The Best of Everything (Almost) for 2018

Tech News and Opinions

New report on Russian disinformation, prepared for the Senate, shows the operation’s scale and sweep

A report prepared for the Senate that provides the most sweeping analysis yet of Russia’s disinformation campaign around the 2016 election found the operation used every major social media platform to deliver words, images and videos tailored to voters’ interests to help elect President Trump — and worked even harder to support him while in office.

Russian influencers thrived on Instagram after pressure on Facebook, Twitter

Senate report says Russia's disinformation campaign will start moving to smaller platforms, where it's found more success.

Chinese spies reportedly behind massive Marriott hack

Data breach traced to a Chinese intelligence-gathering effort, The New York Times reports.

AT&T's 5G network is live -- if you live in the right city

It'll cost $70 a month to use with a mobile hotspot. 5G phones arrive in 2019.

The best gadgets of 2018

2018 may have been a stinker of a year, but many of its developments laid the foundation for improvements next year.

What makes Microsoft tick?

Microsoft has morphed into an interesting blend of practicality and aspiration these days. Here's what that meant for the company in 2018 and how it could shape Redmond in 2019.

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

The 10 Best Journaling Apps for 2018

Just jot your thoughts down or record what happened during the day for a simple way to manage stress, enhance creativity, increase happiness, improve health, and increase work performance.

Best Hard Drives for Laptops and PC Desktops in 2018

All of the hard drives in this collection are solid state drives (SSD). These don't have moving parts like hard disk drives (HDD) and as a result are faster, quieter, and more reliable.

Windows 10 October 2018 Update is now available for everyone to download

Now any PC can check for updates and get the latest

Google Lens: 10 great ways to run a search on things in the real world

With Google Lens, you can explore the world around you by searching for information on the objects you see or snap with your smartphone.

Create your own free Adobe Creative Cloud with free and open source software

While Adobe's Creative Cloud has its strong benefits, it's also costly. If you want to accomplish most of what you can with Creative Cloud, but pay absolutely nothing, these products can help.

Microsoft releases Hummingbird, a personalized news app powered by AI

Microsoft is throwing its hat into the news app ring with a new app, Hummingbird, and my first-run experience with it has left me with the same mixed feelings.

Mobile Computing – iOS and Android

The Best Downloads of 2018: Our Favorite Software

From iOS, to Android, to Mac, to Windows, we’ve played around with a lot of fun software this year. And this is our time to reflect on that which we’ve loved.

How to Download Apps That are No Longer in Your Phone’s App Store

As much as we love to see new apps become available, that also means the inevitable: sometimes apps go away. Here’s what you can do if your favorites disappear.

Google, Apple, Adobe make your phone photos better by boosting raw format

If you take your smartphone photography seriously, it might be time to change your habits. That's because of improvements to a core camera technology: the raw photo format.

Mobile Computing – Android Only

The Best Android Apps (December 2018)

The 100 best Android apps turn your phone into a jack-of-all-trades

Android Messages can now send calendar files, in case you ever want to do that

Someone at Google must have thought that functionality would be useful, because it just arrived in Android Messages.

The 56 best Android games of 2018

The title says it all.

WhatsApp Update For Android Devices: What’s New?

The latest version of WhatsApp for Android comes with the Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode that’s long been available in the iOS app. Users of iOS devices have been granted access to the mode since January of this year.

Google Photos bumps album limit up to 20,000 pictures and videos

Live Albums, announced in early October of this year, offers Google Photos users an easy way to create albums that automatically add new photos of specific people and pets.

How to delete your Facebook account on Android

If you're ready to jump ship from Facebook, here's what you need to know.

Mobile Computing – iOS Only

Best iPhone Apps for 2018

Our editors hand-picked these products based on our tests and reviews.

Will the iPhone XR be even cheaper? I went to phone stores to find out

Readers wondered whether Apple's latest phone will enjoy even more incentives. I was forced to investigate.

iPhone tips and tricks: 10 things you'll wish you knew sooner

Whether you’re conversing with Siri or figuring out a new way to navigate your notifications, here are 10 things you didn't know your iPhone could do.

iPhone’s Face ID obliterates gullible Android rivals

Just how secure is the facial recognition biometric technology adopted by Apple and its rivals? A Forbes reporter (and his 3D printed head model) recently demonstrated just how the iPhone stacks up against Android rivals.

26 iOS Apps Worth Paying For

You spend $4 on coffee; what's 99 cents for an app? Many of the apps in Apple's App Store are free, but these are the best paid iOS apps, according to PCMag staffers.

New low price: Apple's iPad 2018 is $229, beating Black Friday's best deal

Both the 'New iPad' 32GB and the 128GB versions are on sale now.

Apple Watch

Apple Watch: The ultimate guide

Everything you need to know about Apple Watch, watchOS, and more!

9 things you need to know about your new Apple Watch

If you receive a new Apple Watch this holiday season, don't be intimidated -- it can do a lot, and we're here to show you how.

Apple Watch tips and tricks in WatchOS 5

But not every Apple Watch feature is obvious from the get-go. Apple has filled the watch with neat tricks and helpful tools to make using the watch a lot easier.

How to Force Close an App on the Apple Watch

Happily, the process to force quit an app on the Apple Watch is short and sweet, so your app should be back up and running properly in no time.

Desktop, Laptop, Tablet & Phone Tips…Plus Apple Watch

Tech News and Opinions

Microsoft Edge: What went wrong, what's next

Microsoft's grand browser experiment flopped in the marketplace, so the company is turning to an unlikely successor: the open-source Chromium project. Can it succeed where EdgeHTML failed?

Chrome Extensions are coming to Microsoft’s new Edge browser

Microsoft’s new Chromium-based Edge browser intends to support existing Chrome extensions, a member of the software’s development team has confirmed.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai faces Congress over political bias, China and data collection

Google CEO Sundar Pichai defended the search giant against criticism of political bias, concerns over its data collection policies and worries about efforts in China during a high-profile appearance on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

The best smart home gifts for 2018

Our top gift picks for anyone on your list who might want a smart speaker, a smart lock or a connected convection oven.

Skylum Luminar 3 with Libraries is an All-in-One Lightroom Rival

After a year of drumming up anticipation and sneak peeks, Skylum today finally announced the availability of Luminar 3. The all-in-one imaging package is both an image editor and library.

These are the most popular Google searches of 2018

very year, Google Trends publishes its "Year in Search" to highlight the past year's most popular Google searches. 2018's results have arrived, so let's dive in and see what's been trending.

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

How To Delete Your Google+ Account

Shutdown of Google+ has been moved up to April because your data has been stolen. You're boarding up a broken window, but your personal data is still inside that sketchy house

The 5 Best iOS Emulators for PC

If you'd like to find out how a particular app will appear and function on an an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch right from your Windows laptop or desktop, you'll need an iOS emulator.

Best Laptops for 2018

Our editors hand-picked these products based on our tests and reviews.

New Firefox suggests ways to get more out of the web

Mozilla's new Firefox 64 keeps an eye on what you're up to and prompts you to try extensions and features that could help you with that activity.

VPN services 2018: The ultimate guide to protecting your data on the internet

Whether you're in the office or on the road, a VPN is still one of the best ways to protect yourself on the big, bad internet. Here are all the answers to your VPN questions.

The Best VPN services for 2018

Our VPN rankings are based more than 20 factors including number of server locations, client software, dedicated and dynamic IP, bandwidth caps, security, logging, customer support and price.

Mobile Computing – iOS and Android

7 Smartphone Landscape Photography Tips & Tricks

It takes more than just the willingness and excitement to shoot and share photos to make sure that they are good ones.

Alexa can now check your email

The enhancements — a few of which were announced at an event in September — are rolling out to Alexa users starting today and will be available to all U.S. customers in the coming days.

Google Photos will no longer provide unlimited storage for unsupported video files

As of December 6th, videos in unsupported formats are no longer included in the free storage deal.

Christmas photo shoot ideas for creative people

Depending on whether you have a family or a couple, money for expensive props – the ideas will be different. That’s why we did our best to divide all the ideas into 8 subgroups: Toddler, kids, family, funny, couple, casual, formal and props.

Mobile Computing – Android Only

These 22 Android apps are secret battery life killers and should be avoided

For all of the great Android apps around, there are still plenty of dodgy ones lurking in the Google Play Store it seems, with a new report revealing 22 malware-ridden downloads that should be avoided at all costs.

How to take great pictures on your Android phone

It’s worth learning a few bits and pieces about what your phone camera can do and how you can get the best out of it.

Best microSD Cards for Android in 2018

A microSD card lets you easily move your files, photos, and music from device to device without having to rely on steady Wi-Fi or costly data. It also helps if you like to load your phone up with apps.

Top 10 New Android Games This Week

This column is dedicated to new games that you can start playing right now.

Top 5 most popular Android apps from last week

These apps are ones that are most likely new and haven't appeared in the top five list more than three times.

Mobile Computing – iOS Only

Apple releases iOS 12.1.1, tvOS 12.1.1, macOS 10.14.2

Apple has released iOS 12.1.1 for iPhone and iPad today with a handful of notable improvements.

Microsoft Outlook for iOS get a brand-new look, haptic feedback

Microsoft says the redesign places an emphasis on efficiency and ease

Apple's $29 iPhone battery offer ends Dec. 31

The offer was for a year and applies to the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, SE, 7, or 7 Plus models. Just 3 weeks left to get it.

Google Maps' new personalized suggestions come to iOS

The company has introduced a series of new features designed to help Google Maps users learn what's happening around them, track area businesses to receive updates about their events and promotions and receive personalized suggestions of places to visit, dine and more.

Best iPhone Lens Kits in 2018

There's nothing like using a camera, but with one of these lens kits, using your iPhone comes awfully close. Here are the absolute best iPhone lens kits in 2018.

Apple Watch

Apple Watch ECG app: How it works and what it means for the future of health

Apple's one-lead ECG, arriving now on Apple Watch 4, could change medical practice.

The Most Useful Apple Watch Apps

Here are our picks for the Apple Watch apps that go above and beyond the basics to add real value to your Apple-branded timepiece.

10 Things the Digital Crown and Side Button Do on Apple Watch

The Digital Crown and Side buttons have a few additional uses that you may not already know about. We’ve got a list of 10 important actions that the Apple Watch’s external controls activate.

The 10 Best Apple Watch Complications of 2018

Apple Watch complications are little bits of information from apps that appear on the watch face.

Microsoft to Drop Edge & Create Its Own Chrome Browser

Tech News and Opinions

Microsoft is building its own Chrome browser to replace Edge

While the modern look and feel has paid off for Edge, the underlying browser engine (EdgeHTML) has struggled to keep up with Chromium. Microsoft is finally giving up and moving its default Windows 10 browser to Chromium.

Microsoft Plans Overhaul of Windows 10 Icons

Microsoft has big plans for its iconography, and a plan to standardize its style across all of Windows.

Fixing Facebook? Zuckerberg falls short of his New Year's goal

From a data privacy scandal to leadership concerns, Facebook's troubles kept growing in 2018.

The worst tech failures of 2018

It was a rough year for the technology industry: From anxiety-inducing social networks and buggy mobile devices to glitchy operating systems and killer driverless cars, we had it all.

Cord cutter curious? 10 considerations before you cancel cable TV

Save a bunch of money! Kick that ancient box to the curb! Ditch all those channels you never watch anyway! Never deal with a cable guy again! Not so fast.

Hulu vs. YouTube TV vs. Sling TV vs. DirecTV Now vs. PlayStation Vue: Channel lineups compared

Sling TV, DirecTV Now, YouTube TV, Hulu, PlayStation Vue, Philo and Fubo TV are all vying for your cord-cutting dollar. Here's how the top 100 channels stack up.

USPS Security Flaw Exposes Data of 60 Million People

This could give third parties access to information including when critical documents and checks are scheduled to arrive in people’s mailboxes.

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

Sticky Notes 3.1 is now available to everyone on version 1803 and higher

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve been testing an update to Sticky Notes in Skip Ahead. Today, we’re excited to announce that we’re rolling out that major update to everyone on Windows version 1803 and higher!

What are the best keyboard shortcuts for Windows?

I recommend the use of keyboard shortcuts because they save a lot of time, and sometimes a lot of unsaved work.

How to properly remove a printer on Windows 10

If you're no longer using a particular printer, you can use this guide to remove it from your device in five different ways.

Excel’s top 12 most popular formulas with examples

Make sure these date and time functions, math tricks, and data manipulation tools are all at your disposal.

Microsoft patches several versions of Windows 10

Microsoft has provided a number of fixes and updates to several older variants of Windows 10.

Here's a workaround that helps the new Gmail look old again

Google has stopped allowing users to revert to the old version of its email product. However, there is a workaround that should bring some sanity back into your workflow if the new design is too much for you.

Miscellaneous Tips and Tricks

Forgetting 'Airplane Mode' on Your Phone Could Cost You

One passenger learned the hard way that forgetting to switch on airplane or flight mode on his phone can be a big deal.

How to Ask Alexa to Remember Things

Having trouble keeping track of important dates, where you left your keys, or what you need to bring to the gym? These tips will show you how to use Alexa skills to remember all of the important details in your life.

How to Use Your Oversized Phone with One Hand

Owning a handset with a big screen doesn’t mean you can’t operate it with just one hand if you need to—these are the software tricks and apps you need to familiarize yourself with.

Scam websites are using that green https padlock to fool you

As it turns out, fraudsters got wise and started adding the padlock, which until recently was a bright green in most browsers, to their websites too.

Unfollow People on Facebook for a Happier Life

Unfortunately, your friends list is probably filled with people you can’t unfriend but would prefer not to hear from. Go ahead and unfollow them.

Mobile Computing – iOS Only

How to add a wake up weather forecast to your iPhone Lock Screen

Apple included a fairly basic Lock Screen notification that gives you the day’s weather each morning shortly after you quit hitting the snooze button.

These Are Apple's Best iPhone and iPad Apps of 2018

The list includes the App Store’s hand-picked winners for everything from the best game of the year to the best app trend of the year.

Just Press Record: Indispensable Audio Capture, Transcription, and Sync $5

Just Press Record is a must-have app. With a single tap, the app seamlessly records, transcribes, and syncs audio to all your devices.

What method should you use to make sure your iOS photos are backed up?

It’s not always crystal clear how photos on an iOS device make their way to a backup

Want Amazing Landscape Photography With Your iPhone? Try These Mobile Photography Tips

With a few technical tips and composition advice, you have a recipe for improving your photography.Here’s a short list things you can do to master landscape photography with your iPhone.

Mobile Computing – Android Only

Google keeps failing to understand tablets

The reason for Android’s failure as a tablet OS should be obvious. Android is made for smartphones

Navigation-optimized Google Assistant rolling out in Google Maps for Android

Back at I/O 2018, Google announced that Assistant was coming to Google Maps. Specifically, a visually compact and less disruptive version would appear when getting directions.

How to set up and customize Google Assistant

Make it yours, and you'll get a lot more out of the experience.

5 'hidden gem' Android apps, according to Google

The apps range from an augmented reality app that lets you draw on things you see in the real world, to an app for recording your dreams.

Top 10 Android app updates this week

We’ve found that one of the best ways to discover useful apps is to find the ones that are actually being updated by the developers rather than selecting the apps with the most installs.

10 new Android apps worth checking out

Here are some notable new apps with fewer than 100,000 installs.

This and That

Tech News and Opinions

Cyber Monday sales break record, with $7.9 billion spent online

Though foot traffic at some malls and stores was down over the holiday weekend, more and more shoppers have been turning to the internet to hunt for deals.

Roku's home screen is going to get an overhaul (and you can already take a peek)

Roku is planning to replace its home screen with a different interface, one you can already find if you know where to look.

Roku Free Movies: The Best Channels for Streaming Movies for Free

There are hundreds of free Roku channels, including free movie channels that rival anything the subscription services provide. When you’re streaming on a budget, Roku has your back.

Apple Updates iCloud for Windows 10 Version 1809

After identifying an incompatibility between iCloud and the latest version of Windows 10 (that we reported last week), Apple this week quietly issued a fix in the form of iCloud 7.8.1.

Microsoft lifts Windows 10 1809 block after Apple fixes iCloud for Windows

Microsoft unblocks the Windows 10 October 2018 Update for one group, but several other blocks remain in place.

How to reset or restart your Kindle

Like any device that runs software, however, it may occasionally become unresponsive, sluggish or unable to act the way that it should. In instances like these, resetting your Kindle could set things right.

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

New cumulative updates land for Windows 10 April 2018 Update and more

The April 2018 Update, Fall Creators Update, Creators Update, and Anniversary Update are all on deck.

You don't need your password to sign in to your Microsoft account

More than 800 million people who use a Microsoft account can now securely log in without having to remember a password, the company has said.

A closer look at the new light theme in coming to Windows 10

Are you a fan of light user interfaces? Microsoft is building a brand new one into Windows 10 and it looks good. Let's take a closer look.

11 best keyboard shortcuts for Windows PC

There are so many keyboard shortcuts out there that could be making your life even better.

How to Maximize Your Browsing Privacy Using DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo, a 10-year-old web privacy company, offers a tracker-free alternative to Google search, and web browsing utilities that minimize the number of sites and companies tracking you across the web.

How to edit PDFs in Microsoft Word

While previous versions of Word let you save a document as a PDF, Word 2016 allows you to open an Adobe formatted file, modify it and then re-save it back to the PDF format without using Acrobat.

Best cheap laptops: Amazon and Best Buy top sellers rated

Your job is to find the one that checks off the most boxes for your needs. We’ll show you what to look for by highlighting which budget laptops among the best-sellers currently listed at Amazon and Best Buy are worth buying.

Mobile Computing – iOS Only

How to use IOS 12 Shortcuts

iOS 12’s powerful automation tool makes it way easier to get stuff done on your iPhone or iPad–once you’re up and running.

Here's how Fitbit, Apple Watch are bringing lab-style analysis to our wrists

Smartwatches are ushering in functions to monitor medical conditions and potentially save lives.

Google Assistant just got much better and more convenient on iOS thanks to Siri Shortcuts

Siri is so ingrained in Apple’s platform that competing virtual assistants can’t quite match its convenience or the speed of accessing it, but Google is taking advantage of every tool at its disposal to get closer.

12 awesome iPhone camera tricks anyone can do

Of course you’ll know how to take snaps with your iPhone, but there are all sorts of oft-forgotten little features that you can use which unlock a whole range of tricks for getting photos that are more accomplished, more creative, or just plain more fun.

The One Mistake You’re Making That’s KILLING Your iPhone Battery

Did you know there’s one simple mistake we’re making every night that certainly isn’t helping much either? What is it?

Mobile Computing – Android Only

Microsoft's Android launcher now tracks your digital health

Install the Microsoft Launcher 5.1 beta release and you'll see a "digital health" section that tracks aspects like your total screen time, number of unlocks and session lengths.

Android Apps With More Than 2 Billion Total Downloads Are Committing Ad Fraud

“Why isn't Google immediately dropping such apps from the Play store and advising users to uninstall them?” one analyst asked.

10 new Android apps worth checking out

New apps need lovin’ too, right? Every day there are thousands of additions to the Google Play store, but many go unnoticed and never receive the attention they deserve.

Top 5 most popular Android apps from last week

Read on for the five most popular Android apps from last week. These apps are ones that are most likely new and haven’t appeared in the top five list more than three times.

Project Fi is now Google Fi and officially supports more Android phones

Google’s Project Fi is now officially known as Google Fi, and the MVNO now supports a host of new devices from manufacturers like Samsung and OnePlus. And yes, even Apple’s iPhone lineup is supported as well.

Black Friday Tech Deals Abound!

Tech News and Opinions

Black Friday 2018: The best tech deals worth waiting for

We've gone through popular retailers' Black Friday advertisements to find the gems arriving Thursday and Friday. With this knowledge, you'll be able to compare prices and more accurately judge when to grab an early deal and when to wait a couple more days.

Once again, Facebook has a lot of explaining to do

Just when you thought things couldn't get worse for Facebook, The New York Times has come out with a bombshell exposé of the company's tumultuous last two years.

How to delete your Facebook account in wake of latest scandal

a New York Times report detailed Facebook's mishandling of Russian interference on the platform in the 2016 election, as well as the employment of the Republican opposition research firm Definers Public Affairs to discredit a liberal financier.

Apple's Tim Cook says regulation of Silicon Valley is 'inevitable'

The head of the world's biggest publicly traded company may not be a fan of regulation, but he says the tide is turning for the tech world.

Apple cuts production orders for all three new iPhone models: WSJ

A lower-than-expected demand for the new iPhones and Apple's decision to offer more models has made it difficult to anticipate the number of components and handsets the company needs

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

56 Best Writing Websites of 2018

We have put the best writing websites of 2018 in one single place for your convenience. They’re also organized alphabetically and by categories, to make them easier to find. Enjoy!

Best Laptops 2018 | What Laptop Should I Buy?

If you tell us what kind of person you are, we’ll tell you the new laptop that is most likely to bring you joy. Or at least a convenient way to watch YouTube.

macOS vs. Windows: Which OS Really Is the Best?

When it comes to performance, security, specific tasks, and more, which of the two leading desktop operating systems reigns supreme? We break it down feature by feature.

Apple and Microsoft working to resolve iCloud for Windows bug

Microsoft says it is blocking users with the app already installed from updating to the Windows 10 October 2018 build.

Faster new Intel AI brain sticks into the side of your PC for $99

The Neural Compute Stick 2 uses a Movidius Myriad X artificial intelligence chip and is geared for prototype projects.

How To Find Microsoft Windows Product Keys

All versions of Windows keep copies of the product keys used to install them in the Windows Registry but newer versions also encrypt them, meaning that finding them involves both knowing the location and how to decipher them.

Mobile Computing – For Both iOS and Android

How to scan documents with your iOS or Android phone

Yes, you can take a normal photo with your phone, but often these are hard to read and just look, well, rubbish. Luckily, we’re here to show you how to get professional-looking scans on your phone.

Landscape Photography Apps You Can't Live Without

One look at the App Store or Google Play and you'll find thousands of photography apps - some good, some bad, and some in between. Here are the best ones

The 6 Best Walkie Talkie Apps of 2018

Missing good old two-way radios? Make your phone a walkie talkie instead!

Traveling for the holidays? Here's how not to get hacked

Here are some tips on keeping your personal data secure while on the road this holiday season.

One of the best podcast apps, Pocket Casts, just got a big redesign

Version 7.0 brings with it a revamped design and a handful of new features that I’ve really come to appreciate in the couple weeks I’ve spent testing it.

Mobile Computing – iOS Only

Apple Black Friday 2018: The Best iPad, iPhone, MacBook Deals

The ad scans from Best Buy (52-pages), Target (47-pages), Walmart (32-pages) and T-Mobile (6-pages) have predictably good savings, but they are just the tip of the iceberg.

The 12 best Apple Watch apps for 2018

Hardware updates might steal the headlines, but its Apple's legion of apps that really make the Watch stand out from the competition.

Best Third-party Apple Watch Bands in 2018

Check out these third-party options, keep the bank unbroken, and go forth in style!

Which iPhone should you buy? Ranking the iPhone XS, XR, 8, and 7

At this point, I've tried all seven of Apple's current iPhones. And although the iPhone XS is gorgeous and powerful, it's not the phone I would recommend to most people.

Apple and Amazon's new partnership comes to fruition just ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday

What makes this even better is that now Amazon will be competing with retailers like Best Buy and Target, and able to match some of the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

Mobile Computing – Android Only

Amazon has five Prime Exclusive Android smartphones on sale for Black Friday

You won't be able to check out prices unless you're a member of Amazon Prime, and if you're signing up for the first time you'll get 30 days free.

Best Black Friday smartphone deals

All the major releases for the year are done and the big discounts available will you allow you to get the latest and greatest phones at more affordable prices.

26 best new Android games released this week

This week's list includes Beamdog's fantastic enhanced edition of Neverwinter Nights, a solid pixel-based platformer that's reminiscent of the NES era, and the latest yearly release of Truck Simulation.

16 new and notable Android apps from the last week

This week's more interesting releases include a DNS app from Cloudflare, a Feedly beta release, and an alarm clock app from Yahoo.

Best of Android: best cameras

This year more than ever, it’s harder to do camera assessments justice. The year of AI in camera processing has led to some really cool developments in mobile photography, and the future is looking bright for diffraction-limited systems.

Windows October Update is Finally Here…Again

Tech News and Opinions

Windows 10’s October Update Returns, Promises Not to Delete Your Files

Microsoft has finally re-released Windows 10’s October 2018 Update—in mid-November. All those file deletion bugs should be fixed, and Windows Update will soon automatically install it on your PC.

You'll soon be able to buy Apple's products on Amazon

But, don't expect any crazy Lightning Deals. Macs, iPhones, iPads, and everything else...except HomePod.

Windows 10 activation bug baffles, angers users

Mystery bug is telling Windows 10 users that their legitimate license is no longer activated. Microsoft is working on a fix.

Here's What the Quantum Internet Has in Store

Physicists say this futuristic, super-secure network could be useful long before it reaches technological maturity

Windows 10’s Next Release Will Let You Uninstall More Built-in Apps

Windows 10’s next update, due for release sometime around April 2019, will let you uninstall more of Windows 10’s built-in apps with a few clicks. Don’t want 3D Viewer, Groove Music, or Paint 3D? Uninstall them!

Here's how Microsoft can fix its Windows 10 update issues

ZDNet's Ed Bott and Mary Jo Foley make some proposals that could help Microsoft solve its Windows 10 version 1809 issues in the future.

The lost art of concentration: being distracted in a digital world

We check our phones every 12 minutes, often just after waking up. Always-on behaviour is harmful to long-term mental health, and we need to learn to the hit the pause button.

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

Windows 10 October 2018 Update review: Little refinements make a big difference

The latest Windows 10 feature update brings with it lots of refinements and a few new features. So is it any good? Check out our in-depth review for answers.

How to Create a Professional Résumé in Microsoft Word

We’re here to show you how to create a résumé using Microsoft Word and provide a few tips on getting you through the résumé screening process so you can press that send button with confidence.

Microsoft To-Do for Windows 10 picks up new sorting options for smart lists

Microsoft To-Do is giving you a little more control over your smart lists in its latest update.

Use Excel's DATE, WEEKDAY, IF, and IF/OR to make weekly schedules

Using Excel as a scheduling tool is a great skill to have under your belt.

Use PhotoMove to Organize Your Photos

The free version does a thorough and speedy job of analyzing wherever it is you keep your photographs, reading any and all EXIF data, and automatically creating and moving (or copying) your pictures into folders.

Photopea is a Free Photoshop Clone That Runs In Your Browser

Want a Photoshop-style image editor without paying any money and without downloading any software? Check out Photopea. It’s a free Photoshop clone that runs right in your Web browser.

5 privacy settings you should change in Windows 10

Taking back the operating system, one privacy setting at a time.

Mobile Computing – For Both iOS and Android

How to stop Google from tracking your location and activities

Don't want the search giant to track you anymore? Just follow these simple steps.

This incredibly simple privacy app helps protect your phone from snoop

You can throw a wrench in the schemes of ISPs, or snoopy governments or hackers, with a new, incredibly simple, and free app that encrypts the identity of the servers your mobile apps access.

Microsoft: These new OneDrive features on iOS, Android, web, are headed your way

OneDrive gets new sharing prompts and fields to add metadata to scans.

Thieves want to steal your gadgets—use these tips to thwart them

There's no sure-fire way to prevent theft, but even if someone manages to swipe your electronics, a little advance preparation can protect the personal data within, keeping your information safe and accessible only to you.

Mobile Computing – iOS Only

How to Use Apple’s iOS Shortcuts App to Automate Your Life

Apple’s Shortcuts app can quickly and easily run a host of tasks on your iOS device or Apple Watch. Here’s how to create and use shortcuts for Siri.

How to force your iPhone or iPad to load the desktop version of a website

Most of the time using a mobile-friendly website is just fine -- until it's not, and you need the full desktop version of a site.

iPhone quick tip: Quickly find apps that want your attention

Most of the time iOS apps are very good at letting you know they want your attention, but if you use folders to organize your app, things can get a little bit confusing.

Hidden iOS 12.1 iPhone shortcuts and tricks you need to know

Here are a selection of the most useful iOS 12.1 shortcuts and tricks. Many use the 3D Touch feature, and this is present for all iPhones from the iPhone 6S to the latest iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, but is not available on the iPhone XR.

New for iOS 12: How to Set Up Screen Time Parental Control on iPhone & iPad

OS 12 features Screen Time controls that make parental control not only easy, but also free, whereas in the past you might have to pay for parental control apps to make sure inappropriate content wasn't getting through on your kids' devices.

How to Eliminate Duplicate Passwords with Apple's Password Manager

If you're worried about reusing the same password for multiple accounts, Apple's iCloud Keychain password manager now has a tool to strengthen your password security.

Mobile Computing – Android Only

Microsoft Launcher for Android now syncs with your Windows 10 Timeline

You can see and open the same web pages and Microsoft Office documents on your Android phone and Windows 10 PC.

Top 5 most popular Android apps from last week: Persephone, Files by Google

Read on for the five most popular Android apps from last week. These apps are ones that are most likely new and haven’t appeared in the top five list more than three times.

This week in Android: It's all about the foldables

Here are the top Android stories for the week

Top 10 Android app updates this week: AP News, Kobo Books

Here are the most frequently upgraded apps for the week. We’ve found that one of the best ways to discover useful apps is to find the ones that are actually being updated by the developers rather than selecting the apps with the most installs

Google confirms dark mode is better for battery life

The most power-hungry component of all is the display. While the relationship between screen brightness and battery life is well known, there’s also a significant impact caused by what’s on your screen.

Just Revealed: Samsung’s Foldable Smartphone

Tech News and Opinions

This is Samsung’s foldable smartphone

Samsung has been teasing its foldable smartphone for weeks, and now the company has unveiled it for the first time today. Samsung calls its foldable phone technology the Infinity Flex Display, and the phone itself has a tablet-sized screen that can be folded up to fit into a pocket.

Supreme Court rejects industry challenge of 2015 net neutrality rules

Much of the current FCC's argument [against net neutrality] depends on ignoring or contradicting the DC Circuit's earlier findings, but now that these are firmly established as binding law, the Pai FCC's case is on even weaker ground than before.

Flickr will end 1TB of free storage and limit free users to 1,000 photos

But it’s offering big improvements to the paid Flickr Pro service

Amazon drops minimum purchase requirement for free holiday shipping

The promotion comes as Target last month introduced free two-day shipping in an attempt to capture more of the market during the holiday shopping rush.

Sen. Mark Warner on breaking up Facebook and Congress’s plan to regulate tech - The Verge

Over the summer, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) put out the most comprehensive plan yet for how Congress might regulate Big Tech: his white paper laid out 20 different suggestions.

Here comes the next wave of cord-cutting

Cord-cutting has dramatically transformed TV, but the biggest changes are coming up next.

Microsoft claims Windows 10 file-deletion bug has been FIXED, but it hasn’t released new update

But despite claiming the latest patch resolves the deletion issues, additional glitches are preventing Microsoft from releasing the new update to the public.

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

5 Chrome extensions to block out distractions and stay focused

There are a multitude of sites that distract you from the task at hand. Here are five Chrome extensions that can help you stay focused and on the ball.

The Best Free Apps for Creating a Digital Photo Collage

Sure, you could manually create your own using photo editing software, but specialized apps that automatically handle resizing photos to fit in a predesigned template make it much easier. Here are some of our favorite free options.

Best USB 3.0 Hubs in 2018

Whether it's charging devices, transferring photos, or connecting peripherals, almost everything seems to need a USB port.

10 killer PC upgrades that are shockingly cheap

Looking to put more pep in your PC's step? These surprisingly cheap PC upgrades and accessories do the trick without breaking the bank.

How to Boot Into Safe Mode on Windows 10 or 8 (The Easy Way)

The good news is that getting into Safe Mode is doable. The process is just more hidden now.

How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows

Instead of using Safe Mode, you can perform a Clean Boot on Windows 10 by temporarily disabling non-critical services and startup programs. You can then enable them again one at a time to see if any are causing trouble.

What It Means When Microsoft Stops Supporting Your Version of Windows

Microsoft only supports each version of Windows for so long. For example, Windows 7 is currently in “extended support” until January 14, 2020, after which Microsoft will no longer support it. Here’s what that means.

Mobil Computing – iOS

How to cancel an App Store subscription

Do you want to cancel a trial subscription before time runs out? You can do it right on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV!

iOS 12.1: Tips and tricks to help you get the most from your iPhone or iPad

There are a lot of new and updated features buried in Apple's new iOS 12 update, so if you are feeling confused, overwhelmed, or just want to see if you've missed something, you've come to the right place.

New for iOS 12: How to Add a Free Thesaurus to Look Up on Your iPhone & iPad

With iOS 12, though I'll no longer need a thesaurus app, because we can now add a thesaurus to Look Up on iPhone and iPad, for free!

Best iPad apps for new users

Did you just get your first iPad? Looking for the top apps to download next? Here they are!

Apple iPad Pro review 2018: the fastest iPad is still an iPad

The new iPad Pro with an eight-core A12X processor is faster than 92 percent of portable PCs sold today!

Apple's higher iPhone, iPad Pro prices are the new normal

They have to raise their prices to keep reporting the kind of revenue growth Wall Street expects. And consumers, faced with the choice of either cheaper devices or the latest and greatest, are increasingly buying those pricier products.

Mobil Computing – Android

The best Android smartphones you can buy right now (Winter 2018)

We've compiled a short list of the best Android phones you can buy, from low-end budget devices to expensive flagships.

The best Android VPNs to keep your data private and secure

Whether you go free or paid, an Android VPN is an important component of your online protection kit.

Top 10 Android app updates this week: Waze, Starbucks

We’ve found that one of the best ways to discover useful apps is to find the ones that are actually being updated by the developers rather than selecting the apps with the most installs.

Top 10 New Android Games This Week: Golf Battle, Toppl

This column is dedicated to new games that you can start playing right now.

Best Large Screen (Phablet) Android Phone in 2018

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9… Its 6.4-inch display is the best in the business, and it wraps around a beautiful metal and glass exterior.

Best Unlocked Android Phones of 2018

The Google Pixel 3 XL is far and away the best phone Google has made, and that also makes it the best unlocked Android phone.

New Mac Mini, New iPad Air, New iPad Pro and More!

Tech News and Opinions

MacBook Air, Mac Mini and iPad Pro 2018: Everything Apple just announced

The Apple hardware event was clearly targeted at creative pros.

Apple debuts upgraded MacBook Air with Retina Display

The starting price is $1,199 with preorders starting today.

Windows 10’s October 2018 Update Is Probably Delayed Until November (And Here’s Why)

Microsoft stopped offering Windows 10’s October 2018 Update on October 6, as it was deleting some people’s files. Now, another ugly data loss bug has reared its head, and it won’t be fixed until November.

California strikes deal with FCC to delay state net neutrality law

California officials have agreed to wait until the courts have resolved any pending litigation over the Federal Communications Commission’s roll back of the federal rules late last year.

People are holding on to their smartphones longer, report says

In the United States, iPhones traded in between July 1 and Sept. 30 were 2.92 years old on average, up from 2.37 years old the same period two years earlier, according to data from Hyla Mobile Inc.

You Can Take These 600 Online Courses for Free

You no longer need to be a Harvard student or Princeton grad to benefit from instruction at these exclusive institutions.

Asus' new trio of Chromebooks promise not to break the bank

With more Chromebooks vying for the mid-tier segment of the market with prices to match, Asus decided to go much cheaper with its new trio of Chromebooks: the 11.6-inch Chromebook C223, 14-inch Chromebook C423, and C523.

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

The 8 Best Journal Apps for 2018

With the right journal app, you can make a journal or diary entry truly yours by adding images, tagging locations, setting reminders to write, enabling password protection, and so much more

Add Tabs to File Explorer and Other Applications Ahead of Windows 10's "Sets" Feature

While tabs have been a core part of web browsers for more than a decade (including Internet Explorer), Microsoft is finally in the process of introducing a tabbed interface to the Windows File Explorer and other applications.

How to get started with Sticky Notes 3.0 on Windows 10

Here's everything you need to know to start using and get the most out of Sticky Notes 3.0 on Windows 10.

Stop Using Microsoft Edge To Download Chrome -- Unless You Want Malware

For many people who purchase a new Windows 10 PC, Microsoft's built-in Edge browser has one purpose: to download an alternate browser like Google Chrome. Don't!

Windows Defender set to become more secure with sandbox mode

By running in a sandbox, Windows Defender will operate separately from the rest of your PC, so hackers and malicious files cannot gain access to your vital files via the software.

7 Tips and tricks to make the most of Google Photos Live Albums

In this article, I will explore a few of the intricacies of Live Albums and help you make the most out of the feature.

How to Use LastPass for More Than Just Managing Passwords

LastPass is more than just a password manager. It’s an encrypted vault where you can store secure notes, secret bookmarks, and even entire files. It can also save your address and credit card numbers and fill those into online forms.

Mobile Computing – iOS

iOS 12.1 is now available with group FaceTime, new emoji, and ‘beautygate’ fix

Apple’s first update to iOS 12 is now available to download. The iOS 12.1 update comes with the much anticipated fix for the front camera bug that was overly smoothing skin on the iPhone XS and XR, as well as new bagel emoji.

Here’s What’s New in iOS 12.1, Available Today

While iOS 12 is still fairly fresh, the first point release will be rolling out starting today. This brings a handful of new features, like Group Facetime, dual SIM support, camera improvements, new emoji, and more.

Use iOS 12's smart albums to clean up your photo library

Grab your iPhone, if you're not holding it already. Then open the Photos app, go to the Albums tab, and scroll down. On iOS 12, you'll see a list showing pretty much every kind of photo you have:

Siri Shortcuts in iOS 12: how to get your old iPhone to do new tricks

Beyond automating daily tasks, Shortcuts even enables some new possibilities — tasks that you previously couldn't get your phone to accomplish on its own. Some of these features could be programmed through third-party apps like IFTTT, but now they're baked into iOS 12.

New iPad Pro Arrives with No Home Button, Face ID, and Zero Notches

Today at Apple’s October event, the company has announced a new iPad Pro that brings it up to spec alongside the iPhone X, XS, and XR as far having Face ID, no home button, a rounded display, but thankfully no notch.

Mobile Computing – Android

Waze adds built-in audio player to spice up your commute

Pandora, TuneIn and others are available alongside Spotify.

Microsoft's To-Do app gains Planned smart lists on Android & Important list improvements on iOS

The iOS update added the ability to hide completed tasks and fixed some bugs while the Android update was more significant and finally added the Planned smart list feature which has been available on Windows for a while now.

Android Messages desktop client is now a Progressive Web App

Google has continued to improve the Android Messages desktop client, most recently with an updated Material Design look. Perhaps in an effort to make it work better with Chromebooks (as part of the 'Better Together' feature), the Messages site is now a Progressive Web App, so it can be installed as a 'native' application.

Download Bolt Music Plus - Mp3 Player, Audio Player for Android om

Bolt Music Player Plus is the powerful stylish and fast music player with awesome design. This app have lot of features and latest colorful theme

How to use Google Home Hub to control your entire smart home

Forget about switching between different apps to control your lights, thermostat and security cameras. Google Home Hub puts all of the controls at your fingertips.

You can now control your Roku from Google Assistant

You can now add Roku as a Home control service in Assistant or the Google Home app. But before you get started, you need to make sure you have a compatible model running Roku OS 8.1.

Google Pixel 3: Everything you need to know!

From specs, pricing, features, and more, here's the latest on the Pixel 3 and 3 XL.

Apple CEO Calls For Federal Laws To Protect Privacy

Tech News and Opinions

Apple's Tim Cook: Our personal data is 'weaponized against us' by you-know-who

Apple's Tim Cook calls on the US to introduce equivalent laws to Europe's GDPR privacy regulations.

100 Websites That Shaped the Internet as We Know It

The World Wide Web is officially old enough for us judge what it’s produced. That’s right, it’s time for the world to start building a canon of the most significant websites of all time.

TikTok, the Chinese app taking the social media world by storm

In the space of just two years, the app has amassed more than half a billion users — around 40% of them outside China — who share short videos of themselves lip-syncing, cooking, dancing or just being silly.

Do Apple products warrant their premium price in 2018?

Are Apple products a premium experience, or is it all about the Apple brand?

Hackers, trolls and the fight over your vote in the 2018 midterm elections

What’s old is new again as Election Day draws near. Here’s what you need to know.

Facebook's Portal video device launches amid privacy concerns

Will people trust the social network's new consumer device after all those data security problems?

Apple and Samsung fined for deliberately slowing down phones

Italian investigation found software updates ‘significantly reduced performance’, hastening new purchases

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

Google is making it easier to wipe out your search history

More privacy controls coming to Maps and other services in 2019

How to Back Up All of the Photos From All of Your Apps

Even if you’ve got new photos and videos taken with the camera synced to the cloud though, what about the pictures your family sends?

Google Photos app launches new editing features and Live Albums

The latest update makes sharing, editing, and organizing photos easier.

OneNote picking up cloud attachments, tag search, and more this month

Microsoft revealed a slew of new features coming to OneNote on Windows 10, Mac, and on the web over the next few weeks.

How to reset Windows 10, 8, and 7 password if you forgot it

Losing your Windows password can be a nightmare. Not only are you completely locked out of your system, but all of your data is still in there.

How to take a Windows 10 screenshot: The 7 best techniques

No matter the situation, Windows 10 have you covered with several easy ways to capture and save screenshots using keyboard shortcuts, and hardware keys,

Windows 10 Timeline: How to use Microsoft's new organizational tool

Windows 10’s Timeline feature helps answer the question: what was I working on? This handy, optional feature can track what documents and Web pages you’ve been working on over the past weeks and months, organizing them into a collection of documents you can quickly open to pick up where you left off.

Mobile Computing – iOS

Google Maps releases real-time location sharing for iPhone

Google released its "share your real-time location" feature for the Google Maps iOS app on Thursday. It lets you send ETAs to friends and family based on satellite data — not empty promises.

Microsoft launches Spend iOS app that automatically tracks and matches expenses

Spend is designed to make expense and receipt tracking easier than ever.

Best Stands for iPad Pro (10.5 and 12.9)

These are some of our all-time favorite iPad Pro stands for drawing and writing work at a desk. Take a gander and see if any of them fit your fancy.

How to Use Screen Time to Set Content Restrictions on Your iPhone & iPad

Apple makes it even easier to set content restrictions on your personal devices

How to download and read ebooks with Apple Books on iPhone and iPad

Read any good books lately? It's easy on your iPad or iPhone.

Siri shortcuts roll out to Microsoft Edge for iOS

Now you can use Siri to open Edge right from your lock screen.

How to get a refund for iTunes or App Store purchases

How you get a refund for iTunes or App Store purchases and in-app purchases isn't obvious, but it is possible!

Mobil Computing – Android

Meet the new Microsoft Phone, powered by Android (No Windows required)

Over the past few years, Microsoft has embraced the Android operating system with surprising enthusiasm. With a large collection of apps for business available in the Google Play Store, you now have everything you need to turn an Android device into a Microsoft phone.

Microsoft’s Android launcher now lets you track your kid’s location and app usage

The new family tracking feature lets Microsoft Launcher users track the last known location of their family members. The launcher also includes an activity report of what apps are being used on a device and for how long.

Google News app bug burns through gigabytes of user mobile data

Users are reporting sharp spikes in data usage via the app, sometimes leading to hundreds of dollars in mobile data fees.

Need a wide angle camera? Here are 8 smartphones that fit the bill

We gathered every phone featuring a wide-angle camera worth getting in one place for your convenience. It’s not just LG phones — there are plenty of options if you want go wide.

25 Best Android Tips to Make Your Phone More Useful

Google is always making tweaks and coming up with new features for Android, and OEMs like Samsung and LG can add their own stuff on top of that.

10 new Android apps worth checking out

New apps need lovin’ too, right? Every day there are thousands of additions to the Google Play store, but many go unnoticed and never receive the attention they deserve. These do.

Big Changes for this Blog…Beginning Now!

As the headline says, some adjustments are being made to this blog/newsletter/journal. I hope they will benefit you…and they begin with this edition.

First, the size is being expanded…meaning adding more stories in each section wherever possible. At various times during the year, the decent stories are in short supply. Other times, they are plentiful. So, I will not limit the size of each section to a specific number of stories…rather the size will be flexible so you get the information that is relevant to you, no matter how many or how few the number of stories.

Second, the Mobile Computing section will be split into two parts: One covering iOS, the other covering Android. That way, users of one system can skip over the stories that are not relevant to their device. Mobile computing has become the most exciting and most used computing platform of this time, so it deserves better coverage. 

While on vacation last month, you may recall I only published this blog once a week. Well, to be honest, I liked it and it allowed me more time to do other things. So starting with this edition, I will only publish Rants and Raves once a week. But, I think expanding the size of the blog more than offsets the change in the number of publications.

I love doing this blog and have been publishing a newsletter like this for over 20 years now. It started out as a written-on-paper publication and, over time,evolved into what you see today. It has always been a pleasure write it. But, in a couple of weeks, I will turn 73, so it is probably time I slow down a bit and quit putting pressure on myself to get a blog out twice a week.

As I make changes like this one, maybe it is time I restate what this blog is all about. I have always focused on making computing better for the average person…the non-techie who just wants their device to work for them with as little technical knowledge as possible. My goal is to give you enough new knowledge to make your experience even better.

The tech news I publish is part of that same goal…I look for stories that are relevant and informative for the average computer user. You should know what is happening in the tech world that might or will affect you. The same with the other sections, although they are more related to actually using your computing devices.

So that is everything in a nutshell. I hope you find these changes useful and that they add to your computing world. Thanks for being a reader. –JRC

Tech News and Opinions

Apple sets next event for Oct. 30

We'll likely see new tablets and computers from Apple that include some features already found in iPhones.

Stanford University study claims 99.7 percent of human-filed comments opposed FCC's net neutrality rollback

It seems FCC's decision wasn't popular after all. The FCC continues to prove it is the enemy of the people and champion of corporate interests.

Up to 9.5 million net neutrality comments were made with stolen identities

The New York attorney general's office is widening an investigation into fraudulent net neutrality comments, saying it estimates that up to 9.5 million comments were submitted using stolen identities.

Why it's hard to believe anything Google says

The reluctant admission of a privacy breach revealed that Google's "trust us" philosophy was as believable as "do no evil."

Apple to US users: Here's how you can now see what personal data we hold on you

Apple customers in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can now download a copy of all the personal data Apple holds on them that's linked to an Apple ID.

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen dies at 65

Allen co-founded the future software giant in 1975 with high school classmate Bill Gates.

US voter records from 19 states sold on hacking forum

The voter information for approximately 35 million US citizens is being peddled on a popular hacking forum, two threat intelligence firms have discovered.

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

How To Reclaim Space On Your Windows 10 Hard Drive After the October Update

Windows updates always leave a lot of temporary files and other space-stealing junk on your PC. This can accumulate over time and eat up many wasted gigabytes, which you may not be able to spare.

How to Stop Annoying Apps from Loading When Windows Boots

You don’t need a bunch of unnecessary apps eating up your system’s resources for no reason. If you have an underpowered PC, you’re only making your situation worse.

Windows 10 October update's new public rollout nears as Microsoft fixes more bugs

The company will rerelease 1809 to the public once it's vetted feedback and diagnostic data from Windows Insiders and confirmed that the problem has been properly dealt with.

10 Writing Tips for Microsoft Word

Microsoft has added some excellent features to help improve your writing and productivity using Microsoft Word.

Here’s how to see if you’re among the 30 million compromised Facebook users

The bad news: Private data was stolen. The good: Fewer accounts were affected.

Chrome 70 now available with option to disable controversial login

The update sees Google reverse some of the controversial changes it made with the last version. The good news is that Progressive Web App support has been added to the Windows Version.

Vivaldi's massive update brings tab management and a refreshed UI to its privacy-focused browser

Vivaldi browser has launched its first major upgrade since its initial release in 2016. The company claims that Vivaldi 2.0 has more than 1,500 improvements over the first version.

Don’t Click “Check for Updates” Unless You Want Unstable Windows 10 Updates

As Microsoft revealed, only people who clicked “Check for Updates” got bitten by Windows 10’s file deletion bug. When you click the “Check for Updates” button, Microsoft gives you updates early, skipping a normal part of the testing process.

Mobile Computing – IOS

Opera Touch for iOS is great for people with small hands and big phones

Opera has announced the general availability of its newest mobile browser, Opera Touch for iOS. Its killer feature is the ability to surf the Internet on Apple’s latest big-screen phones.

Apple iOS 12.0.1 Continues iMessage's Embarrassing Problem

iOS 12.0.1 is here and it brings some crucial fixes. But, following a flurry of user complaints, we know now it also contains several new bugs

The easiest way to share iPhone photos and videos

iOS 12 has introduced a slew of new features and hidden gems. And one seemingly small addition to the Photos app can make a huge change to the way you share photos and videos.

Canon Launches New Digital Photo Express for iOS Devices

The best price of all is free and Canon’s new Digital Photo Express for Apple’s iOS devices, including smartphones and tablets, is not only the right combination of price and features but also gives Canon users some powerful on-the-go functionalities.

How to Sync Photos to iPhone

If you have a photo library stored elsewhere, or someone shares photos with you, there are a number of ways to sync those photos to your iPhone.

Best Camera Apps For iPhone: 14 Of The Best Camera Apps Compared

Are you still using your iPhone’s native camera app? If so, you could be missing out. In this article we’ll compare fourteen of the best camera apps for iPhone for you. Each offers something more than the native camera app, improved features or a more intuitive interface.

Mobile Computing – Android

Best apps for securing Android and managing privacy settings

Our picks for the best and safest VPNs, browsers, password managers, chat apps, and antivirus apps for Android are an easy way to help you stay private while online.

Nova Launcher 6.0 beta 5 can launch Google Assistant directly from the search widget

Nova Launcher 6.0 beta 5 just launched yesterday, and while not a major update, it does include a couple of notable features

Google News Gets a Dark Mode in Its Latest Android Update

Say goodbye to blinding yourself with the news every morning, as a Google News update is rolling out that introduces a dark mode to the service.

Gmail for Android now lets you customize swipe actions

Google’s been delivering a bunch of overdue updates to Gmail over the past few weeks, and one more arrived in the latest update on Android: the ability to customize what happens when you swipe an email to the left or right.

The Pixel Slate: first look at Google’s new tablet

Chrome OS replaces Android as Google’s tablet OS

Pixel 3 review: Google pairs an amazing camera with serious AI smarts

The Pixel 3's camera already makes it a standout -- but useful Google software elevates the phone even more.

See How Many Dollars You’ve Spent On Android Apps with This Free Tool

Most apps are cheap—a buck here, couple bucks there. But on a long enough timeline, that little bit can add up to some serious dollars. A new app called Purchased Apps for Android can show you just how much.