks in the order you want. Imtiyaz Ali / Unsplash

Put together a specific list of tunes to share with the world or keep to yourself.

The post How to make hit Spotify playlists, alone or with your friends appeared first on Popular Science.

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An iPhone connected to white, wired earbuds showing a Spotify playlist on the screen.
Get your tracks in the order you want. Imtiyaz Ali / Unsplash

Spotify has a wealth of options for music lovers: Mixes, new releases, genre picks, recommended tracks, albums you’re already obsessed with, and plenty more.

However, you can also take more control over your listening by making your own Spotify playlists. You can keep these compilations to yourself or share them with others—and you can even work on collaborative playlists with other people.

Putting together a curated list of songs takes longer than just diving into whatever Spotify’s algorithm offers you, but it means you’ll only listen to exactly what you want. It’s a more personalized and deliberate way of enjoying your tunes.

There are several ways to make a playlist on Spotify, and we’ll go over a couple of them plus other features to improve your listening experience.  We’ve focused on instructions for the Android and iOS mobile apps, but the process is similar if you’re using the desktop or web apps.

How to make a playlist on Spotify

You can create a playlist in the Spotify mobile app by tapping on Your Library, in the bottom right corner of your screen, followed by the + (plus) button in the top right, and then Playlist. Give your compilation a name and tap Create—the app will take you straight to your new, empty playlist.

In-app menus showing the steps to create a playlist on Spotify.
You can make as many playlists as you want, but only Premium subscribers will be able to listen to them in order. Spotify

New playlists are public by default, which means everybody will be able to find them, play them, and even access them with a shared link. But even though they’re public, your playlists don’t appear on your profile by default. To change this, open the playlist and tap the three dots: on the emerging menu, tap Add to profile to flaunt your compilation skills or Make private to hide your collection of tunes, remove it from search results, and disable its public link.

[Related: How to listen to Spotify’s huge library of audiobooks]

Spotify menu showing the privacy settings for playlists.
You can keep a playlist public while preventing it from appearing on your profile. Or, if you want to brag, you can change that on the playlist settings. Spotify

Straight away on your empty playlist page, you’ll find recommended songs based on your listening history. You can add any of these tunes to the playlist by tapping the musical note icon on the right. You can also tap Add to this playlist to start searching for specific tracks on Spotify.

Spotify menu showing how to add songs to a playlist
You can add songs to your playlist by accepting Spotify’s recommendations or by browsing the service’s catalog. Spotify

You can add more tracks by browsing the Spotify catalog. Tap the three dots next to any song, album, or playlist to find the Add to playlist option. From there, you can pick a playlist you’ve previously created or start a brand new one for the songs that you’ve just selected.

Spotify menu showing all the options you have with specific songs, including adding it to a playlist.
Whenever you find a song you list, you can add it to any of your playlists by tapping or clicking its three-dot menu. Spotify

You can make, edit, and share playlists whether you pay for Spotify or not, but only Premium subscribers can listen to them in the specific order given by the playlist creator—free users are stuck with shuffle play. To change the order of a compilation’s tracks, as well as its name, tap the three dots on the playlist page and Edit playlist.

Finally, there’s another playlist option worth mentioning. Spotify uses your listening history and machine learning to figure out your music taste and recommend artists, albums and playlists that you’ll like. But the service also acknowledges that there are a lot of reasons to make a playlist, and maybe you don’t want a particular compilation to affect your Spotify suggestions—maybe you created a playlist of kiddy songs to keep your nephews entertained when you babysit them, or a collection of epic tunes for your Dungeons & Dragons games that you don’t want to inform your daily mixes. If this is the case, create your playlist and before you add any songs, open the three-dot menu and choose Exclude from my taste profile.

How to share a Spotify playlist

A Spotify menu showing all the app  options to share the link to a playlist.
Your sharing options will vary depending on the apps you’ve got installed on your phone. Spotify

You can share any public Spotify playlist via a link—just tap the three dots on the playlist page and go to Share and Copy link. You’ll get a unique URL you can paste anywhere you want,  like an email or chat conversation. Instead of choosing Copy link, you can share the link directly  through one of the suggested apps on your phone. To do that, just pick the app you want and follow the steps.

You could even paste this link on your website or in your social media bio to give visitors an idea of your taste in music. The playlist will open on the web, in the desktop app, or the mobile app, depending on the device the person is using when opening the link, and how it’s configured.

[Related: Spotify wants to understand your body on music]

You’ll find the same options for private playlists, but the generated link has a limited lifespan of seven days—if the person you shared your playlist with opens the link within that time frame, they’ll be able to access the compilation indefinitely. But that doesn’t mean they can share it with more people—only you, as the creator of a private playlist, have the power to share it.

On mobile, shared private playlists differ from shared public playlists in that you can see who has access to the compilation. Just below the playlist name, you’ll see the little profile pictures of the people you’ve invited and you can click or tap it to get a full and detailed list. If you want to revoke access from someone there, do it by tapping the three dots next to their name and choosing Remove from playlist.

Another option for sharing playlists is to use a Spotify code, which works a bit like a QR code. Tap the three dots on the playlist, then Show Spotify Code. You’ll see a series of lines that you can share by posting anywhere online or even printing it. People can then scan it using the Spotify app by tapping Search and then the camera icon in the top right corner.

Spotify code showing a compilation of album covers by British band New Order
You can screenshot your playlist’s Spotify code and post it as an image wherever you want. Spotify

How to make a collaborative playlist on Spotify

Creating collaborative playlists on Spotify can be extremely useful for everything from weddings to road trips. This feature allows you to invite your friends to the creation process and give them permission to add and remove songs on the playlist, as well as changing the order of the tunes.

On each public and private playlist page there’s an invite button—a portrait silhouette with a plus symbol. Tap it to generate a link to pass on to the people you want to give editorial access to your playlist. Just like the sharing link on private playlists, collaborators have to click or tap the URL within seven days. After that, there are no time restrictions on how long they can stick around for.

Screen showing a collaborative playlist on Spotify, including the option to add collaborators.
Playlists are always better with friends. Spotify

Pictures of collaborators will show up in small bubbles at the top of the playlist, the same way that people who’ve been invited to shared private playlists do. Tap these bubbles for more details and select the three dots next to any name to choose whether people can collaborate on the playlist or are simply allowed to look at it. From the same menu, you can also remove access completely, if you want.

Screen showing the collaborator settings on a Spotify playlist, including how to remove collaborators.
Is someone abusing their power as a playlist curator? Kick them to the curb with a single tap. Spotify

And if at some point you’re done with your compilation, know that it’s easy to delete your Spotify playlist. Open the collection you want to get rid of, click or tap on the three-dot menu and select Delete. It’s that simple.

Two Spotify features to make your playlists even better 

If you thought those were the only ways to customize and create playlists on Spotify, think again. The streaming service has two more options you can play around with to create the perfect musical compilation. 

Blend

If you tap Your Library, then the + (plus) icon, you’ll see a Blend option next to Playlist. Blend lets you invite up to 10 people to a shared playlist, and then Spotify will automatically build a compilation that mixes the musical tastes and listening history of all the users you’ve invited. It also refreshes with a new mix every day.

Jam 

This feature facilitates collaborations at parties. It lets you invite friends to add tracks to a playlist in real time while still keeping veto power and control over the track order. Spotify will also help by offering up recommendations based on who’s accepted your invitation.

To start a jam you’ll need to be a Premium subscriber, but free users can help out as collaborators. On your phone, tap the devices icon on the Now Playing bar (it looks like a small speaker), then Start a Jam. You can find the same option by tapping on the three dots on a public playlist page. From there, you can invite people to the jam by sharing a link, or by opening the Spotify app and either tapping your phones together or scanning a QR code. 

The post How to make hit Spotify playlists, alone or with your friends appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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This Windows feature lets you pin important apps to your screen https://www.popsci.com/diy/always-on-top-windows/ Tue, 24 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=582703
Windows desktop showing the Always on Top feature activated and showing a video on top of a browser window.
You don't have to arrange and rearrange windows when switching apps. Screenshot: Windows

Boost your productivity by keeping your most important apps handy.

The post This Windows feature lets you pin important apps to your screen appeared first on Popular Science.

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Windows desktop showing the Always on Top feature activated and showing a video on top of a browser window.
You don't have to arrange and rearrange windows when switching apps. Screenshot: Windows

When you’re working on your PC, sometimes it’s handy to pin a window so that it’s always on top of the programs you’re using. Maybe you want to keep the calculator app or a text document visible at all times, or maybe your favorite team is playing and you want to make sure you don’t miss out on all the action.

Windows doesn’t offer this ability by default but you can add it through the Powertoys app. This tool brings with it a bunch of great features to Microsoft’s OS, including Always On Top, which can pin any window so that it stays right in front of everything else in your workspace. Here’s how to set it up.

How to set up Always On Top

1. Download the Powertoys app from the Microsoft Store. Once the program is installed, it should open automatically.

Windows App Store showing the Windows Powertoys app.
Once you download Powertoys it should open automatically, but you can find it using the search bar in the Start bar. Screenshot: Windows

2. On the left sidebar, click Always on Top to configure it.  By default, you’ll be able to trigger the feature by using the keyboard shortcut Windows + Ctrl + T, but you can change it to something else—more on that later. 

[Related: 7 hidden Windows features you should be using]

3. That’s it—Always on top is ready to use. Now, open whatever app or window you want to keep in front and hit the keyboard shortcut to pin it in place. Use the same shortcut unpin it.  

How to customize Always On Top

By default, there will be a thick blue border around the window you pin, but you can change or remove it. 

1. Open Powertoys and head to the Always On Top section in the sidebar. 

  • Pro tip: If you can’t find the app, click the Windows logo on the Start bar and use the search field at the top of the emerging window. 

2. Click Open Settings. Scroll down and under Appearance & Behavior, you’ll be able to remove the border entirely, if you like—just toggle the switch next to Show border around the pinned window

If you don’t want to get rid of the border, you can change its color. By default, the feature will use the current system color (Windows default), which is defined by your wallpaper, but you can switch it to any hue you want. Just open the drop down menu next to Color mode, and click Custom color. A new entry named Color will appear on the menu, and you can play around with the color picker on the right to choose whatever tone you like. 

Always on Top settings on the Powertoys app showing the color settings and the color picker.
You can choose whatever color you like for the line framing your pinned window. Screenshot: Windows

You can also make the border transparent by dragging the slider next to Opacity to the left or right. Unfortunately, there’s no preview to guide you on how the different opacity levels will look, but you’ll see the changes in real time if you’ve got a window pinned to the top of your workspace already. Drag the slider all the way to the left, and the pinned window frame will become totally see-through. 

[Related: 10 new features to get you started with Windows 11]

Another element you can customize is the border thickness. Just play around with the slider next to Thickness. Again, you’ll need to have a window already pinned in place to see how the changes look in real time. 

Always on top setting showing thickness and opacity sliders.
You can customize how Always on Top looks in your PC. Screenshot: Windows

Finally, by default there is a sound every time you pin and unpin a window—you can turn this on and off in the Sound section of the settings. 

Other options include the ability to exclude certain apps from being pinned and changing the keyboard shortcut to activate Always on Top. Click the pencil icon under Activation and type whatever shortcut you like. Just make sure the key combo you use is not taken by another action, or things can get pretty confusing and annoying pretty fast. 

The post This Windows feature lets you pin important apps to your screen appeared first on Popular Science.

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How to see which websites are sharing your data with Instagram https://www.popsci.com/diy/third-party-data-instagram/ Mon, 23 Oct 2023 16:23:01 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=582387
Instagram menu showing the Activity off-Meta technologies settings
Now you can know who's sharing data with Instagram about you. Screenshot: Instagram

Privacy setting allow users to manage what other websites share with Meta about you.

The post How to see which websites are sharing your data with Instagram appeared first on Popular Science.

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Instagram menu showing the Activity off-Meta technologies settings
Now you can know who's sharing data with Instagram about you. Screenshot: Instagram

Meta, possibly in an effort to convince people it’s a transparent company, just equipped Instagram with a new feature that lets users know what it learns about them through other websites. Unfortunately, getting that information is not as easy as Meta wants you to believe.

Other than what you post and how you interact with the platform, Instagram’s parent company also gathers data about you through other sites and organizations that use the company’s products and services. That means that if you buy something from a vendor that uses Meta Pixel on their website, for example, Instagram will know about it. 

With this new feature, you can see who’s sharing your information, delete the data already in Instagram’s hands, and prevent any future sharing. That may sound like a lot of work, but we tried it and made mistakes so you don’t have to. 

How to find out what other sites share with Instagram about you

You can learn all the hot gossip other sites tell Meta about you on the Activity off-Meta technologies menu. This option was once only available to Facebook users, but it’s now an integral part of the company’s Account Center, which includes Instagram. 

[Related: How to make your social media posts truly private]

1. On the Instagram app, open your profile by tapping the silhouette of a person in the bottom right corner of your screen. Go to the hamburger menu (three lines) in the top right corner, choose Settings and privacy, and then Accounts Center

On the web, log into Instagram, click More in the bottom left corner of your screen, and go to Settings. There, click Accounts Center

Instragram menu showing how to get to Meta's account center
On the Accounts Center menu you can tweak details about all your Meta accounts. Screenshot: Instagram

2. From here on out, the options are the same no matter if you are on your phone or your computer. Go to Your information and permissions and then to Your activity off Meta technologies

Meta's Account Center menu on Instagram
Facebook users already had the option to see which third parties were sharing information with the platform. Screenshot: Instagram

On the next screen, you’ll be able to learn a bit more about the type of data Instagram receives from third parties when you interact with them. This data can be a number of things, such as when you opened an app, logged into it using Facebook or Instagram, added an item to your cart, bought something, or even made a donation. Meta says this information doesn’t include health or financial data, or other sensitive details like date of birth or passwords.  

3. Under the What you can do heading, go to Recent activity to see all the sites sharing your information with Instagram. You may need to enter your Instagram password to continue. You’ll see a list of companies, and you can click each one to learn more details. 

Instagram menu showing the Activity off-Meta technologies settings
Now you can know who’s sharing your data with Instagram. Screenshot: Instagram

Here’s the tricky part, though: when you click the number of interactions the company has shared with Meta, you won’t see a detailed account of the interactions the site shared with Instagram. Instead, you’ll see more information and a button you can hit to Download activity details.

The notification showed when you open the Activity Off-Meta technologies menu
Meta does a good job at explaining what third party data might be, but remember that this list is not exhaustive—it only includes examples. Screenshot: Instagram

You’d think that by that they mean downloading only the details of your interactions with other apps and websites, but you’d be wrong. You’ll actually need to request to download a file that contains your entire Instagram account information, and you still won’t find what exactly other sites shared about you. 

4. This leaves you with nothing to do except cut the data flow off at the source. Back in the Recent activity menu, you can click or tap Clear previous activity or Disconnect specific activity. The first one will remove everything Instagram has on you from third parties, but it won’t prevent the same sites from continuing to share information in the future.

To do a thorough job, start by choosing Disconnect specific activity and picking a site you want to cut off. It’s counterintuitive to start here, as it’s the second option, but clearing the activity will prevent you from disconnecting third parties, as their names and the option to disconnect will disappear. That means you’ll need to wait until they appear on the menu again to block them once and for all. 

Activity off-Meta technologies menu showing dark pattern
This is a dark pattern: you’re most likely to click the button at the top, but doing so will prevent you from blocking the data sharing between external sites and Instagram. Screenshot: Instagram

5. The next screen will show you a list of the websites sharing data with Instagram. Select the ones you want to sever ties with by checking the circle next to their name, then hit Continue

The Disconnect Specific Activity menu on Instagram showing an entry from Sephora.
You can disconnect sites one by one, but it’s easier (and faster) to cut sites off from the Disconnect specific activity menu. Screenshot: Instagram

6. The next screen will show you more information about severing ties between that third party activity and your account, including the fact that doing so might log you out of that external website if you used your Instagram account to log in. It also clarifies that you’ll still see ads from the site, albeit less personalized, and Meta will continue to receive information, but it just won’t be associated with you. Hit Confirm when you’re done and repeat the process with all the sites you don’t want sharing your data. 

[Related: How to go incognito on these 6 popular apps]

Back on the Recent activity menu, you can also tap on the name of a company and select Disconnect. This, of course, requires you to disconnect sites one by one, which is not as efficient as doing it by hitting the Disconnect specific activity button.   

Keep in mind that disconnecting these sites doesn’t mean they won’t keep sharing information with Instagram—it just means the data will be anonymized, so not tied to you specifically. This is something a lot of companies do to protect users’ privacy, but it’s also worth knowing there are studies claiming data can never be truly anonymized, especially when certain data points, like location, are involved

7. Now it’s time to delete what Instagram already has on you by clicking or tapping Clear previous activity. Continue by choosing your account and hitting Clear. Confirm your choice again by selecting Clear previous activity

The Clear third party activity menu on Instagram
Finish by making sure the data Instagram already has on you from third parties is wiped out. Screenshot: Instagram

As you can see, Instagram’s new way of managing third-party activity is, well, disappointing. Navigating the new menu is incredibly frustrating, as it’s mined with dark patterns, and even after doing a deep dive, we still don’t know what third-party websites shared about us, and we couldn’t prevent them from sharing more information in the future. Certainly not the best experience.

The post How to see which websites are sharing your data with Instagram appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to watch TV on a computer, even if it’s live https://www.popsci.com/watch-live-tv-on-computer/ Fri, 30 Apr 2021 21:26:55 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/watch-live-tv-on-computer/
A young woman reclining on a gray couch, smiling as she watches TV on a silver laptop on the table in front of her.
Forget a separate device—you can stream live TV on your laptop. Depositphotos

Turn your laptop into a mobile television set.

The post How to watch TV on a computer, even if it’s live appeared first on Popular Science.

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A young woman reclining on a gray couch, smiling as she watches TV on a silver laptop on the table in front of her.
Forget a separate device—you can stream live TV on your laptop. Depositphotos

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

As television shows become available online, there’s less of a need to watch your favorites on a set schedule. But if you choose to cut the cord entirely, you’ll miss out on live channels, such as news and sports. Luckily, you can still watch live TV on your computer. You have two options: Plug a TV tuner device—which catches broadcasts like an antenna does—into a USB port, or stream shows through your web browser.

Plug in a TV tuner

Network channels, including NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, PBS, and local stations, air for free. All you need to watch them is an antenna to snag the broadcasts and a device to share them with your computer. The latter, called a TV tuner, can come in the form of a dongle or a larger box that plugs into any spare USB port.

Tuners come with bundled software that helps you navigate. When you’re getting started, these built-in applications will install the necessary drivers, scan for available channels, and display them on your computer screen. Then you can click through your options.

Once you’ve finished installation, the bundled software will help you receive channels, browse program guides, and make recordings. However, you can also download alternative applications, such as Kodi and Plex, to do the same tasks. Kodi is free but has a slightly more complicated setup, while Plex has a simpler process but requires a Plex Pass subscription that costs $5 per month, $40 a year, or $120 for lifetime access. Plex also has a handy “discover” feature that lets you track down anything you want to watch.

Buying a tuner

When you go shopping for tuner hardware, first look for compatibility with your computer’s operating system. Also consider whether the device includes extras like a bundled remote control. If you choose a model that comes with two or more integrated tuners, you’ll be able to record one channel while watching another, record two shows at once, or create a picture-in-picture effect with two channels.

We’d recommend the Hauppauge WinTV-DualHD ($80 on Amazon), though it only works with Windows machines. It includes two tuners, which lets you view or record two shows at once. Once you plug it into a spare USB port, the supplied software will take over, which makes the setup process extremely easy.

Buying an antenna

If you’ve already wired your home with a TV antenna, you can connect it to your new tuner and be good to go. If not, you’ll need to purchase an antenna to catch the TV signals flying through the air. Unfortunately there’s no easy way to figure out how many channels an antenna will catch—many factors make a difference, including the presence of surrounding buildings and nearby hills, and the distance between your home and the closest tower. You’ll just have to buy the hardware and try it out, so make sure the seller has a good returns policy, in case the reception is poor. If you live in a place where structures are few and far between, you may also want to check out our review team’s roundup of the best TV antennas for rural areas.

One of our favorite options is the Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro ($70 on Amazon), which boasts a sleek-looking design and a 65-mile range. Because it’s multi-directional, you don’t need to point it in a specific direction, so you can lay it flat or mount it to a wall. It’s meant to be used indoors, but it works great wherever you put it.

[Related: The best TV antennas]

Another choice we’d recommend is the 1byone Digital Amplified Indoor HDTV Antenna ($18 on Amazon), which is cheaper than the Mohu but has a smaller range—it only connects to transmission towers within 50 miles.

Once you’ve purchased your new gear, connect the antenna to the tuner, then the tuner to your laptop. Finally, download the free installer software (if necessary) and launch the application. It will walk you through the process of bringing up live TV channels on your laptop.

Stream channels online

Don’t want to buy new hardware? You can still watch live TV through your web browser. While services like Netflix focus on on-demand programs, other services include a live component so you can watch broadcasts—such as sports—as they happen.

If you’re only interested in watching a few channels in particular, head to the websites for those companies. Many of them—including ABC, Fox, and NBC—let you stream directly from their sites. However, there’s a catch: Different channels have different rules, and some require that you already have a TV provider or similar subscription (you have to sign in to confirm those credentials before watching). For example, you can watch CBS shows live only if you have a Paramount Plus subscription, which costs $6 per month and still includes ads.

Monthly online TV services

To get more than one channel at once, including premium options, you’ll need to subscribe to a monthly service like Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, or Sling TV. All of these options provide a strong connection and easy setup, but they differ in the channels they offer. For example, YouTube TV doesn’t have a great spread of sports channels, while Sling TV has two plans that contain different stations but doesn’t focus on local ones. Before you invest in any subscription, test out that service’s free trial (they all offer one) to get a feel for the experience and make sure it includes the TV channels you want to watch. Here’s some more information that should help you choose.

Hulu offers four plans that include live TV, and the cheapest is $75.99 a month, but it does not allow you to access Hulu’s regular on-demand library—it’s live stuff only. You can spend $1 more ($76.99 per month) to add access to Hulu’s streaming library, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus, all with ads. You can also pay more for additional features, such as premium channels like Showtime and Max (formerly HBO).

[Related: Watch anything you want without signing up for every streaming service]

With a slightly lower price of of $72.99 a month, YouTube TV offers access to more than 100 live channels, but you will need to enter your ZIP code to see what’s available in your area. For an additional $2 to $30 a month, you can bolt on extra ones, including NFL RedZone and Showtime. It also gives you an unlimited amount of free cloud DVR storage, so you can record as much content as you want and store it on YouTube’s servers.

Sling TV focuses on premium cable channels rather than local networks like ABC, CBS, and Fox, although you may be able to get some local channels, depending on your area. Prices start at $40 a month for a pack of 32 channels, and you can increase your subscription fee to add more. You can watch on a variety of devices besides your computer, including a smartphone or an Apple TV. Sling also offers a cloud DVR service, but you’ll have to pay an additional $5 a month to save recordings in the cloud.

Cable subscriptions

If you already pay for a cable subscription, this may be the easiest way to tune into live television on your computer. All you need are your username and password.

Take Comcast’s Xfinity Stream service. It gives subscribers access to more than 250 channels. Just navigate to the Xfinity Stream site, log in with your credentials, and start watching. DirecTV offers similar services, and you can access it through a web browser.

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2019.

The post How to watch TV on a computer, even if it’s live appeared first on Popular Science.

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The best iPad apps for making the most of your device https://www.popsci.com/diy/best-ipad-apps/ Sun, 22 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=581678
A person's hand selecting options of iPad apps in Apple's App store.
Select from the estimated 1.8 million apps available for the iPad. Depositphotos

Maximize your iPad’s potential (and your productivity) with the top apps for from drawing, planning, photo editing, and more.

The post The best iPad apps for making the most of your device appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person's hand selecting options of iPad apps in Apple's App store.
Select from the estimated 1.8 million apps available for the iPad. Depositphotos

The latest iPads, like the iPad Pro M2, offer incredible speed and visual clarity that make them a favorite for work, school, and everything in between. However, to take full advantage of everything an iPad offers, you’ll need the right iPad apps. Your work and lifestyle will influence the apps that offer the most convenience and functionality for you. We’ve put together a list of the best iPad apps in a range of categories, from those that keep you organized to apps for editing, drawing, and taking notes.

1. Best for note-taking: Microsoft OneNote

The home page of the OneNote app, which shows a bike build list and an image of a bike on an iPad screen.
Need some help getting organized? Screenshot: Microsoft

OneNote, made by Microsoft, offers excellent note-taking features that stand out for ease of use and top-notch organizational features. The app is available in free and paid versions that come with Microsoft Office 2019 or a Microsoft 365 subscription. (Office 2019 costs $149.99 and Microsoft 365 costs $9.99 for a monthly subscription or $99.99 annually with a yearly subscription) The free version can do everything the paid version can except for storing files locally on Windows and a few stickers, which are pictures that offer another way to express yourself visually.  

The app’s organizational structure includes Notebooks, which break down into Sections, Pages, and Sub-Pages. The Notebooks display as colored tabs on the left of the screen, giving you easy access. The app takes a freeform approach to writing by allowing you to write anywhere on the page, like you would on a piece of physical paper. It automatically opens in text mode to type using an iPad keyboard or the on-screen one, but you can easily change to “draw” and use an Apple pencil to sketch pictures or leave handwritten notes. You can then tag lines of text so you can search for them later. 

A huge pro for OneNote for the iPad is the ability to draw along with taking text notes. You can add sketches, handwritten notes, or graphs to and over the top of text. The ability to draw around and through text within the same document is unique and separates OneNote from heavy competition by popular note-taking apps like Evernote and Joplin. You can also add attachments anywhere in the text so they show up where you need them to. 

The only real downside to OneNote is that there’s only local storage on Windows, yet it’s available in macOS, iOS, Android, and desktop versions. For an iPad, you’ll store your notes in Microsoft’s OneDrive, which means you’ll need a (free) OneDrive account

Microsoft OneNote is available on iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and Android.

2. Best for drawing: Pixelmator Pro

The homepage for the Pixelmator Pro app, which features an editing app with a photo of a woman with artistically drawn text in the background.
Take your images to the next level with this powerful editing tool. Screenshot: Pixelmator

Among the many drawing apps for iPad, Pixelmator Pro rises to the top for its balance of simplicity, versatility, and price. The app offers over 100 brushes, pencils, and other tools that will let you build variety into your sketches. You can paint with watercolor or use sponge brushes to build texture in sketches in ways you can’t when drawing on paper without a bucket full of supplies. 

Pixelmator also has a photo editing system, which includes features that you can add to original drawings. For example, you can use layers, apply effects, and fine-tune colors to build depth and character to your work. You can also add shapes from Pixelmator’s library or add text with varying effects. Beyond drawing, the latest version also lets you work with RAW images, edit PDFs, and create iPhone 15 mockups.

[Related: How to unlock the hidden, more powerful camera on the iPhone 15]

We also like that you can easily export your drawings in different formats and send them directly to cloud storage like Dropbox or Google Drive. Overall, the app puts incredible creative power into your hands and gives you multiple ways to share your creations on other devices. However, the learning curve can be steep for those with little graphic experience. Pixelmator Pro doesn’t have a huge library or tutorials, so some learning will have to come from trial and error. 

Pixelmator Pro is available on iOS and iPadOS.

3. Best for planning: Todoist

The homepage of the Todoist app, which features abstract illustrations of flowers, mountains, and a man in a fedora.
Now you’ve got no excuse for procrastinating on that side project. Screenshot: Todoist

Todoist falls somewhere between the ultimate to-do list and project management. This cloud-based service syncs with any device on which you have the app, so you can access your lists from your iPad or a desktop as long as both have the app. An incredibly well-designed interface makes it easy to use despite the fact that it’s packed with features. 

You can schedule due dates, create tasks, and build lists. You can organize projects by tasks and subtasks. There are options to manually reorder tasks or set sorting options for the project. And Todoist lets you add labels so you can search among your projects later on. 

Plus, you can share it with multiple users, which is where the project management aspect comes in. The free version lets users organize five personal projects, provides space for 5MB file uploads, and keeps one week of activity history. The pro version, which costs $4 per month billed yearly, offers 300 personal projects, 100MB file uploads, and unlimited history with task reminders and task duration options. Businesses may want the business subscription, which costs $6 per month billed yearly, to get 500 team projects, unlimited collaborators, and the option to limit access and control with admin and member roles.

[Related: How to use split screen on iPad and conquer multitasking]

With the paid version, you can assign people tasks or add due dates, making it a robust way to manage a family schedule or small business team. Todoist is powerful, and the free version works well for personal organization. However, if you want to manage a family or small business using Todoist, it’s worth upgrading to either of the paid versions.

Todoist is available on iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and Android.

4. Best for photo editing: Adobe Lightroom

The homepage for Adobe Lightroom, which features the black logo with the blue letters L and R inside and three phots of a sailboat on the water, a portrait of a woman, and a editing a photos of a mountainous area.
Lightroom makes it easy to make pro-level adjustments on the go. Screenshot: Adobe

Adobe Lightroom is a top choice when it comes to photo editing power. You upload your photos to Adobe’s Cloud, and once there, they’re available to edit on an iPad. The iPad version of Lightroom isn’t quite as robust as the desktop version, but it still offers excellent photo editing tools. You can download it for free with in-app purchases to unlock the features you need. The monthly prices for premium upgrades range from $4.99 to $49.99 per month. 

The app now has more advanced photo editing features like local adjustments, lens-profile-based corrections, and noise reduction, too. We like the local adjustments feature, which is fairly new to the iPad version. With this feature, you can select an oval or linear area in which to apply your edits rather than to the entire image. You’ve got 17 adjustment features to apply within the area, like graduated or radial filters and softness and strength adjustments. Of course, there are more traditional editing tools like photo adjusters and adjustments for clarity and shadows. You’ve also got the option to shoot photos directly in the app, which is more tempting now that iPads come with higher-quality cameras.

The downside with the app is that there currently aren’t great options to batch-edit a large number of photos, say for a wedding, which is odd considering that the features are geared more toward pros than beginners. But for individual photos, you can do everything you need from your iPad and send them to the desktop app when you’re done.

Adobe Lightroom is available for iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

5. Best for calendar: Google Calendar

The homepage for Google Calendar on a desktop, which features a Get Started button and a sample calendar with entries pulled out as an example.
This calendar can help you avoid double-booking. Screenshot: Google

Google Calendar’s versatility and collaboration options make it one of the best iPad apps for those who have a Google account. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to get one, and it’s worth considering for the range of features this calendar offers. 

You can create several calendars and view them separately or together. Organize a family calendar with your spouse and children or keep one for extended family to coordinate events. Google Calendar can be particularly helpful when working with teams because everyone can share their work calendars and schedule meetings using the app. There are options to create tasks, reminders, and recurring events. Within each, you can set times, invite participants, change colors, and add locations. Plus, you can share specific events if you don’t want to share your entire calendar. 

[Related: 5 Google Calendar tips to ensure you never miss a date]

All of that is with the free version, which, really, is all most people need unless you’re working with a large team. The premium version offers analytics and insights as well as the ability to schedule appointments or allow others to schedule appointments with you. Plus, you can sync all of your calendars to keep your life organized in one space.

Google Calendar is available on iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

The post The best iPad apps for making the most of your device appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to increase your WiFi speed https://www.popsci.com/speed-up-wi-fi/ Sun, 03 Oct 2021 01:37:40 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/speed-up-wi-fi/
A person using a phone with a WiFi signal icon on the screen, while sitting outside.
No, you cannot speed up your WiFi by tapping on the screen. georgejmclittle / Depositphotos

Boost your internet without buying a bunch of new tech.

The post How to increase your WiFi speed appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person using a phone with a WiFi signal icon on the screen, while sitting outside.
No, you cannot speed up your WiFi by tapping on the screen. georgejmclittle / Depositphotos

No one likes slow WiFi—it’s right up there with creaking doors and leaking taps as one of the most frustrating household problems. To increase your WiFi speed back to where it should be, try making these tweaks to your router and other devices.

We’ve already covered some of the hardware upgrades you can invest in to remove dead spots and boost your home upload and download speeds. So in this guide, we’ll focus on software fixes and changes you can make to your existing gear. If those adjustments don’t work, switching to a mesh network or buying a WiFi extender can also improve your wireless internet speed.

Upgrade your router software

A Netgear router connected to a lot of cords, on a wood floor.
That looks like a pretty old router you’ve got there—have you updated its firmware recently? Stux / Pixabay

Just like your laptop and cell phone, routers run their own software. In this case, it’s called firmware because it’s so tightly tied to the hardware—the manufacturer installs and configures it before shipping the device. Companies don’t often issue updates for their routers’ firmware, but many do make new versions of their software available for download. These updates fix bugs and may also include performance upgrades, as well as extra support for newer devices on the market.

The best way to find new firmware for your router is to head to the manufacturer’s website or the internet service provider that gave you the router. If you can’t find a download link, run a web search using “firmware” followed by your router’s make and model.

The exact process for installing firmware varies from router to router. Typically, you open the device settings on your computer and look for the option that lets you install an update from a downloaded file (often a ZIP archive) on your hard drive. The downloaded package usually includes installation instructions, but if you’re still not sure how to do it, consult the router instruction manual or look up the instructions online.

Change the wireless channel

The options for changing your router's wireless channel.
Most routers let you switch to a different wireless channel. David Nield for Popular Science

Here’s another trick to try with a slow router: change the wireless channel it uses. This means slightly adjusting the wireless frequency that your WiFi signal is broadcast on. Your router should have a setting that lets you modify the channel, likely listed under a heading like Wireless or Advanced. If you can’t find it immediately, look up instructions online or in the router manual.

Most routers use channel 6 by default. Change this to 1 or 11 (to minimize interference with channel 6), and you might notice better WiFi performance. All of your connected devices will also need to connect to this new channel, but the majority of your gear will do so automatically, with no need to adjust the WiFi name or password. You might have to play around a bit before you arrive at the best channel, but stick to 1, 6, or 11 for the best chance of getting the fastest speeds.

[Related: 6 router settings you should change right now]

In a related trick, some more advanced routers offer two frequency bands: the standard 2.4GHz band and the faster 5GHz band. These bands follow the same principle as the channels mentioned above, but when you switch bands, you’re shifting the frequency much further. That means WiFi-enabled devices you connect to different bands won’t interfere with each other.

If your router supports dual bands (check your model’s documentation for details), you’ll usually see two different WiFi networks you can connect to. Divide your devices across both networks, depending on the speed and range each piece of hardware needs from your WiFi. For example, the 5GHz band typically offers faster speeds but shorter range, so devices closer to your router should use that one. It’ll stream your Spotify tunes more reliably to your gaming console, but it’s not as good at blasting through walls and doors as the older 2.4GHz standard. Use the latter for devices you move around your home, such as phones, or those located farther away from the router, and you should see increased WiFi speeds on all your devices.

Not every router can handle both bands, but most manufactured in recent years support these standards. On either band, if you’re getting sub-optimal WiFi speeds and seeing buffering wheels more often than you’d like, you can still change the wireless channel used in the 5GHz range or the 2.4GHz one. Check out your router’s help pages for more information on your options.

Control the bandwidth

Speedtest.net's internet speed testing interface.
Speedtest.net will tell you the download and upload rates you’re getting. Screenshot: Speedtest.net

Internet use can quickly eat up your available bandwidth, especially on slow connections or those shared among multiple people. So if you’re struggling to get a decent speed, try investigating what else is happening on your network. For example, running Netflix alongside Hulu while you take multiple video calls probably isn’t the best way to maximize your streaming speed.

As you work, visit a site like Speedtest.net to check your internet speed and see what you’re currently getting. But taking steps to increase those speeds means you’ll have to patrol the specific use of your home WiFi network—which is up to you and the people you live with. The easiest solution for maximum speeds is turning off devices not currently in use. This will not only save you money on your energy bill, but will also make sure that those computers, televisions, and tablets can’t possibly be wasting the bandwidth you need for another application. You can also dig into individual device settings to see which apps are using up the most WiFi.

[Related: Find the perfect internet speed for you]

At the same time, you’ll want to make sure no unwelcome visitors or invasive neighbors are lurking on your home network. Your router should have come with WiFi password protection already enabled. Changing this password on a regular basis—not to mention keeping it secret—will help you keep your network to yourself and your invited guests.

Another option is to specify which internet uses you value most. Some routers include a feature called Quality of Service, or QoS, which lets you prioritize certain applications (like Netflix) or types of content (like video) over others. You could use it to make sure your video calls stay stable even if that makes the Spotify stream spotty. Some routers also let you prioritize certain devices (maybe your computer) over others (maybe your roommate’s). If your router has a QoS feature, look on the manufacturer’s website or in the supplied manual for instructions on setting it up and telling the router what you’d like to prioritize.

Avoid the fish tank (and other large, dense objects)

A Netgear router near a PlayStation video game console and headphones.
Ideally, you’ll want to keep your router as close to your devices as possible. Netgear

Plenty of innocuous household objects will slow down your WiFi—including the water inside fish tanks. Now you know why your laptop never gets a signal when it’s behind the aquarium in your study. Even if you keep a fish-free home, try moving your furniture to put as few objects as possible (including walls) between your devices and your router.

In addition to bulky objects, anything that emits a wireless signal can interfere with the WiFi your router broadcasts. That includes wireless baby monitors, wireless landline phones, microwaves, Bluetooth keyboards and mice, and even string lights. All of these generate electromagnetic interference that can reduce your upload and download speeds. In most cases, the disruption should be minimal, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you’re experiencing problems. Rearranging the aforementioned items can help boost WiFi speed throughout your home, but if that solution is inconvenient, just switch your router to its 5GHz channel: Most microwaves and other wireless gear use the 2.4GHz frequency, so the higher band should be less congested.

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2017.

The post How to increase your WiFi speed appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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The best audiobook apps for books and podcasts https://www.popsci.com/diy/best-audiobook-apps/ Sat, 21 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=580987
A stack of six hardcover books on a wood table with headphones around them and a blackboard in the background.
Catch up on the latest fiction and revisit your summer reading from high school. Depositphotos

Get access to your favorite titles and shows and sync between devices with an audiobook app that works for you.

The post The best audiobook apps for books and podcasts appeared first on Popular Science.

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A stack of six hardcover books on a wood table with headphones around them and a blackboard in the background.
Catch up on the latest fiction and revisit your summer reading from high school. Depositphotos

If you struggle to fit reading into your day, the best audiobook apps let you multitask and listen to the latest releases while driving, exercising, or even making dinner. Audiobooks are increasingly popular, and by 2022, more than 140 million Americans had listened to one, according to Publisher’s Weekly

Audiobook apps vary in features and the breadth of their libraries. Many require a monthly or yearly subscription, and some offer media beyond audiobooks, such as podcasts. Voracious listeners may prefer a subscription service where you can indulge in as many audiobooks as you want in a month. But if it takes you a month or two to get through an audiobook, a pay-per-book platform will probably be more economical. 

Ultimately, the operating system of your devices, your listening preferences, and budget will all factor into the app that’s right for you as you discover your next great adventure.

1. Best overall: Audible

The homepage for Audible, which features two rows of book titles.
Audible isn’t just books, it’s home to podcasts and original programming. Screenshot: Audible

Founded in 1995 and acquired by Amazon in 2008, Audible is one of the pioneers in the audiobook space. The service lets you get your hands on almost any title that’s in audiobook form. You’ll also get access to podcasts, exclusives, and originals that are only available on the platform. 

Audible offers two membership tiers, and both provide access to the Audible ‘Plus’ catalog, which contains more than 10,000 audiobooks. The Audible Premium Plus membership adds one credit per month, so you can buy books outside of the Plus catalog, giving you access to an additional 470,000 audiobooks. Without the premium membership, you can purchase credits to listen to more audiobooks.

The platform also lets you keep access to your Audible books even if you cancel your subscription. In contrast, similar apps, like Scribd, only provide access to purchased books as long as you subscribe to the app. Others, like Hoopla and Libby, let you peruse your local library’s list of audiobooks. But they only provide access for a few weeks before you have to get on the reading list again. 

With Audible, you can leisurely listen or hop between books with no fear of losing access disappearing before the end of your novel. It also ensures that you have access to the audiobooks whether you’re subscribing or not. Not sure Audible is right for you? No worries. You get a free 30-day trial period before committing to either Audible Plus at $7.95 per month or Audible Premium Plus at $14.95 per month.

Audible is available on iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and Android.

2. Best for iPhone: Apple Books

The home page for Apple Books, which displays an iPad and iPhone featuring titles.
You don’t have to commit to a subscription. Screenshot: Apple

Apple Books is a convenient way to get digital reads and audiobooks that sync to all of your Apple devices. Unlike many audiobook apps, Apple Books isn’t a subscription service. It works more like a digital bookstore, where you pay for each book. 

For those who only listen to a book or two a month, Apple Books might cost less than a subscription service. Plus, if you have months where you don’t have time to listen at all, you won’t be paying for an unused subscription. There’s also a decent selection of free audiobooks that includes classics such as Pride and Prejudice if your budget gets tight. 

Beyond the monetary pros and cons, the app itself offers a robust library that’s easy to navigate, thanks to effective categorization. You can browse thousands of titles by popular genres, but you can also search by other categories such as free books, new and trending, book club picks, and Apple recommendations. And you can sample short snippets before you make your final decision. 

The library goes beyond audiobooks to digital titles as well. In theory, you could do most of your reading, audio or otherwise, in this single app. Your Apple devices will require iOS 10 or later, but you can sync across the board, including iPads, iPhone, some iPods, and some Apple Watches. Bonus—you also have the option to download and import Audible titles, so add that to your Audible tips and tricks list if you find yourself moving between the two.

Apple Books is free for iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS.

3. Best for nonfiction: Blinkist

The home page for Blinkist, which displays an iPhone and Android phone and headphones and explains the subscription model.
It’s the modern-day equivalent of Cliff Notes. Screenshot: Blinkist

Blinkist isn’t just an audiobook app. It’s not even just a book app. This unique app focuses on all things learning, from podcasts and book summaries to audiobooks. It’s some of the best value you’ll get if you’re focused on nonfiction, even more so if you’re usually short on time. 

The app offers book summaries in manageable 15-minute chunks, and includes popular books like Atomic Habits by James Clear. You can download titles to access them offline or send them to Kindle. Books are arranged by topics, including love, self-help, memoirs, autobiographies, and more. Popular new releases and classics are readily available. The goal is to “feed your brain” and improve your mind and body with content that fits a busy lifestyle. 

[Related: Tips for learning two languages at once]

Blinkist is an easy way to access facts and books you might not have time to get to otherwise, and it doesn’t take long before you get personalized recommendations based on your preferences and habits. You get a seven-day free trial, then it costs $15.99 per month for the monthly plan or $8.24 per month if you opt to pay yearly.

Blinkist is available on iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

4. Best free: LibriVox

The home page for LibriVox, which is divided into two boxes that explain how users can access public domain books for free.
If you want free audiobooks, LibriVox might be the app for you. Screenshot: LibriVox

Subscriptions and monthly purchases can quickly add up. For those on a tight budget, LibriVox offers free (and legal) audiobooks. Their catalog consists of more than 40,000 books available in the public domain, read by volunteers. 

You won’t find the latest releases, but you can catch up on classics. The books are DRM-free so you can download audiobooks as many times as you’d like and listen when you’re offline or on other devices. This matters because DRM (Digital Rights Management) prevents unauthorized copying of copyrighted content, but can cause problems on your devices, too. No need to worry about all that with LibriVox, though, because every bit of its content is in the public domain. 

The interface isn’t sleek or fancy, but it offers bookmark and timer features to support your basic listening needs. If you’re up for a bit of out-loud reading, you can volunteer to read a book yourself. However, the quality of the narration varies by volunteer, so you may skip some books because the storytelling doesn’t do it justice. Still, you can’t beat free audiobooks and a platform that celebrates the love of literature. 

LibriVox is available for iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

5. Best budget: Chirp

The homepage for the audiobook app, Chirp.
Screenshot: Chirp

Chirp is where thrift store meets audiobooks. It’s owned by BookBub, an author promotion site. Thousands of subscribers scramble to get deals on new or popular books, like $5 for a Harlan Coben audiobook. The deal on any one particular book usually lasts a few days and listings show a countdown for how much longer the deal will last. Authors vie for the best promotions because of Bookbub’s extensive reach.

Chirp fits into the picture by offering discounted audiobooks. For listeners, Chirp is a win for the savings, and for authors, the platform is a great way to  find new readers. You pay by the book rather than a subscription fee. And the depth of the discounts vary.

On the downside, deals are limited, so you have to act fast when you see a book you want. The app itself is free, and you get to keep the audiobooks you purchase, so it’s a great way to build your library on a budget.

Chirp is free for iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

The post The best audiobook apps for books and podcasts appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to unlock the hidden, more powerful camera on the iPhone 15 https://www.popsci.com/diy/iphone-15-camera-48mp/ Fri, 20 Oct 2023 16:04:21 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=581288
A man wearing a white hoodie stands outside and smiles as he looks as his iPhone 15
Make sure you're aware of the photo options on your iPhone 15. Apple

Your iPhone 15 has even more pixels than you can imagine.

The post How to unlock the hidden, more powerful camera on the iPhone 15 appeared first on Popular Science.

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A man wearing a white hoodie stands outside and smiles as he looks as his iPhone 15
Make sure you're aware of the photo options on your iPhone 15. Apple

The rear camera on your iPhone 15 (also present on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max) is more powerful and versatile than you might have realized. It features a 48-megapixel sensor but default settings only allow it to take 24MP snaps.

The good news is that you can delve into your iPhone’s settings to switch your camera to full capacity and get more detail in your photos. There are some trade-offs you should know about, and the exact options vary depending on the iPhone you’re using. But if you’re serious about your smartphone photography, you should learn about the modes available to you and how they work.

How the iPhone 15 cameras work

iOS menu showing image formats for iPhone 15
All iPhone 15 models let you choose between HEIF and JPEG formats. Apple

When you take a photo on your iPhone 15 without the ultrawide or zoom sensors, iOS uses  the main 48MP sensor to create a 24MP shot. There are two reasons for that—first, it keeps file size down, and second, it allows pixel binning, which means the camera combines multiple pixels to capture more light and produce a better image.

However, if you have the room on your iPhone to store the resulting snaps, you can switch to 48MP photos. Professional photographers often make the switch because capturing more pixels provides more flexibility over the final shot by letting you take control over how those pixels are processed. 

[Related: Check out some of the winners of the latest iPhone Photography Awards]

But you should know there are differences depending on the iPhone you’re using.  The dual-lens on the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus, has a slightly inferior 48MP sensor than the triple-lens on the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max—the number of pixels is the same, but the pixel-capturing tech isn’t quite as good.

The other key difference is that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max can capture RAW images, which Apple calls ProRAW photos. This format provides all the raw data from a digital image, providing photographers even more control and options over their work. RAW snaps take a little longer to process, use up a lot more storage space, and need some photo know-how to optimize, which is why the average smartphone photographer doesn’t bother with them.

iOS Pro image format menu on iPhone 15
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models offer a ProRAW option, which offers even more flexibility to smartphone photographers. Apple

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus don’t have the processing grunt to manage RAW snaps, but they can still capture 48MP images in either HEIF or JPEG format. The result is still 48MP-size pictures but they’ll be slightly compressed, which takes away some of the manual post-processing control you get with RAW images. In certain ways, using a HEIF or JPEG format (which you can also do on the Pro models) goes halfway between shooting 24MP snaps and 48MP ProRAW, with the added benefit of significantly cutting down file sizes.

If you’re considering making the switch to 48MP photos, bear in mind that means a slightly longer time between tapping the shutter button and seeing your image on screen. What’s more, the dynamic range (the spread between the darkest blacks and the whitest whites) won’t be quite as good without pixel binning. 

How to change the iPhone 15 camera settings

iOS camera app on iPhone 15
Once you activate 48MP photos, the iPhone 15 lets you switch between shooting modes directly in the Camera app. Apple

Having absorbed all of that information about photo formats, you’re ready to start making changes. Head to Settings in iOS, then tap on Camera. Unless you’re already shooting in RAW, your first choice will be between High Efficiency (HEIF) or Most Compatible (JPEG) for the image format.

Which one you pick is really up to you and will depend on what you’re doing with your snaps after you’ve taken them. HEIF tends to result in smaller file sizes, but JPEG is generally compatible with a broader range of software on desktop and the web. There’s plenty of information about both online.

[Related: The easiest ways to back up iPhone photos without iCloud]

To unlock the 48MP photos, turn on Resolution Control (on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus) or ProRAW & Resolution Control (on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max). On the latter models you can also tap Pro Default to pick your preferred format: The list includes HEIF Max (up to 48MP), JPEG Max (up to 48MP), ProRAW 12MP, and ProRAW Max (up to 48MP). Underneath these options, Apple lists the average file size for each format, so you have an idea of how much space each picture will take up—10MB for a 48MP JPEG, for example, and 75MB for a 48MP ProRAW.

Launch the camera on your iPhone, and the new 48MP option will appear in the corner. It’ll be crossed out to begin with, so tap the icon to turn it on and choose which format you want to shoot—HEIF Max, JPEG Max, or RAW Max. On the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, press and hold on the icon to switch between HEIF/JPEG and ProRAW. Note that you won’t get the option to switch to ProRAW on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.

iOS camera options for iPhone 15
If you want to keep the 48MP option enabled, you can tweak the settings for the Camera app. Apple

By default, the Camera app will forget that you enabled 48MP photos when you switch to another app, so the option will be crossed out again when you come back to it. To tell the camera to keep the 48MP enabled, open the iOS Settings screen, tap Camera, Preserve Settings, and then either Resolution Control or Apple ProRAW & Resolution Control, depending on your iPhone model.

Note that because of the way the iPhone 15 produces photos, it will default back to 24MP whenever you’re taking Live Photos or macro shots, or using Night mode or the flash. This will happen no matter what settings you’ve changed simply because those different modes require different types of image processing.

The post How to unlock the hidden, more powerful camera on the iPhone 15 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to edit photos on an iPhone—a detailed guide https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-edit-photos-on-iphone/ Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:10:15 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=581093
An iPhone on a wooden table, with the Photos app open to an image of shoes that someone is about to edit.
Those shoes are so clean, we're not even sure that photo needs editing. Le Buzz Studio / Unsplash

Get ready to impress with your iPhone photo editing skills.

The post How to edit photos on an iPhone—a detailed guide appeared first on Popular Science.

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An iPhone on a wooden table, with the Photos app open to an image of shoes that someone is about to edit.
Those shoes are so clean, we're not even sure that photo needs editing. Le Buzz Studio / Unsplash

Editing photos on an iPhone may seem intimidating, given all the options and settings, but it’s accessible to all skill levels. Thanks to its user-friendly interface and intuitive controls, you can easily enhance your images with preset effects or manually adjust settings to achieve the desired look. No expensive editing software necessary.

The iPhone’s photo editor also offers advanced features such as selective editing, which allows you to make precise adjustments to specific areas of your images. Additionally, you can easily share your edited photos directly from the app by posting them to social media platforms or sending them to friends and family. 

How to edit photos on an iPhone

Since most of us snap pictures on the fly, we are not thinking about the composition or lighting when we take the photo. We are trying to capture a moment as quickly as possible. Thankfully, that’s where post-editing comes in. Like icing a cake, editing images gives them a finished look. And editing photos on an iPhone might be even easier than messing around with gloopy buttercream.

Crop, rotate, or flip your photo

Was your selfie interrupted by a random bystander? No worries; that’s why there’s the crop tool. Cropping is one of the easiest and fastest ways to remove unwanted elements or distractions from the frame. Trimming the edges can also help improve a photo’s composition by adjusting the placement and balance of elements within the frame. In Photos, tap any thumbnail to view it in full screen. To start making changes, tap Edit, then tap the crop icon to choose one of three ways you can crop a photo.

The iPhone's Photos app, with an image open for editing, showing where to find the Edit button and crop tool.
“Edit” might be easy to find, but you may not be familiar with what the crop icon looks like. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

1. Manual crop: With the crop icon selected, drag the rectangle’s corners to enclose the area you want to keep in the photo. Tap Done to crop.

The iPhone Photos app, showing how to crop a photo by dragging the corner of the crop outline while editing.
Just drag and crop. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

2. Zoom crop: Alternatively, you can crop iPhone images by activating the crop tool and pinching them to zoom in. When the photo appears as you want it cropped, hit Done to save.

3. Use a preset ratio: Tap the aspect ratio icon in the upper right corner (a small rectangle with other rectangles stacked on top), then choose one of the cropping options, including square, wallpaper, 9:16, and 5:4. Hit Done to save the change.

  • Pro tip: If you choose a ratio crop, such as 9:16, you can select a vertical or horizontal orientation by tapping the two rectangles below the image.
The iPhone Photos app, showing where to find the aspect ratio crop tool and other crop settings while editing.
It’s hard to freehand a perfect square, but thankfully the iPhone can do it for you. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe
How to rotate a picture on iPhone

Tap the rotate icon (a square with an arrow curving around one corner) to turn the photo 90 degrees at a time. Keep going until you get the orientation you desire. Hit Done to confirm the changes.

The iPhone Photos app while editing a photo, showing where to find the picture rotation button.
Just keep tapping until you get the rotation you want. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe
How to flip a photo on iPhone

Touch the flip icon (mirrored triangles with an arrow above them) to reverse the image horizontally. Tap Done to save your edits.

The iPhone Photos app, while editing a photo, showing where the mirror flip option is.
Use this icon to get a mirror image of your photo. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

Just know that if you don’t like your crops, rotations, and/or flips at any time during the editing process, you can tap Cancel in the lower left corner of the screen, then hit Discard Changes

Straighten your image and adjust the perspective

Sometimes, you don’t notice tilted or skewed lines in a photograph until after you take it. Fortunately, altering the perspective is simple with the iPhone’s editing software. Open a photo on your iPhone, tap Edit, then hit the crop icon.

Under the photo, you will see three options for straightening the horizontal lines in the photo and adjusting the vertical and horizontal perspectives. When you choose the one you want to use, drag the slider underneath to make precise changes. There is also an Auto option at the top of the screen, which will automatically adjust the photo based on the selected adjustment.

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing where to find the options for straightening the image.
You can hit “Auto” if you want iOS to do the straightening for you. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

1. Straighten: This adjustment, well, straightens out horizontal lines within a photograph.

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing how to straighten a photo.
No more tilt. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

2. Vertical perspective: Corrects or modifies the perceived height or angle of objects in a photo, straightening vertical lines that may appear tilted or distorted.

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing how to adjust vertical perspective.
Stretch! Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

3. Horizontal perspective: Changes horizontal lines and angles in photos, ensuring parallel lines and your desired alignment. 

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing where to find the option for adjusting the horizontal perspective.
Expand! Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

After editing the perspective, select Done to save your changes; if unsatisfied, hit Cancel, followed by Discard Changes.

Adjust light and color

Light and color are important factors when editing photos on an iPhone—and anywhere, really—because they affect an image’s overall mood and visual appeal. The right lighting will bring out the subject’s features, add depth, and make important details stand out. In the same way, changing a photograph’s colors can make the viewer feel certain emotions, set a particular mood, or even send a message. Your phone’s Photos app has several tools that will let you adjust the light and color of your pictures.

[Related: How to take better selfies]

To begin, open the photo you want to alter. Tap Edit, then swipe left under the image to view the effects you can edit. The quickest and easiest way to make adjustments is to tap on Auto, and the slider under the Auto tab will allow you to adjust the intensity of the iPhone’s suggested edit.

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing how to auto edit a photo.
This one button will make multiple changes to your photo. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

If you prefer complete edit control, though, the iPhone photo editor lets you adjust each effect individually for a custom edit. The effects you can alter are:

  • Exposure: Increasing exposure can make an image brighter, while decreasing it can create a darker and more dramatic effect. 
  • Brilliance: Enhances an image’s overall clarity and vibrancy, making it more visually striking.
  • Highlights: Brings out the brightest areas of an image, adding a sense of brightness and contrast.
  • Shadows: Darkens the darker areas of an image, creating depth.
  • Contrast: Makes the difference between light and dark areas more pronounced.
  • Brightness: Changes how light or dark the photo is overall, but not as dramatically as adjusting exposure.
  • Blackpoint: Adjusts the darkest point in an image, allowing for greater control over the overall tonal range.
  • Saturation: Affects the intensity and richness of colors in an image.
  • Vibrance: Similar to saturation, but designed to enhance the colors more subtly and naturally. 
  • Warmth: Adjusts the color temperature of an image, making it appear either warmer (more yellow/orange) or cooler (more blue). 
  • Tint: Adjusts the overall color balance of an image, adding a subtle hue to the entire picture. 
  • Sharpness: Enhances the clarity and detail of an image, making edges and fine textures more defined.
  • Definition: Improves an image’s overall sharpness and clarity by enhancing the distinction between different elements and adding depth. 
  • Noise Reduction: Reduces digital noise in an image, resulting in a smoother and cleaner appearance. This helps minimize the grainy or speckled effect that can occur in low-light settings. 
  • Vignette: Darkens the corners and edges of the image, creating a subtle or dramatic spotlight effect.

To use an effect, tap on its icon and drag the slider underneath to make precise adjustments. The outline around the button indicates the degree of adjustment, and you can toggle between the edited effect and the original to see how much you’ve changed the photo.

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing where to find all the editing tools to adjust the light and color effects of a photo.
The more you use the iPhone’s editing tools, the more familiar you’ll be with how they change a photo. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

Apply filters

Filter effects enable you to easily add creative and artistic elements to your photos, resulting in more visually appealing and captivating images. To apply a filter, open a photo, tap Edit, then tap the Filters button (the three overlapping circles) to pull up the filter effect options. There are nine to choose from. Use the slider underneath your chosen effect to adjust its intensity, and if you need to remove a filter, tap Original. Hit Done to confirm the edit.

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing where to find filters for your photos, and how to apply them.
Filters can be subtle or dramatic. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

Portrait mode editing tips

If you’re someone who likes to use Portrait mode, you’ll need to be familiar with the iPhone’s Portrait mode-specific enhancements. These allow you to adjust the depth of field (also known as bokeh), which is the range of distance within a photograph that appears in sharp focus and makes the subject stand out. Portrait mode’s editing tools also include studio lighting effects for added flexibility and creativity. 

When you open a photo taken in Portrait mode, you will see two editing options not available in the regular photo mode. The effect at the top with the little “f” is f-stop, or depth of field. The circles at the bottom of the screen are lighting effects.

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing Portrait mode-specific editing tools, like f-stop and lighting effects.
Portrait mode makes your photos look a little advanced, so the editing tools are a little advanced too. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

Adjusting the f-stop will increase or decrease blurring in the background. The smaller the f-stop, the more blur you’ll see. A larger f-stop will mean less blur. Tap the f-stop icon, and a slider will appear at the bottom of the screen, allowing you to adjust the effect.

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing how the background of a photo gets less blurry as you adjust the f-stop setting.
You can see the background of these photos change as you adjust the f-stop setting. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

To adjust the lighting, tap one of the effects. You can choose from natural, studio, contour, stage, stage light mono, and high-key light mono. Move the slider to the left or right to increase or decrease the effect. 

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing how to edit Portrait mode lighting effects.
Messing around with the Portrait mode lighting effects can give your photo the look you want. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

Write or draw on a photo

It can be fun to write or draw on a picture, and the iPhone makes it easy to do so. Choose a photo, then go to Edit and tap the pen-shaped button. Use the various drawing tools and colors to draw on the picture.

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing the options for writing on or drawing on a photo.
Time to scribble all over that perfectly crafted pic. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

You can tap the plus button to magnify or add a caption, text, shapes, or even your signature. Tap Done to save your changes, or tap Cancel if you don’t like them.

How to undo photo edits on an iPhone

Don’t worry if you make an editing mistake—the iPhone’s Photos app gives you plenty of opportunities to undo your edits.

Undo and redo edits: While editing a photo, tap the left and right arrows at the top of the screen to undo and redo multiple edit steps.

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing how to undo photo edits.
You’re probably familiar with the “undo” and “redo” icons in other programs, and they’re essentially the same here. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

Revert an edited photo: If you save changes and decide you do not like the edit, you can open up the photo, select Edit, and then hit Revert to restore the original version. 

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing how to revert changes to any photo.
It’s OK, we all make mistakes. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

Copy and paste edits to multiple photos

The iPhone allows you to copy edits from one photo and paste them onto one or more others, an ability that is particularly useful when you’re trying to edit a series of similar photos. Start by opening the photo that contains the edits you want to copy. Then tap the More Options button (three dots), followed by Copy Edits. Hit Cancel, then the back button to return to your photo library.

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing how to copy edits from one photo.
Your edits were just so perfect on this one. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

From there, tap Select, then touch the thumbnails of the photos to which you want to apply the edits. Finally, select Paste Edits from the More Options menu.

The iPhone Photos app, showing how to paste edits to multiple photos in your library.
We love a good time-saving tip. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

How to remove the subject from a photo on an iPhone

Although you can’t edit the background of a photo with the iPhone’s Photos app (you’ll need to install a separate app for that), you can cut and paste one part of the picture—the subject.

To do so, the photo’s subject and background should be clearly distinct, and the background shouldn’t be too busy or similar to the subject. Start by opening an image, then pressing and holding the subject. You should see a white glow around the subject, and a window should pop up asking you to Copy or Share. If that doesn’t work, move your finger around and try again—sometimes, it takes more than one attempt to select a subject.

The iPhone Photos app in editing mode, showing how to remove the subject from a photo.
That white glow means the subject is about to ascend (out of the photo). Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

When it does work, your iPhone will automatically separate the subject from the background, and you’ll be able to copy and paste it into another app, or share it using standard sharing options.

The iPhone Photos app with a subject that has been separated from its photo.
You can now share this object anywhere. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

If necessary, change the date, time, or location

Your iPhone stores the date, time, and location in the photo’s metadata. If you need to alter this information, you can. Open the photo you want to change, then tap the More Options button (three dots) in the upper right corner. Touch Adjust Date & Time or Adjust Location, enter the new information, and hit Adjust.

The iPhone Photos app, showing how to edit image metadata.
You have your reasons. Screenshot: Apple; Debbie Wolfe

To change the date, time, or location of multiple photos at once, tap Select, touch the thumbnails of the images you want to change, and follow the steps above. Don’t worry if you change your mind, either—you can undo your metadata edits by tapping the More Options button, followed by Adjust Date & Time or Adjust Location, then Revert.

FAQ

Q. Can you erase objects on iPhone photos?

You can only erase objects from iPhone photos with third-party editing apps from the App Store. These programs offer object removal tools and other features that allow you to easily remove unwanted elements from your photos with just a few taps. 

Q. Can my iPhone edit blurry photos? 

Your iPhone can help enhance blurry photos with its sharpening tools and filters. However, the iPhone cannot make an image completely clear if the photo is severely out of focus.

The post How to edit photos on an iPhone—a detailed guide appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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The Opt Out: Cars are spying on us, and we’re letting them https://www.popsci.com/diy/car-data-privacy/ Thu, 19 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=580441
Car with a license plate saying "data hog"
When buying a new car you probably check for features like milage and size, but never privacy. Lauren Pusateri for Popular Science

Your ride is definitely not the private sanctuary you think it is.

The post The Opt Out: Cars are spying on us, and we’re letting them appeared first on Popular Science.

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Car with a license plate saying "data hog"
When buying a new car you probably check for features like milage and size, but never privacy. Lauren Pusateri for Popular Science

You are more than a data point. The Opt Out is here to help you take your privacy back.

AMERICANS SPEND A LOT of time in cars. Whether you have a long commute, enjoy riding with friends as they drive around, or just like sitting in the parking lot for a bit of solo time, a car might feel like an extension of your home—an intimate space for you to sing out of tune or seek silence in the middle of your day.

Unfortunately, if you’re in a car that was manufactured within the past few years, that environment isn’t as private as you think it is. Carmakers have been adding sensors, cameras, and microphones to their vehicles to improve safety and usability, but these bits of tech are also collecting a hefty amount of data that the automotive industry and other companies are selling and sharing. And don’t think this applies only to car owners: Your privacy is also at risk if you rent a car or are simply sitting in a passenger seat.  

These newer cars know what you say, where you go, and possibly even whom you’re sleeping with and how often. It’s scary, but what’s scarier is that consumers currently have little choice but to consent. 

More than computers on wheels

Cars have been equipped with onboard computers and sensors for a while now. The tools’ applications have always been rather practical—letting you know when your fuel tank is close to empty or when your machine is due for an oil change, even allowing you to get full system diagnostics via Bluetooth. But as technology advanced, so did the role of electronics within every vehicle. Now cars can help you master parallel parking, respond to your voice commands, and even alert you to the presence of other drivers as you change lanes.

“A lot of this can be used as safety features, but [car companies] are not going to let the opportunity to collect data and make money off of that slip away. They’re not just doing it for safety,” says Jen Caltrider, program director for Privacy Not Included, a series of privacy-focused consumer product reviews, at the Mozilla Foundation. 

The same navigational tool that guides you to your destination, for example, is collecting your location data, and the sensors that show which passenger hasn’t buckled up can tell if you’re alone or not, where people are sitting, and if there’s any movement. Those capabilities alone provide hundreds, if not thousands of data points every day that go straight to the car manufacturer’s servers. It’s hard to tell if any of that information is encrypted or not, Caltrider says.

Other than what your car’s sensors and cameras track, manufacturers also learn about you from other sources. If you’re buying a car, the data harvesting starts with every visit to the dealership or the brand’s website, and it continues when you enlist the help of a bank or some other type of financial institution to pay for your car. Then, when you drive home in your new ride, manufacturers keep gathering data through the car’s app. You can choose not to use the app, but it’s likely you’ll lose access to any vehicle features that require it, such as remote ignition. And then there’s what Caltrider and her team call “connected services,” including insurance companies and navigation and entertainment apps like Here and Sirius XM, which have basically become data brokers in the vehicle data industry. The bad news is that it’s unclear exactly how the information flows, how it’s shared, and where and how it’s stored. 

Your car might know too much about you

In September, Caltrider and her research team at the Mozilla Foundation launched an in-depth analysis of the privacy policies of 25 car companies doing business in the US, including the most popular ones: Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, and Honda. The results? The Mozilla team labeled cars the worst product category it has ever reviewed for privacy.

When you read the privacy policy for any app or device, it’s common to feel confused. Tech companies have been writing privacy policies for decades, and they generally include broad or vague terms that make you feel as if they care about your data—or at least don’t make it obvious that they don’t. Car privacy policies are different: way more explicit and entirely absurd.

“Car companies are moving into the tech company world,” Caltrider says. “But they’re so inexperienced at it and it really shows.”

One of the wildest privacy policies in the Mozilla Foundation’s report is Nissan’s, which requires users to consent to the collection of sensitive information including sexual orientation, sexual activity, health diagnosis data, and genetic information. The document also says this data can be sold or disclosed to third parties for targeted advertising. It’s not clear how exactly Nissan is collecting this data or if it’s currently capable of doing so, but the fact that you’re agreeing to all of this by simply buying a Nissan is problematic enough. 

And these requirements don’t affect only drivers and car owners, as consent is murky territory in the land of vehicle privacy policies. For one thing, cars don’t grant the same control over data collection that your phone does. Most of the time, car owners will see a request for permissions on a single screen that pops up when they first set up their new car, and they may not be able to go back to it and revoke those permissions later on. 

That also means there’s assumed consent from anybody who steps inside the vehicle. Privacy policies like that of Subaru make it clear that terms and conditions affect everyone on board, regardless of whether they’re the vehicle’s registered owner or not. This means that the company burdens Subaru owners with the responsibility of informing all their passengers about the privacy policy and assumes that people are agreeing to it just by stepping into the car. It’s a safe bet that no ride-share driver or courteous coworker has ever read you a long list of types of data collection you needed to consent to before they’d give you a ride home. 

Car manufacturers, vehicle data hubs, and other actors in the industry, like insurance companies, calm concerned drivers and passengers by promising that the data they collect and save is anonymized, meaning it cannot be traced back to specific people. While anonymizing data is a common practice that’s meant to protect individuals’ privacy, research has shown that it’s not always effective and that the owner of any anonymized data can be easily re-identified when the information is combined with other datasets. This is especially true when location data is involved, Caltrider says. 

As we’ve mentioned, targeted advertising is one of the main uses car companies and third parties have for collecting data with vehicles, but it’s not the only one. More than half of the manufacturers analyzed in the Mozilla Foundation’s report say they can “share your information with the government or law enforcement in response to a ‘request.’” This leaves a lot of room for abuse, as there are no details about whether this request can be as informal as a call or an email to the right person, or if it must be a powerful document, like a court order. 

Unlike with home security cameras, it’s hard to tell exactly how many times these companies have responded to requests from police and other law enforcement agencies. But a 2021 Forbes investigation revealed that both Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had been requesting information from three companies in the vehicle data industry, including General Motors, which is the parent company of Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC. 

Regulation is the answer

The automotive industry in the US is huge—it brought more than $156 billion to the US economy in 2022, and more than 75 percent of Americans own a car. You’d imagine that such a rich market would include several car brands privacy-savvy users can choose from, but the Mozilla Foundation report is categorical: When it comes to data protection, they’re all bad

This leaves people who need to buy a new car with little choice but to consent to data collection. And it leaves their passengers with even less choice. Because it’s not only luxury vehicles that come equipped with sophisticated sensors and cameras—classic sedans like the Toyota Corolla and family SUVs like the Ford Escape also have them. As much as we’d like to say there’s an individualistic DIY way to snatch back your privacy, there’s not. You’ll have to appeal to the powers that be.

“Get mad and contact your elected officials,” says Caltrider. “It’s past time the US had a strong federal privacy law.”

She also recommends not using your car’s app, but acknowledges that this is a bandage solution and might not be an option for some people. Some of the features people need, like being able to warm the car in cold weather by turning it on remotely, require the use of the software. 

Using our power as constituents and asking our elected officials for laws that protect our data is the best chance we have of taking back the intimacy we once found inside our vehicles. Car companies simply aren’t going to change on their own—just like tech companies, they have no incentives to do so.

“And it’s not like they have a long history of ethical behavior,” Caltrider says. “They have quite the opposite.”

Read more PopSci+ stories.

The post The Opt Out: Cars are spying on us, and we’re letting them appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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You can easily turn your iPhone into a Mac mic https://www.popsci.com/diy/use-iphone-as-mic-mac/ Thu, 19 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=580924
An iPhone on a wooden desk showing the menu to use the device as a microphone.
If you own a Mac and an iPhone, you don't have to splurge on a USB mic to have people hear you clearly in your next meeting. Tyler Lastovich / Unsplash

Living in Apple's gadget ecosystem has its perks.

The post You can easily turn your iPhone into a Mac mic appeared first on Popular Science.

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An iPhone on a wooden desk showing the menu to use the device as a microphone.
If you own a Mac and an iPhone, you don't have to splurge on a USB mic to have people hear you clearly in your next meeting. Tyler Lastovich / Unsplash

Video calls are a part of life now, but they can be a nightmare if your hardware is not up to par. You can upgrade your setup with a USB microphone (which can come in real handy if you’re putting up video calls on your TV) but if you’re a Mac user with an iPhone, you already have all you need. 

You can use your phone as a microphone when you make video calls from your Apple computer. This functionality is part of a feature called Continuity Camera, and it’s easy to set up. Any iPhone made after 2018 and running iOS 16 or newer will work, while all Macs running macOS Ventura or newer will fit the bill.  

How to set up Continuity Camera in macOS

To use your phone as a microphone on desktop video calls, you’ll need a Mac and an iPhone signed into the same iCloud account. 

Start by making your computer recognize your handheld device as an available sound source. On the Mac, click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen and open System Settings. In the left-hand panel, go to Sound, and under Output and Input, click the Input tab. 

[Related: 7 tips and tricks to get more out of Apple’s newly updated Messages app]

You will see your iPhone as an audio source—select it. You’ll automatically see a full-screen pop-up on your phone with a couple of buttons. The Pause button on your phone to temporarily mute yourself when on a call, while Disconnect will completely remove your iPhone from your Mac’s audio inputs list. Don’t hit this button unless that’s what you want, otherwise you’ll have to go through the setup all over again. 

Mac audio input settings showing how to setup an iPhone as a microphone.
Before using your iPhone as a mic, you need your Mac to recognize it as an audio input. Screenshot: Apple

Once your computer recognizes your iPhone as a microphone, you can select it as the preferred audio source from most video call apps, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. 

  • In Zoom, find the audio settings by clicking zoom.us in the upper left corner of your screen, then go to Preferences, and click the Audio tab. You can choose your iPhone under Microphone. 
  • In Google Meet, click the three dots left of the hangup button in the bottom toolbar and go to Settings. You’ll be able to choose your iPhone in the Microphone options. 
  • In Microsoft Teams, click the three-dot menu to the left of your name, click Settings, and head over to Devices. You can select your iPhone in the Microphone drop down menu. 
Zoom settings showing how to choose an iPhone as an audio input
It’s easy to choose an alternative audio source on most video call apps, including Zoom. Screenshot: Zoom

I’ve found using an iPhone as a microphone during video calls comes in very handy, particularly if I’m part of a group of people taking the call on a single device. I put the phone on the table, between everyone, while my laptop sits far enough so that we all fit into the camera frame. That usually means the microphone is too far away to pick up our voices, so the iPhone is extremely helpful—the speaker can even hold it while they talk and pass it along when they’re done, if necessary. 

[Related: 6 great features to try out in the iOS 17 public beta]

You can also use this feature to turn your laptop into a karaoke machine: your iPhone instantly becomes a wireless microphone. 

The post You can easily turn your iPhone into a Mac mic appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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7 tips to get the most out of your Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 https://www.popsci.com/diy/z-fold-5-tips/ Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=580473
Person taking a selfie using a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
A foldable phone gives you double the screens and double the options. Samsung

Make sure you're making the most of your folding phone.

The post 7 tips to get the most out of your Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 appeared first on Popular Science.

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Person taking a selfie using a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
A foldable phone gives you double the screens and double the options. Samsung

If you’re splurging on a foldable phone like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, make sure you’re getting your money’s worth by exploring all the options and features the handset has to offer.

When you’ve got twice as many screens as normal, you get a lot more functionalities and flexibility: From quickly getting apps running side by side, to dragging and dropping texts and images between them.

1. Customize full screen apps

Unfortunately, not every Android app is developed to run on a screen as large as the main display of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. You might see black bars at the side of certain apps, as well as other odd behavior.

But you can fix this by going to Settings, then Display and Full screen apps. Pick an tool, and choose how you’d like it to show up. Full screen is the option to go for if you don’t want any black bars, though it may cause some distortion on certain apps.

2. Drag and drop between apps

With two apps open on screen, the Z Fold 5 is very adept at transferring content between them. Try tapping and holding an image in your web browser, for example, then dragging it across to an email you’re composing on the other side of the screen. The system will drop the picture right into the message—no copying, pasting, or saving required.

[Related: 7 Samsung phone hacks you need to try right now]

Note that this feature doesn’t work in every single app, but it will run smoothly in a lot them: Google’s Gmail and Chrome, Samsung’s Gallery and Notes, and Microsoft’s PowerPoint and Outlook, are some of the apps that support dragging and dropping.

3. Bring up the Flex panel

Menu for activating flex mode on Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Setting up your Z Fold 5 in a right angle will give you a full screen menu with shortcuts and other utilities. Screenshot by Samsung

Flex mode is when you make a 90-degree angle with the Z Fold 5, so you have one half laying flat on a surface while the other is propped up straight. This allows certain apps to display different content on each side. Try opening the Camera app to see what we mean— you’ll see the shutter window at the top and the camera controls underneath.

There’s also the Flex panel, which will work with any app that supports multi-window use (most now do). Open Settings and then go to Advanced features > Labs > Flex mode panel, and enable the feature.

Now, when you turn your phone to landscape mode, you’ll get a little Flex panel icon (a gray diamond shape) in the lower left hand corner. Tap the icon to make the panel pop up: you’ll get a little touchpad to use with the app that’s on the top half of the screen, as well as quick access to certain features and the screenshot tool.

Try using the Flex panel with a web browser to see how useful it can be: You’ll be able to select links and elements on screen just as you would on a desktop operating system.

4. Get more content on screen

Make your way to Settings and go to Display and Screen layout and zoom. This page lets you change the size of the fonts and other elements on screen, which means you can get more content on your Z Fold 5 display at the same time—whether you’re working with one or multiple apps on the screen.

5. Switch seamlessly to the cover screen

Menu for transferring apps to the cover screen of the Galaxy Z Fold 5
Not all apps go straight from the extended screen to the cover one, but you can customize it. Screenshot by Samsung

By default, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 treats the larger main screen and the smaller cover screen separately, so apps that you’re using on the big display won’t automatically switch over to the outer display when you close the phone.

But if you would like to transfer apps seamlessly, open up Display from Settings, then tap on Continue apps on cover screen. You’ll be able to have this happen with all apps, or only with specific ones.

6. Change how multi window works

One of the key advantages of a foldable device like the Z Fold 5 is how easily you can get multiple apps and windows up alongside each other. Most of the time the Z Fold 5 handles this perfectly well on its own, but you can make some tweaks by heading to Settings, and then going to Advanced features and Multi window.

For example, you can enable Swipe for split screen. This feature will let you swipe in with two fingers from the left-hand edge of the main display to go from full screen mode to split screen mode. When you do, the Z Fold 5 will prompt you to choose another app to go alongside the one you’re already looking at.

7. Customize the taskbar

The taskbar at the bottom of the screen is crucial for getting around your foldable phone and the apps on it, so make sure it’s set up the way you want it. From Settings, pick Display and Taskbar, and choose how many recent apps you want to see at the bottom of the screen. You can also completely hide the taskbar, if you prefer.

[Related: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 review: Powerful vibes]

From the Display screen you can also select Navigation bar and choose whether you want to navigate your phone using gestures or the traditional back, home and recent buttons. If you’re not sure about the differences between these two options, you’ll see explanations for them on screen. Just keep in mind that using gestures will free up more space on the taskbar for you.

Note that the apps on the left of the taskbar are the same as those in the dock on the home screen. You can drag apps in and out of the dock if you want to change this selection.

The post 7 tips to get the most out of your Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 appeared first on Popular Science.

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The best search engines for finding results and securing your privacy https://www.popsci.com/diy/best-search-engines/ Tue, 17 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=580097
A bearded man with glasses looking at a desktop computer screen with a search function displayed.
The best search engine is definitely not the one this guy's using. Depositphotos

Find what you need online and protect your privacy.

The post The best search engines for finding results and securing your privacy appeared first on Popular Science.

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A bearded man with glasses looking at a desktop computer screen with a search function displayed.
The best search engine is definitely not the one this guy's using. Depositphotos

Your choice of search engine makes a big difference in the relevance (and privacy) of your search results. The first search engine, known as Archie, was developed by a student at McGill University and released in 1990. Today, there are more than 20 search engines that range from powerhouses like Google to lesser-known, more specialized options

Some search engines, such as Google, highlight their AI assistants, but the truth is that artificial intelligence has been behind search engines for years. But if you want an assistant to winnow search results, AI can help you get more relevant results. 

Even if you use a browser with a built-in search engine, you’re not beholden to it. You can, for example, add search engines to Google Chrome, giving you extra options when you want to perform photo searches or need extra privacy. Before you set your default search engine, though, consider how you use searches and how you feel about data privacy. These factors can direct you toward the top search engine for your inquiring mind.

1. Google

The Google search engine in a Google Chrome browser window.
The undisputed leader of search. Screenshot: Google

Google is the No. 1 search engine used today, handling more than 83 percent of searches, according to Statista. That number may rise or fall depending on the month, but needless to say, Google’s got the majority of the market when it comes to searches. 

Google is a robust search engine that powers sites like YouTube and integrates full-service features like Google Workspace. It’s much more than a search engine that allows you to gather everything from your latest curiosity to professional collaboration in one place. 

In February 2023, Google introduced Bard, an AI-powered search assistant. Search engines have used AI algorithms for years to identify patterns and customize search results and ads to individual users, but we’re entering a new age of heavy focus on AI. If you’re hoping Bard will hold up to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, though, it’s got a ways to go. That said, with the speed that AI adapts, it may not be long before Google has a leading assistant for generative as well as search purposes. 

This engine also gets high marks for the layout and variety of features like snippets, knowledge panels, and “people also ask” sections that can help you further refine results. On the downside, Google is a data hog and hangs onto your information to customize your experience. On one hand, you’ll see ads and results that are more relevant to your likes and preferences. On the other hand, privacy issues and data usage are real concerns. Some people find Google more than a little invasive.

2. Bing

The Bing search engine in a Google Chrome browser window.
Earn rewards for all that search time. Screenshot: Bing

If you’re looking for search engines other than Google, Bing is a top contender. Bing doesn’t have nearly Google’s market share, but it’s second in popularity worldwide. Microsoft created Bing in 2009 and has developed it into an impressive search engine, especially when it comes to the integration of AI. 

[Related: Ditch Google for good with these apps and gadgets]

ChatGPT powers Bing Chat, Bing’s search bot, which remembers query context to help you refine searches. It also includes sources in search results, helping you assess the validity of your results. That said, Bing can give short, almost nonsensical answers at times. 

The Bing search results pages on Bing look eerily similar to Google’s. Many users may have a hard time telling the difference between the two. However, Bing’s image, video, and map searching abilities are some of the best, with the video and image features topping the market.

Bing also offers a rewards program, which earns you points every time you shop or search with Bing. After you’ve accumulated enough points, you can redeem them for gift cards or use them to donate to your favorite charity. You earn about five points per search, so doing a lot of online research could earn you a few bucks each month. 

Like Google, Bing collects data to customize the ads and searches that appear, which you may or may not appreciate. Consequently, Bing, like Google, might not be the best choice if privacy is your top concern.

3. DuckDuckGo

The DuckDuckGo search engine in a Google Chrome browser window.
Increased tracker blocking and encryption on DuckDuckGo help protect user privacy. Screenshot: DuckDuckGo

If all that data collection has your skin crawling, DuckDuckGo is worth a try. If you compare Google vs. DuckDuckGo vs. Bing, DuckDuckGo might not be as comprehensive, but it puts privacy over pure search power. It doesn’t store your data, track you, or collect cookies. You’ll still see ads, but they won’t be customized based on your searches. 

This search engine uses its own crawler and incorporates a few other search engines, but not Google. The company skips the monster search engine in an effort to provide a different user experience. It’s organized similarly to other search engines, with search categories at the top for images and videos that match your search.

[Related: 7 ways DuckDuckGo can help you find exactly what you need]

However, there’s only one results page per search, which is kind of nice if you’re easily overwhelmed by Google’s millions of results when all you’re doing is looking for the best WiFi routers. While DuckDuckGo isn’t set to dethrone Google, it’s gained a steady following with the privacy it offers.

4. Startpage

The Startpage search engine in a Google Chrome browser window.
Skip the targeted ads when you search with Startpage. Screenshot: Startpage

Startpage approaches search with a philosophy that’s similar to DuckDuckGo by focusing on security and privacy. It keeps prying eyes (and advertisers) from following your every virtual move by refusing to log your search history or save your personal data. That does mean some searches take a little longer. But some users find it worth it for the privacy that remains after they hit exit. 

Startpage uses Google to populate results, which means you’ll get robust results without the targeted ads. The uncluttered search page is a breath of fresh air from some of the larger engines, which can feel like ads are slapping you in the face while you scroll.

This engine also offers an Anonymous View that lets you visit pages without sharing any information about yourself. The process works by removing your IP address before sending the query. Startpage also offers the option of StartMail, a secure email platform.

5. Yahoo

The Yahoo homepage and search engine in a Google Chrome browser window.
Yahoo is powered by Bing, so they may display similar results. Screenshot: Yahoo

Yahoo has been around since 1994 and uses Bing’s search engine to create results, so expect similar groupings, but it uses its own tech for certain searches, including trending ones. Though not as elegant as Bing or Google, Yahoo’s search page offers categories like weather, news, sports, and trends as well as access to Yahoo’s email service. Yahoo Finance is another big draw and provides quick access to the latest in what’s happening on the stock market. 

If you’re primarily after news and finance info, Yahoo’s got it in spades. You don’t even have to do a Yahoo web search to see the latest headlines with eye-catching photos to boot. Yahoo Maps is another place that sets this engine apart, thanks to an open-source Open Maps service. 

Yahoo also offers subscription-based services like Yahoo Finance Plus for even more insight into the market, investments, and companies on the rise. And, of course, it includes free features like Yahoo Mail.

The post The best search engines for finding results and securing your privacy appeared first on Popular Science.

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The best dual-monitor stands of 2023 https://www.popsci.com/gear/best-dual-monitor-stands/ Fri, 17 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=449578
The best dual monitor stands
Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

Double the screens, double the fun, but take up less of the desk space with the best dual monitor stands.

The post The best dual-monitor stands of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

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The best dual monitor stands
Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

Best overall Mount-It! (MI-1772) Dual Monitor Arm Mount-It! (MI-1772) Dual Monitor Arm
SEE IT

Full articulation and ease of use are what make this dual monitor arm stand out—especially if you don’t have a lot of desk space.

Best wall-mounted The Mountup Dual Monitor Wall Mount conveys is a more affordable choice if you’re okay installing a more permanent dual monitor setup. Mountup Dual Monitor Wall Mount
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The Mountup Dual Monitor Wall Mount conveys is a more affordable choice if you’re okay installing a more permanent dual monitor setup.

Best budget VIVO Dual Monitor Desk Mount VIVO Dual Monitor Desk Mount
SEE IT

VIVO’s Dual Monitor Desk Mount has more features than its modest price suggests.

With so many people working from home, many of us are furnishing our offices on our own dime or with a small work budget rather than requesting equipment at the office—and that can mean some real makeshift monitor stands, etc. Ergonomics, however, is just as important at home as in a cubicle. Using a dual-monitor stand, whether it’s something you put on your desk, a mounted monitor arm, or a bracket you mount on your wall, gives you the freedom to place your screens as you please for both maximum comfort and efficiency. There are many ways to optimize your two-monitor setup: The best dual-monitor stands ensure maximum flexibility, regardless of your approach.

How we chose the best dual-monitor stands

To make our selections, I paired my own personal testing and experience with professional reviews and consumer feedback on Amazon. Our favorite monitor arms and monitor stands for dual-display setups provide a wide range of use cases, installation types, and prices. We also kept brand credibility in mind: Among monitor arm manufacturers, there are a handful of respected companies, and a very large number of lesser-known brands that often offer cheap prices but without the reputation or warranty to back them up.

Best dual-monitor stands: Reviews & Recommendations

So you have two monitors, and you want to put them up on a single adjustable stand. Now that you know the basics of what to look for, we have a few recommendations for the best dual-monitor stands, including desk-mounted, wall-mounted, and freestanding options. No matter your home office or PC gaming setup, there should be a decent option for you among these picks.

Best overall: Mount-It! (MI-1772) Dual Monitor Arm

Mount-It!

SEE IT

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: Mount-It’s monitor arm makes it very easy to maneuver two big displays without any friction.

Specs

  • Mount type: Desk
  • Compatible VESA mount sizes: 75mm x 75mm, 100mm x 100mm
  • Adjustment mechanism: Gas-spring mount/free moving
  • Weight range: 20lb per arm
  • Display size range: 19-32 inches
  • Available colors: Black, Silver

Pros

  • Requires very little desk space
  • Offers fine-grain control over the monitors
  • Easy-to-move displays

Cons

  • Price

We’ve had great success in our tests of Mount-It!’s single monitor arms, and feel very comfortable recommending this dual-display version to anyone who needs a lot of extra digital real estate to work. The arms can hold large, heavy displays, and each one can be twisted, tilted, and turned in several directions. This level of control can accommodate many work styles: video editors who want to see how their color grading tweaks are affecting the look of footage in real time, office workers who want to dedicate a vertically oriented monitor to their e-mail or messaging client, or gamers who want to monitor their Twitch chat.

Two features have impressed us with Mount-It!’s other monitor stands that apply to this one: The ease at which they allow you to control your monitor and how well their clamping mechanism keeps it firmly attached to your desk. We’ve had no issues moving a 27-inch monitor with one hand, and the ability to move your displays closer and further from your face comes in handy more frequently than you’d expect. If you don’t have a lot of physical desk space, this monitor’s clamp will be incredibly helpful. A monitor stand’s feet can take up a lot more room than you think, and having more area back for your go-to tech accessories is very useful.

Best desk-mounted: Ergotron LX Dual Monitor Arm

Ergotron

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Why it made the cut: The Ergotron LX Dual Monitor Arm is a slick desk mount that balances great build quality and the price that comes with it.

Specs

  • Mount type: Desk
  • Compatible VESA mount sizes: 75mm x 75mm, 100mm x 100mm
  • Adjustment mechanism: Gas-spring mount/free moving
  • Weight range: 7-20 lbs
  • Display size range: 27 inches
  • Available colors: Black/white/silver

Pros

  • Superior build quality
  • Plenty of ergonomic options
  • Easy to install
  • Lots of color options

Cons

  • Expensive

When you think of monitor mounts, free-moving gas-spring arms typically come to mind. They offer smooth action that allows you to move your screens with precision easily. Though it costs more than many other brands, Ergotron’s LX Dual Monitor Arm dual-monitor arm has a higher quality that justifies the price. Plus, it comes with a 10-year warranty, so you know the company stands behind its product. The Ergotron LX Dual Monitor Arm doesn’t do anything flashy. It just does the basics very well.

Best wall-mounted: Mountup Dual Monitor Wall Mount

MOUNTUP

SEE IT

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: The Mountup Dual Monitor Wall Mount looks sharp, and strikes a balance between price and features.

Specs

  • Mount type: Wall mount
  • Compatible VESA mount sizes: 75mm x 75mm, 100mm x 100mm
  • Adjustment mechanism: Gas-spring arms/free moving
  • Weight range: 3.3 – 17.6 lbs
  • Display size range: Up to 32-inch
  • Available colors: Chrome/Black

Pros

  • Great price
  • Very adjustable
  • Detachable VESA plates

Cons

  • Requires tools to install
  • Requires brick, concrete, or wood anchor

If you’re ready to commit to a specific home, spot, and desk setup, you can save a lot of money on a really great dual-monitor arm with the Mountup Dual Monitor Wall Mount. It looks sharp, carries a lot of weight, and costs less than half as much as our desk-mounted pick. That said, this is a heavy dual-monitor arm. Not only do you need to attach it to the wall, the manufacturer specifically calls for you to anchor it on a brick, concrete, or wooden stud. Drywall alone may not hold it up. That’s a huge limitation, but if you have the right setup, this is arguably the most stable way to mount your monitors.

Best freestanding: ErGear Freestanding Dual Monitor Stand

ErGear

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Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: If you don’t want to mount your monitors on arms, ErGear makes a more conventional dual-monitor stand that’s sturdy and offers strong adjustability.

Specs

  • Mount type: Desktop stand
  • Compatible VESA mount sizes: 75mm x 75mm, 100mm x 100mm
  • Adjustment mechanism: Pole-adjusted height/static arm
  • Weight range: Up to 22 lbs
  • Display size range: 17-32 inches
  • Available colors: Black

Pros

  • Glass base
  • High weight tolerence
  • No “install” time
  • Price

Cons

  • Fewer placement/ergonomic options
  • Base takes up space on your desk

We often recommend desk-clamping or wall-mounted monitor arms for their great adjustability and their ability to free up desk space. However, not all of us can use those options: We can’t all drill holes in our walls, and some desks aren’t clamp-friendly. Whether your options are limited, or you simply don’t want to install anything, a desktop or “freestanding” monitor stand is the way to go.

ErGear’s Dual Monitor Stand features a static base column with adjustable spokes for both monitors. It is as adjustable as a dual-monitor arm, but you can still adjust height, tilt, swivel, and rotation to get very good, ergonomically mind positioning. It’s all held down by a large, sturdy black glass base that has enough room under it to route some cables. While it doesn’t free up as much space as a desk-mounted stand, putting both of your monitors on a single stand still opens up your workstation quite a bit.

Best vertical: Hemudu HT05B-002 Dual Monitor Stand

Hemudu

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Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: The Hemudu HT05B-002 allows you to set up a vertical stacking configuration without sacrificing stability.

Specs

  • Mount type: Desktop stand
  • Compatible VESA mount sizes: 50mm x 50mm, 75mm x 75mm, 100mm x 100mm
  • Adjustment mechanism: Static mount
  • Weight range: 44 lbs per arm
  • Display size range: 13-34 inches
  • Available colors: Black

Pros

  • Can handle very large and heavy displays
  • Has plenty of ergonomic options
  • Easy to move

Cons

  • Fewer adjustment options compared to free-moving arms
  • Still takes up desk space

Ergonomics are, ultimately, the core advantage of using a dual-monitor arm. Putting your displays on a single, adjustable mount allows you to position your displays to reduce the number of neck movements you have to do in your daily work. No matter what you do, though, putting two widescreen displays right next to each other ensures that you will need to turn your head to focus on one screen or the other. Suppose you are the kind of person who uses one display most of the time and only occasionally glances at screen number two. In that case, a stacking monitor stand, which mounts the two monitors in a single column, might be useful. Craning your neck to look up isn’t great, ergonomically speaking, but if you only look at that second monitor every once in a while, it may lead to a net reduction in strain.

If you want to set up a vertical stack, we recommend a desktop mount like the Hemudu HT05B-002, rather than a desk-mounted one. With a vertical setup, you’re putting a lot more stress on the stand arm, and a flat stand handles that extra weight better. The HT05B-002 can handle two 34-inch, 44-lb. screens. It features removable VESA plates for easy installation as well. A wide base limits your desk real estate gains, but you can rest easy knowing that the stand will support your monitors’ weight(s). It’s a small consolation, but the feet under the base raise up enough to fit some of your other cabling underneath.

Best premium: Ergotron HX Desk Dual Monitor Arm

Ergotron

SEE IT

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: If you’re willing to pay a premium for a reliable brand, the Ergotron HX is as sturdy as they come.

Specs

  • Mount type: Desk-mounted
  • Compatible VESA mount sizes: 75mm x 75mm, 100mm x 100mm (More available with optional bracket adapter kit)
  • Adjustment mechanism: Gas-spring arms/free moving
  • Weight range: 35 lbs per arm
  • Display size range: Up to 32-inch
  • Available colors: White, Silver, Black

Pros

  • Killer looks
  • 15-year warranty
  • A trusted name in ergonomics

Cons

  • Very expensive

It’s easy to find a monitor arm for under $100, but they’re almost always a gamble. You’re buying a relatively untested design from a brand with little to no reputation, which can be a risky proposition with a dual-monitor stand that holds and protects two pieces of equipment that cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. If you have a pair of very expensive displays, you may want to consider spending a similarly luxurious amount on your stand. 

Ergotron is one of the oldest and most reliable names in the monitor stand game, and its HX dual-monitor arm is a deluxe desk-mounted stand. It has some of the flourishes from our other top picks, including a 15-year warranty and detachable VESA mounts for easy mounting. It also features a unique handlebar beneath the screens that allows you to adjust both displays at once. Those things are all just gravy, though. In this case, you’re spending a lot of extra money on the peace of mind that comes with buying a trusted luxury brand.

Best budget: VIVO Dual Monitor Desk Mount

VIVO

SEE IT

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: VIVO managed to make its dual-monitor stand comparable to more expensive models without many compromises.

Specs

  • Mount type: Desk
  • Compatible VESA mount sizes: Gas-spring arms/free moving
  • Adjustment mechanism: 75mm x 75mm, 100mm x 100mm
  • Weight range: up to 22lb per arm
  • Display size range: 13-30 inches
  • Available colors: Black, White

Pros

  • Gives you a fair amount of control over your monitors
  • Won’t take up a lot of room on your desk
  • Price

Cons

  • No automatic height adjustment

If you’ve invested most of your home office improvement budget on your new displays, it makes sense to save a little bit on a dual-monitor stand. This model from VIVO has most of the features found in our best overall pick, but at a quarter of the price. Each monitor can be tilted and twisted individually, but you can only adjust their height by loosening and tightening a screw on the back. Both monitors have to be set at the same height, which may matter depending on the type of work you do. This stand works with monitors up to 30-inches wide, but VIVO offers a model that can handle displays up to 32 inches if necessary.

We like monitor arms that can be clamped onto a desk rather than sit on top of it because of the space savings, which is why VIVO’s is especially appealing to us. We’re also impressed that it can control monitors up to 22 pounds, which means the arms on this stand are stronger than the ones on our best overall pick. If the lack of height adjustability isn’t a dealbreaker, there’s no reason to spend more money on a dual-monitor stand.

Things to consider before buying one of the best dual-monitor stands

Even if you know exactly which dual-monitor stand or arm to buy, it helps to know a bit about the basic mechanics involved. Different stands require varying amounts of installation at setup, and not every monitor can be mounted on a third-party stand. Understanding these basics will help you pick the right stand for your displays, and ensure you’re ready to install your stand (or call someone who can.)

Why should I use a dual-monitor stand?

There are many reasons to mount your monitors, ranging from purely cosmetic to enabling better ergonomics. The stands with PC monitors vary widely in construction quality, appearance, and features. Some stands take up tons of desk space without offering any additional utility. Others may not allow you to adjust them properly, forcing you to twist or crane your neck to look at them, which could lead to long-term strain. And some of them may just look ugly. When you buy a monitor for its great specs, which you should, it potentially opens the door for you to end up with a huge, ugly stand that gives you a sore neck. Luckily, most monitors allow you to remove the actual display from its stand and mount them on a third-party stand. 

A monitor stand, whether it sits on your desk, clamps on at edge of it, or bolts onto the wall behind it, can solve all of these issues at once, giving you the ability to place your monitor exactly where you want it, reclaiming your desk space for more useful tools, and swapping out what may be garish design for something more subtle and clean.

Stand, clamp, or wall mount?

When moving to a dual-monitor stand, you must choose between a conventional desktop form factor, a clamping desk-mounted design, or a wall-mounted one. Often, picking one versus another comes down to what kind of desk you have, how important it is to reclaim desk space, and the likelihood that you’ll need to move your setup.

If you have a flat desk with an edge or lip, we like clamping monitor stands that clamp to the rear edge of your desk. They’re sturdy, highly adjustable, and easy to install or remove without damaging the desk. (Some offer an option to drill a hole into your desk as an anchor, but it isn’t necessarily mandatory.)

That said, if you have a glass desk, an executive-style desk, or something with lots of cable guides built into the back, a clamp might not be a good fit. In most cases, there’s just no spot to install the clamp. With glass, it could literally shatter the desk. In those cases, a desktop stand makes more sense. Though you won’t get as much space back, a desktop with a dual-monitor stand still consolidates two screens onto a single stand, reclaiming some desk real estate. Also, desktop stands are very sturdy, so it makes sense to use them for larger, heavier screens.

Finally, there’s the wall mount. Whether you use a set of monitor arms or a bracket similar to what you’d use when mounting a TV, the wall mount is an extremely sturdy choice but requires serious installation. To install it, you’ll need to find a stud, drill some holes, and bolt your monitor stand to your wall. Once you install it, your monitor stand isn’t going anywhere, which means your desk setup isn’t going anywhere, either. That lack of flexibility makes it a very niche choice. You don’t want to have to spackle and repaint your walls every time you think your desk would look better over by the window.

Before you buy: Make sure all your monitors have VESA mounts

If you peek around the back of most computer monitors, you’ll notice that the stand for your display probably attaches via four screws in a square configuration. This is a standard configuration maintained by the Video Electronics Standards Association, commonly known as VESA, meant to make stands as close to universal as possible so users can buy new stands easily. 

VESA mounts can come in many sizes, but most PC monitors fall into one of two options, 75mm x 75mm or 100mm x 100 mm. That makes everyone’s life easier: All of our picks support both sizes, as should most third-party monitor stands of any shape and size. That said, you should still double-check your monitors’ specs to see VESA mount sizes you’ll need before buying a dual-monitor stand, if only to make sure that your monitor can be mounted at all. Some very cheap monitors (and a few very expensive ones) build their monitors permanently attached to their stands.

Double-check the weight of both of your displays

Monitors are heavy and expensive. Before mounting them, you should ensure your stand can support their weight. Make sure that your monitors are within the stands’ specified weight limit—don’t risk going above or below whatever limits the manufacturer sets. Most monitor manufacturers include the weight of the displays both with and without stands on their product pages. You have a little wiggle room on the size of the monitor, but consider the weight tolerances to be inviolable laws of nature in this case, or risk breaking hundreds or even thousands of dollars worth of monitors.

FAQs

Q: Does a dual-monitor arm save space?

Desk- and wall-mounted monitor arms do double duty, clearing off desktop space and improving your PC setup’s ergonomics. With your monitor on a desk-mounted stand, you can remove the original stand from your desk, giving you back some desk space. You can leave that space open for a cleaner, more minimalist look, use it as a spot to store a laptop, or maybe take advantage of it as a home for some powered speakers? The sky’s the limit.

Q: How much weight can a dual-monitor stand hold?

The maximum weight your dual-monitor stand can hold will vary from stand to stand. The mounts we’ve selected for this list max out at anywhere from 17.6 lbs to 44 lbs per monitor, influenced by the build material, the type of arm, and mounting style. 

This is one of the most important things to check out before picking out an arm. Do not buy a stand unless you are sure it can support your monitors’ weight.

Q: Can you use a monitor arm on a glass desk?

You can use some dual-monitor arms on a glass desk. Avoid using desk-mounted monitor stands, which apply a large amount of clamping force to your desk. A clamping monitor stand may very well crack or shatter the desk. So long as your desk can handle the weight of two monitors, a desktop monitor stand should work fine. If weight is also a concern, consider a wall-mounted stand.

Q: How much should a dual-monitor stand cost?

This will vary based on the features you need, but you shouldn’t have to spend over $50 on a monitor stand if your needs are modest.

Final thoughts on the best dual-monitor stands

With so many options for mounting your monitors and such a wide range of prices, the best dual-monitor stands are a very affordable and useful upgrade for anyone using two monitors. Whether you’re rocking one display in landscape mode and one in portrait mode, pairing an ultrawide monitor with a standard one, mounting to a desk or a wall, there are dynamic stands for every type of home setup.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best dual-monitor stands of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

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It’s a great day to secure your Apple and iCloud accounts https://www.popsci.com/secure-your-apple-and-icloud-accounts/ Mon, 27 Sep 2021 18:23:52 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/secure-your-apple-and-icloud-accounts/
An iPhone and a Mac computer keyboard illuminated under a pink light.
We hope this lighting is ominous enough to get the point across. felipepelaquim / Unsplash

Apple is pretty good at security, but you should put up your own walls too.

The post It’s a great day to secure your Apple and iCloud accounts appeared first on Popular Science.

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An iPhone and a Mac computer keyboard illuminated under a pink light.
We hope this lighting is ominous enough to get the point across. felipepelaquim / Unsplash

If you’re an Apple user, you probably have an iCloud account and several devices filled with your personal information. Whenever high-profile data leaks and hacks hit the headlines, you may think that Apple’s known dedication to security will keep you safe, but that’s no reason to get complacent. There’s plenty you can do on your own to ensure it’s extra-hard for people to snatch up your data.

Once you’ve taken some time to enable two-factor authentication, strengthen your passwords, and work through the security tips listed below, you may want to stay in the same headspace and continue with other important accounts. For starters, check out our guides to locking down your Facebook and Google accounts.

Apple security basics

You should be putting up strong barriers at every door into your Apple world. That means a long, unique password on your MacBook, a lengthy PIN on your iPhone, and a long, unique password for your iCloud account. Passwords should contain a mix of lowercase and uppercase letters, plus special characters and numbers, to make them as difficult to crack as possible. (And no, “Passw0rd!” isn’t good enough.) Don’t base your passwords on your address, birthday, or pet’s name, either—a savvy attacker might research this information in order to get past your defenses. Finally, avoid using the same password for both your Mac and iCloud. That way, even if one gets cracked, the other still has some protection.

[Related: All the ways you can customize your iPhone lock screen]

One of your best defenses will be your common sense. Hackers often trick people into revealing their login details, rather than running a sophisticated brute force attack. Be wary of phishing links in emails and on social media, and be suspicious of any that immediately ask you to log in with your Apple ID credentials.

When it comes to Apple device security, Apple is your best ally. Its operating systems (macOS, iOS, and iPadOS) all encrypt data by default. This means nothing can be pulled from your iPhone, iPad, or MacBook without the right password or PIN code.

Enable Apple’s two-factor authentication feature

Apple's Two-factor authentication screen on the web.
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection to your account. Screenshot: Apple

Apple accounts can be better protected with two-factor authentication (TFA). This feature is available for most major online accounts and means that entering your account will require an extra code beyond your username and password.

In the case of Apple’s two-factor authentication, attempting to log in will trigger a message sent to your phone number or a code that displays on another device associated with your Apple ID. For example, if you’re setting up a new iPhone, you’ll see the code on your existing MacBook.

To turn on two-factor authentication on iOS or iPadOS, open the Settings app and tap your name at the top of the screen. Then choose Password & Security to find the two-factor authentication option. On macOS Ventura or later, click the Apple menu, head to System Settings, and click your name. Then click Sign-In & Security and hit Turn On next to Two-Factor Authentication. Follow the instructions to set everything up.

[Related: 7 sweet new features in macOS Ventura]

If you’re using macOS Monterey or an older version of Apple’s operating system, you’ll find the TFA settings by opening the Apple menu, choosing System Preferences, selecting Apple ID followed by Password & Security, and turning the feature on from that screen.

Once you’ve logged into a device with your Apple ID, password, and TFA code, that device will be marked as trusted, which means you won’t need to log in using TFA again. It’s therefore important that you do have passwords, PIN codes, and other types of protection on your computers and phones to prevent unauthorized access.

Manage Apple security in your web browser

To configure other parts of your security setup, open your Apple ID account page in a web browser. Make sure your registered email addresses and trusted phone numbers are up to date and secure, because you might need them if you ever lose access to your account.

Under the Devices heading (in the menu on the left), you can see the iPhones, iPads, and computers associated with your account. Use this opportunity to remove any devices you no longer use or don’t recognize. It’s a good idea to check this list fairly regularly, just in case your account has been compromised or you’re signed in somewhere you shouldn’t be.

Any web browser on any computer will also let you access the iCloud suite of web apps and services. If you’re on a public computer or a machine you share with others, be sure to sign out after you’ve finished. Some browsers may ask to remember your password. You can allow this on your personal computer, but make sure that something else will prevent a guest from accessing the browser. For example, set up a user account password for getting into the operating system.

When you’re on iCloud.com, you can also sign out of all browsers where you’re currently signed in. To do this, click your Apple ID avatar in the top right corner, hit iCloud Settings, select Sign Out Of All Browsers, and click Sign Out. This way, you’ll ensure no one’s using your iCloud account with any other browser except the one you have open.

Other Apple security tips

The Find My app screen on an iPhone, showing the location of David's iPhone.
Apple’s Find My app can lock and wipe your devices remotely. Screenshot: Apple

The app stores Apple has built into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS do a very good job of keeping you safe from dangerous software and viruses. On your phone or tablet, you shouldn’t have to install anything from outside the iOS App Store. On your computer, however, you may need to venture outside the walls of the macOS App Store every now and again. If you do, read user reviews and web write-ups to double-check the safety of any program you install.

As for your devices’ physical security, you definitely want to hope for the best, but plan for the worst. So take the time now to consider what you’ll do if, despite all your precautions, your iPhone, iPad, or computer are compromised. We recommend turning on the Find My feature on your devices. This will let you locate and remotely wipe your device via the web if it falls into the wrong hands, but if you’ve simply lost your tech inside your own home, you can use Find My to get it to play a sound.

On iOS or iPadOS, tap your name in the settings to find the Find My app, and on macOS Ventura or later navigate through Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Find My. If you’re using macOS Monterey or earlier, you’ll need Apple menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Find My Mac > Allow.

[Related: How to turn off your location on an iPhone]

Meanwhile, if you’ve gone all-in with your Apple products and got yourself an Apple Watch, you can use the wearable gadget as a secure way to unlock macOS, saving you the trouble of typing out a password each time. To set up the feature on macOS Ventura or later, open the Apple menu, click System Settings, hit Login Password, and choose Use Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac. On macOS Monterey or older, work through Apple menu > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General to find the same Apple Watch unlock setting.

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2017.

The post It’s a great day to secure your Apple and iCloud accounts appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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6 ways you can use Google Chrome offline https://www.popsci.com/chrome-browser-offline/ Sat, 11 Sep 2021 20:02:36 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/chrome-browser-offline/
A tablet with Google Chrome and no internet connection.
A temporary setback. Jonathan Kemper / Unsplash

No internet, no problem.

The post 6 ways you can use Google Chrome offline appeared first on Popular Science.

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A tablet with Google Chrome and no internet connection.
A temporary setback. Jonathan Kemper / Unsplash

Internet access, whether wired or wireless, has become one of the most precious commodities of our time. But that leaves us singularly unprepared when we lose that access—such as when we travel to the signal-free middle of nowhere or a storm knocks out power to our home router. There are plenty of ways you can avoid being completely cut off from your work and entertainment, though, and using Google Chrome offline is one of them.

The catch, however, is that you’ll have to set up offline access before your internet connection dies. We recommend activating the settings below as you read this article, so you don’t forget and regret it later. When you’re done, consider poking around the settings within your other most-used programs to see what offline features they offer, or download some of the best offline apps. Then, no matter what type of computer you’re on, Chromebook or not, you won’t have to completely give up when those WiFi bars disappear.

Access Gmail offline

If you use Gmail in your browser, you can get into your inbox without a web connection. While you’re still online, simply click the cog icon in the top right, select See all settings, open the Offline tab, and check the box next to Enable offline mail. Doing so will sync recent emails to your computer’s hard drive. Unfortunately, this function can’t make new emails magically appear when your internet is down. But it will let you browse through messages you’ve already cached, and compose new replies that Gmail will automatically send when you get back online.

Keep working

The Google Chrome browser showing Google Drive's offline setting.
Google Drive can work offline if you need to keep messing with your files. Screenshot: Google

Google Drive and the three online apps within it—Docs, Sheets, and Slides—have an offline mode you can activate when there’s no internet available. You’ll need to set it up before you lose your web connection: From the main Google Drive interface, click the cog icon in the top right, followed by Settings, and finally tick the box under Offline.

This will sync your recent documents, spreadsheets, and presentations to the local storage on your hard drive. It will let you create new documents and edit existing ones in your Drive account, although you won’t be able to access big files like videos and music (unless you download them separately first). Offline Chrome will save all your changes to disk, just as they would normally be saved to the web. Once your browser detects an internet connection again, it will sync everything to bring your files back up to date.

Check your schedule

Beyond Gmail and Google Drive, Google has made most of its web apps work offline—including Google Calendar. You can’t create new events when you’re offline, but you can browse your schedule and respond to invitations. Google Calendar will send those responses when you’re back online.

[Related: Supercharge your scheduling with these 5 Google Calendar tips]

To set it up, load the app in your browser, click the cog icon in the top right, followed by Settings. Choose Offline from the menu on the left, then check the box next to Turn on offline calendar. As with the offline modes in Google’s other apps, this synchronizes some of your data to your device, where Chrome can find it even when you’re not connected to the web.

Stay entertained

Google Chrome playing a video file offline.
Chrome can play files you’ve saved to your device. Screenshot: Google

It doesn’t matter whether your favorite music or video streaming service works offline—Chrome can play downloaded files in many popular formats, including MP3 tracks and MP4 movies. So as long as you saved your preferred entertainment options to your device ahead of time, you can rock out or kick back no matter what your internet connection looks like. Just drag a file from your hard drive into an empty Chrome window, and it will start to play.

If you’re looking for a place to start, the platforms you use want to keep you engaged and are more than willing to help. Both Spotify and Netflix, for example, have detailed instructions for how you can access their content without internet access. Once you’re all stocked up, you can enjoy accessing the files via Chrome.

Catch up on your reading

Losing your internet connection gives you a great opportunity to catch up on all that reading you’ve been meaning to get around to. But if all that reading happens to be on the web, you’re stuck. The free Pocket Chrome extension can help. Open an article that you’d like to read in Chrome, and Pocket will let you save it for later perusal, when you have more time to do so.

[Related: How to manage your digital read-it-later list]

Crucially, Pocket comes with an offline mode so you can see those articles without any web access. Most types of articles, except videos, will sync up as soon as you save them. So, if your internet connection goes down, fire up Pocket and to do some reading until you’re back online. The only downside is that you’ll have to wait to share any links of note on social media.

Play games

Freecell Solitaire computer game
While away the minutes before the internet comes back. David Nield

You can even enjoy certain online games while Chrome’s offline. From the physics-based puzzler Cut the Rope to the all-time classic FreeCell Solitaire, you should be able to find something to while away the time until the internet returns. As long as install your favorite games while you still have internet access, you’ll be good to go.

In fact, the Chrome Web Store has a lot of apps that are accessible offline. There used to be a “runs offline” category visible on the list to the left, but you may no longer be able to see it. In that case, follow the link under this text to see all the offline-enabled Chrome extensions. You’ll find utilities, productivity apps, games, and more.

On top of standard apps and games, Chrome has a hidden game that only works while the internet’s down. If you load a page and get the old “There is no internet connection” message with the dinosaur icon, you can tap Space, and then hit Space again to hop the dinosaur over the obstacles. See how far you can get!

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2017.

The post 6 ways you can use Google Chrome offline appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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One quick way to automatically save space on your phone https://www.popsci.com/diy/offload-unused-apps/ Sat, 14 Oct 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=579563
A person holding an iPhone with a bunch of apps on the home screen. A cup of coffee is behind their hand on a white table.
If you don't use some of those apps, you should offload them to save space. Yura Fresh / Unsplash

Your phone can automatically tidy up apps that are gathering digital dust.

The post One quick way to automatically save space on your phone appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person holding an iPhone with a bunch of apps on the home screen. A cup of coffee is behind their hand on a white table.
If you don't use some of those apps, you should offload them to save space. Yura Fresh / Unsplash

How many of the apps on your phone are you actually using on a regular basis? It’s not uncommon to have a bunch of apps you installed and eventually forgot about, each of them taking up precious space on your device and making it more difficult to find the tools you actually want to use.

Apple and Google know about their users’ struggles with unused apps, and they’ve built features into iOS and Android to try and handle it. You should know how your phone’s operating system handles forgotten apps behind the scenes, how these features benefit you, and how you can disable them if you want to.

How to offload unused apps on iOS

The iOS Settings app, showing the iPhone Storage screen and the option to offload unused apps.
You can enable and disable automatic app offloading from the iPhone’s Settings app. Screenshot: Apple

Apple’s iPhones have a feature called Offload Unused Apps that can help you with your app-hoarding problem, and it’s been around since iOS 11 launched in 2017. It’s sort of a middle ground between having an app installed and uninstalled: The bulk of the app is gone, but data and documents relating to it—like your settings and any files you’ve created in it—remain on your phone. The app icon will also stay on your home screen, with a small arrow next to its name, and you can fully reinstall it by tapping this icon.

This feature is off by default, but you can enable it by opening the Settings app and selecting General, iPhone Storage, and Enable next to the Offload Unused Apps heading. It will then run automatically, so you might notice apps you haven’t opened in a while being offloaded in the background without any input from you. You can follow the same steps to turn the feature off.

[Related: All the ways iOS lets you edit your lock screen]

On the iPhone storage screen, you’ll see how much space you can free up by offloading apps, but Apple doesn’t offer a whole lot of detail about how this works—how long an app has to remain unused for to qualify, for example, or whether your iPhone starts offloading apps once you reach a threshold of remaining storage. You’ll have to try it to see if you like it, but remember that you can easily restore offloaded apps if it isn’t for you.

If you don’t want iOS to automatically offload apps, you can do so manually and individually whenever you want. From the same iPhone Storage screen in Settings, scroll down to the app you want to offload and tap on it. Then choose Offload App on the next screen to partially remove it from your phone. The same screen will let you reinstall the app if and when you need to, or delete it entirely.

Offloading unused apps on Android

The Android settings screen, showing options for automatically archiving apps when they've been unused for a while.
Android’s tool for offloading unused apps is fairly new. Screenshot: Google

Android’s built-in feature for managing unused apps is called Auto Archive. It’s still relatively new, and it works a lot like the offloading iOS does: Auto Archive will free up to nearly 60 percent of an app’s storage space, without removing the app itself or your data from the device, Google says. After being archived, the app will still be there, but a lot of its data and files will have been removed until you need it.

Auto Archive isn’t enabled by default, but Android will prompt you to turn the feature on if you try to install an app and there’s not enough room left on your phone. If this happens, tap Turn on to enable Auto Archive and install the app, or No thanks if you want to try to clear some space manually.

[Related: 9 hidden Android features you’re missing out on]

You can also enable Auto Archive from the Play Store app on your phone: Tap your Google account avatar (top right), then choose Settings and General to find the Automatically archive apps toggle switch. Even when this is on, the process only kicks in when your device starts to run low on available storage.

Google isn’t specific about which apps it archives first, but “infrequently used apps” are apparently first in line. There’s no option to manually archive individual apps, as there is on iOS, but you can wipe all the data stored by an app. To do so, open Settings and head to Apps, tap on an app, choose Storage and cache, and hit Clear storage. Depending on the app, the data you remove could include messages, emails, or playlists that have been synced to your phone.

The post One quick way to automatically save space on your phone appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to give more WiFi to the devices that need it the most https://www.popsci.com/diy/prioritize-devices-on-your-wifi-network/ Thu, 19 Aug 2021 14:35:58 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=390625
A WiFi router on a table against a gray wall, behind a plant.
Now you have a reason to love your router. Misha Feshchak / Unsplash

When you need top WiFi speeds, you can give some gadgets a VIP pass.

The post How to give more WiFi to the devices that need it the most appeared first on Popular Science.

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A WiFi router on a table against a gray wall, behind a plant.
Now you have a reason to love your router. Misha Feshchak / Unsplash

Most modern homes have quite a few WiFi-connected gadgets trying to access the web at the same time. This usually results in strained broadband connections, especially when it comes to demanding activities like online gaming or video streaming

To help you manage the load, some routers (like those manufactured by Google, Netgear, Eero, and many others) offer a feature called Quality of Service (QoS). In simple terms, it lets you prioritize certain devices and types of traffic on your WiFi network, so they’re first in line for a high-speed connection whenever bandwidth becomes limited. 

Your router manufacturer may give it a different name, but a quick dig into the manual or an online search should tell you whether or not your particular device offers QoS. If it does, it’s worth getting familiar with the feature and what it can do, as prioritizing devices on your WiFi network can help reduce buffering times and avoid dropped connections when it’s most important.

What is Quality of Service, and how does it work?

The term “quality of service” has been around for decades, and it applies to all kinds of networks. When used in relation to your home’s WiFi, it means marking certain devices or types of activity as being more important than others. Whenever your router is chopping up your WiFi into individual slices, these marked gadgets and apps get first dibs.

Imagining pie slices is one way to think about QoS. Without it, everything connected to your router gets a similarly sized slice: Your PlayStation 5, the laptop the kids are using, the smart TV in the living room, and so on. When you enable QoS, you can give out bigger slices to that important Zoom call. Consequently, less important tasks, like those Windows updates downloading in the background, get smaller slices.

That said, using QoS to prioritize devices on your WiFi network doesn’t necessarily guarantee that those gadgets will always get a healthy, robust internet connection. It also doesn’t mean that the less important hardware on your network will slow to a crawl. A lot of what actually happens depends on the internet speed in your home.

[Related: 6 router settings you should change right now]

Video calls, online gaming, and streaming video tend to be first in line when you enable QoS. Other online tasks, from checking email to downloading updates, usually get reduced priority. 

Ultimately, how you use QoS is up to you, but your router will determine what type of control you get and how much. Some routers let you prioritize certain devices, such as gaming consoles, while others let you prioritize types of internet traffic, such as video calls. Some let you do both. If you’re shopping for a router upgrade, this is definitely a spec you should look out for.

How to prioritize devices on a WiFi network with QoS

Every router handles QoS differently, but we can provide a few examples so you can see how it works. 

More advanced routers let you prioritize particular devices, apps, and tasks, while simpler ones just offer priority to audio and video streaming. 

If you have a Google Nest Wi-Fi mesh networking setup at home, for example, you can open up the Google Home app on your phone, tap Favorites, then Wifi, and choose Devices to see a list of the gadgets using your network. Select the device you want to prioritize, tap Prioritize device, decide how long you want it to receive VIP treatment, and hit Save to finish. Keep in mind that you can only give priority to one device at a time.

You can also use the Google Home app to choose the types of activity you want the network to put first. First, tap Wi-Fi, hit the cog icon to open Settings, and choose Preferred activities to tell the network what to prioritize. Your choices will include Video conferencing and Gaming, and the router will continue to give your picks bigger slices of the WiFi pie until you turn them off again.

[Related: What to do when your device won’t connect to WiFi]

If you’ve got a Netgear router, on the other hand, you’ll need to open a web browser, head to routerlogin.com, and log in using your router’s admin credentials (check the documentation that came with the router if you’re not sure what these are). From there, head to Advanced, Setup, and QoS setup to start making some changes.

Pick Upstream QoS, then Setup QoS rule, and finally Add Priority Rule. You can choose Online Gaming to make sure your games stay as lag-free as possible, Applications to prioritize a particular web app, Ethernet LAN port to specify a device connected to a router port, or MAC Address to single out a device hooked up to the network via WiFi.

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2021.

The post How to give more WiFi to the devices that need it the most appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Your Apple TV 4K is secretly good for video games https://www.popsci.com/diy/play-games-on-apple-tv/ Tue, 10 Oct 2023 15:30:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=578213
An Apple TV 4K box with a remote next to it, both on a black reflective surface.
Apple's little TV box may not be a gaming console, but it's a good option for mobile games. Omar Rodriguez / Unsplash

Get your favorite iPhone and iPad games on the big screen.

The post Your Apple TV 4K is secretly good for video games appeared first on Popular Science.

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An Apple TV 4K box with a remote next to it, both on a black reflective surface.
Apple's little TV box may not be a gaming console, but it's a good option for mobile games. Omar Rodriguez / Unsplash

Gaming might not be the primary reason you bought your Apple TV 4K box, but it’s a nice extra benefit—there’s a huge selection of games you can play on the device.

The main advantage of doing this is that the connected TV screen is much larger than the one on your iPhone or iPad, and if you’ve already bought games on these mobile devices, you won’t have to pay again to play them on the Apple TV 4K.

For more advanced and involved gameplay, you can even hook up a Bluetooth controller, giving you a true console-like experience, even if the selection of games doesn’t quite match the top-tier titles on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Getting started

The Apple TV 4K screen resolution options.
Check the display options for your Apple TV 4K before you play any games. Screenshot: Apple

For starters, you need a physical Apple TV 4K device to play games on a connected television. That means this article doesn’t apply to the Apple TV app you might have on your smart TV, or on a streaming dongle you’ve connected to it. The Apple TV app is for movies and shows only, while the Apple TV 4K box is for movies, shows, music, photos, and games.

Your Apple TV 4K box is already set up and ready to play games—though it’s always worth checking that you’re running the very latest tvOS software, which you can do through Settings > System > Software Updates > Update Software. When up to date, you’ll have the latest bug fixes and performance optimizations installed, so the games you pick should run as smoothly as possible.

It’s also worth checking that the Apple TV 4K is outputting video at the best possible quality: 4K resolution, with HDR, at a 60 hertz refresh rate. You can do this via Settings > Video and Audio > Format, though the available formats you see will depend on the TV you’ve connected your Apple box to.

How to find games for the Apple TV 4K

The Apple TV 4K Games menu showing some available games.
There are plenty of games that work on the Apple TV 4K. Screenshot: Apple

You shouldn’t have any trouble finding games to play: Open the App Store (the icon showing a white “A” on a blue background) from the home screen, then scroll across to Games to see what’s available. The store will only show you games that will work on the Apple TV 4K, so there’s no danger of installing something that’s incompatible. Scroll across to Purchased to see games you’ve bought and installed on other Apple devices.

If you subscribe to Apple Arcade for $4.99 a month, you get access to an additional pool of more than 200 games. To find them, you can switch to the Arcade tab in the App Store or use the Apple Arcade shortcut on the home screen (an icon showing a white joystick on a red background). Select any game to see details about it, including the category it’s in and the age rating attached to it.

[Related: 14 tips for your Apple TV 4K]

Because your Apple TV 4K box is connected to a display far bigger than the one on your smartphone or tablet, the games that work best will be those that make full use of that extra screen space. If you need inspiration, the games we’ve enjoyed on the Apple TV 4K include the endless scroller Alto’s Odyssey ($4.99), the addictive puzzler Donut County ($4.99), and the classic car-dodging adventure Crossy Road (free with in-app purchases).

How to add a game controller to the Apple TV 4K

An Apple TV 4K game menu with a popup dialog box showing that a controller is required.
Apple TV 4K games will tell you if they need a controller. Screenshot: Apple

As you make your way around the App Store and Apple Arcade portal, you’ll notice certain games say a controller is required, others say a controller is optional, and some don’t say anything at all. For simple single-tap games like the aforementioned Alto’s Odyssey, for example, you can play using just the Apple TV 4K remote.

For more advanced titles, you’ll need to connect a controller like the one you might use on your PS5 or Xbox Series X. Just about any standard gamepad will do, as long as it supports Bluetooth—including the ones that came with your PlayStation or Xbox. If you’re going to buy one, though, make sure it supports the Apple TV 4K.

To connect the controller, you’ll need to make sure your controller is in pairing mode (its instructions or a quick web search will tell you how to do this if you’re not sure), then go to Settings > Remotes and Devices > Bluetooth. The controller should appear on this list, but if not, follow the How to Pair Game Controllers link for extra help.

Play Apple TV 4K games from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac

The screen mirroring option on an Apple TV 4K when used with an iPhone.
You can stream games from an iPhone, iPad, or macOS computer to your Apple TV 4K. Screenshot: Apple

If you prefer playing a game on your iPhone or iPad, but still want to take advantage of the larger screen your Apple TV 4K is connected to, you can beam them over from your mobile device—as long as everything’s on the same WiFi network. This uses Apple’s AirPlay protocol for streaming video and audio, which is supported by most Apple devices—it’s not quick enough for super-fast gameplay, but it works fine for slower-paced games.

On the iPhone or iPad you’re using, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to bring up the Control Center, then tap the Screen Mirroring icon (two overlapping rectangles). Choose your Apple TV 4K from the list, and the display will be duplicated on your TV. This is a good way to play games that aren’t officially supported by the Apple TV 4K, and you can always add a controller to your iPhone or iPad too.

[Related: 24 iPhone settings that feel like secrets]

If you’re on a Mac, click the Control Center icon on the menu bar (it looks like two toggle switches), choose Screen Mirroring, and select the Apple TV 4K box you want to connect to. Click Screen Mirroring again and choose Use As Separate Display to have the Apple TV 4K act as a second monitor, where you can display any games that can run on your Mac, while still controlling them with your computer. Click Screen Mirroring and the name of the Apple TV 4K to break the connection.

The post Your Apple TV 4K is secretly good for video games appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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9 Gmail features to get you out of your inbox and back to work https://www.popsci.com/story/diy/best-gmail-features-hacks/ Mon, 23 Mar 2020 20:00:17 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/best-gmail-features-hacks/
a photo of a laptop with a Gmail inbox open
The more time you spend in that messy inbox, the less time you have to enjoy all that sun. John Kennedy

Email can be a lot. But it doesn’t have to be.

The post 9 Gmail features to get you out of your inbox and back to work appeared first on Popular Science.

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a photo of a laptop with a Gmail inbox open
The more time you spend in that messy inbox, the less time you have to enjoy all that sun. John Kennedy

Despite being the central hub for most of our work, email can be a real productivity killer. Everyone is vying for your attention at all hours of the day, and that little unread icon taunts you until you give in and re-open your inbox to see what’s happening. This, of course, interrupts the flow of your actual job.

I’m a slave to the notification icon as much as anyone. In an ideal world, I’d learn to keep pushing forward and deal with email when I actually have time between other tasks. But that’s not as easy as it sounds. So instead of changing my own behavior, I’ve learned some Gmail tricks that will help me spend less time emailing and more time working.

Pause your Gmail inbox to stop the barrage of notifications

Yes, you could just close your email tab, but chances are you actually need access to some messages for work. In that case, you need a Gmail add-on called Inbox Pause. Install the extension in your browser, and you’ll see a big Pause button on Gmail’s left sidebar—click it whenever you need to stop incoming messages. Don’t worry, you won’t miss anything, and you can choose to let certain senders through if you’re expecting something urgent.

[Related: 9 advanced Gmail searches that will dig up stuff you never knew you missed]

If you’d rather not install a third-party extension for this job, there are some other workarounds that may help. If you only need access to old messages and would like to prevent any online distractions, you can use Gmail offline, for example. Just click the cog icon in the top right corner of your screen, hit See all settings, and select the Offline tab. There, check the box next to Enable offline mail and finish with Save Changes. This feature will let you view your email even when you’re completely disconnected from the web. (Of course, this only works if you don’t need the rest of the internet for your work).

Activating Gmail's offline mode
Sometimes turning the entire internet off can be terribly useful to boost productivity. Screenshot: Gmail

You could also set up your Gmail account using a third-party email client like Thunderbird or Apple Mail. This will allow you to open the app and put it in offline mode whenever you want some peace, so you can keep using the web while your email stays frozen. Just head to Gmail’s Settings, go to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab, find IMAP access, and check the box next to Enable IMAP. This will allow those desktop programs to access your email. 

Snooze unimportant emails for later

How to snooze email on Gmail
Unread emails sitting in your inbox can be terribly intimidating. Screenshot: Gmail

Despite the advice of productivity experts, my inbox doubles as a to-do list. (Hey, I’m not the only one.) It just works for me: unread emails act as a constant reminder that something requires action.

Not all of these tasks require an immediate response, though, and having them sit unread in my inbox nags at me. Plus, they make it harder to see the urgent stuff that’s mixed in. For that, Gmail’s Snooze button has become my new best friend: on desktop, hover over the message in question and click the little clock icon that appears to the right, or right-click on an email and select Snooze. On mobile, slide an unopened message to the left or right, depending on your personal configuration.

Snoozing banishes an email from your inbox until a time you specify—say, tomorrow morning when you have free time to schedule an appointment with the mechanic. That way, you can keep things clean and anxiety-free while you take care of what’s really important at the moment.

Schedule emails to send at the most opportune time

Send scheduling tool on Gmail
This small arrow next to the Send button is often ignored, but it can make your life easier. Screenshot: Gmail

Dealing with email as it comes in is rarely a productive use of your time. It’s better to batch a few email sessions—say, once every couple of hours—and knock everything out in a single chunk. That way, you aren’t constantly interrupting your momentum with an unrelated task.

The problem is, it’s hard to time those inbox sessions perfectly for every email. Gmail’s Schedule button lets you write the email when you want and schedule it to send later—so it arrives precisely when you mean it to.

Once you’ve written your email and chosen its recipient, click the downward arrow to the right of the Send button, then hit Schedule send. Gmail will suggest three predetermined times for you, including tomorrow afternoon and Monday morning. If none of those work, you can click Pick a time & date, and use the emerging calendar to pick the exact moment you want your message to hit its destination. Finish by clicking Schedule send. On the Gmail app, the process is similar: just tap the three dots in the top right corner of your screen and select Schedule send

Your scheduled messages will sit and wait in the main Gmail sidebar within the Scheduled folder. If you need to make changes or unschedule any of them, you can find them all there. 

Stop wasting your time on typing

Gmail's Duet AI menu
When you sign up for Google’s Woorkspace labs, you’ll see this menu in every new message window. Screenshot: Gmail

It may seem silly to say that “writing email is a waste of time,” but in the age of automation, it’s true. Gmail has a number of features that can help you draft messages more quickly, so you can get back to doing actual work.

Templates have been around for ages, though they used to be known as “canned responses.” These allow you to save certain blocks of text that you use often and insert them into any email with a few clicks. For example, you could use them to enter your address, or ship off a form response to a question you get asked every day.

If you have a Google Workspace account (through your employer or education institution, for example), you can create a template by opening a new message, typing the text you want to save, and clicking the three dots in the bottom right corner of your message. On the emerging menu, hover over Templates and choose Save draft as template. Then, when crafting a reply to an email, you can go to that same menu to insert text from any template—you’ll be able to recognize them by the subject line.

Smart Compose on Gmail is another useful feature, and it’s available for all users. This tool will predict what it thinks you’re about to type and shows the rest of the sentence in gray text. You can press Tab to complete the prediction, and keep on typing. If you disabled this feature—I get it, it’s distracting—you should give it another shot. Once you get used to it, it’s amazing how quickly you can breeze through some messages. If you want to skip the typing altogether, you can choose one of Gmail’s response chips, which you may see when replying to an email. These AI-generated options might be all you need, so you can choose one of three mostly innocuous phrases like “That sounds good!” or “Have a great weekend too!” and hit Send.  

Google recently integrated its AI platform, Bard, into the web version of Gmail. If you signed up for Google Workspace Labs, you can enable Duet AI—an experimental AI-email composer that will write your message for you after you give it a prompt. To sign up, you can visit the Google Labs website and choose to join the Workspace Lab. 

Gmail menu to refine AI generated content
You can ask Google’s artificial intelligence for a more refined or formal text. You can also just ask it to use fewer words. Screenshot: Gmail

Once you do, a multicolor navigation bar will appear when you compose new Gmail messages —click Help me write to get started, and then write a prompt. You can try anything, like “compose a happy holidays message for a potential client,” or “an email apologizing to my kid’s teacher after they bit the classroom pet.” Hit Create to see the results. You can also ask Duet AI to give you a second draft by clicking Recreate, or request changes—click Refine and then choose to Formalize, Elaborate, or Shorten. When you see something you like, click Insert to add the message to the body text. Remember that AI takes a lot of creative and factual liberties, so you’ll need to make sure everything looks good and accurate before you hit Send

Finally, you can use Gmail’s multiple signatures feature to switch between different sign-offs based on who you’re emailing. Just go to Settings, and under General, scroll down to Signature and click Create new. Once you have everything you need, click the pen icon in a Compose window to switch between them.

Mute distracting email threads

Gmail menu to mute email
Sometimes you just need to stop getting notifications about certain message threads. Screenshot: Gmail

I have friends and family that like to start long, multi-person email threads sharing silly jokes, political debates, or other time-wasting nonsense. Unfortunately, there’s no way to leave a thread completely without nagging someone to move you to BCC. But Gmail offers the next-best thing: the Mute feature, which prevents the thread from showing up in your inbox when new messages arrive.

[Related: Gmail’s new email layouts will give a newsletter vibe to all your messages]

To mute a thread in Gmail, right-click on it and choose Mute—that’s it. Further messages will still be marked as unread, but they’ll skip the inbox altogether and enter the bowels of your All Mail tab, never to be seen unless you search for them. That way, you can catch up on those threads later, if you want—and you can even unmute them if they become relevant.

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2020. 

The post 9 Gmail features to get you out of your inbox and back to work appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Hand gesture reactions are one of macOS Sonoma’s coolest new features https://www.popsci.com/diy/mac-hand-gesture-reactions/ Wed, 04 Oct 2023 19:30:59 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=577145
Animated hand gestures on FaceTime
Hand gestures just got more fun on macOS Sonoma. Screenshot: Apple

Make your approval way more evident with animated reactions.

The post Hand gesture reactions are one of macOS Sonoma’s coolest new features appeared first on Popular Science.

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Animated hand gestures on FaceTime
Hand gestures just got more fun on macOS Sonoma. Screenshot: Apple

Reacting to something online is way more fun if there’s an animation involved. Apple seems to understand this, as it included hand gesture reactions in macOS Sonoma. They work on FaceTime, of course, but also on some other video call platforms, including Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. 

Now, if you have a compatible Mac, you’ll be able to celebrate your colleague’s promotion with a dramatic firework effect, or send digital hearts to your significant other without clicking or tapping anything. 

Check if your computer is compatible 

There are two system requirements you’ll need to play around with macOS’s new hand gesture reactions, and you can use one menu to confirm you have both. 

Animated hand gestures are possible thanks to the processing power of Apple’s silicon chips, so you’ll need to start by seeing if you have the right hardware. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen, then About this Mac, and a small window will pop up. The first item is Chip—if your machine is sporting an M1 or M2, you’re good to go. 

About this Mac information window
To activate animated hand gestures, you need the right hardware and software. Screenshot: Apple

You can use the same window to check your macOS version. If it’s Sonoma, you’re good to go. Otherwise, click More info, which will take you to Settings. There, go to General, then Software Update to have your machine scan for, download, and install newer versions of the operating system. Your computer should automatically tell you if you can upgrade to the latest version of the OS, but you can also check Apple’s official list of compatible devices

[Related: 6 new features in macOS Sonoma you have to try]

If your machine cannot handle macOS Sonoma and is not equipped with Apple Silicon, we’re happy to tell you that there’s still a way to enable hand gestures on your video calls: using the Continuity Camera feature. This capability is available on devices running software as old as macOS 13, and it’ll let you use your iPhone as a webcam for video calls on your computer. You will need an iPhone running at least iOS 16 and signed into the same Apple ID as your Mac machine. 

How to use hand gesture reactions on macOS

1. Open FaceTime or another video call platform that supports the feature. Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom will do the trick. 

2. Activate your camera and you’ll see the Video menu button appear on the main macOS navigation bar—it’s a bright green button with a white camera. Click it and make sure Reactions is selected. This will activate the feature.

Video menu on macOS
You’ll see this bright green button whenever your Apple device’s camera is active. Screenshot: Apple

3. Back on your video call, you’ll be able to make predetermined hand gestures to trigger animated reactions. For example, give a thumbs up or a thumbs down and you’ll see a gray bubble with the relevant emoji. 

thumbs up hand gesture on macOS Sonoma
That’s what we call enthusiastic consent. Screenshot: Google

You can also use both hands to make a love gesture, and small red hearts will bubble up on top of your camera feed. 

Heart hand gesture on macOS Sonoma
This is the gesture you make when the meeting is over ahead of schedule. Screenshot: Apple

Or generate a cool laser effect by making a rad rock ‘n’ roll gesture. Just keep in mind that this might be an offensive gesture in some cultures, so be mindful of your audience. 

Person using animated reactions on Google Meet
Are we taking this meeting from an underground techno club? Maybe. Screenshot: Google

Maybe release some celebratory balloons by making a peace sign. 

Person using animated hand gestures on FaceTime
Sure, a peace sign can be incredibly festive. Screenshot: Apple

Beyond these, Apple has a full list of gestures you can make—it’s not long but we would not be surprised if they add more over time. 

Five pro tips when using hand gestures on macOS

Perfecting your hand gesture reactions will take some time, but we have some recommendations that will have your friends and family gasping during your next catch-up.

Make marked gestures

We got the best results when making very neat gestures. For that, how you angle your hands is extremely important. For example, the rock ‘n’ roll gesture triggered the laser animation more consistently if the back or front of our wrist was facing the camera—aiming our indexes and pinkies at the camera resulted in absolutely no reaction. 

Person triggering animated reactions with hand gestures on Google Meet
Fireworks will make it clear to your boss just how much you like working for them. Screenshot: Google

Keep your hands away from your face and body

It’s easier for your Mac to recognize your hand gesture in contrast with your background. If you make a peace sign by partially covering your face, it’s possible you won’t trigger a reaction, or that the animation will take longer to appear. 

[Related: 6 great features to try out on iOS 17]

Give your machine some time to react

Computers are smart and fast—but never as quick as we’d like them to be. When making your hand gesture, hold your pose for a second or two to allow your machine to recognize it and react accordingly. 

Skip the hand gestures altogether

If you like the animated reactions but are not willing to try (and fail) to trigger an effect in front of your colleagues, just skip the gestures. When on a video call, open the Video menu on the main macOS navigation bar. On the emerging menu, click the arrow next to Reactions and you’ll see a quick menu of emojis you can select—these are the same ones you can trigger with hand gestures.   

Apple's Video menu with reactions
You can save yourself the trouble of making a gesture your machine will understand. Screenshot: Apple

Deactivate visual effects and virtual backdrops to better showcase animated reactions

If you use a virtual backdrop or any kind of built-in visual effect on your video calls, it’ll affect how your animated hand gestures show on your camera feed. For example, if you use a blur effect to protect your privacy (or hide whatever mess is sitting behind you) the hearts, balloons or bubbles that emerge when you make a hand gesture might get caught behind the effect and look blurry or low quality. If you use a virtual backdrop, then your machine will only show the animation behind the effect’s overlay, which may not show the reaction at all or make you look, well, interesting.   

Person using hand gestures on Google Meet
Guess we now know what we’re dressing as for Halloween. Screenshot: Google

The post Hand gesture reactions are one of macOS Sonoma’s coolest new features appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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2 ways to sync your Philips Hue smart lights to movies, games, and music https://www.popsci.com/diy/philips-hue-sync/ Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:24:45 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=576780
Smart lights synced to a monitor screen
Give your gaming some ambiance by syncing your smart lights. Linus Mimietz / Unsplash

Create a dazzling light show for your favorite content.

The post 2 ways to sync your Philips Hue smart lights to movies, games, and music appeared first on Popular Science.

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Smart lights synced to a monitor screen
Give your gaming some ambiance by syncing your smart lights. Linus Mimietz / Unsplash

If you’re got smart lights set up at home, then you’ve probably played around with turning them on and off with your phone, and cycling through millions of colors. But if you have Philips Hue bulbs, you can also get them to sync with what’s on your TV screen or monitor.

So, you could have a wash of greens and blues behind your TV when watching Avatar, for example. Or your journeys through the vast world of Red Dead Redemption 2 could be accompanied by shifting colors as you move through deserts, forests, swamps, and snowy mountain ranges.

We’re assuming that you’ve already got your Philips Hue smart lights up and running at home. Then, depending on your setup and what you want, you can either use a desktop app or the Play HDMI Sync Box to have your smart lights react to your favorite content in real time.

Using the Hue Sync app

The easiest and cheapest way to sync your smart lights to your screen is to install the free Hue Sync desktop app for Windows and macOS. A caveat, though: this approach will only sync your lights to what’s on your computer, so it won’t work with your TV. Your laptop or desktop will need to be on the same WiFi network as your smart lights, so the program can see your Hue Bridge and the devices attached to it.

[Related: Find the best smart light for your home]

Download the desktop app and launch it. You’ll have two options: Help me set everything up and Search for bridge. Pick the first one if you’ve just bought your Hue lights and you’re installing them from scratch. The app will then take you step-by-step through the process of getting all the hardware connected. If your lights are already set up, select the second option.

Philips Hue Desktop app
The desktop app will take you step-by-step through the setup. Screenshot: Philips

Within a few seconds, the app should easily find the Hue Bridge and connect to it. If you haven’t already done it, turn to the Philips Hue app on your phone to set up what’s called an “entertainment area”: This is just a way of telling your Hue system which lights should be grouped together for syncing with screen content.

In the app, open the Settings tab, then go to Entertainment areas and Create area. Choose For my monitor, give the area a name, and then select the lights to include in it. The app will then prompt you to show the location of the lights within the room, so it knows how to sync them together with what’s on screen.

Once all that is done, head back to the desktop app—the entertainment area that you just created should be selected. Click on the name of the area to bring up the main syncing console: You can choose Start light sync to have the effect enabled on the selected bulbs.

Philips Hue Mobile app
You’ll need to set up an entertainment area in the mobile app. Screenshot: Philips

There are also a few options to play around with on the app console. At the top you can choose one of four modes to determine the brightness of the lights: The ones we’re interested in here are Games (optimized for games) and Movies (optimized for video), but you can also pick Scenes to select a fixed Hue scene for your lights, or Music to have the lights sync along with the audio that’s being played.

If you pick Games or Movies, you can then control the strength of the effect: Pick from Subtle, Moderate, High, or Extreme. If the lights are changing color too often and it’s becoming distracting, choose Subtle or Moderate. The last option, Use audio for effect, means the Hue Sync desktop app will take into consideration the sounds in games and movies when choosing colors for the lights.

Based on our testing, the results are usually pretty good, though games and movies with more gradual color changes work best. You can always go back to the Hue app on your phone to tweak the entertainment area settings, as well as adjusting the options in the desktop app, to try and improve the results.

Philips hue app for syncing smart lights
You can configure the strength of the effect. Screenshot: Philips

Finally in the desktop app, you can choose Settings to configure different aspects of the program, including which display is used for syncing (if you’ve got more than one), and whether or not the app starts up with your computer. It’s also possible to configure keyboard shortcuts for the desktop app from here.

Using an app can also work when syncing your smart lights to what’s on your TV—but that will only work if you have a Samsung TV from 2022 or newer. Philips Hue makes a Hue Sync TV app for these devices which you can find in the Apps section. The downside is it costs $130, but you might consider the functionality worth it for the seamless integration. The setup process is similar, but you’ll need to choose For my TV when setting up an entertainment area in the mobile app.

Using the Play HDMI Sync Box

If you have another type of TV, then you’ll need a hardware option to sync your smart lights with what’s on it. The Play HDMI Sync Box from Philips Hue is $250 and it comes with accompanying Hue Sync apps for Android and iOS. You can use this little gadget to connect up to four different HDMI sources—just keep in mind that if you’re playing on your console, you’ll need to connect the Sync Box both to your gaming device and your TV.

[Related: Best smart lights of 2023]

There’s support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and 4K resolutions, and the box is clever enough to recognize which source is playing and automatically switch to it. The information from the HDMI feed is beamed to your Hue Bridge at the same time as it’s showing up on screen, so your lights have a detailed map of colors to work from.

The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box
The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box is your option if you want your lights to sync to your TV. Screenshot: Philips

Setup is similar to the desktop app in that you need to create an entertainment area in the mobile app first. From the original Hue app on your phone go to Settings > Entertainment areas > Create area, and choose For my TV. The platform will ask you which smart lights are in the same room as your TV and where they’re positioned.

Then, from the Hue Sync app, you can turn effects on and off, switch between Video, Music, and Game modes, and adjust the strength of the effect and the brightness level in the same way as you can on the desktop app for computers. The apps also let you link the Google Assistant, Amazon’s Alexa, or Apple’s Siri for the box, so you can use voice commands to enable or disable sync and switch between modes.

The post 2 ways to sync your Philips Hue smart lights to movies, games, and music appeared first on Popular Science.

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How to go incognito on these 6 popular apps https://www.popsci.com/diy/incognito-mode-on-every-app/ Tue, 28 Dec 2021 23:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=417671
Google Chrome on incognito mode
Your browser is not the only platform what lets you surf the web more privately. GaudiLab / Deposit Photos

Fly under the radar on apps like YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and more.

The post How to go incognito on these 6 popular apps appeared first on Popular Science.

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Google Chrome on incognito mode
Your browser is not the only platform what lets you surf the web more privately. GaudiLab / Deposit Photos

Going incognito in your browser and favorite apps has its benefits, even though it may not be as private as you think. Also known as private mode, this feature temporarily pauses tracking of your browsing or viewing history and doesn’t save data you input, such as login credentials and personal details.

We don’t need to know your reasons, but if you need to go about your business without leaving any tracks, we can show you how to go incognito on apps like YouTube, Instagram, and Google Maps, whenever necessary.

Turn on YouTube’s incognito mode

YouTube's incognito mode menu.
Watch your favorite YouTube creators without leaving a trace. Screenshot: YouTube

There are good reasons you might want YouTube to remember what you’re watching. Logging the videos you’ve watched improves your recommendations and makes sure you can easily get back to that hilarious sketch clip you enjoyed several weeks ago. However, if you share your device with someone else, activating incognito mode on Google’s video platform might help you keep your watch history private. 

[Related: Why YouTube is hiding dislikes on videos]

To temporarily go incognito on YouTube’s mobile app, tap your profile picture (top right), then choose Turn on Incognito. You’ll then start browsing on a clean slate, with fresh recommendations and no viewing history. To go back to normal, tap the incognito button (top right) and select Turn off Incognito.

You won’t find an incognito mode available for YouTube on the web, but you can get the same result by simply opening the video platform in a private browsing tab. Note that if you’re a YouTube Premium subscriber, the ads will return when you’re in incognito mode.

How to go incognito on Google Maps

Google Maps' incognito mode menu
When turning on incognito mode on Google Maps, the platform will show you an explanation of what it entails. Screenshot: Google Maps

Going incognito on Google Maps is useful if you need to research places or plan journeys without leaving any trace, or if you don’t want your searches to affect the recommendations the app gives you about where to go.

If you’re using the mobile app, tap your profile picture (top right), then choose Turn on Incognito mode. Your personalized recommendations and quick links to places like your home address will disappear, and the app won’t save anything you do in this mode. To exit, tap the incognito mode button (top right) and hit Turn off Incognito mode.

Turning off incognito mode on Google Maps
Get out of incognito mode on Google Maps by tapping the incognito icon. Screenshot: Google Maps

As with YouTube, you won’t find this option built into Google Maps online, but you can just open the site inside a browser set to incognito mode instead. You can still look up information about places and get directions, but you can’t leave reviews, save places, or see your location history.

Start a private session on Spotify

Spotify's private session settings
When you start a private session on Spotify, what you listen to won’t be publicly available for everyone to see. Screenshot: Spotify

Your listening history shows up in a few places on Spotify. The app shares it with friends you’ve connected with on the platform, and your recently played artists show up on your public Spotify profile.

To listen to songs without this automatic sharing and tracking, you can start a private session—Spotify’s version of going incognito. On mobile, tap Home, the cog icon, and under Privacy turn the Private Session toggle switch on. From the desktop app, click the drop-down arrow (top right) to find the switch. To end a private session, just retrace your steps and flick the switch the other way.

If you don’t turn your private session off manually, it will automatically end after 6 hours or when you restart the Spotify app.

Going incognito on Instagram

Instagram's privacy settings and activity status menu
You can turn off your Instagram activity status on the app or the web. Screenshot: Instagram

While Instagram doesn’t have an incognito mode as such, you can stop your friends from seeing when you’re actively online. Tap your profile picture (bottom right), then the menu button (top right), followed by Settings and Privacy. Select Messages and story replies, then Show activity status, and turn off the toggle switch on the next screen. On the web, click the three-line menu in the bottom left corner of the screen, then Settings, and How others can interact with you. On the next menu, toggle on the switch beside Show activity status.

[Related: Why the web version of Instagram is better than the app]

This also means that you won’t be able to see other people’s Instagram activity status in places like the direct message conversation list, so keep that in mind. Retrace your steps and switch Show activity status back to on to go back to normal.

Turning on activity status on Instagram
You can turn on your activity status again on the same menu. Screenshot: Instagram

There’s not much you can do on Instagram without logging in, so opening your account in an incognito browser window won’t prevent the platform from tracking what you’re seeing. But if you use one to open direct links to profile pictures and individual posts, your browsing will stay private. 

Clean your viewing history on video streaming apps

Unfortunately, no video streaming service offers an incognito mode, as profiles are only meant for individual use. However, you can edit your viewing history and remove items if necessary. 

On Netflix on the web click your profile picture (top right), then Account. Choose your profile, open Profile & Parental Controls, and then Viewing Activity. Click the hide button (on the right) to remove something from your record—you can hide individual episodes or entire shows. If you want to absolutely hide your viewing history, just select Hide all. Whatever items you remove won’t show up as recently viewed or affect your future recommendations.

[Related: The government won’t protect your internet privacy, so here’s how to do it yourself]

Hulu's remove from viewing history menu
Fortunately, Hulu doesn’t keep track of what you’ve watched if you’ve completely finished it. Screenshot: Hulu

If you’re using Hulu on the web, scroll down the Home page to find the Continue watching section and click View all. You’ll see a tiled view of all the shows and movies you’ve played on the platform—click the three-dot menu next to an item you want out of your viewing history and choose Remove. When it comes to shows, you won’t be able to remove specific episodes, and if you’ve watched every episode of a series, it won’t appear on the list because Hulu doesn’t save a history of the movies and shows you’ve completed. 

Other video streaming apps have similar options if you delve into your viewing history in the settings. They all support profiles, so your viewing record doesn’t have to get mixed up with the habits or preferences of the rest of your family or the people you share a place with.

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2021.

The post How to go incognito on these 6 popular apps appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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5 location-sharing apps that aren’t run by Apple or Google https://www.popsci.com/diy/location-sharing-apps/ Fri, 29 Sep 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=575739
A person wearing a red jacket and a red knit beanie, looking at a paper map while holding their phone, possibly as they prepare to share their location with someone else via a location-sharing app.
You can't physically share a paper map with someone who isn't there, but you can use one of several apps to share your location. Anna Pascale / Unsplash

Maybe it's time to reconsider how you share your location.

The post 5 location-sharing apps that aren’t run by Apple or Google appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person wearing a red jacket and a red knit beanie, looking at a paper map while holding their phone, possibly as they prepare to share their location with someone else via a location-sharing app.
You can't physically share a paper map with someone who isn't there, but you can use one of several apps to share your location. Anna Pascale / Unsplash

Coordinating locations with friends and family can be a real hassle. “I’m by a big tree,” “I’m standing on the corner,” and “My car broke down but there are no signs so just drive along I-95 for a while” simply aren’t helpful when there are multiple corners, dozens of trees, and 1,908 miles of Interstate 95.

It’s a lot easier if you use an app that lets you share your location safely and privately—without broadcasting it to the world. Apple has put tools inside iOS for sharing your location from an iPhone, and Google has done the same in Google Maps, but there are also several third-party apps that can do the job well.

At first it might seem unsettling to let other people know exactly where you are, but you’re in full control of who has this information and how long they have it for—and the next time you’re trying to meet up with someone, this can save you a whole lot of time and a whole lot of messages.

Glympse

The Glympse app interface, showing options for sharing your location.
Glympse will let you share your location for set periods of time, so it’s OK if you forget to deactivate it. Screenshot: Glympse

Among the apps specifically built for location sharing, Glympse is one of the most comprehensive and competent. It’s great for quick, customized location sharing with people who might not all be using the same brand of phone or the same apps, and there are mapping tools inside the app that will help you find friends and family.

You can send location shares—called, appropriately enough, glympses—over email, text, or through other apps as well as Glympse. If the recipient is on a computer, or using a phone without Glympse, the glympse shows up in that person’s web browser instead, and only for the allotted time. You don’t even need a Glympse account to share your location.

You get full control over who you share your location with and for how long, and you can set up private groups where everyone can see where everyone else is. Another handy feature is the option to add public tags to your glympses: They work a bit like social media hashtags, and you can use them to let the wider world know that you’re at a music festival or a sports event.

Glympse is free for Android and iOS.

Life360

The Life360 app interface, showing a person named Jane driving at 46 miles per hour on a road.
Maybe don’t message someone while they’re driving, though, unless they have voice-to-text set up. Life360

Life360 is aimed specifically at families, so you can keep tabs on where your kids are and make sure they’re safe. You can get alerts when they turn up at home or school, see where they are on a map, and even get alerts if they may have been involved in a crash on the road. With Tile tracker support, you can track your possessions in the app too.

The map view is the center of the Life360 app. It lets you check up on where family members are in real time, and for peace of mind there’s an SOS feature that lets anyone discreetly and quietly send an alert to their family. If your kids want a bit more privacy, they can share their general location rather than a precise spot on the map.

[Related: These smartphone settings could save your life]

You and your family can use Life360 free of charge, but you’ll get access to more features if you sign up for one of the premium accounts, which start at $15 a month. Paying for the service means 30 days rather than two days of location history, alerts for an unlimited number of locations instead of just two, and a road crash detection feature.

Life360 is free for Android and iOS, with a premium version starting at $15.

Messaging apps

Beyond standalone apps dedicated to location sharing, you’ll also find the feature built into several messaging and social media apps. If you want to temporarily share your location with a specific group of people—like when you’re on a family vacation—you might find that these apps are a better fit for you.

How to share your location on WhatsApp

The WhatsApp interface, showing how to share your location.
WhatsApp lets you share your location in real time. Screenshot: WhatsApp

In WhatsApp, tap the paperclip icon at the bottom of any one-to-one conversation or group chat, then choose Location. You can choose between sending a single message showing where you currently are, or broadcasting your live location in real time for 15 minutes, an hour, or eight hours (with the option to cancel the sharing at any time).

It’s perfect for quick and easy location sharing that you don’t want to go on indefinitely, especially as you probably already have the necessary group conversations set up inside the app for your friends, family, colleagues, and special events. Don’t worry: Your location will stay private within these group chats, or within the one-to-one conversation you’ve selected.

WhatsApp is free for Android and iOS.

How to use Snapchat’s location settings

The Snapchat interface, showing how to share your location and other location settings, including Ghost Mode, which will hide you from the Snap Map.
Go Ghost Mode to stay off the Snap Map. Screenshot: Snapchat

Snapchat has a feature called Snap Map, which you can use to let your friends know where you are. No one who isn’t your friend will be able to see your location, and you can limit it to certain friends if necessary. The Snap Map will also show you public snaps posted to the Snapchat network—usually showing off a particular place or event to the world at large.

Tap the map pin (bottom left) on Snapchat’s camera screen to find the map and see where your friends are. Touch the cog icon (top right), and you can choose which friends can see where you are, or turn on ghost mode to temporarily hide your location. Your location only updates when Snapchat is open, and is removed from the map after 24 hours.

[Related: Make a Memoji that actually looks like you]

On this same screen, there’s also a Share live option: This grants specific friends the privilege of seeing where you are in real time, and you can enable it for one hour, eight hours, or until you turn it off. It’s a useful extra layer of location sharing you can enable for the people you trust the most, like your partner or your kids.

Snapchat is free or $4 a month for Android and iOS.

Share your location in Signal

The Signal messaging app, showing options including how to share your location.
Signal won’t track your location, but you can share map pins within your chats. Screenshot: Signal

The primary reason to get yourself and your friends on Signal is the security and privacy it offers: There’s end-to-end encryption, the option to use disappearing messages, and (perhaps most importantly) it’s run by a developer that isn’t interested in advertising to you or trying to keep you locked inside its own ecosystem.

While it’s not worth switching to Signal for its location-sharing features alone, it does have them, so you won’t miss out on being able to let other people know where you are at specific times. Like everything else in Signal, location sharing is handled simply and securely, and can be done within one-to-one conversations or inside group chats.

At the bottom of the relevant conversation, tap the plus button in the bottom right corner, then choose Location from the menu that pops up. You’ll then be able to confirm where you are before sharing your location—it’s shared in a one-off message with the people inside the selected chat, so your location won’t be updated in real time.

Signal is free for Android and iOS.

The post 5 location-sharing apps that aren’t run by Apple or Google appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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All the cool ways you can customize your Samsung Galaxy lock screen https://www.popsci.com/diy/samsung-lock-screen-customization/ Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=574780
Samsung Galaxy S10 with a locked scren
Make the lock screen on your Samsung Galaxy phone as unique as you. Emiliano Cicero / Unsplash

You don't have to settle for the defaults.

The post All the cool ways you can customize your Samsung Galaxy lock screen appeared first on Popular Science.

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Samsung Galaxy S10 with a locked scren
Make the lock screen on your Samsung Galaxy phone as unique as you. Emiliano Cicero / Unsplash

Your Samsung Galaxy phone’s lock screen is likely to be the first one you see in the morning and the last one you see at night. This is why it’s so important to set it up exactly how you want to.

Galaxy handsets come with a good selection of options and features to help you customize your lock screen, whether you want to set a new backdrop, make the clock a lot bigger, or add extra widgets for easier access to your apps.

Lock screen wallpaper and themes

Menu to customize Samsung Galaxy lock screen
You can use the same image for your home and lock screens—or not. Screenshot: Samsung

Let’s start with the wallpaper. You can set separate background images for your home screens and lock screen—just press and hold on a blank part of a home screen and choose Wallpaper and style on the emerging menu.

Tap Change wallpapers to pick a new image—you can pick from photos featured by Samsung and pictures in your phone’s gallery. When you select the one you want,  you then get to choose whether you want to apply it to your lock screen, home screen, or both. Don’t worry—before you fully commit to your selection, you’ll see previews of how the backdrop will look.

[Related: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 review: Powerful vibes]

Back on the Wallpaper and style screen, tap Color palette to choose a color scheme for your phone’s entire interface. You can select your favorite from a list of basic hues, or pick a combination of colors based on the wallpaper you picked. Again, you’ll get a preview of how everything will look, so you can try as many as you want until you find one you like.

Instead of choosing a picture and a color scheme separately, you can go with a theme, which is a bundle of items including a wallpaper, a color scheme, and a particular icon and font style, that you can apply with a single tap. Press and hold on a blank part of a home screen, and select Themes to see your options. You’ll find free themes provided by Samsung, alongside others from third-parties, which you may or may not have to pay for. If you’re dealing with a paid theme, you’ll see the price listed next to it.

If you don’t want the trouble of changing the wallpaper regularly yourself, have your phone do it for you. After tapping Wallpaper and style and Change wallpaper, scroll down to Dynamic Lock screen. From here you can pick a collection of images (landscapes and plants, for example), and the device will automatically cycle between them every couple of weeks.

Changing lock screen elements

Menu to customize widgets on Samsung Galaxy lock screen
Your Samsung Galaxy lets you customize how your notifications display on your lock screen. Screenshot: Samsung

That’s the wallpaper and colors taken care of, but you can also edit the lock screen widgets and other elements on the display. From Settings, tap Lock screen and the next page will let you control how you unlock your phone and, if your handset supports the feature, activate the always-on display. There’s also a Roaming clock toggle switch—turn it on to see the local time at your location and at home, if you happen to be traveling in a different time zone.

Tap the Lock screen graphic and you’ll be able to change the style and size of the lock screen time and date widget. From this menu you’ll also be able to tweak the way your phone displays notification icons—as small buttons or larger bubbles, for example. Just tap on the element you want to change and the relevant options will appear.

You can also select Contact information to add your contact details to the lock screen, which can come in handy if you lose your handset and someone else picks it up, or if you’re ever involved in an emergency and someone needs to learn your identity. Galaxy phones also have shortcuts in the lower left and right corners of the lock screen, which you can easily change by tapping on the icons. You can use these shortcuts to launch utilities and apps like the camera, phone app, flashlight, voice recorder, or any other app of your choice. Tap Done when you’re finished.

[Related: Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro earbuds review: Riding high (fidelity)]

Back on the previous Lock screen page from Settings, tap the Widgets graphic and you’ll be able to pick which widgets show up when your phone is locked. There are a few to pick from, covering your upcoming schedule, any set alarms, the weather, and any music currently playing. Tap on Reorder at the top to change the order of the widget list.

There’s one final lock screen customization you might want to make: If you choose Notifications and then Lock screen notifications from Settings, you can set whether your phone displays notification content (like the previews of incoming messages) when your device is unlocked. If you don’t want anyone seeing something private when they glance at your locked phone, choose Hide content.

The post All the cool ways you can customize your Samsung Galaxy lock screen appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to check your Internet speed on your phone, a browser, and Google https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-check-internet-speed/ Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=574861
A person looking at an internet speed test on their phone.
It's easy to check your internet speed quickly or over time with a few simple steps. Depositphotos

These tools will test your connection through download and upload times.

The post How to check your Internet speed on your phone, a browser, and Google appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person looking at an internet speed test on their phone.
It's easy to check your internet speed quickly or over time with a few simple steps. Depositphotos

Learning how to check your internet speed can come in handy if you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth after splurging on a fiber connection. Knowing your true download and upload speeds can also be useful if your favorite streaming platform is lagging and you need to make your case to a representative of your internet service provider (ISP).

Luckily, doing an internet speed check is easy. There are many apps and websites you can use for free, and some even let you schedule network speed tests so you can identify patterns and know if you’re actually getting what you’ve paid for.

Why does internet speed fluctuate?

Before running an internet speed test, you should know that there’s a variety of factors that can impact your WiFi speed.

Time of day

The internet experiences the most traffic between the hours of 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. when a lot of people are back home after work, probably gaming, streaming their favorite shows, and browsing the web. ISPs have a limited amount of bandwidth so they struggle to meet customer demand during these peak hours, causing a log jam that results in slower speeds. This means that to get a true picture of your max bandwidth, you should check your internet speed during off peak hours.

VPNs

While virtual private networks are great for making you anonymous on the web, the trade-off is a slower connection. To get an accurate reading, don’t forget to disable your VPN before running an internet speed test.

Network use

If you share your WiFi with a lot of people and a bunch of them are streaming movies, on video calls, or gaming, an internet speed test won’t produce accurate results. Wait until your network is seeing minimal use before you check it.

How to check your internet speed

There are several sites you can use to do an internet speed test. Most work by measuring how long it takes your network to upload and download sample files from a specified host.

Fast.com

Fast.com certainly lives up to its name by running an internet speed test automatically—zero clicks needed.

On a browser

1. Go to Fast.com and the internet speed test will begin automatically. There’s no need to click on anything at all.

2. In less than 10 seconds, Fast.com tells you how speedy your internet connection is.

The site Fast.com, which tests your internet speed.
It doesn’t get much faster than this. Screenshot: Fast.com

On a phone

You can use Fast.com on your phone by downloading a simple app available for Android and iOS.

1. Choose what you want to measure. If you want to test your network speed, turn off your WiFi connection; if you want to test your WiFi speed, turn it on.

2. Open the Fast app and the speed test will immediately begin. After a few seconds, the app will tell you your internet download speed. Click on the Show more info if you wish to see your upload speed.

Fast.com let you test your internet speed on your smartphone as well.
The test is almost as fast as your internet connection. Screenshot: Fast.com

Ookla Speed Test

The Ookla site is one of the better known ways to run an internet speed test and it works on both desktop computers and mobile devices.

On a browser

1. Open your browser and head to the Ookla website. You don’t need to create an account to perform an internet speed test, but if you do, Ookla will keep a history of your results and display them in a graph. This data can be useful to compare your network’s performance over time. To create an account click Log in in the upper right corner of your screen.

Ookla is a website that lets you test your internet speed on your browser.
You can track your site’s speed over time. Screenshot: Ookla

2. On the site you’ll immediately see your IP and the location of one of your ISP’s servers the site chooses by default. To get the most accurate reading, you should always check your internet speed using the host that is geographically closest to you. If the one Ookla chose for you is not it, you can click on Change Server to select a different one. You might also want to run multiple tests with a variety of hosts to get a complete picture of your internet speed.

To test your internet speed on Ookla, you'll need to change to a server nearby.
Checking internet speed on Ookla is a little more involved than other options. Screenshot: Ookla
Pick a server to check your internet speed on Ookla.
Almost done. Screenshot: Ookla

3. Once you’re satisfied with your server selection. Click on the large GO button in the middle of the screen.

4. Ookla begins with a download test (how long it takes your device to save a copy of a file on the selected server) followed by an upload test (how long it takes your device to send a file to the server).

While this is taking place, you’ll see a speedometer in the middle of the screen showing you how fast your connection is. The test takes about 30 seconds, after which the site will show your download and upload speeds. If you see a huge discrepancy between what you’re paying for and the network speeds you’re actually getting, you should contact your ISP to see if there’s a problem with your modem or router. 

A speedometer on Ookla shows upload and download speeds.
Can you guess your internet speed? Screenshot: Ookla

On your phone

You can also use the Ookla site to check the internet speed of your smartphone’s data connection.

1. Download the Ookla Speedtest app (available for Android and iOS).

2. By default, the internet speed test will check the WiFi network if you’re connected to one. If you want to know how fast your phone’s data connection is, turn off the WiFi connection on your device.

To do so on an iPhone, go to Settings, then Wi-Fi, and tap the toggle button at the top of the screen to turn it off. On Android, tap Settings, Network & internet, and Internet. Tap the switch next to WiFi to turn it off.  

3. Unlike the browser version of Ookla, the mobile app doesn’t allow you to change the server location, so all you have left to do is hit the a GO button in the middle of the screen to check your internet speed test.

You can also use the Ookla speed test on your phone.
It’s even easier to use the Ookla speed test on your phone. Screenshot: Ookla

4. The app will display the current download and upload speeds as it runs the test, and give you a final report once it’s done.

The speedometer in the Ookla app calculates upload and download speeds in megabits per second (Mbps).
Are your download or upload speeds faster? Screenshot: Ookla

Google M-Lab

Google’s internet speed test works with the company’s Measurement Lab, which seeks to provide “the largest collection of open Internet performance data on the planet”. This network speed test will not allow you to choose different hosts or create a record of your results, but it’s one of the easiest to use. This is in no small part because you don’t even need to remember its name.

1. On a desktop browser or the mobile Google app, type in Speed test into your Google search bar. 

Google has a dedicated service called M-Lab to check your internet speed.
The M-Lab was founded in 2009. Screenshot: Google

2. As a result, Google will show you its internet speed test, with an explanation of what it entails. Before starting the test, take note of the privacy disclosure in the window, which explains that M-Lab will receive your IP address, which they will publish on their site along with all the results of tests done by them. This doesn’t include any other information about you.

3. If you’re comfortable with Google’s rules, click the blue Run speed test button. A small window will open and the speed test will begin. It takes about 30 seconds to get your results, including upload and download speeds.

Google's M-Lab shows results of download and upload speed.
Have you recently gotten new service? Screenshot: Google
Google puts your internet speed in context.
Google analyzes how your internet speed compares to others. Screenshot: Google

TestMy.Net

If you want to understand your internet speed test within a context, then TestMy.Net is a great option. In addition to giving you your download and upload speeds, this site also tells you what the average speed is for the chosen host and for specific geographic locations, like your city, your country, and the rest of the world. This allows you to see how your connection ranks among various groups of users, helping you to determine if your internet speed is keeping up with the Joneses, topping them, or lagging behind. 

TestMy.Net will also allow you to schedule automatic speed tests for set intervals, so you can look at how your Internet connection speeds change over a set period of time.

The TestMy.net website allows you to test your internet speed over time.
Pick from three different tests. Screenshot: TestMy.Net

1. On a mobile or desktop browser, go to testmy.net and choose between one of three different network speed test options: Download speed test, Upload speed test, and Automatic speed test. You can tweak different settings depending on which one you choose.

Calculating download speed on TestMy.net will help show how fast your internet is.
Screenshot: TestMy.Net

Download speed test / Upload speed test: When clicking either of these options, you’ll be able to choose between doing a regular internet speed test (click Test my download Speed or Test my upload Speed) or a Manual test size. The latter will let you choose the specific amount of data you want to upload or download during the test, which is great for if you’re trying to figure out if hauling larger amounts of data slows down your overall download speed.

TestMy.Net also lets you test your internet service's automatic speed.
It’s useful to try all three tests. Screenshot: TestMy.Net

Automatic speed test: Automated tests will let you check your internet speed over time or even in different places within your home. Choose this option and you’ll be able to use the drop-down menus in the middle of the screen to set the total number of tests you want to conduct and how often you want to run them—you can set them up to be as frequent as every five minutes or up to once every 24 hours. The drop-down menus on the right let you to select minimum and maximum download and upload sizes, helpful if you’re trying to determine if your internet speed changes depending on the size of the file you’re trying to send or receive. Meanwhile, the menu on the left lets you label the location of your device during the test, which is useful if you want to see how your network speed changes depending on where you are in your home.

2. Once you’ve chosen your options, select the blue button in the middle of the screen to start the test.

TestMy.Net allows users to customize how often they test internet speed.
Screenshot: TestMy.Net

FAQs

Q: Why don’t I get the connection speed my ISP advertises?

While most internet service providers attach data speeds to their tiered high speed subscription plans, it’s likely that you’ll rarely achieve that speed. In fact, most customers only receive a fraction of that advertised speed mainly due to the fact that internet companies are constantly trying to serve a lot of customers, resulting in significant network congestion. There’s also a host of factors in your home that can slow that speed down, including your router, modem, and VPNs. There’s a lot you can do to boost your WiFi speed, but if that doesn’t work, then it’s time to call your ISP.

Q: What is a good internet speed?

According to the Federal Trade Commission, anything above 25 Mbps is considered a good internet speed, as it’ll be able to support online gaming, TV and music streaming, and web browsing for a single device. However, if you have multiple people living in your household and simultaneously performing the tasks above, you’ll need a faster speed of around 100 Mbps to avoid issues.

The post How to check your Internet speed on your phone, a browser, and Google appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to split your screen on an iPad and conquer multitasking https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-split-screen-on-ipad/ Tue, 26 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=574328
Person holding an iPad Pro, probably figuring out how to use Split View.
Splitting the screen on your iPad is easy and will allow you to do so much more with your Apple tablet. Roberto Nickson / Unsplash; Screenshot: Apple

Learn how to use two and even three apps at once on your Apple tablet.

The post How to split your screen on an iPad and conquer multitasking appeared first on Popular Science.

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Person holding an iPad Pro, probably figuring out how to use Split View.
Splitting the screen on your iPad is easy and will allow you to do so much more with your Apple tablet. Roberto Nickson / Unsplash; Screenshot: Apple

Splitting the screen on your iPad can really amp up your productivity. The feature is officially called Split View and it’s available on all Apple tablets running iPadOS 13 and newer. When you activate it, you’ll have two open windows on your screen, whether that’s two completely different apps or a pair of windows for the same one. 

You probably have your own reasons for wanting to split up your screen, but it’s worth noting that Split View can be extremely helpful if you’re working in one app while getting inspiration from another, or if you’re messaging with two people at the same time. 

How to split your iPad screen

Figuring out how to get a split-screen iPad is really easy, and you’ll be able to customize how you use the feature to make it fit your needs. 

1. Unlock your iPad and open one of the apps you want to use. 

2. Tap the three white dots at the top of your screen and choose Split View

3. The open app will automatically move to the left to reveal your home screen. From here, select a second app to open. 

  • Pro tip: You can open two iterations of one app if you want—just pick the same app when the iPad home screen appears. This will be especially easy to do with Apple apps, but not all tools support this feature. For example, you can use Procreate in Split View, but you can’t open two Procreate projects at the same time. 

4. Your apps or windows will now be side by side in a split-screen view. 

  • Pro tip: Tap the three white dots at the top of any of the open apps or windows and choose Split View again to make them switch sides—pick Left split or Right split.
Split View settings on iPad Pro
Tapping on the Split View menu again allows apps to swap sides. Screenshot: Apple

[Related: You should use your iPad as a second screen]

How to adjust the size of your split-screen apps on an iPad

You can only split your iPad screen evenly if you’re using your tablet in a landscape orientation. 

The size adjustment will happen automatically, as Split View will give each app or window the same amount of screen real estate by default. 

You can easily change this if, for example, one of the apps you’re using requires more space. On the black line splitting your screen in half, press the short gray line in the middle and move it to the right or left depending on which app you want to give more screen space to. 

Resizing split screen view on iPad
You can resize your apps and windows in increments of thirds and fourths depending on whether you’re using your iPad in portrait or landscape mode. Screenshot: Apple

Unfortunately, you don’t have total freedom to determine the split proportions of your screen. If you’re holding your iPad in a portrait orientation, the slider will only snap in place in increments of thirds, so your apps will be distributed in a 30-60 split (or 60-30, depending on if you want the bigger app on the top or bottom). With your iPad in a landscape orientation, the slider will stick to quarters, meaning your apps can only be distributed 50-50, 25-75, or 75-25. 

If you try giving an app less than one third (portrait) or one fourth (landscape) of the screen, the slider will automatically move to the edge of the screen, closing the app and turning your split-screen view into a full-screen view. 

How to have multiple split screens on your iPad

Each split screen acts like one open app. So just like you can have as many open apps as you want, you can have as many split screens as your heart desires. 

1. Follow the steps above to split your iPad screen. 

2. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to go to the home screen. 

3. Open an app and split your screen again.

App carrousel on iPadOS
You can have as many split screens as you want. Screenshot: Apple

When you swipe and hold to see all your open apps, you’ll be able to see all your split screens in one place. Keep in mind that all of the open apps, whether they’re in Split View or full-screen mode, are indeed open and working—if you have too many of them, your iPad’s performance and battery life might suffer.  

How to turn off split screen view on the iPad

You can turn off Split View by closing one of the apps or windows. There are two ways to go about it. 

Use the three-dot menu

When Split View is active, you’ll see three white dots at the top of each open app or window. Choose the app you want to close, tap its three dots, and choose Close from the emerging menu. The remaining app will go into full-screen mode and you’ll be out of split screen. 

Slide the screen separator all the way to the edge of the screen

In Split View, press the gray line in the middle and slide it all the way to the left to close the app taking up the left side of the screen, or all the way to the right to close the app to the right. The remaining app will go into full-screen mode. 

FAQs

Q. Can I split my iPad screen horizontally?

At the moment, Split View is limited to a vertical split, meaning you can only have two apps or windows side by side, not on top of each other. This makes a split-screen iPad more effective when it’s in a landscape orientation. 

Q. How many apps can you multitask on an iPad?

Split View only works with two apps or windows, but you can open up a third one using Slide Over. This feature, also available from the three-dot menu, can turn an app into a floating window that sits on top of a split screen, either to the left or right.

Be warned, though—if you use Slide Over to put an app on top of a split screen, you won’t be able to move it, as it’ll replace the app under it the moment you let go. This makes Slide Over somewhat impractical to use with Split View, especially because you cannot resize an app you’ve slid over, and its default size will cover a good portion of an evenly split screen.

Split View and Slide Over apps on iPadOS
You can have three apps open at once on your iPad, but it might not be as practical as it sounds. Screenshot: Apple

[Related: iPad Pro review: Pretty and powerful]

But if this still works for you and you want to push the limits of your multitasking abilities, here’s how to do it: 

1. Follow the steps above to split your iPad screen, making sure one of the apps you open is the one you want to slide over.  

2. Tap the three dots at the top of the app you want to float above your split screen and choose Slide Over from the emerging menu. This will turn the app into a floating window, while the one underneath will go into full-screen mode. 

Slide over menu on iPadOS
Slide Over turns the relevant app into a floating window. Screenshot: Apple

3. Tap the three dots at the top of the app in full-screen mode, choose Split View, and pick a third app to open. This will result in a normal split-screen view, and will hide the window you just slid over. 

4. Bring back the slid-over window or app by swiping and holding from the bottom of the screen. This will show you everything that’s currently open on your iPad, and to the far left, you’ll see the window or app you slid over. Tap it to open it on top of the split-screen view. 

App carrousel on iPad
You have to bring back the app or window you hid with the Slide Over feature. Screenshot: Apple

The post How to split your screen on an iPad and conquer multitasking appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Your TikTok watch history has moved—here’s how to find it https://www.popsci.com/diy/find-recently-watched-tiktok-videos/ Tue, 04 Jan 2022 23:30:19 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=418625
A person holding an iPhone outside, looking at their TikTok watch history
Finding your TikTok watch history used to be so much harder than this. PopSci composite: Mediamodifier / Unsplash; Screenshot: TikTok

TikTok stores watched videos for 180 days, if you know where to look for them.

The post Your TikTok watch history has moved—here’s how to find it appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person holding an iPhone outside, looking at their TikTok watch history
Finding your TikTok watch history used to be so much harder than this. PopSci composite: Mediamodifier / Unsplash; Screenshot: TikTok

If you’re looking for your TikTok watch history in the hopes of finding a recently viewed video, it’s probably not where you last saw it. The so-called clock app, as tech companies often do, has changed its menus and stashed this useful feature in an unfamiliar place.

Unlike TikTok’s early days, when the disappointment of accidentally reloading your For You page and losing the share-worthy clip was so common—so visceral—that it became a meme, locating recently watched TikToks is easy now. And if you want to become so powerful that your watch history’s limitations cannot stand in your way, you can use specific search filters and techniques to hunt down exactly what you need. Doing so will be much faster than tediously scrolling through your archive.

How to find your TikTok watch history on iOS and Android

Although people with iPhones got the ability to see their TikTok history before Android users, the processes have since unified. As it should be.

On iOS, all you need to do is tap Profile in the bottom right, hit the main menu (three lines) in the top right, touch Settings and privacy, find the Content & Display heading, tap Activity center, and choose Watch history. You can find your Comment history and Search history on the same page.

On Android, the steps are similar: Profile > main menu (three lines) > Settings and privacy > Activity center > Watch history. Again, if you never comment, you’ll only see Watch history after Settings and privacy.

The steps for finding your TikTok watch history on an iPhone.
If you need a visual for the steps above. PopSci composite: Russ Smith for Popular Science; Screenshot: TikTok

No matter which mobile operating system you’re using, you’ll see every video you’ve watched within the past 180 days. If you’re trying to find something older, you’ll have to search for it with the normal TikTok search function (tips below).

You can find a recently watched video by scrolling down this page, but be warned: everything is on there. Whether it’s a video you watched in its entirety or one that happened to briefly load and autoplay as you moved around the app, it’s part of your TikTok watch history. The only videos you won’t find are Lives and Stories.

[Related: 7 tips to make the most of TikTok]

Unless you’re extremely patient, this method isn’t great for digging deep into your archive, because you can’t search the watch history page. If you’re a heavy TikTok user and watched something days or weeks ago, you’ll end up scrolling for a while. You can, however, hit Select in the top right and tap individual videos or touch Select all watch history in the bottom left. Then you can permanently get rid of those clips by tapping the bright red Delete button. At least tidy up a bit while you’re there.

How to search for recently viewed TikToks

If you struck out with the method above, you may still be able to locate the most elusive lost TikToks. The catch: you’ll need to know enough about the video you watched to type something into the search bar. And if you can’t recall anything, well, you’re probably not missing much.

From the app’s Home screen, tap the search icon (a magnifying glass) in the top right corner. Then type out the relevant keywords and hit Search. Next, hit the Watched button just above the first row of videos. This will change your search results to show any videos you’ve watched. If you don’t see this option (along with All, Unwatched, and Recently uploaded), make sure you’re in the Top tab—they don’t appear if you’re in any of the others. Otherwise, TikTok may not have registered that you watched a video related to your search terms, or it may have passed before your eyes longer than 180 days ago.

The TikTok search tab with the "watched" button selected to filter out all unwatched videos and find recently viewed TikToks.
If you’ve watched videos that match your search, use this filter to narrow the field. Screenshot: TikTok

As with your watch history, the Watched search filter will display TikToks that appeared in recent searches and auto-played as thumbnails as you looked through the results, so you may have to dig deeper every time you search.

Other TikTok search tips

The main search results page, whether you filter it or not, is stuffed with content. You can use these tabs and suggestions to further refine your search or just get lost in the TikTok abyss and hope your algorithm doesn’t take a devastating hit. I, for one, will probably spend the next week telling TikTok I’m not interested in those videos where people pour milk all over the counter while “making coffee” because I searched “coffee TikTok” while working on this story. (To do so, long-press on the video when it plays on your FYP and hit Not interested on the menu that appears.)

Some videos in your search results will have a badge indicating they’re among top-liked posts for the search you ran, and if you scroll down a little you may also find related terms other people searched for.

[Related: Why some US lawmakers want to ban TikTok]

Within the less-obvious filters menu (tap the three dots to the right of the search bar, then hit Filters), there are also options to further focus your search on videos you’ve liked, dig up only those posted within a specific time frame, and sort by either relevant videos or ones with the most likes. 

Under the same three dots, you’ll also see Share feedback, which is where TikTok gives you the option to provide feedback on any problems you may have had with their search function. When I first published this story back in January 2022, I joked that maybe if enough people used that form to request an easy-to-use list of recently watched videos, TikTok would make it happen. Well, we did it, folks.

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2022.

The post Your TikTok watch history has moved—here’s how to find it appeared first on Popular Science.

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The Opt Out: Reduce your privacy risk by deleting a bunch of files https://www.popsci.com/diy/delete-files-privacy/ Thu, 21 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=573081
Laptop being shredded
You need way fewer files that you'd like to admit. Lauren Pusateri for Popular Science

Downsizing your data can help you keep your information safe.

The post The Opt Out: Reduce your privacy risk by deleting a bunch of files appeared first on Popular Science.

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Laptop being shredded
You need way fewer files that you'd like to admit. Lauren Pusateri for Popular Science

You are more than a data point. The Opt Out is here to help you take your privacy back.

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

YOU’VE PROBABLY heard about the benefits of spring cleaning and keeping only what brings you joy. But maybe you haven’t considered that the same logic can also apply to the stuff gathering dust on your storage drives and in the cloud. 

Of course, they’re not literally getting coated in a layer of dirt and dead skin cells (yes, that’s what dust is), but digital files do take up space. And just as more financial security can lead to more challenges, more data can also result in more privacy problems.  

So get rid of some of it and focus your effort on securing the files that matter the most. 

Data hoarding is not good for privacy

If you’re thinking this isn’t something you need to spend time on, think again. Why? The more files you have, the more likely it is that some of your data will spill all over the web. This is because we tend to be disorganized with our digital belongings, which we usually have copies of on multiple platforms and devices. 

We propose an exercise: Think about and list all the accounts you have where you store files, photos, backups, etc. Now add to that every device you have that’s also storing data—your current phone and computers, but also the old ones, and your hard drives and flash drives. The number is likely higher than you’d expected. Now, do you know exactly what kind of information they’re storing? Yeah, probably not. 

[Related: The recycle bin settings you didn’t know you needed]

This doesn’t mean you’re messy. It happens. Sometimes it’s hard to get rid of stuff, and we don’t always have a say in what online platforms we use. Your work or school, for example, may choose them for you. On one hand, this is good, because using different accounts makes it easy to compartmentalize your life. But on the other hand, you can lose track of what you have—even misplacing files you’d consider important. 

You could have all your stuff in one very secure account, but there are two drawbacks to that approach. First, it’s not strategically sound. Put all your file-eggs in one digital basket, and you could lose everything to an outage or have all your information posted online after a data leak. Then there’s the inevitable: Files take up space and space is finite, so having a single cloud account would eventually require you to pay for space. And you don’t want to do that, especially considering how much of it is available for free on the web.

As with most conundrums, the solution is balance. Reduce the number of files you have and save whatever’s left in only a couple of secure locations, combining online and offline storage in a way that works for you. 

Cull your files

Use your computer and start with your local drive and any external hard drives you own. Then move on to your cloud services. The premise is simple: delete, delete, delete.

Tweak your system’s file explorer settings so that files display using the largest possible icons—this will save you time by allowing you to see if they’re worth keeping without actually opening them. On a Mac, make sure your files are showing as icons in Finder, then use the Cmd+ and Cmd- shortcuts to zoom in and out; on Windows, click View on any File Explorer window and choose Large icons or Extra large icons. On Mac computers, you’ll also be able to quickly see files using Preview—just select an item and hit the space bar to see it in a larger size. 

When it comes to deciding what to delete, start with the lowest-hanging fruit: circumstantial files. These include the photos you sent your partner from the grocery store to confirm which hot sauce you should get and the menu for that restaurant you went to three weeks ago. Once those files are gone, get rid of duplicates—you don’t need five slightly different pictures or three versions of the same document. Just choose the final one or the one you like the most and obliterate the rest. Continue by removing bad-quality photos and videos. If it sounds bad, delete it; if the photo is botched beyond editing, trash it; if it’s out of focus, bid it bye-bye. 

For images taken at specific events, like a concert or a wedding, curate your content. Set a specific and realistic number and select only the best items—between 50 and 100 is a good place to start if you want to give yourself some wiggle room. Consider that photos are not memories per se, but tools we use to remember, and you don’t need a full terabyte to remember. 

Once you’re done removing files from your devices and all the external hard drives you own, get comfortable and repeat the process in the cloud. Make a list of the main platforms you’re using and tackle them one by one. 

If you’re overwhelmed by the possibility of deleting something you might miss later, just use Marie Kondo’s criterion: Does it bring you joy? And, when pertinent, is it useful or irreplaceable? If the answer is no, you’ll probably forget about it in five minutes. 

And if you keep thinking about it, don’t worry—you can usually bring your deleted files back from the dead if you act quickly enough and are tech-savvy. When culling files on a cloud service, know that most platforms will move them to the trash folder and keep them there for 30 days. This means two things: 1) you won’t be freeing up space just yet; and 2) you can change your mind at any point before that time runs out. 

The trash folder on Windows and macOS is similar—even if you deleted files from your computer or hard drive, it is sometimes possible to bring them back. Just keep in mind that it can be complicated and sometimes doesn’t work at all, so proceed with caution.   

How and where to store your files

Once you’re done with the massive task of going through all your files, it’s time to organize the documents you kept. Knowing what you have and how to easily find it will allow you to adopt more secure strategies for sensitive material. For example, you don’t want your nudes to live right alongside photos of your family, which you’re more likely to share with people. A bad selection tap and your aunt will see you naked again—and this time it won’t be because she’s changing your diaper. 

A good organization strategy is to separate files according to the different aspects of your life, like “work,” “education,” and “general.” Create folders with your chosen category names, and start using them to organize your files. Within those folders, you can get as specific as you want. Whatever route you choose, the point is to know what you have and how much you have, and to label important documents as such. 

When it comes to choosing where to store your files, keep it practical. Think about your storage locations as your pocket, closet, and basement. Essential files and documents that you always want to have at hand, like your car insurance policy, should live in the cloud for easy access. Files that you probably won’t need urgently but are important enough to keep close by should stay on your phone or your computer’s hard drive—think the spreadsheet where you’ve been tracking your slow-pitch softball team’s performance this season. Finally, the documents you want to keep but you’ll hardly ever open, like your brother’s wedding pictures, should go on an external hard drive. The idea is to avoid wasting cloud space on files you probably won’t need at a moment’s notice. 

Secure your files

Now that you’ve decreased the number of files to your name, it’s time to keep them safe. Whether you’re using the cloud or a folder on your computer, secure sensitive files behind a good password and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible. 

If you can’t or won’t think of a good password, opt for a password manager—these apps will also remember your credentials for you, so it’s a win-win. As an alternative, if the platform you’re using supports passkeys, consider enabling one—it will allow you to access your files in multiple ways, such as with your face or fingerprint. Some cloud platforms offer different ways to secure your account—get to know them and use the ones that make sense for you. 

[Related: Passkeys could be better than passwords. Here’s how they work.]

Beyond that, the ultimate security measure is to encrypt your files before you upload them to the cloud or save them to a local or external hard drive. This will protect your content from data leaks and any snoopers who might want to see what you keep on your hard drive. Windows and macOS have built-in encryption options for your local documents, but you can also find dedicated apps that will do the job for you.

If this all sounds like a lot, it’s because it is. You probably have a lifetime of files scattered around on the web, your external hard drives, and multiple cloud storage accounts. This whole process of downsizing your data will take time, and it’s fine if you do it in batches. Just remember that the fewer files you have, the easier it’ll be to manage and protect them in the future. 

Read more PopSci+ stories.

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How to set up the wallpapers and widgets that will make your Pixel more fun https://www.popsci.com/diy/google-pixel-lock-screen-settings/ Thu, 21 Sep 2023 12:05:17 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=573182
Four Google Pixel phones fanned out from left to right: red, blue, silver, and black.
Get the lock screen on your Pixel phone set up the way you want. Google

If it's been a while since you've gone into your Pixel's customization settings, it's time to dig in.

The post How to set up the wallpapers and widgets that will make your Pixel more fun appeared first on Popular Science.

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Four Google Pixel phones fanned out from left to right: red, blue, silver, and black.
Get the lock screen on your Pixel phone set up the way you want. Google

You spend a lot of time looking at the lock screen of your Pixel phone—checking the clock, seeing if people have replied to your messages, and so on—so you’ll want to get it set up in the best way to suit you.

In fact, you might not have realized how many different ways you can customize the Pixel’s lock screen, from the size and color of the clock, to the type of notifications that appear before you unlock your handset.

Change your wallpaper and fine-tune your colors

A Pixel phone's wallpaper settings, showing all the customization options.
You can have the lock screen colors match the wallpaper. Screenshot: Google

The most basic way to customize the Pixel’s lock screen is by slapping on a new wallpaper, and you can set a lock screen backdrop that’s different from the one you have on your home screens.

To start, press and hold on a blank part of the home screen, then choose Wallpaper and style and Change wallpaper. You’ve got plenty of options here: You can dive into your own photo gallery, pick an image from one of the wallpaper collections Google has put together, or tap Emoji workshop to create a picture using emojis.

When you’ve selected an image, you’ll be taken to a preview screen—tap Lock screen to see how it looks when your phone is locked. If you’re happy, select Set wallpaper, then Lock screen (to set it for the lock screen only) or Home and lock screens (to set it across Android entirely).

Go back to the Wallpaper and style screen and you’ll see you can pick between Wallpaper colors and Basic colors for the operating system: Choose the latter to have the colors of Android menus and icons follow the color scheme of your new wallpaper. This will also affect the clock and widgets on the lock screen.

Adjust the at-a-glance widget

A Pixel phone showing the at-a-glance-widget settings.
You decide what goes in the at-a-glance widget. Screenshot: Google

Google puts a handy at-a-glance widget on both the lock and home screens, giving you timely information such as the current weather forecast and appointments you’ve got coming up on your calendar.

To edit what this widget shows, tap and hold on it on the home screen, then choose Customize, and tap the cog icon next to At a Glance. You’ll see a long list of toggle switches for controlling content in the widget (and more behind See more features), including Fitness, Bedtime, Parcel delivery, and Commute.

On this same screen, there are also options for allowing apps you’ve got installed (such as weather apps) to send information to the widget on the home and lock screens, and to hide sensitive content from the lock screen widget—this is handy if you think other people might be looking at your phone while it’s locked.

[Related: Syncing Google and Apple calendars is less annoying now]

Google doesn’t provide a definitive list of what “sensitive content” actually is, but one area where we’ve seen this setting make a difference is with Google Calendar appointments. If you’re hiding sensitive content, these won’t appear on the lock screen, so other people won’t be able to see that job interview or doctor’s appointment you’ve got coming up.

Other Pixel customization settings

A Pixel phone with the lock screen customization settings showing, including the option to keep the "now playing" widget on the screen.
You can choose to have the “Now Playing” widget on your lock screen. Screenshot: Google

You can customize what appears on the lock screen in a few other ways by opening up Settings and tapping Display, followed by Lock screen. The Privacy option lets you show or hide sensitive content in notifications, as they come in—again, Google doesn’t say what “sensitive” means, but it does include the first line of incoming messages and emails.

Another option is to tap Add text on lock screen to do just that. The most common use of this feature is to put your name and perhaps some contact details (like an email address) on the lock screen in case someone finds your phone and needs to return it to you—though you’re free to add any kind of message you like.

Then there’s a series of toggle switches for showing or hiding various elements, including the Now Playing widget that automatically identifies songs that are playing nearby. And if you want a smaller clock that doesn’t take up the whole lock screen, turn off Double-line clock.

The last few options let you choose whether or not the lock screen “wakes up” to show information when you tap the display, pick up your phone, and notifications arrive. You can also turn off Always show time and info to prevent anything from appearing on screen while your phone is sleeping, which should help improve battery life.

The post How to set up the wallpapers and widgets that will make your Pixel more fun appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to share your location on Google Maps https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-share-location-on-google-maps/ Wed, 20 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=572720
A smartphone screen displaying the Google Maps app icon.
Keep track of friends and family with a few easy steps. Deposit Photos

Let your friends and loved ones know where you are.

The post How to share your location on Google Maps appeared first on Popular Science.

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A smartphone screen displaying the Google Maps app icon.
Keep track of friends and family with a few easy steps. Deposit Photos

Knowing how to share your location on Google Maps can be a valuable tool. With just a single tap, this feature will let your friends know you’re safe if you’re walking home alone, give your family some peace of mind when you’re traveling, and help you keep an eye on your teen while they’re on their first solo drive.

When you share your Google Maps location, the person on the other side will be able to track your movements, see how much battery is left on your phone, and even set an alert that announces your arrival or departure from a specific location.

But be careful: In some cases Google Maps will generate a link that anybody—even people you don’t know—can use to see your whereabouts. You’ll need to be careful who you share it with. It’s also a good idea to routinely check the app and see who has access to your location and remove permissions when necessary.

How to share your location with another Google account

With Google Maps, sharing your location is easy whether you have an iPhone or an Android device. Before you begin, open the app and if you’re not logged in already, sign in using your Google account credentials.

1. If the person you’ll be sharing your location with isn’t already on the contacts list associated with your Google account, start by adding their Gmail address to your list.

If they don’t have a Google account or you’d rather not add them to your contacts list, skip to the next section.

2. On Google Maps, tap your profile picture in the top right corner of your screen and on the emerging menu tap Location Sharing.

To share your location, tap your profile photo in the top right corner of Google Maps.
Find your friends in the wild. Screenshot: Google

3. The next screen will explain how Location Sharing works and what information other people will be able to access when you share your whereabouts with them. On Android, tap Share my location to continue; on iOS, tap New Share.

Select "Location sharing" halfway down the screen to share your location with another Google account on Android.
Very handy if you don’t have a great sense of direction. Screenshot: Google

4. Then you’ll be able to determine how long the person you’ll be sharing your location with can track you. This is crucial, as you may want them to keep an eye on you while you head home, but don’t want them to know where you are next week. Protect your privacy by choosing the least amount of time possible. On Android and iPhone, under Share your real-time location, use the plus (+) and minus () to set the exact amount of time your whereabouts will be available to others, ranging from 15 minutes to a day.

On Android, you also have the ability to share their location until they decide not to. To do that, tap the circle next to Until I turn it off.

To share your location for a limited time on Android, select a time limit under "Share your real-time location."
You may only want to share your location temporarily. Screenshot: Google

5. After selecting a time limit, tap the profile of one or more people you want to share your location with. You may need to grant Google Maps access to your contacts in order to do this.

You’ll notice some contacts have a tiny Google Maps icon on their profile pictures. They’re the people that also have the app on their phones—if you share your location with them, they’ll be able to track you directly from there.

6. If you haven’t already, Google Maps will prompt you to grant it access to your location at all times. Follow the instructions on the screen to do it.

  • Note: You won’t be able to share your location with other users if you don’t change this setting. But if you’re not comfortable with Google Maps knowing where you are at all times, you can always change it back. On Android, go to Settings, Location, Google Maps, and tweak permissions as you see fit. On iPhone go to Settings, Privacy & Security, Location Services, and Google Maps.

7. Tap Share to finish.

Share your Google Maps location with someone who doesn’t have a Google account

Even if the person you want to share your location with doesn’t have a Google account, you can still share your whereabouts with them on Google Maps.

1. From the Google Maps app, tap on your profile, then Location sharing

2. On an iPhone, tap on New Share and choose More Options at the bottom of the screen. On Android devices, tap Share my location and focus your attention on the bottom of the screen, where you’ll see the apps you can use to share a link with your location.

3. From here, you have a bevy of options for sharing a direct link to your Google Maps location. You can choose from a list of your favorite text message chats on several platforms, plus email and social media apps. You can also just copy the link and paste it wherever you want.

Android users will also have the chance to choose a contact that doesn’t have Google Maps on their phone—they’re the ones without the multicolor pin icon over their profile pictures. For them, the way you share your location will depend on the information shown below their names: If you see a phone number, they’ll receive an text with a link to your location on the web version of Google Maps; if you see an email, they’ll receive the link via email.

  • Warning: The link Google Maps generates with your location is public, which means that anybody who has it will be able to know where you are in real time. Be careful who you share this link with. If possible, share it only through direct and private channels with people you know and trust. 
On Android, you can send your location to people without Google accounts by email.
You can share your location on Android by email as well. Screenshot: Google

How to share your trip on Google Maps

In some cases, you may not want to give someone the ability to track you while you move for a set amount of time, but rather for a particular trip. This is ideal if you’re visiting friends and family and want to give them the ability to keep tabs on you as you travel from point A to point B.

1. Start a journey on Google Maps: Select a destination and tap Start.

2. Once Google Maps has started your trip, tap the bottom of the screen to bring up an options menu and choose Share trip progress.

In Google Maps, tap on "Share trip progress" to show your travels.
This feature can help you make sure friends and family get home safely. Screenshot: Google

3. Google Maps will display your frequent contacts at the bottom of the screen—tap one to share your trip with them.

If the person you want to share your location with is not there, Android users can slide the icons to the left and tap More to open a more comprehensive contacts list. You can also pick one of the apps at the bottom of your screen and share a link through one of them.

Meanwhile, if you have an iPhone, you can tap More options at the bottom of the page to access various messaging and email apps to share a link with your trip information.

4. As soon as the contact you shared your trip information with opens the link, they will be able to track your progress up until the trip ends.

FAQs

Q: How do you stop sharing your location on Google Maps?

Whenever you want to stop sharing your location on Google Maps, simply open the app, tap your profile picture, and then hit Location sharing.

Then, touch the username of the person you want to stop sharing your location with and tap Stop.

Q: How do you see someone else’s location on Google Maps?

From the Google Maps app, tap your profile picture and go to Location sharing. Tap the profile picture of the person you want to locate—you will be able to see their location if they have shared it with you. Touch Refresh to update their location.

Q: How do you request someone’s location on Google Maps?

You can request someone else’s location on Google Maps, but only if they’ve shared their location with you in the past or you’ve already shared your location with them.

1. On Google Maps, tap your profile picture and go to Location Sharing.

2. Choose the name of the contact whose location you want to request—remember: you must’ve already shared your location with them. If you haven’t, start by sharing your location.

3. Tap Request. The person on the other end will immediately get an email and notification letting them know about your inquiry, but it’s up to them whether they accept or deny it. They can also block it, which means you won’t be able to request their location again.

The post How to share your location on Google Maps appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Emoji wallpapers and cinematic backdrops can make your Pixel phone as fun as you are https://www.popsci.com/diy/cinematic-emoji-wallpaper-pixel/ Tue, 19 Sep 2023 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=572412
Google Pixel showing a cinematic wallpaper
You don't have to have a boring, static wallpaper. Have it move instead. Eriel Suarez / Unsplash; Screenshot: Google

You've got new options for creating fun wallpapers.

The post Emoji wallpapers and cinematic backdrops can make your Pixel phone as fun as you are appeared first on Popular Science.

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Google Pixel showing a cinematic wallpaper
You don't have to have a boring, static wallpaper. Have it move instead. Eriel Suarez / Unsplash; Screenshot: Google

If you own a Google Pixel phone, you’ve now got some fun features to play around with. The latest Pixel drop update added a couple of new options for creating wallpapers on your device, giving you added flexibility when it comes to picking a backdrop.

The first one is cinematic wallpapers, which allows you to add a dynamic, 3D-style effect to any image you use on your lock screen. The second one is the ability to create emoji wallpapers, where you can use any emoji as the basis of your smartphone’s creation and generate a customized backdrop. Both features will give your device a personal touch and are incredibly fun to play around with.

All of the existing wallpaper options on the Pixel remain in place, so you can still pick a regular picture for your home screen or one of Google’s moving images or photos, if you want.

How to make cinematic wallpapers on a Pixel

To get into the wallpaper editor on your Pixel, tap and hold on a blank area of one of your phone’s home screens, then choose Wallpaper and style and Change wallpaper. Tap My photos, then select the image you want to use from your gallery. It can be a photo you took with your camera or a file stored anywhere else on the phone, like a picture you received or downloaded from the web.

Menus showing how to make a cinematic wallpaper on your Google Pixel
Just choose an image, tap on the sparks icon, and turn on the toggle switch to turn your photo into a cinematic wallpaper. Screenshot: Google

When it comes to choosing the best image to turn into a cinematic wallpaper, there aren’t any restrictions, but some photos will work better than others. We found the best results come from images with clear foreground subjects—think kids, pets, or lamps. 

With your image open, tap the icon in the top right corner showing three sparks, and turn on the toggle switch that’s labeled Create Cinematic wallpaper. After a few seconds where Google’s AI will identify the foreground from the background to produce an effect where the two seem more separated, your new wallpaper will be ready to use. Tap Set wallpaper, and choose whether you want to apply it only to your home screens, or your home screens and lock screen.

[Related: Google Pixel 7 Pro review: Viva la (hardware) evolution]

Your Pixel will apply that cinematic effect as you lock and unlock the device, as well as when you switch between the home screens and your apps, swipe through home screens, and tilt your phone. Spend some time playing around with different types of images and you’ll get a better idea of how the feature works.

Keep in mind that animated backdrops usually consume more battery than regular, static wallpapers. It shouldn’t be a big problem, but if you’re regularly struggling to extend your phone’s battery life, you may want to think twice about using a cinematic wallpaper. 

How to make emoji wallpapers on the Google Pixel

Menus showing how to make emoji wallpapers
Use the different patterns and color schemes to come up with your own unique emoji wallpaper. Screenshot: Google

To create an emoji wallpaper, tap and hold on a blank area of a home screen, then pick Wallpaper and style and Change wallpaper. This time, select Emoji workshop, and you’ll be ready to start playing around with the emojis of your choice. The system will already have selected some for you, but you can tap Edit emoji in the bottom right corner of your screen to make your own picks.

You can create a wallpaper from a single emoji, or from as many as 14. If you’re stuck for inspiration, use the Randomize button, which will pick some emojis for you. From what we can tell, the software tries to pick related emojis, but it doesn’t always get it right.

There are two other tabs here: Open Patterns to pick how you want your emojis arranged as they repeat across the screen, and the size of the emojis. Open Colors to choose the color scheme for your new emoji-based backdrop. All of these settings can be jumbled up again with a tap on Randomize.

Menus showing color schemes for emoji wallpapers on the Google Pixel
Once you find an emoji combination you like, you can play around with color schemes to make it pop. Screenshot: Google

When you’ve got something you like, tap the checkmark icon in the top right corner, and then choose Set wallpaper. You’ll notice your Pixel applies a few animation effects to the emoji wallpaper, as you swipe between home screens and lock and unlock your device. Note that as you create new emoji wallpapers, your old ones will be saved so you can go to the Emoji workshop screen to get them back.

Other wallpapers

Menu showing the Living Universe wallpapers for Google Pixel
Your Pixel comes preloaded with a bunch of interesting wallpapers so you don’t even have to think about it. Screenshot: Google

If this is the first time you’ve experimented with the wallpaper settings on your Pixel phone, you might be wondering about all the other options that appear when you choose Wallpaper and style and Change wallpaper from the home screen.

The My photos option is fairly straightforward, enabling you to pick an image stored on your phone. You’ll also see curated collections of images provided by Google, covering categories such as Art, Landscapes, and Textures. The Live bloom and Living universe selections are a bit more interesting, as they come with added motion effects, like short video clips.

[Related: 7 tips and tricks to master your Google Pixel Tablet]

Head into Community lens to see images from other users that have been picked out by Google’s team. They cover some pretty dramatic landscape and nature shots, and can be useful if you’re not keen on using any of your own snaps (or generating a custom wallpaper using emoji).

Once you’ve set your wallpaper, back on the Wallpaper and style screen you’ll see a Wallpaper colors setting: Enable this if you want the interface colors on your Pixel (for lock screen items, menus, and other areas) to match the color scheme of the current wallpaper.

The post Emoji wallpapers and cinematic backdrops can make your Pixel phone as fun as you are appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to share your location on an iPhone, including by satellite https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-share-location-on-iphone/ Tue, 19 Sep 2023 13:30:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=572196
A person in the forest holding an iPhone with a map on its screen, potentially a situation where you'd want to share your location with someone else.
If you get lost off-grid, your iPhone may be able to help people find you, as long as you planned ahead. Norbert Buduczki / Unsplash

There are several ways to share your location from your iPhone, even if you're entirely off-grid.

The post How to share your location on an iPhone, including by satellite appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person in the forest holding an iPhone with a map on its screen, potentially a situation where you'd want to share your location with someone else.
If you get lost off-grid, your iPhone may be able to help people find you, as long as you planned ahead. Norbert Buduczki / Unsplash

Sharing your location on an iPhone isn’t difficult, but you will have to make one important decision before you let your contacts know where you are: how exactly you want to share that information. There are several easy methods available on iOS—it’s just a matter of choosing which one works best for you.

Before you try any of the options in this story, though, you’ll need to turn on Location Services. You won’t be able to share your location from your iPhone if you don’t.

  1. Open your Settings app.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security.
  3. Tap Location Services at the top of the screen.
  4. Make sure the toggle switch next to Location Services is green. If it’s not, touch it to allow location sharing.

You can follow these same steps to turn off location sharing, or customize which apps get to know where you are. Certain settings in these iOS menus may also be preventing you from sending your rough GPS coordinates, so if you find your iPhone won’t share your location, check the Location Services switch or skip to our troubleshooting section below.

We encourage you to restrict location sharing whenever you can, or at least check which iPhone apps and tools are using Location Services—indefinite sharing can drain your battery, at best, and be a privacy or security risk, at worst. To check who has access to your whereabouts, follow the steps above to open the Location Services settings, then tap Share My Location. If you’re sharing your location with anyone from your iPhone, you’ll see their name listed there. To cut them off, touch their name, then hit Stop Sharing My Location at the bottom of the screen.

Quick access

How to share your location using the Messages app

One of the most popular ways to share your location on an iPhone is via the Messages app. It’s also one of the more non-committal options and will turn off automatically if you choose the right time period.

This method will only work if the recipient also has an Apple device, but you can also use Messages to send your location (different from sharing your location) to anyone with an Apple or Android phone. Doing so will send a map pin of your current location, but it won’t track your movements.

1. In the Messages app, open the individual or group chat you want to share your location with.

2. Tap the name at the top of the screen.

Apple's Messages app, showing how to share your location in an individual message.
The numbers, John! What do they mean? Screenshot: Apple

3. Touch Share My Location.

  • Note: Here’s where you can choose to Send My Current Location instead, which is the only way you can use Messages to tell your Android friends where you are.

4. Choose the time period you want to share your location for: one hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely.

  • Caution: If you pick Share for One Hour or Share Until End of Day, your iPhone will stop sharing your location automatically once time is up. If you choose Share Indefinitely, though, you might forget to turn it off.

How to share your iPhone location via the Find My app

Apple’s Find My app offers a variety of location-based services, including helping you find your lost devices, and detecting if an AirTag is moving with you. As such, you can also share your location on any iPhone with the Find My app installed.

[Related: Hidden iPhone tricks that will change the way you use iOS]

If you can’t find it, go to your iPhone’s Home screen and swipe all the way to the left until App Library appears at the top of the screen. Tap that search box and search for “Find My.” If it still doesn’t appear, you may have to reinstall it from the App Store.

1. To share your location from the Find My app, you’ll need to make sure you’re using your phone as the default Find My device. In the Find My app, go to the Me tab.

2. If the app already says you’re sharing from “this iPhone,” you’re good to go. Otherwise, tap Use this iPhone as My Location.

Apple's Find My app showing the setting for using your iPhone to share your location.
If you see this, you’re good to go. If not, you’ve got to make a change. Screenshot: Apple

3. Now go to the People tab.

4. Tap the plus icon.

5. Hit Share My Location.

Apple's Find My app showing where you need to go to share your location with someone on an iPhone.
You probably have more friends than me. Screenshot: Apple

6. You’ll see a list of people. If the person you want to share with is on this list, tap their name. If not, type their name or phone number into the To: field at the top of the screen.

  • Note: You can enter multiple contacts here, but you won’t be able to share your location with anyone who has an Android phone. You can only use Find My to share between Apple devices and services.

7. Tap Send.

8. Choose to Share for One Hour, Share Until End of Day, or Share Indefinitely.

  • Caution: If you pick one of the first two, your iPhone will stop sharing your location automatically once time is up. If you choose the third option, though, you might forget to turn it off and that person may have access to your whereabouts forever.

Use Apple’s Family Sharing to share your location

If you’re part of a Family Sharing group, you may already be sharing your location with the other members, but you can always customize your location sharing options.

1. From the iPhone Settings app, tap Family at the top of the screen, right under your name.

Apple's Settings app, showing where to find Family Sharing options for sharing your location on an iPhone.
I may never finish setting up my iPhone. Screenshot: Apple

2. Touch Location Sharing to open further location settings.

  • Share your location with: Use the toggle switches next to other family members’ names to enable or disable their ability to see your location.
  • Automatically Share Location: Turn this on to instantly share your location with anyone who joins the family group. Turn it off to… not do that.

Share your location on an iPhone from Google Maps or Apple Maps

While you can share your location from an iPhone using the map apps from both Google and Apple, these options are not as comprehensive as the ones listed above.

Google Maps

Google Maps might be the best way to share your iPhone location with anyone who has an Android phone. We can provide the basic steps here, but if you’d like to dig a little deeper into the nuances of this cross-platform app, you can check out our guide on how to share your location on Google Maps.

1. In the Google Maps app, tap your avatar in the top right corner to open the app’s settings.

2. Touch Location sharing.

3. Choose from the list of people you’ve previously shared your location with, or hit New share to send it to someone new.

The Google Maps app on an iPhone, showing how to share your location with someone.
This might be the best way to share your iPhone location with someone who has an Android phone. Screenshot: Google

4. Decide how long you want to share your location, then pick the recipient from the list below.

  • Note: If you don’t see the sharing options you want, you can swipe left on the list of people until you get to More, where you can type specific names, phone numbers, or email addresses, or hit More options to open the standard iOS sharing interface.

Apple Maps

You can’t share your real-time location from Apple Maps, but you can send a pin showing your current location.

1. From the Maps app, drag up from the bottom of the screen until you expand the menu and can see Share My Location. Tap that.

[Related: 14 tricks to get more out of the underrated Apple Maps app]

2. Choose the person you want to share your location with, or tap on the app you want to send your location from, such as Instagram or Signal.

The Apple Maps app showing how to share your location with people on an iPhone.
On Apple Maps, you basically go straight into the familiar iPhone sharing options. Screenshot: Apple

How to share your location on an iPhone via satellite when you’re offline

Sometimes, you just don’t have cell service or WiFi access. Nature therapy can be good for you. But even when you’re off-grid, you may still want people to be able to find your location, especially if you end up lost in the wilderness.

If you have an iPhone 14 or 15, or the Pro versions of those phones, running iOS 16.1 or later, you should be able to share your location via satellite, but only if you set everything up before you ventured outside the range of cell and WiFi coverage. To do so, follow the steps above to share your iPhone location with specific people in the Find My app. Then save this article to read offline in case of an emergency.

1. Make sure you’re in an open area with a clear view of the sky and the horizon. Otherwise, you might not be able to link up with a satellite.

2. Open Find My, tap Me, find My Location via Satellite, and hit Send My Location.

3. Follow the instructions on screen—it may tell you to turn left or right to connect, or offer further guidance.

It’s worth noting that there are a lot of caveats to how this works, and Apple can explain better than we can. Ultimately, it’s good to know, but you probably shouldn’t rely on it to save you—focus on not getting lost instead.

Why your iPhone won’t share your location

If you’re having trouble sharing your location on your iPhone and you’ve already confirmed Location Services is enabled, as suggested above, the app you’re trying to share from may not have the proper permissions.

1. From the Location Services settings page, scroll down the list of apps until you find the one you’re trying to share from—Messages, for example.

2. Check the words to the right of the app’s name—if it says Never, it doesn’t have permission to share your location.

3. Tap the app’s name, then choose one of the following options:

  • Ask Next Time Or When I Share: The next time you try to share your location via the app, it’ll ask if you want it to access your location data.
  • While Using the App: You’ll be able to share your location anytime you’re using the app.
The Apple Messages app settings, showing where to set your location sharing options.
Choosing when an app can access your location data is easy—the menu is so small. Screenshot: Apple

The post How to share your location on an iPhone, including by satellite appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Pro tips for buying used tech without getting scammed https://www.popsci.com/diy/buy-used-tech-tips/ Fri, 15 Sep 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=570797
Hands unboxing a second-hand iPhone.
If you're buying second-hand gadgets, do it smartly. Jonas Leupe / Unsplash

Get more bang for your buck by buying used.

The post Pro tips for buying used tech without getting scammed appeared first on Popular Science.

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Hands unboxing a second-hand iPhone.
If you're buying second-hand gadgets, do it smartly. Jonas Leupe / Unsplash

You can’t deny the thrill of unboxing a brand new gadget, but sticking to factory-fresh tech every time isn’t cheap. Buying second-hand electronics, on the other hand, can save you a significant amount of cash and is a lot kinder to the environment.

Whether you’re buying used phones or used laptops, you may have valid concerns about the quality and lifespan of your purchase. Fortunately, some common sense precautions can ensure that your previously owned gadgets serve you well for years to come.

No matter what kind of tech you’re in the market for, the rules of engagement are more or less the same when it comes to minimizing the risk of ending up with a dud. Read on to familiarize yourself with them and start enjoying big savings.

Check the seller

What vendor you buy from will depend on how comfortable you are balancing risk and reward. Used gadget sales backed by major companies are a safer bet. Apple’s refurbished program, for example, guarantees brand-new batteries, bundled accessories, and the standard Apple one-year warranty.  But this peace of mind comes at a price, as buying second-hand tech from a big retailer is likely to be more expensive than buying from a random stranger on eBay.

[Related: How to sell your unwanted gadgets for cash]

If you want to go with a name you know, you’ve got quite a few options, including Decluttr, Amazon, and Best Buy. You can also check in with your favorite electronics store or manufacturer website to see what’s available.

Buying used tech gadgets on Amazon Renewed
Amazon Renewed is the marketplace’s platform where you can find refurbished tech items backed by Amazon warranties. Screenshot: Amazon

Buying second-hand tech from an individual or a smaller company will likely mean cheaper prices and more choices, but less warranties and protections. If you’re happy with that, you can check out sites such as eBay, Swappa, and Facebook Marketplace. All these sites allow you to perform due diligence on the person you’re buying from to find clues of their trustworthiness: you can look at their selling history, the amount of information they give about themselves, and how old their account is.

A useful way of vetting individual sellers is to ask questions about the item you’re interested in. You won’t only learn more about what you’re buying, but how quickly the vendor gets back to you and how they respond should tell you something about them as well. The good news is that the majority of sellers out there aren’t wanting to rip you off: They just want to make some money on older tech.

browsing used phones on Walmart restored
Walmart also has a corner of their site dedicated to restored tech products. Screenshot: Walmart

No matter where you buy from, always check the returns policy and warranty information. Walmart Restored, for example, offers a one-year warranty or 90-day free returns on all purchases. Meanwhile, if you’re buying used on Amazon, you also get a 90-day guarantee on everything.

If you’re buying from individuals, check the listing carefully, and when in doubt, just ask questions—again, this is a good way of weighing up who you’re dealing with. See if they’re able to provide the original receipt and proof of purchase, as the official warranty might still apply. 

Check the item

As well as checking the seller carefully, you’ll need to check the product. Start by taking a detailed look at the images provided by the vendor, and don’t be shy about asking for more if you need them. Then, go over the item description meticulously to look for any mention of damage or faults, which should be revealed up front. In particular, you want to know when the gadget was originally purchased and get a good idea of how much it’s been used and what condition it’s in now.

Some checks will be specific to the device you’re interested in. When buying used iPhones, for example, it’s worth asking the seller to check the battery health (under Battery in the iOS Settings). If you’re buying a used video graphics card, ask to see some benchmarks to check on performance, maybe from 3DMark or a game you’re keen on. The more detail you can get, the better.

buying video graphics card on eBay
When you think about buying second-hand tech, you probably automatically think of eBay. Screenshot: eBay

It’s also worth double-checking what the item comes with in terms of bundled accessories like chargers and headphones. Sellers can often forget to mention this and it can make a difference when comparing or negotiating prices. When buying used tablets, for example, look for mentions of included cases, screen protectors, or keyboard accessories, and see if they’re the official ones or third-party replacements.

Something else to check for is whether or not the gadget comes in its original packaging. This is usually the case with refurbished items, but not so much when you’re dealing with individual sellers. If the original box and accessories are included, it’s more likely that you’re dealing with a genuine product that’s been obtained through legal means—but it’s no guarantee.

[Related: How to set the right price when selling your old tech]

The price of a second-hand gadget is another indication of whether you should be completing this deal. Be wary of anything being sold too cheaply, or that the buyer is trying to get rid of in a rush. Some sites let you search through completed sales on the platform to give you an idea of what an item should be fetching—on eBay, type in the name and details of the product on the search bar and check Sold items in the left-hand pane.

When you find a deal you’re happy with, make sure you follow whatever rules and methods set by the site you’re using. In the case of eBay, for instance, don’t arrange payment or postage outside of the systems the platform has put in place. You’ll actually get warnings if you try swapping email addresses, for example, because if you’re communicating outside of the site, eBay won’t be able to see the messages you’ve sent and received in the event of a dispute, voiding any kind of buyer protection they might have offered.

The post Pro tips for buying used tech without getting scammed appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to use Google Pay to shop and transfer money https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-use-google-pay/ Fri, 15 Sep 2023 00:06:46 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=568072
A person holding an iPhone over a scanner so they can use Google Pay to make a purchase.
Now you'll pay. Depositphotos

Beyond simple transactions, Google Pay is a convenient way to send money to friends and family.

The post How to use Google Pay to shop and transfer money appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person holding an iPhone over a scanner so they can use Google Pay to make a purchase.
Now you'll pay. Depositphotos

Learning how to use Google Pay is easy, whether you have an Android device or an iPhone. The Big G’s digital payment platform lets users pay for products and services online and in stores, send money, and save loyalty cards all in one app. 

With online shopping and contactless payments becoming more popular, Google Pay has become an important tool for people who want a safe and easy way to manage their money. It makes paying easier and gives you extra perks like rewards and savings, making it a great alternative to other payment platforms, such as Apple Pay.

How to set up Google Pay

To use Google Pay, you must have an active Google account. If you don’t, create one.

1. Download the Google Pay app from your phone’s app store.

The Google Pay app in the Apple App Store on a mobile phone, showing where to download the app.
You can’t use Google Pay until you have the app. Screenshot: Google

2. Open the app. Select your country in the upper right corner, then sign in with your Google account. Tap Continue and set up your privacy preferences—you can let people find you only by your phone number, and make your transactions public, if you want. But if you don’t feel like getting into it right away, you can also select Not Now and adjust the preferences later in your Google account.

The Google Pay app during setup, showing where to choose your country.
Choose your country so the app knows which currency to use. Screenshot: Google

3. You must add a payment method by linking your debit or credit card, bank account, or PayPal account to your Google Pay account. Tap Add an account (iOS) or Link account (Android).

  • Note: If you’ve already added credit or debit cards to your phone’s native wallet app, Google Pay might automatically add them to the app.
The Google Pay app showing where to add a bank account.
Connect the main bank account you want to withdraw money from. Screenshot: Google

4. Google Pay uses Plaid, a third-party service, to obtain transaction and balance information from your accounts. Select Accept to agree, then Continue on the next screen.

The Google Pay app displaying the terms and conditions for Plaid
Accept the terms and conditions to continue. Screenshot: Google

5. Select your financial institution from the short list or type its name into the search bar at the top if you don’t see it listed. When you find it, select it and log in.

The Google Pay app showing the list of banks you can connect to the app.
You’ll have to find your bank’s logo—it’s a good thing they all mostly have their name in it. Screenshot: Google

6. If the app is able to connect to your bank, the platform will let you know your account was successfully added. Tap Continue to finish. You’re all set—you can use Google Pay immediately.

Screenshot of the settings in Google Pay app.
The app is connected and ready for use. Screenshot / iPhone

How to send and receive money with Google Pay

Once you link your bank account or debit card to the app, you can easily pay your friend back for last Sunday’s brunch—just tap Send or request, select the person you want to send money to, enter the amount, and confirm the transaction. You can also request money from others by entering their email address or phone number.

The Google Pay app, showing how to use it to send or request money from another person.
Choose who you want to send money to and how much. Screenshot: Google

How to use Google Pay in stores

iOS and WatchOS

Once you’ve set everything up on your iPhone or Apple Watch, you can use Google Pay without opening the app. All you have to do is unlock your Apple device, hold it near a contactless payment terminal, and follow the instructions on the screen. Your gadget might ask you to authenticate the transaction via FaceID or by providing your fingerprint, or pressing the lock screen button. Note that you can’t add a gift card to Google Pay on iOS, as that feature is only available for the Android version of the app.

Android

Google Pay doesn’t come downloaded by default on Android phones, so you’ll have to download it and set it up. Once that’s done, you can pay without opening the app—just unlock your device and hold it close to a contactless payment terminal.

How to use Google Pay for online and in-app purchases

Figuring out how to use Google Pay for in-app and online purchases is simple—just look for the right payment option at checkout. Select it, choose the card you want to use for the transaction (if you’ve added more than one) and follow the instructions. 

[Related: 4 good international money transfer apps]

If you’re using a credit card, you might have to confirm the security code (CVV) at the back of your card. If prompted, finish by authenticating the purchase using your device’s security measures. Keep in mind that not all vendors support Google Pay, so if that’s your only available payment method, make sure the website or app is compatible before filling up your cart.

FAQs

Q. Who accepts Google Pay?

Many businesses, including websites, apps, and physical stores accept Google Pay. On the web and on your phone, look for the Google Pay option at checkout. When you’re in a store, look for contactless payment options or for the Google Pay logo—you’ll usually find it by the register, the door of a business, or on the payment terminal screen. Additionally, you can use Google Pay for peer-to-peer payments between individuals, just like Venmo, PayPal, or Chime.

Q. Can I use Google Pay without a bank account?

You don’t need to link your bank account to use Google Pay—you can just add a debit or credit card, though that will only work to pay merchants directly. If you want to use the app to send or request money, you will need to link a bank account. 

If you don’t have a bank account at all, you can still use Google Pay. Instead of a credit or debit card, just link the platform to a prepaid card to make payments online and in store.

Q. Is Google Pay safe?

Google Pay is safe. It uses multiple layers of encryption to protect user information and offers features like biometric authentication to enhance security. Additionally, Google Pay does not store actual card numbers, reducing the risk of fraud in case of phishing or data leaks. 

Q. What is the limit on Google Pay?

Google payment methods vary depending on the country and the specific payment method used. There may be a daily transaction limit for international transfers. It is best to check with your bank or Google Pay’s support for the most accurate information regarding limits.

Q. Can I make cash withdrawals with Google Pay?

Google Pay does not support cash withdrawals. It’s designed for making digital payments and transferring money to others electronically.

Q. Does Google Pay work like a debit card?

Google Pay is a digital extension of your traditional payment methods, so it operates under the same rules. This means that if you link your debit card to Google Pay, the platform will act like a debit card and apply charges directly to your checking account as you’re spending—no matter if you’re sending money to someone or paying for an in-app purchase.

Q. What’s the difference between Google Wallet and Google Pay?

Google Wallet is available only for Android devices and it allows users to save digital working copies of credit and debit cards, concert tickets, boarding passes, and even your COVID vaccination card. You can use it to shop in-store by placing your phone near a contactless payment terminal. Meanwhile, Google Pay (available for Android and iOS) is a more comprehensive money management platform. It allows for peer-to-peer payments as well as purchases both online and in-store, and—on Android devices—it connects directly with Wallet to use added payment methods.

The post How to use Google Pay to shop and transfer money appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Patch a potential privacy risk by deleting your ancient LiveJournal https://www.popsci.com/diy/delete-livejournal-account/ Thu, 14 Sep 2023 14:21:08 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=570290
A woman sitting in front of a Mac desktop computer with her hand on her face, viewed through a window from outside.
This is probably how you'll feel when you read your old LiveJournal posts. Vasilis Caravitis / Unsplash

You never know who's going to read all the cringey stuff you posted in 2006.

The post Patch a potential privacy risk by deleting your ancient LiveJournal appeared first on Popular Science.

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A woman sitting in front of a Mac desktop computer with her hand on her face, viewed through a window from outside.
This is probably how you'll feel when you read your old LiveJournal posts. Vasilis Caravitis / Unsplash

Remember LiveJournal? There’s a good chance you left a lot of fanfiction and/or teenage angst on there, assuming you were a teenager in the 2000s. Since then, however, the trajectory of LiveJournal has been weird

LiveJournal stopped being relevant in the English-speaking world by the late 2000s, but remained popular in the Russian-speaking world. By the early 2010s, half of all traffic to LiveJournal was from Russia, where it became an important tool for the Russian opposition—Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption activist and former opposition leader, had a popular blog on LiveJournal before he became a political prisoner. Eventually, LiveJournal was acquired by a Russian company with rumored connections to that country’s security apparatus. By 2018 all servers were moved to Russia and the terms of service were updated to comply with Russian law. This basically means you can’t use the service to criticize the Russian government or discuss LGBTQ+ issues, among other things.

Like I said: things got weird. It’s understandable, given this context, if you don’t want to keep your teenage ramblings on that site. That’s why, after a friend asked, I looked into ways to back up LiveJournal posts. It wasn’t straightforward. At all. LiveJournal offers an official exporting tool, but it can only export one month’s worth of posts at a time, which is basically useless. I tried using Wget to scrape old entries, but this backfired hilariously: LiveJournal blocked my IP address. After a lot of research, I figured out that using WordPress is the best way to back up your old LiveJournal posts. Of course, if you have no interest in saving anything and just want to delete your LiveJournal account, you can skip straight to that section below.

Set up a WordPress blog

WordPress is the most popular blogging tool on the contemporary web. There are two versions of WordPress: WordPress.com, which is a blogging service you can sign up for and use; and WordPress.org, which is an open-source system you can use with any web hosting service. (I wrote an extensive breakdown of the two versions for a former employer, if you’re interested.) 

You can use either version of WordPress to back up your LiveJournal, and you can easily migrate from one to the other if you change your mind. If you’d rather not pay for web hosting, I recommend starting with WordPress.com. Just sign up for an account, choose a name for your blog, and you’re up and running.

It may also be worth making your WordPress blog private, so no one can read your ancient LiveJournal posts while you figure out what you want to do with them. To do so, go to your site’s dashboard, click Settings, then General, and find the Privacy section. There, click the bubble next to Private to ensure only you (and anyone you give login information to) can see what’s there.

Migrate your LiveJournal posts

1. After setting up WordPress, hover over Tools in the sidebar and click Import

The WordPress tool for importing external data to a WordPress.com or WordPress.org site.
You’re in the import business now. Screenshot: WordPress

2. You will see several options, none of which are LiveJournal. Click Choose from full list at the bottom. 

The WordPress tool for importing content, showing the list of compatible sites, plus a link to expand the list at the bottom, which you'll need to find the tool for importing from LiveJournal.
LiveJournal has fallen so out of fashion in the US that it’s not even on WordPress’s main list of potential import locations. Screenshot: WordPress

3. Now you’ll see the LiveJournal option; click Run Importer

The WordPress import tool you'll need to import information from LiveJournal.
Now that you’ve located LiveJournal, you’re ready to go. Screenshot: WordPress

4. You will be asked for your LiveJournal username and password. You can also optionally set a password for any posts that were private on LiveJournal—they will all be protected with the same password. 

The WordPress tool for importing LiveJournal data to WordPress, showing where you need to put your LiveJournal username and password to start the backup process.
You do remember your LiveJournal login, right? Screenshot: WordPress

5. Click Connect to LiveJournal and Import, and the process will begin. This will take a while, and it might not look like anything is happening. Be patient and leave the tab open, but don’t panic if you accidentally close it: you can restart the importer and it will pick up where it left off. Eventually you will be told that the process is complete. You now have a backup of your LiveJournal posts and comments—check that everything is there. 

Delete your LiveJournal account if you want

Once you’ve confirmed that your posts are all on WordPress, you might want to delete your LiveJournal entirely, which you can do from your “account status” page. Just check the two boxes for deleting your comments and entries, then click the Delete my account and journal button. Note that you can’t undo this.

The page where you can delete your LiveJournal account, with additional settings for deleting comments across the site.
If you were active on LiveJournal, you may also want to trash the comments you made across the site—just in case. Screenshot: LiveJournal

The post Patch a potential privacy risk by deleting your ancient LiveJournal appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to finally ditch Chrome and move all your data and bookmarks to another browser https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-export-chrome-bookmarks-data/ Wed, 13 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=569863
Person sitting at desk, looking at laptop, probably transferring their bookmarks from Chrome to Edge.
Maybe it's time to ditch Chrome. This is how you transfer your bookmarks and passwords to Firefox, Edge, and Safari. Daniel Thomas / Unsplash

Google’s browser made some changes that might make you want to ditch it for Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

The post How to finally ditch Chrome and move all your data and bookmarks to another browser appeared first on Popular Science.

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Person sitting at desk, looking at laptop, probably transferring their bookmarks from Chrome to Edge.
Maybe it's time to ditch Chrome. This is how you transfer your bookmarks and passwords to Firefox, Edge, and Safari. Daniel Thomas / Unsplash

The latest version of Google Chrome introduced new settings that have raised privacy concerns. Google says these tools “give you more choice over the ads you see,” which sounds nice. But it’s also a jargony way to say the browser will track your web surfing and share some of your data with advertisers so they can show you ads that more effectively tempt you into spending money.  

The update has not been well received by privacy advocates, and even though you can turn all of these features off (more on that later), you can also just ditch Chrome and import your data into another browser, like Firefox, Edge, or Safari. 

Jumping ship is incredibly easy, and even though the process won’t transfer every single customization you’ve made to Chrome over the years—like personalized search engines and experimental flags—you’ll be able to pick up where you left off in no time.

How to import bookmarks and other Chrome data to Firefox

If you care about privacy, Firefox is a great alternative to Chrome. It’s free, fast, highly customizable, and easy to use. It also has a great track record when it comes to preventing cookies from following you around the web.

Start by downloading Firefox (available for all major operating systems) and opening it.  

1. From the main navigation bar, go to File, then Import from another browser. This will open a data transfer tool in a new tab. 

Firefox menu to import Chrome bookmarks and other data
Firefox gives you the option to import your data from Chrome and other browsers. Screenshot: Firefox

2. Firefox will automatically detect other browsers on your system and all user profiles or sessions saved to each one. Use the dropdown menu to select the session and browser you want to import your data from. 

Menu for importing bookmarks and data from Chrome to Firefox
Just select the correct Chrome session (if you have more than one) and pick what you want to take with you to Firefox. Screenshot: Firefox

3. Click the plus sign next to Import all available data to customize what you want to transfer from Chrome. By default, the checkboxes next to Bookmarks, Saved logins and passwords, Browsing history, and Extensions will be selected. If you want to leave something behind and start fresh, you can click the checkbox again to deselect that item.   

4. Finish by clicking Import.

Firefox will immediately organize your bookmarks in its own bar, have your browsing history readily available, and whenever you need a password, it’ll offer the right one. Extensions may require further tweaking, but you’ll know if one requires your attention by clicking the extensions icon to the right of the address bar—it looks like a puzzle piece.

[Related: 11 hot Firefox tips and tricks that might finally convince you to switch browsers]

How to import your Chrome data to Edge

Microsoft’s recently renewed Edge browser is built on Chromium, which means it plays particularly nice with Google’s offer. This also means that importing Chrome bookmarks and other data to Edge is both easy and intuitive, and you’ll also be able to import a lot more than with other browsers. 

1. Open Edge and go to Settings—find it by clicking on the three dots in the upper right corner of your screen. 

2. In the new tab, under Profiles, go to Import browser data

Menu to transfer bookmarks and data from Chrome to Microsoft Edge
Your profile settings menu will show the Import data option as soon as you click on those three dots. Screenshot: Microsoft Edge

3. Select Import next to Import data from Google Chrome

Settings to import bookmarks and data from Chrome to Microsoft Edge
Edge offers shortcuts to import data from Chrome, Firefox, and the now deceased Internet Explorer. Screenshot: Microsoft Edge

4. In the emerging dialogue box, you’ll see two dropdown menus—use the second to select the Chrome session you want to import data from. 

Menu for importing bookmarks and data from a specific Chrome session to Microsoft Edge
Edge will ask you what Google Chrome session you want to import. Screenshot: Microsoft Edge

5. Use the checkboxes below to choose what you want to import from Chrome. By default, all items will be selected: Favorites or bookmarks, Saved passwords, Personal info, Payment info, Browsing history, Settings, Open tabs, and Extensions. If you want to leave something behind, just click the relevant checkbox again to deselect it. When you’re done, click Import.

Menu for importing bookmarks and data from Chrome to Microsoft Edge
Edge gives you the most options when it comes to the type of data you an import from Chrome. Screenshot: Microsoft Edge

6. Edge will finish importing your data almost immediately, and will tell you so. All of your information will be readily available and just like you had it on Chrome. That’s the benefit of switching to a browser that’s built so similarly. 

How to import Chrome data to Safari

Apple users can try the built-in Safari browser, which some say may even be better than Chrome. The only downside is that, just like mobile apps for iOS and Android, the extensions Chrome uses are different from the ones for Safari. This means you can’t import them from one browser to the other, so you’ll have to start from scratch on that front. You can, however, easily import bookmarks, history, and passwords. 

1. Open Safari, go to File, hover over Import from, and choose Google Chrome.

Safari settings to directly import Chrome bookmarks and other data
Transferring bookmarks and other data from Chrome to Safari is incredibly easy. Almost like Apple wanted you to do it. Screenshot: Safari

2. Safari will open a dialogue box listing all the items it’ll import from Chrome: Bookmarks, History, and Passwords. All these checkboxes will be selected by default, so if you want to leave something behind, just click on it to deselect it. 

Import Chrome bookmarks and data to Safari
You can’t transfer Chrome extensions to Safari—just like apps on an iPhone won’t work on Android phones. Screenshot: Safari

3. Once you’re satisfied with your choices, close Chrome if you haven’t already, and click Import. When it’s done, Safari will show you exactly what it did—click OK to close the dialogue box.

Your browsing history and passwords will be readily available. Unfortunately, Safari does this annoying thing where it imports your bookmarks into a folder within a folder, so you won’t immediately see your links on your Favorites bar. You can move the items and get rid of the extra folders, but you’ll have to manually drag and drop them, which can be a pain depending on the number of pages you’ve saved.

Imported bookmarks on Safari
You’ll have to reorganize your newly imported Chrome bookmarks. Screenshot: Safari

How to import data to Firefox, Edge, and Safari using CSV and HTML files

If for whatever reason the above options for Firefox, Edge, and Safari didn’t work, you can import a CSV file with your password and logins, and a HTML file with your bookmarks. You’ll just need to export this data from Chrome first. 

Export your data from Chrome

1. On Chrome for desktop, click the three dots in the upper right corner of your screen and head to Google Password Manager—the manager will open in a new tab.

2. In the left sidebar, click Settings. 

3. Under Export passwords, click Download file, and provide any credentials or biometrics Chrome might ask for to confirm it’s you. 

Export passwords on Google Chrome
Do not forget to completely delete the CSV file with your Chrome passwords. Screenshot: Google Chrome

4. Use the emerging explorer window to choose a location for your CSV file, then click Save

  • Note: The resulting CSV file will contain all of your credentials and is not encrypted. This means that if anybody else opens it, they’ll be able to see the username and passwords for all of your saved accounts. Don’t leave this file laying around—import it immediately and delete it as soon as you’re done with it. Then completely remove it from your hard drive by deleting it again from your computer’s trash.

5. Now you’ll need to download the HTML file with your bookmarks. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of your screen, hover over Bookmarks, and click on Bookmark manager

6. Click the three dots in the upper right corner of the tab. Confusingly enough, these are not the same three dots that you clicked in Step 1, but you’ll find the correct ones right below them. 

7. Click Export bookmarks. Use the emerging window to select the location you want to put the file in, and click Save.  

Export bookmarks on Google Chrome
You’ve been gathering bookmarks on Chrome for years. Do not leave them behind. Screenshot: Google Chrome

Import CSV and HTML files to Firefox

1. From the main navigation bar, go to File, then Import from another browser. This will open an import tool in a new tab. 

2. Use the dropdown menu to select either Passwords from CSV file or Bookmarks from HTML file. Whichever one you choose, Firefox will open a new window so you can select the correct file. Click on it, and the browser will import the data. 

Import CSV or HTML files on Firefox
If Firefox’s importing tool fails for whatever reason, you can always import CSV and HTML files. Screenshot: Firefox

3. Repeat the process with the remaining file. 

Import CSV and HTML files to Safari

1. Open Safari, go to File, Import from, and then choose either Bookmarks HTML file or Passwords CSV files

Import CSV or HTML files on Safari
Safari might not be able to fully import your credentials, but you fill in the gaps manually. Screenshot: Safari

2. Use the emerging window to find the correct file and import it. When importing passwords, Safari will require your authentication (biometrics or password) to add the information to your Keychain. 

[Related: 7 things Safari can do that Google Chrome can’t]

3. If you imported your bookmarks, you’re done. If you imported passwords, Safari will tell you how many of your credentials it imported. If there’s some data it couldn’t save, you can click on Open Password settings in the dialogue box and manually add the missing information. 

4. Repeat the process with the remaining file. 

Import CSV and HTML files to Edge

1. While using Edge, go to Settings—you can find it by clicking on the three dots in the upper right corner of your screen. Under Profiles, go to Import browser data

2. Select Import next to Import data from Google Chrome

3. In the emerging dialogue box, use the first dropdown menu to select either Favorites or bookmarks HTML file or Passwords CSV file

Import browser data menu on Microsoft Edge
Even if Edge allows you to import more types of Chrome data, if you use CSV and HTML files, you’ll only be able to transfer passwords and bookmarks. Screenshot: Microsoft Edge

4. In the next dialogue box, click Choose file. Use the File Explorer window to pick the right file on your local hard drive. Select it and click Open. Edge will then confirm it’s done importing your data, which will be immediately available for you. 

Microsoft Edge data import success notice
Edge, Firefox, and Safari will always confirm that the data import process from Chrome was successful. Screenshot: Microsoft Edge

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 with the remaining file. 

How to turn off Chrome’s new privacy settings 

If you’re throwing your arms in the air and asking yourself if there is a way you can just keep Chrome without the ad tracking features, the answer is yes: just turn them off. 

On Chrome, go to your privacy settings or type chrome://settings/adPrivacy into the search bar. There, you’ll see three options you can click on to get more information: Ad topics, Site-suggested ads, and Ad measurement.

Ad topics analyzes your browsing history to determine topics you’re interested in. So, if you search “Yankees score” and visit the official site for Major League Baseball, Google will add “baseball” or “sports” to your topics. You can see the list of topics the browser has identified for you, and if you’re not comfortable with one of them, you can block it. Chrome will share four weeks worth of this data at a time with advertisers so they can show you stuff you might like. If you don’t want any of this, just toggle off the switch next to Ad topics

Google Chrome new ad settings menu
You don’t have to help companies sell you stuff. Screenshot: Google Chrome

With site-suggested ads, Chrome allows sites to show you ads based on your topics and other browsing data. You won’t be able to see a comprehensive list of the sites that can do this, but if you can think of one that you’d rather not have your data, you can block it. But again, you can disable the entire feature by toggling off the switch next to Site-suggested ads.

Google Chrome new ad settings menu
There’s no loss of functionality when you turn off these ad settings on Google Chrome. Screenshot: Google Chrome

Finally, ad measurement allows Chrome to share certain data with websites so they know how effective the ads they showed you were. The browser says it constantly deletes this data, but doesn’t say how often, and explains that browsing history remains private, but it’s not clear to what extent the data is anonymized. If you don’t want to run any risks, you can just disable the option by toggling off the switch next to Ad measurement.

Google Chrome new ad settings menu
Have you ever clicked on an online ad? Yes, us either. Screenshot: Google Chrome

The post How to finally ditch Chrome and move all your data and bookmarks to another browser appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to cancel Apple Music if it’s no longer your jam https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-cancel-apple-music/ Wed, 13 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=567631
A person looking at Apple Music on an IPhone next to a coffee drink.
Depositphotos

If you forgot to cancel after the trial period, we'll help you save $10.99 a month.

The post How to cancel Apple Music if it’s no longer your jam appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person looking at Apple Music on an IPhone next to a coffee drink.
Depositphotos

Whether you’re cutting back on your streaming subscriptions or your favorite jams aren’t part of the 100-million-plus songs in Apple Music’s library, you’ve decided it’s time to end your relationship with the service.

Fortunately, your breakup doesn’t have to be messy. There are several easy ways to cancel Apple Music, no uncomfortable conversations with Apple representatives necessary—you can cancel whenever you want. Your subscription will run until the end of the current billing cycle and you won’t be charged after that point. Afterward, you’ll be back on the market, with a little more money to court Pandora, Spotify, or some other streaming music service.

A word of warning, though: Apple Music will delete your curated songs and playlists when you unsubscribe. After you cancel, Apple will retain your playlists for 30 days, but that’s it. If you change your mind and decide to rekindle your relationship with the streaming music service within that time period, you’ll be able to get all your playlists back. Otherwise, they’re gone forever and you’ll have to rebuild if you ever return.

How to cancel Apple Music through the iPhone app

To cancel your Apple Music subscription on your iPhone, click Listen Now.
A cinch to cancel. Screenshot: Apple Music

1. Open the app and tap on Listen Now (if the Listen Now screen doesn’t open by default).

2. Touch the profile icon in the upper right corner of the screen to bring up all of your account information.

3. Tap Manage Subscription, then Cancel. We told you it was easy.

Cancel through the Apple Music app on an Android device

1. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the screen and select Account.

2. Scroll until you find information about your subscriptions and tap Manage Subscription.

3. Hit Cancel Subscription and approve the confirmation.

How to cancel Apple Music on a Mac

1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper left-hand corner of the screen and select System Settings.

To cancel Apple Music on a Mac, start by clicking System Settings.
It’s located under the Apple menu. Screenshot: Apple

2. From the System Settings page, click on your Apple ID, then Media & Purchases.

To cancel Apple Music on a Mac, slick on Media & Purchases.
You can find all your subscriptions here. Screenshot: Apple

3. Next to Subscriptions, you should see a Manage button. Click on it to see a list of all the apps you subscribe to.

To cancel Apple Music on a Mac, click on the Manage button for your subscriptions.
See if there are any others you want to cancel while you’re there. Screenshot: Apple

4. Scroll down until you see your Apple Music subscription, then click the Edit button next to it.

5. Click Cancel Subscription and confirm the cancellation.

Remove a subscription on an iPhone or iPad

You can cancel your Apple Music subscription the same way you would end any subscription on an iPhone or iPad, and you don’t have to go into the music app to do it.

1. Open the Settings app, then tap on your name.

Tech Hacks photo

2. Hit Subscriptions, which you’ll find a few lines below your name.

To cancel Apple Music on an iPhone or iPad, click on Subscriptions.
You may find some long-forgotten subscriptions here. Screenshot: Apple

3. On the Subscriptions screen, you’ll see a list of all the services you currently subscribe to. It’s in alphabetical order, so you should see your Apple Music subscription near the top of the list. Tap on it when you see it.

4. Just below the Apple Music icon and pricing information you’ll see a Cancel Subscription button in red letters. Tap that to cancel your subscription.

Cancel an Apple Music subscription online

If you’d rather not work in an app, you can cancel your Apple Music subscription via any web browser.

1. Open your favorite browser and go to music.apple.com.

To cancel Apple Music online, go to the website music.apple.com
Are you sure you want to lose access to these tunes? Screenshot: Apple

2. Click or tap on the sign-in button in the top right corner of your browser window. A pop-up will appear asking you to enter your Apple ID and password. Enter that information, then click Continue. Apple may also ask you to complete two-factor authentication by entering a code sent to one of your Apple devices.

3. Click the profile icon in the upper right-hand corner of the Apple Music page. Choose Settings from the drop-down menu.

To cancel Apple Music online, go to the website and click on your profile in the corner.
It’s quick and easy to cancel your subscription online. Screenshot: Apple

4. Scroll down to the bottom of the Account Settings page and select Cancel Subscription.

How to cancel Apple Music through the Apple TV app

One of the surprisingly easy ways to end your relationship with Apple Music is through another Apple streaming service, Apple TV.

1. Open the Apple TV app on your TV and click on the gear icon near the top of your screen to enter the app’s settings.

2. Select User Accounts, which will be the line that displays your sign-in ID.

3. Choose Manage Subscriptions. The app will then ask you to enter your username and ID.

4. After you enter that information, you’ll be able to access all of your Apple subscriptions, including Apple Music. Click on Apple Music to cancel the subscription.

The post How to cancel Apple Music if it’s no longer your jam appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to find a WiFi password, whether you’re connected to the network or not https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-find-wifi-password/ Tue, 12 Sep 2023 22:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=569252
Photo of an iPhone with a WiFi setting on top of a Mac laptop keyboard.
You should always be able to find the password for a WiFi network you're connected to. Depositphotos

Quick tips to find WiFi passwords when you need them.

The post How to find a WiFi password, whether you’re connected to the network or not appeared first on Popular Science.

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Photo of an iPhone with a WiFi setting on top of a Mac laptop keyboard.
You should always be able to find the password for a WiFi network you're connected to. Depositphotos

Finding a WiFi password may not be something you need to do very often, especially since Windows, Apple, and Android devices generally save all of that information for every network you’ve ever connected to. Sometimes, though, you may need to re-enter this login info. Maybe your computer has forgotten the password after a system update, your WiFi is having problems, or you want to share your password with a friend. Whatever the case, there’s always a way to find your WiFi password—you just need to know where to look.

Find the WiFi password for a network you’re currently connected to

There are a number of ways to find the WiFi password on a device if you’re already connected to a network. If you’re looking for the password for a WiFi network you’re not connected to anymore, you can skip to our steps below for finding previous WiFi passwords.

How to see the WiFi password on a Mac

1. Open the System Settings app and click on Wi-Fi.

The System Settings app on a Mac showing where to find the WiFi settings.
It’s right up top so it’s hard to miss. Screenshot: Apple

2. Scroll to the bottom of the Wi-Fi page and click Advanced.

The macOS WiFi settings showing where to find the advanced WiFi settings.
Advance… to… advanced… Screenshot: Apple

3. Scan through the list of known WiFi networks until you find the one you want. Click on the three dots next to the network name, then hit Copy Password. You can now paste the password anywhere you can enter text to see it.

A list of previous WiFi networks on a Mac, where you can find WiFi passwords for current and previous networks.
Find what you need from the list. Screenshot: Apple

Find the WiFi password on an iPhone

This method only works if your iPhone is running iOS 16 or later.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap the WiFi network you’re currently connected to.

The iPhone Settings app, showing where to find the WiFi settings, which can lead you to WiFi passwords.
As on macOS, the Wi-Fi option is prominently displayed. Screenshot: Apple

2. Touch the information icon (an “i” in a circle) to view the settings for that network.

An iPhone's WiFi settings, showing the blue information icon, which you can tap to help you find your WiFi password.
Tap the “i” to learn more. Screenshot: Apple

3. Tap on the password field, then enter your Apple ID and password, and/or your iPhone passcode to reveal the WiFi password.

The iPhone's settings app, showing where to find a WiFi password.
It’s like a little prize. Screenshot: Apple

[Related: How to create a WiFi hotspot on your phone or computer]

How to find the WiFi password on Windows 10 and 11

1. Open Settings, then click on Network & Internet.

2. This step is slightly different depending on if you’re using Windows 10 or 11.

  • Windows 10: Click on Change Adapter Options.
  • Windows 11: Click on Advanced Network Settings, then More Network Adapter Options.
The Windows 11 settings screen, showing where to find WiFi settings.
What to look for on Windows 11. Screenshot: Microsoft

3. Double-click the network you’re connected to, then choose Wireless Properties, and click the Security tab. You’ll see a menu that includes the WiFi password (network security key) hidden under asterisks. Click the Show Characters box to reveal the password.

Windows 11 settings showing how to find a WiFi password by going through several windows and menus.
You’re going to have to open several windows for this one. Screenshot: Microsoft

Use router settings to find your WiFi password

If for whatever reason you aren’t able to access the WiFi password using any of the above methods, you can try going through the router settings. Just keep in mind you’ll need the router admin’s username and password for this method to work.

1. Find your router’s IP address.

  • On Windows: Open the Windows Start menu and type “cmd” to locate the Command Prompt app. Click the app, type “ipconfig”, and press Enter. The numbers behind the Default Gateway are your‌ router’s IP address.
  • On macOS: Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen, then choose System Settings. Click on Network, then Wi-Fi. Find the network you’re currently connected to and click on the Details button next to its name. A window will appear showing the router’s IP address.
  • On iOS: Open the Settings app, then tap on Wi-Fi. Hit the information icon (the “i” in a circle) next to the WiFi network’s name. Scroll down until you see the router’s IP address.
  • On Android: Open Settings and tap Network & Internet, then Internet. Tap on the wireless network you’re connected to and scroll down—you’ll see a bunch of network information, including the router’s IP address.

2. Once you know the router’s IP address, enter it into the address bar of a web browser. The router’s settings page should appear.

3. Enter the router’s username and password to gain access to its settings.

4. Navigate to the WiFi access code within the router settings. This process will vary depending on the brand and model of the router.

How to see the WiFi password on an Android device

You can easily find the WiFi password for a network you’re connected to using your Android device. You just have to generate a QR code to share the connection.

1. Open Settings, then tap on Internet.

2. Touch the cog icon next to the network you’re connected to.

  • Note: You can tap on the name of any known network on the list, even if you’re not connected to it, but you’ll only be able to see a network’s password if you’ve previously saved those credentials to your device. 
Android settings showing where to find the cog icon that will lead you to your WiFi password.
It’s still sharing if you’re sharing it with yourself. Screenshot: Google

3. On the next screen, tap Share and go through the authentication process—depending on what you’ve set up, your device will require you to input your PIN, pattern, or biometrics. Once it’s complete, the WiFi network’s password will appear under the QR code.

An Android QR code showing where to find a WiFi password.
The WiFi password’s right there. Easy. Screenshot: Google

Find a WiFi password for a previously connected network

Although it’s easier to find the WiFi password of a network you’re connected to, it’s still possible to dredge up the login info for one you’ve hooked up to in the past. The work you have to do, though, will vary depending on the device.

Locate previous WiFi passwords on a Mac

Since the macOS operating system stores passwords in the Keychain Access app, it’s easy to find all of your previous network passwords on a MacBook.

1. Click the magnifying glass in the top right corner of your screen and type in “keychain access”. Click the name of the app when it appears.

The Mac search function with "Keychain Access" typed into it, showing where to find the Keychain Access app.
Seek “Keychain Access” and you shall find. Screenshot: Apple

2. Type the name of the WiFi network you want, then click on it when it shows up.

A Mac's WiFi settings showing where you can find a WiFi password from a previously connected network.
Hopefully you don’t have hundreds of WiFi networks saved. Screenshot: Apple

3. Click on the Show Password box, then enter your Mac’s administrator username and password to reveal the WiFi password you’re looking for.

A Mac's settings showing where to enter the admin's username and password to gain access to a WiFi network's password.
If you’re logged into your Mac, this step should be no problem. Screenshot: Apple

See older WiFi passwords on Windows 10 and 11

It’s not not as easy to find a password for a network you’ve previously connected to on Windows, but it is possible. The process is the same whether you’re running Windows 10 or 11.

1. Open the Start menu and look for the Command Prompt program. Right-click on it, select Run As Administrator, and click Yes to confirm this is what you want to do.

2. To see a list of the networks you’ve previously connected to, type in the following command: netsh wlan show profile. Hit Enter.

3. Once you’ve spotted the desired network, enter the command again, followed by the network name and the command key=clear. So, if the name of the network is “mywifi,” the command should be: netsh wlan show profile mywifi key=clear.

4. If it works—and it might not work if the WiFi profile or password isn’t on your system anymore—you’ll see a list of network information and will find the WiFi password next to Key Content.

The Windows Command Prompt program showing how to find a WiFi password for a current or previously connected network.
All the steps above are displayed here, but the WiFi password will be where the arrow is pointing. Screenshot: Microsoft

Find previous WiFi passwords on an iPhone

You can locate the WiFi password for any previously connected network on your iPhone but only if it’s running on iOS 16 or later.

1. Start by opening the Settings app and tapping Wi-Fi.

2. Tap the Edit button in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Enter your password or use facial recognition to continue.

The iOS Settings app, showing where to find the Edit button that will help you find previous WiFi passwords.
It says “edit,” but you won’t be editing any passwords, don’t worry. Screenshot: Apple

3. Scroll through the list of WiFi networks until you find the one you want. Tap the i button next to the name of the WiFi network, then click Password to reveal the password.

A list of previous WiFi network names on an iPhone, showing where to find the blue information icon. You can click this to find the network's password.
This will lead you to the WiFi password you need. Screenshot: Apple

How to find previous WiFi passwords on an Android device

The steps for finding the WiFi password for a network you previously connected to are almost exactly the same on Android as locating the login info for one you’re already using. You just have to generate a QR code to share the connection.

1. Open Settings, then tap on Internet.

2. Touch the cog icon next to the network you want to find the password for.

  • Note: You’ll only be able to see a network’s password if you’ve previously saved those credentials to your device. 
Android settings showing where to find the cog icon that will lead you to your WiFi password.
It’s still sharing if you’re sharing it with yourself. Screenshot: Google

3. On the next screen, tap Share and go through the authentication process—depending on what you’ve set up, your device will require you to enter your PIN, pattern, or biometrics. Once it’s complete, the WiFi network’s password will appear under the QR code.

An Android QR code showing where to find a WiFi password.
It’s right there. Easy. Screenshot: Google

FAQs

Q: Is there an app that can show saved WiFi passwords?

Depending on what type of device you are using, there are apps that can show saved WiFi passwords. For Android devices, WiFi Password Show will allow you to see all the passwords for every WiFi network you’ve ever connected to. If you’re using an iOS device, Tenorshare 4uKey – Password Manager allows you to find saved WiFi passwords.

The post How to find a WiFi password, whether you’re connected to the network or not appeared first on Popular Science.

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How to listen to Spotify’s huge library of audiobooks https://www.popsci.com/diy/spotify-audiobooks-tips/ Tue, 12 Sep 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=569638
A person'a hand holding an iPhone with a Spotify audiobook playing on the screen, with a houseplant behind the phone.
Maybe your plants want to listen too. Freguesia de Estrela / Unsplash

Spotify's audiobook offerings are relatively new, so you may not be as familiar with how to use them.

The post How to listen to Spotify’s huge library of audiobooks appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person'a hand holding an iPhone with a Spotify audiobook playing on the screen, with a houseplant behind the phone.
Maybe your plants want to listen too. Freguesia de Estrela / Unsplash

You probably know Spotify as a music streaming service, but you may not know exactly how robust its audiobook offerings are. At the time of writing, you can listen to more than 350,000 titles, and you can access them through the Spotify app in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

Audiobooks have been integrated pretty neatly into the Spotify user interface, so you can search for titles, add them to your library, and play audiobooks just as you would with podcasts and songs. You don’t have to dig deep to find audiobooks on Spotify, and getting started is straightforward.

How to find and buy audiobooks on Spotify

The Spotify audiobooks interface, showing free audiobooks and other options for finding what you might want to listen to.
Like music and podcasts, Spotify groups audiobooks into different categories. David Nield for Popular Science

Depending on the whims of the Spotify algorithm, you may see audiobooks recommended to you as soon as you open up the app. You should also see an Audiobooks link, alongside Music and Podcasts & Shows, up at the top of the Home tab in the mobile app.

Follow any of these audiobook-related links to find titles, or open up the Search tab. Before you type anything into the search box, you should see an Audiobooks thumbnail underneath that will take you to the audiobook catalog. As with music, you’ll get a variety of recommendations, split into categories.

These categories change all the time, but you might see free or new audiobooks highlighted, or books that have been developed into movies, for example. Tap or click on any title to see information about it, including how much it costs, what its running time is, the average star rating left by other users, and who narrates it. In some cases, there will be a sample audio clip you can listen to.

[Related: 7 nifty Audible tips for your audiobook needs]

From the browsing we’ve done, Spotify’s audiobook pricing seems to range from completely free to up to $50 or so. Tap or click Get on a free audiobook to add it to your library, or Buy on a paid-for audiobook. Note that payments are all managed through the web, so if you’re using the mobile or desktop app, you’ll be redirected to a website.

By default, Spotify will suggest that you pay for audiobooks using a payment method you’ve used before, or one associated with your subscription, but you can change this if required. Audiobooks work independently from Spotify Premium subscriptions, too—you don’t need to be a subscriber to buy audiobooks, and if you are a subscriber you won’t get any titles bundled in with your monthly fee.

How to listen to audiobooks in Spotify

The Spotify audiobooks interface when you're listening to an audiobook in the desktop app.
You’ll see individual chapters shown separately in your listening queue. David Nield for Popular Science

After you’ve purchased an audiobook on Spotify, you’ll find it in your library. On the desktop and the web, click the Audiobooks link at the top of the left-hand navigation pane, and on mobile tap Your Library, then Audiobooks. Click or tap Recents at the top to sort the audiobooks by the date they were added, the date they were published, author, or in alphabetical order.

You can actually add audiobooks to this list before buying them, too. On audiobook listing pages, you’ll see a plus symbol—click this to add the title to your library. You won’t be able to listen to it until you’ve purchased it, but it’s a handy way to shortlist audiobooks that you’re interested in.

Once you’ve selected an audiobook from your library, tap or click the play button to get it started. On the playback interface, you’ll see the same play/pause and skip buttons as you do with music—though the skip buttons let you jump between audiobook chapters, rather than between tracks on a playlist. The other controls match the controls for podcasts: You can skip forward or backward 15 seconds, and change the playback speed (from 0.5x to 3.5x).

[Related: Where to find new Spotify playlists when you don’t want to make your own]

It’s impossible to add audiobooks to playlists, but you can add them to the current queue, albeit in a rather clumsy way: You have to click the three dots next to an individual audiobook chapter (desktop and web) or tap and hold on a chapter (mobile) to find the Add to queue option. There’s no way to add entire audiobooks to the queue, which seems a bit of an oversight on Spotify’s part.

You can download audiobooks for offline listening whether you pay for Spotify or not—just tap or click on the downward arrow on the audiobook page. On mobile, you can also pin audiobooks to the top of the list in the Your Library tab. To do this, tap and hold on the audiobook you want to pin, then choose Pin audiobook from the menu that pops up.

The post How to listen to Spotify’s huge library of audiobooks appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to turn off your location on an iPhone to stay under the radar https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-turn-off-location-on-iphone/ Mon, 11 Sep 2023 23:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=567390
A woman holding an unlocked iPhone with a number of apps on the screen, including the Find My app.
You might not want all your iPhone apps to know where you are, so you may want to turn your location off to stay private. Jotform / Unsplash

Turning Location Services off can improve battery life, security, and overall phone performance.

The post How to turn off your location on an iPhone to stay under the radar appeared first on Popular Science.

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A woman holding an unlocked iPhone with a number of apps on the screen, including the Find My app.
You might not want all your iPhone apps to know where you are, so you may want to turn your location off to stay private. Jotform / Unsplash

Ever get the feeling that someone is watching you? Smartphone technology has revolutionized our lives but raised concerns about privacy. Location sharing, for example, can help us by letting navigation apps and ride-sharing services know where our devices (and usually us, too) are. However, sharing your location can lead to issues involving privacy, security, and even faster battery drain, especially if you don’t know it’s happening.

Thankfully, you can adjust your iPhone’s privacy settings to turn off location sharing, or at least minimize the amount of tracking information you’re sending elsewhere. This will allow you to control the data collected and shared with apps and services, and disabling Location Services is quick and easy on iOS. 

How to turn off location on an iPhone

1. Open the Settings app, then click on Privacy & Security.

The iPhone Settings app, showing where to find the privacy and security settings.
To keep your location private on an iPhone, you’ll need to enter the privacy settings. Screenshot: Apple

2. Select Location Services.

The iPhone Settings app showing where Location Services is.
Here’s where you’ll find pretty much everything related to your location. Screenshot: Apple

3. Turn off the green toggle switch to the right of Location Services at the top of the screen.

The iOS Settings app, showing where to find the toggle switch to turn off your location on an iPhone.
Just flip that switch. Screenshot: Apple

4. Confirm that you want to disable location sharing by tapping Turn Off in the pop-up menu. Turning off Location Services will turn off location sharing for all apps on your iPhone at once.

  • Note: Disabling Location Services will also make it unlikely that someone will be able to track your phone, if you’re worried about that.
The iOS Settings app, showing where to turn off your location on an iPhone.
Confirm you want to turn off your location and you’re good to go. Screenshot: Apple

How to turn off a hidden location option in your iPhone’s System Services

Buried among all the other options in the iPhone’s Location Services menu is System Services, and the options there are both important and easily overlooked. Disabling all or some of these will help you ensure greater privacy, increased battery life, and that it’s harder for companies and people to track your location.

[Related: Hidden iPhone settings that feel like secrets]

For the purposes of this guide, though, we’re focusing only on a feature called Significant Locations, which tracks where your device goes in an effort to figure out which places are particularly important to you.

1. Go to the Settings app, tap Privacy & Security, and select Location Services. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select System Services.

The iPhone Location Services settings, showing where to find System Services.
System Services is buried, but there are some crucial options hidden in there. Screenshot: Apple

2. Find Significant Locations and toggle off the switch next to it.

The iPhone System Services settings inside Location Services, showing where to find significant locations and turn it off.
Maybe you don’t want people knowing which locations mean something to you. Screenshot: Apple

How to hide your location on an iPhone

Hiding your location on an iPhone is similar to turning off Location Services entirely. To hide your location from specific apps, such as Apple’s Find My app, follow the first three steps from above. After tapping on Location Services, scroll down to find the app that you don’t want to access your location (Find My, in our example). You can then turn off Location Services for that specific app (choose Never), or select While Using to limit its access to your location data.

The iPhone Settings app, showing where to find the options to hide your location from specific apps, using the Find My app as an example of one you might never want to use your location.
The Find My app can help you find lost devices, but it can also show other people with access to the account where you are. Screenshot: Apple

You may have heard that airplane mode will hide your location, but it won’t—not entirely, at least. Airplane mode turns off all wireless connections on your iPhone, including cellular data, WiFi, and Bluetooth, so your phone won’t be able to share your location that way. But Location Services uses GPS, which operates independently, so some apps and services may still be able to see your device’s location while your phone is in airplane mode.

How to temporarily stop sharing your location on an iPhone

You can enable the Do Not Disturb mode to temporarily stop sharing your location on your iPhone. To do so, swipe down from the top right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older models) to open the Control Center. There, you will see a crescent moon icon representing Do Not Disturb. Tap on it to turn the mode on or off. When enabled, this feature will stop your device from sending location updates to apps and contacts.

The iPhone Control Center, showing where to find the Do Not Disturb Focus mode, which you can use to temporarily stop sharing your location.
Do Not Disturb makes sure people can’t find you either. Screenshot: Apple

As mentioned above, you can also manually turn off location sharing for specific apps by going to the Location Services settings and individually adjusting the permissions for each app. 

How to pull your iPhone location history from a computer

You can view your iPhone’s location history on a computer via iCloud’s Find My app. 

On your phone, go to the Settings app and tap on your Apple ID at the top. Then, select Find My and ensure the toggle next to Find My iPhone is turned on. Only then will the following steps work.

The iPhone Settings app showing how to ensure your location history is available via the Find My app.
If Find My isn’t on, you won’t be able to access what it knows about you. You can still turn it off again afterward, though. Screenshot: Apple

1. Log in to iCloud.com using your Apple ID and password.

2. From there, click the Find iPhone icon and select your device. You can view your iPhone’s location history on a map and access other features, such as remotely locking or erasing your device.

The Find My iPhone app showing a map of where an iPhone has been.
Found you. Screenshot: Apple

FAQs

Q. Can people see location on iPhone photos?

Yes, if you have enabled Location Services for your camera app, people can see the location on iPhone photos. This means that when you take a photo, the location data is embedded in the photo’s metadata, allowing others to view it if they can access the photo’s information. 

Q. Does the iPhone alert you when someone checks your location?

No, the iPhone does not alert you when someone checks your location. However, others can only see your location if you have explicitly shared it with them through apps like Find My or Messages.

Q. Does turning off your phone stop location sharing?

No, even when your phone is turned off, certain apps or services may still be able to access your last known location data. To stop location sharing, you must disable Location Services and revoke app permissions to block them from accessing your location. 

The post How to turn off your location on an iPhone to stay under the radar appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to reset your phone without losing everything https://www.popsci.com/story/diy/how-to-reset-devices/ Thu, 28 Jan 2021 13:00:00 +0000 https://stg.popsci.com/uncategorized/how-to-reset-devices/
A man in glasses and a gray fleece jacket sitting at a table in a coffee shop, using a laptop and a phone.
It's up to you if you want to reset your phone in a cafe, but make sure you're sitting next to a power outlet. Joseph Frank / Unsplash

Starting anew can be scary but rejuvenating.

The post How to reset your phone without losing everything appeared first on Popular Science.

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A man in glasses and a gray fleece jacket sitting at a table in a coffee shop, using a laptop and a phone.
It's up to you if you want to reset your phone in a cafe, but make sure you're sitting next to a power outlet. Joseph Frank / Unsplash

Think back to how you felt turning on your phone for the first time. That sparkling, uncluttered interface, speedy performance, and plenty of possibilities. You can actually feel that again whenever you like by completing a full factory reset of your iPhone or Android.

Resetting a phone is about more than just getting a fresh start, though: It can fix persistent bugs, get rid of unwanted apps and dangerous malware, and free up storage space on your device.

And if you’re worried about losing everything, don’t be. As long as you take some time to consider the potential pitfalls and back up your phone beforehand, you can reset your phone without losing any data. Let us guide you.

Before you reset your phone, make a plan

Resetting a phone wipes it clean and takes you back to the setup stage, so you’ll need to make sure you’ve backed up all your important data first. We’ve covered this in plenty of depth elsewhere, but it’s worth dropping some quick pointers here.

Mostly, backups are common sense: Think about what you have on your phone and make sure you have copies of everything you want to save on another device, on a disk drive, or in the cloud before you hit that reset button.

A warning if you use two-factor authentication

If you use your phone to prove your identity for accounts with two-factor authentication (2FA), know that this data might disappear when you reset it. You’ll need to make absolutely sure you can still get into your online accounts without 2FA, albeit temporarily.

What this means in practice will depend on your 2FA-enabled accounts and the 2FA method you’re using for each one. Do some diligent research and you should have nothing to worry about. Some accounts will give you backup codes to use if 2FA fails, so if you get one, make sure it’s in a safe, accessible place. For other accounts, it might be easier to just disable 2FA until you’re all set up on your phone again.

Apple and Google both let you use SMS codes as a backup to a 2FA authenticator app and verification code, so that’s an option (assuming you are keeping your SIM after you reset your phone). Beyond that, other authentication apps let you back up your logins to the cloud, which might work best for you, or you could transfer your authenticator app and its codes to another phone or tablet if you have one spare.

[Related: How to do two-factor authentication like a pro]

Once you’ve decided to reset your phone, you should also spend a few days noting exactly how you use it and how easily you’ll be able to get everything back the way you like it. Most software developers know phones get reset, lost, or stolen on a regular basis, so they should have planned for that, but it’s best to make sure.

Bear in mind, too, that backing up your phone can take time, depending on the speed of your connection.

How to reset an Android phone

The reset options for a stock Android phone, from resetting WiFi and Bluetooth to deleting all data.
The reset options on stock Android are pretty clear-cut. David Nield for Popular Science

Google has always developed its software with the cloud in mind, and everything from Gmail to Google Photos lives mostly online. However, you should still make sure that everything you need is in the cloud and that you don’t need anything stored on your phone (such as files downloaded from the web).

It’s also worth double-checking that your password manager is syncing all of your credentials from the apps on your phone—go to Settings, Passwords & accounts, and make sure the toggle next to Automatically sync app data is on. With that done, all you’ll need to remember is the username and password for your Google account. Don’t worry about having to pay for apps you already own—the Play Store will recognize you once you’ve signed into your Google account and will know what you’ve previously purchased.

You’ll find Android’s own backup process under System and Backup in Settings. You’ll then see a list of the items you’ll be backing up, which should include data such as contacts, text messages, and certain device settings (including WiFi passwords). You can tap on some of them (like Photos and videos or Google account data) to get more details and customize what you want to add to or remove from your backup. If you have any doubts about leaving information behind, we recommend reading through the official Google support document for resetting Pixel phones.

When you’re ready to reset your phone, make sure it’s plugged in and charging so the process doesn’t get interrupted. Open Settings, then choose System, Reset options, and Erase all data (factory reset). Android will then show you an overview of the data you’re about to wipe. Tap Erase all data, enter the lock screen PIN code, and tap Erase all data again to start the reset process. Once the reset is complete, you’ll find yourself back at the Android setup process.

How to reset an iPhone

The reset options on an iPhone running iOS.
The reset options on an iPhone are clearly labeled, so it’s hard to make a mistake. David Nield for Popular Science

Traditionally, Apple hasn’t been quite as savvy as Google when it comes to constantly syncing data to the cloud, but iCloud has improved in recent years. It can now store a substantial amount of information for you (from contacts to calendars) while you’re busy resetting your phone. When it comes time to reinstall apps, Apple’s App Store will remember what you’ve paid for, so you won’t need to purchase them again.

As for backups, iOS has a comprehensive backup option, which uses either a computer or iCloud. If you open Settings, tap your Apple ID at the top, and then pick iCloud, you can see the apps sending data to the web. You can also choose iCloud Backup from this list to make sure a backup occurred right before you decided to reset your phone.

[Related: The best ways to back up all your photos to the cloud]

Before you proceed, you should also read Apple’s thorough support document on resetting iPhones, just to ensure you’ve done everything necessary. That document also covers how to back up your phone if you need extra help with that (iOS will actually prompt you to create a backup when you reset it, if you haven’t run one in a while).

Finally, get your phone plugged in and charging to make sure the reset isn’t interrupted, then open Settings and pick General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, and choose whether you want to Reset the device or Erase All Content and Settings. You’ll be prompted to enter the passcode for your phone and possibly your Apple ID password to confirm your choice (this is a good way to ensure you remember your Apple ID password, as you’ll need it to sign in again). After the reset, your iPhone will reboot to the setup screen.

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2021.

The post How to reset your phone without losing everything appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to use Apple Maps offline and finally ditch Google https://www.popsci.com/diy/apple-maps-offline/ Sun, 10 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=568854
Two people using Apple Maps while hiking
Now you don't need an internet connection to use your iPhone's built-in maps app. Kamaji Ogino / Pexels

The new iOS 17 feature puts the app head to head with its main competitor.

The post How to use Apple Maps offline and finally ditch Google appeared first on Popular Science.

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Two people using Apple Maps while hiking
Now you don't need an internet connection to use your iPhone's built-in maps app. Kamaji Ogino / Pexels

I’ve been wanting to ditch Google Maps for a while but one thing held me back: offline maps. Apple Maps was, until recently, basically useless without an internet connection, and since I like to hike (which involves traveling to places without a cell signal) I was stuck with Google. 

No longer. One of the best new iOS 17 features is offline maps for Apple Maps. You can now select areas to download to your phone, allowing you to use turn-by-turn navigation and even search without an internet connection. 

Note that iOS 17 is currently a public beta. You can sign up for it to test the latest features, but you should know that signing up for any beta program is not without risk. If having a sneak peek at Apple’s new operating system version is not worth running into the occasional bug or error, then maybe you should wait until the official release in October 2023. But if you’re already using iOS 17, let’s dive in. 

How to download maps on Apple Maps

To get started, open Apple Maps, tap the circle with your photo or initials to the right of the search box and  choose Offline Maps in the menu. On the next screen, go to Download New Map

[Related: 5 uses for Google Maps beyond navigation]

Apple Maps offline maps menu
If you know you won’t have a signal, use your last minutes with a Wi-Fi connection to download an offline map. Apple Maps

Apple Maps will ask you to type the name of the city, region or general area you want to download. The app will show you a preview of the map you looked for and a cropping box which you can resize to select how much of it you want to download—just pinch to zoom in or out and select a bigger or smaller area. 

Apple Maps offline maps' download menu
Pinch the map in and out to make sure your offline map contains everything you need. But beware—bigger maps take up more space. Apple Maps

Bigger maps will take up more storage space, and you’ll be able to see how much at the bottom of the screen. If you’ll be covering a large area, be sure to free up space on your iPhone. When you’re satisfied, tap Download and your device will do its thing.

[Related: How to hide your house on every map app]

By default, your iPhone will only download offline maps while you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network, but if you need to, you can change that by tapping the Downloads option in the offline maps settings. To make sure you always have the latest possible information, Apple Maps will periodically and automatically update your offline maps, though the company doesn’t say how often the app will do this. If you’re not planning on using your downloaded map again, you can turn these automatic updates off in the settings. Finally, if you’re the sort of person who forgets to delete offline maps after a vacation and then wonders why their phone never has any available storage, you can turn on an optional Optimize Storage toggle switch, which will delete maps that you’re not using anymore after a certain period of time. 

The offline maps feature makes Apple Maps a true competitor to Google Maps, especially after you transfer your pinned items over. I’m not sure if I’ll ever install Google Maps on my iPhone again. 

The post How to use Apple Maps offline and finally ditch Google appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Stop macOS Sonoma from hiding your windows when you click the desktop https://www.popsci.com/diy/macos-sonoma-hiding-windows/ Sat, 09 Sep 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=569049
A Macbook sits semi open in the dark
To give you better access to macOS' brand new widgets, Sonoma minimizes all of your windows the second you click on the desktop space. Extremely annoying. Wesson Wang / Unsplash

You can prevent all of your windows from disappearing on Apple's new OS.

The post Stop macOS Sonoma from hiding your windows when you click the desktop appeared first on Popular Science.

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A Macbook sits semi open in the dark
To give you better access to macOS' brand new widgets, Sonoma minimizes all of your windows the second you click on the desktop space. Extremely annoying. Wesson Wang / Unsplash

Sonoma, the upcoming version of macOS, has some really cool features, including the ability to put widgets on the desktop. But the OS update also has one confounding change: clicking the desktop, by default, now hides all of your windows.

This is very annoying, but there’s a certain logic to it: if your desktop is full of widgets and files, you might want a quick way to access everything on it. But just because something makes sense from a design point of view, doesn’t mean you’re going to get used to it or even like it. Sonoma spares you of the windows’ exodus when you click a file or a widget, but I still found this feature disorienting, and I’m sure I’m not alone. The good news is that you can turn it off. 

[Related: 4 tips and hidden settings that will speed up macOS]

1. Head to System Settings, which you can open by clicking the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen and clicking System Settings, or by opening the app with the cog icon in the dock. 

2. Go to Desktop & Dock in the left sidebar. 

3. Scroll down to find the Click wallpaper to reveal desktop option. Set this to Only in Stage Manager

Settings menu for macOS Sonoma
Maybe you’re not even interested in widgets anyway. Here’s how to keep your desktop working as it always has. Screenshot: Apple

4. Turn off Stage Manager

Stage Manager is one of the features Apple added to macOS Ventura back in 2022 and it’s an alternative way to manage the open windows on your Mac. When you enable this feature, only one window shows up on the screen at a time, while the rest are thumbnails you can see to the left. But clicking the desktop when Stage Manager is enabled means the desktop hides every time you click it no matter what, so you’re going to want to disable this feature to get your old desktop back.

[Related: Master your Mac by creating custom keyboard shortcuts]

After you’ve tweaked these settings, your desktop should work the way you’re used to, meaning you can get back to using your computer just like you’ve always had. That is until the next weirdness Apple decides to add. 

The post Stop macOS Sonoma from hiding your windows when you click the desktop appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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7 tips to unleash your creativity on Canva https://www.popsci.com/diy/canva-tips/ Fri, 08 Sep 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=568650
Canva interface showing a newly designed invitation
Your birthday can be an improvised event, but with Canva, the invitations don't have to look it. Screenshot: Canva

If you can imagine it, Canva can help you design it.

The post 7 tips to unleash your creativity on Canva appeared first on Popular Science.

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Canva interface showing a newly designed invitation
Your birthday can be an improvised event, but with Canva, the invitations don't have to look it. Screenshot: Canva

Canva is a graphic design software package available on the web, desktop and mobile, and it can help you make just about anything: from websites, documents, and whiteboards, to presentations, social media posts, posters, and newsletters. You can use the platform for free, but if you pay $15 a month, you’ll have access to more templates and stock content, and more advanced tools. 

Whatever you use Canva for, some tips will help you find more to explore. We’ll focus on the web interface, but you can find the same or similar features in the mobile and desktop apps too.

1. Switch the style up

In the toolbar pane on the left, click Design and then Styles to change up the look of your Canva creation: You’ll have a range of color schemes and font sets to pick from, organized into categories like Modern and Professional.

[Related: 5 ways to get started with Freeform, Apple’s app for creative thinkers]

Click on any style to apply it and see how it looks. All of the text and images you’ve put in place won’t change, but this feature is a quick and easy way to freshen up your layout without effort—especially if you’re stuck for inspiration.

2. Animate design elements

If whatever you’re working on is going to be viewed on a screen rather than in physical, printed form, you can take advantage of animations. Select any item or group of items in your design, and click Animate at the top to see your options. Pro subscribers will be able to do more, and get the ability to adjust the speed and direction of the animation.

Choose an animation style to see a preview.  When used well, adding animations to your presentation or website can really catch the eye, but be wary of overdoing them.

3. Leave comments for yourself (or others)

Comment feature on Canva
If you’re collaborating with other people, leaving comments on your Canva creation can let your team know about pending tasks and the need for revisions. Screenshot: Canva

Right-click on any element on the page, and choose  Comment to attach text to different parts of your design, together with emojis and stickers. It’s a handy way of leaving reminders or notes to yourself.

Canva’s commenting feature is also useful when you’re collaborating with other people or sharing your designs. Everyone with access to the file will be able to access the comments, and you can @ mention other users to get their attention—they’ll get a notification telling them you’ve assigned them a task or have a comment for them they cannot miss.

4. Get everything positioned correctly

Having misaligned design elements can really hurt the visual aesthetic of your Canva creation, but there are tools available to make sure that doesn’t happen. To begin with, you can right-click on any item and choose Align to page to set its location in relation to the digital canvas as a whole.

There’s also a Position button in the toolbar at the top: Click it to set an element’s place down to the exact pixel. If you have multiple items selected (Shift+Click to select one by one or drag over them all using the mouse) you’ll also be able to quickly position them in relation to each other.

5. Pick out a color from anywhere

Color options menu on Canva
The eyedropper tool on Canva lets you sample colors from any image or element in your computer screen. Sreenshot: Canva

Select an element in your canvas to pick a color for it—just click the color swatch on the left of the toolbar. You’ll have a wide range of colors to choose from, but if you click the multicolored button with a + (plus) sign on it, you’ll access the color picker tool—it’s the one with a little pipette icon on it.

Use this feature to choose a color from anywhere on the design—you’ll even get a little zoomed-in grid to help you be as precise as possible. In fact, you can pick up a color from anywhere on your computer screen, so you can sample colors from websites or images you’ve got open in other tabs or have saved to your local hard drive without importing them to Canva.

6. Copy styles over

If you’re really happy with a font size and color combo,  or the border and tint you gave to an image, Canva lets you automatically copy this style over to other elements too.

[Related: Best presentation software of 2023]

Click the item whose style you want to take, then click the copy style button on the toolbar at the top: It looks like a paint roller. Finish by selecting another item on the page, and Canva will apply the style to it.

7. Apply colors from an image

Sometimes the most difficult part of creating a design is figuring out a combination of colors to use. But to make things easier, Canva lets you use one of your images as a foundation to develop your own color palette.

Just right-click on an image, choose Apply colors to page, and the platform will apply the scheme of the photo to the other items in your design. It’s a really good way of making sure everything looks cohesive and fits together visually.

The post 7 tips to unleash your creativity on Canva appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to track your AirTags—and protect yourself when they’re not yours https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-detect-airtag/ Wed, 06 Sep 2023 13:19:50 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=568203
An AirTag, probably tracking lost keys.
You can find AirTags whether they belong to you or have been left by someone else. Apple

Track your stuff—and avoid being stalked.

The post How to track your AirTags—and protect yourself when they’re not yours appeared first on Popular Science.

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An AirTag, probably tracking lost keys.
You can find AirTags whether they belong to you or have been left by someone else. Apple

Since Apple’s AirTags launched in 2021, they’ve allowed people to keep track of their bags, wallets, cameras, suitcases, and whatever else they can attach to. You can see their locations on a map on trusted phones, tablets, and laptops, and even get alerts when the button-shaped device goes out of range.

As useful as these gadgets are, there are also valid concerns about people using them for the unauthorized tracking of items and even other people. This is why Apple developed anti-stalking tech you can use to detect the close proximity of AirTags that don’t belong to you. 

The good news is that the software is also available to Android users, which means you can protect yourself even if you don’t own Apple hardware.

Tracking your own AirTags

Right now, you’ll only be able to set up a new AirTag using an iPhone or an iPad. Once you take the device out of the package, pull out the tab next to the battery to activate it. Your Apple phone or tablet should automatically notice it’s nearby: Tap on the Connect message that appears on screen to configure the AirTag.

[Related: How to track down your lost devices]

You can then follow your AirTags in the Find My app on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. The options are the same no matter what device you’re using to track it: You can get your AirTag to make a sound, locate it if it’s nearby, and turn notifications on and off for when you leave it behind somewhere.

Find My app settings to track AirTag
You can have the AirTag emit a sound so you can find it more easily. Apple

There’s also a lost mode option that you can enable if a particular AirTag isn’t showing up on the map. This feature enlists the help of hundreds of millions of Apple devices owned by other people—in an encrypted, anonymous way, according to the company—to see if the tiny gadget and whatever it’s attached to can be found. 

If someone should come close enough to your AirTag to identify it, you’ll both get an alert. On your end, you’ll get a notification saying your AirTag has been found, and its location will be updated in the Find My app. Whoever found your gadget will get a notification with your contact information (phone number and email) and a brief message, if you added one.

How to detect if an AirTag is tracking you

You don’t have to look far to find reports of AirTags being used to keep tabs on people without permission—despite this being a criminal offense. To counter this, Apple has introduced a variety of anti-stalking measures.

Unless you’ve changed certain device settings, an iPhone or iPad will alert you by default if an AirTag you don’t own is moving with you over time. To make sure these options are enabled, go to Settings and head to Privacy & Security and Location Services: Location Services should be on, and under System Services, Find My iPhone and Significant Locations should be on. You also need to make sure you’re not in airplane mode and Bluetooth is on. Finally, head to the Find My app, open the Me tab, and make sure Tracking Notifications are turned on.

Notification from Find My app showing a strange AirTag nearby
If an unknown AirTag is traveling with you, you’ll get an alert no matter if you have an iPhone or an Android phone. Apple

 If an unknown AirTag is tracking you, you’ll see an alert to this effect on your device, and you’ll be able to check a trail of red dots on the Find My app that shows how far the gadget has moved with you.

The next step finding out where the AirTag is. You can tap Play Sound in the Find My app to have the tracker emit a noise, which might help you figure out its location. If you have an iPhone 11 or newer, your device is equipped with ultra-wideband (UWB) tech, so you can also tap Find Nearby to get detailed directions to where the AirTag is.

[Related: How to find a lost phone]

Google has built a similar anti-stalking feature into Android. From Settings, choose Safety and emergency, and then Unknown tracker alerts. You can enable or disable automatic scanning, as well as run a manual scan to see if an unknown AirTag has been traveling along with you. As with iPhones, you’ll be able to have the tracker make a sound or see how long it’s been with you on a map.

Find my app tracking an AirTag
Apple uses its network of iPhones to notify an AirTag’s rightful owner if you happen to find the gadget. Apple

Additionally, an AirTag that’s been separated from its owner and on the move will occasionally emit a sound on its own. Hold any NFC-enabled device (this includes most modern phones) up to the AirTag to see details about it. The information on screen will show you contact information for the AirTag (if the owner has provided it) and put the tracker in lost mode. You’ll also see instructions for disabling the AirTag, which basically entails removing its battery. 

It’s up to you whether you report the missing AirTag and reunite it with its owner, or disable it completely. If it’s attached to someone else’s bag, chances are it’s genuinely been lost and needs to be returned, whereas if it’s been dropped into your own bag it’s much more likely someone is trying to keep tabs on your location without your knowledge. Whatever you choose to do, make staying safe your number one priority.

The post How to track your AirTags—and protect yourself when they’re not yours appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to transfer your WhatsApp stickers to Signal and Telegram https://www.popsci.com/story/diy/export-whatsapp-stickers-to-telegram/ Fri, 12 Mar 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://stg.popsci.com/uncategorized/export-whatsapp-stickers-to-telegram/
Android phone on marble table.
Save those precious reaction stickers. All of them. Charles Deluvio / Unsplash

All your memes and GIFs can go with you to a new messaging app.

The post How to transfer your WhatsApp stickers to Signal and Telegram appeared first on Popular Science.

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Android phone on marble table.
Save those precious reaction stickers. All of them. Charles Deluvio / Unsplash

You thought convincing your friends to swap WhatsApp for Telegram or Signal would be the hardest thing about switching messaging apps. But then you realized you’d lose your precious sticker collection.

Only you don’t have to. Whether you walk on the iOS or Android side of the street, you can move all of your stickers from WhatsApp to Telegram or Signal. It’s slightly unintuitive, and will probably take a while if you have an iPhone, but at least you won’t have to throw years of sticker-collecting out the proverbial window. And then you can go ahead and delete WhatsApp without looking back.

How to export WhatsApp stickers to Telegram 

On an Android phone

1. From the Files app, scroll down to Internal storage and follow this path: Android > Media > com.whatsapp > WhatsApp > Media > WhatsApp Stickers. Don’t be surprised if you find a large number of WebP files in that folder—it holds your personal collection of stickers and every single one you’ve ever received. Even the bad ones.

  • Note: We tried this path on a Pixel 7 Pro, but there’s a lot of variation among Android phones, so the steps on your device might be slightly different depending on its manufacturer. 
Android settings showing how to find WhatsApp stickers.
The path to find your WhatsApp stickers sounds long and complicated, but getting to the right files won’t be as hard as selecting your favorite stickers. Screenshot: Android

2. Select the stickers you want to export. If you want to trim the fat and grab only the best of the best, long-press one file to activate selection mode and tap on the rest of the files you want to export. If you think you can leave nothing behind, tap the three dots in the top right corner of your screen to Select all

3. Once you’re done, hit the three dots again, tap Move to, and select an easily accessible folder on your phone—we moved our stickers to the Downloads folder.

  • Note: If you have a large number of stickers, it might be easier to move them to your laptop and import them to Telegram using the platform’s desktop client. To do that, you can use Android’s Nearby feature or transfer the files to your computer using a USB cable. You can also back up your stickers to a cloud service (like iCloud or Google Drive) that you can easily access through a web browser. Just remember that you’ll have to download them to a local folder on your computer before uploading them to Telegram. 
Menu showing how to move WhatsApp stickers to a new folder.
Moving your WhatsApp stickers to a more accessible folder will make the transferring process so much easier. Screenshot: Android

[Related: Make a Memoji that actually looks like you]

4. To import your stickers into Telegram, you’ll be using the app’s official sticker bot. On the app, use the search feature (the magnifying glass in the upper right corner of the screen) to summon it. 

Android search results showing Telegram's Sticker bot
You used to be able to share your WhatsApp stickers directly with your Telegram chats, but now you must use the latter’s sticker bot. Screenshot: Telegram

5. Type /newpack into the message field and follow the instructions.

6. Upload your stickers as files. Tap the paper clip icon on the right of the message field and choose File. Use your device’s file explorer to get to the folder where you saved your stickers and send them to the bot—you can do this one by one or in bulk.  

7.  The sticker bot will ask you for one or two emojis that best describe your sticker. This will help it know what the sticker is about so it can recommend it when you’re messaging your friends. 

  • Note: If you upload multiple stickers, you’ll only have to provide an emoji for the first one. This is less of a hassle, but it’ll hinder Telegram’s ability to provide accurate sticker recommendations in the future.  
Telegram's sticker bot.
Using Telegram’s Sticker bot is easy—just follow the instructions. Screenshot: Telegram

8. When you’re done, type /publish. Telegram’s sticker bot will ask you to give a unique short name to your pack, which will serve to create a URL you can share with your contacts so they can also use your stickers. 

9. Tap the URL and on the next screen finish by hitting Add stickers. They will be easily accessible every time you tap the sticker icon to the left of the message field.  

Telegram's sticker bot settings.
To finish, install your new sticker pack and you’ll be all set. Screenshot: Telegram

On an iPhone

You can’t transfer WhatsApp stickers anywhere using an iPhone, but you can use WhatsApp’s web platform and Telegram’s sticker bot to transfer stickers from your computer. It’s easy, but might take a while.

1. Open WhatsApp web in your browser and find a sticker you like in a chat. Right-click on it and choose Save image as to store the sticker as a WebP file. Repeat this step to save as many stickers as you want.

  • Note: You won’t get the option to save the image on WhatsApp’s desktop client, so make sure you use the web interface on your browser. 

[Related: Emojis and reaction GIFs make Slack better. Here’s how to create them.]

2. Open Telegram in your browser and use the search feature in the left corner of your screen to summon the app’s official sticker bot.

3. Type /newpack into the message field and follow the instructions.

Telegram's Sticker bot.
To start a new sticker pack with Telegram’s Sticker bot, just type, well, /newpack. Screenshot: Telegram

4. Upload your stickers as files. Tap the paper clip icon on the right of the message field and choose File. Use your device’s file explorer to get to the folder where you saved your stickers and send them to the bot—you can do this one by one or in bulk.  

5. The sticker bot will ask you for one or two emojis that best describe your sticker. This will help it know what it’s about so that it can then recommend it to you when you’re messaging your friends. 

  • Note: If you upload multiple stickers, you’ll only have to provide an emoji for the first one. This is less of a hassle, but it’ll hinder Telegram’s ability to provide accurate sticker recommendations in the future.  

6. When you’re done, type /publish. Telegram’s sticker bot will ask you to give a unique short name to your pack, which will serve to create a URL you can share with your contacts so they can also use your stickers.

Telegram's sticker bot asking a user to add an emoji to their exported WhatsApp sticker.
Associating an emoji to each sticker will help Telegram suggest them to you in the future. Screenshot: Telegram

7. Tap the URL, and finish on the next screen by hitting Add stickers. They will be easily accessible every time you tap the sticker icon to the left of the message field.  

How to export WhatsApp stickers to Signal 

Good news: Transferring WhatsApp stickers to Signal is a lot easier than moving them to Telegram. The key is using Signal’s desktop app. 

First, export your WhatsApp stickers as WebP files. How you do this will depend on your phone’s operating system. Click to skip directly to the steps for iPhone, or continue for the Android how-to:

On an Android phone

1. From the Files app, scroll down to Internal storage and follow this path: Android > Media > com.whatsapp > WhatsApp > Media > WhatsApp Stickers. There you’ll find WebP files with your personal collection of stickers and every single one you’ve ever received. Even the bad ones.

  • Note: We tried this path on a Pixel 7 Pro, but there’s a lot of variation among Android phones, so the steps on your device might be slightly different depending on its manufacturer. 
Android settings showing how to find WhatsApp stickers.
The path to find your WhatsApp stickers sounds long and complicated, but getting to the right files won’t be as hard as selecting your favorite stickers. Screenshot: Android

2. Select the stickers you want to export. If you want to trim the fat and grab only the best of the best, long-press one file to activate selection mode and tap on the rest of the files you want to export. If you think you can leave nothing behind, tap the three dots in the top right corner of your screen to Select all

3. Once you’re done, you’ll need to transfer the files to your computer. You have three options:

Android menu showing how to share WhatsApp stickers
If you have it set up already, sending your WhatsApp stickers using Nearby Share is the easiest option if you have a large number of stickers. Screenshot: Android
  • Use Nearby share: Hit the Nearby icon to the left of the trash can. It looks like two lines intertwined. If you need help, follow our step-by-step guide on how to use Nearby Share on your PC.
  • Transfer files via USB: You can connect your Android phone to a computer with a USB cable. Whether you own a Mac or a PC, we have a guide with specific instructions you can follow. The path to find your stickers is the same as in Step 1 above.  
  • Back up to the cloud: Back up your stickers to a cloud service, like iCloud or Google Drive, that you can later access through a web browser. Then download the stickers to a local folder.

4. Continue below with uploading your stickers to Signal.

On an iPhone

1. Open WhatsApp web in your browser and find a sticker you like in a chat. Right-click on it and choose Save image as to store the sticker as a WebP file. Repeat this step to save as many stickers as you want.

  • Note: You won’t get the option to save the image on WhatsApp’s desktop client, so make sure you use the web interface on your browser.

2. Continue below.

Upload your stickers to Signal

Once your stickers are saved to your computer, you can upload them to Signal. 

1. Open the Signal desktop app, go to File, and click Create/upload sticker pack.  

Signal menu showing how to create a new sticker pack.
If you chose to move to Signal instead of Telegram, moving your stickers will be exponentially easier. Screenshot: Signal

2. Click the plus sign to open your computer’s file explorer or drag and drop your stickers. The app will show you thumbnails of what you’ve uploaded—click the X in the upper right corner of each sticker to remove it, or click the plus sign at the end of the selection to add more. Finish by hitting Next

Signal's sticker pack creator on desktop interface.
Drag your WhatsApp stickers to Signal’s desktop app to upload them. Screenshot: Signal

3. Click the emoji icon in the upper right corner of each thumbnail to associate an emoji with your sticker. Signal will use this as a hint to know what your sticker is and recommend it to you when you’re messaging your friends. Click Next when you’re done. 

Signal's sticker pack creator tool.
Adding emojis to stickers helps the platform suggest you relevant stickers when you type. And yes, that’s me holding a raw turkey, and that’s Spanish music legend Julio Iglesias. If you know, you know. Screenshot: Signal

4. Give your sticker pack a title, an author name, and a cover image. This will help identify your stickers if you want to share them later. 

Naming sticker pack on Signal's sticker creator.
If you decide to share your sticker pack, giving it your signature and title will help identify it. Screenshot: Signal

5. Hit Next and confirm your choice in the next dialogue box by clicking Upload. Your stickers will automatically upload to Signal and you’ll be able to immediately use them in a chat. 

Signal's sticker menu.
As soon as you’re done uploading your stickers, they will be available on your Signal chats—both on the web and mobile app. Screenshot: Signal

To manage your sticker packs, go to Signal on mobile or the web, open any chat, click or tap the sticker icon, and then hit the plus sign. You should see your sticker icons under Installed, and you’ll be able to remove them by clicking Uninstall on desktop and web, or the X on mobile.  

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2021.

The post How to transfer your WhatsApp stickers to Signal and Telegram appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to cancel Apple TV+ because you probably have too many streaming services https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-cancel-apple-tv/ Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:45:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=566905
A person holding an iPad with Apple TV+ on the screen.
Cancelling your Apple TV+ subscription is easy to do from the app. Depositphotos

Say goodbye to 'Ted Lasso' and save some money.

The post How to cancel Apple TV+ because you probably have too many streaming services appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person holding an iPad with Apple TV+ on the screen.
Cancelling your Apple TV+ subscription is easy to do from the app. Depositphotos

The average American subscribes to four streaming services. Maybe you’re starting to feel overwhelmed by all of those options. What about that free trial Apple TV subscription you signed up for to binge-watch Hijack but forgot to cancel before the fee hit? You’re not alone—many people fall into the same trap and end up paying for services they no longer use or need. If you’re looking to cut down on streaming fees and want to kick one to the curb, canceling Apple TV+ is simple (thankfully).

What’s the difference between Apple TV and Apple TV+?

Apple offers two different services for streaming content. Apple TV is a media player device that lets you stream content from various sources onto your large-screen TV. You don’t need a subscription for it. Apple TV+, meanwhile, is a subscription-based streaming service that provides Apple-produced original content, professional sports, and a back catalog of films and TV shows. The streaming service is available via an app on your phone, iPad, computer, and smart TV. So if you’re wondering, “How do I cancel Apple TV?” make sure not to confuse the subscription service with the device itself. 

How to cancel Apple TV+

Apple TV media player on a wood table.
Canceling an Apple TV+ subscription via the Apple TV media player is a simple process. Unsplash / Nicolas J. Leclercq

You can easily cancel Apple TV+ with just a few clicks. If you want to get rid of your Apple TV player and remote as well, donate them, resell them, or take them to a collection point for e-waste recycling.

There are four different ways to get rid of Apple’s streaming service—choose the one that works best for you:

Cancel Apple TV+ from your Apple TV media player

1. Open Settings on the Apple TV.

2. Go to Users and Accounts > [account name] Subscriptions, and select a subscription.

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to change or cancel your subscription.

How to cancel Apple TV+ from an internet browser

1. Open a web browser. Go to tv.apple.com and click the blue Sign In button.

The Apple TV+ app in a web browser.
If you’re not signed in, you’ll need to do that first. Screenshot: Apple

2. Enter your Apple ID and password.

The Apple TV+ sign-in screen in a browser.
You know your Apple ID, right? Screenshot: Apple

3. Navigate to the Settings in the upper right corner of the screen.

The Apple TV+ app in a browser, showing where the account settings are located in the upper right corner.
Your subscription options are inside the app’s settings. Screenshot: Apple

4. In the Subscriptions section, click Manage.

The Apple TV+ app in a browser, showing where to manage your subscription.
You can manage your subscription by changing it or canceling Apple TV+ entirely. Screenshot: Apple

5. Find the Apple TV+ subscription and select Cancel Subscription.

The Apple TV+ app in a browser, showing how to cancel your Apple TV+ subscription.
This action will start the cancelation process. Screenshot: Apple

6. Click Cancel Subscription on the next menu to confirm.

The Apple TV+ app in a browser, showing the confirmation that you want to cancel Apple TV+.
Yes, you do really want to cancel. Confirming will set it in stone. Screenshot: Apple

How to cancel Apple TV+ on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch 

1. Open the Settings app on your device, then tap on your Apple ID at the top of the screen. 

The iPhone settings app, showing where to find your Apple ID.
If you’re already logged in on your device, that’s one less thing you’ll have to do. Screenshot: Apple

2. Select Media & Purchases, then View Account.

The iOS settings app showing Media & Purchases.
In Media & Purchases, you can see a list of all your active subscriptions. Screenshot: Apple

3. Find the Subscriptions field and tap on it. 

The iOS settings app, with Subscriptions highlighted.
This option will show you a list of all current subscriptions linked to your Apple ID. Screenshot: Apple

4. Select Apple TV+ to access the streaming service’s subscription information.

The iOS Settings app, showing the Apple TV+ subscription.
You’re almost there… Screenshot: Apple

5. Tap the red Cancel Subscription button.

The iOS settings app, showing where to cancel Apple TV+.
Red is a warning, but you want to cancel Apple TV+, right? Screenshot: Apple

6. Confirm the cancelation.

The iOS Settings app showing where to confirm cancelation of Apple TV+.
You’re free! Until you decide to subscribe again. Screenshot: Apple

How to cancel your Apple TV+ subscription in the app

1. Open the Apple TV+ app and click on your profile in the upper right corner.

The Apple TV+ app on an iPhone, showing where your profile is.
This is how the app looks on an iPhone, but the profile location should be similar no matter your device. Screenshot: Apple

2. Tap on your Apple ID.

The Apple TV+ app on an iPhone, showing where your Apple ID is located.
No surprise: You’ll need your Apple ID. Screenshot: Apple

3. Take a peek above at the steps for canceling your Apple TV+ subscription from an iOS or iPadOS device and proceed from Step 3 to finish the job.

FAQs

Q. Can I cancel Apple TV+ before the free trial ends?

Yes, you can cancel your Apple TV+ subscription before the free trial ends. By doing so, you will not be charged for any subscription fees once the trial period is over. However, you’ll no longer have access to the content your Apple TV+ subscription offers.

Q. Do I need to cancel Apple TV+ if I get an Apple One?

No, you do not need to cancel your Apple TV+ subscription if you get an Apple One subscription. Apple One includes Apple TV+ as one of its services, so your Apple TV+ subscription will be automatically included in your Apple One bundle.

Q. Can I cancel Apple TV+ at any time?

Yes, you can cancel your Apple TV subscription at any time. There are no specific restrictions or limitations on when you can cancel.

Q. Why can’t I cancel a subscription on my iPhone?

You may not be unable to cancel a subscription on your iPhone if you are not signed in with the Apple ID used to purchase the subscription. Make sure you are using the correct Apple ID, and try again. If you continue to experience difficulties, contact Apple Support for assistance.

Q. How can I find all my Apple subscriptions?

To find all your Apple subscriptions:
1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on your name at the top.
2. Select Subscriptions, and you will see a list of all the subscriptions associated with your Apple ID.
3. If you have multiple Apple IDs, check under each one to find all your subscriptions.

Q. Will I lose my purchased movies if I cancel Apple TV+?

You will not lose your purchased movies if you cancel Apple TV+. Your purchased movies are tied to your Apple ID and can be accessed through the Purchased section of the iTunes or Apple TV app. Even if you cancel your subscription, you will still have access to the movies you have purchased.

Q. If I change my mind about cancelling Apple TV+, can I reactivate it?

If you change your mind about cancelling Apple TV+, you can reactivate it. Sign back into your Apple ID and resubscribe to Apple TV+. Your previous settings and preferences will be saved.

The post How to cancel Apple TV+ because you probably have too many streaming services appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to find the WiFi password on an iPhone in a few simple steps https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-find-wifi-password-on-iphone/ Mon, 04 Sep 2023 10:22:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=566996
A person taking a new iPhone out of a box on a wooden table.
Finding the WiFi password on an iPhone is easy, but it's a little harder on older versions of iOS. Depositphotos

You can find almost any WiFi password if you know where to look.

The post How to find the WiFi password on an iPhone in a few simple steps appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person taking a new iPhone out of a box on a wooden table.
Finding the WiFi password on an iPhone is easy, but it's a little harder on older versions of iOS. Depositphotos

Knowing how to find WiFi passwords on your iPhone can be a lifesaver. Sure, your phone usually saves the passwords for all the networks you use, allowing you to move seamlessly from WiFi to cell data to WiFi as you go about your daily routine. While this eliminates the need to memorize passwords, there are times when you may need to know what a password actually is.

Perhaps your iPhone won’t connect to WiFi and you need to reenter the password. Maybe you want to add another device to a network or share the WiFi password with a friend or colleague. If you don’t know how to find your saved network passwords, you could be left stranded offline. Thankfully, there are several methods you can use to track down that elusive login information and get online.

Start by finding your iOS version

How easy or hard it is to find WiFi passwords on your iPhone depends on the iOS version you’re using. To find that information, open your iPhone’s Settings app, then tap General > About and look for iOS version. If you’re running iOS 16 or later, you can see WiFi passwords for the network you’re currently connected to, as well as any network you’ve connected to in the past.

Related: 24 hidden iPhone settings that feel like secrets

If you’re using an earlier version of iOS, finding those network passwords will take a bit more work. First, you’ll have to access the WiFi network’s router settings to view the password, which means you’ll need to have the router’s administrative username and password. And since you have to be connected to the network to access the router, you also won’t be able to use an iPhone with an older version of iOS to access passwords for any previously connected networks.

How to use an iPhone to find the WiFi password for a connected network

1. If you have an iPhone with iOS 16 or later, begin by opening the Settings app, then tapping Wi-Fi.

The iOS Settings app, showing where to find the Wi-Fi option.
You can find the password for the WiFi network you’re connected to in the iPhone’s Settings app. Screenshot: Apple

2. The network your phone is connected to will be located under the Wi-Fi switch and have a blue checkmark to its left. Tap the information icon (an “i” in a circle) to the right of the network name.

The iOS WiFi settings screen, showing where to find the button to see the WiFi password.
You may also be able to tap the name of the network itself. Screenshot: Apple

3. Touch the Password field and enter your passcode or use facial recognition to reveal the WiFi password.

The iOS WiFi settings page showing where to find the WiFi password for a connected network.
You still have to prove you’re worthy (by entering your phone’s passcode). Screenshot: Apple

4. If you want to share your WiFi password with someone else, tap Copy, then paste it into a message.

How to find saved WiFi passwords for previous networks

1. Open the Settings app and tap Wi-Fi.

2. Touch the Edit button in the upper right-hand corner of your screen. Enter your passcode or use facial recognition to proceed. 

The iOS Settings app showing where to access previously used WiFi networks.
You’ll find previously used networks here, but there’s one more step before you can see any passwords. Screenshot: Apple

3. Once in the Edit menu, you’ll see a complete list of WiFi networks you’ve used in the past. Tap the information icon (“i” button) for any of these networks, then click on the Password field to view the password. Touch Copy if you want to paste the password into a message.

How to find a WiFi password using router settings

If you have an older iPhone, you won’t be able to access the WiFi password directly from the phone itself. You’ll need to get into the router settings, which means you’ll need to be connected to the network and know the router’s username and password.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone, then touch Wi-Fi

2. Hit the information icon (“i” button) next to the network you want to find the password for.

3. Scroll down until you see the router’s IP address.

The iOS WiFi settings, showing where to find a router's IP address.
With a router’s IP address, you can use a browser to find the WiFi password. Screenshot: Apple

4. Press and hold your finger on the IP address to copy it. 

5. Open a browser and copy the IP address into the address bar. 

6. Enter the router’s administrative username and password to access the router’s settings, including the network password. 

7. Navigate to the network’s access settings to find the WiFi password. Exactly where these settings are located will vary depending on the type and brand of router you have. 

[Related: Stay connected remotely with the best mobile hotspots and the best hotspot plans.]

FAQs

Q: How do I share my iPhone WiFi password with another device?

To share your WiFi password with another device, start by turning on WiFi and Bluetooth on both devices. Make sure that the user you want to share the password with has the email address you use for your Apple ID in their Contacts. Next, make sure the device you’re sharing from is connected to the WiFi network. With the other person’s device, click on the network they want to connect to. A prompt should open on your device giving you the option to share the WiFi password. Tap Share Password.

Q: Can you share WiFi passwords between Android and iPhone?

It is possible to share WiFi passwords between Android and iPhone devices. Start by enabling WiFi and Bluetooth on both devices. Hold the two devices close together, then go to the WiFi settings menu on the Android device and tap the network you want to connect to. A message should appear on the iPhone letting you know that someone is trying to connect to the WiFi network. Tap Share Password to grant the Android device access to the network.

Q: Why is my iPhone not saving passwords?

If your iPhone is constantly asking you to re-enter passwords every time you want to connect to a WiFi network, then it probably means your Auto Join setting for that particular network is turned off. Fortunately, this is an easy fix. Open the Settings app on your iPhone, then tap WiFi. Select the network you’re having problems with and enable the Auto-Join option. If that doesn’t fix the problem, try resetting that connection. After selecting the network from the WiFi menu, tap Forget This Network then reconnect to it by manually entering the password.  

The post How to find the WiFi password on an iPhone in a few simple steps appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to delete Snapchat and say goodbye to the ghost https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-delete-snapchat/ Mon, 04 Sep 2023 00:55:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=566399
A person holding a cell phone with the Snapchat app open on it.
If you deactivate Snapchat, you can recover it within 30 days, but deletion is permanent. Pexels / Sanket Mishra

Ready to ghost the ghost? Deleting Snapchat is easy but takes a month to complete.

The post How to delete Snapchat and say goodbye to the ghost appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person holding a cell phone with the Snapchat app open on it.
If you deactivate Snapchat, you can recover it within 30 days, but deletion is permanent. Pexels / Sanket Mishra

Whether you tried the app and didn’t like it or straight up forgot you ever installed it, deleting your Snapchat account is a smart idea if you’re not using it anymore. Although the platform claims not to store any of your messages, its privacy policy states that it stores your personal data and holds onto videos, photos, and messages for 30 days. Even so, you should consider deleting the account to ensure your data is truly gone.

Ready to break up with the white ghost and make more room for your TikToks? We have all the information you’ll need to delete Snapchat and leave it behind forever.

First, download your Snapchat data

Before you delete social media accounts, you should grab all the information you don’t have stored elsewhere. To download and back up your Snapchat data, you must have a validated email address where your files can be sent. If you’d rather not save anything, you can skip right to our steps on how to delete Snapchat.

How to download Snapchat data on Android and iOS

If you want to download Snapchat data directly from the app onto your phone, follow these steps:

1. Open the app and click on your Snapchat profile Bitmoji in the upper left corner of your screen.

A mobile phone with a Bitmoji in the upper left corner.
To access Snapchat profile settings, click on your Bitmoji. Screenshot: Snapchat

2. Go to Settings by tapping the gear icon in the upper right corner of your screen.

Snapchat's profile settings.
Click on the gear icon to access profile settings. Screenshot: Snapchat

3. Scroll down to Privacy Controls and tap My Data.

Snapchat's profile settings.
Click on “My Data” to see what’s available for download. Screenshot: Snapchat

4. Snapchat will give you an overview of the data it can send you. Select or deselect the data you want, and click Next in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Snapchat's download settings.
Maybe you want just your chats; maybe you want everything. Screenshot: Snapchat

5. Enter a date range for the data you wish to download, then add your email address. Select Submit at the bottom right corner of the screen.

The date range options for downloading Snapchat data.
The date range function can help you leave some posts in the past. Screenshot: Snapchat

6. Snapchat will send you an email with a link to download a ZIP file of your data. Open the email and click the hyperlink under “click here.”

An email sent by Snapchat describing how to download your Snapchat data before deleting your Snapchat account.
As long as you’re expecting this email, click the link. Screenshot: Snapchat

7. You will then need to log into your Snapchat account via a mobile web browser.

8. Once logged in, click See exports.

Snapchat's data download screen.
You’re almost done with the download and backup process. Screenshot: Snapchat

9. Click Download to save the ZIP file that holds your Snapchat data. All of it will be stored on your mobile device. If you don’t have enough space, open the email on a laptop or desktop computer and save it there.

Snapchat's data screen showing where to download saved data.
One click will get the job done. Screenshot: Snapchat

Download your Snapchat data from the web

If you want to download Snapchat data directly from the web onto your computer, follow these steps:

1. Go to accounts.snapchat.com in your web browser and log in with your personal account. Click on My Data.

Snapchat's profile screen in a web browser.
Hopefully you remember your login information! Screenshot: Snapchat

2. Click on See exports. Similar to the app, you will see the data that’s available for export. Then Download. You should be able to immediately download your ZIP file to your desktop.

Snapchat's data screen on a web browser, showing where to download your data.
Get ready… Screenshot: Snapchat

How to delete Snapchat or just deactivate it

Now that your data is backed up and secure, it’s time to delete Snapchat. However, it’s important to note that when you delete your account, it will initially just be deactivated, and you can log back in within 30 days to reactivate it. If you don’t log back into your account after 30 days, your Snapchat account will be gone forever.

How to delete or deactivate Snapchat from the Android or iPhone app

1. Launch the Snapchat app on your mobile device. Tap your Snapchat profile icon at the top of the screen to open your profile and go to Settings.

Snapchat's login screen on the mobile app.
Get started with the gear icon. Screenshot: Snapchat

2. Scroll down, and under the Account Actions section, tap Delete Account.

Snapchat's profile settings, showing where to find the button to delete your Snapchat account.
There’s the option you need. Screenshot: Snapchat

3. Enter your username and password, and tap Continue. The next screen will let you know your Snapchat account is in the deactivation period.

Snapchat's deactivation screen, with information about what it means to delete your Snapchat account.
They really don’t want you to leave. Screenshot: Snapchat

4. Return to the login screen, enter the username and password associated with your Snapchat account again, and tap Continue. An “Account Deactivated” screen will remind you that your Snapchat account is in the 30-day deactivation period, and Snapchat will delete your account if you don’t log back in within 30 days. For added phone security, check in after 30 days to ensure the account has actually been deleted.

Snapchat's deactivation screen, which you'll see even if you've deleted your account.
Don’t worry, you deleted your Snapchat account—deactivation is just part of the process. Screenshot: Snapchat

How to delete or deactivate your Snapchat account from the web

1. Go to accounts.snapchat.com in your web browser and log in with your personal account. Select the gear icon and go to Account Settings.

Snapchat's online profile screen, showing where to find Account Settings.
Now, let’s get started deleting your account. Screenshot: Snapchat

2. Select Delete my account.

Snapchat's web profile screen, showing where to find the option to delete your Snapchat account.
Deletion is as easy as that. Screenshot: Snapchat

3. You will get a warning message about the 30-day deletion window, and Snapchat will delete your account if you don’t log back in during that time. Just make sure to check in after 30 days to ensure the account is actually gone.

Snapchat's delete account screen.
In 30 days, you’ll have given up the ghost. Screenshot: Snapchat

FAQs

Q: How do I remove the date and time from a Snapchat photo?

To remove the date and time from a photo, you can use photo editing software or apps that offer features like cropping, blurring, or covering up the date and time stamp. These tools allow you to easily edit the photo and remove unwanted elements, such as the date and time.

Q: Can you permanently delete all Snapchat messages?

It is possible to permanently delete all Snapchat messages. Snapchat offers a feature called “Clear Chats,” which allows users to delete entire conversations from their accounts. Additionally, once a message is deleted, it cannot be recovered by either the sender or the recipient. However, it’s important to note that this only applies to messages sent between you and the other person, not screenshots or saved messages they may have taken.

Q: How do I reactivate Snapchat?

To reactivate Snapchat within the 30-day deactivation period, open the app on your device and enter your login credentials. If you have forgotten your password, you can easily reset it by clicking the “Forgot Password” option and following the prompts. Once logged in, you can access all your previous chats, stories, and friends list.

The post How to delete Snapchat and say goodbye to the ghost appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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10 Google Chrome flags you need to turn on right now https://www.popsci.com/technology/hidden-chrome-settings/ Thu, 11 Nov 2021 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=408499
Person working on laptop computer, possibly enabling Chrome flags.
Enabling Chrome flags makes your Google browser work harder for you. Luke Southern / Unsplash

Use these hidden settings to tweak and customize your browser.

The post 10 Google Chrome flags you need to turn on right now appeared first on Popular Science.

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Person working on laptop computer, possibly enabling Chrome flags.
Enabling Chrome flags makes your Google browser work harder for you. Luke Southern / Unsplash

There are two settings panels in Google Chrome for desktop: One appears when you choose Settings from the application menu, and one pops up when you type chrome://flags into the address bar and hit Enter.

These Chrome flags are more experimental settings aimed at power users, but anyone can use of them. They let you control the appearance of the browser, tweak performance, speed up downloading, and plenty more.

To find the ones you’re interested in, use the search box at the top of the flags list, and enable or disable them using the drop-down menus on the right-hand side. Here, we have some suggestions. 

1. Force dark mode

When it comes to dark mode, Google Chrome will follow the lead of the operating system you’re running it on by default: If Windows or macOS is set in its dark mode configuration, then Chrome will adapt accordingly.

If you’d rather use Chrome in dark mode all the time, find the #enable-force-dark flag and set it to Enabled. Every site you visit from then on will get the message to show its contents in dark mode, no matter what the rest of your software is doing.

2. See quick previews of open tabs

Enable the #tab-hover-card-images flag in the list and navigating between large numbers of tabs will suddenly become much easier. 

As you hover the cursor over the tab, you’ll not only see the title of the webpage contained within it, but you’ll also see a pop-up thumbnail of the content it’s showing as well.

3. Keep more web pages in the cache

Locate the #back-forward-cache flag, set it to Enabled, and Chrome will keep more pages cached locally on your computer as you make use of the forward and backward buttons in the browser. 

This improves browsing speed on slower or less stable internet connections (if you’re going forward and backward a lot, at least) because pages won’t have to be loaded from the web each time.

4. Speed up downloads

Parallel downloading is where an application requests a download several times, which should speed up transfer times in a lot of cases. If you don’t mind the extra bandwidth this can take up, you can switch on the feature by finding the #enable-parallel-downloading flag and switching it to Enabled.

5. Browse faster

Any type of snag or delay can ruin your browsing experience, which is why you should turn on the #enable-quic flag. This setting activates Google’s QUIC protocol whenever you go to a website that supports it, which can result in speedier navigation. 

[Related: Explore the internet faster with these browser keyboard shortcuts]

A warning, though—QUIC protocol is an experimental tool, so you may stumble upon a well-known but not serious error when enabling this flag. If that happens to you, disabling it should easily return Chrome to normal. 

6. Fill out forms faster

To save you time when filling out forms and making payments on the web, Chrome will keep information such as addresses and credit card details stored for you if you want. By default, it will suggest details as you move through a form, giving you the option to select suggestions as you go.

But if you switch the #how-autofill-type-predictions flag to Enabled, then these suggestions will automatically be put in for you, no typing required. Assuming Chrome identifies the form fields correctly, it should save you time.

7. Get more privacy with incognito mode

Google Chrome’s incognito mode allows you to surf the web at your leisure without leaving any trace in the cache, history, and other browsing information. But when you’re playing a piece of audio or video, your device’s media player gets involved, and it might disclose the content you are consuming to others via your gadget’s lock screen, for example. 

To keep your operating system out of the equation, enable the #hide-incognito-media-metadata flag and ensure your incognito session is actually as private as it can be. 

8. Enable live captions on Chrome

There are several apps out there with their own live caption capabilities, but for everything else you play on Chrome, you can use the ​​#enable-accessibility-live-caption flag. This setting will generate captions for media playing on Google’s browser, even if the website you’re visiting doesn’t support them. 

This feature is only available in the desktop version of Google Chrome, which means you cannot use it on your mobile device. Luckily, if you have an Android phone, you won’t have to worry about that because these gadgets have a built-in live caption feature you can use.

9. Optimize Chrome for touchscreens  

Some laptop models include touchscreens, turning these devices into computer-tablet hybrids. Unfortunately, not all desktop programs and apps, including Google Chrome, are optimized to work on touchscreens. 

[Restore: How to clean a computer screen without destroying it]

This is where the #top-chrome-touch-ui can help. The setting bridges the gap between your shiny new touchscreen laptop and the desktop version of Chrome, making scrolling and navigating more fluid. 

10. Restore old flags—temporarily 

As we mentioned at the beginning of this story, Google Chrome flags are experimental. This doesn’t just mean that they might glitch, but also that they come and go: Some become part of the browser’s built-in features, while others disappear into oblivion. 

Currently, Chrome allows you to turn back the clock when you turn on the #temporary-unexpire-flags-m114 and the #temporary-unexpire-flags-m115 flags. As you can see by their names, enabling either or both of these flags will temporarily bring back settings that might have been discarded in the browser’s two latest updates, like reader mode. 

Google hasn’t been upfront about what “temporary” means exactly, but when you miss a feature, any extra time you can have with it is a gift. 

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2021.

The post 10 Google Chrome flags you need to turn on right now appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to take a screenshot on any device (we know you want to) https://www.popsci.com/take-screenshot-on-any-device/ Mon, 23 Aug 2021 18:57:34 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/take-screenshot-on-any-device/
A hand holding an Android phone and taking a screenshot while outdoors in a park.
No photos—only screenshots. Mika Baumeister / Unsplash

There are multiple ways to grab whatever's on the screen of your Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS device.

The post How to take a screenshot on any device (we know you want to) appeared first on Popular Science.

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A hand holding an Android phone and taking a screenshot while outdoors in a park.
No photos—only screenshots. Mika Baumeister / Unsplash

There are lots of reasons why you might want to learn how to take a screenshot on your computer or phone: proving you finally completed that video game, recording a website layout for safekeeping, or even making a custom wallpaper image from your favorite movie for your desktop. 

Whatever the reason, here’s how to get it done on all the major platforms, whether it’s Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS.

How to take a screenshot on Windows

The Windows Snipping Tool taking a screenshot of a web article.
Ah, the old Windows Snipping Tool. Microsoft replaced it with Snip & Sketch on Windows 10 but brought it back with the OS’s latest iteration. Screenshot: Windows

Figuring out how to take a screenshot on Windows is simple: Just make a simple tap on the PrtSc (print screen) button and a shot of your computer’s desktop will automatically save to the clipboard. You can then paste the screen grab into an image editor and save it in whatever file format you want. Windows doesn’t make any sound or show you any animation when you take a screenshot, so don’t be surprised if it seems like nothing is happening. Just go to your favorite image editor, hit Paste (or Ctrl+V) and you should see your screenshot. 

Depending on your keyboard or the make of your laptop, the PrtSc button may only be accessible while pressing another key like Fn, Shift, or Ctrl. If hitting PrtSc by itself gets you nowhere, try combining it with one of those keys until you get the desired results.  

If your keyboard has one, you can also use the Windows key to take a screenshot: Press Win+PrtScn and the image will be automatically saved into a Screenshots folder within your account’s Pictures location. Meanwhile, Alt+PrtScn will grab only the currently active window and copy it to the clipboard. You may also need an additional key like Fn or Shift for these shortcuts.  

[Related: 10 cool features to use Windows 11]

You can get help from various utilities, too. On Windows 11, locate the new and improved Snipping Tool (remember, it’s called Snip & Sketch on Windows 10): You can find it using the search tool on the taskbar or by hitting Win+Shift+S to summon a simplified version of it. Use the crosshair tool to select an area on your screen—the moment you let go of the left mouse button, Windows will add the screenshot to your clipboard. 

Use the buttons at the top of your screen for more options—the Freeform Snip button (second to the right), allows you to make selections in any shape you want; the Window Snip button adds a screenshot of the current open window to your clipboard; and finally, the Fullscreen Snip takes a picture of your entire screen and saves it to the clipboard. You can also use the dialogue box that pops up in the bottom right corner of your screen to open the image on the Snipping Tool app and edit it. 

Take note: You won’t get some of the Snipping Tool’s features when you summon it with the keyboard shortcut. But if you search for the full version of the app, you’ll be able to take screenshots with three and 10-second delays, as well as annotate pictures, crop them, and even measure them. Alternatively, you can use the Xbox Game Bar app that comes with Windows 11 to capture grabs from games.

If you need even more options and features, consider tools such as Dropbox (free, and it has its own screenshot feature) and Snagit ($63).

How to take a screenshot on macOS

A screen showing how to take a screenshot on macOS.
We heard you liked screenshots, so we took a screenshot of a screenshot to show you how to take a screenshot. Screenshot: Apple

Apple keyboards don’t have a PrtScn key—or, of course, a Windows key—so the shortcuts are completely different. Ctrl+Shift+Cmd+3 copies the current screen contents to the clipboard, but you can also drop the Ctrl part and just do Shift+Cmd+3 to save a PNG file directly to the desktop.

If you just want to capture part of the screen and send it to the clipboard for subsequent pasting, use Ctrl+Shift+Cmd+4. Then drag the mouse to outline an area of the screen or press the spacebar to capture a particular window. As before, if you leave out the Ctrl button, your Mac will save the image to your desktop rather than copy it to the clipboard: that’s as simple as hitting Shift+Cmd+4

[Related: 38 advanced Mac keyboard shortcuts for productivity]

Changing the number key to a 5 will give you more options. Press Shift+Cmd+5 to summon MacOS’s built-in Screenshot tool—a small menu bar that appears at the bottom of your screen. The first button to the left will take a screenshot of your entire screen, including the app dock; choose the second button, and your Mac will take a screenshot of the window you select with your mouse. The third button will show you a selection of the screen you can reposition and resize by using your mouse and the circles on each of the selection’s corners. Hit enter to take the image, which the system will save as a PNG file to your desktop. Hit Esc if you decide to abandon your screenshotting adventure once you’ve launched this tool.  

This tool also offers two more buttons to record the entire screen of your Mac or a particular open app. You can also hit the Options button to choose a new location to save your screenshots, access a timer, and see other options, such as remembering the tool you used the last time. 

As on Windows, there are numerous utilities that will help you in your screen-grabbing endeavors. You have a couple of free options, like Lightshot Screenshot and Dropbox. If you’re willing to part with $10, SnapNDrag can give you a few more options in terms of annotations and customizations.

How to take a screenshot on Android

Chrome screen showing how to take a screenshot on an Android phone.
On Android, you have a couple of seconds to grab the screenshot, edit and share it right away. If you miss your chance, you can find the image in your phone’s photos. Screenshot: Google

On the majority of Android devices, you can press the volume down button and the power button together to take a screenshot. The screen should flash, and you’ll see a notification that a grab has been captured. Tap this notification if you want to share or edit the image. 

Pixel phone owners can also take screenshots by tapping the back of their phone twice. To set that nifty feature up, go to Settings, scroll down to System, and choose Gestures. The first item on the list will let you use the double tap as a trigger for multiple actions: toggle on the switch next to Use double tap and choose Take screenshot from the list. 

If you need to find the screenshot afterward, it’ll be in your device’s Photos app. If you have Google Photos, tap on Library in the bottom right corner of your screen, then choose the Screenshots folder under Photos on device. You can also go straight to the Files app, tap on Images, and then choose Screenshots at the top of your screen.

That said, Android devices come with all kinds of manufacturer-made software skins running on them, so the shortcut might be slightly different depending on the make and model of your phone. Still, most manufacturers have adopted the same key combo—on both Samsung Galaxy and HTC phones, for example, just press the power and volume down buttons simultaneously to take a grab. If you want to go hands-free, just engage the Google Assistant and ask it to take a screenshot for you.

How to take a screenshot on an iPhone or iPad

An iPad's screen showing how to take a screenshot on an iPad.
Taking a screenshot on an iPad is as easy as swiping. Screenshot: Apple

Capturing the screen on iOS and iPadOS devices is just as easy as it is on Android devices. 

On iPhones with Face ID, simultaneously press and release the side button and volume up button. On older models, combine the Home button and the side button (or the Sleep/Wake button). It’s much the same with iPads: Simultaneously press and release either the top button and the volume up button, or the Home button and top button. The screen will flash and the picture will be saved to a dedicated Screenshots album on your iPhone or iPad. Then you can review or share it by opening up Photos.

On iPads, you can also set up a specific gesture to take screenshots even more easily. Go to Settings and on the menu on the left choose General. Under Corner gestures, toggle on the switch next to Allow finger to swipe from corner, and choose Screenshot from either the Left corner swipe or the Right corner swipe options depending on what you want. To take the screenshot, just swipe from your chosen corner, and you’re done. 

[Related: The best screenshot and screen recording apps for your phone]

But wait, there’s more! It’s also possible to get your phone or tablet’s display up on a computer and capture it from there. On macOS, connect your device via USB, then run QuickTime, and choose File and New Movie Recording. If you select iPhone (or iPad) from the drop-down menu by the red record button, the device’s display will appear. To capture the window, use the Ctrl+Shift+Cmd+4, spacebar, and click combination we mentioned in the macOS section above.

On Windows, you can use an AirPlay client such as LonelyScreen or Mirroring360, then broadcast the iPhone or iPad screen to your laptop or desktop using the AirPlay feature built into Apple’s operating system. To do so, swipe down from the top right corner (or up from the bottom of the screen on some devices) to open the Control Center, then tap on Screen Mirroring to get connected.

Got all that? Feel free to use your new skills and take a screenshot of any part of this article you’d like to save for reference. 

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2017.

The post How to take a screenshot on any device (we know you want to) appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to permanently delete your WhatsApp account without losing your precious chats https://www.popsci.com/diy/delete-whatsapp-account/ Tue, 29 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=566284
WhatsApp's Delete account menu
Make sure you take all of your WhatsApp data with you if you decide to leave. EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA / Pexels

Don't let go of those great conversations just because you're done with Meta's messaging app.

The post How to permanently delete your WhatsApp account without losing your precious chats appeared first on Popular Science.

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WhatsApp's Delete account menu
Make sure you take all of your WhatsApp data with you if you decide to leave. EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA / Pexels

If for whatever reason you’re done with WhatsApp, you can always delete it. But removing the app from your devices will only get you so far. Your account will still be active and your contacts will still be able to message you—you just won’t get any of their texts. 

To truly quit Meta’s messaging app, you’ll need to delete your WhatsApp account—but we wouldn’t recommend leaving all of your data behind. The process is a bit longer than just hitting “Delete,” but you’ll be done in no time. 

Save your WhatsApp data

WhatsApp has two sets of data you can back up: your chat history and your account information. Let’s start with the first one: 

How to export and save your chat history on WhatsApp

1. Open the mobile app and go to Settings

2. Head to Chats and tap Chats backup. You’ll be able to see the backup settings for your device (Google Drive for Android phones, iCloud for iOS devices), and tweak how often WhatsApp saves your messages to the cloud. 

Chat backup menu on WhatsApp
Backing up your chats will make sure you save even the newest messages. Screenshot: WhatsApp

3. Manually back up your data by tapping the Back Up button. If you change your mind about deleting WhatsApp later, you can use this backup to restore your chat history easily. 

  • Note: This process may take a while depending on the last time you saved your message data or how much of a WhatsApp power user you are. Let it finish completely before proceeding. 
WhatsApp's chat backup menu
It may take a while for WhatsApp to back up your messages. Sit tight and get a snack. Screenshot: WhatsApp

4. Even if your WhatsApp backup sits tight on the cloud, you won’t be able to read that data. So, if you’re sure you want to get rid of the messaging app, you’ll need to export chats into text files—do that by opening an individual or group chat. 

  • On Android, tap the three-dot menu, More, and then Export chat.
  • On iOS, tap the name of the person or group chat and select Export chat
WhatsApp export chat menu
Unfortunately, there’s no way to export your chats in bulk on WhatsApp—you’ll have to go one by one. Screenshot: WhatsApp

6. On the next dialogue box, you’ll need to choose whether you want to include media (photos, stickers, videos, and GIFs). WhatsApp limits the size of chat exports so they can send them over email—if you choose to include media, the export will only include the last 10,000 messages, whereas if you decide to leave media behind, the export will include the last 40,000 exchanges.

WhatsApp chat export limit menu
If you choose to keep media in your backup, WhatsApp will only export up to 10,000 messages. Screenshot: WhatsApp

7. Use the sharing feature on your phone to choose an app to export your chat history to. If you want to back it up to the cloud, you can send it directly to Google Drive or iCloud, depending on the make of your device.

8. Repeat steps 4 to 7 with as many chats as you want.   

[Related: 6 alternatives to WhatsApp]

How to save your account information on WhatsApp

Unlike your chat history, to save your account information you’ll have to request it. Keep in mind that saving your account information will only serve as a reference—you won’t be able to use these files to restore your account after you permanently delete it. 

1. On Settings, go to Account.

WhatsApp main settings
Before you completely delete your account, make sure to request your info. Screenshot: WhatsApp

2. Tap Request account info and choose Request report. As with other Meta-owned platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, you’ll need to wait around 48 to 72 hours for WhatsApp to bundle up all of your data, so be patient. 

Request account information on WhatsApp
Note that your account information does not include your messages. Screenshot: WhatsApp

3. When your information is ready, you’ll get an automated message on the app with a download link. You’ll have a limited amount of time to use. Most platforms will only give you a few weeks to get your stuff, but WhatsApp will keep the link active for a few weeks. 

WhatsApp's request account info menu
WhatsApp will let you know when your data is ready to download. It’ll take approximately three days. Screenshot: WhatsApp

4. After WhatsApp notifies you, go to the Request account info menu.

5. Tap the Download report button. The platform will download a ZIP file with HTML and JSON documents—you won’t be able to see these files within the app, so you’ll have to export them. 

6. When your report is fully downloaded, tap Export report and confirm your choice.

7. Pick an external app to share the report. The easiest option is to send a copy of the report to your email or upload it to your cloud storage service of choice.

8. (Optional) You can permanently delete your WhatsApp account information report from your phone. To do that, tap Delete report and confirm your choice. 

In case you’re having second thoughts, we’re happy to tell you that at this point, your WhatsApp account is still intact and you don’t have to go through with the deletion if you don’t want to. But if, on the other hand, you’re convinced WhatsApp is not for you, go ahead to the next (and final) step.

How to permanently delete your WhatsApp account

To hammer the last nail in the coffin of your WhatsApp account, go to Account and then Delete my account. Enter your registered phone number and hit DELETE MY ACCOUNT. This will delete your entire chat history, remove you from all of your WhatsApp groups, and obliterate your Google Drive chat backup.

WhatsApp Delete account menu
Remember that deleting your WhatsApp account is an irreversible action. Screenshot: WhatsApp

WhatsApp may take up to 30 days to complete the deletion process, but the company is adamant in stating that this is not a grace period. According to their support site, you won’t be able to access your information again during this time. 

The post How to permanently delete your WhatsApp account without losing your precious chats appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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The best monitor wall mounts of 2023 https://www.popsci.com/gear/best-monitor-wall-mounts/ Tue, 14 Jun 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=448867
The best monitor wall mounts of 2023
Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

Instantly save desk space (and your neck) with this office upgrade.

The post The best monitor wall mounts of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

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The best monitor wall mounts of 2023
Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

Best Overall  Ergotron HX Single Ultrawide Monitor Arm Ergotron HX Single Ultrawide Monitor Arm
SEE IT

Heavy-duty and widely compatible, this highly maneuverable option will improve any modern monitor set up.

Best Height-Adjustable Mount-It! Sit Stand Wall Mount Mount-It! Sit-Stand Wall Mount
SEE IT

If your wall can accommodate it, your workflow will appreciate what is essentially a complete standing desk.

Best Budget VIVO Full Motion Wall Mount VIVO Full-Motion Wall Mount
SEE IT

Standard users with the time to invest will appreciate the money saved on this monitor mount.

Installing monitor wall mounts is a great way to upgrade the home office or gaming battlestation. While the best wall mounts for TVs can simply affix onto the wall once a viewing sweet spot has been established, it is often advantageous for monitor wall mounts to have swiveling arms and increased maneuverability. In this way, the monitor can be adjusted for an individual’s height. The monitor should also be able to be moved closer or further away for different purposes, such as study or casual viewing of streamed programs. These mounts will create a good environment for the home office, where people spend an increasing amount of time. From ergonomic designs to simple installations, these are the best monitor wall mounts.

How we chose the best monitor wall mounts

Both monitor and monitor wall mount sales have skyrocketed as remote work and schooling became the new normal. As a result, manufacturers have been making an increasing number of monitor wall mount models. To sort out the best, we have taken into consideration manufacturer reputations and claims, peer reviews, forums, the impressions of the large user base, as well as key features, such as weight capacity and VESA sizing. Lastly, we parsed through niche options to consider some increasingly common situations, such as those wanting standing desks.

The best monitor wall mounts: Reviews & Recommendations

As the name implies, wall mounts attach directly to your wall, so corner (or L-shaped) computer desk setups work the very best for them. When combined with monitors optimized for home office spaces, the best monitor wall mounts can create a comfortable environment for the neck and eyes while also helping clear off the top of your desk. Whether the best monitor mount for you is a solid mount with incredible flexibility in swivel and motion, a mount for a large VESA monitor, or the perfect mount for your standing workstation, we’ve found it all and more.

Best overall: Ergotron HX Single Ultrawide Monitor Arm

Ergotron

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Why it made the cut: A heavy-duty build with a wide range of motion and high compatibility with most modern monitors makes this a lasting choice.

Specs

  • Weight capacity: 42 lbs.
  • VESA sizes: 100×100, 75×75, 200×100, 200×200
  • Tilt & swivel: 180-degree pan and 360-degree rotation

Pros 

  • Works with most ultrawide monitors
  • Intense pivoting with flexible arm
  • Impressive 10-yr. Warranty
  • Bright, shiny color scheme

Cons 

  • Need extra parts for wood stud installation
  • Struggles with the Odyssey G9

This wall mount is perfect for just about any office setup due to its incredibly flexible arm. Instead of just making minor adjustments to reduce screen glare or neck pressure, the Ergotron’s arm is able to move into nearly any desirable position.

It works especially well as a mount for your second monitor when the side of your desk touches the wall. You can pull your monitor out when you want to use it, but then push it up perpendicular to the wall when you want it out of the way.

As a result of its heavy-duty manufacturing, the Ergotron is great for ultrawide monitors, including most curved ones. One unfortunate exception to this is our favorite curved ultrawide, the Samsung Odyssey G9, which has a bit too much curvature for the mount to handle easily.

Finally, an aesthetic touch. While many wall mounts are a drab gray or dull black, the Ergotron HX offers brilliant white and polished aluminum coloring. The white goes great with the aesthetic of Apple products for the modern office look. Alternatively, the polished aluminum is complimented highly by LED light strips for that futuristic gamer battlestation feel.

Best height-adjustable: Mount-It! Sit Stand Wall Mount

Mount-It!

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Why it made the cut: If you can meet the structural requirements, this mount converts into a complete standing desk, with desktop support, on command.

Specs

  • Weight capacity: 17.6 lbs. monitor, 2.2 lbs. keyboard
  • VESA sizes: 75×75, 100×100
  • Height adjustment range: 19.9”

Pros 

  • Expert installation available
  • Sturdy for typing
  • Includes CPU wall mount with cable management functions

Cons 

  • Only meant for concrete walls

The Mount-It! Sit Stand combines the ideals of a standing desk with the functionality of a wall-mounted monitor. It includes a mount for your monitor, CPU, keyboard, and mouse. As per the instructions, it is only truly meant to be installed into concrete walls. That being said, it has been used in a variety of situations successfully. When in doubt, consider the expert installation option and have a chat about your particular situation before purchasing.

While it can be used as a purely standing desk, it does have the capability to be lowered up to 19.9 inches. This should be enough for most body types to take advantage of this desk as a standard “sitting” desk, too. Preferably with an ergonomic chair.

The keyboard and mouse tray feels roomy and comfortable, though it can be a tad difficult to get used to if you’re used to using a full desk. Upon first use, it feels surprisingly sturdy to type on. The tray also juts out into the room a full 41 inches from the wall. This can feel extreme at first, but the extra distance from the monitor helps reduce eye strain. Finally, the tray can be folded up while not in use.

The included CPU holder works well to reduce cord length-related difficulties. Putting your CPU halfway between the highest and lowest places on your monitor will allow for full motion with reduced worries. That being said, we still recommend getting both a wireless mouse and wireless keyboard so you can utilize the folding keyboard tray to its fullest.

Best dual: Mount-It! Dual Monitor Wall Mount

Mount-It!

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Why it made the cut: The Mount-It! Dual Monitor Wall Mount is durable, affordable, and can be installed just about anywhere.

Specs

  • Weight capacity: 14.3 lbs.
  • VESA sizes: 75×75, 100×100
  • Tilt & swivel: 90-degrees up/left/right, 45-degrees down

Pros 

  • Easy adjusting arms
  • Lightweight
  • Made for brick, cement, and wood installation
  • Slide-in VESA plates for monitor

Cons 

  • Difficult to have monitors side-by-side

You wouldn’t be alone if you feel somewhat claustrophobic at the thought of one-monitor computing in 2023. Instead of installing two wall mounts for the dual-monitor effect, it is best to get one really good dual-monitor wall mount.

Mount-It!’s dual-mount arms come with a lot of flexibility, including 90-degree tilt-and-swivel control in three directions. Each monitor is maneuvered by a gas spring arm for easy, responsive, and precise manipulation.

Despite this flexibility, you should be aware of the special limitations of using a dual wall mount that still apply to the Mount-It! The monitors attached have to be a bit smaller to allow full movement. In this case, that maximum is going to be 27 inches, which is still good enough for a couple of good gaming monitors on the cheap.

Even with monitors of the right size, it can be tricky to get them in a position where they touch if that is your preference. While possible, it requires them to jut out from the wall quite a bit, which can reduce your space. To visualize why, try clapping your hands without bending your elbows. The monitors here move in a similar fashion.

Finally, expect easy installation. The product is lightweight and can be installed in many materials. The VESA attachments for the back of your monitors allow you to slip them on the arms yourself—no helper required!

Best large VESA: Mount-It! Full Motion Monitor Wall Bracket

Mount-It!

SEE IT

Why it made the cut: Extreme versatility in VESA sizes and weight loads at a price anyone can afford.

Specs

  • Weight capacity: 66 lbs.
  • VESA sizes: 75×75, 100×100, 200×100, 200×200, 300×300, 400×300, 400×400
  • Tilt & swivel: 180-degrees left/right, 20-degrees up/down

Pros 

  • Expert installation option
  • Lightweight
  • Installs in wood stud

Cons 

  • Needs 8” x 8” mounting port on monitor

This Mount-It! mount provides a lot of flexibility for you to experiment with different monitors now and in the future. It has seven compatible VESA sizes that include the common 75×75 and 100×100 options but also go up to 400×400.

Another unexpected feat of the mount at this price range is its holding capacity of up to 66 pounds. In fact, Mount-It! claims to have gotten the mount to hold up to 132 pounds in testing. We do recommend keeping with the suggested weight limit, though, as the mount installs into a wood stud.

The mount has fantastic right and left swivel, due to its arm. While it doesn’t have the additional up-and-down range of motion of the best monitor arms, you’ll still be pleasantly surprised by the triple-jointed swivel on offer. If you use a small enough monitor, it can even work for setups where the side of your desk touches the wall like a budget Ergotron.

One quirk of having such an impressive range of VESA sizes is that the mounting area is quite large. Make sure that you have a mounting area of at least 8 inches by 8 inches on your monitor to accommodate this large aspect of the design.

Easy-to-assemble: Antimbee No Stud Drywall TV Mount

Antimbee

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Why it made the cut: This Antimbee is a no-studs-necessary monitor mount that can be installed in less than 15 minutes.

Specs

  • Weight capacity: 100 lbs.
  • VESA sizes: Any from 100×100 to 400×400
  • Monitor sizes: 13”-55”

Pros 

  • Includes everything needed for installation but the hammer
  • Expert installation option
  • Easy “hanging” VESA mounting bracket

Cons 

  • No arm
  • No tilt & swivel

The Antimbee No Stud is great for those situations where you need a non-invasive installation. While that does come with some downsides, if you appreciate the mount for what it is and buy it with the right frame of mind, you will be very satisfied with it.

The installation can be compared to hanging a picture, both in difficulty and mechanism. Using the only tool you’ll be required to bring on your own, a hammer, nail the base into the wall. There is even a small bubble level included, ensuring a non-tilted hang. Finally, screw the hanger into the horizontal VESA holes of your monitor and hang it on the wall. The entire installation should take less than 15 minutes and can be completed by a single person.

Overall, this makes the Antimbee a great choice for dorm rooms or other situations where your landlord wouldn’t want you drilling deep into your wall. With this in mind, consider it as a cheap secondary gift for the child you are sending off to college this fall.

An unfortunate downside of the hang-like-a-picture-frame approach to this wall mount is that the mounted monitor will also act as a picture hung on the wall. There is no arm, tilt, or swivel. Test out monitor heights before installation to avoid disappointment.

Best budget: VIVO Full Motion Wall Mount

VIVO

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Why it made the cut: Has all of the basic features, including an arm, at the price you want.

Specs

  • Weight capacity: 44 lbs.
  • VESA sizes: 75×75, 100×100
  • Tilt & swivel: 5-degrees up, 12-degrees down, 45-degrees left and right

Pros 

  • Expert installation option
  • Swiveling arm
  • Cable management included

Cons 

  • Difficult tension adjustment
  • Installation is a group project

Our budget option, from VIVO, comes with standard features, a good weight capacity, and a relatively good arm for the price. If you are a standard user who is willing to invest a bit of extra effort into installation, this could be the only monitor mount you’ll ever need.

When looking at budget products, it is often the little things that the manufacturer bothers to include that make the whole experience worthwhile. For the VIVO Full Motion, that includes a three-jointed swiveling arm and a small hook to enhance cable management.

The swiveling arm works in a similar manner to Mount-It!’s Full Motion, though in a pared-down form. For example, the tension settings that hold the monitor in place require a tool for adjustment. This can be tricky to set since you will need to get the tool between the back of your monitor and the wall to access the adjuster. It is best to set this up with relatively high tension and leave it.

Speaking of setting up, expect this one to take at least two people. One person will need to hold the monitor while the other screws it into the mount. While there is optional expert installation available, the surcharge will negate the budget appeal this VIVO mount has to offer. We recommend grabbing a friend who owes you an easy favor, having a fun chat, and installing this monitor wall mount together.

Things to consider before buying one of the best monitor wall mounts

While your monitor wall mount will usually be cheaper than your monitor, a bad monitor wall mount will destroy your monitor. As a result, it really pays to be careful when selecting a mount and to make sure you are getting one that will work to support your monitor. You’ll also want to think about how you’ll be using it. How much rotation will it need to offer for your setup? We also look at the ease of installation and the possibility of expert installation add-ons with your purchase.

Weight capacity

One of the easiest factors to consider. In short, all other factors considered equal, an ability to hold a higher amount of weight on your wall is always better. While you can always weigh your monitor (or look up the weight of the monitor you’re about to purchase) in order to pick a mount with a capacity to match, we always recommend going for at least some wiggle room. As monitor technology continues to grow and change, you might want to upgrade to a heavier monitor down the line.

VESA size

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has created a standardized set of hole patterns that monitors, TVs, and their mounts typically follow. The sizing is given in a pair of numbers, such as 75×75, to represent the size of the square pattern the holes create in millimeters. The first number is the horizontal distance, and the second is the vertical.

Before buying a mount, it is critical that you check your monitor’s VESA size. However, you shouldn’t stop there, as many mounts have several compatible sizes, and having this kind of flexibility will help for future monitor purchases. Very common VESA sizes are 75×75 and 100×100, though others do exist. The largest VESA sizes can go over 600×400.

Not all monitors come with VESA-compatible mounting on the back. In that case, search for the manufacturer-specific mount, if available.

Tilt & swivel

For most monitor users, there is some level tilting, nudging, and adjusting that occurs after placing the monitor on your desk. This doesn’t magically change when the monitor is attached to a wall mount. Sometimes that can even mean making micro-adjustments to your monitor position on a daily basis, such as to avoid the glare of the early morning sun.

Another common feature of wall mounts is maneuverable arms. They help to increase left-to-right tilt so your monitor can face your seat directly. Particularly high-quality arms can even work with desks that are only beside a wall instead of pushed into one. In any case, you will want to ensure the selected tilt and swivel levels hold. Strong, tight joints are critical.

Installation

Installation can be tricky and rightfully makes many buyers nervous. Incorrectly installed wall mounts can destroy your monitor, not to mention your wall. When purchasing a wall mount, consider how tricky the installation process will be and if the mount includes all of the tools and parts required for a successful mounting.

Alternatively, consider purchasing a professional installation along with your mount. Many companies offer this service, but be warned that it can be very expensive, potentially many times more expensive than the mount itself.

FAQs

Q: What is the best wall mount for monitors?

The best wall mount for monitors is the Ergotron HX Single Ultrawide Monitor Arm. While it is more expensive than other wall mounts, it comes in first place as the best monitor wall mount due to its incredibly flexible arm and compatibility with most ultrawide monitors.

Q: Is it a good idea to mount a monitor on the wall?

It is a good idea to mount a monitor on the wall if you want to free up desk space or simply think it looks cool. However, if you install a wall mount, it must be done well, or you will end up destroying your monitor and wall. If that at all makes you nervous, you can still get the advantages of using an arm with one of our best monitor arms for desk mounting.

Q: Can you mount computer monitors on the wall?

You can mount computer monitors on the wall yourself or with the help of a professional. If you decide to DIY, you’ll want a stud finder alongside basic tools like a leveler, tape measure, and electric drill. Some easy-to-assemble mounts, like the Antimbee No Stud Drywall TV Mount, don’t require any tools beyond a simple hammer.

Q: Can I mount my monitor on drywall?

You can mount your monitor on drywall if you have the correct mount. Most wall mounts are not compatible with drywall alone and instead require a more sturdy backing to latch into. Many wall mounts that appear to be mounted on drywall are instead mounted on a wooden stud behind the drywall. Use a stud finder to locate the wooden studs behind your drywall.

Q: What monitors are VESA compatible?

Monitors with VESA patterns on the back are VESA compatible. VESA patterns are square or rectangular configurations of four holes in the back of the monitor.

Q: Can you wall mount a monitor without VESA?

You can mount a monitor without VESA, but you’ll be severely limited in what you can use for the mounting. Possibilities include model-specific mounts made by the same manufacturer. For the best possible mounting experience, it is not recommended to get a monitor without VESA holes.

Q: How much does a wall mount cost for a monitor?

A wall mount for a monitor can cost anywhere from under $20 to over $300, depending on quality, manufacturing materials, and other features. Many of the best monitor wall mounts offer a professional installation at a base cost of around $100-$150. Buyers should be aware that more lengthy or difficult installations will come with a higher charge.

Final thoughts on the best monitor wall mounts

Monitor wall mounts are space-savers that give your workstation a very comfortable feel. They can change your work or gaming area into an open space with the flick of a wrist. From the dorm-friendly Antimbee No Stud Drywall TV Mount to the incredibly flexible Ergotron HX Single Ultrawide Monitor Arm, our choices include a monitor wall mount for any purpose or budget.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best monitor wall mounts of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Your iPhone’s charging sound is boring. Have it say ‘Gimme some juice!’ instead. https://www.popsci.com/diy/change-charging-sound-iphone-ipad/ Mon, 18 Apr 2022 18:15:03 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=437974
An iPhone charging on desk next to laptop, a situation in which if you changed your iPhone's charging sound, it may have triggered an automation.
Imagine your iPhone saying "It was about time!" whenever you start charging it. Daniel Korpai / Unsplash

With Apple's automations, the joke possibilities are endless.

The post Your iPhone’s charging sound is boring. Have it say ‘Gimme some juice!’ instead. appeared first on Popular Science.

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An iPhone charging on desk next to laptop, a situation in which if you changed your iPhone's charging sound, it may have triggered an automation.
Imagine your iPhone saying "It was about time!" whenever you start charging it. Daniel Korpai / Unsplash

If you have an Apple mobile device, you know the sound it makes when you charge it. It’s simple and does its job well—but it’s boring. Luckily, you can change this mundane audio cue by adding an iPhone automation.

Your journey starts in the Shortcuts app, which you can use to set up a handful of customizations. Among those possibilities is an automation that will make your iPhone or iPad say something specific whenever you connect it to power. 

Is it super useful? Probably not. But depending on the phrase you come up with, it can be a lot of fun. 

How to change your iPhone or iPad’s charging sound

If you haven’t dived into them, an iPhone automation (also available for iPad) is a series of actions that occur automatically after a trigger. For example, you can use these unique commands to create a routine with your smart home gadgets, like turning on the lights or playing a specific playlist on your smart speaker once your iPhone connects to your WiFi. You can also set up different actions that will only affect your device. 

[Related: The easiest way to cue up calming sounds on your iPhone]

1. Create the automation by opening the Shortcuts app on your iPhone or iPad. 

2. In the upper left corner of the screen, tap the menu icon—the rectangle with three lines on the left side. Then, go to Automation. 

The iPhone automation menu in the Shortcuts app.
If you make more automations in the future, you’ll find them all listed here. Screenshot: Apple

3. On the next menu, tap Create personal automation to link the process directly to the device you’re currently using.

  • Note: The other option, Set up your home, ties an automation to your entire smart home ecosystem, and that’s not what we want to do here.
Personal automation on iPhone menu
By choosing to create a personal automation, the actions will only affect your iPhone or iPad. Screenshot: Apple

4. Choose your trigger by scrolling down to Charger and tapping Is connected. This will set the action to happen only when you plug in the power cord. Hit Next to continue. 

Trigger menu of new automation on iPhone
You can choose multiple triggers for your automation. For this tutorial, tap Charger. Screenshot: Apple

5. Choose what your device does when you charge it. Tap Add action and then All actions

6. From the comprehensive list that emerges, choose Speak text—you’ll find it under the Documents category. This option will make your device read something you write out loud whenever you plug it in. 

Action menu for iPhone automations
Don’t get distracted by the “Make spoken audio from text” option—you want “Speak Text.” Screenshot: Apple

7. On the Speak text menu, you’ll see a blurred Text option next to Speak—tap it and write the phrase you want your gadget to say. We chose “Ohh yeah! Gimme some juice!” but you can use whatever you want—the sky’s the limit. 

  • Note: Just remember that if you use a dirty joke as a sentence, your device will say it out loud for everybody to hear even if it’s silent or in Do Not Disturb mode
Action customization menu for iPhone automation
Replace the text with whatever you want. Screenshot: Apple

8. Tap the blue arrow to the right of your phrase to further customize the iPhone automation—you’ll be able to choose the pitch, speed, and voice you want your device to use, and even change the language. 

  • Pro tip: By default, your device will read the text in Siri’s voice, but there are other fun alternatives. If you want a more metallic, android voice, choose Zarvox or Trinoids; if you’re into giving your iPhone a creepy laugh, go for Jester; and if you want your Apple device to sing back your phrase, choose Good News. 
More action customization menu for iPhone automation
You can customize the speed and pitch with which your device says your phrase to make it sound happy, bored, or even sad. Screenshot: Apple

[Related: Hidden iPhone tricks that will change the way you use iOS]

9. Check everything is exactly as you like it by tapping the play icon at the bottom right of the menu and listening to the audio sample. If you’re satisfied, go back to Edit automation

10. Toggling off the switch next to Ask before running and confirming your choice by choosing Don’t ask. This will make sure the action is completely automatic—otherwise, your iPhone or iPad will send you a notification every time you plug in the charger and you’ll have to engage with it to trigger the action. Not nearly as fun. Finish by tapping Done.

New automation settings for iPhone
If you don’t do this final step, your device will ask permission before saying your phrase—pretty boring. Screenshot: Apple

If you’re running out of juice while at a meeting with a client for example, you might want to disable your automation—do so by opening it in the Shortcuts app and toggling off the switch next to Enable this automation. You can also tone down a risqué phrase at any time by opening your automation, tapping Speak text, and replacing the words you want your device to read out loud. 

And if you get tired of your Apple device’s new personality, from the Automation gallery, slide the unopened item to the left and hit Delete

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2022.

The post Your iPhone’s charging sound is boring. Have it say ‘Gimme some juice!’ instead. appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to see everything Facebook knows about you, and what you can do about it https://www.popsci.com/everything-facebook-knows-about-you/ Tue, 12 Jan 2021 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/everything-facebook-knows-about-you/
A man use binoculars with the Facebook icon on the lenses looking out from a desktop computer screen.
Facebook wants to build a comprehensive image of you. Glen Carrie / Unsplash

The social media behemoth is watching.

The post How to see everything Facebook knows about you, and what you can do about it appeared first on Popular Science.

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A man use binoculars with the Facebook icon on the lenses looking out from a desktop computer screen.
Facebook wants to build a comprehensive image of you. Glen Carrie / Unsplash

As the world’s biggest social network, Facebook can keep tabs on about a third of the global population. Whether you visit the social network daily (as more than 2 billion users do) or only log on to to check hyperlocal neighborhood groups, you should be aware of how much personal data you’re giving to the site and its parent company, Meta.

Facebook primarily uses everything it knows about you to craft more relevant targeted advertising. While some see this as uncomfortably intrusive, others accept the ads as the price they pay for the network’s free services and tools. Whatever you think about the ethics of this data collection, you should know what the company is learning about you—and how you can control the flow of information. While this guide can help, there’s only so much you can do to protect your privacy. If you really want to stop the company from mining your data, your best bet is to delete your Facebook account entirely.

Take a peek at your profile information

When you created your account, you entered basic background information, including your name and email address. The site also prompted you to fill out your location, work and education history, and friends and relatives currently on Facebook. But by observing your behavior on its network, the tech company has gathered a lot more information about you and your habits.

[Related: How to secure your Facebook account]

One quick way to see exactly what details Facebook knows about you—and limit who else can access them—is to visit the Your Facebook information page where Meta stores all that data. If you’d prefer to get there without a link, log into the site and follow these steps:

  1. Click your profile photo in the top right corner, then hit Settings & privacy, followed by Settings.
  2. The next page has several options for what you can do with your Facebook information, and you want the first one: Access profile information. Click View to see the data Meta has collected on you.

If you’re using the Facebook app, the steps are slightly different:

  1. Tap Menu in the bottom right, then the cog icon in the top right.
  2. Scroll down to the Your information heading and tap Access your information.

Both the website and the app will show you several categories of information that you can browse at your leisure, with recent activity displayed on top. What you see may vary depending on how much you use Facebook and what you do there, but we can give you an idea of what to expect.

  • Your activity across Facebook: This will show you everything you’ve done on the social network, including posts, photos, activity you’re tagged in, and items you’ve sold on Facebook Marketplace.
  • Personal information: Click here to find what Facebook knows about you, including your name, hobbies, relationship status, and employer.
  • Connections: If you’d like to see your friends, followers, and requests you’ve sent and received, this is the category you need.
  • Logged information: Here you’ll find information Facebook tracks about your activity, such as search history and your primary location.
  • Security and login information: Where you’ve logged into Facebook, the devices you’ve used, and a history of every login and logout.
  • Apps and websites off of Facebook: If you’ve connected other apps and websites to your Facebook account, you’ll find related data here.
  • Preferences: Any actions you’ve taken to customize your account, perhaps to make it more useful and less toxic, will be in this category.
  • Ads information: Whenever you interact with ads and advertisers on Facebook, that data is gathered here.

Check your Facebook ad preferences

Ironically, if you want to see the topics Meta thinks you enjoy, you won’t find it under “ads information.” Instead, select Logged information, then Ads interests to see what data Facebook uses to serve you advertisements. To stop the company from showing you ads based on any of these details, simply hit Remove next to any one of them.

This doesn’t require you to eliminate helpful details from your profile—you can share your relationship status, for example, but block ads that target you because of it. Facebook also allows you to dig deeper and learn more about ad preferences if you’re interested. But be careful, editing this data doesn’t benefit you—it benefits Meta, which will be able to target you more effectively.

Even if Facebook isn’t selling your information to advertisers, it could still be collecting it. In addition to making ads more relevant, the company can put your data—everything from the make and model of your phone to your most frequently used apps—to work fixing bugs and changing the social network. If you’re uncomfortable giving certain information to the social network, you can delete it from your profile entirely by going to your Facebook profile and selecting Edit profile to see what you can adjust. You can’t erase everything, but you can delete details such as where you work and go to school. You may also want to check out the More drop-down menu, where you can unfollow pages and manage other things you’ve liked along the way.

Download your Facebook information

You’ll never find everything Facebook knows—or thinks it knows—about you: Its secret algorithms make some educated assumptions about who you are based on your profile and your online activity. Facebook uses some of these assumptions to put people in groups that advertisers can target. It doesn’t really matter if these assumptions are entirely correct, as long as they make a more efficient advertising platform overall. In 2016, the Washington Post published a report on 98 different data points Facebook associates with your identity. These include data pulled from other companies and services—like the year you bought your car and the type of credit card you carry.

However, Facebook isn’t a completely closed black box. If you want to back up your data or save it for any reason, you can download all of it—just navigate to the Your Facebook information page (steps above), find Download profile information and click View next to it. You can select a date range, file format, and the quality of photos and other media in the final file.

[Related: Use these settings to share photos at their best quality]

There were once third-party tools that sought to offer this information and predict how Facebook might track and interpret your data, like the now-defunct website Stalkscan and Google Chrome extension Data Selfie. Now, you can just navigate to the Your Facebook Information page and click Download Your Information. You can select a date range, file format, and the quality of photos and other media included in that file. If you need a little more guidance, we have a full step-by-step within our story on how to delete your Facebook account.

Disable location and web tracking

Beyond the information you list on your profile and the pattern of your clicks (from likes to photo comments), it’s worth discussing two other big pieces of data in more detail: what Facebook knows about your location (determined via your smartphone) and your activity elsewhere on the internet.

[Related: How to stop websites from tracking you]

Letting Facebook’s mobile app know where you are has some upsides. It enables you to check into places, search for interesting spots nearby, and even find your friends more easily. It also tells Facebook where you tend to hang out, allowing the service to be more precise about the ads it shows you.

If this makes you uncomfortable, you can turn off its ability to keep tabs on your whereabouts. On Android phones, open Settings, tap Apps, find Facebook, hit Permissions, and select Location. On an iPhone, open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then Location Services, find Facebook on the list of apps, and choose Never from the list of options that appear. If you don’t see Facebook under Location Services on your iPhone, you probably haven’t done anything in the app that might require your location. Even with these precautions, Facebook still can keep tabs on you—for example, it will take note when your friends tag you.

The simple reason why Facebook tracks you around the internet should be clear by now: better advertising. It can, for example, receive notifications when you spend time on specific webpages. In addition, the marketing platforms and sites to which Facebook sends your information can also give the social network their own carefully gleaned data about you (this is known as off-Facebook activity) What’s in this data? You can’t know exactly, beyond checking the Apps and websites off of Facebook information category we mentioned above.

To prevent Facebook from following you around the web, go to the Your Facebook information page (steps above), and click View next to Off-Facebook activity. You have three options:

Disconnect specific off-Facebook activity

Whether you’re on the web (Disconnect specific activity) or the mobile app (Select Activity to Disconnect), you’ll need to enter your password to proceed. You’ll see a list of brands and websites Facebook associates you with, and you can select the bubble (web) or Turn off (app) next to any of them to make your choices. Then hit Continue (web) or Turn Off Future Activity (app) to disconnect your Facebook account from the ones you’ve selected. Facebook will also provide a bunch of information about the process, including that Meta may still get information from the disconnected places, but it won’t be associated with your account.

Clear your off-Facebook history

Choose Clear previous activity (web) or Clear History (app), and you’ll be able to disconnect your off-Facebook activity history from your account. The data may still exist, but Meta says it won’t be linked to your account.

Manage future off-Facebook activity

There are two paths here: Connect future activity or Disconnect future activity. The former will allow Meta to keep gathering off-Facebook activity from certain places around the web and linking it to your account. The latter will prevent that, the company says. On the web, you’ve got to click the bubble next to your choice, but in the mobile app it’s a simple toggle switch.

open the Ads page, find Ads Settings from the menu on the left, and select Ads shown off of Facebook. Turn the toggle switch to Not Allowed. You can also visit the Digital Advertising Alliance and specifically opt out of numerous cross-site tracking programs, including the one run by Facebook.

These days, Facebook takes more care to explain what type of user data it collects, but you still can’t reclaim all of your information—that’s something you sacrifice when you sign up for the service. What you can do is be more aware of the types of information you reveal as you fill out your profile, react to your News Feed, and browse the web.

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2017.

The post How to see everything Facebook knows about you, and what you can do about it appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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7 hidden Windows features you should be using https://www.popsci.com/diy/hidden-windows-features/ Fri, 25 Aug 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=565531
Two women sitting on a couch using a Windows computer.
Nothing like sharing hidden Windows features with a friend. Surface / Unsplash

There's more to Microsoft's operating system than meets the eye.

The post 7 hidden Windows features you should be using appeared first on Popular Science.

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Two women sitting on a couch using a Windows computer.
Nothing like sharing hidden Windows features with a friend. Surface / Unsplash

The Windows operating system has been around since 1985, and you’d have to be a true enthusiast to know every single thing the software can do. For most of us, there are features we’ve never come across or taken advantage of, hidden away in the operating system—and a lot of these can be really useful if you know where to find them.

Like the best hidden settings in Windows, these hidden features (there’s a difference, we promise) can make a real difference to the way you use your computer every day, and there’s likely to be at least one or two on this list that you will come to depend upon.

The secret Windows Start menu

The regular Windows Start menu is perfectly fine if you only want speedy access to the applications on your computer—but other times you might want to jump straight to a specific part of the operating system. The Task Manager, perhaps.

That’s where the secret Start menu comes in, although it’s not all that hidden: Just right-click on the Start menu button and it’ll appear. From there, you can access a host of useful shortcuts that have nothing to do with your apps.

Beyond the Task Manager, you can jump straight to the desktop, sign out of the user account you’re currently in,  search your PC, and access screens such as the Device Manager or the Terminal window.

Instant access to emojis, anywhere

Emojis can sometimes express what you want to say better than words, and there’s a way to find them in any Windows app or from any Windows screen that you might not know about. Simply press Win+. (the Windows key and the period key simultaneously) to bring up a panel packed with emojis and other special characters.

Screen recording

The Windows Snipping Tool, set to record the screen.
The Windows Snipping Tool makes screen recording easy. David Nield for Popular Science

You may be familiar with the Windows Snipping Tool for taking screenshots, but it also has the ability to record screen activity—perfect for creating tutorial videos, getting help with a problem, or logging what’s happening on apps and websites.

Launch the Snipping Tool from the Start menu, then click the record button (it looks like a video camera) to do some screen recording. Select part or all of the screen, and the recording will begin. Use the pause and stop buttons at the top of your display to take a break from recording or finish it completely.

[Related: The best screenshot and recording apps for your phone]

Your recorded video will then pop up inside the Snipping Tool, where you can review it and save it to a specific place on your system.

Clipboard history

For a long time, the Windows clipboard could only hold one item at a time—whether it was an image, a line of text, a file, or whatever else. While it’s not immediately obvious from the user interface, the Windows clipboard can now store much more.

To make sure clipboard history is turned on, open System > Clipboard from Settings. Once enabled, you can view the full history by pressing Win+V on your keyboard—and the pop-up window that appears will let you permanently pin items to the clipboard, copy any item from the clipboard, and clear the clipboard history.

Detailed Windows troubleshooters

Windows has a bunch of helpful troubleshooters you can turn to before running a web search, asking a friend or relative for advice, or calling in the professionals to solve an issue. These tools can be quite effective, and cover almost every aspect of your computer’s operation.

Open up Settings from the Start menu, then choose System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Click Run next to a troubleshooter to launch it—the topics they cover include video playback, Bluetooth, printers, and network and internet connections.

Energy recommendations for more efficient power

The energy recommendations inside Windows that will show you how to save your battery.
Saving power is useful whether you’re on a laptop or desktop. David Nield for Popular Science

If you’re not sure about the best way to minimize the amount of energy your laptop or desktop is using, Windows can help by making some suggestions about how your PC is configured. It’s a helpful guide to the key settings involved.

From Settings, pick System, then Power & battery (on a laptop) or Power (on a desktop). If there are ways your PC could be saving energy, you’ll see an Energy recommendations link at the top—click this to view the recommendations.

They can cover everything from the brightness of the display to the way that USB devices are powered when your computer is sleeping. Click Apply next to any recommendation you’d like to follow, or Apply all to set them all at once.

Conversations with the Windows calculator

The apps that come built into Windows have their own share of hidden features too. Take Calculator, for example, which can do much more than your sums. Launch it from the Start menu, click the three lines to the top left, and you’ll see there are a mass of options for performing conversions.

You can run conversions based on currency, volume, length, weight and mass, temperature, energy, area, speed, time, and power, and you can calculate the number of months, weeks, and days between two dates as well.

The post 7 hidden Windows features you should be using appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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The Opt Out: Home security cameras guarantee surveillance, not safety https://www.popsci.com/diy/home-security-camera-privacy-risk/ Thu, 24 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=565019
A security camera peeking through an open door.
You may not be the only watching through your home security camera. Lauren Pusateri for Popular Science.

Why you should think again about putting up cameras in and around your home.

The post The Opt Out: Home security cameras guarantee surveillance, not safety appeared first on Popular Science.

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A security camera peeking through an open door.
You may not be the only watching through your home security camera. Lauren Pusateri for Popular Science.

You are more than a data point. The Opt Out is here to help you take your privacy back.

RESIDENTIAL SECURITY CAMERAS from brands like Amazon’s Ring, Google Nest, and Arlo are everywhere. As of October 2022, nearly half of American households with broadband internet had a home security system, networked camera, video doorbell, or combination of these in place. If only keeping your property and family safe were that simple.

Studies attempting to measure the ability of residential security cameras to stop or deter crime have been inconclusive. And even if you care only about feeling safe, that potentially false sense of security comes with a high price: your privacy and that of everyone around you. To make matters worse, some of the tech companies behind these gadgets might be getting a little too cozy with law enforcement.

Your camera may not keep you safe

Risks aside, there are several practical benefits to installing a security camera. You might want to see when your packages hit your stoop and deter random passersby from grabbing them. Or maybe you live in a secluded area and want to try to ensure potential trespassers think twice before breaking into your home. 

But security cameras won’t necessarily keep you safe. Unless you’re checking their feed 24/7, these gadgets allow only for reactive responses, meaning they’re helpful only when a crime has already been committed. And their power of deterrence highly depends on the context. 

[Related: A simple DIY hoodie can fool security cameras]

A 2009 study published in the journal Evaluation Review found no significant reduction in crime rates after security cameras were installed in two low-crime areas in Manhattan, New York. On the other hand, a 2017 review published in the Journal of Scandinavian Studies in Criminology and Crime Prevention looked into seven studies focused on cities around the world and found crime rates dropped 24 to 28 percent in public streets and urban subway stations after the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV). Still, cameras did not affect the amount of crime perpetrated in parking lots or suburban subway stations. Finally, a 40-year review published in 2019 in the journal Criminology and Public Policy found CCTV cameras do play a role in reducing property and drug-related crimes in parking and residential areas but don’t reduce the rate of violent crimes. 

It’s worth noting that these studies consider CCTV along with other types of surveillance systems. So far, no studies have specifically looked at whether self-monitored residential and commercial surveillance systems are an effective crime deterrent. 

Privacy is a steep price to pay for security

It’s important to understand that when you install a surveillance camera, you’re buying security in exchange for privacy—but not always your own. 

If the security system is outside your home, the people appearing most frequently in the footage will not be you or anybody in your household, but others in your community who have no say in whether their image is captured. The trade-off makes sense only if we assume everyone is a potential criminal. 

“We don’t know who’s a criminal until a crime has been committed, so what we’re asking people to do is to turn over their pockets continuously and prove that they’re not,” says Isadora Borges Monroy, who has a Ph.D. in political science from McGill University and is affiliated with Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society. If we physically searched everyone we encountered in our daily lives, it’d be a lot more shocking, she explains.

When you have cameras inside your home, everyone who enters is subject to surveillance. This is why Rick Osterloh, senior vice president of devices and services at Google, once advised Nest owners to let guests know that their conversations are being recorded. But it’s unclear whether this is something people do consistently, if ever. 

It may not bother you that your neighbors are recording you every time you walk your dog past their house. After all, they’re very nice. But you should ask yourself who else is watching and listening in whenever you bring hot gossip to your friend’s house. The answer could be, well, everyone. 

Tech companies are probably the biggest potential viewers. The most popular residential surveillance systems work with the cloud, meaning they stream and store footage using an internet connection and the manufacturer’s servers. Your data should technically be safe there, but there’s evidence that it’s not. The Federal Trade Commission, for example, recently ordered Ring to pay $5.8 million in refunds after the agency found the company’s employees and contractors had had unrestricted access to user footage for years. And not only that: Ring employees had also been able to “readily download any customer’s videos and then view, share, or disclose those videos at will,” the agency said.

Google went through a similar ordeal in 2019 after a Dutch news outlet revealed that some of the company’s independent contractors were listening to and transcribing Google Assistant commands

Then there are hackers, who have been known to extort users, holding their footage for ransom. The same FTC report that found privacy problems at Ring also noted that the company had failed to respond to multiple reports of stolen usernames and passwords. The thefts were possible due to Ring’s lax security requirements, which allowed users to employ bad passwords and made brute-force attacks easy by not limiting the number of times a person (or program) could enter incorrect login details. A 2019 Motherboard investigation revealed Ring systems even allowed multiple simultaneous logins from different countries and wouldn’t flag the number of users logged into the same account. 

And even if there’s no malicious intent, there have been a variety of other security issues involving these gadgets. In 2019, Wirecutter reported that a Google Nest home security camera allowed its former owner to access new footage even after completely resetting and selling the device.   

In all fairness, some of these problems have since been patched and there are now systems in place to eliminate some security vulnerabilities. In 2020, Ring, for one, made two-factor authentication mandatory and introduced end-to-end encryption.

“They did [it] after a tremendous amount of pushback from civil liberties groups, from angry people, from users. But you have to opt in—you have to turn it on yourself,” says Matthew Guariglia, a senior policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation working on issues of surveillance and policing.

Still, we usually learn about new privacy and security issues only after the damage has already been done. That means there’s no way to know which vulnerabilities are currently being exploited.

The internet is the new evidence room

But perhaps the most problematic unwanted audience for private security camera footage is law enforcement. 

“The boundary between consumer privacy and government surveillance has never been so thin. It’s almost nonexistent,” says Guariglia.

Ideally, law enforcement agencies like local police, the FBI, and the DEA would be able to access private data only by asking its owner to relinquish it voluntarily. Under the Fourth Amendment, US citizens have the right to deny access to their data, but law enforcement can still seize it by presenting a court-ordered warrant or subpoena. This procedure is designed to protect Americans from unreasonable searches, but there are unfortunately two ways law enforcement can get your personal information without going through this process. 

“They don’t need to go directly to the person who collects the footage—the customer whose camera it is,” Guariglia says. “They can go to the companies that store the footage.”

Tech companies have the legal authority to push back on law enforcement’s requests for user data, but if and how much they resist is not up to you. Some companies even have entire programs that make it easy for authorities to access your information. In 2022, Amazon’s Ring released footage without a warrant or the consent of the affected customers, claiming there was an emergency involving “an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to a person.” The company did this 11 times, and all law enforcement had to do was fill out a form. Google has a similar program, but it appears to have a better track record than Ring: As of July 2022, the company claims it has not released any user footage to authorities. 

And even if you think that a potential emergency is a good enough reason for tech companies to grant access to users’ private data, law enforcement agencies have also tried to get camera manufacturers to let them use their products to monitor and police citizens’ legitimate exercise of their First Amendment rights

“Surveillance is not justice—this can be a tool of policing, but that doesn’t mean that the policing goal is either legitimate or that it will yield justice,” Borges Monroy says.

And if filling out a form or sending an email doesn’t work, law enforcement can just buy your data. Because, as Guariglia explains, a lot of it is just sitting on the open market. 

“Right now our legal system is the way it is, where police can buy your geolocation at any given moment through these data brokers, and they don’t need a warrant to do that,” he says.

As sketchy as that sounds, it’s not illegal, though some US senators are trying to make it so. But until there are specific regulations preventing law enforcement from purchasing user data or paying rogue employees millions of dollars for confidential information, there’s always the possibility that your camera footage will end up used against you in a court of law, without your consent. 

The irony is that we, the users, have built and funded the very system that surveils us. Such a system might not have been able to exist otherwise, because using public money to surveil citizens legally requires public hearings and debate. 

“Instead, [law enforcement has] kind of found a cheaper, more expansive shortcut to mass surveillance, which is taking advantage of the infrastructure that we are putting up ourselves, in part because society is so individualized,” Guariglia says. 

What can you do to protect your data

Reconsidering whether you need a security camera after all may be the best thing you can do to protect your privacy and that of the people around you. 

If that’s not an option, Guariglia says that before you buy a surveillance camera, you should find out whether your system of choice allows you to encrypt your data. This will prevent anyone—hackers, tech companies, or law enforcement—from accessing your data without the right credentials. You’ll also need to know whether encryption is set by default, is hard to turn on, or prevents you from using other features. 

Guariglia also recommends you find out whether the camera manufacturer requires a warrant to share your data with law enforcement, and if an overly broad warrant will do the trick. Researching a company’s track record of protecting its users and pushing back against requests for their information can also be useful. 

[Related: Tips for keeping your security cameras secure]

Beyond that, Borges Monroy recommends engaging in long-term action that could result in better regulations that will protect our privacy. 

“People need to be thinking of themselves as citizens, not as consumers,” she says. “Because these are really big problems, we tend to think about them as something that has to be done at a federal level. But there’s a lot to be done at a local level too. Especially when you’re thinking about policing.”

So let elected officials know what you think, and maybe run for office yourself. At the very least, vote. Supporting candidates who have your best interests at heart when it comes to privacy—at all levels of government—is a good way to make a difference. This will also get us closer to ensuring that we aren’t all constantly racing to catch up with technology, but are instead setting the pace so it serves us, not the other way around. 

Read more PopSci+ stories.

The post The Opt Out: Home security cameras guarantee surveillance, not safety appeared first on Popular Science.

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Host an epic karaoke night with just a laptop and a mic https://www.popsci.com/diy/home-karaoke-party/ Wed, 23 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=564546
People signing karaoke probably using their laptop
No one will tell you how many times you can sing "Careless Whisper" in your own home. Milkos / Deposit Photos, for Popular Science

Turn your living room into a karaoke bar no one can kick you out of.

The post Host an epic karaoke night with just a laptop and a mic appeared first on Popular Science.

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People signing karaoke probably using their laptop
No one will tell you how many times you can sing "Careless Whisper" in your own home. Milkos / Deposit Photos, for Popular Science

Hosting a karaoke party at your place is easy, but you’ll need some preparation and equipment. You could spend money on one of the best karaoke systems on the market, but that’s definitely a splurge if you don’t plan on singing along with your friends regularly. 

You might be wondering, then, if you can somehow plug a microphone into your computer and use that instead. The good news is that you can, but it’s going to take a little bit of setup. Let’s get started. 

Choose a microphone

You can’t use the microphone built into your laptop or phone for karaoke because of feedback—the mic will pick up your voice but also the music, creating an awful sound that will pierce your eardrums. And even if that worked, a karaoke party where you and your guests yell into a laptop isn’t any fun at all.

You’ll need an external microphone.

If you have a good USB microphone for online work meetings or recording podcasts, you can use that. But if you’re buying a new one, know that the occasional karaoke party doesn’t require an expensive mic. If you played Rock Band or Guitar Hero back in the day, dig through your closet and pull out your old console microphone—they’re pretty much designed for karaoke already and they’re usually plug-and-play, meaning you connect them to your computer and you’re ready to rock. 

[Related: The psychology of karaoke, explained]

But if you have nothing at home that will work, you can always search for a handheld USB microphone online—you can find a decent one for around $20. 

Set up your microphone

Plug your microphone into your computer and try singing—you most likely won’t hear anything. This is because you’ll need to set up your mic first. To do so, go to the Settings menu on your computer. 

On Windows, head to System and choose Sound. There, click More sound settings, select your microphone, and click Properties.  

Sound settings on Windows to turn your laptop into a karaoke machine
Windows requires you to set up any USB microphone you intend to use for karaoke. But don’t worry—it’s simple. Screenshot: Windows

Head to the Listen tab and check the Listen to this device checkbox. 

Karaoke microphone setup menu on Windows
You literally have to tell your PC to listen to your new microphone. Screenshot: Windows

You should now be able to hear yourself when talking into your microphone—finish the setup by heading to the Levels tab and adjusting the volume of the device. Your computer will remember your settings, meaning the next time you plug in your microphone it should work automatically to your liking. 

Unfortunately, it’s not as easy to amplify your voice with a microphone and a Mac computer, but there’s an easy workaround. Open QuickTime player, go to File in the menu bar, and click on New Audio Recording

QuickTime settings to work a karaoke microphone on MacOS
You’ll need to run QuickTime the whole time if you want to use your Mac computer as a karaoke machine. Screenshot: Apple

This will open a simple recorder. Turn up the volume on the slider at the bottom and you should be able to hear yourself through your computer speakers when singing into the microphone. Feel free to minimize the window, but you will need to have this app open during your entire karaoke session. 

QuickTime recording settings to use microphone for home  karaoke on MacOS
Tweak the volume slider on QuickTime and you’ll be able to hear your voice amplified through your laptop speakers. Screenshot: Apple

Find karaoke tracks to sing over

Now that you have a microphone and you can hear yourself sing through it, it’s time to find some actual songs. I tested several apps for this and I’ve found that, for most people, YouTube is the best option. You can search for any song, add the word “karaoke”, and you’ll find it there. 

I recommend you do some testing before the party, though—you might need to turn the volume down on the YouTube video to hear the microphone over the music, for example. It’s also a good idea to put together a playlist, but if you want to change things up on the go, searching for karaoke videos on YouTube doesn’t take long, so feel free to search for songs as requests come in. 

Optional: connect your computer to your TV

Your home karaoke setup doesn’t need much more than a computer, especially if you connect it to some decent speakers. But things can get a lot more fun if you hook up your laptop to your TV using an HDMI cable.

[Related: Five rad and romantic ways to turn your home into a karaoke bar]

The bigger screen makes it easy for everyone to see the lyrics and sing along with whoever is performing, but it also means the audio will come through your TV’s stereo system. As an added bonus, hooking up your TV to your laptop also makes it easy for one person to DJ the karaoke session without getting in the performers’ way. 

Try a dedicated karaoke app

If you can’t be bothered to find karaoke videos on YouTube, you can use a dedicated app to get the party going. 

Karafun

Karafun has an extensive song catalog and even if some of the tunes on the app sound a little cheesy, they’re synced up well with the lyrics and you can browse everything in one interface. It’s also easy to make a queue so your guests don’t get into a fight every time you ask who’s next. 

Karafun has a limited free version that allows you to play 30-second previews of all the songs in the catalog—not exactly enough to get to the bridge. So if you want to use this app for your karaoke party, you’re better off paying $9.99 per month to get unlimited access to all the tunes on the platform.

Karafun is available for Mac and Windows. Get full access to its song catalog for $9.99 a month. 

Singa

If you want to skip YouTube, Singa is another option you can use in your browser. The platform offers multiple versions of most songs and the quality is generally pretty good. Singa is also the only service on this list that lets you adjust the pitch on any song, making it possible for any singer to finish even the most difficult Mariah Carey tunes. 

You can get five free songs every day, which isn’t a bad deal but it’s not enough for your karaoke party. For $5.99 you can purchase a 2-day pass for full access to Singa’s catalog, and if karaoke becomes a hobby, you can splurge on a yearly subscription.

Singa is available on the web. Full access to its catalog starts at $5.99. 

Karaoke Mugen

Karaoke Mugen is an open-source option built by anime enthusiasts. As you’d imagine, its catalog includes mainly songs from anime shows and video games, lots of them available in multiple languages. Maybe this sounds like a party to you, but it has one major drawback—it’s annoying to set up. To use Karaoke Mugen, you’ll need to create an account and set up a web server working on your host computer. But if you go through all that trouble, you’ll get one stand-out feature: the ability for anyone in the room to add songs to the queue using their phones. 

Karaoke Mugen is available on the web for free.

The post Host an epic karaoke night with just a laptop and a mic appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to deactivate Instagram because the Likes don’t love you back https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-deactivate-instagram/ Tue, 22 Aug 2023 15:10:09 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=564312
A person's hand holding an iPhone with the Instagram login screen visible.
If you deactivate Instagram, you can simply log in to recover it, but deletion is permanent. Solen Feyissa/Unsplash

Whether you deactivate or delete Instagram, it could be good to take a break.

The post How to deactivate Instagram because the Likes don’t love you back appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person's hand holding an iPhone with the Instagram login screen visible.
If you deactivate Instagram, you can simply log in to recover it, but deletion is permanent. Solen Feyissa/Unsplash

To deactivate Instagram or delete it: that is the question. If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably decided that it’s better to take action against the sea of troubles associated with the Meta-owned app and other social networks (like body dissatisfaction and unhealthy life comparisons) than it is to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous trolls. No more.

Both deactivation and deletion will remove your Instagram account from the public eye, but the choice you make will depend on whether you plan to come back to the ‘Gram at any point. The key difference between a deactivated account and a deleted one is that the latter is permanent. If you deactivate your Instagram, it won’t be visible to anyone, but you won’t lose anything. You can let it languish in virtual limbo forever, or recover and reactivate it at any time by simply logging in. Delete it, though, and Meta will erase everything—you won’t be able to get it back.

Consider downloading your Instagram data first

Before you start, we recommend downloading all your Instagram data. You don’t need to do this, but if you’re at all nostalgic for the time you spent on the app, you should stash a file full of your posts, comments, and everything else on a hard drive somewhere. Not interested? Cool—you can skip straight to our instructions on how to deactivate Instagram.

Download your Instagram data from the app

1. Tap your profile photo in the bottom right corner of the screen, then hit the hamburger menu (three lines) in the top right.

2. Touch Your activity to open up a categorized list of everything you’ve ever done on Instagram.

The Instagram app showing where to find "your activity" inside the settings menu.
Once you enter the settings, you can find your activity right here. Screenshot: Instagram

3. Scroll to the bottom of this list and tap Download your information.

4. Click Request a download on the next page. When the file is ready, Instagram will notify you and give you four days to download your information from the app.

Download your Instagram data from the web

1. We know the app is more easily accessible, but plenty of people prefer the web version of Instagram. If that’s you, click More in the bottom left corner of the screen, then hit Your activity.

[Related: Criticism pushed ‘Instagram Kids’ back to the drawing board]

2. Select Download your information, then enter the email address you want Instagram to send the file to.

The Instagram web interface showing how to download your data.
Navigating Instagram’s web interface might actually be a little easier than the app. Screenshot: Instagram

3. Choose the file format you want: HTML or JSON. The latter is a better option if you want to transfer all your Instagram data to another program or service.

4. Enter your Instagram password, then hit Request download.

How to deactivate Instagram, or permanently delete it

Whether you’re using a phone or a computer, the steps to delete or deactivate your Instagram account are essentially the same, but the first few are different enough to warrant separate instructions. When you’re done, maybe you’ll sleep—perchance, dream—a little easier. And then you can consider deleting Facebook when you wake up.

How to delete or deactivate Instagram from the Android or iPhone app

1. Tap your profile photo in the bottom right corner of the screen, then the hamburger menu (three lines) in the top right.

2. Choose Settings and privacy, then Accounts Center. These options should be easy to find, as they’re both right at the top of their respective lists.

3. From the Meta Accounts Center, tap Personal details > Account ownership and control > Deactivation or deletion.

The Instagram app showing where to find your personal details, to start the process of deactivating or deleting your Instagram account.
Step 3 starts here. Screenshot: Instagram

4. Pick your Instagram account from the list of Meta accounts.

5. Choose whether you want to delete or deactivate your Instagram account, then hit Continue and enter your Instagram password to finish the process.

How to delete or deactivate your Instagram account from the web

1. Click More in the bottom left corner, followed by Settings.

2. Find the Meta Accounts Center box, then click See more in Accounts Center.

The Instagram settings interface on the web, showing how to find the Meta Accounts Center to delete or deactivate your Instagram account.
Once you find the Meta Accounts Center, you can start the deactivation or deletion process. Screenshot: Instagram

3. Once in the Accounts Center, click Personal details > Account ownership and control > Deactivation or deletion.

4. Select your Instagram account from the list of Meta accounts that appears.

5. Pick whether you want to delete or deactivate your account, then hit Continue and enter your password to finish the job.

The post How to deactivate Instagram because the Likes don’t love you back appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to delete your Facebook account and take your data with you https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-delete-facebook/ Tue, 26 Oct 2021 00:07:27 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=405259
A Facebook Like icon doing a thumbs-down, as you might do if you want to delete your Facebook account.
If you want to know how to delete your Facebook account, you've come to the right place. Barefoot Communications/Unsplash

Meta has buried account deletion and deactivation within your Facebook settings, but we found them.

The post How to delete your Facebook account and take your data with you appeared first on Popular Science.

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A Facebook Like icon doing a thumbs-down, as you might do if you want to delete your Facebook account.
If you want to know how to delete your Facebook account, you've come to the right place. Barefoot Communications/Unsplash

Facebook is still popular, with around 3 billion users logging in each month, but there’s no doubt some are there for a single purpose: to delete their account.

If you’ve decided you can no longer be associated with a platform that has struggled to effectively manage hate speech and misinformation, are just learning about whistleblower Frances Haugen’s scorching 2021 testimony before a Senate subcommittee, or simply have no use for the social network anymore, it’s fairly easy to back up your data and leave Facebook behind.

When you do, you’ll also lose access to Messenger, but not Meta’s other apps. If you want to deactivate Instagram or delete WhatsApp, you’ll have to do so separately. And if you’ve linked Facebook to any other services, you won’t get locked out forever, but you’ll need to use a different login method the next time you open them up.

Consider downloading all your Facebook data first

Before you pull the plug, you may want to save all the data you’ve amassed on the platform throughout the years. Of course, you can skip this and immediately delete your Facebook account (steps below), but we think it’s better to download everything and not need it than to trash it all and wish you hadn’t. You can do this from the mobile app or a web browser.

Facebook knows a lot about you, so you won’t get your data immediately—it may be several days before the file or files are ready for you. Once it’s done, though, Facebook will let you know via email.

It’s a time-sensitive matter too: The files are large, so Facebook will only hang onto them for a few days before they delete them. If the download window closes on you, you’ll have to start the process again.

Download your Facebook data from a browser

A Facebook profile showing how to access the Facebook account settings and privacy options.
To get started, open Facebook’s settings. Screenshot: Facebook

1. From your Facebook profile, click your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen, then hit Settings & privacy, followed by Settings. This should bring you directly to Your Facebook information, where you’ll see several options.

2. Find Download profile information, then click View to its right. This will bring you to a page where you can customize exactly how much you actually want to save.

The Facebook settings page showing where you can download your Facebook information.
You can poke around in the other options if you want, but this is the one you need. Screenshot: Facebook

3. Select a file format: HTML or JSON. The latter is better if you want to transfer your data somewhere else.

4. Use the dropdown menu under Media quality to decide if you want to save photos and videos at High, Medium, or Low quality. Higher-quality media will increase the size of the final data file.

The options for downloading your Facebook data.
The options described in steps 4, 5, and 6 are all right here. Screenshot: Facebook

5. Choose a date range. You can select one of Facebook’s preset time periods (like Last week and Last year), but if you have a specific range in mind you can pick Custom to set your own Start date and End date. If you want to download everything, click All time.

[Related: How to uncover what Facebook knows about you]

6. Select the type of information you want to save. There are a lot of categories, including Messenger conversations, posts, polls, places, events, searches, and ad data, and everything on this incredibly long list of items is selected by default. You can grab it all or pick and choose what you want to take with you by clicking the checkboxes to the right of each category.

7. When you’re ready, click Request a download at the bottom of the page. 

Download your data from the Facebook app

1. Tap Menu in the bottom right, then the cog icon in the top right to open Settings & privacy.

Where to find the Facebook settings on the Facebook app.
You can find the Facebook settings in the app under the cog icon in the top right. Screenshot: Facebook

2. Scroll down to Your information and tap Download your information.

The Facebook data download options in the Facebook app.
You can download your information right here. Screenshot: Facebook

3. You’ll see a long list of data categories, including Messenger conversations, pages you’ve liked, posts, Facebook Marketplace data, login information, and your interactions with ads. Everything will be selected by default, but you can tap an item to deselect it and omit it from the final data file.

4. Choose a date range. You only have two options here: All of my data and Date range. If you don’t want to save everything, tap the latter option, then touch the dates that appear to set beginning and end dates for the time period you want.

The options for downloading your Facebook data from the Facebook app.
After you select everything you want to download, use the options on this page to finish the download process. Screenshot: Facebook

5. Pick a file format. You have two options here too: HTML and JSON. The latter is better if you want to send your data somewhere else.

6. Decide if you want the photos and videos in your final file to be High, Medium, or Low quality. The higher the quality, the more sizable your download will be.

7. Tap Create file to start the process.

How to delete your Facebook account on a mobile device or a computer

Whether you’ve downloaded your data and safely stored it on a hard drive or skipped straight here to erase all memory of your time on the social network, it’s time to delete your Facebook account. The process is essentially the same whether you’re using a web browser or the mobile app.

1. Open Facebook’s settings. This is the only step that’s substantially different whether you use a browser or the app.

  • From a browser: Go to your Facebook profile, click your profile picture in the top right, then Settings & privacy, followed by Settings.
  • From the app: Tap Menu in the bottom right, then the cog icon in the top right to open Settings & privacy.

2. Look for the Meta Accounts Center. On the web, it’s in the left-hand sidebar, and in the app it’s at the top of the page. Hit See more in Accounts Center.

Facebook's settings, showing where to find the Meta Accounts Center to delete your Facebook account.
To delete your Facebook account, you’ll need to go to the Meta Accounts Center. Screenshot: Facebook

3. Click Personal details, then Account ownership and control.

The location of the Facebook account settings for deleting or deactivating your Facebook account, under personal details and account ownership and control.
Facebook has made it kind of hard to find the options for deleting and deactivating your account, but you can find them right here. Screenshot: Facebook

4. Choose Deactivation or deletion.

5. Select your Facebook account from the list of Meta accounts that appears.

6. Click Delete account. Doing so won’t immediately delete your Facebook account, but it’ll start the process. Deletion is permanent, though, and you won’t be able to get any of your Facebook data or Messenger messages back once it’s done. That said, your information will remain in Facebook’s possession (but invisible to the public) for at least 30 days. During this time you can change your mind, log into Facebook, and hit Cancel deletion to recover your account. After that grace period, it’ll all disappear into the internet ether.

  • Note: Your other option here is Deactivate account, which will allow you to temporarily remove your Facebook account from public view. The difference between this and deleting your account is that no one will be able to see your name, photos, and most of the things you’ve shared, but you’ll still be able to use Messenger. It’s also not permanent, so you can undo deactivation whenever you want.

7. Whether you chose to deactivate or delete your Facebook account, click Continue. Facebook may ask you to click through several other dialog boxes (like reminding you that deactivating or deleting your account will also shut down any pages you run) and will ask for your password one more time before it makes everything disappear.

How to delete your Facebook account without a password

As you may have noticed, you need your password to delete your Facebook account. But if you’ve forgotten it or your account has been compromised, there are some workarounds you can try.

Recover or reset your password

1. From the Facebook login page on the web or in the app, click Forgot password?.

2. Enter the email or phone number associated with the account and hit Search.

3. You may see a partially-hidden email address or other information on the next screen (like R*********@g****.com), and that may help you remember your login information. If not, click Try another way.

4. Facebook will offer you several password reset options, and they’ll vary depending on what other services you use. Choose the one that works best for you, and hit Continue to begin the reset process.

Report your account as fake

As a last-ditch attempt to remove your account without any login information, you can report it as fake. There’s no guarantee this will work, but you can try. And it goes without saying that you should not maliciously report an account you don’t like in the hope that it’ll be deleted. You’re better than that.

You will have to be logged into Facebook to file a report, though, so you’ll need to either create a new account to find and report your old account, or team up with a friend or family member to report it from their account. If you can’t do any of these, Facebook has an online form that will let you report an imposter account without logging in. Otherwise, follow these steps:

1. While logged into Facebook, go to the Facebook profile you want to report (yours, in this case).

2. Click the three dots under the cover photo. If you’re using a web browser, choose Find support or report; if you’re in the app, tap Report profile.

The options for reporting a Facebook account as fake or pretending to be someone.
Don’t misuse the report feature. Screenshot: Facebook

3. Select the problem you have with the account. There are several options here, but you’ll probably want to choose Pretending to be someone. It’s you, but the account is pretending to be someone who wants to be on Facebook, after all.

4. Choose Me, and Facebook will ask if the account is violating the social network’s community standards. You can click See Community Standards to read up on them, or just hit Submit to report the account. If all goes well, Facebook will remove it from the site.

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2021.

The post How to delete your Facebook account and take your data with you appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to do a reverse image search https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-reverse-image-search/ Sat, 19 Aug 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=563902
A laptop showing how to reverse image search on the Google image results page.
You can use an image on your device or a URL to find similar photos or where it was first posted. PopSci composite: Domenico Loia/Unsplash; Screenshot: Google

The internet can tell you where a picture came from.

The post How to do a reverse image search appeared first on Popular Science.

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A laptop showing how to reverse image search on the Google image results page.
You can use an image on your device or a URL to find similar photos or where it was first posted. PopSci composite: Domenico Loia/Unsplash; Screenshot: Google

Knowing how to reverse image search is a useful skill. Sometimes called backwards image search, this technique allows you to use a picture from your device’s gallery, a screenshot, or an image URL as a starting point to find out where it’s been used online. 

You may have heard of it used in connection with Google image search, but the Big G is only one of the platforms offering this feature—there are several others you can use for free on your phone, tablet, or computer. The most accurate reverse image search tool will heavily depend on what you’re looking for, so it’s worth trying all of these options to see how the results compare.

Reverse image searching is a good way to find photos similar to ones you already have, or better quality versions of them. You might also want to find the original iteration of a picture or piece of digital art—or make sure no one is using your content without permission.

Search by image on Google

Google image search results page
Google image search will allow you to see similar photos to the one you’re using for your query. Screenshot: Google

Google allows you to submit your image in a number of ways. Whichever one you choose, you’ll typically end up with a gallery that includes exact matches to your picture, as well as results that look similar to it. Generally, Google can identify what’s in your photo, so you might also see related text results. If it’s a logo, for example, you might see the company’s website, or if it’s a plant you might see its name and information about the species.

[Related: 5 Google search tips for the most accurate results]

1. From a desktop or mobile browser, head to Google Images

2. Click or tap the search by image button—it looks like a colorful camera. 

3. Submit your photo.

  • On desktop, you can drag an image in from another window, upload a file from your computer, or paste in the URL of the image you want to find.
  • On mobile, you can snap an image with your camera or tap the picture icon to the left of the search button to choose an image from your phone. As soon as you upload the image, Google will show you results for it. 

4. (Optional) To find exact matches from a desktop browser, click Find image source. To access the same tool from a mobile device, tap the image source button in the lower right—the icon looks like a small magnifying glass and globe. You’ll immediately see a list of matches together with their resolution and the website they’re on. This is extremely useful if you want to know where the picture was first posted or grab it at a different size or quality.

How to reverse image search on Bing

Backwards image search results page on Bing
MIcrosoft’s search engine will help you filter results so you can find what you’re looking for. Screenshot: Bing

If you’d like to run a reverse image search on a platform other than Google, Microsoft’s search engine can also get the job done, and it categorizes the results for easy navigation. 

1. Open up Bing in a desktop or mobile browser and click or tap the square camera icon to the right of the search box.

2. Submit your photo.

  • On desktop, you can drag an image into the window, pick one from your system, or enter an image URL.
  • On mobile, you can take a snap with your phone’s camera or choose a picture from the device’s storage by tapping the picture icon in the lower left corner of your screen.

3. Bing will immediately present you with a list of matches split into three categories, but depending on the photo you used, you might not see all of them.

  • Pages with this image: These are exact matches for the picture you’re searching for. 
  • Related content: These are similar kinds of images to the one you’re searching for.
  • Shop for similar: These are items on retail sites that closely match your image. This category comes in handy if you’re shopping for a certain top or pair of shoes, for example.

4. (Optional) To sort your reverse image search results, go to the Pages with this image section. There are two buttons on this panel—one specifying how many pages of matches Bing found, and the other specifying how many image sizes are available. Click or tap the pages button to see the individual URLs listed in order. You can also click or tap the image size button to see the matches grouped by resolution, in pixels.

How to reverse image search with TinEye

Tineye reverse search results page
Don’t want to use one of the big search engines? TinEye is a great alternative. Screenshot: Tineye

Another useful reverse image search tool is TinEye. As with Google and Bing, you can access the search box through a desktop or mobile browser. You can also save yourself the typing by getting the platform’s extension, available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera. 

1. Tap the Upload button to choose a picture from your phone or computer, or enter an image URL in the box. You’ll immediately see a collection of matches from the web. Alongside each of them, you’ll see the date a picture was first posted, and its resolution. 

2. (Optional) Sort results by using the drop-down menu at the top of the list. You’ll be able to group images by date, size, or closest match. 

3. (Optional) Refine your results using the checkboxes at the top. You’ll be able to filter by images that were recently deleted from the web and are no longer available, results from stock photo companies (handy if you want to license a picture), and items that are part of collections (groups of other similar images). If you’re trying to figure out when a picture was originally posted, that last option can be particularly useful—the image you’re looking for may have been uploaded as part of a set along with other similar ones.

Reverse image search is mostly safe

When you submit a photo for reverse image lookup, platforms like Google and Bing use their algorithms to analyze the file and find others like it online. To do that, they need to store the image for a limited period of time while they process it. 

Google’s terms of service, for example, are vague enough that they don’t say exactly how long they store the pictures you use for reverse image search. However, according to the company’s official community message board, they keep a copy for about a week, but it’s not indexed by Google and is only accessible if you have the file’s URL. After that, the image is deleted forever. 

[Related: Organizing your photos can be a chore. Let AI tag them for you.]

Given this information, reverse image search is fairly safe, at least on Google, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise caution. Think twice about searching for sensitive photos—even if you trust the platform, there’s always the chance that your connection has been compromised without you knowing it, which means hackers might be able to intercept files you upload to the web.  

For other platforms, make sure you read their terms of service before submitting images you wouldn’t want posted online. 

The post How to do a reverse image search appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Anybody can be your travel guide with customized Waze voices https://www.popsci.com/diy/waze-voices-recording/ Fri, 18 Aug 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=563608
Phone showing Waze directions, probably using recorded voices for navigation
Why have an machine-generated voice guide you, when you can have your own kid tell you where to turn?. Thibault Penin / Unsplash

Switch the app's default voice and have someone you care about tell you when you missed the exit.

The post Anybody can be your travel guide with customized Waze voices appeared first on Popular Science.

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Phone showing Waze directions, probably using recorded voices for navigation
Why have an machine-generated voice guide you, when you can have your own kid tell you where to turn?. Thibault Penin / Unsplash

If driving your car is your main form of transportation, then Waze (available for Android and iOS) offers a solid alternative to Apple Maps and Google Maps when it comes to turn-by-turn navigation. But one thing that sets the app apart from the rest is the ability to record new voices for directions.

And it doesn’t have to be your own. For example, you could have one of your kids or that friend with the baritone to get you to your destination every time. You might even want to hear how your own voice does the job.

Note that these custom Waze voices only cover the basics of the directions. At the moment, Waze can’t leverage the artificial intelligent power to adapt your voice to pronounce the name of every place, road, city, or town in the world—although it might only be a matter of time before a feature like this is available.

Recording a new Waze voices

Menu to record a new Waze voice for navigation
It might take a while to record all the clips, but you can do them in batches and come back whenever you want. Screenshot: Waze

Open Waze on your phone. If you have an Android device, tap the three horizontal lines in the top left corner of your screen, followed by Settings; iPhone users should tap the My Waze heading at the bottom, and then the cog icon in the top left corner of the interface. Select Voice and sound, then the current voice used for navigation (most likely Waze voice), and finally, Add a voice.

You’ll see a safety warning reminding you to make sure that the verbal instructions you record are clear and accurate, and then Waze will ask for your permission to use your phone’s microphone. After that, it’s time to record—let your inner voice actor out or ask the person whose voice you’re using to step in.

[Related: Navigating with GPS is making our brains lazy]

Tap Name your voice at the top of the screen to identify the new narrator, and choose the phrases you want to record: There’s a comprehensive list with everything from “Let’s get started—drive safe!” to “Take the fourth exit”. You don’t have to tackle all of these in one go: you can always come back and finish your recording later, and Waze will default to its regular voice for any clips still pending.

When you choose a phrase, a recording window will pop up. Tap the red circle button to register your voice, and the blue play button to hear it back. Waze will tell you how many seconds you have to get each phrase in, so you can’t drag it out too much—the time will count down as you’re recording to make it easier to fit all of it in there. When you’re happy with a clip, tap Save.

As you start to build up the bank of voice recordings, you’ll see the red record buttons next to each phrase change—tap the blue play button to hear the clip, and a trash can button to delete it and try again. If you’re done for the day, tap Save to go back to the main Waze app.

How to switch between Waze voices

Waze voices menu for navigation
Once you record your own Waze voice, name it and choose it from the list on the app. Screenshot: Waze

When you record a voice, the app will automatically set it as the default navigation narrator. To change it in the future, head to the settings screen on your phone as detailed above, and choose Voice and sound. A blue checkmark will sit next to the voice you’re currently using.

You’ll notice that Waze offers a wide selection of fun and serious voices to pick from, including cats, dogs, and noir detectives. Some of these voices will have an “including street names” label, which means they’ve been programmed with these specifics on the map. If you choose one that doesn’t (including your own recordings), you’ll have to settle for machine-generated voices and pronunciations for the names of specific streets and places.

[Related: Learning a new language? Here’s how to perfect your pronunciation.]

When it comes to the custom Waze voices, you’ve got two little icons next to each one: Tap the pen icon to go back to the recording screen to make changes and add phrases, or tap the share icon (an arrow pushing out of a box) to send your recorded voice clips to someone else on Waze. Maybe grandparents also want to be directed around town by your kids, so just tap the Share button to confirm and pick a contact or an app to share a link in.

So, next time you need to hit the road, open the map screen on Waze, enter your destination, and your selected voice will guide you there. You can also change the voice mid-drive by tapping the speaker icon next to the estimated time of arrival and choosing then Voice directions.

The post Anybody can be your travel guide with customized Waze voices appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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All the ways to digitally sign a PDF https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-sign-a-pdf/ Wed, 16 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=563238
A person signing a PDF document on their phone
You can sign PDF documents on your phone and on the go. DocuSign / Unsplash

You don't need a pen to put down your signature on a PDF file.

The post All the ways to digitally sign a PDF appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person signing a PDF document on their phone
You can sign PDF documents on your phone and on the go. DocuSign / Unsplash

Paper copies and filing cabinets have become less common since cloud computing became more ubiquitous. But you may still need to sign a PDF document, which may be a problem if you don’t have a printer and scanner handy.

The solution is to do everything digitally, scribbling your signature with your finger, a stylus, or a mouse cursor, and pasting it on the PDF. There are multiple different ways to go about it, so you can choose the one that suits you best.

 How to sign a PDF document on Windows

Person signing a document on Microsoft Edge
On Microsoft Edge, you can choose the width and color of the lines you’ll use to draw your signature. David Nield for Popular Science

If you’re looking for a built-in PDF signing tool in Windows, your best option is the Microsoft Edge browser that comes with the operating system. To open a file, drag it into a browser tab from File Explorer or press Ctrl+O and select the document.

[Related: How to combine PDF files for free without sketchy online software]

Up at the top of the screen, you’ll see a new toolbar: Click the small arrow next to Draw to choose the color and line thickness of your signature. With that done, leave your mark on the document using your mouse or trackpad. You may also use your finger if your Windows device has a touchscreen.

If you don’t like your digitized autograph and need to start again, click the icon that looks like an eraser. Once you’re happy with the result, head over to the save icons you’ll see up in the top-right corner of your screen—they look like floppy disks. Click the one on the left to save over the original PDF or the one on the right (with the pen icon) to save the signed document as a new file.

How to sign a PDF document on macOS

A person signing a PDF document on Preview on MacOS.
Preview, on macOS, will automatically save your signature and even share it with other Apple products signed into the same account. David Nield for Popular Science

Over on Apple’s desktop operating system, your native PDF-signing tool is the easy-to-use  Preview. By default, all PDFs should open in the tool by double-clicking on them, but if that’s not the case, you can always summon the app via Spotlight search: type “preview” on the search bar that appears when you hit command + spacebar. Select the program and then open the document from there by going to File and clicking Open

Once Preview is displaying the relevant file, you should see an icon on the toolbar at the top that looks like a signature. If you don’t see the option, go to View and click on Show Markup Toolbar—it’s towards the bottom of the menu. Click the signature button and choose Create Signature. There are several ways to go about it: You can scrawl your autograph on your trackpad, you can hold a piece of paper with your signature on it up to your Mac’s webcam, or you can sign using your finger or an Apple Pencil on an iPhone or iPad linked to the same Apple ID as your computer.

When you’re done with the result, click Done and your scribble will drop into the document, where you’ll be able to reposition and resize it as needed. Your signature will automatically save for future use, so next time you open a document on Preview, you can click on the signature icon and your autograph will be there ready to be inserted wherever you need it.   

To save over the current PDF, choose File and then Save; or if you’d rather create a new file, choose File and Export instead.

How to sign a PDF file on Android

A person signing a PDF document on an Android device
For Android owners, the easiest way to sign a document is to open it on the Google Drive app. David Nield for Popular Science

If you want to sign a PDF on Android you don’t need the hassle of downloading and signing up for another app—Google Drive, which should already be on your device, has you covered. Open up a PDF, then tap the edit button (bottom right), which looks like a pen with a scribble next to it.

Tap the pen tool (bottom left) and choose a color and line thickness for your signature. With that done, you can sign right on the document. Use the eraser or the undo (backward arrow) buttons on the toolbar to go back and start again, if you need to. You can then tap Save to overwrite the PDF, or tap the three dots (top right) and Save copy to create a separate file.

And if you don’t want to use Google Drive, Android has plenty of third-party options to pick from, as well. Adobe Fill & Sign can scan a written signature you’ve got on a piece of paper for example, while JetSign can work with other types of files (like Word documents) as well as PDFs.

How to sign a PDF on iOS or iPadOS

A person signing a PDF document on an iPhone
Apple products will share the signatures that you create among them so that you can sign PDF files no matter the Apple device you’re on. David Nield for Popular Science

The digital signing features on iOS and iPadOS closely match those on macOS, and you’ll find the relevant tools in the Files app. Open a PDF in Files, then tap the icon in the bottom right corner that looks like a pen filling out a form. This brings up a list of your existing signatures, including ones you might have created on your Mac.

You can also tap Add or Remove Signature and the + (plus) icon to create a new scribble using your finger or an Apple Pencil. Once you’ve selected a signature, you can reposition it on the document by dragging it around with your finger, and resize it by moving the blue handles around the edges. Tap Done to overwrite the existing file. If you want a separate copy, tap the file name (top left) and then Duplicate.

As you would expect, plenty of third-party apps for iOS and iPadOS will take over PDF signing duties if you need them to. PDF Expert gives you access to a host of PDF editing tools, including the ability to add signatures, while SignNow is a good choice if multiple people need to sign the same file.

Other options to sign a PDF document

A person signing a document on Dropbox
If you want to explore more options to sign your documents, Adobe, DocuSign, and Dropbox, among others, offer alternatives. David Nield for Popular Science

If you want to test and compare several tools, there are yet more options you can try out. If your PDF documents are in Dropbox, you can open them up on the web, then click Add signatures and Self-sign to add your autograph. You can draw using your mouse or trackpad, create a signature based on a font of your choice, or upload an image of your signature from somewhere else.

[Related: Easily convert a PDF to an image on your phone]

DocuSign also offers a comprehensive set of document-signing tools. Click your profile picture (top right), then Manage Profile and Signatures to assign your personal scribbles to your account, which you can then add to any of your documents. If multiple parties are signing the same document, DocuSign can keep track of who has signed what, and when.

If you want something simple that runs in your browser, you can rely upon ILovePDF for any kind of PDF editing or processing task. Just click Sign PDF and follow the instructions on the screen. You can scribble out a signature with your mouse or trackpad, upload an image of your signature, or generate one using your name and font of your choice.

The post All the ways to digitally sign a PDF appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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This gadget from 1930 let people ‘talk’ to the dead—with a magic trick https://www.popsci.com/diy/spiritphone-magic-trick-explained/ Tue, 15 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=560905
person holds hand to ear, old magazine illustration
Popular Science

How a Popular Science tutorial for building a ‘spiritphone’ tuned into the hype of the Golden Age
of Magic.

The post This gadget from 1930 let people ‘talk’ to the dead—with a magic trick appeared first on Popular Science.

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person holds hand to ear, old magazine illustration
Popular Science

MAGIC FIRST TOOK SHAPE from the occult—from unseen forces once more popularly believed to flow from the spirit world to alter the course of mortal events. Throughout history, magicians were seen as aloof figures mysteriously granted secret knowledge to channel numinous power. In some cultures and times, magicians held sway as oracles and shamans; in others, they were shunned as sorcerers and witches—or worse. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that magic made a break from its mostly mystical roots. Interest in magic grew exponentially into the 20th century when it became a popular performing art, sparking decades of fantastic feats of illusion, conjuring, and escapology known as the Golden Age of Magic.

Given magic’s history, it is particularly apt that in 1930, in the midst of magic’s heyday, Popular Science offered readers do-it-yourself instructions for building a “spiritphone”—a gadget capable of making prophecies by dint of its apparent radio connection with “the land of the departed.”   

“The spiritphone,” wrote George S. Greene, “is easy to construct and still easier to operate, and is one of the most effective tricks for the amateur magician.” The trick’s premise is to guess the name of a famous person secretly picked by a member of the audience. 

Slips of blank paper are handed out, and each audience member jots down the name of a “departed hero or famous [person]” of their own choosing. The folded slips are then collected in a hat. A member of the audience is chosen at random to select a folded slip, without peering at the name. The magician hands that volunteer the spiritphone, but not before barely turning a fake screw at its base, which brings the name of a famous person into view on the spiritphone’s dial. The volunteer is then instructed to ask the spiritphone, via a receiver, what name is on the slip of paper. The spiritphone “responds,” and the volunteer announces to the audience what they “hear”—which really means what they see on the spiritphone’s display. To everyone’s delight, the spiritphone’s answer matches what’s written on the folded slip of paper. That’s because when the slips of paper are collected from the audience, with sleight of hand, the magician tucks them into the hat’s interior sweatband and replaces them with slips that all bear the same name, preselected by the magician. The spiritphone has the same name imprinted on the rotating display in its interior mechanism, which Greene’s instructions explain how to build.

February 1930 cover of Popular Science magazine
The cover of the February 1930 issue features home projects and asked if we should abolish speed laws. Popular Science

Greene was a longtime Popular Science contributor who covered the magic beat, regularly explaining how tricks worked. One such article, written in January 1929, “Famous Magic Tricks Explained,” garnered protest from readers who didn’t want the magazine to reveal what was behind the curtain and spoil the charm of mainstream magic’s spell.

For instance, Greene explained how escapologists, like the legendary Harry Houdini, could vanish from an enclosed tank filled with water. Such tanks, it turns out, had a concealed trap door connected to a man-sized tube that deposited the performer backstage. “To perform the feat,” Greene explained, “one must, of course, have the ability to stay under water for the minute or two required.” Houdini could definitely hold his breath, but did he possess supernatural abilities? According to Greene, the trick is in the prop. Magicians are “specialists in woodcraft and metalworking, electricity, and psychology, and the ideas worked out are, in many cases, equal in cleverness to the products of our modern inventors.” 

In Greene’s time, carnivals were a popular venue for magic, and fortune telling was a cornerstone of traveling performances. Remember the crystal-gazing Omaha magician who becomes the Wizard in L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (an American classic with magic and illusion at its core)? The rise of television after World War II offered magicians an opportunity to branch out from their vaudeville roots. Today, David Copperfield is perhaps one of the best-known practicing illusionists. The 2013 blockbuster movie Now You See Me took illusion to a whole new level with the assistance of magic consultant (yes, there is such a profession), David Kwong.

Do-it-yourselfers nostalgic for the simple but clever magical props popular nearly a century ago can still follow Greene’s detailed spiritphone instructions. Some woodworking knowledge is a prerequisite, and a few modernizations might make the trick more relatable for a contemporary audience. For instance, a Bluetooth earbud or headset could replace the tethered receiver. An enterprising DIY magician might even connect it to their smartphone so a prerecorded name could be whispered into the assistant’s ear to match the secret name on the spiritphone’s display. Oh, and you’ll want to bring your own hat. It’s not likely that anyone in a 2020s audience will be able to offer a 1920s-style felt hat equipped with a paper-slip-concealing interior sweatband. 

Read more PopSci+ stories.

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Switch from Google Maps to Apple Maps without losing your favorite pinned places https://www.popsci.com/diy/google-maps-to-apple-maps/ Tue, 15 Aug 2023 12:17:06 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=563086
A person using Apple Maps in a park.
It's a lot easier to switch apps when you know you're not going to lose everything. CardMapr.nl / Unsplash

One less hurdle to clear if you're thinking of moving to Apple Maps.

The post Switch from Google Maps to Apple Maps without losing your favorite pinned places appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person using Apple Maps in a park.
It's a lot easier to switch apps when you know you're not going to lose everything. CardMapr.nl / Unsplash

Apple Maps was, to put it lightly, a disaster at launch. A decade later, though, it’s surprisingly good: the app now has much better map data and can do all kinds of tricks. Even better: iOS 17 is adding offline maps, which until now was one of the biggest roadblocks preventing some people from switching. 

The problem, if you’re a longtime Google Maps user, is all of the places you’ve saved in Google Maps over the years. These pinned locations come in handy, and switching to another map program often means starting over. Jumping from Google to Apple Maps would be a lot easier if there were a way to grab all your pinned places and take them with you. There is, it turns out, but it’s not exactly straightforward. The process will technically work on an iPhone or iPad, but I recommend you do it on a Mac, if possible. 

Export your Google Maps data

To get started, you’ll need to export your saved locations from Google Maps, which you can do at takeout.google.com. First click the Deselect all button at the top—we’re only interested in Google Maps data today. Next, scroll down until you find the Maps (your places) option. Check the box next to this entry, then click OK

The file format options for exporting Google Maps data via Google's Takeout tool.
This is the format you want. Justin Pot for Popular Science

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Next step, then choose Export once and proceed with the export. You can leave the tab open and download when ready or you can close the tab and wait for an email (though the process shouldn’t take long—I had my download within a couple of minutes.)

The download will arrive in the form of a ZIP file, which you can unarchive on your Mac by clicking it. Now it’s time for the import.

Import to Apple Maps

Apple menus showing how to import Google Maps data into Apple Maps.
Importing Google Maps data to Apple Maps can be a little tricky, so make sure you follow the steps closely. Justin Pot for Popular Science

Apple doesn’t have a dedicated feature for importing Google Maps data, which is a shame. The good news is that you can use Apple Shortcuts instead. There’s a thread on Reddit where people discuss a few different custom-built shortcuts for the job. You’ll find a few options there, but the one I found easiest to get working is called Tweaks to Apple Map Transfer. Download the shortcut by opening that link, clicking Get Shortcut, then clicking Add Shortcut in the window that appears.

Now open the files you downloaded from Google and find the Saved Places.json file. Right-click it, then click Share, followed by Shortcuts. You will see the shortcut you just installed as an option.

The Tweaks to Apple Map Transfer shortcut for importing Google Maps data to Apple Maps.
Apple’s Shortcuts are truly handy. Justin Pot for Popular Science

Click that shortcut, then hit the Done button. You will be asked for a starting point, which is a little confusing—just say 1 to start with (this will make sense later).

[Related: How to fix errors on Google and Apple Maps]

A text box will open showing you the number of the first item you’re seeing. Close that and another box will appear containing the name of the item. Close that, and the item in question will open in Apple Maps, allowing you to save it to your favorite places in Apple Maps (or to a custom list, if you prefer).

Adding a location to Apple Maps' favorites list.
Looks like a nice trail—let’s save it as one of our favorites. Justin Pot for Popular Science

That’s right: you’ll have to manually save each object. This is a bit of a bummer—it’s time consuming!—but it also gives you a chance to organize things just the way you want to. You could, for example, create separate “Guides” for different kinds of pins—I, for example, put all of my pinned trailheads into a dedicated “Hikes” guide. I’m sure you can think of other ways to use this.

As you’re working on this, the window for the next item will load in the background—it will just say a number. Close the window and another window will open, showing you the name of the next location. From here you can repeat the process until all your pinned Google Maps locations are sitting pretty in Apple Maps.

The shortcut isn’t perfect—some locations will cause it to crash. This is where the Starting point option we talked about earlier is helpful: just restart the shortcut and enter the item number you’d like to skip to. Instead of entering “1”, plug in the number of the item you planned to import before the crash. It’s annoying, sure, but at least there’s a fallback.

This process obviously isn’t perfect, but it’s better than nothing. Hopefully Apple, at some point, adds an official method.

The post Switch from Google Maps to Apple Maps without losing your favorite pinned places appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Master your Mac by creating custom keyboard shortcuts https://www.popsci.com/story/diy/make-macos-shortcuts-guide/ Mon, 23 Nov 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/make-macos-shortcuts-guide/
A woman lounging on a couch with a silver Macbook on her lap, possibly considering how she can create shortcuts for macOS.
You don't need a trackpad when you have shortcuts. Mimi Thian / Unsplash

When Apple's default shortcuts don't work for you, create your own.

The post Master your Mac by creating custom keyboard shortcuts appeared first on Popular Science.

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A woman lounging on a couch with a silver Macbook on her lap, possibly considering how she can create shortcuts for macOS.
You don't need a trackpad when you have shortcuts. Mimi Thian / Unsplash

Perhaps you too have frowned whenever you think about those seemingly wasted seconds spent moving your hands from your keys to your mouse and back again, over and over and over. Time is money. That’s why learning—and creating—the right keyboard shortcuts can be such an advantage, as they allow you to whizz around your system faster and more comfortably.

All operating systems have presets you can work with, but if macOS doesn’t have the shortcuts you need, you can easily create your own. These custom key presses can help you get stuff done much more quickly, whether you’re launching apps and menus, manipulating files, or performing repetitive tasks such as closing programs at the end of the day.

This is exciting, but before you dive in and start creating shortcuts for macOS, we’d recommend familiarizing yourself with the hotkeys already available. It’ll save you from duplicating existing combos.

Create macOS shortcuts using Apple’s built-in settings

The good news is that one way to create custom macOS shortcuts is built right into the operating system. The bad news is that it doesn’t give you a great deal of flexibility, and you might also need to use a third-party program, depending on what you want to do. To get started, open up System Settings from the Apple menu, then choose Keyboard and Keyboard Shortcuts. A new dialog box will appear with a list of shortcut types on the left.

Click any of the options in the sidebar (like Mission Control or App Shortcuts), and you’ll see a list of the shortcuts already enabled. The combinations under each category cover a host of actions—from taking a screenshot to opening the Launchpad interface. Many of them can be enabled and disabled using the check boxes to their left.

To assign a new shortcut to an action that doesn’t already have one, double-click none and hit the new keys. To edit an existing shortcut, double-click the existing key combo, then type the new keys.

[Related: 38 advanced Mac keyboard shortcuts]

If you try to assign a keyboard shortcut that’s already in use, macOS will warn you with a message on the screen. You’ll still be able to carry on, though, as when you type in a shortcut, the system will launch all the actions linked to it. This, however, may result in your computer slowing down or even crashing, depending on which programs or actions the shortcuts trigger, so it’s better to keep combinations unique.

To create new shortcuts for your macOS apps, click App Shortcuts, then the plus icon. You’ll get to pick the app and then the menu item inside the app that you want to access. If the action you want isn’t listed on a menu, you can’t create a shortcut to it. Not with this tool, anyway.

Get some help from another program

The Alfred tool for creating custom shortcuts on macOS.
Alfred is great for finding files in your computer, but you can also use it to create shortcuts beyond macOS’ built-in capabilities. David Nield for Popular Science

If the macOS keyboard shortcut creation tool doesn’t cover everything you need, there are plenty of third-party programs that will be able to help you out.

One of our favorites is Alfred, which will be familiar to macOS power users. It acts as a supercharged system search tool and launcher that also supports customized keyboard shortcuts. You can use it to set key combos for a host of actions including opening apps and files and searching the web.

To customize your shortcuts, open Alfred from the menu bar and pick Preferences. There, you’ll see the General tab, where you can set the main hotkey to enable Alfred, and the Features tab, where you can set shortcuts for particular actions related to files and apps. For more complex keyboard shortcuts (including those controlling media and the clipboard), you can upgrade to a Powerpack version for £34 (about $43).

Another alternative is Keyboard Maestro. It’s $36, but it’s a very comprehensive tool and you can try it for free. The program can create more sophisticated shortcuts than Alfred, with the option to tie several actions together, and support for everything—from entering text to controlling system settings.

To create a shortcut for macOS with Keyboard Maestro, click the plus button at the bottom of the interface. You’ll need to assign the keyboard shortcut first, and then you can tell the program what you want it to do. The program is slightly more complicated than Alfred in terms of building actions, so if you don’t find it as intuitive, you can get more information on how the app works by clicking on Tutorial from the Help menu.

Create keyboard shortcuts inside your Mac apps

The shortcuts menu inside Adobe Photoshop.
Shortcuts in Photoshop can be useful for accessing tools buried deep inside the main menu. David Nield for Popular Science

We’ve got no idea which programs you have on your Mac, but chances are that at least some support customized keyboard shortcuts. If they do, you’ll need to manage your key combos inside each app rather than across macOS as a whole.

Microsoft Word for macOS is one program that allows you to create custom keyboard shortcuts. To find the feature inside Word, you’ll need to choose Tools, then Customize Keyboard. You’ll see a new dialog box with all the commands and menu options you can assign shortcuts to—select one and press your chosen shortcut to link them. Make sure to use unique combinations, as any new ones you create will override the old ones. Don’t worry, though—you’ll be warned if your chosen shortcut is already in use.

[Related: 4 tips and hidden settings that will speed up macOS]

Finally, use the drop-down menu at the bottom of the dialog box to choose whether the shortcuts apply to all Word documents (the Normal.dotm template) or just the current one (Document1 or whatever the currently open file is called).

If you have Adobe Photoshop on your Mac, you can set up customized shortcuts to get to your favorite tools more quickly. Just press Option+Shift+Cmd+K, or select Keyboard Shortcuts inside the Edit menu to start assigning.

Your selected shortcuts can launch menu items, interface panels (like Layers or History), and specific tools—select an entry from the list, click Add Shortcut, and press your chosen combination of keys. As in Word, if your chosen shortcut is already in use, Photoshop will warn you. If you continue, the new action will overwrite the old one.

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2020.

The post Master your Mac by creating custom keyboard shortcuts appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to see what’s happening on Mastodon without creating an account https://www.popsci.com/diy/mastodon-social-rss/ Sat, 12 Aug 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=562635
An iPhone on a wooden surface with the sign-in page for Mastodon on the screen.
No need to go any farther than this. Battenhall / Unsplash

This one's for everyone who would rather not create yet another online account.

The post How to see what’s happening on Mastodon without creating an account appeared first on Popular Science.

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An iPhone on a wooden surface with the sign-in page for Mastodon on the screen.
No need to go any farther than this. Battenhall / Unsplash

Social media is splintering. Where once sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram dominated, now there are a bunch of smaller networks. One that’s growing at the moment is Mastodon

The decentralized nature of this platform makes it a bit harder to navigate than most, which is why plenty of people are not on there. Still, there might be a lot of interesting content you’re missing out on just because you don’t want to sign up for yet another social network. 

So what if you want to follow a single account on Mastodon but can’t be bothered with understanding how the fediverse actually works? It sounds counterintuitive, but it is possible thanks to Mastodon’s ability to generate an RSS feed for every account. The option is not exactly easy to find, but once you pin it down you can add it to your favorite RSS reader

Find the RSS feed for any Mastodon account

The Mastodon account for PopSci contributor Justin Pot.
You don’t have to follow me on Mastodon—I’ll understand. Justin Pot for Popular Science

To get started, head to the page for any Mastodon account, like mine or PopSci‘s. You’ll notice that the RSS feed isn’t exactly advertised—there’s no link to it anywhere on the page, search as you might. But it’s there all the same: just add “.rss” (no quotes) to the end of the address in your browser’s navigation bar. 

So, in our example, “https://mastodon.social/@jhpot” and “https://mstdn.social/@popsci” become “https://mastodon.social/@jhpot.rss” and “https://mstdn.social/@popsci.rss“. 

Hit enter and you’ll see the raw feed. It’ll look something like this:

The raw RSS feed code for Mastodon social.
Just raw RSS. Justin Pot for Popular Science

Ignore this code—it’s not important right now. Just copy the URL for the feed from the address bar and paste it into your preferred RSS reader. Once that’s done, you’ll be able to open your reader on any device and see the content of every post, and even media when appropriate. 

Wait, what’s RSS?

A Mastodon social RSS feed in an RSS reader.
What a Mastodon RSS feed looks like in an RSS reader. Justin Pot for Popular Science

I’m glad you asked! RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It’s an easy way to keep up with any webpage and a lot of news sites and blogs offer them. For example, I use them to stay on top of local news and what’s happening in the tech world without having to check my social media feeds

To keep up with your favorite Mastodon accounts, you’ll first need a feed reader. If you don’t know what these are, we have a helpful guide to RSS apps you can use, which include Feedly, NewsBlur, and Reeder. Set up one of these apps on your device of choice and follow the instructions to add the feeds you’re interested in. You will see every new post in a single place. 

For now, RSS is likely the simplest way to follow a Mastodon account without creating your own, but it’s not the only one. Because Mastodon is decentralized, you can use other social networks that can connect to it, like Pixelfed, Friendica, and Gnu Social. In the future, it might get even easier, as eventually Tumblr and Instagram’s Threads will connect to the same protocol. That means you’ll be able to follow Mastodon users from those apps. 

The post How to see what’s happening on Mastodon without creating an account appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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4 ways to run Android apps and games on your computer https://www.popsci.com/story/diy/how-to-use-android-apps-games-on-computer/ Sun, 28 Feb 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://stg.popsci.com/uncategorized/how-to-use-android-apps-games-on-computer/
Laptop on a wooden desk near a window with a person's hands on the keyboard.
Why pick up your phone when you can run Android apps on your laptop? Yes, even on a Macbook. Samsung Memory / Unsplash

Bring Android to Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS.

The post 4 ways to run Android apps and games on your computer appeared first on Popular Science.

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Laptop on a wooden desk near a window with a person's hands on the keyboard.
Why pick up your phone when you can run Android apps on your laptop? Yes, even on a Macbook. Samsung Memory / Unsplash

If there are Android apps and games you love and rely on, know that you’re not limited to using them on small displays. Not only will these programs work on a ChromeOS computer, but they’ll also run on Windows and—to a lesser extent—macOS. You may find the extra screen real estate and full keyboard and mouse controls to be a big advantage whether you’re gaming or working.

Some apps may not work perfectly—a consequence of trying to run software on a device it wasn’t intended for—but official tools from Google and Amazon have made this less of a problem. Just two years ago, the best ways to run Android apps on a computer were to buy one with ChromeOS or install an emulator on your PC or Mac. Today, you can also use Google Play Games and the Amazon App Store to do the job on your laptop or desktop.

Run Android apps on a ChromeOS computer

ChromeOS showing support for Android apps.
Android app support is built right into ChromeOS. David Nield for Popular Science

Using a Chromebook (or a Chromebox) is one of the best ways to run Android apps and games on a computer. ChromeOS has Android support built right in, so getting your favorite mobile programs to work won’t require any effort on your part. Click the launcher button (bottom left), find the Play Store icon, and browse for your apps and games just as you would on an Android phone.

If you don’t see the Play Store icon on your Chromebook, head to its settings (click the status bar in the lower right corner, then the cog icon), and select Google Play Store under Apps. From the same section of the settings pane, you can pick Manage your apps to view and uninstall them, or pin your favorite ones to the bottom shelf on ChromeOS.

[Related: The best Chromebook add-ons and tricks]

Newly installed apps will appear in the launcher, and you can open them with a click. Most apps will run perfectly well on ChromeOS, but that may not always be the case. If you notice some odd behavior and positioning, it means that particular app has not been optimized for Chromebooks or other larger screens.

Run Android apps on Windows via the Amazon app store

The Amazon app store will let you run Android apps and games on Windows PCs.
You can grab Android apps for Windows from the Amazon Appstore. David Nield for Popular Science

Windows now officially supports Android apps in a couple of ways. The first is via the Amazon app store, the same one you’ll find on Amazon Fire tablets. The store offers both apps and games, but the selection isn’t quite as wide as it is with the Google Play Store (more on that in the next section).

Open up the Microsoft Store from the Start menu, then search for “Amazon Appstore”. When you find it, click Install to get it set up on your system. You’ll have to sign in with an Amazon account—if you don’t already have one, you can register inside the app store itself.

When you’re up and running, you can search for games and apps using the box at the top, or browse the categories (like Kids and Editor’s pick) in the main panel. When you’ve found something you like, click Get and Download. You can launch any installed apps from the Start menu as normal.

To customize various aspects of how the Amazon app store works on Windows, click the Settings link on the left. You can, for example, choose to set up parental controls for in-game purchases, and have your apps automatically update whenever your computer is connected to WiFi.

Run Android games on Windows using Google Play Games

The Google Play Games beta showing a preview of CookieRun: Kingdom.
You can get Google Play Games on your laptop, but it’s in beta. David Nield for Popular Science

Microsoft and Google do offer an official way to play Android games on PC, but it’s games only—no apps. It’s also still in beta testing, so expect one or two bugs to occasionally appear. To get started, head to the Google Play Games beta page in your web browser and click Download beta.

Run the downloaded file, and after a few minutes of setup, you’ll be asked to sign into your Google account. When that’s done, you can start browsing—any games you previously installed on an Android phone or tablet will appear on the right, so you can easily install them on Windows if you want to.

[Related: 9 hidden Android features you’re missing out on]

On the left, you’ll see quick links to the home screen (with a selection of recommendations), your library, and the search function (you can browse by category or look for something specific). When you find a game you like, click Install. Note that all games have to be launched from the library inside Google Play Games, and they won’t appear on the Start menu.

To configure Google Play Games on Windows, click your profile picture (lower left), then Settings. You can choose whether or not the games on your system are automatically updated, manage the various permissions games have on Windows, and see details of your Google Play account.

Use an emulator to get Android apps on Mac and PC

The BlueStacks emulator, which you can use to get Android apps on Mac and Windows computers.
BlueStacks gives you access to plenty of Android apps and games. David Nield for Popular Science

Another option for Windows, and the only option for macOS, is to run an emulator. These emulators take code written for Android, interpret it, and then produce the same results on a desktop operating system. That interpretation layer means the apps might be slower than they are on your phone, but it won’t be a noticeable problem on most computers.

One such emulator is BlueStacks, which is speedy, free, and easy to set up. Get started from the Home tab, which will show you both BlueStacks’ own selection of games and a link to the Google Play Store where more apps and games reside. You can also use the search box at the top to look for something specific.

Everything you install needs to be run through BlueStacks’ own interface and app player rather than the Windows Start menu. There’s also a Multi-instance manager tool available from the left-hand navigation pane, which lets you run games and apps using different user accounts at the same time.

Another option worth considering is NoxPlayer, and it checks a lot of the same boxes as BlueStacks: It’s free, easy to configure, and available for both Windows and macOS. When you start up NoxPlayer for the first time, you’ll see a panel showing the key areas in the emulator: Click Game Launcher and then Game Service to start exploring.

This story has been updated. It was originally published in 2021.

The post 4 ways to run Android apps and games on your computer appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to use AirDrop without opening your phone up to strangers https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-airdrop/ Wed, 09 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=561967
Three young people of different races and genders standing on a sidewalk in a park during the fall, all holding their phones and laughing.
AirDrop is perfect for when you want to meet your friends in the park and share memes. That's a perfectly normal thing to do. Keira Burton / Pexels

AirDrop is a convenient way to share things with people up to 30 feet away, but you may receive unsolicited requests.

The post How to use AirDrop without opening your phone up to strangers appeared first on Popular Science.

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Three young people of different races and genders standing on a sidewalk in a park during the fall, all holding their phones and laughing.
AirDrop is perfect for when you want to meet your friends in the park and share memes. That's a perfectly normal thing to do. Keira Burton / Pexels

Many WiFi-enabled devices strain under the weight of sending multiple photos, contacts, and videos at once, causing the transfer to move at glacial speed. If you have an iPhone, Macbook, or iPad, though, you can lighten its load and avoid all that hassle by learning how to AirDrop—preserving your patience along the way. 

With no tangled cords and with lightning speed, you can use AirDrop to share photos, documents, files, and contact information between any Apple devices within 30 feet of each other. That means you can quickly send photos and videos, share web pages and links, swap notes, and transfer countless other bits of information from any AirDrop-compatible app.

How to turn on AirDrop

Enabling AirDrop is easy, no matter what Apple device you’re using:

  • On iOS and iPadOS: Open Settings > General > AirDrop. Once there, choose to make your device Visible to Everyone, discoverable by Contacts Only, or have Receiving Off.
  • On macOS: Click the AirDrop icon in the Finder sidebar, then select your visibility options from the menu. If prompted, make sure you at least have your Bluetooth on, if not WiFi as well.

Be careful: AirDrop is a convenient way to share nearly everything, but it can also expose you to devices owned by people you do not know. They may send you unsolicited photos, videos, links, or images with messages. 

[Related: How to protect your smartphone privacy]

When you’re not using AirDrop, we recommend making sure it’s turned off or your AirDrop settings are set to either Contacts Only or Receiving Off. This way, you won’t randomly receive AirDrop requests from strangers. You may have to turn on AirDrop more frequently, but the added privacy is worth those few extra taps. 

How to AirDrop

AirDrop won’t work if your Bluetooth is off. Check this by going into your device’s settings, clicking on Bluetooth, and making sure your device is discoverable. Once your Bluetooth is on, you may share web pages, contacts, images, location addresses, files, or videos. The process will be the same no matter what you try to AirDrop:

  1. Open the item’s sharing options. Depending on what you’re trying to share, you may find these options by tapping or clicking Share or the share icon (an arrow pointing upward out of a square).
  2. Hit the AirDrop icon. Within your sharing options, you should see what looks like a downward-facing Pac-Man made of several concentric circles. This is the AirDrop icon, and it may also say “AirDrop” under it.
  3. Choose your recipient. Once you tap or click the AirDrop icon, you’ll see a list of any nearby devices you can share with, labeled People or Other People. If there are no devices close enough to AirDrop to, you won’t see anything. Move closer or check both devices’ Bluetooth and AirDrop settings. 

Do you need WiFi to AirDrop?

You don’t need WiFi to use AirDrop, but it’s recommended. AirDrop works best when both devices are connected to the same WiFi network. If WiFi is unavailable, AirDrop can use Bluetooth to establish a peer-to-peer connection between devices, but these will be noticeably slower than sharing over WiFi.

How to receive AirDropped content

As long as the sender and recipient devices have Bluetooth enabled, AirDrop will work seamlessly. On the receiving end, you’ll get a pop-up preview of the content the sender wants to share with you. You can either Decline or Accept. When the transfer is complete, your device will bring you to where it placed the content. For example, an AirDropped photo will be among your photos, and your device will use the Photos app to open the image on your screen. 

How many photos can you AirDrop?

According to Apple, there is no limit on the size of individual AirDropped files, but larger files will take longer to transfer. So whether you’re sharing a 1MB photo or a 1GB video, AirDrop will handle up to 100 media and non-media items in one batch.

[Related: How to back up and protect all your precious data]

If you need to migrate your entire camera roll, you’re better off using a wired connection and a dedicated photo and video transfer app. But for quickly sharing selected photos or videos on the go, AirDrop is likely your best bet.

Why you can’t AirDrop to an iPhone

All technology can be tricky from time to time, and AirDrop is no different. If AirDrop isn’t working between iPhones or other Apple devices, try these troubleshooting tips:  

  • Make sure both devices have AirDrop enabled in Settings
  • Check that you have cell or WiFi service and Bluetooth is turned on and working properly on both devices.
  • Move the devices closer together, within 30 feet.
  • Soft reset both devices by turning them off and back on.
  • Update both devices to the latest iOS, macOS, or iPadOS software version.
  • Temporarily disable any macOS firewalls that may block AirDrop. Do this by opening System Settings, then Network, and clicking on Firewall. Then hit the Options button and turn off Block all incoming connections.

As a last resort, back up both devices and restore them to their factory settings. If you need help, we have a guide that will help you reset iPhones and Macs.

The post How to use AirDrop without opening your phone up to strangers appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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The new Arc browser will literally transform how you use the web https://www.popsci.com/diy/arc-browser-tips/ Tue, 08 Aug 2023 12:52:42 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=561828
The Arc browser on macOS.
Arc wants to do things differently. Arc

Arc is a unique browser, and you might find it's exactly right for you.

The post The new Arc browser will literally transform how you use the web appeared first on Popular Science.

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The Arc browser on macOS.
Arc wants to do things differently. Arc

It’s not often that a new browser comes along promising to transform the way you access the web, but that’s exactly what Arc offers. Now available to anyone on macOS and iOS, with a Windows version due before the end of 2023, the program brings with it a slew of features that will help you browse differently.

For a start, tabs live on the left by default rather than at the top, and are automatically archived after a customizable period of time. You can keep different browsing activities separate with Profiles and Spaces, you can collect stuff from the web in Notes and Easels, and you can even change the look of sites as you browse.

Arc’s ultimate aim is to provide a more intuitive, more focused window to the web—and by exploring how these various features and settings work, you’ll be able to get a feel for whether or not Arc is the right browser for you. 

Getting started with Arc

The welcome screen when working through the Arc browser setup process.
You’ll get a guided tour of Arc when you first launch it. David Nield for Popular Science

Once you download Arc for macOS and install it on your system, it’ll ask you to sign up for a free Arc account. This will mainly be used to sync browsing data across devices and file bug reports, and you can’t use the browser without one. Once you’ve supplied a name, email, and password, the initial setup process will start.

Setup involves importing data such as your browsing history, stored passwords, and bookmarks from another browser on your system (Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox, and Opera are all supported)—click on any of the browsers listed to see the data that will be transferred across. Select a browser and then click Next to do the import, or click Do this later if you’d rather start fresh with Arc.

Arc will then ask you to pick a color that it’ll use as its main accent color, so you’ll have a browser that’s tailored to your tastes right from the beginning. The next stage is picking out web apps that you often have open, such as Gmail or Notion—Arc will ask you to sign into these apps, and will put links to them front and center once you finish setup.

[Related: How to cover your tracks when you’re browsing the web]

For the penultimate step of the setup process, you can choose whether or not to activate Arc’s built-in ad blocker. The choice is yours, but bear in mind that many websites (this one included) rely on advertising revenue to run. Finally, you’ll get your Arc card: A simple image with your name and a graphic that you can use to show off your support for Arc on social media and elsewhere.

Using Arc

When you get into Arc, the first area to be aware of is the sidebar on the left. It’s home to your favorites (which look like app shortcut icons), pinned tabs just below, and unpinned tabs beneath that (under the line). As mentioned above, unpinned tabs are automatically archived after 12 hours by default, but you can change this by going to Arc > Settings > General.

You can view archived tabs via Archive > View Archive, and you can turn an unpinned tab into a pinned one by dragging it up above the sidebar line or pressing Cmd+D. You can also drag tabs back down to unpin them, and reorder them by clicking and dragging within both the pinned and unpinned sections. To visit a new site, enter its URL in the box in the top left corner, then hit Enter and it’ll pop up in a new tab.

An Arc browser window, showing the tabs on the left-hand side of the screen.
In Arc, your tabs live on the left. David Nield for Popular Science

That box is also good for running searches, and you can set your default search engine via Arc > Settings > General. Just to the right of the box you’ll see options for copying the current URL, sharing it via another app, taking a screenshot, and applying a boost—boosts let you change the colors and fonts on a page, so you can give any site a custom look. There’s also a “zap” button for removing elements of a webpage, such as menu bars or widgets.

If you’ve got several people using Arc on the same computer, you can set up profiles for each person via File > New Profile. Profiles have their own separate sets of browsing data (such as history and favorites), so you can also use them to keep various parts of your browsing life independent—you might have one profile for work and one profile for leisure.

[Related: The information tracking cookies could be gathering about your family]

Then there are Spaces, which are like profiles within profiles. Again, you could have separate ones for your job, vacation planning, hobbies, side hustle, or whatever you like. Favorites stay constant across Spaces, but pinned tabs and unpinned tabs change, and each Space can have its own color theme. To make a new Space, choose Spaces > New Space. Your Spaces are listed at the foot of the sidebar for easy switching, and can be managed via Spaces > Edit Spaces.

Spaces in the Arc browser.
Use Spaces to keep browsing sessions separate in Arc. David Nield for Popular Science

To help you keep track of everything you find on the web, Arc offers Notes and Easels—you can create either by clicking on the plus button at the bottom of the sidebar. Notes are just as they sound, collections of text, links, and images that you can use to record ideas and thoughts. Easels are a bit more creative, combining scribbles and shapes with text, images, and screenshots you’ve grabbed from the web.

Also of note is the Cmd+T keyboard shortcut, which works a bit like Spotlight does on macOS. Hit this shortcut in Arc, and a box will pop up: You can type in a search, the URL of a website you want to visit, the title of a tab that’s already open, a command (such as “pin tab”), or a place within Arc you want to go to (such as “settings”). It’s a one-stop shop for getting anywhere in Arc.

The Arc browser search box, which you can activate via the Cmd+T shortcut.
You can use the search box to navigate the web or Arc itself. David Nield for Popular Science

As you can see, Arc is packed with features, many of them not available in other browsers, and there are more that we don’t have the space to explore here, like Split View for multitasking (View > Add Split View) and the stripped-down, Little Arc mini version of Arc (File > Open Little Arc). It’s worth at least giving Arc a try, to see if it offers enough to dislodge your current browser from its default position.

The post The new Arc browser will literally transform how you use the web appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Permanently delete files (for real) https://www.popsci.com/permanently-delete-files/ Mon, 07 Jan 2019 21:29:54 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/permanently-delete-files/
A smashed computer monitor on a floor near a discarded can—physical destruction is one way to permanently delete files.
This isn't the most efficient way to make sure deleted files stay gone, but it's certainly an option. Julia Joppien / Unsplash

Send your trash beyond the point of no return.

The post Permanently delete files (for real) appeared first on Popular Science.

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A smashed computer monitor on a floor near a discarded can—physical destruction is one way to permanently delete files.
This isn't the most efficient way to make sure deleted files stay gone, but it's certainly an option. Julia Joppien / Unsplash

When you delete a file from your computer, it doesn’t simply disappear from existence—at least, not right away. Even if you immediately empty the Recycle Bin or Trash folder, all your deletion does is earmark the space that file takes up on your hard drive as vacant. Until another file or application makes use of that room, the old data will remain. This is why specialized programs can often recover deleted files for you.

But recovery isn’t always a priority. If you want to securely erase sensitive files, or you’re selling your device to another person, you’ll need to know how to permanently delete files from your computer, tablet, or phone. That way, no clever software will ever be able to bring your old files back from the dead. Follow this guide to make sure unwanted files disappear forever, beyond the reach of even the most determined data forensics team. Just make sure you really want to permanently erase the data before you start.

If you’re on a computer, your first move should be to delete the file from File Explorer in Windows or Finder in macOS. Then clear out whichever undelete tool your operating system uses—either the Recycle Bin or the Trash folder. That’s where most people would stop and move on to another task, leaving their data vulnerable. But you’re not most people.

Permanently delete files from standard hard drives

Eraser, a tool that will permanently delete files from computer hard drives.
Eraser can blitz specific files and folders or regularly clean up empty disk space. David Nield for Popular Science

If you’re using an older desktop computer or laptop, it probably has a traditional mechanical hard drive, also called an HDD. If you’re unsure, a quick glance at the specs should tell you one way or another. Data on these drives is stored close together, which makes the information easier to recover.

To overcome this problem and securely remove a file or folder, you’ll need the help of a third-party program. For Windows, the simple Eraser tool is one of the best, or you can try Recuva, which is billed as a file recovery program but also performs secure deletions. Both free programs work similarly: They overwrite the vacant space on your drive with random data so the original files and folders can’t be brought back.

For a Mac with a mechanical hard drive, the process depends on the age of your machine. On newer HDD Macs, we’d recommend Permanent Eraser, which is free. Simply point this app to the files and folders you want to get rid of, and it will take care of the rest. But if you’re running an older device with Yosemite or an earlier version of macOS, you can simply open the Finder menu and choose Secure Empty Trash, an option that overwrites all the files in the Trash folder with junk data.

The options differ because Apple removed the Secure Empty Trash function from El Capitan and all subsequent versions of its software. The company did so because its new MacBooks use solid-state drives, or SSDs, which work differently than mechanical HDDs. If your Windows or Mac machine has an SSD, you’ll need a distinct approach.

Permanently delete files from SSD drives

FileVault on macOS
FileVault provides built-in encryption on macOS machines. David Nield

Many laptops, especially those built by Apple, contain solid-state drives. These are becoming ubiquitous because they’re much faster than hard drives, though they are more expensive. SSDs also handle file deletions differently than mechanical drives: They don’t give you the same control over where data gets saved, so overwrite programs won’t work.

So, instead of writing over deleted files, SSD users need to encrypt the disk. Encryption means the username and password you use to log onto your computer will act as an unlock code for the files, even if they’ve been deleted. Without that code, no one can read what’s on your computer or recover erased files. The only danger is if someone discovers your username and password combination, logs onto your machine, and fires up a file recovery program. Because SSDs store bits of data at random locations around the disk, you don’t really have any way to prevent people from doing this. Just choose a strong password and be careful about who has access to your computer.

[Related on PopSci+: Stop choosing bad passwords already]

Macs should automatically encrypt files, but you can make sure by opening up System Settings, clicking Privacy & Security, and finding the FileVault option. On pre-Ventura versions of macOS, it’s System Preferences > Security & Privacy > FileVault. If FileVault isn’t already set to “on,” turn it on, and it will make sure your deleted files become inaccessible. On Windows 10 and 11, you can employ the built-in BitLocker tool (search for it from the taskbar), but only if you have Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. If you don’t, you can use a third-party alternative, such as the free VeraCrypt, to encrypt your disks.

If you’re selling your computer and want to permanently delete everything on it, you can go beyond encryption to protect your data. First, transfer everything you want to keep to another machine, remembering to back it up. Then, fully reinstall the operating system to securely wipe all the data on the SSD.

To reinstall macOS, follow Apple’s instructions. For Windows, you can reset Windows 10 or 11, or use SSD manufacturer tools to perform a full wipe as comprehensively as possible. These tools are available for SanDisk, OCZ, Samsung, and other SSDs.

Permanently delete files on tablets and phones

Lock screen security on an Android phone.
Good lock screen security is the best protection against someone accessing your deleted files on a mobile device. David Nield for Popular Science

Computers get a lot of data security press, but many of us keep vulnerable information on tablets and phones as well. These devices rely on flash storage similar to that used in SSD drives, so the deletion principles are the same: With no easy way to securely delete files, you must encrypt the data stored on your mobile devices. On the bright side, it’s virtually impossible to recover deleted files because apps only get limited control over the file systems on smartphones and tablets. That means you don’t really have to worry about files making an unwanted return on these devices.

Rather than bothering with secure deletion, you should instead protect your phones and tablets against unwanted visitors: Enable a fingerprint ID or at least a PIN code to prevent anyone but you from accessing your devices. If no one else has access, they can’t mess around and recover erased files, which would take a high level of technical know-how anyway. All iOS devices, as well as all Android devices that run version 6.0 (Marshmallow) or later, apply encryption by default. So as long as you protect your lock screen, you’ll be able to protect your data as well.

[Related: All the ways to edit your iPhone lock screen]

That said, if you’re getting rid of your mobile device, you should perform a complete factory reset to securely wipe everything on it. As always, make sure you have backups before you do. Your next step in iOS will be to hit the Transfer or Reset Phone option within the General menu inside the Settings app, then hit Reset. On an Android device, open Settings and head to System, then Reset options. In there, you’ll find Erase all data (factory reset). In some cases, it is technically possible to retrieve data after such a reset, but that would require FBI levels of skills, so don’t lose sleep over it.

One final option we haven’t mentioned is putting on a pair of safety goggles and taking a hammer to your hard drive or smartphone and bashing it into oblivion. For good measure, you can run a few nails through the hard drive or flash storage to make sure it can never be accessed again. After that type of damage, no one will ever touch your deleted files. If you’re getting rid of your computer or mobile device, physical destruction is the ultimate in paranoid data protection.

This story has been updated. It was originally published on August 20, 2017.

The post Permanently delete files (for real) appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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5 ways to go back in time on the internet https://www.popsci.com/story/diy/go-back-internet/ Thu, 05 Nov 2020 13:19:52 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/go-back-internet/
A person sitting in a cafe at night, using a laptop.
When you're determined to find something, these tools will make it easier. Daniel Lim / Unsplash

Become a web archaeologist.

The post 5 ways to go back in time on the internet appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person sitting in a cafe at night, using a laptop.
When you're determined to find something, these tools will make it easier. Daniel Lim / Unsplash

The World Wide Web has been up and running since the early 1990s, and countless amounts of text, images, video, and audio have been uploaded since then. Run a web search today though, and it’ll likely prioritize newer pages. Not great if you’re looking for something older.

Going back in time on the internet is possible, but you need to have the right tools and techniques to dig deep into the past. Once you’ve refined your skills, you can pull up everything from your first tweet to famous web pages from the previous century.

Find old pages on the web

Run a standard Google search, and it will show you the most recent and relevant results by default, but you can change that. From the search results page, click Tools, Any time, and Custom range to look for pages published around particular dates. There’s no limit on how far you can go back, though you’ll find diminishing returns as you venture deeper into the historical archives.

Try looking for veteran politicians or long-running TV shows, but adjust the dates to 2000-2010, and you’ll see how opinions can shift dramatically when it comes to people or entertainment. If you’re looking for a specific older article, the date range tool can make the task much easier, and you can add other filters too (e.g. site:popsci.com to restrict the search to a particular domain).

This feature isn’t exclusive to Google—if you prefer the privacy-focused DuckDuckGo, click the Any time filter at the top of the screen after you run a search to get similar date range options. Unfortunately, the same custom date search feature isn’t available everyone on Bing. It used to be, but Microsoft has restricted it to news, image, and video searches. If you’re in Bing’s news tab, click the Any time dropdown menu to get date options, and if you’re in the image or video tabs, click Filter to bring up several dropdown menus, then choose Date.

In many cases, sites will render older pages using their current layout and style—presenting the old content in a new way. If you want to see sites as they were in the past, or look up pages that Google and Bing can’t reach, you can turn to the Wayback Machine. It features hundreds of billions of pages preserved exactly as they were originally published.

Type in the name of a website, like www.popsci.com, into the search box on the Wayback Machine, and you’ll see an overview of the pages saved from that domain. You can click into individual years, months, and days to see how those pages looked when they first appeared. Many of these cached pages are fully browsable too, so it’s just like surfing the web in the old days.

[Related: This free tool can reveal who is behind any internet domain]

The Wayback Machine is the best option for pulling up older pages as they originally were, but there are alternatives. Time Travel searches smaller web archives, including those managed by Stanford and individual countries. You can also find a limited number of official and government sites archived by the US Library of Congress.

If the site you’re looking for is particularly well-known, you might find it preserved in a digital museum. The Web Design Museum has pulled together several hundred significant pages, showcasing some digital design trends of yesteryear, while the Version Museum has captured the changing style of big sites such as Amazon, Apple, Wikipedia, The New York Times, Google, and Facebook.

Find old posts on social media

Twitter's advanced search function, showing a date range search from January 2010 to February 2011.
The advanced search feature on Twitter lets you go back in time. David Nield for Popular Science

Searching through older social media posts on Twitter and Facebook requires a different approach. These platforms come with built-in search features and work with a number of third-party tools that you can use to hunt back through years of social media posts, created by you or other people.

The advanced search page on Twitter lets you search for tweets based on the date they were posted (back to when Twitter launched in 2006). Besides the date, you’ll need to enter other search criteria, such as a particular user account or a keyword you want to search by.

You can use this search tool to look for your older tweets, or those made by anyone else, as long as the account is public. There are even filters for narrowing your search based on how much engagement the post got—if you’re running a search with a lot of matches, prioritizing the popular tweets can help filter out the noise.

If you want to go back to the very beginning of a Twitter account, the date an account was created is listed on the user’s profile page—that should help you focus your search. You can also request a download of your Twitter archive by opening Twitter’s settings, clicking Your account, and selecting Download an archive of your data. You may need to verify who you are before you can get the data, but once you have the archive you can open the file in your web browser and quickly get to your earliest tweet using the list of years and months.

[Related: Allow us to show you how to bulk-delete tweets]

Over on Facebook, posts are much less likely to be public and visible to everyone. You can search the posts of someone you’re friends with by opening a profile and clicking the three dots on the right, followed by Search. When you run a search, you’ll see search filters down the left-hand side, including one for Date Posted.

The same filters appear when you run a general search from the box in the top left-hand corner of the Facebook interface: Enter a keyword or two, then hit Enter to run the search. Click Posts and Date Posted to narrow the results based on year. It’s not a precise tool, but it might help you find what you’re after more quickly.

Searching your own profile is a much more surgical operation. Click the three dots on the right side of your profile, then Activity log, Your posts, and use the options that appear under Filters to look for posts from a particular date. Facebook can bring up searches you ran and posts you liked and commented on, as well as everything you posted yourself, from the selected time period.

This story has been updated. It was originally published on November 5, 2020.

The post 5 ways to go back in time on the internet appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Make the most of your dual or ultrawide monitor setup https://www.popsci.com/story/diy/ultrawide-monitor-dual-display-guide/ Thu, 01 Oct 2020 19:33:35 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/ultrawide-monitor-dual-display-guide/
An ultrawide monitor on a wooden desk in front of a window.
When it comes to monitors, size certainly matters. Luke Peters / Unsplash

Become a desktop real estate mogul.

The post Make the most of your dual or ultrawide monitor setup appeared first on Popular Science.

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An ultrawide monitor on a wooden desk in front of a window.
When it comes to monitors, size certainly matters. Luke Peters / Unsplash

Setting up two monitors or a single ultrawide display gives you a huge amount of flexibility when you’re working or gaming on your computer. But if you’re new to this setup, it can be easy to stick with the same grids and single-window layouts you’ve always relied on. Don’t.

Both Windows and macOS have tools and options to optimize your additional screen space, but there are also plenty of third-party apps that will help you intelligently arrange on-screen elements. This means a cleaner, more organized desktop, but also lets you squeeze more productivity and/or entertainment out of your setup.

How to set up ultrawide and dual monitors on Windows

With an extra display hooked up to your Windows 10 or 11 laptop or desktop, head to Settings from the Start menu, then choose System and Display to see your options. Click and drag to set how Windows sees them in relation to each other—this will determine how they’re connected spatially so you can drag windows from side to side naturally.

Scroll down to the Multiple displays settings to pick how to use your two monitors. You can choose to Duplicate these displays to see the same windows on each one, or Extend these displays to use your monitors as one big desktop. The latter will allow you to take full advantage of the additional space.

To move open windows from one screen to another, just click on the title bar and drag them across. Using Windows keyboard shortcuts, it’s even easier—just press Shift+Win+Left arrow or Shift+Win+Right arrow to move the active program straight to the other screen.

By default, Windows will show the taskbar and Start menu button on both displays, but you can change this. From Settings pick Personalization, then Taskbar, and turn off the Show taskbar on all displays toggle switch. (You’ll find it under Multiple displays on Windows 10 and Taskbar behaviors on Windows 11.) This will give you more room on your secondary display for any full-screen windows, which are ideal for movie-watching, gaming, or photo-editing programs.

[Related: Get the Windows 10 taskbar back on Windows 11]

Window-snapping can be useful on two displays as well as one—just drag the title bar of a window to the left or the right of one of your displays to dock it on that half of the screen. But having two monitors can interfere with this process, as dragging windows to one edge of one screen may shift them to the other monitor. To get around this, use the Win+Left arrow and Win+Right arrow keyboard shortcuts to get your windows snapped to the side of the display.

If you’re using an ultrawide monitor, open windows can still look stretched even when they’re running on half a screen. PowerToys, Microsoft’s very own suite of utilities, is one of the best options here. It includes a tool called FancyZones that lets you split a monitor up into as many zones as you like—three columns for an ultrawide monitor might be a good place to start. Hold down Shift while dragging a window to drop it into one of these zones, and confine it there.

DisplayFusion offers even more control over virtual monitors or different areas of your screens. With this app you can have as many different regions as you like and drop your programs into them. That way, you could have YouTube running in a small window in the corner, while Excel takes up half the screen, for instance.

However, that functionality is a paid-for pro feature that will cost you $29 to unlock, but you can decide if you like it first with DisplayFusion’s 30-day free trial. The program includes a wealth of other settings for multiple and ultrawide monitor management too, like the ability to have certain apps open on certain displays, and to set a screensaver that runs simultaneously across all your screens.

One final tool is UltraWideo. This extension runs on Chrome and Firefox, making it compatible with macOS too. If you’ve got an ultrawide monitor, it will expand video playback on sites such as Netflix and Hulu so there are no black boxes at the side of the screen, making the most of the available space.

Ultrawide and dual monitor setup tips for macOS

A multi-monitor setup that includes a macOS desktop monitor.
The more, the merrier. Cameron Smith / Unsplash

If you’re on a Mac computer and have a second screen connected, you’ll find the key settings for your monitors by opening the Apple menu, clicking System Settings (System Preferences if you’re using an older version of macOS), and then Displays. To use each one separately, uncheck Mirror Displays and then switch to the Arrangement tab to tell macOS how your screens sit in relation to each other.

Moving open windows from one display to another is easy—just click and drag the title bars to the other screen. You’ll also see options for moving open applications to a different screen if you open up the Window menu from the bar at the top, or you can click and hold the green maximize button on a window to send it to a different display.

Speaking of the menu bar, this will appear on both of your monitors by default when you’ve got two connected. The same happens with the dock at the bottom of the display, and apps will appear on the same screen you used to launch them. If you want to have the dock on only one screen, your only option is to set it to appear on the far left of your left-hand screen, or the far right of your right-hand screen. You can do this through the Desktop & Dock section of System Settings (System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar on older versions of macOS).

[Related: 23 useful Mac settings hiding in plain sight]

It’s worth mentioning that you can use an iPad as a second screen if you employ a built-in macOS feature called Sidecar. If both your Mac and iPad are registered with the same Apple ID, are near each other, and have WiFi and Bluetooth on, you should see the iPad appear as a display option when you click the AirPlay icon (it looks like a TV with a pyramid as a base) in the macOS menu bar.

Apple computers don’t snap and arrange windows in the same way Windows computers do, but you can still put them where you want them to go. Open up the Window menu, and you’ll be able to choose Tile Window to Left of Screen and Tile Window to Right of Screen, which works in a similar way to Window’s snapping.

A neat little utility called Magnet can fill some of the feature gaps remaining on macOS. It’ll cost you $10 but you may find it worth the money if you need to keep control of your open windows.

With any program open, you can click the Magnet button on the menu bar to snap the app to the left or right side of the screen. If you’ve got two displays connected, you can transfer the app from one to the other. There are also options to snap windows to a third or two-thirds of the display’s width, which is handy on an ultrawide monitor.

To get even more control, give Mosaic a try—you can use it for a week for free, after which it’ll set you back $13. It lets you plot out a specific grid of areas for your programs to snap to, and the more room you have to play around with, the more useful Mosaic becomes. You can drag and drop windows into place, use keyboard shortcuts, and more.

Another utility worth recommending is BetterTouchTool, which will be yours for $10 after a 45-day free trial. Its primary focus is on customizing keyboard, mouse, trackpad, and gesture shortcuts on macOS, but it also does a window management well. Not only can you quickly snap programs to a half, a third, or a quarter of the display, you can also create custom shortcuts to do it, too.

As we said before, UltraWideo for Chrome and Firefox also works on macOS, so it’s a great option if you’re dealing with an ultrawide monitor. Finally, you might find more options for optimizing a particular software for the additional space by delving into the settings for the apps and sites you’re using. A good example is Adobe Premiere Pro, which has multiple dockable windows you can move around.

This story has been updated. It was originally published on October 1, 2020.

The post Make the most of your dual or ultrawide monitor setup appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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How to download YouTube videos to watch offline https://www.popsci.com/diy/download-youtube-video/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 12:10:41 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=560976
The YouTube mobile app on a phone, with a Peppa Pig video queued up to download or watch.
For when you just want to watch Peppa Pig on an airplane, or something. Charlesdeluvio / Unsplash

Some places that claim to help you download YouTube videos may be sketchy, and there's only one official way.

The post How to download YouTube videos to watch offline appeared first on Popular Science.

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The YouTube mobile app on a phone, with a Peppa Pig video queued up to download or watch.
For when you just want to watch Peppa Pig on an airplane, or something. Charlesdeluvio / Unsplash

When you want to download a video from YouTube, a quick web search will reveal several tools that promise to do the job—but even leaving aside the issue of violating the YouTube terms of service, we can’t guarantee that they’re safe or reliable.

If you want to download YouTube videos, there’s only one official way to go about it: To put down $14 a month for YouTube Premium.

That might seem a lot for the privilege of downloading videos, but it also means that you’ll never see an ad again, can keep videos playing in the background on a phone, and will get access to a complete Spotify competitor in the form of YouTube Music.

Download YouTube videos to a computer

The YouTube Premium downloads page on Google Chrome for desktop.
The only official way to download a YouTube video is to use YouTube Premium. David Nield for Popular Science

When you’re using YouTube in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Opera and are signed into an account that has YouTube Premium, you’ll see a Download button underneath every video when you open up its full page. Click the button, and the download will start. You must keep YouTube open in a browser tab to keep the downloads running, but you can leave the page you’re downloading from to view other videos.

You’ll see the option to download videos in other places, too. On the front page of YouTube, for example, you can click the three dots next to any video to find a Download option there. It’s on search results pages too, if you click the three dots next to any clip.

[Related: How to navigate YouTube videos like a pro]

To see downloads that are in progress and to view your downloaded videos, head to www.youtube.com/feed/downloads (you might want to bookmark the link for future reference). You can also click the YouTube logo in the top left corner and choose Downloads from the menu that appears to get to the same screen. To delete a video, click the three dots next to it, then choose Remove from downloads.

Click Download settings (top right on the downloads page) to change the quality of downloaded videos (better quality means longer download times and larger file sizes)—or get YouTube to prompt you to choose a quality setting every time you initiate a download. You can also turn on smart downloads, which will download a selection of recommended videos in the background for you.

Your browser of choice will cache your chosen videos on your computer’s storage drive for when you need them, but they’ll be in a scrambled format that only the browser can recognize. That means you can’t open up a folder on your Windows or macOS system and see a list of video files. To watch the videos you’ve saved, you need to go through YouTube.

How to download YouTube videos to a phone or tablet

The YouTube app on a phone, showing all downloaded videos.
The YouTube app has you covered for downloads on a phone or tablet. David Nield for Popular Science

A similar set of download features are available on the YouTube app for Android and iOS. When you’re browsing through videos on the Home tab, you can tap on the three dots next to any clip to find a Download video option, and that will start the download. Tap through on a video to get to its full page, complete with comments, and there’s a Download button there you can use as well.

When you search for videos in the app or browse a channel you’re subscribed to, you’ll see three dots next to each video as you scroll—tap these dots and pick Download video to save it to your phone.

As on a computer, these downloads won’t be saved as separate video files, but as data that only the YouTube app can interpret—so you can’t open downloaded videos in another video app on your device. To see videos that have been downloaded or are currently downloading, open the Library tab and choose Downloads.

[Related: How to use DeArrow to get rid of “YouTube face”]

To remove a video, go to the Downloads screen, tap the three dots next to a video, and then hit Delete from downloads. If you want to manage download settings, tap the three dots up in the top right corner of that screen and then hit Settings—there you can set a download quality for the videos, for example. On Android (but not iOS), you can opt to only download videos when connected to WiFi, and see how much space your downloaded YouTube videos are taking up.

On Android, there’s also a toggle switch for Smart downloads, and an Adjust smart downloads option for setting how much storage space this feature consumes. When enabled, it’ll download recommended videos from YouTube in the background for you, so you’ll always have something to watch when you’re without an internet connection.

The post How to download YouTube videos to watch offline appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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7 tricks to squeeze all of the benefits out of your Whoop 4.0 band https://www.popsci.com/diy/whoop-band-tips/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 16:05:58 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=560351
Hand wearing the Whoop 4.0 band
So you've got your Whoop 4.0 band—are you sure you're making the most of it?. Whoop

Make the most out of a fitness tracker that really is a big a whoop.

The post 7 tricks to squeeze all of the benefits out of your Whoop 4.0 band appeared first on Popular Science.

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Hand wearing the Whoop 4.0 band
So you've got your Whoop 4.0 band—are you sure you're making the most of it?. Whoop

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

The Whoop 4.0 band is a little different from your standard fitness tracker. It’s designed for people who are absolutely serious about training and exercising (hence the monthly $30 subscription fee) and want to complement their workouts with some of the best fitness technology around.

If you’re interested not just in counting steps but also monitoring body strain and recovery times, as well as getting detailed stats on everything from heart rate to sleep, the Whoop might be for you. This is how you get the most out of your membership, the band, and the app that goes along with it.

1. Start a journal

Journaling can help both you and the Whoop app better track your fitness and health habits, so you can easily identify where you’re doing well and where you could be doing better. The app will remind you to create an entry every morning and you can log as much or as little as you like—from the number of beers you’ve had and your anxiety levels, to whether or not you had any dairy products in the last 24 hours.

[Related: The Army put Whoop bands on paratroopers in Alaska to fine-tune its training]

From inside the Whoop app, tap More and then Journal to get started with the feature or see previous logs. You can also click on Customize Journal to change the prompts you get.

2. Wear the Whoop 4.0 band differently

The Whoop 4.0 comes with a wrist band but that’s not your only option—the company behind the tracker also has a clothing line that offers alternative ways to wear your device.

You can opt for t-shirts, sports bras, leggings, and swimsuits, so you should be able to easily find something that fits your exercise routine and preferences. They’re all designed with a pouch to securely hold the Whoop 4.0 tracker, so you can continue to monitor all of your vital statistics.

3. Track your stress levels

The Stress monitor on the Whoop will tell you about your stress levels in the last 12 hours.
The Whoop 4.0 won’t only tell you how stressed you are, but also give you pointers on how to lower your stress score. David Nield for Popular Science

One of the features that set the Whoop 4.0 apart from the average fitness tracker is the Stress Monitor, which gives you a real-time stress score between 0 and 3 based on your heart rate and your heart rate variability.

You can find this tool on the app’s Home tab, where you’ll be able to tap anywhere to see details on how your stress levels have changed in the last 12 hours or so. Here you’ll also find information on how the platform calculates the score and ways in which you can lower your score and relax.

4. Connect your Whoop to other services

Just because you’re using a Whoop 4.0 band doesn’t mean you have to abandon other fitness apps and services if you like them. Whoop can share data with Google’s Health Connect or Apple’s Health for vital health and fitness statistics; Strava for walking, running, and cycling, and TrainingPeaks for all-around training.

To manage these integrations, open the More tab in the Whoop app and choose Integrations. Select any of the items listed on the screen and the app will guide you through the connection process. You can share specific data types to and from the Whoop, including sleep activity and heart rate.

5. Join a Whoop community

Whoop's community teams promise to help you get the most out of your workout.
Buddying up for a workout will help you get better results. David Nield for Popular Science

You can speed up your fitness journey by training as part of a community, and Whoop has plenty to choose from. Open the Community tab in the Whoop app to browse through recommended teams that you might like to join and enter invite codes for specific ones.

Team communities share data such as strain, recovery, and sleep, and there are daily leaderboards so you can see how you’re doing compared with everyone else. You can also put together your own team and invite family members and friends for a more personal sharing experience. Tap Create team to get started.

6. Charge your tracker in the shower

You might be aware that the Whoop 4.0 band is waterproof, but this protection also extends to the rather unconventional battery charger that comes with the tracker. Whether you’re popping in the shower or doing dishes, you can keep your band on and recharge it right away.

[Related: Best fitness trackers of 2023]

Both the Whoop 4.0 band and its official charger have an IP68 rating, meaning they’re protected against dust and water. The tracker should be able to survive up to two hours in water up to a depth of nearly 33 feet, which gives you some idea of what you can do with it.

7. Wake up at the right time

The Whoop 4.0 is smaller than the average smartwatch, making it more comfortable to wear to bed. The band can track various aspects of your sleep and wake you up at an optimal time with a quiet buzz on your wrist.

In the app, open the Coaching tab, and tap anywhere in the Sleep Coach section. On the next screen, turn on the alarm function: You can tell the band to wake you up at an exact time, whenever you’ve hit your sleep goal, or when it detects your body has recovered.

With the latter two options, you get to specify a last wake-up time so you know you won’t be late to work in the morning. To turn off the alarm on your Whoop 4.0 band, double-tap the top of the device.

The post 7 tricks to squeeze all of the benefits out of your Whoop 4.0 band appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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3 ways to make your laptop battery last longer—maybe all day https://www.popsci.com/make-your-laptop-battery-last/ Mon, 18 Mar 2019 21:13:16 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/make-your-laptop-battery-last/
A man holding a laptop in an airport and looking at the flight board.
You really don't want to be wandering a crowded airport looking for an outlet. Anete Lūsiņa / Unsplash

Take these steps to reduce your battery anxiety.

The post 3 ways to make your laptop battery last longer—maybe all day appeared first on Popular Science.

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A man holding a laptop in an airport and looking at the flight board.
You really don't want to be wandering a crowded airport looking for an outlet. Anete Lūsiņa / Unsplash

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

Few among us would not jump at the chance to make their laptop battery last longer. After all, our work and personal lives are at the mercy of the battery packs inside our laptops, smartphones, and other mobile devices. When these batteries die, we have to put our lives on hold until we can find somewhere to plug in again. It’s no wonder battery life estimates are one of the first specs many look for when choosing a new device.

But with the right operating system tweaks and customizations, plus some good habits, you can go longer than ever without being shackled to a wall outlet. Life’s just better when you don’t have to spend all day worrying about when you’ll be able to charge your laptop.

Adjust your screen settings

One of the biggest draws on your laptop’s battery is its bright, high-resolution display. Anything you do to ease that strain will have a beneficial effect on the length of your battery’s life.

Start with brightness: Dial down the brightness of the screen as much as you can without having to strain your eyes, using whatever keyboard shortcuts your laptop offers. You can make more detailed modifications by opening up System, then Display in Windows’ settings, or Displays in System Settings on macOS (System Preferences if you’re using an Apple OS older than macOS Ventura).

Screens that time out sooner also use less battery. To set this and a bunch of other power-saving options, choose Power & battery inside the System section of Settings on Windows 11 (Power & sleep on Windows 10), or Screen Saver from System Settings on macOS.

[Related: One telltale sign it’s time to replace your laptop’s battery]

Other settings available on the same screens let you put your hard drives to “sleep” (they’ll take longer to wake back up, but they’ll use less power), put USB devices into a low power mode, and more. These adjustments won’t make major differences, but you can eke out some extra battery life by enabling them.

If you’re using Windows, there’s a special battery-saver mode that maximizes the time you’ll get between battery charges. It limits background activity and notifications and automatically adjusts the display brightness once your battery level dips below a certain point. To find this utility, click the battery icon on the taskbar, then Battery settings or the cog icon.

Apple’s low power mode does essentially the same job on macOS, and you can decide when it turns on by opening System Settings, then Battery. On the same settings page, there’s also a Battery Health widget—click the i icon to learn about your battery and decide if you want to enable Optimized Battery Charging to extend your laptop’s battery life.

Both Windows and macOS also feature a dark mode, which can reduce power draw, but only on laptops with OLED screens (an LCD screen draws the same amount of power to show black as it does white). If you have one, the dark mode option is under Personalization and Colors in the Windows Settings.

Reduce your laptop’s workload

The harder your computer is working, the faster it’ll drain your battery. When you’re away from a power source, you should close any programs hanging around in the background that you’re not actually using. If your laptop runs fewer applications and avoids demanding programs (such as games and video editors), its battery should last longer.

Even if you close everything you’re not using, the browser drains your battery more than you might think. Resist the temptation to have dozens of browser tabs open at once (or at least put them to sleep), and your laptop will thank you. And when you’re browsing on battery power, avoid video streaming sites. They typically demand a lot of juice, both because they keep the screen constantly active and because they require a decent amount of processing power.

Audio makes a difference too. Active speakers blaring out music will use up more battery power than silence—or a pair of plugged-in headphones. If you can, turn down the volume or do without sound altogether.

[Related: The best headphones of this year]

Maintaining WiFi and Bluetooth connections also uses up battery power, albeit a pretty small amount. If you can disconnect your laptop and work offline—and do without a wireless mouse and other peripherals—your laptop battery will last a little bit longer as a result. We’re not talking major improvements, but you might just make it to the end of the day.

Keep that battery healthy

Lithium-ion batteries degrade naturally over time, but if you treat your laptop battery right, you’ll enjoy better battery life for longer. Avoiding environments that are too hot or too cold is a good start, as temperature extremes will wear batteries down more quickly.

It’s not just the weather, either—running demanding applications on your computer can generate the heat your battery needs to avoid. This brings us back to the idea of sticking to lightweight tasks and programs while you’re away from a power source. If you really have to have a gaming session or encode some video, consider using a laptop cooler to dissipate heat more effectively, keeping your laptop battery running longer.

There’s an ongoing debate within tech circles over the “healthiest” approach to recharging batteries. The most up-to-date advice suggests that shallow discharges and recharges are preferable in the long-term, rather than allowing your battery to drain completely each time—though you should still do a full discharge about once a month. Unplugging your laptop once it’s fully charged, rather than leaving it always plugged in, tends to be better for your battery’s health as well.

Finally, if you won’t be using your laptop for a while, Apple and others recommend leaving the battery with a 50 percent charge in it—leaving it fully charged or fully discharged for an extended period of time can damage it permanently.

This story has been updated. It was originally published on April 3, 2017.

The post 3 ways to make your laptop battery last longer—maybe all day appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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