How To's

How to Use AR Emoji (Video)

For this week’s tips and tricks Tuesday, I figured it was fitting to go through a feature on the newly launched Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus. So in this episode, I’d like to show you one of the more controversial features that the S9 phones bring: AR Emoji. If you aren’t familiar, AR Emoji are essentially Samsung’s version of the iPhone X’s Animoji except that they can also resemble you instead of a 3D version of an emoji. In addition to that, they have an agreement with Disney for Disney characters to appear in the app, as well (and […]

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How to Override Do Not Disturb for Specific Apps

Do not disturb is one of those features that’s just on every phone and we take for granted. It’s pretty great though in helping us, even in the slight way that we have to be disciplined enough to turn on, break the cycle of notification anxiety. While most people use Do Not Disturb mode on their devices at night when they’re sleeping, I tend to use it in any scenario that I think requires a bit more of my undivided attention. From dinners to movies, to meetings, I tend to tap that little moon icon a lot during the day.

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How to Get iMessage on Android (Video)

One of iOS’s hardest features to say goodbye to; iMessage. I’ve literally been scolded by friends when their messages to me go from blue to green upon my switching back to an Android phone (I swap phones a lot, guys) and always wish there was some way I could use iMessage on my Android phone still (not to placate these friends, but just because iMessage is truly great). Thanks to a young developer though, we might be one step closer to such a dream. There is a big caveat, however. You need to have a Mac and that Mac needs

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Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus (Complete Walkthrough) (Video)

Welp, they’re finally here. The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus are officially official. Samsung was kind enough to give me some limited time with them before they were released and I figured I’d try and do one of my complete walkthroughs. If you’re not familiar with my complete walkthroughs, they’re basically me trying to go through every feature I can of a device so you can get as much info as possible about it and help you decide if you want to go out and maybe buy one at some point. So, without further ado, here’s my complete walkthrough

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Huawei Matebook X Pro (Complete Walkthrough) (Video)

Today Huawei launched a couple of devices with the most intriguing to me is the sequel to a laptop of theirs that I gave a glowing review to not that long ago: the Matebook X. Well, now we have the Matebook X Pro. And since Huawei was kind enough to give me a very limited time with the device before release, I figured I’d try and do one of my complete walkthroughs. If you aren’t familiar, these are where I go through as many features of the device as I can so you have as much info as possible should

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How to Cancel App Subscriptions on the iPhone

While working with a friend of mine working at a coffee shop (you don’t work next to your other friends that work remotely?), she popped her head up from her laptop and randomly asked, “How do I stop an app from charging me even though I deleted it a long time ago?” (your friends don’t randomly ask you tech questions?) Truth is, this is a more common question than it rightfully should be–Apple doesn’t make it easy or apparent on how to cancel app subscription. So, really quick, as one of my tips and tricks for the week, here’s how

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The Last Pen You’ll Ever Need (Video)

For this week’s Tips and Tricks Tuesday, I’m going to show you how to automatically digitize any piece of paper automatically using this little gadget. So I’ve actually done a video on the company that makes this before because they had a product to digitize a whiteboard automatically that I thought was kinda clever but this is their newest gadget that lets you automatically digitize any piece of paper. Which seems like a very logical progression for the company if we’re being honest but is probably also a product a lot more people can use. Check out the Pen here.

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How to Turn off Read Receipts on All Your Social Networks

There’s one feature on a lot of messaging apps that’s one main feature is to basically get you in trouble: read receipts. While it’s great to be able to know if the person you’re talking to has read your messages, it’s never a benefit to you for others to know this. “He clearly saw the message! Why hasn’t he responded?!” It’s because of sentences like the above, that most people I know have read receipts off on all their supported apps (except maybe my mom). And, sure, while not everyone receiving messages from you will say things like the above, I

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Why You Should Disable iCloud Photo Library (& What to Use Instead) (Video)

Is it just me or does it feel like Apple is constantly trying to get us to buy more iCloud storage? And it would make sense really. Think about the number of iPhones, iPads, and Macs out in the wild and how much money it would mean if just a small percentage of them even had to fork over $0.99/month for the lowest amount of extra iCloud storage. One of the new features in iOS called iCloud Photo Library is definitely not helping. This feature, while in theory, allows you to backup all of your photos and videos on any

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How to Make a Phone Call Using Google Home (& Use Your Actual Phone Number)

Google has finally started rolling out their new Google Home feature that allows you to call someone. As in, actually call their real cell phone, not just ring their Google Home app if they happen to have one installed. The feature only works in you are in the US or Canada at the moment and requires that you speak English (sorry, my French Canadian friends) and although all of the things you need to make it work aren’t immediately apparent, once you know, it’s pretty easy. Here’s everything you need to start making calls using the Google Home. Check You

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How to Create Custom Commands for Google Home or Amazon Echo (Video)

Voice assistants are pretty convenient. You can ask them the weather when you get up in the morning, have them set timers, even put them into infinite loops for your own entertainment, but despite these things, they definitely have a limited number of commands you can issue. Now, short of developing an app using the voice assistant APIs, there doesn’t seem to be an easy way to add your own custom actions and triggers to Google Home, Echo, etc. Thankfully though, IFTTT exists. IFTTT (If This Then That) is a popular program that allows you to create triggers and actions

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How to Send a Text Message From Your Amazon Echo

Amazon just added a new feature this week to Alexa: the ability to send text messages from an Android phone. You’ve been able to send messages from one Echo to another or to a phone using the Alexa app, but now you can send them as an actual SMS and have it show in your normal Android messaging app. Here’s how to send text messages using your Echo. How to Setup SMS on Your Amazon Echo Open the Alexa app on your Android phone. Tap on the Conversations icon at the bottom (looks like a speech bubble). Tap on the

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How to Remove Your Voice History from Google Assistant and Alexa

Whenever you say the wake word for either Alexa or Google Home, the devices don’t just listen to what you’re saying after, they record it and upload it to the cloud in order to do their magic. Personally, I don’t have too much of an issue with this myself, but I do get the concern from people about all this data being stored and somehow being used against them in the future. So, if you happen to be one of those with the odd predicament of being concerned about this but also willing to use the Alexa and Home, here’s

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How to Easily Turn Live Photos into Gifs on Your iPhone

I’ve never really been a fan of live photos on iOS. Frankly, I just really don’t have a use for a few second video before and after a photo, especially when you couldn’t edit this tiny clip. But, there was a small change in iOS 11 that made their usefulness change a bit. Apple decided to let you edit them and even easily turn live photos into gifs. With that, they’ve become a slightly better medium for capturing content than they were. Instead of this random tiny video, they can become pleasant surprises of accidental moments during a photo shoot

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How to Use Drop In on the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, & Echo Show

I first used drop in on the Amazon Echo Show when I was having a party and had to run out while people were still there to get some things we needed. When I got to the grocery store, I decided to test it out and see how everyone in the party reacted. I opened the Alexa app on my phone and dropped into the Echo Show in my kitchen, instantly opening up a video call with some of my friends who visibly jumped at the abrupt sight of my face holding a few limes in my hands. “Is this all we

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How To’s